In Princess Cadences' darkest hour, a master of ancient earth pony magic emerges to turn the tide. Lost in an era that is not his own, he must earn his place in this world and navigate all the chaos and hi-jinks it brings.
Prior to the unification of pony-kind, before even the wendigos, the warrior pegasi ruled their domain of the sky, the elite unicorns ruled their realms of magic and the humble earth pony tended the land and provided food for all.
Trapped between two powerful factions, earth ponies needed a way to defend against pegasi and unicorns alike. Thus emerged the first masters of Tei-Rah-Do. These masters fought off those who would dare to bully their people, until the cold came. By the time Chaos ruled, The arts of Tei-Rah-Doh had faded into obscurity.
In Princess Cadences' darkest hour, a practitioner of Tei-Rah-Do emerges to earn his place in this new world with all the chaos and hi-jinx it brings.
NOTE: Change of title because it has a better ring to it.
(( Partially Inspired by games like One Finger Death Punch and MLP Fan Animations ))
"Maca, what have you done?" Commander Hurricane's helmet clattered to the ground. The Pegasus commander stood at the edge of a ridge overlooking a vast valley of moaning Pegasi knights. Limbs broken, armor shattered. The cries of pain were so loud that the commander had to fold his ears back.
Swift moving shadows overhead alerted him from his stunned silence as his personal guard landed before him and knelt.
"Report!" the Commander barked, perhaps a little more forceful than he intended.
"Honorable Commander!" responded the Pegasus "Our forward troops have been totally incapacitated! Lieutenant Stone Wing is unresponsive but still alive. In fact..." The Pegasus guard paused as if unsure of what he is about to say.
"Spit it out Lance Sergeant!" Hurricane spat impatiently, stomping his hoof causing his knights to flinch.
"There is something you need to see sir. It's down by the river. Please if you could follow us."
Commander Hurricane grunted and extended his wings, signaling them to lead the way. The trio took to the air, flying low over the devastation. The moans of the wounded grew louder as they neared a larger cluster of the wounded near the center of it all. Commander Hurricane saw it all up close. Boulders cut clean in half, Trees split down the middle. Craters where some of the more heavily wounded pegasi lay. The Commander kept count of his wounded but as of yet did not find a single fatality. Before long they came upon a stone statue in the epicenter of the destruction. At first the Commander wondered what a piece of artistic masonry was doing out in the wilderness but when he looked upon the face of the statue he froze.
A robed earth pony stallion stood on his hind legs, staff in hoof planted firmly on the ground. A straw hat sat precariously on his head shading defiant eyes. An expression of grim resolve.
"Sir!" His knights shook him from his stupor. They pointed to the writing on the ground which was no doubt written using the staff the once-pony held. Commander Hurricane held his breath as he read then growled in displeasure. He was clearly being mocked.
"Send a message to the other flight commanders, I order a full retreat."
"But sir!" One of his guards spoke up. "The invasion is ..."
"Do as I say or I will have you both executed for treason!" Commander Hurricane yelled stomping his hooves into the dirt so hard that the ground shook.
Without a reply his knights launched themselves into the air racing to deliver the order. Finally alone Commander Hurricane dropped his head and wept.
In darkness Cadence sobbed. The only light to guide her were the eyes of her captors. Changeling eyes glow an ethereal green, reminiscent of luminescent fungi. Their faded, deathly glow accompanied by angry hisses and sharp jabs spurred her forward, deeper into the depths of Canterlot Mountain. Cadence obeyed without resistance. How could she do anything else, they would kill her if she tried to escape, and that would mean never seeing Shining again.
Cadence forced back a whimper as her captors lead her deeper and deeper into the dark pausing only to torment her once more.
Hard, uncaring hooves shoved her into a wall before another set of chitin hooves bucked her in the gut. Cadence doubled over onto the ground, this time unable to choke back her cries of pain and despair. More chitin hooves railed into her as she once again pleaded for them to stop. This only goaded on the changelings and she could feel the magic of her love drain away. This was her routine, this was her life now. Every few minutes or so, this draining of Cadence's despair and the love for Shining Armor. Controlling her feelings were impossible, even if she knew that they were feeding her captors, making them stronger. She couldn't just forget him. What made it worse, was the very thought of Shining Armor marrying that wicked queen instead of her. It made her angry, it made her want to lash out. A set of green eyes narrowed before the changeling struck Cadence across the muzzle. She struggled, attempting to get on her own four hooves, but was struck in the gut again causing her legs to buckle before she fell once again. Laughter. Wicked laughter.
"Cadence! I'm coming to rescue you!" came the voice of her prince. Cadence winced in pain, no one struck her but it hurt all the same. She pinned her ears back, trying to ignore their mockery. The changelings had toyed with her feelings before, but it would not work again. Cadence was determined to make sure of that. Cadence curled into a protective ball. Trying to ignore the voice of her beloved. Shining Armor's voice whispered sweet nothings, reassurances, one of her captors even dared to attempt flirting with her
"Go away." She said angrily and received another swift kick in the gut as a response. Cadence curled tighter, for the first time in her life, with all hope abandoned, she wished she would die.
At that moment, a sharp noise cut through the dark causing the wicked laughter to cease. It sounded like... whistling?
Cadence kept her eyes firmly shut. Was this a new tactic? Trying to improve her spirits? Get her to cheer up only to drain that cheer away? It wouldn't work. It sounded like the kind of whistling a pony would do on a mid-morning stroll. Hardly something that could lift her darkened spirit. Suddenly, Cadence felt something long and sharp press against her throat. It drew blood but the cut was shallow. Cadence tensed waiting for the end, cold steel slipping into her soft fur and tissue, spilling her life blood all over the ground. It didn't come.
The whistling grew louder, accompanied by a new noise. Hoof steps, and a light tapping sound. Her captors were dead silent. Cadence risked opening her eyes as she noticed that every single one of her captors were looking away from her at, what she assumed, was the direction of the noise. The sharp object dug deeper into her neck, drawing more blood, but only slightly, making it clear that she would die if she tried anything. For a moment, Cadence considered shoving her neck willingly into the tip and ending it all, but the thought of never seeing her love again, stopped her. All she could do, was wait in despair.
*Tap*
*Tap*
The tapping grew louder. So were the hoofsteps. Something was coming
*Tap*
*Tap*
Changeling reinforcements? Why would they need more than the dozen or so changelings to keep her captive? Maybe it was the changing of their guard. That had to be it. But if so, why were the changeling's around her so tense?
*Tap*
*Tap*
There was some chattering between the changeling guards and from what Cadence could make out, two of the rear changelings left to investigate the noise. They cautiously peeked around a corner before disappearing down a passage that led to the upper levels. The tapping ceased. There was a muffled sound of something distant. It sounded disturbingly like snapping bone.
*Tap*
*Tap*
The tapping resumed. The changelings started to argue amongst themselves. Some formed a defensive perimeter while the two standing directly next to Cadence argued about whether they should kill her or not. Cadence's ears perked up as the changeling drone in charge argued that the Princess of Love was to remain alive by the Queen's orders. Before his compatriot could retort, a new voice broke into the hushed discussion.
"Finally found you."
Cadence's eyes widened, her ears swiveled to the newcomers voice. It was a stallion from what she could tell. He sounded relieved, cheerful even, but it was nopony she recognized.
"Thank goodness. I almost lost you there for a second."
The changelings that formed the defensive perimeter around Cadence all hissed in unison as they encircled the interloper. The sharp object was removed from cadences throat, from the dim light of the changelings eyes, she could tell that the object was a spear and it was now being held by the drone in charge, pointed out in a defensive posture. Her attention turned to the many sets of eyes encircling the dim outline of a stallion. The drone in charge barked an order to attack, and the changelings all leapt in unison.
There was a *WHIP-CRACK* and one of the sets of changeling eyes went out. Cadence watched in morbid fascination as the dancing lights of changeling eyes blinked out of existence and melded into the void. Every once in a while, Cadence saw the outline of a hoof or a leg. But it was all over too fast to make anything out. The last set of eyes disappeared with the explosive sound of shattering wood. The drone in charge stepped back almost tripping over Cadence's curled form. The Drone barked a challenge but his set of eyes disappeared as Cadence heard a sickening crunch and thump somewhere above her. The clattering of a fallen spear signifying the end of the fight.
For a short moment all Cadence could hear was heavy breathing, clear signs of exertion.
"Horse feathers. Joints still feel like stone..." The stallion grumbled. There was a series of popping noises like something was aligning back into place. It sounded painful, causing Cadence to wince, even as her own joints popped and muscles ached as she tried to stand.
"Hello? Who's there?" She timidly called out.
"Forgive me madam, do you maybe have a light? My staff seams to have shattered."
"I'll try." Cadence responded as she gathered what little magic she had left. It took a few tries, but soon the tunnels were lit in a dim pink glow, revealing an orange earth pony with shoulder length silver white mane,tied in a knot. He Was sitting on his haunches. Remnants of a shattered staff held tightly in his hooves. She was shocked to see him. Another pony. After so long. Her feelings of gratitude and relief were hampered somewhat at her rescuers own, very different, reaction.
"AH! WHAT IN TARTARUS? GAH! BY THE EARTH AND PLAIN, WHAT ARE YOU?" He screamed in surprise leaping backwards and tripping over the form of a downed changeling. He screamed again backpedaling from the bodies. "WHAT ARE THEY?!"
Cadence looked at the stallion quizzically not sure if she should feel grateful or offended.
"My name is Princess Mi'Amore Cadenza...an Alicorn?" She added hesitantly.
She could feel his eyes dart between her horn and her wings and back again. His expression went from shocked to curious before melting into concern.
"Madam. You're hurt." He recovered from his shock and moved over to inspect her wounds. His eyes lingered on the bleeding cut of her neck then scanned the bruises covering her body.
"Yes. Yes I am." Her voice quivered after hearing the concern in his voice. It felt like an eternity since she felt somepony's sympathy. Real honest to goodness sympathy. She launched herself at her rescuer. The stallion tensed at first, but he relaxed when he realized that the mare in his hooves was crying. Hesitantly he placed a hoof on her back and carefully rubbed her back to comfort her. "Excuse me miss..." He began but Cadence leapt away from him suddenly frantic.
"The wedding! We have to stop the wedding!"
"What wedding?" The stallion asked Raising both hooves to try and settle the frantic mare down. Cadence wandered around the tunnel in a circle frantically looking around.
"My wedding. That queen is going to hurt my Shining Armor! And...maybe worse!"
The stallion watched Cadence's frantic movements as she mulled over her fears for only a moment before stomping his hoof down. The whole tunnel shook with the Force and Cadence flinched in surprise. The stallion's firm gaze catching her attention. "Whatever it is madam it'll have to wait. You're injuries aren't too bad, but that cut could get infected if we don't find you a healer." Let's get you out of here miss...er...Alicorn. Follow me."
Cadence blinked and after a short pause nodded her agreement. She motioned a hoof signaling the stallion to lead the way.
In the pink light she could see him nod and survey the area. Taking up the spear that was responsible for the cut on her neck, he broke off the tip and blunted the broken end by jabbing it into the ground. After inspection he tapped it to a large boulder and stood, to Cadence's surprise, on his hind legs.
"Watch your step." Her rescuer said and started the long climb up a narrow passage that would hopefully lead to the surface.
Cadence followed warily, unable to shake the feeling in the back of her mind that this was all another trick. Some elaborate ploy to build up her hopes before dashing it to dust and sucking it dry. A feeling of dread threatened to envelop her heart until the light from her horn came upon the unconscious bodies of the changelings around her. She gaped in awe at one particular changeling, the drone in charge, who was stuck like a stalactite in the cave ceiling, it's leg twitched violently every other second or so. "Coming alicorn lady?" Came the voice of her rescuer from further up the cave. Without another moment of hesitation she gingerly stepped over the bodies of the changelings, pausing just enough to buck one across the face and followed.
Cadence soldiered on. Hope of being free giving her aching muscles strength. She followed the strange stallion for what seemed like hours, ascending narrow passageways through the dark labyrinth in silence. Soon the faint glow of crystals could be seen as Cadence re-entered where Chrysalis first cast her down and charged her minions with containing her.
"Stop."
The stallion ordered. The urgency in his voice caused Cadence to freeze on the spot. She dared not move as she looked toward her guide. He assumed a strange sort of pose, like a dancer balancing weights on his hooves. After a moment, the stallion in front of her struck his staff to the ground and the sound echoed through the labyrinth.
"We're not alone. Unicorns. At least four. Wait...only one? Nah. Can't be."
He muttered thoughtfully to himself as he tapped the rock again. Before nodding a confirmation to himself. Cadence didn't want to question her rescuers method of navigation, even if she found it quite strange. After all he somehow found her all the way down below the depths of Canterlot mountain.
"Unicorns? If that's the case, were in luck! Maybe they can help us escape?"
The stallion turned to look at her with an odd expression on his face. he let his hoof made staff fall to the ground and dropped to all fours. "by saved you mean...saved, saved? Like they could help us?"
Cadence nodded, more than a little confused. "Yes. If there are other ponies here like you say then they could help us get out of here, or at the very least we can have safety in numbers."
Cadence smiled reassuringly not sure why this stallion was being apprehensive. Was he suspecting changelings disguised as unicorns? Whatever conclusions her speculations could reach had to be set aside. She could clearly see that the stallion in front of her was considering her words carefully.
Then, without warning, he stepped closer almost muzzle to muzzle without breaking eye contact. Cadence held her ground undeterred. She felt, more than saw, a spark of something noble in his soul, it is one of the many powers afforded to her as the princess of love, to gaze into the true nature of a pony. With that one any doubts that she had about this strange stallion melted away. It seemed that the feeling was mutual. He grinned.
"Fair point. Alicorn." He backed away, picked up his staff and resumed his strange upright posture before continuing on his way.
"Please call me Cadence." She said, a little disoriented from the gaze into his soul. "What's your name?"
The stallion placed a hoof on his chest. Opened his mouth and closed it again. He seemed to be deep in thought.
"Are you okay?" Cadence asked with concern.
"The name I have means nothing anymore...need something new..." She heard him mumble. When the stallion looked up at Cadence and found that she was eyeing him. He cleared his throat.
"I'm thinking." He said giving Cadence an awkward smile.
"You need to think, for your name?"
The stallion nudged a small pebble while he walked. He stopped for a moment to consider the small rock. The expression on his face brightened as he turned to face Cadence.
"Rocky. Yeah that sounds good. Please call me Rocky."
There was a moment of silence between them. As Cadence accepted the name offered with a little bit of hesitancy.
"Okay Rocky. I think we should find this unicorn. He or she could be hurt or captured just like me."
The stallion named Rocky nodded. "Of course." He said before turning and resuming their march through the crystal mines.
There was more silence between them, broken every once in a while by the tapping of Rocky's staff. Rocky would stop periodically as if to survey the area before nodding to himself and continuing on. Cadence was sure he knew where he was going and was wondering if he only stopped in consideration of her and her limping. Such a gentlecolt she mused.
"How did you find me?" Cadence asked, hoping to drown her pain in conversation.
"I felt your misery. Hard not to with a broken heart like yours. What happened? I promise you those creatures will have much to answer for."
An empath? Cadence thought to herself. She knew there were more ponies than her that could have a deep resonance to emotion. This was the first time she had met a pony such as herself.
"What happened is a really long story. But those creatures you fought are called changelings. They haven't been seen in Equestria for a hundred years. They can take the shape of anyone they come in contact with."
Rocky Frowned, his confusion on clear display. "Equestria? What are you talking about. Is that an Alicorn city?"
Cadence stopped, and Rocky stopped with her.
"What's wrong?" Rocky asked, feeling the confusion and worry radiating off of Cadence.
"Equestria is a Nation. Our Kingdom. Surely you know what Equestria is? Do you have a concussion. Should we rest a bit?"
Rocky winced and rubbed the back of his neck while Cadence narrowed her eyes and took a step back. Spark of nobility or not, the dread from her experience still threatened to overcome her.
"What are you not telling me?" She asked suspiciously.
Rocky sighed. "You can relax. I mean no harm. But the truth is stranger than any fiction I can conjure I assure you."
Cadence tilted her head, once again making eye contact. "Try me."
Rocky sighed again in resignation and brought a hoof to his muzzle. He thought for a moment trying to find words to describe his predicament in a way that was believable. Just when he thought he had cobbled together some kind of explanation, the tell tale color of unicorn magic enveloped him. His eyes grew wide in shock.
"Oh horse apples."
Rocky found himself launched against a wall, connecting with a solid "Oof!". Before he could recover, sharp crystals dislodged themselves from the ground and impaled the area around him forming a makeshift cell. Cadence reeled back in shock before being tackled by a purple blur.
"YOU!" This purple blur exclaimed standing over her, horn alight with dangerous magic.
Cadence's face lit up as she recognized the unicorn on top of her. "Twilight!?"
Before either of them could say or do anymore, Rocky's staff came flying in like a javelin, striking the attacking unicorn in the flank. Twilight squeaked and rolled over in pain, the offending staff clattering loudly against more stone from the impact.
"Don't touch her you Platinum Dog! I'm the one you want!" Rocky roared as he slowly started to pry his crystal prison apart with sheer force and earth pony strength. Wisps of smoke curled around Twilights mane as she turned her attention to the offending stallion. With a burst of light the surrounding crystals began to slowly close in on Rocky who increased his efforts against the crystals imbued with magic.
"Twilight stop! Please STOP!" Cadence pleaded limping her way between Twilight and her rescuer.
"Sunshine. Sunshine. Lady Bug's awake. Clap your hooves and do a little shake!"
Everything stopped.
"Pardon?" Croaked a stunned Rocky.
Cadence repeated the nursery rhyme but this time did what Rocky could only call a "Jig." She repeated it a third time and this time unicorn called Twilight joined in and when they finished embraced each other in laughter and tears.
"Cadence I can't believe it! It's really you!"
"Oh Twilight it's so good to see you!"
The two sat there exchanging their stories. How Twilight found out that the Cadence on the surface was a fake and how her friends, brother and even Celestia had turned against her. Cadence described her terrible ordeal before Rocky came to her rescue. For Rocky's part, he listened intently, catching himself up on events that were previously unknown to him. When he thought he had gathered all the relevant information he could he cleared his throat.
"Really nice. I'm so happy that you found a friend. Would it be possible to let me out of this? We have bigger problems to deal with."
"Before I let you go. Prove to me you aren't a changeling. Who are you really and what are you doing here?" asked Twilight cautiously approaching the cell. A faint glow betraying a magic spell of dubious intent charged on her horn.
Rocky cleared his throat. "Me? I'm just an earth pony farmer. Just passing through. I'd really rather leave it at that for now." It was the truth. Not the whole truth, but definitely the truth. He could explain himself later. Twilight remained unconvinced until an encouraging look from Cadence softened her guard.
"Ugh. Fine. You seem fishy to me, but if Cadence vouches for you I have no choice but to trust you."
Rocky was about to let out a sigh of relief but Twilight's shoved a hoof onto his snout and pressed hard. "If you ever touch my flank again, I will explode you so hard they'll find pieces of you on the moon. ARE WE CLEAR!" She practically yelled in his face.
Rocky nodded an affirmative looking exasperated. One of the Crystals dislodged themselves leaving just enough room for Rocky to squeeze through. He dusted himself off and recovered his staff.
"Save your threats Twilight the unicorn. We have more important things to worry about now. Like why is everypony screaming above us?"
"Screaming?" Twilight asked confused.
"It's really more distress and cowering in fear, small pockets of courage here and there, mostly fear. But yes, screaming." He looked over at Cadence.
"You can't feel that?"
Cadence shook her head. "No, I can't." She admitted dejectedly. While normally attuned to the emotions around her, her own distress had dulled her abilities. Rocky seemed to have similar thoughts.
"I thought you might have been an empath." Rocky asked looking at the wounded Alicorn. His eyes widened and he lowered his head ashamed. "Forgive me. I forgot your suffering. How can you hear the babbling of a brook when you are underneath a waterfall." He muttered as if quoting somepony important, raising his hoof and bowing respectfully to Twilight and Cadence.
Cadence and Twilight looked at each other quizzically, then back at the strange stallion. Twilight was the first to seek action.
"Okay. We can do this. Just gotta solve one problem at a time. First we find a way out of here, then we rescue my brother and beat the evil changeling Queen. Sound good?" She didn't wait for a response from the other two and continued. "We need a plan. First we escape, I saw some mine carts back there maybe we can..." Rocky raised his hoof and practically stopped Twilight's Rant.
"Won't need them, or whatever it is your planning. This is close enough to the surface for us to escape."
Twilight fumed as her stream of thought was so rudely interrupted. She batted his hoof away before she yelled into his face. "Look buddy, do you have a horn under that bedhead of yours? Because if not I don't see a way for you to magically break through all this rock and reach the surface." For some reason, Rocky grinned at this, which only goaded Twilight on. "Normally I would teleport us, but all this crystal is messing with my magic, so if you would be so kind as to NOT RUDELY INTERRUPT..."
This time it was Cadence's hoof to fall on Twilight. It was a gently pat on the back. Something Cadence had done long ago when Twilight was young.
"Please, lets just hear him out." Cadence said and again Twilight relented.
Rocky motioned for the two mares to get clear. A trusting Cadence and a skeptical Twilight backed away. Rocky took several breaths and assumed a strange pose on his hind legs. For the first few seconds it looked nothing was happening, but then Twilight felt it beneath her hooves. Vibrations. She looked up at Rocky and gasped in surprise. He was shaking, vibrating. Pebbles bounced and skipped across the cave surface. Stalactite began to fall around him.
Canterlot's central business district was pure pandemonium. Changeling invaders dove from rooftops firing green bolts with their curved horns. Fleeing ponies that were struck fell where they stood. They lay motionless from special magic designed to paralyze but preserve the ability to see, think and feel. Maximize terror, Maximize harvest. Changeling standard operating procedure.
The attack was so sudden, that the royal guard didn't have a chance to fully mobilize, most were providing security for the Royal wedding. Which at that time was already fully under the Changeling Queens control.
Some of the guard and local ponies were able to rally and resist but they were isolated and fighting holding actions in barricaded businesses or alleys. No pony's effort was affecting the Changeling invasion in any meaningful way.
That is until the ground in front of Donut Joe's donut shop exploded in a cloud of dirt, dust and debris. Three shadows stumbled out of the obscuring dust cloud. Rocky came first dusting himself off and massaging his front two hooves. Cadence came second, shaken but alert, levitating a slack jawed, wide eyed Twilight Sparkle behind her out of the new hole in Canterlots' street.
Only one changeling noticed the new arrivals at first. He fired a bolt of green light, which was easily side stepped and ignored by Rocky. The earth pony seemed more concerned with making sure his hooves were alright than anything else going on around him at the moment. Enraged at how easily the attack had been avoided, the changeling charged at him with fangs barred. The changeling was finally recognized, as Rocky's hoof connected with said fangs in a blur of orange, sending broken teeth flying and a changeling stumbling back before Rocky's rear hoof connected with a *CRACK* against its neck sending the black bug careening into a nearby souvenir stand.
Cadence gave Rocky his staff back, dumbfounded at the display of violence. Rocky seemed unmoved as he thanked her with a grateful nod. As for Twilight, she made movements with her mouth but no sound came out, so Cadence had to interpret for her. Though her interpretation was merely a question both of them seem to have.
"What did you do?"
Rocky raised an eyebrow, pondering the question. "I don't supposed the arts of Tei-Rah-Doh mean anything to you? Ever seen a Master of earth pony magic? What about martial arts?"
Before either of them could reply, a green bolt struck Rocky in his blind spot. He grit his teeth fighting the magic paralysis before being tackled by yet another changeling. A beam of purple magic saved him as his attacker was blasted off and straight through a storefront window. Finally shaking off the effects of the spell, Rocky got off the ground and stood on his hind legs assuming the stance of his so called First Gate.
"Quit horsing around! We have to stay alert!" Twilight exclaimed. It seemed that she had finally snapped out of her stupor. Rocky snorted but gave a nod as more changelings began to approach, cautiously this time.
"There's too many." Cadence exclaimed worriedly. "Rocky, Twilight, I don't think I need to tell you that I'm in no condition to fight."
Rocky risked a glance away from his opponents and back at Cadence. The wound on her neck had stopped bleeding but her other injuries were still plainly visible through the discoloring of her coat. Cadence must be protected. Memories of the suffering he felt through her was unbearable. He silently vowed never to feel her suffering again.
"Twilight do you know any healing magic?"
"Just the basics, but there's no time for that now."
Several Changelings launched themselves from all directions at Cadence ignoring her two protectors. Classic predator mindset. Rocky thought before wrapping his hooves around Cadences barrel and relocating her to a nearby rooftop in a single bound. Twilight teleported almost immediately right next to them.
"Twilight is right." Cadence said wobbling after being handled so roughly. We need to get into the castle and crash my own wedding. I have to rescue my Shining!" Twilight agreed in mid-conjuring of a shield spell to block several more green bolts. "Just one problem. There's too many! We'll never make it by ourselves."
Rocky spat into his hooves and rubbed them together.
"Leave that to me. Their queen is in that castle correct?"
"Yes." Twilight explained.
"If she is defeated, then the rest of these bugs will rout?"
"There's a good chance. If I can get Shining Armor to activate his shield spell, we can expel all the changelings and free Canterlot." Cadence said hopefully.
Rocky considered his options. It should be easy for him to get into the castle and challenge the bug queen to a duel on his own. But there was no way he would leave Twilight and Cadence to their fates here. IF they stayed together he would have to fight defensively, and the longer the fight went on, the more of a chance that Twilight and Cadence could get hurt. But if he stayed and fought, drew the enemies attention away from Twilight and Cadence, then they could potentially make it to the castle unmolested. If his sense about Twilight was correct, she was more powerful than any unicorn he had met thus far. It was a long shot, but they could stand a chance.
Any further thoughts were interrupted as the enemy descended on them. Rocky delivered a uppercut to one changeling who thought to catch him in his blind spot. He grabbed hold of another who sought to bite him on his rear legs before hoisting him into the air and pile driving him through the roof of a business.
"Go then! I'll hold them off! Just please tell me you'll have a plan."
"What about you?" Twilight asked with genuine concern.
A changeling tried to feint an attack at Rocky but then at the last minute sidestepped to dart for Cadence. His fangs were about to sink into her neck when he was suddenly yanked back. Rocky had gotten hold of the Changeling's rear leg with his teeth. Biting hard eliciting a sickening crunch. He swung the black bug up and over to slam into the rooftop sending shingles in all directions. He repeated slamming the changeling over his head and onto the roof top before flinging him at another Changeling who had frozen in fear from the sheer brutality of it all.
"I wont fall today. On my honor." Rocky flashed a toothy grin, bits of broken chitin stuck between his teeth. Satisfied, and even a little impressed with that demonstration of strength and skill, Twilight nodded and with a flash had teleported her and Cadence away and out of line of sight from the changelings. With them gone, the surrounding changelings surrounded Rocky and waited for him to make a move.
Rocky spat out pieces of chitin in disgust, wiped his mouth and assumed his First Gate fighting stance.
"Alright, Changelings was it?" Rocky exclaimed embracing the feeling of anxiety that preceded a life and death struggle. "Come git some." Rocky's grin caused the surrounding Changelings to step back. With a single bound, Rocky closed the distance and the carnage continued.
====
"Where did you find this guy!?" Twilight whispered loudly as they crept through the alley's closer to Castle Canterlot.
"He found me remember?" Cadence hissed back. "He's an empath, just like myself. Clearly a capable stallion."
"You're not cheating on my brother are you?" Twilight asked raising an eyebrow.
"No! I would never betray my Shining. Twilight why would you even say such a thing." They stopped under the shadow of a food cart.
"I'm sorry I just...I was really excited when I thought I might have you for a sister-in-law, and then that wicked imposter..." Twilight seemed to be on the verge of tears. "This whole things is just getting to my head. I'm having a hard time trusting anything right now."
Cadence wrapped Twilight in her hooves and stroked her mane. Twilight hugged her back. "It's okay Twilight. It's okay. Everything will be over once the queen is dealt with. Not just Shining, but Rocky and all of Canterlot is counting on us."
They arose and started again towards the castle. Filled with determination.
Rocky pointed at a trembling unicorn mare who could barely hold her cup of tea.
"You're a Pegasus."
Rocky swung his arm over to a stallion sitting next to her who was also trembling and trying to pour their uninvited guest some fresh tea.
"And that there is your son."
Rocky finally motioned at an Earth pony colt who was currently giggling and hopping up and down on a changeling Rocky had pummeled through their living room wall.
"Y-yes sir." Replied the Pegasus stallion, trying and failing to maintain his composure. "P-Please don't hurt us."
Rocky sighed deeply, rubbing sweat off his temple with a forehoof. The changeling he was currently using as a makeshift seat, stirred. A swift jab with his staff put it back to sleep. The nervous couple winced.
"I don't mean you any harm." Rocky exclaimed trying his best to ignore the massive hole in the wall in their living room. The Wall was practically gone. "Really I don't. It's just that this place...this time... It's confusing to me." Rocky downed his tea and smacked his lips in satisfaction. "Thank you very much for the drink, But I'd better be off. More bugs to fight...you know how it goes."
With a flourish of his hoof and a bow, Rocky grabbed his staff and leapt out of the destroyed living room and onto the chaotic streets of Canterlot streets leaving the stunned couple in silence. The giggling laughter of their foal mingling with the sound of fighting outside.
====
Rocky charged through the streets doing his best to settle the anxiety in his heart.
"Unicorn. Earth Pony. Pegasi. Together. How long have I been gone?"
A changeling made the mistake of getting in his way. Without breaking stride Rocky dispatched the bug with an arcing blow from his staff, knocking the offending changeling through yet another living room wall. The blow felt cathartic as battle once again seemed to soothe his troubled soul. The more he fought, the less he had to think about everything he left behind. Everything he sacrificed for. Rocky grunted as he turned the corner forcing himself to shake off the feelings welling up in his soul. He found the distraction he was looking for.
A Pegasus Knight surrounded and subdued by eight or so changelings. Rocky felt his shame and anger at being bested, and couldn't help but feel sorry for him. With a running start he leapt onto the walls of the houses, then onto the roofs before landing in their midst, staff in hoof.
"Approach and you'll regret it." Rocky spat out a warning as he assumed his first gate stance with staff in hoof.
"What are you doing? Run! Get out of here!" The Pegasus barked. Rocky only smirked, musing that at least the pride of Pegasi still remained. The Royal Guard Pegasi looked on helplessly as the earth pony ignored his warning and assumed what looked like a dancers pose. The earth pony stood upright in perfect balance presenting his left side to his attackers. His front legs were outstretched to either side and angled downward slightly. The staff was balanced almost perfectly on his shoulders and showed no signs of tipping over.
When the first changeling charged, the earth pony executed what can only be described as a spinning dodge which turned into a rear hoof strike to the changelings head. It was lights out before the changeling even hit the ground.
Undeterred, the rest of the changelings all charged at once.
Rocky nimbly ducked and dived at the last minute resulting in many of the changelings crashing into each other. Before they could recover, each changeling was picked off one by one with well executed staff strikes and kicks. Before long, all changelings were sprawled out onto the cobblestone street.
Once Rocky was sure that they were secure, he untied the stunned guard.
"That was...That was AMAZING! WOW! I don't know what that was but you've gotta teach me some of that."
The pegasi pumped a hoof into the air and looked around taking in the sight of the defeated changelings.
"My name is Flash. Flash Sentry. Royal Guard Initiate. What's yours?"
The Pegasi's excitement gave Rocky pause.
"Oh...two names...uh." Rocky looked around before noting the street under his hooves.
"Road. Rocky Road." He said quickly, giving a respectful bow.
"Ah! Like the ice-cream?"
"Ice cream?" You know what? Never mind. Listen we don't have much time. Have you ever heard of the fighting arts of Tei-Rah-Do?"
Flash shook his head.
Rocky's heart sunk. But he continued to press hoping somepony, anypony would recognize it. "What about the first gate? The Resonance Gate? Does that ring a bell? The Striking Gate? Maybe the Flash Gate?" Deep down he already knew but just had to be sure. When he got no response Rocky sighed.
"In your studies of warfare have you ever learned anything to counter earth pony magic or martial arts?"
"Earth Ponies can do magic?" Flash Sentry muttered dumbfounded.
Rocky placed a hoof to his face and groaned. Unable to ignore his worst fear any longer. He was a stranger here, a complete stranger. A Sojourner in a foreign land. Before he could ask further questions. Sounds of mares screaming for help caught their attention.
"Looks like break time is over." Flash said, his carefree nature suddenly dropped.
"Agreed."
With a mutual nod the two warriors headed in the direction where several ponies were yelling in distress.
========
As Rocky and his new side-kick battled their way through Canterlot, a creeping sadness threatened to cloud his focus. It was clear to him now. He was far from home and he was pretty sure he could never ever go back. Rocky continued to fight back those thoughts even as he fought the growing horde of changelings. He observed his new companionThe Pegasus knight Flash Sentry, though unrefined, was effective at disrupting changeling formations and ambushes. It felt nice to have somepony to watch his back for a change, even if he was a Pegasus.
"Watch the roof!" Came Flash's warning.
Rocky rolled just in time to avoid a paralyzing spell before launching his staff like a javelin at the offending attacker. It connected and sent the changeling sprawling down the other side of the building and out of sight. Flash deflected another spell bolt with a trash can lid before slamming it against another charging changeling who nimbly dodged the attack before tackling Flash into a pile of garbage.
Flash Sentry emerged from the pile followed by another Flash Sentry. Rocky raised his eyebrow and approached. It was one thing to hear about a changeling's abilities it was another thing to see it in action.
"Woah! Not me! He's the changeling! Get hi..." Flash didn't get to finish his sentence before he was upper-cutted into the ceiling by a dismissive Rocky. A green flash later and the limply hanging hooves from the ceiling transformed back into the black chitin of a changeling.
The other flash rolled out of the garbage and accepted Rocky's outstretched hoof.
"How did you know it wasn't me?"
Rocky shrugged. "Fake emotions are not the same as real emotion." Before Rocky could explain further they heard more fighting coming from beyond the alley.
She was fighting in the form of the second gate. The striking gate. Her form was imperfect, the strikes lacked true power, but it was undeniably the second gate. The earth pony mare was currently dueling what appeared to be a drone captain, as the markings on his shell seemed to indicate rank not to mention he was much more adept at combat than the others. It was effective at mimicking the earth ponies moves. Just when it looked like Rocky would have to intervene. The earth pony mare got the changeling in a rear chokehold and ended the fight.
That's when the reinforcements showed up.
"That's our cue!" Rocky exclaimed launching himself into the maelstrom of changelings converging into the square.
"Tally HO!" Flash cried as he followed Rocky's lead.
The Mountain Chill, one of Canterlot's premier café and cake hangout joints was in ruins. Tables were overturned, chairs thrown through windows, changling's sprawled around groaning in pain like noisy sentient litter. Rocky Road, Flash Sentry and their newest combat companion, an earth pony mare, nursed their various bruises. Flash Sentry was examining a freshly acquired black eye and the earth pony mare had a very mild limp. Rocky himself felt like he was about to throw up from exertion and dehydration, but steeled himself. "Masters don't show weakness" He muttered to himself, recalling the words of his own masters.
Rocky turned to the earth pony mare and gave a light applause. "That was good form! Strikes were a little sloppy but otherwise pretty good execution. We should spar some time."
The mare turned to him, black mane rolling down her shoulders. With half lidded rose colored eyes and a mild tilt of her head. She gave him a coy smile. "Funny way to ask a girl out. But If we make it out of here in one piece, I'll consider it."
Rocky immediately stopped clapping. "Oh wait. Hold up. That's not..."
"She's totally flirting with you dude." Captain Obvious, aka Flash Sentry, chuckled while gingerly touching his eye and examining his dented armor in a broken mirror.
"Not helping." Hissed Rocky trying to fight against a sudden rush of heat to his cheeks. He must not have been completely successful because the mare sauntered up to him seemingly enjoying his discomfort.
"I've never see a pony fight like that before. It's not any martial art I've seen. What do you practice?"
A bead of sweat threatened to roll down Rocky aware of how this earth pony mare was examining him from head to tail.
"It's uh. Tei-Rah-Do. Gate of Resonance form." It wasn't completely true, he mostly used the first gate but mixed other gates within the fight as well. He withheld that info to see if she could spot the difference. There was no recognition in her eyes.
"Tei-Rah-Do you say? Never heard of it." The mare saw his disappointment and frowned.
"Oh come now don't be disappointed. You're moves were impressive enough." She paused before laughing to herself. "I can drop the rescued damsel act if you prefer. "
"I'm sorry...miss?"
"Octavia. Octavia Melody"
Octavia Melody backed up to a respectable distance and spoke. "I apologize for the act, you just seemed so easy to tease. It's not everyday that I get rescued by two handsome gentlecolts from alien bugs. Thought I'd play the role a bit you know?"
Rocky let out a sigh and bowed in respect. "Octavia. The name is Rocky Road. A master...maybe even THE master of Tei-Rah-Do at this point, I don't know. I'm just a humble farmer passing through, and buying time for my acquaintances to put an end to this infestation." Rocky suddenly started to cough dryly. Octavia waited patiently for Rocky to stop, but when he didn't Octavia grew worried. When Rocky doubled over as if in pain, both Octavia held him with concern all playfulness gone.
"Water." He croaked, sitting on his haunches and bringing his hooves together, in a kind of praying pose. Octavia placed a hoof on his back and looked towards Flash who was already behind the counter grabbing some juice and water bottles out of the fridge. When Flash returned with a hoof-full of bottles. Rocky wasted no time chugging them greedily.
Octavia looked concerned. "Careful now. If you drink too fast you'll choke."
As if on cue Rocky hacked up some water that went down the wrong pipe but quickly recovered and continued to drink.
"What's the matter Rock? You act like you haven't had anything to drink in days." Flash said uncorking another bottle of water and handing it to his companion.
"Three thousand years actually. Give or take a few hundred." Rocky said without thinking, as he reached for another bottle.
Octavia looked over at Flash Sentry who merely shrugged back. To them Rocky Road must have been exaggerating.
Nine bottles of water and a fruit smoothie later Rocky was back on his hooves. The three of them got to work securing a perimeter. All the unconscious changelings were rounded up and secured with a rope Flash had found in the store room. Octavia took to care for all the paralyzed ponies that were in the immediate area, making makeshift beds of sheet cushions in one of the private rooms.
Rocky busied himself with recon which involved going into the surrounding buildings and clearing it of any hostiles. There were a few squads of changelings that approached but it seemed that Rocky had bought himself quite the reputation in his first several battles, none of them seemed to want to play. Rocky frowned and wondered if what he had done had bought Twilight and Cadence enough time.
"Looks like they got smart." Rocky remarked to himself as he scanned the skies and streets. Every once in a while he would dip into his gate to detect any presence nearby whether friend or foe. Finally relaxing Rocky jumped down from his perch and landed just a few meters from Octavia who waved for his attention.
"Mister Road, I apologize again about earlier. I was perhaps being a bit too playful."
Rock gave a wave of his own. "Don't worry about it really." Octavia joined him on his patrol, walking next to him. The two of them strolled the buildings around the Mountain Chill both alert, when it seemed they were clear, Rocky thought it appropriate to strike up conversation.
"Your hoof holding up okay?" Rocky asked genuinely concerned at the barely noticeable limp in her step.
"Yes. Nothing I haven't managed before. You mentioned that you had friends who were trying to sort this out. Might I hear more about how?"
Rocky shrugged. "Not sure really. One of them is a really powerful mage, and the other is an Alicorn. Twilight and Cadance were their names.
"Twilight huh? Then were in good hooves. I'm sure everything will work itself out in the end."
"Oh, you know her?"
"Yes." Octavia nodded. "She's been quite the hero of late. Stopped a number of disasters where we live in Ponyville. Even managed to prevent eternal night and the return of Nightmare Moon. Though the details on that are a little hard to believe."
Rocky blinked, and tried not to display the confusion he felt at the name of "Nightmare Moon." Instead he chose to sigh in relief. "Good to hear that our lives are in capable hooves. Honestly had my doubts, but she clearly has the power of more than four unicorns combined."
"FOUR unicorns?" Octavia gasped sounding impressed. "I must say. I don't give her enough credit. How do you know that exactly?"
Rocky Road shrugged. "It's part of my art. Detect emotions or magical aura's and or power levels. Comes in really handy when you meet strangers." Rocky grinned "It's called the resonance gate, the first step to the mastering of all nine Tei-Rah-Do gates."
"It sounds impressive. It also sounds like you think you can read a pony's mind." Octavia stopped, playfully raising a hoof to her lips. "I'm not sure I believe you."
Rocky snorted. "I don't read minds, I just gather information and make educated guesses about what I see."
"Don't suppose you could give me a demonstration? What am I thinking now?"
Rocky paused for a moment to consider Octavia's request. A demonstration of the Resonance Gate's more advanced abilities didn't seem prudent at the moment. But the mare before him sounded genuinely curious at the moment. Rocky breathed deep and prepared to gaze into Octavia's eyes. The mare took a slight step back, and Rocky suddenly felt her playfulness turn into nerves. "Mister Road, why are you looking at me like that?"
Before Rocky could explain how his Resonance Gate worked, Flash Sentry came diving from the sky, catching both of them by surprise. He did an impressive flip and landed on his hooves. Rocky would have complimented him on his flying ability if the look on his face wasn't so dire.
"We have to get inside! The changelings have breached the armory!"
Before Rocky could register the significance of what Flash had said he heard and felt the whistling in the air.
Fool. You let your guard down.
A pained, feminine gasp and Octavia was down. Struck by a crossbow bolt.
Flash burst through the doors of the Mountain Chill carrying a wheezing Octavia on his back. Rocky followed closely barely deflecting another arrow with his now recovered staff. Once they were all through the threshold Rocky kicked the doors shut just in time for more bolts to lodge itself where he stood.
Flash set Octavia down gently on a long table and began to treat the wound. "Not good." Flash says under his breath, careful so as not to let Octavia hear the panic in his voice. The bolt had pierced one of her lungs, a second had dug into her left hind leg. Only rapid movement from Rocky had stopped the third shot from hitting home.
Kill shot
The window blew in behind him, Flash turned and flared his wings ready to fight for his life but instead saw a bloodied changeling, unconscious but still alive if barely, an enraged Rocky standing on top of it.
"How is she?" He asked, sounding furious.
Octavia's shallow breaths was all Rocky needed to hear, but heeded to hear it from Flash.
"Not good at all. If we don't repair the damage to her lung soon. She'll die." Flash said quietly.
"THAT WONT HAPPEN."
Flash Sentry, to his credit, did not flinch at the sudden outburst of his companion. Several more arrows flew through windows shattering more glass. Rocky Road took one, long, deep breath and brought order back to his emotions. Suddenly Flash felt a crossbow and a bolt quiver thrust upon his hooves.
"He had these." Rocky pointed at the changeling. "I assume you know how to use it?"
Flash nodded in grim resolve.
"Please buy me time." Rocky said walking past Flash and towards Octavia.
"But what are you going to do?" Flash asked, already knotting a bolt into the crossbow.
Rocky didn't answer and took Octavia into his hooves and marched to the back room on his hind legs. Flash had no choice but to trust his friend as another bolt came whistling through the window and nearly lodging itself into his head. Flash took his post by the windows and expertly hefted his weapon. He waited for a lull in whistling crossbow bolts, turned the corner and peaked through shattered glass. He saw the silhouette of a changeling on a neighboring rooftop. The changeling saw him too and sent another bolt flying at him. Flash dodged, popped up behind another window, found his target, took aim and fired.
====
Octavia's eyes were wide with panic but she focused them on the orange stallion as he lay her on the ground. "Rock..." She began but sputtered out blood causing the rest of what she wanted to say to die in her throat.
"Shh." he said in a reassuring tone. "It's okay. I'm here to save you."
He could feel her pain. The despair and panic in ponies who knew they were dying. It was a terrible thing to feel much less witness with your own eyes. It was something he was beginning to grow all too familiar with.
"But first I have to apologize. I am a master of the Resonance Gate. I am supposed to know every threat before they strike. I am supposed to be the eyes and ears of earth pony kind." Rocky was tearing up, despite his efforts to remain strong.
Octavia's eyes were darkening as she gave several more feeble attempts at a full breath. Not for one second did she take her eyes off Rocky Road, pleading with him for her life.
Or so it felt that way to Rocky.
"I don't care how long it's been, mistakes like these are unacceptable. You will not die because of me."
He placed a hoof gently on Octavia's barrel.
"This is my punishment."
The air around them started to glow. To Rocky It was obvious what he should do, but he was hyping himself up to do it. accessing the fifth gate was no trivial matter.
"We must sacrifice ourselves for the innocent. Behold the fifth gate. Gate of Blood."
Rocky thanked the heavens above that Octavia was knocked out by this point as both ponies were encased in an eerie red glow. It took Rocky all his years of discipline not to scream in pain. When it cleared, Octavia was asleep and breathing normally. The arrow in her side had fallen away, but the arrow in her flank remained.
Rocky was sweating doubled over and coughed his own blood onto the floor. The red fluid mixing with Octavia's own. Rocky knew he had reached his limit but there was still so much to do. He had to regain his focus and tap into the ninth gate before he passed out and died.
"My work is not yet finished, Behold the ninth gate. Gate of Infinity."
Power surged into him from the planet. Dust rose. Cutlery and bits of food levitated off the ground as the amount of magic that was being siphoned from the earth, flowed through the floor and into Rocky Road. Like a breached damn the torrents of magic that flowed through the earth threatened to consume him and make him a statue...again. Thankfully, Rocky had known what to do, having experienced the petrification once before. It was overwhelming at first, but Rocky was able to stem the flow of magic from the gate. His hooves left scorch marks on the floor and his mane began to spark and smoke. Then at once everything stopped. Everything fell to the ground with a crash with the exception of Octavia who still lay on the ground.
He had done it. He properly broke his connection just before it threatened to consume him. After one final coughing fit he straightened and stood on his hind legs leaning on his staff to stabilize himself.
Flash Sentry came bursting in, crossbow at the ready. "Rock! Are you...okay?" Flash immediately knew something was wrong. The density of magic in the air practically slapped him in the face.
"I'm fine. She's fine." Rocky stated matter-of-factly. Ignoring the fact that his voice sounded...more ethereal...He kept his back turned.
Flash approached and inspected Octavia. Sure enough she was sleeping peacefully. No trace of the mortal wound.
"Woah. Are you secretly a unicorn healer or something?"
Rocky didn't know how to explain what he did to a pony unfamiliar with the dangerous art of the fifth gate so he kept his mouth shut. Octavia's wound was still fresh inside him and his one good lung was working overtime to support his life force. Not the first time he used this trick, but he sure as hay hoped it would be the last. Without the magic contained in the earth he would surely be dead. This wasn't permanent, it only bought time for his earth pony healing to patch up the worst of the wound. Would he survive? Maybe. What mattered was that Octavia was going to be okay.
Rocky noticed Flash had gotten unusually quiet and he had a sneaking suspicion as to why.
"Dude. Your eyes."
"I know. Did you get all the changelings?"
Flash shook his head. "No. I'm an excellent shot but... these bolts weren't made to pierce chitin." Flash explained, but soured at the fact that it felt like an excuse. He thought about all the paralyzed ponies they had hidden in the back rooms. What would become of them? What of their own fates? Flash began to shake in anger and fear.
"Flash Sentry." Rocky exclaimed placing a hoof on the Royal Guard trainee to steady him. Rocky could hear his own voice echoing faintly now.
"You're not giving up are you?"
Flash shook his head firmly. "Hex no."
Rocky nodded. "That's the spirit."
The back door crashed inwards and several changelings armed with crossbows, shields and spears came barging in carrying the same markings as the bug captain Octavia had faced previously. This was it. The changeling elite. Their warrior class.
Rocky turned to face them and all the changelings froze Only the glowing white light of Equestrian magic greeted them.
"Tally Ho." Rocky quipped before he blinked forward with un-pony like speed. His hoof connected with the lead changeling's shield causing it to buckle, the changeling carrying it bore the brunt of the force and was blasted back, clear through the wall of the Mountain Chill. The changeling next to him blocked a blinding spinning kick with his armored hoof only to cry out in pain when the armor, his chitin and the bone beneath were pulverized. A follow up kick connected with the Changeling's Jaw and sent him spinning onto several crates of fresh fruit. The last changeling backed away and took a defensive stance before being shot in the flank by Flash Sentry and then subsequently smashed over the head with a folding chair. The rest of the changelings saw the state of their comrades and retreated from the room in panicked haste.
So much for the changeling elite.
"Woo Hoo! Take that ya poor excuse for insects! You're no match the Equestrian Royal Guard!" Boasted Flash Sentry waving his spent crossbow and hoisting his metal folding chair into the air. "Can't believe I was worried for a second."
"It's not over." Rocky stated. Flash and him made eye contact. The light in Rocky's eyes were gone and he had a worried expression on his face. That's when they heard her.
"My, my. What is this now? A Valiant last stand? How adorable."
The voice seemed to come from every direction at once. Flash and Rocky were both on their hind legs and stood back to back empty crossbow and staff at the ready.
"I suggest you drop your weapons and exit the building . BEFORE I BURN THIS CITY BLOCK TO THE GROUND."
"Do as she says." Rocky said quietly. Flash gulped and followed Rocky Road out of the building. What they saw made their jaws drop. The sky was swarming with changelings. Hundreds, if not thousands, encircled the building in a maelstrom of buzzing wings. In the epicenter stood a tall majestic changeling. Chrysalis, Queen of the Changelings.
"Queen Chrysalis I presume?" Rocky asked casually, calm as can be. Flash Sentry gulped and smartly let his friend do the talking.
"You presume correct, food." Queen Chrysalis approached licking her lips hungrily. "My drones tell me, You've been giving them quite the run around lately. You managed to cause enough of a stir that I am obliged to intervene. Bravo." Chrysalis clapped her hooves mockingly before signaling to her closest drone. It gave a single nod of assent before disappearing down a darkened alley-way. Moments later he and a few other drones pulled out six pony mares that were bound by ropes and chains. Two earth ponies, two pegasi and two unicorns. Rocky recognized one of them.
Twilight was bound and gagged. She didn't struggle but remained compliant and Calm. Too Calm for somepony who had been defeated. Did she have a plan? Rocky didn't count himself as a genius but he figured that a good plan wouldn't involve getting captured. The more pressing matter was; where was Cadence? Rocky felt through the white noise of fear and hatred to get a sense of where Cadence was. He didn't need to look long. There was a small glimmer of desperate hope and love in the distance. There was so much love and it was growing in the distance. Rocky forced back a smile and when he made eye contact with Twilight he relaxed. She did have a plan after all.
"Oh she told me about you and your plans to stop the invasion. To use so called elements of harmony to defeat me. Well it didn't work as you can plainly see." Chrysalis motioned to the captured mares. "Celestia's champions will not stop me...But I have a proposal for you my little pony. Join me. Train my drones to fight as you do! Together we will conquer Equestria!"
Rocky brought a hoof to his chin as if seriously considering the offer.
"You're not actually considering this are you!?" Flash whispered harshly into Rocky's ear.
"I'll be honest Flash, I'm just about spent. We can do nothing but buy time." Rocky mumbled back. It wasn't a lie, the power he drained from the planet was quickly returning to its source. With each passing moment he found it harder and harder to breathe.
"But that doesn't mean we can just give up now!" Flash pleaded. Rocky was impressed. Here was a Pegasus knight. An initiate in fact, willing to sacrifice it all for the slimmest chance of victory. It was commendable. There was a flash of green light and Flash Sentry was on the ground, paralyzed.
"He's not part of the deal." Chrysalis said brushing Flash aside with a blast of magic who landed in a trash can, unable to move. "Make up your mind now. Clock is ticking."
Rocky exhaled, and dropped his staff at Chrysalis's hooves. It clattered to the ground noisily. With an exaggerated motion, he knelt down onto his forehooves. Chrysalis cackled. "Excellent my little pony. Your service will be greatly rewarded I assure you."
There was something that really got under Rocky's skin. Hurting his friends. Flash Sentry, one of the first ponies to share the battlefield with him. Discarded so carelessly into the trash. Not to mention Octavia, or Cadence, or Twilight or any of his fellow ponies behind him in the Mountain Chill laying Paralyzed. For the moment, Rocky did not care what Twilight's plan was. But it would have to include him beating the living shit out of this witch in front of him.
"You called down the thunder, now reap the whirlwind." Rocky mumbled almost reverently.
"What was that?" Chrysalis asked moving closer. "Speak clearly to your queen."
"Behold the third gate. Gate of Flash and Fire."
Chrysalis blinked and Rocky was gone. Before she could react he reappeared behind and delivered a fiery diving kick right onto the Changeling Queen's flank. The impact was so sudden and so forceful that the bug queen's knees buckled and she doubled over. Before Chrysalis could even gasp in pain, Rocky disappeared again in a thunderous crack before reappearing beneath her. A flame full of hoof later and Chrysalis was in the air, cracks in her chitin beginning to show. Dumstruck at the audacity of what was going on the changeling drones looked on in disbelief at what was happening to their queen. For the final strike Rocky Road appeared above her and pummeled her into the cobblestone streets with a diving thrust of his rear legs, yelling out a primal cry of fury and rage that reverberated throughout Canterlot.
Everypony was silent as Rocky tried to follow up his strike but found his power wanting, this was it. He was out of siphoned earth magic and thus out of time. Damn. Probably shouldn't have let his anger get the best of him. He stumbled back and pumped his hoof into the air.
"My name is Rocky Road! Formerly known as Lord Macadamia of the Earth Pony Clan Tol-Do-Rok! I am the last of my kin, and the last master of Tei-Rah-Do! As long as I stand you will not lay a hoof on my kind!"
The drones were still, watching, waiting for their pummeled queen. Had Rocky done it? Was the queen done for? The shattered cobblestone shifted. Of course he hadn't. The bug queen emerged from the shattered stone, eyes ablaze with rage and green light.
"How dare you" Chrysalis' breath finally returned. The cracks in her chitin were slowly starting to heal itself. Rocky Road stumbled backwards, using all his might to remain standing. He struck the pose of the Second Gate. Waiting for the retaliation that was intended to finish him off. All he had left was his earth pony resilience, and it would have to carry him to victory this day. After seeing their queen returned, the changelings began to close in, buzzing in anger, but Chrysalis stopped them.
"NO! Do not interfere! He is mine! Such insolence will not be tolerated!"
The gut punch Rocky received, was something he did not see coming mostly because his vision was beginning to fail him. Fresh blood trickled out of his mouth and onto the rubble in the streets as he stumbled backwards but remained standing, he struck his resonance gate form just in time to sense a powerful kick aimed for his head He moved to block and was successful, but a follow up strike caused, his hind legs buckled from the force and he dropped to all fours. The strikes were clumsy and done out of rage, easy for even a novice to deflect and take advantage of, sadly Rocky doubted he could take on even an inductee at this point. One final strike to his back sent him flat against the hard surface.
"Such a strong spine, I hope you don't mind if I CRUSH IT." Chrysalis pressed down hard on cracking the cobblestone underneath.
"Maybe I'll tear it out and hang it above my throne."
Rocky wanted to scream in pain but there was no air left. This was it. He saw his death and tried to find comfort in it. As expected he found none. Instead he found Twilights despair and muffled cries for him to hold on. His resonance gate was beginning to rupture. Twilights muffled cries once again urged him desperately to hold on. Were those tears in her eyes? "Sorry to disappoint you unicorn but I think this is it for me." Suddenly he felt love. So much love. It blasted from a source in the distance.
It grew and grew until it was all he could feel. Rocky clung onto it desperately, trying to avoid the pain of death. It seemed to be working, so he clung to it harder. As he felt the pressure on his back loosen. He could hear a panicked Chrysalis yelling commands he didn't understand. All the hatred and fear was leaving him and moving towards the source of that love. The Resonance Gate finally broke and then there was nothing but darkness.
Rocky Road's eyes fluttered open, vision blurry and unfocused. His head turned slowly toward the source of the music. Through the blurriness of his vision he could see golden light cascading down, glimmering on a slender mare. An angel, or so he thought, standing upright and playing an instrument he didn't recognize. Rocky lay there contemplating life, letting the strangely mesmerizing music wash through his senses. A tear welled up and ran down his cheeks and onto the mattress below. He was surprised to realize he was crying. If this was what it was like to die, then death wasn't so bad.
"Beautiful." He croaked out.
There was a small gasp of surprise and the music suddenly stopped. Rocky's angel walked up to him slowly, and placed a hoof next to his head. Rocky leaned forward until he could feel the mare's soft fur.
"Why did you stop?" Rocky whined in protest. As his blurry vision became filled with the image of his dark maned angel. He felt something wet drip onto his face. Does it rain in heaven? Guess it does.
"Something more important came up dear." Came a vaguely familiar voice.
"It can't have been THAT important." Rocky scoffed weakly, desperately wanting to hear the music again. But darkness took him and he drifted back to unconsciousness.
Octavia brushed a strand of silver hair out of Rocky's face and took a small step back. After a few deep breaths to steady her shaking nerves she wiped her eyes and headed for her Cello and quickly put it back in its case. Exiting the hospital room into a scarcely populated hospital floor she found Flash Sentry, out of armor and bandaged up almost entirely from head to hoof, passed out on a visiting bench just outside. She nudged him gently and the guard snapped awake.
"Whu..What!" He looked around in panic state. Then he saw Octavia and relaxed. "Oh. Thank goodness its only you."
"Flash. I just spoke with mister Rocky Road."
"He's awake?!" He exclaimed in excitement but Octavia's hoof brought his volume down. "He drifted back to sleep. I...I think my playing may have woke him."
Flash nodded and responded with a more reserved tone. "But that means he's gonna be okay right? The Doc said if he regained consciousness that it'll be a good sign."
Octavia sighed. "One can hope. I'll go inform the nurse."
=========
Princess Cadence, Princess Celestia and Twilight marched in good order down the hallways of Canterlot General Hospital following the lead of a very old pony in a doctors coat. Doctor Touchstone was a renowned expert in Earth Pony Physiology and had quite the successful track record as a surgeon specializing on the earth pony spine.
"I assure you Princess we will do whatever we can for him. However, I must confess that the extent of his injuries are severe. Multiple fractures and a slipped disk or three. Not to mention a collapsed lung that we only recently patched up with magic."
Princess Cadence frowned at this and the guilt trip started all over again. If only she had broken Chrysalis' mind spell sooner. If only she hadn't been captured, etcetera. She shrugged off the thoughts as best she could before glancing over at Twilight who did her best not to look upset. It was Twilight's idea to use Rocky as bait, once the initial plan to attempt to retrieve the elements of harmony as a distraction had failed. She had proclaimed a so called "Champion" other than they would stop Chrysalis in her tracks. It was an outright lie of course, but one that the bug queen so quickly fell for. Both Cadence and Twilight wondered how much of a Ruckus the stallion was causing down in Canterlot, apparently it was enough that Chrysalis had bought the lie so easily. Ultimately the distraction worked, allowing Cadence enough time to break Chrysalis' spell over Shining Armor. They won, but why did it feel like they lost?
Doctor Touchstone stopped in front of Rocky's Room and placed a hoof on the nob.
"To be frank, I'm not sure he'll be able to walk again." The doctor said quietly which caused both Twilight and Cadence no small grief. Princess Celestia however was a stone wall. She showed no emotion except to drape a wing around Twilight who had turned away after failing to suppress a sob. Princess Cadence added a comforting hoof.
"There must be something we can do. Isn't there a spell? Magic healing potion maybe?" Cadence pleaded.
"The options are limited." The doctor twisted the nob and opened the door. "I do have a few ideas on how we can ease...WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?"
The hospital bed was empty, Rocky stood on his hind legs using an open window for leverage. Rocky looked over his shoulder.
"What does it look like healer? I'm re-aligning my spine." Rocky stated as if it were as normal as...well...getting out of bed. Before anypony could react. Rocky Road twisted and stretched in a manner that looked like it was gonna hurt. A LOT. Everypony flinched as a loud series of cracks and pops cascaded through his body. A look of pure satisfaction appeared on Rocky's face as he sighed in relief.
"Ah. Much better." Rocky stood on his hind legs and assumed his second gate form, striking the air with a flurry of hoof strikes. "Good as new."
"What? How did? WHAT DID YOU DO!?" The doctor exclaimed indignantly and rushed over to check his patient.
"What are you talking about? All earth ponies can re-align their own spines. You're a healer. You should know this."
The Doctor looked like he was going to have a stroke, after a thorough check of Rocky's back and joints he rushed out of the room looking for a nurse. Princess Cadence took this moment to file in.
"Rocky Road. Thank goodness you're okay. Should you be out of bed? The doctor appeared to be quite distressed."
Rocky waved a hoof. "He'll get over it. I'm as fit as a fiddle. Just needed some rest for good ol' earth pony resilience and magic to patch things right up." As if to demonstrate his point he mimicked Princess Cadence and Twilight's dance. "Sunshine! Sunshine! Ladybugs Awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!" He blurted out complete with a botched execution of the jig he could remember. Cadence tried hard not to laugh. Twilight couldn't decide if she wanted to laugh or cry so she settled for both.
Rocky sat down upon his bed as he observed the three mares in his presence. Once again he turned his attention to Cadence. Out of all her wounds, the one that mattered had been healed. "You really shouldn't be concerned with me. Where is your lucky stallion?"
"Shining Armor is meeting with the guard to re-assess the defenses of Canterlot. You know, after the invasion and all." Cadence responded waving a hoof around as if it wasn't a big deal that they had just been invaded by emotion sucking vampire bugs.
"Are you sure you're alright? That looked like it hurt a lot." Interjected Twilight moving to stand next to Cadence and fixing Rocky with an apologetic look.
"It did!" Laughed Rocky. "But pain is kind of the name of the game so you get used to it."
Twilight looked as if she wanted to say something but didn't quite know how to say it. Rocky picked up on it immediately.
"Ah don't beat yourself up over it Twilight. You're plan worked, I was just glad to have played my role." Rocky reached out a hoof. Twilights gingerly extended her own as they met each other. They shook.
"But if I hadn't messed up with the elements, or If I had distracted Chrysalis another way or..."
"...if your princess listened to you in the first place, non of this would have happened." Came the very regal voice of Princess Celestia who now joined Twilight and Cadence in the room.
"Twilight Sparkle, as your mentor I should have listened to you and your instincts. I should have known that you wouldn't have acted the way you did without good reason. Your conviction carried the day in the end. As for you..." Princess Celestia, monarch of the sun and of Equestria turned her attention to Rocky and bowed low.
"Lord Macadamia. It is an honor and pleasure to finally meet you. Thank you so much for protecting my little ponies. I will, personally, forever be in your debt."
Rocky shifted his hooves suddenly feeling very uncomfortable. It was only further amplified when both Cadence and Twilight bowed low as well, both ignoring the pleading look Rocky had been giving them not to.
"Oh please don't do that. And please call me Rocky Road, The name and title of Lord Macadamia means nothing in this time."
"You'd be surprised." Came Princess Celestia's regal voice as she straightened back up to her full height. I may not look it, but I am thousands of years old. Before I ascended to Alicornhood I was an earth pony." Rocky's eyes widened, both princess Cadence and Twilight looked up as well astonished about Celestia's sudden revelation.
"But princess, the history books say that you were a unicorn before your ascension!" Twilight stammered out.
"I know what the books say Twilight. They are wrong. It's a lie I tolerated for less than noble reasons." She shook her head. "That'll be a story for another time. Lord Macadamia I know of who you are and the stories of your deeds along with other masters of Tei-Rah-Do. Stories passed down to me and my sister from my father and his father before him." Celestia brought a hoof to her lips and chuckled a bit.
"Is this really necessary?" Rocky Road asked from the comfort of a wheel chair as Twilight and the Princesses wheeled him down a busy hospital hallway with their magic.
"Only until we reach the exit. Doctor Touchstone will have my mane if I break hospital protocol." replied Princess Celestia smiling as she waved to star struck foals in hospital gowns. Rocky sighed but resigned himself to the strange modern contraption that they were using to wheel him out of the building.
"On the bright side." Princess Cadence chimed in. "It's not everyday that you are personally escorted by TWO princesses. Consider it a thank you for your service in defense of Canterlot. Not to mention saving my life."
"I'm honored. Truly." Rocky said bowing his head respectfully.
"The honor is ours." Princess Celestia giggled which earned her an amused look from both Twilight and Cadence. ` A good part of the morning consisted of Princess Celestia probing Rocky for information the same way a reporter from the Equestria Daily would question a potential source. Twilight and Cadence joined in the discussion when they felt appropriate but for the most part they were listening in fascination. Twilight wished she had her notebook and quill, but more so than that, a camera. She couldn't think of a time where she ever saw her mentor...well... giddy. Excited yes. Impressed yes. But giddy? As far as Twilight was concerned this was a first for the history books. Who was this Rocky Road? What were these gates he kept mentioning in his tales? Not to mention the fact that EARTH PONIES COULD DO MAGIC. Twilight's mind reeled as she recalled what Rocky did in the tunnels of the old Canterlot mines, and against Chrysalis and her changelings. Such a novel form of magic deserved to be explored, documented...
"Research." Twilight's eyes became wide as dinner plates as she paused at the threshold of Canterlot General Hospital.
"Twilight, did you say something?" Asked a concerned Princess Cadence. Princess Celestia and Rocky Road also turned to look at the stupefied unicorn. Twilight shook herself from her daze and rubbed the back of her head embarrassed.
"Oh nothing Cadence. Absolutely nothing. Didn't you have something you wanted to give him?"
Cadence placed a hoof on her lips as she remembered. She reached into her mane with her magic and pulled out a beautifully decorated envelope, giving it a once over she levitated it to Rocky who accepted it with an outstretched hoof.
"Mr. Rocky Road. I would be honored if you attended mine and Shining Armor's wedding. It's the least I could do after you saved my life."
Rocky pulled out a pair of reception tickets and smiled. "Thank you Princess. I would love to come." His eyes lingered on the second ticket and he frowned. He closed his eyes and placed a hoof to his head. In his mind's eye he saw his companions fighting for their lives and how he failed them.
"Oh I am such a fool. How could I forget about them. How could I have been so selfish..."
Twilight, Princess Cadence and Princess Celestia all looked at him with concern, but before they could even ask what was wrong Rocky spoke.
"Princess Celestia, there were two ponies with me before I fought Queen Chrysalis. Are they..." His voice wavered with concern but he forced out the question he dreaded to ask. "Did they die?"
"Flash Sentry and Octavia Melody? They were discharged from the hospital this morning with relatively minor injuries. I met Octavia just yesterday when I was making my rounds visiting the injured in the hospital." Princess Celestia gestured towards Twilight. "My faithful student Twilight here bumped into Flash Sentry just yesterday, quite literally. The poor Stallion was knocked on his flank."
"Oh. Princess, please STOP." Twilight said turning away a faint blush appearing on her cheeks. The look on her face was not lost on Cadence who chuckled knowingly.
A wave of relief washed over Rocky as he hopped off the wheelchair now that they were out of the Hospital proper. "Thank Goodness." He said, thankful to be out of the chair with wheels and back on his own hooves.
"Would you like them to accompany you to the wedding?" Princess Cadence asked smiling wide. Rocky Road thought about it for about half a second before nodding his assent, matching Cadence's smile. The Princess of Love levitated the magic envelope out of Rocky's hooves. With a quick flash, the one envelope became three, each with a reception ticket secured inside. She gave one to Rocky, one to Twilight and kept the third. "I'll take this one to Flash Sentry, Shining might know where to find him. That is unless...you want to invite him yourself Twi..."
"NOPE! Octavia it is!" Twilight exclaimed before Cadence could finish. "Gotta go! Seeyouattheweddingbye!" With a flash of purple light, Twilight was gone.
Princess Celestia and Princess Cadence burst into giggles while Rocky cocked his head to the side. "What's her problem?"
"Oh nothing. You should have picked up on it yourself since you and I have practically the same ability."
Rocky cocked an eyebrow. "I can detect emotions Princess, not read mares."
Cadence shook her head and sighed. "Ain't that just like a boy. I better be off. Hope to see you soon!" Princess Cadence spread her wings and took to the skies. Leaving Princess Celestia and Rocky Road on the side of the road by the hospital. Rocky watched as Princess Cadence flew off, he followed her with his eyes until she was out of sight before turning to Princess Celestia. Princess Celestia looked down at him and smirked.
"So my little pony. What will you do now."
Rocky road looked at the envelope in his hooves. "I suppose I have a wedding to look forward to, but after that..." His eyes went from the envelope to the streets where carriages and ponies went about their day. He lingered on the tall decorative structures that served as business centers and homes only recently repaired from the changeling incursion.
"...I have no idea." Rocky sighed. "My home is gone. Everypony I loved is gone. My clan is gone. I have nothing."
"A wise earth pony once said. There is no greater gift than to be given a second chance. Even if it is to start from nothing."
Rocky Road slowly turned and looked into Princess Celestia's eyes.
"Those are the words of Lord Tender Hoof, one of my mentors. You've clearly done your research." Rocky nodded impressed.
"You have no idea." Princess Celestia chuckled for a final time before a look of seriousness graced her features. Then the princess did something that Rocky did not expect. She knelt down and bowed low. This was unlike inside the hospital, it was an ancient sign of respect, the kind the old practitioners of Tei-Rah-Do did to honor their masters. Rocky backed away surprised, feeling a little uncomfortable. Some nearby ponies stopped to stare at the strange sight of their princess bowing before a lowly commoner. It was unbecoming of a princess, but Celestia did not care.
"Oh Princess please. There's no need for this." Rocky said quietly looking down at Celestia. Princess Celestia merely looked up at him with utmost seriousness. Rocky could feel the determination radiating from her like the sun and he looked back deep into her eyes. The noble spark of a strong, kind, and compassionate ruler.
Rocky rebuked his feelings of unease and mirrored Princess Celestia in the bow. After a moment Princess Celestia sighed and with a shaky voice said.
"My Lord. Please honor me with a duel."
"I will grant it." Rocky said, his voice barely above a whisper.
And with that they vanished in a flash of brilliant light.
Rocky opened his eyes and took in his surroundings. They were standing in a ruined amphitheater with a domed ceiling illuminated by thousands of floating candles hovering at various heights, . Crates, trinkets and book shelves were scattered around the perimeter, drag marks on the ground indicated that they were once in the center but were pushed to the sides to make room. His eyes lingered on a familiar pit in the ground and then onto a pedestal where he once stood frozen in stone for three thousand years.
"This is where I returned." He said nodding to Princess Celestia who stood by him. Rocky walked up to the crater and peered into it. The hole that led itself to the tunnels under the city had been blocked and sealed with bricks and mortar.
Princess Celestia joined him at the edge of the pit where he powered through the dirt using his first gate. "The power of love is terrifying isn't it?"
Again Rocky nodded. "Yeah. Her love for Shining Armor reached me through the stone." He placed a hoof on his chest and grimaced. "Her broken heart on the other hoof was bucking torture."
Princess Celestia chuckled somberly. "So much so that you transcended death itself and hoofed your way though the earth to make it stop."
Rocky shook his head. "I don't think I was ever dead princess, but I was never fully alive either. Every once in a while I'd awaken as if from a dream, feel myself stuck in the cold before drifting back to nothingness. I don't think I even dreamed."
Princess Celestia turned her head to gaze upon another stone statue in the distance, currently covered by a sheet. She wondered if Discord experienced something similar, but who can tell what the personification of chaos felt at all trapped in stone. Rocky followed the eyes of the Princess to the sheet and back up to the look on her face. He chose not to ask. The emotions she had hidden behind that façade were...complicated.
"So! You wished to duel. What are the terms?"
"Until either of us yields. Or is knocked unconscious...Or dead. As per tradition." Princess Celestia said walking away and magically removing her regalia, setting them aside on a broken stone pillar.
"This is hardly a traditional duel. From what I can sense you have enough magic stored that you could probably hurl the sun all by yourself. How you lost to the Changeling Queen is beyond me." Rocky said walking to the other side of the amphitheater.
Princess Celestia sighed feeling just a little bit of irritation at the jab to her honor. "Then I suggest you do not hold back. I may no longer be an earth pony, but I wield the magic of all three tribes." Princess Celestia flared her wings and stood tall, staring at him with rose colored eyes filled with determination.
"You are fully healed are you not?"
Rocky swallowed despite himself. "Yes. My strength is mostly re-awakened from my time trapped in stone."
"There is nothing stopping you then from showing me your full potential."
"I suppose not." Rocky tapped a hoof to his chin. "You do realize we have an audience." He said motioning to two imperceptible shadows lurking in the top most steps of the amphitheater. Princess Celestia nodded. "Yes. I am aware. They are here to evaluate you. Pass the test and I will introduce you to them."
Rocky Road frowned. Of course that's what this is. What do you want from me princess? Do you want to use me as well? Three thousand years and nothing has changed. He thought but declined to voice his displeasure. Instead, he slowly stood on his hind hooves and moved into the stance of the first gate. A tense silence followed, as the two combatants stared each other down.
Rocky blinked and Celestia's horn flashed. Rocky moved just enough to sidestep Celestia's attack. A beam of magical energy that sailed passed Rocky's ear, striking a large oak bookshelf and lassoing it in a golden glow. With a quick tilt of Celestia's head the bookshelf flew backwards following the beam of light. Rocky flattened himself against the earth as the heavy piece of furniture barely grazed his mane. The bookshelf shattered itself just feet in front of an unflinching Celestia before the golden light tightened around it and further tore the bookshelf (books and all) to shreds. The jagged pieces of wood and paper flowed in a circle around Celestia, before launching themselves at Rocky like a striking viper
Rocky's eyes widened. 2nd Gate of Striking. He grit his teeth. His hooves moved so fast that they were blurs, knocking away each piece of sharp wood like he was punching water from a fire hose. He gave a yell of exertion that grew steadily in volume until it was a roar. As fast as he was, Rocky acknowledged that the volume of projectiles were too much to block them all. Each strike was calculated and executed at the speed of thought, every projectile analyzed and assessed for lethality. Some escaped his guard but only managed to inflict shallow cuts. The entire time Rocky had this nagging feeling that the solar princess was distracting him from the main attack.
The barrage of shrapnel stopped and Rocky blew on his smoking hooves, chest rising and falling from exertion, before he steadied himself with a single breath.
Princess Celestia raised an eyebrow. "What are you waiting for my lord?"
"Not waiting." Rocky replied with a confident smirk. "Learning."
Princess Celestia returned the smile, it was a smile she usually reserved eserved for her most faithful student. A smile filled with pride and motherly love. With that same smile she brought the full weight of all the furniture she had been secretly levitating around the room crashing down upon Rocky. With a sickening crunch all the furniture crumpled into a large pile of splintered wood and twisted metal where the stallion once stood.
Princess Celestia paused. Then she took a step forward. Fearing that she had gone too far. She stepped again and her eyes widened. She beat her wings but it was too late. An explosion of earth caught her underside as Rocky rocketed from the earth, his hoof connecting with Celestia's belly. Air exploded from Celestia's lungs as she and Rocky were launched upwards amidst the floating candles. Rocky struck her again and then a third time before Celestia reacted. She cast another spell. Flame from the nearby candles swirled into a whirlwind of fire and wrapped around Rocky, preventing him from striking Celestia any further
3rd Gate! Flash and Fire!
The flames connected with Rocky as he held (yes held) the flames in his hooves as they flung him around the amphitheater before launching Rocky down onto the ground. Rocky landed on two hooves bracing himself with a third hoof and dispelling the flame with a fourth. By the time the dust from his landing was settled Celestia had regained her breath, hovering high out of his reach near the top of the dome.
Celestia wore a blank expression on her face as she looked down at Rocky who stared back up at her with a look that said, clear as day, "what else you got?" A quick examination of Rocky's body proved to Celestia that the damage she had done was mostly superficial. His coat was singed in many places but he was otherwise unharmed.
So this was what a True Master of Tei-Rah-Do was like. Celestia thought. Dad's stories don't do you justice my lord.
"Tis a shame that your strength couldn't have returned sooner. I would have loved to see you face Chrysalis."
"Is she dead?" Rocky asked realizing now that he had no idea what happened to the Bug Queen who nearly killed him.
"No."
"Then maybe one day."
Celestia smiled again and her horn flashed. Storm clouds morphed into existence. Rocky sighed and assessed himself. As per usual his power was beginning to wane the more he kept the gates open. He wondered just how long he could keep fighting an Alicorn who barely looked tired. Rocky frowned. The power of all three tribes huh. He felt a tingling under his hooves and noticed that the ground had turned into ice. He slipped a bit in surprise before striking the ice hard, anchoring each of his four hooves into the dirt beneath the ice. Above him clouds converged into one massive death cloud. Princess Celestia turned away from the cloud and gave him a coy smile.
Rocky's eyes widened. Don't you do it princess.
She bucked.
Air snapped and Lightning shot down into Rocky who grit his teeth in pain. Rocky refused to scream and instead dislodged his forehooves from the ice and held them together before retracting them to his side. She was gonna regret that. As lightning from the cloud continued to arc into him he focused through the muscle spasms and forced the fourth gate to open.
"Behold the Fourth Gate! Gate of Limits!"
It didn't occur to Celestia that Rocky would have a contingency for lightning. She really should have known better. After all, Tei-Rah-Do masters fought with the pegasi tribes all the time according to her history books. It didn't occur to her to wonder why there were never any accounts of Pegasi using lightning as a weapon. Well she was about to find out.
Celestia's eyes grew wide as a ball of concentrated energy manifested itself between Rocky's hooves. Celestia and Rocky made eye contact, she tilted her head curiously, and Rocky gave her a look that told her: You might want to avoid this
Celestia prepared a shield spell but it was too late. Rocky let lose his stored energy, thrusting his hooves forward and launching a concentrated beam of energy past Celestia's mane, through the dome ceiling and into the sky. Stunned Celestia turned back towards Rocky who had disappeared. She scanned the room before she sensed movement to her rear. Without thinking she cast her shield spell around her as a singed Rocky launched himself from the dome roof right at her. Time seemed to slow down as he leaped toward her with a hoof retracted for a punch.
"Behold the seventh gate. Gate of Chaos and Disharmony."
His hoof passed harmlessly through the shield and connected with the side of Celestia's head. Celestia gasped as pain filled her vision. She brought up hooves to defend herself from a follow up attack as a second hoof struck her side causing the princess of the sun to double over. A droplet of blood fell from Celestia's lip. Seeing this, Rocky saw his opportunity. He would make sure that the princess would not be able to use magic for the remainder of this duel.
"Fifth gate of blood!"
Rocky's hoof made contact with Celestia's head a second time and that's when it all went wrong. It seemed like time stopped with Rocky and Celestia frozen in midair. Rocky went slack jawed as he disrupted Celestia's magic through the cut in her lip. In front of him was no longer the large white Alicorn, but a stunningly beautiful white earth pony mare with pink mane who was barely larger than him. Her eyes betrayed her panic and fear as she quickly morphed back into her Alicorn form. Rocky was so stunned that he didn't realize that they were both falling and Rocky smashed into the ground. Princess Celestia recovered just enough to land, albeit hard, next to him.
Celestia recovered first and dusted herself off.
She walked a few steps away from the unmoving Rocky, testing her hooves as she limped slightly to a respectful distance away from him.
"I...I think were done here...congratulations...I think it's safe to say that you passed."
Rocky groaned standing wobbly on his own four hooves. When that was accomplished he attempted to stand on two. He took the 2nd gate striking form. Why was it always like this. Always running out of energy right before things started getting good. He looked at the Alicorn Princess Celestia, who barely looked hurt from all the damage he thought he dished out. Must be nice to be nigh immortal. Still he couldn't let it end this way. His pride would only allow him to go down fighting. Yielding be damned.
"Hey fat flank..." He yelled wobbling on his two hooves. Celestia froze and slowly turned to face him. The look on her face would have made him laugh but Rocky was doing his best to try and stay conscious at the moment.
"I did not kill him. Lord Macadamia is fine." *sip*
Rocky groaned from his muzzle buried in the amphitheater dirt. The voices around him grew clearer and clearer as his mind awoke from being knocked unconscious. Is that what happened? Suddenly it all came back to him in a rapid flash of memory.
"Hey fat flank. I didn't hear you say uncle" Rocky groaned again as he recalled how Celestia bucked him into oblivion. It hadn't occurred to him that Celestia was doing him a mercy by engaging him solely with magic. Alicorns also have the strength of ten earth ponies. NOTED.
"Quite the display though. He'll fit in nicely. I personally have to commend his bravado. Few have the Moxy to insult thine royal hindquarters."
Rocky heard Celestia *Humph* before sipping something, again. Bracing his forehooves on the dirt Rocky mustered enough strength to pull himself from the dirt, with a small *pop.* Shaking his head to clear his vision he glanced around. Celestia was not too far away using a slab of stone as a makeshift table. On it was a rather old looking kettle which she used to pour something hot and steamy into a ceramic cup. He noted how she was determined to avoid his gaze. Sitting across from her was a light grey unicorn with neatly styled cyan blue mane. He looked to be wearing some sort of formal attire. The other voice belonged to... A biped. A tall biped. Standing directly over him.
"Need a hand?"
It said outstretching his appendage. Rocky did not accept, not at first.
"You...You're a... Terran?"
The Terran shrugged. "Human. But close enough."
Rocky accepted the strange appendage of a creature he thought to have been extinct, and wobbled onto all four hooves.
"Sit down my lord we have much to discuss." The light grey unicorn motioned to a stool next to Celestia. Rocky approached wearily, now aware that Celestia was giving him the cold shoulder. Was it something I said. He thought to himself. He took his seat and was a little surprised when Celestia poured him a fresh cup of tea.
The Terran, or Human as he introduced himself sat opposite of them next to the unicorn. His large frame sitting comically on a small stool that barely supported his weight. They sat in silence for a moment before the light grey unicorn cleared his throat.
*Ahem* "I believe introductions are in order Princess."
Celestia did not respond, having become very interested in her tea.
The light grey unicorn rolled his eyes. The Human sighed.
"Me thinks you have hurt the princess' feelings." He said rubbing his temple with his hands and giving him a look.
Celestia lifted her cup and took a good long sip.
Rocky looked from the Human, to the unicorn and then at the princess before he finally recognized what he had done.
"Oh. Princess. My apologies. I do believe my competitiveness got the better of me."
He bowed to the princess.
"Please forgive me for my taunt. It was unbecoming of me."
Princess Celestia set her teacup down with her magic.
"Acceptance of your apology is pending." She said coolly, but smiled regardless.
"Lord Macadamia, may I introduce my friends Soul Warden..." She gestured a hoof to the unicorn who gave a slight nod of his head. "...and the enigmatic Human known only as the Commander." Celestia said with dramatic flair for emphasis. The human rolled his eyes but raised his hand in a gesture of greeting.
"They are the two lead members of S.M.A.R.R.T. Which stands for Special Magical Artifact Research and Recovery Team. They are my go to persons for locating, investigating, securing and researching dangerous magical artifacts which have become plentiful in the lands of Equestria (and beyond) since the founding. They also serve another purpose...which we will discuss later."
Rocky frowned. So the duel was a test.
"Princess Celestia." Rocky said careful to keep his voice steady and respectful. "The skills that I wield are not to be used for personal gain, or for the gains of a nation. It is to protect ponies from those who seek to do them harm."
"Of course." Spoke the unicorn his voice professional and reassuring. "Make no mistake we are an organization DEDICATED to the preservation of pony life as well as the lives of our neighbors." His horn glowed and something warped into existence on top of the table. Princess Celestia launched herself back in horror and revulsion, shattering her teacup in the process. The Commander reacted similarly, leaping up and grabbing for something on his waist, what it was Rocky could not see, he was too focused on the look of fear on the Human's face.
"WARD what the FUCK!? Put that thing away!" He bellowed with a voice that echoed through the amphitheater.
Soul Warden shook his head.
"We could waste time trying to convince Lord Macadamia of our plight or we can show him one of our most dire charges."
"Sully....this is too much..." Princess Celestia's voice quaked with equal amounts wrath and sorrow. Soul Warden ignored her and turned towards Rocky.
"Lord Macadamia. Rocky. What do you see here?"
Rocky's attention turned to the...the thing that was sitting on the stone slab. It didn't have a shape per say as it kept morphing into an amalgamation of different unnatural shapes. From it he could hear whispers, and silent screaming.
A sudden tightness gripped the heart of Rocky Road and he doubled over in pain.
"What in Tartarus' is this?" Rocky asked horrified as he witnessed a thousand ponies hearts screaming in terror, sorrow and pain all at once. They were all wailing against his resonance gate, begging to let them in. Rocky held his ground. Somehow he knew that If he opened the gate now he would surely lose his mind.
Soul Warden waved his horn over the abomination. It disappeared.
"Some years after the banishment of Nightmare Moon. Some two-straws short of a haystack spell caster decided it would be a good idea to try and replicate the power of an Alicorn. So he did what seemed logical at the time. Experiment." Soul Warden put his hooves together. "He realized he couldn't do it by himself...so he started hiring...assistants."
"He consumed their hearts and souls." The Commander added relaxing a bit now that the abomination was gone. "He used...whatever that thing is... as a conduit."
Princess Celestia finally found her voice. "The Commander and Soul came across this artifact only a few years ago. From what I understand, it was a hard-fought battle to release some of the hearts...but the rest..."
Rocky was finally recovering propping himself up on the table with his fore hooves. After a moment of waiting for Celestia to continue he asked:
"...Why weren't the rest freed."
Soul Warden and Celestia were silent. The Commander was the one who spoke.
"Because the hearts are bound by so much dark magic, that if we were to unravel even one more. It would be the magical equivalent of a hydrogen bomb." He paused before elaborating. "It would blow away half of Equestria in a giant Thaumic Fireball." Rocky collapsed onto his stool as the reality of what he was told began to weigh on him.
"You have to be pulling my leg..."
Soul raised an eyebrow. "Would you like a closer look? I'm sure that with your abilities you could easily verify..."
"NO!" The Commander, Princess Celestia and Rocky Road all yelled in unison.
Soul Warden adjusted his necktie and picked up the cup of tea in-front of him, confident that his point had been made. He took a nice long sip before continuing.
"Then as you can see. Our work, our mission is in the best interest of pony lives, if even ONE of these artifacts, or something of similar danger fell into the wrong hands. The results could be, apocalyptic."
Rocky placed both hooves over his eyes, trying his hardest to find a justifiable reason NOT to fulfill his oath to protect and serve pony kind.
"Speaking of Apocalyptic events..."
"WAIT! There's more?!" Cried a distraught Rocky.
Soul Ignored him. "S.M.A.R.R.T. also has one other purpose. To be frank, this is what we wish to use your skills for if, heaven forbid, such a situation demanded it." Soul Warden turned towards Celestia and nodded as if telling the princess to finish the explanation. Princess Celestia shifted uncomfortably on her hooves but sighed in resignation. Rocky felt something strong in the old ruler, sadness, shame and fear.
"Princess what's wrong?" Rocky asked looking at Celestia then at the other two.
Princess Celestia opened her mouth as if to say something, but after a few false starts looked pleadingly at her two friends for help. The Commander sighed, reached into a pocket in his strange vest and pulled out something long and brown. Rocky would later be able to identify it as a cigar, but now it just looked like a thick roll of brown leaves. He reached into another pocket and pulled out a strange silver contraption that had a lid which opened with a click. He ignited the cigar and took a few long drags, letting the smoke and scent of Tabaco linger around the stone slab.
"Rocky. Our other purpose is to serve as an executioner. To put it bluntly, if it ever came down to it, our job..." The Commander pointed his cigar at Celestia who visibly flinched. "...is to kill her."
"Absolutely NOT." Rocky stumbled backwards. Soul Warden and The Commander did not react, instead they simply stared at Rocky awaiting a final decision.
"Absolute power corrupts absolutely. The great Master Sun Dew said so himself." Celestia stepped forward with eyes pleading for his acceptance.
"DONT QUOTE SUN DEW TO ME MADAM! I KNEW HIS GRANDSON. I LIVED IT!" Rocky roared unable to contain his rage any longer. But backed up all the same.
"Lord Macadamia. Please understand. When I lost my sister. When I banished her to the moon. I went mad with grief." Princess Celestia cornered Rocky against a wall as she approached tears in her eyes. "I went MAD! I lost myself! I did whatever I could to try and get my sister back! ALL I COULD!" Celestia realized that she was close to Rocky. Too Close for comfort but she did not care. She held Rocky's gaze and Rocky looked once more into those deep ancient eyes. He saw the spark of a ruler:
Noble
Motherly
Nurturing
Loving
Tiredness
Loneliness
Hopelessness
Despair
Madness
Evil
Such great evil
Celestia moved close to Rocky's ear.
"You could say I was, two straws short of a haystack."
If I ever lose myself again. You have to promise me you'll do everything in your power to end me.
The wedding of Cadence and Shining armor came back into focus as thunderous applause shook Rocky from his thoughts. His eyes lingered on Celestia as she presented Princess Cadence and her husband Prince Shining Armor to the public. The cheers of the crowd were uproariously loud. Their cheers not only signified the joyous occasion of a wedding, but the healing of Canterlot as a whole from the changeling invasion.
Rocky Road stood in the back of a beautifully decorated wedding hall in a NOT so traditional earth pony garb, in fact, according to Soul Warden, it was closer akin to formal military wear though it differed significantly from the other captains and lieutenants of the guard that he saw around the wedding venue. For one, it was a navy blue instead of bright red like many of the guard in attendance.
A blue and green sash across his chest was supposed to signify earth pony nobility. Rocky declined it strongly at first, but the royal seamstress said that she was given explicit instructions to add it to the ensemble. Above his left breast pocket were two medals. The In Defense of Equestria Medal, and the Exemplary Service to the Crown Award. Thankfully the other medals Celestia wanted to shower on him were optional. As Rocky eyed a pair of old, seemingly retired captains of the guard he noted that their suits were stacked with so much ribbons it barely left room for the suit.
Rocky felt at his mane to make sure everything was still in place. His wild silver mane was trimmed down and groomed to something neat and professional with some excess mane tied in a traditional Tei-Rah-Do knot signifying mastership. HIs tail was also groomed, no longer wild and unkempt but trim and straight, a small knot tying off the end similar to his mane.
The crowd in front of him began to move, following the newlywed couple to the reception hall. Rocky trailed behind careful to stay out of the way of the caterers and butlers serving Hors D'oeuvre and some mysterious bubbly liquid.
"Champaigne sir?"
"Oh? Is that what this is called? Thank you but..." Rocky froze in place as he recognized who was speaking to him. Soul Warden was wearing the same butler uniform as all the other servers and expertly balancing glasses of champagne on a tray with his magic. Soul Warden gave him a small smile and levitated a glass into Rocky's hoof.
"Enjoy the reception sir." Soul said giving a quick bow, before walking back to serve the rest of the guests. Rocky's eyes trailed after him yesterday's conversation ringing clearly in his head.
As I said before. We are a contingency operation. We have no plans to actually kill our beloved ruler at the moment, but we cannot allow another overpowered alicorn to lose her mind and bring about the apocalypse to all we hold dear.
"What the hell am I supposed to do against a semi-immortal alicorn that can hurl the sun itself. I doubt ten masters, nay, even Sun Dew himself could take one on and live." He muttered to himself starring into the golden bubbly liquid in his hoof.
Once again Soul Warden responded in his memory.
Were not asking you to succeed, per say. The Commander and I have several ideas should the need arise. All we ask is that you grow stronger and stronger. Rebuild your clan for the future of Equestria and STAND against her, if ever, the time comes.
Rocky grit his teeth and turned the champaign glass upside down taking down the foreign liquid all in one go. Bubbly as expected. Strong. But not strong enough for his Tei-Rah-Do honed earth pony constitution. He needed more. Some noble ponies looked sideways at him with concern as he gingerly took two glasses from a passing tray and finished them off in quick succession. Still not enough. Rocky sighed. Sometimes it was tough being a master.
"Rock! Hey!"
Rocky's ears perked up as he turned. Flash Sentry approached him wearing a red formal military attire similar to his.
"Lookin good mi'lord! Love the medals. I've got one to!"
Rocky looked at Flash's chest and noted that he had the same In Defense of Equestria medal that he had. Next to it was another medal he did not recognize.
"What's the other one?"
"Oh that old thing?" Flash said feigning boredom and inspecting his hoof. "It's only the Honor Graduate badge! I'm a full member of the Royal Guard now!" Sentry practically danced on his hooves in excitement. Rocky laughed at the display and slapped Flash on the shoulder causing the poor pegasus to buckle under the force.
"Congratulations Flash, you've truly earned it."
"Hay ya I did!" Flash replied doing a heroic job of acting like he wasn't experiencing a throbbing pain in his shoulder. His expression became a bit more subdued as he lowered his voice.
"You really doing okay my lord? I didn't think we'd see you out of the hospital so soon."
Rocky nodded his head. "Flash. Please don't call me "lord." Would that be okay?"
Flash Sentry's gaze lingered on the blue and green sash before meeting Rock's eyes.
"I suppose I could do that for you, though it IS against guard protocol."
Rock chuckled. "Then how about when were out of uniform then?"
"You got it Rock. Anything for a friend."
Rocky's expression grew serious as he held his friend's gaze. Rocky saw the spark of a soldier, a goofball, a loyal friend, insecurity, goodness, kindness, selflessness.
"Flash Sentry, let me make one thing clear. We fought together on the field of battle to defend our fellow ponies. That does not make us friends."
Flash Sentry looked shocked for a moment before his eyes were cast downward. "Oh. Sorry for assuming."
Rocky placed a hoof on his shoulder, much gentler this time. Flash looked up and saw Rocky's smirk.
"It makes us brothers Flash. Battle Brothers to be exact."
For the briefest of moments Rocky Road could have sworn that he saw Commander Hurricane Instead of Flash Sentry standing in front of him, now that he really looked at his new battle brother, the resemblance was uncanny.
Flash Sentry chuckled. "Battle Brother. I like the sound of that."
"So, what does that make me?" A familiar sounding voice sounded from a short distance behind Rocky. Flash Sentry looked over Rocky's shoulder and had to stop himself from dropping his jaw. Rocky smiled and turned slowly recognizing who the that voice belonged to. Unlike Flash however, he failed to keep his jaw from dropping.
"What's the matter my lord? Changeling got your tongue?" Octavia stood before him in a glittering black one-piece dress that flowed over her tail and onto the floor. Her black mane was done in a long braid and draped over her shoulder. A pink Carnation that matched the color of her eyes sat in her mane holding it together. She fluttered them eyes at them gentlecolts who seemed to forget the delicate art of speech.
It was Rocky who recovered first. Clearing his throat.
"Octavia. I... I'm glad you're alright. You look. Um. Wonderful."
Octavia rolled her eyes but smiled nonetheless. "That'll do I suppose. Though it would have been...I don't know...wonderful to have been invited by you in person. Imagine my surprise when Twilight shows up at my door."
"I was...uh...indisposed" Rocky said adjusting his attire. How did it suddenly get so warm in here?
Flash Sentry gave a sideways glance at Rocky Road and laughed at his brother's expense.
"Miss you really shouldn't give him a hard time. He only just recovered from...you know...his spine breaking."
Octavia sighed and nodded suddenly remembering seeing Rocky in the hospital. Motionless. Almost Lifeless. Suddenly, it was Octavia's turn to get all bashful as her previously confident demeanor melted with the remembrance of a single word. "Beautiful."
"I su...suppose I could cut him a little slack." Octavia said suddenly becoming very interested in her mane.
"Thank you for your mercy..." Rocky said looking at his hooves.
Flash Sentry looked between Rocky and Octavia before taking a breath.
I've eaten enough cheese to know where this is going He looked around for an out. ANY KIND OF OUT. His eyes finally fell on a unicorn mare, also known as the best mare Twilight Sparkle. She was walking by chatting excitedly with her friends.
"Excuse me fellas but I just realized that I have yet to apologize to a certain somepony recently. Uh. Be RIIIIIIGHT back!" Flash dashed away from the awkward duo, leaving Octavia and Rocky alone in their corner of the reception hall.
"Excuse me miss? Do you remember me? We bumped into each other at the hospital."
"Buh...wuh...what!?" Twilight exclaimed. The rest of what was said was drowned out as Octavia and Rocky realized that they were alone.
Rocky sighed as he looked at Octavia, considering her carefully. He knew her capabilities, but needed to know more. He also remembered what he put her through on the streets of Canterlot and felt a pang of regret. Octavia on the other hoof became suddenly very aware that Rocky was looking at her but chose not to say anything. Rocky sighed remembering the words of Soul Warden and the mission entrusted to him. It was now or never.
"Octavia. I um. I have something to ask."
Octavia let out a breath she didn't even realize she was holding, and turned to face him.
"Go on. I'm listening."
"Well this may sound very strange for somepony of this time. But, I need help rebuilding my clan."
Now it was Octavia's turn for her jaw to drop. The pink from the flower in her hair began to match the color of her coat more and more.
"Ex...excuse me?!" She said quietly, carefull not to raise her volume in a crowd of noble ponies and party goers.
"Now I know how that sounds..." Rocky said his face also growing a slight shade of pink. "...Please let me explain."
This was the happiest day of Cadence's Life. So far. She said to herself as a reminder. The day that previously held that title was the day Shining Armor proposed. Before that it was when they started dating after that fateful school dance. Princess Cadence smiled in the hope that there were many more happiest days to come. She blushed a little as she wondered about a foal with her beloved Shining Armor. She glanced sideways at him and wondered if whether or not she should tease him about it. She decided to bide her time and wait for an opening. It would be rather imprudent at the moment especially since her beloved husband, was chatting up some old friends.
"Alright you two. We won't take any more of your time. Enjoy the rest of the night. Try to get out of the marriage dungeon every once and a while, ya?" Said a yellow unicorn with a not-so-subtle wink at Shining.
Shining Armor chuckled awkwardly. "Oh, you guys. Get outta here!"
"Yessir Mr. Prince Sir!" The yellow unicorn saluted mockingly before doing an about face and marching off into the crowd, the rest of Shining's friends turned and followed him, laughing uproariously as they disappeared into the crowd.
Shining Armor sighed. "I'm really gonna miss those guys."
"Oh honey don't worry. I promise to let you out of the 'marriage dungeon' every once in a while. Besides..." She fluttered her eyelashes at him, as she saw her opportunity. "...I'll be showing you a brand-new rpg come tonight." Shining Armor wasted no time and took his wife into his hooves.
"Don't you worry Cadence, I've been looking forward to this game release for a long time. Maybe it's a tabletop?" Shining whispered into his wife's ear. Cadence giggled before kissing her husband deeply, not caring who was watching. After a moment they recollected themselves and turned their attention back to a growing que of well-wishers that gathered at the wedding party table. Cadence graciously let Shining do most of the talking, as her eyes wandered over the crowd. She spotted Twilight acting rather strange, weaving in and out of marble columns and tables before making her way over to Cadence while keeping her head on a swivel.
"Enjoying yourself Twilight?" Cadence asked trying not to laugh at her new sister-in-law's antics.
"Yes Cadence. I'm just...trying to find my friends?" Twilight smiled awkwardly knowing full well that she wasn't fooling anypony.
"Twilight you know you can tell me anything. What's wrong?"
Twilight gave a sideways glance at Shining Armor who was busy talking to some important pony with medals so stacked it threatened to pitch the stallion forward. Seeing that she was safe from being overheard, she leaned into Cadence so that she was sure her B.B.B.F.F. couldn't hear.
"I bumped into that guard again, and well... I'm no good at these things..."
Cadence frowned. "Did he make you feel uncomfortable. Should I have a talk with him?"
"Well yes...I mean, No." Twilight shook her head. "He didn't do anything wrong. Flash apologized for bumping into me at the hospital even though I was the pony who bumped into him and...I sort of ran away and left him with my friends."
Cadence blinked.
"Is everything always supposed to be so awkward?" Twilight pleaded, covering her face with her hooves.
"Not always. But any kind of relationship, platonic or otherwise can sometimes be awkward to begin with." Cadence said reassuringly deciding not to tease Twilight, in her current bout of social anxiety. Cadence knew Twilight was studying the magic of friendship, but she didn't know how much of that socially anxious filly was still around in that magnificent brain of hers.
"I don't know if there's something I even want. What am I supposed to do? How am I supposed to figure this out? Is there a textbook for this?" Twilight asked seriously and Cadence had to resist the urge to facehoof.
"Twilight. In my experience, its best to keep things simple, stick with what you know, and allow a relationship to develop naturally, if you decide that's what you want."
"Stick with what you know." Twilight pondered the phrase while tapping a hoof to her chin. There was a moment of contemplation before a spark of inspiration hit her. Twilight's grin spread from ear to ear.
"Stick with what you know OF COURSE! I should be thinking about Flash Sentry as a potential FRIEND."
"Oh Twilight, that's not exactly what I..." Cadence said, quick to interrupt this train of thought. Unfortunately for her the Twily train had already left the station.
"Oh thank you Cadence! If I think of it like an exercise in FRIENDSHIP, things are manageable. If I manage to think of him as a FRIEND, I'll have enough time to figure everything out. I CAN DO THIS." Twilight hugged Cadence in thanks before leaping back into the wild. Cadence groaned and lifted her Champaign with her magic. She took a longer than was proper swig before setting it down. She bowed her head and silently asked for forgiveness from whatever authority governed her powers of love.
All hail Twilight Sparkle, princess of the Friend Zone
"Thank you for coming sir, are you enjoying yourself?"
"I am. Thank you, my Prince."
Cadence's eyes shot up as she recognized the voice. Rocky Road stood in front of their table, dressed in a noble pony's formal wear. He looked different from when she last saw him. Clearly, Princess Celestia would spare no expense for one of her own childhood heroes revived and made manifest in the flesh. Standing next to him was Octavia an earth pony mare who reportedly fought alongside Flash Sentry and Rocky Road. Cadence felt a low hum resonating between Rock and Octavia, and it made Cadence heart flutter with joy.
"Rock! Welcome!"
Rocky smiled and bowed his head. Octavia, following his lead, curtseyed.
"It's wonderful to see you and your beloved together. It fills my heart with much happiness."
"Oh please don't be so formal with us. Shining, this is him! The stallion that saved my life!" Cadence said linking a hoof around her husband's forehoof with one leg and gesturing towards Rocky with the other. Shining Armor's eyes grew wide and he leaned forward, he grasped Rocky's hoof and shook it.
"So you're Lord Macadamia! It's great to finally meet you. I hear so much about you from Cadence, I was beginning to wonder if I should worry!" All four ponies laughed, some a little more awkwardly than others.
"In all seriousness though." Prince Shining Armor bowed his head in respect. "Thank you so much for saving my wife. It is my greatest shame that I fell for Chrysalis' ruse. Cadence suffered from my lack of ability to see things clearly."
Rocky bowed his head to mirror Shining Armor's bow.
"Think nothing of it. Queen Chrysalis was a formidable foe. If she could overcome Celestia herself, I doubt there was little you could have done otherwise."
Shining Armor turned her attention to Octavia who was waiting patiently at Rocky's side.
"And who might you be?"
Remembering himself Rocky cleared his throat and gestured towards Octavia.
"Forgive my rudeness, this is my...uh...friend Octavia Melody. She stood with me and fought valiantly in the battle of Canterlot." Rocky paused before adding. "She is also my date for the evening."
Cadence suppressed a giggle at the look of exasperation on Octavia's face. The poor mare.
"You fought the changelings too?" Shining asked surprised.
"Yes your highness." Octavia said "Though I must confess that my FRIEND over here did most of the work. I merely pitched in a helping hoof here and there." Princess Cadence actually laughed at the frustrated emphasis on the word friend, but quickly stifled it with a hoof to her mouth. Not quickly enough for Octavia not to notice but it was a valiant attempt. Octavia looked over at Cadence curiously.
"Princess Cadence, Prince Shining Armor, If I may, would you be able to help settle a bet?" Octavia asked.
"A bet?" was Shining Armor's reply.
"Yes. You see, Lord Macadamia over here claims that he is a 3,000-year-old warrior monk protecting ponies using a form of earth pony magical martial arts who was awakened from a slumber in stone by a broken heart to protect and serve pony kind. "
Octavia paused, looking at the expressions of Cadence and Shining Armor for any sign of confusion. When she saw nothing, she continued.
"Can either of you verify this?"
Prince Shining Armor and Princess Cadence looked at each other. Then at Rocky (Who looked way more nervous than he had any right to be). Prince Shining Armor and Princess Cadence nodded their heads in unison.
"Yes. I believe I was briefed by princess Celestia herself that that was indeed the case." Shining armor said.
"I had to sit through Celestia's ravings on Tei-Rah-Doh History. Rocky truly is the real deal." Cadence added.
Octavia did not react at first, but then she started to sway. Oh dear. I know that look. Cadence thought concerned. Octavia's knees started to wobble. Attempts to steady herself met with failure. Cadence gave Rocky a look, but thankfully Rocky was already watching Octavia carefully.
"Oh mein Gott, worauf habe ich mich da eingelassen"
and there she goes...
Rocky reacted quickly, reaching for Octavia and steadying her with a hoof over her shoulder just as she was about to collapse. Ever so gently he lifted her back onto her own four hooves.
"Octavia. Let's find a place to sit."
"Ich habe mit einem alten geflirtet" was her spacey reply.
Rocky looked at Shining armor who nodded and waved as Rocky led Octavia back into the reception. Princess Cadence sighed. Good luck you two. You're going to need it.
Octavia propped herself up on the balcony railing with her forehooves and took several deep breaths of air to calm down. Her eyes swept over the gardens below, to the horizon in the distance and finally the stars and moon in the sky. She lingered on that bright white circle in the sky, the source of inspiration for many musicians and artists over the years, and sought her own inspiration. Inspiration on how to deal with her current situation.
The clinking of ice in glass distracted her from her search and Octavia turned to face the source. Rocky Road walked carefully up to her; a tray balanced perfectly on his head with a glass of water sitting atop it. She eyed him carefully, trying not to look impressed by the dexterous display.
"Thought you'd might like something to drink." Rocky said sitting on his haunches and removing the tray with both hooves. He presented the glass of water to her, and Octavia gingerly plucked it off the tray with both hooves, muttered something about alcohol before draining the glass all in one go. She set down the now empty glass and nodded a thank you before turning away from him to continue looking at the moon. Rocky sighed and set the tray down. After a moment of pause he joined her at her side.
"You know, you're not going to hurt my feelings if you decline."
Octavia rolled her eyes. "Good to know."
Rocky Road held back another sigh. Instead, he looked up at the moon with her, or rather just past the moon. To the darkness on the other side. He became so engrossed with the line that separated light from dark that he nearly jumped out of his skin when Octavia spoke.
"When I first met you." She said softly. "We were neck deep in changeling limbs fighting for our lives. I didn't fall for you then, as impressive as you were. I saw you and Flash take care of and protect ponies you didn't know. Not so much as a flutter. Then you saved my life."
Octavia placed a hoof to her chest and took several deep breaths. remembering the bolt that pierced her lung. She winced and felt a sudden burst of panic as she relived the most agonizing and most desperate moment of her life. The pain and the feeling of cold death was the most distinct memory she had. Second to that memory was the sound of Rocky's voice. Strong and reassuring, somehow, he made her feel safe in the embrace of death. Octavia blinked her eyes, successfully winning the battle against tears.
"Does this make me a bad pony? A selfish pony?" Octavia turned to look at Rock for the first time since she nearly collapsed in front of the bride and bridegroom. She dropped on four hooves and approached Rocky who shifted uncomfortably.
"Are my feelings for you real? Or is it a remnant from my journey to death's door." Octavia did something that made Rocky freeze. She sat on her haunches and gently placed both of her hooves on Rocky's chest. Her expression unreadable, her ears folded back. "I must know..."
Rocky was hesitant at first but released a breath and gazed into Octavia's eyes.
Hurt.
Fear.
Shame.
Passion.
Hope.
...Something else...
Rocky looked away.
"If that's how you feel. Then it wouldn't be fair to you if I continued to play dumb."
Octavia smiled slightly. "No, my lord Dummkopf, it wouldn't be."
They were silent for a moment. Each giving the other time to process what was about to happen next.
"To be honest..." Rocky said softly looking up toward the mountain of Canterlot that towered over them. "I would be lying if I said I wasn't attracted to you. But I worry about my duties as the last master of Tei-Rah-Doh."
Octavia smirked. "What do you think being your apprentice will do to my practice in music? Somehow I'm supposed to just figure it out?"
Rocky nodded. "Understandable. Not to mention that the relationship between Master and Apprentice has been traditionally platonic by design. Mastery of the gates is the sole focus, everything else was considered a distraction."
Octavia tilted her head and leaned closer to Rock.
"Then I decline." She said coyly.
Now it was Rocky's turn to smirk. "You mean to tell me that the only thing stopping you from being my apprentice is that you wouldn't be able to practice music and..." Octavia stopped Rocky's words dead in it's tracks when she took Rocky's hoof and held it to her chest.
"I wouldn't be able to know you Rock. Know you the way I want to."
Rocky looked once more into Octavia's eyes and saw everything that made the mare. He also saw the immense potential in her, along with the...whatever it was...that made him feel equal parts discomfort and a strange kind of happy. Like there was somepony out there that wanted him around. Rocky chuckled. This wasn't exactly a traditional situation anyway.
"Then I propose a compromise." Rocky said, slowly withdrawing his hoof from her chest. Octavia straightened and listened intently as Rocky cleared his throat.
"My offer for apprenticeship still stands, but...with um..." Rocky found it difficult to find his next words as a blush overpowered his many years of discipline and training. He coughed awkwardly and rubbed the back of his neck.
"Sorry. I've never asked a mare out before."
"I never would have guessed, my lord." Octavia said gently, leaning forward as if goading him to try again.
Rocky stilled himself, with a breath. He took in the mare in front of him and decided it was now or never.
"Octavia Melody I want to be romantically involved with you. Do you feel the same way about me?"
"Yes."
"I also want you as my apprentice. Do you accept?"
"Yes."
"Understand that balancing both will be a challenge for both of us."
"Ja" Octavia nodded.
"The training will be rough, and the relationship might suffer as a result. So therefore, you may end your relationship and or apprenticeship with me at any time, with no hard feelings attached."
"Sounds reasonable my lord."
"Do you wish to add anything to these terms?"
"Nein."
Rocky placed his hooves together and bowed forward.
"Octavia, my apprentice, I am in your care."
"And I in yours, master." Octavia curtseyed before him. They stayed that way for a moment before they arose at the same time. They looked at each other both trying to keep a straight face. Both cracked a grin. Octavia pressed a hoof on her lips trying and failing to suppress a giggle, Rocky's smile broke into a wide nervous grin. Finally, the dam burst and the tension between them unraveled into bouts of laughter. They laughed for a good long moment before Rocky recovered and wiped a tear of laughter from his eye.
"So uh. What happens now? Are we supposed to kiss or something?"
Octavia shook her head and batted her eyelashes at him.
"Never on the first date Rock."
Rocky grinned sheepishly. The sudden rise of lovely orchestral music rescued him from his embarrassment. His ears picked up as an idea occurred to him. He offered his hoof. "How about a dance then?"
Octavia accepted the outstretched hoof gingerly and allowed herself to be led to the dance floor, heart fluttering the whole way.
----
Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor were accompanied on the dance floor by several couples and friends pretending to be couples for the sake of a dance. The orchestral score was slow and beautiful, the dancing of the bride and bridegroom even more so. Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor's movements were graceful, smooth, intimate. By Contrast Rocky's movements were awkward and rather blocky. Octavia didn't seem to mind, enjoying her partners attempts to lead.
"Sorry, never really learned how to dance." He apologized quietly into Octavia's ear. Octavia leaned in so that their coats touched. Rocky stiffened even more.
"Not helping." Rocky muttered under his breath, but Octavia did not break contact.
"My master, defeated by the box step? Neigh. I say." Octavia chuckled. When Rocky seemed to slump she leaned into him even more.
"Take heart Rocky. Just do what I do to the rhythm. See? One...Two...Three...Four..."
Rocky glanced down at Octavia's hooves and mimicked her movements. In no time, they were in-sync. Rocky grinned. It's like a whole different form of martial arts, but with music. Suddenly it occurred to him what the movements of these steps seemed similar to the resonance gate, just over simplified. With that in mind the dance was easy, Octavia smiled as she relinquished the lead to her new...coltfriend? Significant other? Master? Special Somepony? Ah whatever, she'd figure it out later. Right now she was focusing on the moment.
Rocky gave a short sigh. Octavia's ears perked up.
"What's wrong?" She asked softly.
"You're music, I was just thinking I'd love to hear it one day."
Octavia was in danger of fainting yet again as her knees wobbled. Rocky pressed in on her gently to support her as they continued to dance. With only a barely noticeable amount of shake in her voice she replied.
"You already have Rock."
Rocky furrowed his brow trying to remember.
"When?" He asked searching his memory. Then his mind drifted back to that lucid dream with his angel, and the music that seemed all too real to him. His eyes grew as wide as dinner plates when he finally put it together.
"That was you?" He said with an air of awe.
Octavia's only reply was a nod, not sure if she could find her voice at the moment. The two danced to the music in relative silence after that exchange. Neither one of them speaking for fear of dying in embarrassment. The music shifted into something a little folksier. Octavia's ears perked up immediately.
"Oh this should be fun." Octavia smiled grateful for the break in the dance. She looked up at Rocky who looked slightly confused.
"What is it? New dance?" Rocky asked curiously.
"Yes. It is." She said teasingly before she was whisked away by another stallion, in a more upbeat variation of the box step he had just learned. Before Rocky could object to the offending stallion. strongly. A mare landed in his hooves.
"Now now darling, don't keep a lady waiting. The dance has already begun." Said a familiar platinum white unicorn with dark purple main. Rocky looked around and realized that every pony was changing dance partners.
"Oh of course madam." Rocky said grinning and began to lead the mare.
"Please, call me Rarity." She said giving him a playful wink.
Rarity was an amazing dancer, very poised and graceful. She was also generous with her time as well, as she voiced some helpful tips to help him improve, but before long they had switched dancers again. It was one mare after another, even Cadence came into his hooves at one point. She gave him a wink and told him how happy she was that things worked out. Before he could register what, she meant, Cadance was whisked away by an old guards pony, medals clinking all the way. The music was beginning to pick up reaching some sort of crescendo, but every time Rocky thought it might stop, it would pick up again. A white earth pony mare with pink mane landed in his hooves. She was beautiful, more so than any pony in the wedding hall.
"Hello my lord. It seems you are adjusting well."
Rocky furrowed his brow as he led the mare in the dance like he did with every other mare. There was something vividly familiar about this one, and he couldn't quite place his hoof on it.
"I am. Have we met?"
The mare laughed.
"Lord Macadamia, I'm hurt you don't recognize me. Even after you so thoroughly clocked me in the face. I'd tiptoe on eggshells if I were you. Acceptance of your apology is still pending after all."
Rocky raised an eyebrow in realization but he didn't stop dancing. "Celestia. What..."
She leaned in close to him, their coats touching. "I just wanted to say that I am grateful that you accepted my plea for help. It means more to me than you'll ever know. I hope you're not too angry."
Rocky set his jaw in a grim expression, but when he spoke his tone was even, not a hint of resentment in his voice.
"I will never stop fighting for my fellow ponies, Celestia, and I will not rest until those trapped in that dark heart are freed."
Rocky felt Celestia nod. "That's all I ask."
The music finally stopped, Rocky and Celestia separated. Rocky dared not look back at the mare who earned his ire. Did he believe in forgiveness? Yes. Did he believe in mercy? Yes. Did he believe in JUSTICE? Absolutely yes. One way or another all three avenues of approach needed to be met. And he had to find a way to make that happen. Everypony tried to find their old dance partners in the jumbled mess that was the dance hall. Octavia weaved through the crowd peering over the heads of ponies until she spotted Rocky's now unkempt silver mane. She moved her way through the crowd and met him. the look on his face worried her.
"Rocky. What's wrong?"
Rocky broke away from his trance and looked to Octavia giving her a loving grin.
"I was just thinking about how to start your training. We've got a lot of work to do."
Rocky Road braced himself against the railing of a speedily moving chariot. He sat upright and unmoving, his eyes were closed, and he kept a steady breathing pattern to calm his nerves. Every time he opened his eyes to see the rushing clouds and land beneath, he closed them tight again for the sake of his sanity.
"What's with you? You eat something bad this morning?" Said Twilight's number one assistant known as Spike from a seat on the other side of the chariot. Rocky turned and gave him a half-lidded sideways glance. Their initial meeting had been less than ideal. The morning after the wedding, Rocky had left the royal guest rooms for breakfast when the little dragon rounded a corner on him. Having never seen a baby dragon before, Rocky had about the same reaction as he had when he first discovered the changelings back in Canterlot. Specifically, he freaked out and asked him if he was a "Purple scaled lizard." Spike thought that was a bit rude. It's been a week since then and things between them have settled down somewhat thanks to Twilight's help. But that didn't stop spike from being passive aggressive every once in a while.
Spike narrowed his eyes and cocked his head grinning.
"Oh, I get it. First time flying huh?"
Rocky didn't respond. Instead, he merely closed his eyes and resumed his breathing exercise.
"Oh, please Spike. I'm sure lord Rocky Road, master of Ancient Earth Pony Magic, can handle a bit of flying." Said Twilight Sparkle from her position in command of the chariot. Though she wasn't really focused on her job of guiding Flash Sentry, who was currently flying said chariot, to Ponyville. Instead, she was looking over her notes taken from Princess Celestia's lecture on the eight gates of Tei-Rah-Doh. Funny, from her brief conversation with Rocky she was told that there were nine. Twilight furrowed her brow, put her notes away and closed her eyes trying to remember.
The Resonance Gate, also called the Harmonious Gate.
The Striking Gate, also called the Destruction Gate.
The Exploding Gate (Though Rocky calls it flash and fire, a little bit of discrepancy between Celestia and Rocky's account of the gates...interesting. Must ask him about that later.)
The Boundary Gate, also called the Limit Gate.
The Shadow Gate
The Blood Gate, also called the Life Gate
The Chaos and Disharmony Gate, (Chaos? Disharmony? Must ask Rocky to clarify the nature of this gate. Could be a potential danger.)
Finally, the Mana Gate, (Mana being the ancient pre-equestrian word for magic.)
Twilight counted eight. What was the ninth? She had personally seen the Resonance Gate, The Striking Gate and The Exploding Gate in action, they were all very impressive displays of Earth Pony fighting prowess. She could make an educated guess as to what other gates were for, but without an opportunity to sit down with Rocky and pick his brain, most of her guesses would remain just that, guesses. Twilight remembered her mentor's warning.
Consider this a side project my faithful student, but do not let it distract you from what is really important. The Magic of Friendship. The reason I am allowing you to study Tei-Rah-Doh is because I want you to be a potential resource and friend to Rocky Road. He has been through a lot in the past 3000 years. Please treat him with kindness and patience.
Twilight rubbed her temples still marveling at the fact that Rocky Road was actually Lord Macadamia, a not so insignificant hero from ancient pre-equestrian history. It made her wonder who else, if any pony, was trapped in stone waiting to awaken. A Certain Draconequus came to mind, and she properly shoved the thought of that monster down the memory hole as far as it would go.
"Miss Twilight? I think I see it!" Flash sentry roared over the rushing wind, shaking Twilight from her thoughts. Flash was referencing Ponyville's iconic city hall building which marked the center of town.
Twilight nodded. "That's it Flash, take us down to the Town Square. We have a meeting with Mayor Mare."
"You got it ma'am!" Flash saluted and began a gradual descent.
"Flash!" Rocky cried out over the wind.
"Yes Rock?" Flash replied
"The quicker we land the better!"
There was a twinkle of excitement in Flash's eyes before he shouted back.
"You got it battle bro!"
Spike and Twilight screamed as they plummeted from the sky in a dive. Rocky held the chariot in a death grip and kept his eyes firmly shut. At the last moment Flash pulled up out of the dive, skimming the branches of Ponyville's library before landing smoothly and gently on the cobblestone streets. Twilight and Spike were still screaming, even after touchdown. Rocky clambered out of the chariot and landed undignified on the street, leaving dent marks on the chariot railing where his hooves were. Rocky kissed the dirt subtly. "Long Live Terra Firma." He declared quietly, hoping nopony heard him.
Flash unhitched himself and went to offer assistance to Spike and Twilight. Spike wobbled on his claws before collapsing on top of Rocky. Twilight gratefully accepted Flash's offered hoof but flashed him an angry glare. "What in Celestia's name was THAT?" She asked just a little bit angry that she had to scream for her life today.
"Combat Landing. Maneuver Four." Flash said proudly, flaring his wings. "My personal favorite."
"Five stars." Twilight said sarcastically, rolling her eyes. Flash Sentry stood just a little bit straighter grinning with pride sarcasm flying right over his head. Speaking of flying overhead...
"THAT WAS AWESOME!" shouted a rainbow blur that zoomed past. That same blur banked around, flipped and landed right next to the chariot in front of Flash. Flash didn't even flinch.
Rainbow Dash premier stunt flyer and weather pony captain of Ponyville, extended a wing. "Wing five guy, that was an AWESOME dive."
"Thanks!" Flash exclaimed slapping Rainbows wing with his own. "Been practicing it for years. You're Rainbow Dash right? From the wedding?"
"The one and only!" Rainbow exclaimed before remembering herself. "One sec." She turned and faced Twilight giving her a sideways hug. "Welcome back Twilight." Twilight returned the hug and the two proceeded to catch up. Rocky Road was happy to be left out of the pleasantries. He and spike regained their bearing as they stood up from their embarrassing position on the ground. Rocky took a moment to look around at what was to be his new home. A Vibrant community teaming with life. None seemed to be concerned that a chariot nearly replaced the fountain as the new town square centerpiece. He scanned the crowd looking at the fruit stands and various shops, hoping to spot a certain black maned cellist.
First Gate of Resonance.
He felt around in this chaotic new town for his apprentice. He felt the crashing waves of emotions for that familiar something. He didn't know what to call it yet. Most emotions were well defined but more often than not you would be able to find more complex emotions if you spent enough time. But he and Octavia had something unique. Before long he found her. She wasn't too far, only a block or so away. Rocky felt excitement well up inside him and smiled. As he made to move in Octavia's direction, Spike grabbed his tail.
"Where are you going bub? The city hall is that a way."
Rocky sighed, looking in the direction where Octavia was and nodded.
"Alright Spike, lead the way."
----
Mayor Mare's office was highly organized. It didn't look like it, what with the towering stacks of files and leaning towers of codified law books scattered all over the room in little islands of organized chaos. Perhaps the previous statement was a bit inaccurate. Mayor Mare's office was highly organized, To her. Normally she would be filing several bits of paperwork away in a new island for her assistant to sort through later, but as of right now the only thing that concerned her was a stack of paperwork marked with the Royal Sisters Royal Seal. Declarations from the crown regarding Ponyville's new Lord Protector.
Mayor Mare scowled but supposed it could be worse. It could be a Lord Counsilor or a Lord Auditor. Oh Celestia, ANYPONY but a Lord Auditor. The ancient saying came to mind. "Be careful what you wish for. You just might get it." Mayor Mare had been petitioning the crown for YEARS for a contingent of Royal Guard due to their proximity to the Everfree Forest. Not to mention the seemingly endless disasters that seemed to be drawn to this humble little town. But a Lord Protector was a bit much in her opinion.
The Lords and Ladies of Equestria made up the nobility and acted as liaisons and agents for Princess Celestia herself. Of course, being nobility in Equestria usually meant that the best ponies were NOT always selected for the job, causing many problems where the Lords and Ladies had influence. In Ponyville, Twilight Sparkle fulfilled that role even though she was not technically nobility. A Lord Protector was the closest thing Equestria had to a General of the guard and like Baltimare, had an entire battalion of local guards ponies to defend against raiders from across the sea.
Mayor Mare pictured an old stallion, maybe even a mare, decked out in countless medals and demanding revile to be sounded every morning at dawn sharp in the town square. The mayor groaned at the thought. At that moment, there was a couple of knocks and the mayor's door opened to reveal her over-tired, over-worked assistant peeking her head into her office.
"Mayor Mare, Twilight Sparkle is here with the new Lord Protector."
Mayor Mare suppressed a sigh and put on her best political poker face; a skill honed from many years of practice.
"Send them in."
The assistant opened the door wide to reveal Twilight Sparkle and... a young earth pony stallion. Huh.
"Twilight! It's so good to see you." The mayor stood and rounded the desk to greet Twilight with a hoof shake.
"Good to see you too Mayor." Smiled Twilight Sparkle with an air of genuine fondness.
"And... who might you be sir?" The mayor rounded on the stranger.
"Rocky Road madam." He said bowing politely. Twilight gave him a slight nudge. Rocky rolled his eyes and cleared his throat.
"Lord Rocky Road madam. Lord Protector, at your service." Rocky bowed again.
Mayor Mare paused at this; a bit taken aback on how her expectations were being shattered. Where was the fancy noble attire? The medals? The small army of guards ponies in parade formation? She was beginning to wonder if Twilight Sparkle was playing a practical joke on her. Twilight, seemingly reading her mind, presented Mayor Mare with Rocky's royal seal; A blue and green crest in the shape of a Horseshoe with a wreath wrapped up and around to form an enclosed circle. There was something in the center of the crest which Mayor Mare vaguely recalled as the ancient earth pony symbol for the number nine. Mayor Mare decided to just go with it.
"Welcome to Ponyville my Lord. Would you like to sit? No doubt there are some declarations you'd like to go over..."
Rocky raised a hoof to interrupt the good Mayor. "Actually, there will be no need for that."
Mayor Mare raised an eyebrow, dropping her poker face for a fraction of a second. "Oh. Really?"
"Yes mayor. You see Twilight here, not to mention Princess Celestia herself, has vouched for your ability to govern the town of Ponyville. I see no reason to fix what isn't broken. My mission here is merely to act as this town's guardian."
Not to mention rebuilding my clan. Rocky thought, recalling Celestia's mission.
Mayor Mare nearly had a stroke. The Princess herself vouched for her ability of all ponies? The poker face threatened to break into a wide smile but Mayor Mare played it cool.
"I am honored to be considered so highly my lord. Is there anything you might require of me? Anything to help you in your mission?"
"Rocky nodded his head. "Yes. I require a plot of land, not too large, preferably between the town proper and this Everfree forest I keep hearing so much about."
"Of course... do you require accommodations for your retinue?"
Again Rocky nodded.
"I have one pegasus guard pony as my retinue. Simple lodging will suffice."
"Just the one?"
"Yes Mayor Mare. I do have one other question."
Years of working in politics taught Mayor Mare how to identify when a pony was stressed or starting to become hostile. She noticed Rocky tense in anticipation. She'd seen it before from her time in the guard. The muscle tension before a fight. The Lord Protector was mentally and physically preparing himself for a brawl. Mayor Mare took a tentative step back.
"Is there a reason why were being surrounded right now?" Rocky Road asked. He could feel them as clearly as if he could see them with his own eyes. Just under a hundred ponies surrounding the building on all sides. Waiting. In nervous Anticipation. An ambush. Mayor Mare and Twilight looked toward the windows. Barely noticing shadows duck back from the edge of the windows.
Twilight Sparkle and Mayor Mare paled as they exchanged looks. Both ponies suddenly coming to the realization as to what was going on.
"I thought you said you were keeping the Lord Protector's arrival a secret?" Said Mayor Mare through a nervous teeth barred smile.
"Since when did you think I could keep a secret from her" Twilight said with a similar expression on her face.
Rocky Road had heard enough and did an about face to face his attackers. He marched out of the office and through the now empty lobby. Rocky reached the door and before Twilight or Mayor Mare could stop him, kicked it open. Time seemed to slowdown as Rocky witnessed what appeared to be, to him, the embodiment of the Chaos Gate herself sitting atop a cyan blue cannon.
"EAT PIE MARY SUE!" Screamed the pink pony "...or is it gary stu?" She tapped a hoof to her chin in thought before shrugging. "Oh well." "SURPRISE!" Came an uproarious cheer.
Octavia drew a bow across her cello slowly, and deliberately. Finely tuning her instrument for what seemed like the hundredth time that day. Every once in a while, her eyes fluttered open to peek out the window of her two-story home, scanning the sky for any sign of...him. She afforded a glance at an open scroll on her bedside table before quickly shutting her eyes and deciding to play some actual music. As a beautiful melody filled her room and spilled out onto the streets, she couldn't help but go over the contents of the letter.
Octavia,
It looks like I'll be heading to Ponyville after all. Since Princess Celestia absolutely refuses to revoke my lordship title, I am honor bound to assume other duties in addition to training you. I really don't understand her. I've been dead for over 3000 years; my lordship title shouldn't mean didley squat Twilight Sparkle has been an indispensable ally in negotiations with the Princess and it's thanks to her that arrangements for my assignment to Ponyville could be made. I'll spare you the details, just know that I should be arriving in Ponyville by noon tomorrow.
I can't wait to see you again.
Yours,
Lord Rocky Road
Octavia smiled slightly as a barely perceptible blush appeared on her cheeks. She was careful not to let it slip that she had started a relationship. Not to her friends, the flower sisters, not even to her BEST friend Vinyl Scratch. The only one who had any kind of inkling was Rose who, thankfully, only gave her a knowing smile and a wink.
Octavia thanked her lucky stars. If any one of her friends found out that Octavia, the cool and distant professional had a special somepony, she would never hear the end of it. Octavia decided that if she had to suffer her friends teasing, Rocky might as well be here to endure it with her. Speaking of Rocky, how did she want to welcome her new muse to Ponyville? The answer was easy. There was only ONE way a new pony could be welcomed into this crazy little town...
"Eat pie Mary Sue!"
*BOOM*
The bedroom shook slightly as the concussive blast from Pinkie's party cannon rocked Ponyville once more. Octavia didn't bother with her stairs. She leapt out of her second story bedroom and landed with poise on her neatly trimmed lawn before making her way downtown at a brisk trot.
----
Rocky Road held Twilight Sparkle and Mayor Mare securely, one under each foreleg. He held onto the ceiling beams that ran across the ceiling of the lobby with his rear legs, dangling like a chandelier. The lobby itself was covered in pie. Blackberry Pie, Raspberry Pie, Apple Pie and others pies that Rocky could not identify, had smeared the lobby with impunity. Twilight teleported out of Rocky's grip and appeared in front of Pinkie displacing a decent amount of baked goodness to splash along the walls, adding to the carnage.
"PINKIE!" Twilight yelled in frustration. "WHY?!"
"You know why silly." Pinkie giggled, before looking past Twilight at Rocky who had gently placed Mayor Mare down on a relatively dry filing cabinet. When they made eye contact, Pinkie grinned manically. Rocky recoiled at first but then stopped. Moving forward in wonder, and concern.
"How are you doing that?" He asked ignoring the ruined pies under his hoof. His tone was even, but Twilight sensed something there that unnerved her. Though she couldn't quite place her hoof on it.
"Doing what?" Pinkie replied with all the innocence of a child who knew EXACTLY what.
Rocky didn't answer and instead took another step forward. Pinkie rocked on her hooves once before disappearing in a pink blur. Twilight Sparkle looked around for her friend before Pinkie reappeared in the exact same spot carrying several trays of cupcakes. Pinkie smiled deviously.
"I notice you aren't a pie fan. Care for some CUPCAKES?"
She launched a cupcake at Rocky and laughed like a mad god. Rocky bolted, quickly dodging the first few volleys before diving out an open window past a now growing crowd of ponies and onto the street, a laughing Pinkie hot on his trail. The crowd laughed and cheered as Pinkie chased the newcomer all over the rooftops of Ponyville. While Rocky's flips and dives were impressive enough to earn cheers from the crowd, the majority of ponies started taking bets on how long their new Lord Protector would remain un-caked. This duel of fates lasted for several minutes all the while the whole town seemed to have gathered in the town square. A proper welcome party was starting to take shape.
Twilight Sparkle nursed a growing headache as she watched Pinkie and Rocky's impossible duel taking place on the rooftops. Rocky squeezed down a chimney. Pinkie followed suit. Then, impossibly, the two would exit from two different chimneys on opposite sides of the square. Pinkie would realize her mistake appear in a chimney much closer to Rocky and resume the chase. Several more impossible events occurred before Twilight released a deep sigh. She turned towards Mayor Mare who was busy shoveling pie crust from her office and shrugged. Mayor Mare rolled her eyes muttering something about good reflexes and went back to shoveling pie.
"Good afternoon Twilight Sparkle"
Twilight recognized the voice immediately.
"Oh! Octavia. Good afternoon." She said managing a welcoming smile as Octavia joined her to watch the spectacle. Octavia's eyes traced Rocky's movements just as he used a loose shingle to block an incoming cupcake to the face before bounding onto the street and out of sight. Pinkie, impressively, did a jump-twist-spin combo before hanging in the air, saluting, then dropping like a rock into the alley below.
"I see Ponyville has decided to give Rock it's traditional Royal Welcome."
"mmmhmmm" Was Twilight's only reply.
Octavia absentmindedly picked up a relatively unscathed cupcake from a nearby bench and took a bite.
Mmmm...Vanilla. My favorite.
---
"This is impossible." Rocky muttered as he dodged yet another cupcake thrown at him from seemingly out of nowhere.
"This is crazy."
Rocky made his way back to the town square just as Pinkie ran out of cupcakes. He assumed a striking stance as Pinkie caught up with him. She dropped her tray. Reached into her mane and pulled out yet another tray with an even bigger pile of cupcakes. Rocky decided that he had had enough. He had to know.
"You have to stop this now!" He exclaimed. "The Chaos Gate will consume you!"
Pinkie laughed. "What you call chaos, I call fun!" Pinkie launched a cupcake at him. Rocky batted it away with a hoof strike.
"Fun or not, the amount of energy required to constantly access the Chaos Gate is...Ludicrous. How are you not a pile of ash right now? How do you sustain it?"
Rocky's frantic questions were beginning to attract the attention of the crowd as they gathered around both of them forming a makeshift dueling ring. Pinkie looked at him as if Rocky just asked the dumbest question with the most obvious answer in the world.
Rocky's eyes widened as Pinkie launched the entire contents of her tray at him all at once.
First gate of Resonance. Time slowed.
The shotgun blast of cupcakes was not natural. Rocky knew this. He felt the energy of Chaos blanket each individual confectionary. There was only way he could end this. Rocky bobbed and weaved through the first several cupcakes, they seemed to turn, attracted to him like a magnet. Rocky batted another one he could not avoid, disrupting the chaos energy with a small jab of harmonious energy from his forehoof. The cupcake dropped like a rock and splattered onto the cobblestone below. Rocky jumped and spun parallel to the ground throwing as much harmonic energy around as he dared, throwing the heat seeking cupcakes out of whack, just enough time to leave him an opening.
Pinkie Pie's eyes widened as she took a step back and reached into her mane pulling out a much bigger cupcake with a lit sparkling candle on top. Rocky was closer now, and he clenched down on his jaw in determination. Pinkie pulled a strange ring and pin from within the cupcakes frosting with her mouth and a strange green handle dropped out from the bottom of the cupcake. Rocky was close now. He didn't give a battle cry, He simply reached out to Pinkie, Rocky battled the invisible chaotic forces that dragged on his hoof. Finally, he reached for her nose.
*Boop*
Time resumed its normal pace. There was a small fizzle and pop as the Harmonious and Chaotic energies cancelled each other out. Pinkie's hair deflated just as the cupcake in her hooves detonated spraying the both of them and all ponies close enough with bits of vanilla frosting. All of Ponyville cheered and applauded with their hooves. Several whistled and popped party streamers on the two duelists.
"Wow! Didn't know you could do that! You really are OP." Pinkie laughed taking her now flat mane in her hands and examining it with awe. Rocky panted and lay on his back, legs folded on his stomach, miraculously still frosting and cupcake free.
"I have..." Rocky heaved. "No idea..." He heaved again. "What you're talking about."
A shadow came upon him. Rocky smiled as he recognized that unique emotional signature standing over him. "Octavia. Thank goodness it's you."
"Hello my lord dummkopf. Enjoying yourself?" Rocky's response got caught in his throat as he noticed the look on Octavia's face. She was covered in vanilla frosting, and smiling, menacingly. She was holding a cupcake in her hooves. Another shadow came, then another. Flash. Twilight. Mayor Mare all had cupcakes, along with the rest of the town. They were all eyeing him mischievously. His gaze lingered on flash who shrugged.
"If you can't beat them. Join them."
Rocky sighed in defeat and grinned as he accepted his fate. It took Rocky until sunset to remove all the frosting from his coat and mane.
"Did Ya'll think that welcoming was a little, Ah dunno. Overboard? Even for Pinkie?" Said Applejack as she spread out a white and red checkered picnic blanket on grass still wet from the morning dew. Reaching into her saddlebags she took several paper cups, plates and napkins and started setting them up on the blanket.
"I mean, I felt the blast from her party cannon all the way back at the farm. She don't normally pack that cannon o hers with that much punch. Just seems like a bit much ta me." AJ said after finishing the set up and reaching for the actual picnic basket gripped in Rarity's magic. The picnic basket held a modest number of apples, a cutting knife, apple butter and jam. A staple for every one of their picnics.
"I agree darling. She was clearly showing off." Rarity said as she reached into her own saddlebags to bring out fresh milk and various fruit juices in prepackaged boxes. "...or maybe she has it out for our Lord Protector. Who's to say what dwells in the mind of our Pinkie Pie."
"Oh. I hope she doesn't do that for a while. The party cannon scared off all my critter friends." Fluttershy said laying down and resting her head on the soft blanket. She ruffled her wings a bit before giving a sigh. "It's been days and they still haven't turned up."
Applejack placed a hoof on Flutteryshy's back. "Now don't you fret sugar cube. they'll comeback soon enough they always do. We can all have a talk with Pinkie. She'll listen to her friends if they have concerns. Ah know she will."
Fluttery looked up at Applejack and smiled. "You're right Applejack." The smile on her face faltered and she lay her head back down.
"Why Fluttershy, whatever is the matter?" Rarity asked, concerned.
"Um. I'm really glad that Twilight invited us to this picnic and all but..." Fluttershy risked a glance at a dark and ominous looking cave that loomed over them a short distance away. "...did she have to pick a spot right next to this big scary cave?"
Both Rarity and Applejack followed Fluttershy's gaze to the dark gaping maw in the nearby cliffside. Rarity shuffled her hooves uneasily. The White Tail Woods was a very beautiful place, much nicer than that dreadful ever free forest so close to home. The downside was that the woods were much closer to the foothills of Canterlot which made for interesting rock formations and caves that left a lot to be desired. Any number of predators tended to call these places home.
"I do admit, it IS a rather unorthodox location for a picnic." Rarity mused, and Applejack nodded.
"Ah feel like Twi knows somethin we don't and this is her way of telling us."
Rarity and Applejack gave each other a worried look.
A flash of purple light signaled the arrival of their purple friend. She had a large basket of bread, grains, fruits, vegetables, various pastries, some hay fries, daisy sandwiches and chips along with copious amounts of water bottles. This wasn't a picnic. This was a feast. She deposited them in the center of the picnic blanket not bothering to unpack. Twilight's gaze went from Fluttershy, to Rarity and then to Applejack.
"Good mornin Twi." Applejack said cheerfully. Her good cheer faltered when she caught the look on Twilight's face. She was worried.
"Hello girls. Did you by chance see any pony else around here recently?" Twilight asked looking toward the direction of the cave before scanning her surroundings.
"It's just us Twilight." Rarity said tentatively. Twilight didn't respond. Applejack couldn't take it anymore and stamped her hooves down on the ground beneath her feat sending a stack of paper cups toppling onto the grass.
"Land sakes girl. What's going on? You look more worried than Granny Smith at a ..." Whatever Applejack was about to say died in her throat as she heard a strange noise coming from the mouth of a cave. Hooves dragging on stone. Everypony tensed. A figure started to emerge from the darkness.
"Right on schedule. Just like he said." Twilight muttered with quiet relief and more than a little awe. Applejack, Rarity and Fluttershy looked stunned at the sight of Octavia Melody coming out of the cave and emerging into the light. She looked gaunt. Her eyes half closed in a daze, her mane was an absolute mess. Her coat was marred everywhere by dirt. Saddlebags filled with rocks chaffed at her flanks. Her hooves went from stone to dirt. Then her hooves found grass and she paused. Octavia squinted at the sudden sunlight and covered her eyes with a hoof. She took a tentative sniff of the air, to a huge gasp of air and smiled.
"Octavia. Are...are you alright?"
"Tw...Twilight? Is that you?" Came Octavia's voice, dry and raspy from disuse.
"Yes Octavia. It is."
Octavia threw her forehooves around Twilight and sobbed dryly, as she was too dehydrated to form tears. The weight of Octavia plus the rocks she carried caused Twilight to nearly fall to the ground, but Twilight was able to steady herself. She placed a comforting hoof around Octavia and returned the hug.
-----
The rate at which Octavia ate and drank, worried both Applejack and Rarity. While the way she ate was not particularly unladylike there was an unmistaken ravenous desperation with which she wolfed down her meal. Twilight sat patiently at her side while Fluttershy sat next to her pouring the next drink.
"Not too fast now..." Fluttershy cooed like she would to one of her sick animals. If Octavia was offended by Fluttershy's tone she didn't show it. Octavia nodded in understanding as she took the offered drink. When Octavia slowed down enough to breathe. Applejack and Rarity finally made their concerns known.
"Octavia. Who did this to you?" Applejack asked, a cold anger growing in her chest.
"It was the Diamond Dogs wasn't it." Rarity stated, eyeing the bag of rocks discarded at the mouth of the cave.
Octavia paused for a moment and looked at the both of them as if unsure about what to say. She then turned to Twilight.
"You didn't tell them?" Octavia asked weakly.
Twilight sighed and shook her head. "No Octavia, I didn't. Rock said that the less people that knew about it the better."
"Tell us what?" Rarity asked looking from Twilight to Octavia. Twilight frowned and looked at her friends apologetically.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I just didn't want you to worry. Octavia here has been under the tutelage of Lord Rocky Road, Ponyville's Lord Protector. She's learning how to control her earth pony magic."
Applejack and Rarity looked incredulously at Twilight.
"Earth pony magic? Twi, you're not making sense. Earth Ponies can't do magic. And what do you mean under tutelage? What kinda studying leads you into a dank and dirty cave?"
Octavia set down her half eaten-sandwich. "Earth ponies can do magic. I..." Octavia placed a hoof on her chest, feeling where a bolt had previously struck her. She remembered that eerie red glow. The look of resolve on Rocky's face. "I've felt it first-hoof."
Twilight nodded. "Applejack do you remember when Chrysalis captured us and brought us out into Canterlot?"
Applejack snorted. "How could I forget. That was humiliatin."
"Do you remember that stallion that stood up against Chrysalis? Not Flash, the earth pony."
Applejack scrunched her nose as she recalled the orange stallion from her memory. "Yeah, the one with them fancy schmancy martial arts? Kicked the bug queen right in the flank?"
Twilight nodded. Rarity gave a slight "oh" in recognition finally putting the two together.
"That's him? That's our Lord Protector?" Rarity said smiling a bit despite herself.
Twilight nodded. Octavia finished that last of her drink before taking her turn to speak.
"I've been training under him since the day after he came to Ponyville. He warned me it would be the hardest thing I'd ever do, and it would only get harder from there." She covered her eyes with her hooves and gave a low groan. She uttered a string of profanities in Germaine that no pony but Twilight understood the meaning of. "I had no idea how right he was. When he told me what the first step was in accessing the first gate, I thought he was joking. But he was absolutely serious. We went to Twilight to ask permission from a third party, something about accountability, I don't remember anymore." Octavia took a deep and raggedy breath.
"I've been lost in that cave system ever since."
"WHAT!?" Rarity, Applejack and even Fluttershy yelled causing Octavia to fold her ears and wince in pain.
"Nicht so laut ihr verrückten Stuten!" Octavia rubbed her ears in pain. Having heard nothing but silence for days. The sudden noise sent her head reeling. The erratic mares calmed down at the sight of Octavia in pain. Applejack spoke but this time quieter.
"You mean to tell me you've been in that there cave for THREE DAYS!?" Applejack whisper-yelled throwing her Stetson down onto the ground in anger.
"Just under three. I think?" Octavia looked at Twilight and Twilight nodded. Before Applejack could say something, Rarity's hoof stopped her.
"Applejack. Let her finish her story." Applejack snorted, but visibly relaxed she sat on her haunches placed her Stetson back on her head and nodded.
Octavia took another breath.
"Rocky led me deep into this cave blindfolded. Spun me around a few times so I couldn't get my bearings. He told me to find the exit using any means necessary and that he would be back to remove the blindfold. I waited. I waited for so long." Octavia sobbed. "It felt like an eternity of waiting. When I finally got to thinking that he wasn't coming back I made to remove the blindfold myself." She chuckled darkly. "To my surprise it was already gone. Everything was so dark, there was no difference between my eyes being open and my eyes being shut. I stumbled and swore and hit my head a couple of times. I was so scared. So hungry, tired and thirsty."
Octavia narrowed her eyes down at her forehooves. "I think I hated him at one point. Cursed him even. I called for help several times. I swore to quit being his apprentice. There was no response to my ravings only silence. There were other things in that cave too. Giant bugs and slithering somethings...I don't know...I couldn't really see but they all left me alone."
Applejack tensed. Rarity gave her a look and Applejack calmed down.
A small smile crept up on Octavia's features as she looked to the mid distance with faraway eyes. "I think it was at the end of the second day when I started to feel it. This sensation in my hooves every time I took a step. Like I was part of the stone and soil. It was like every step was a question and every time I asked, I received an answer. Vibrations. Feedback. The cave became clear to me now. I could feel it. It's strange to say but I felt like I WAS the cave."
Applejack did a doubletake at Twilight and gaped in disbelief as the purple pony was taking notes using her quill and several rolls of paper that were also stuffed into the bottom of the picnic basket.
"The cave became clear to me. After some trial and error, I found my path. I found my way out. It was a long way to the exit and..." Octavia choked up. "...and then I realized. From the feedback that I was getting from the stone and soil, from whatever this first gate was...that I wasn't alone. I wasn't ever alone." Octavia broke down and started to cry. When it was clear she didn't have anything else to say. Fluttershy and Twilight both wrapped hooves and a wing around the sobbing Octavia. Fluttershy and Twilight both hugged her. Rarity stood up to join them.
"Where is this so-called Lord Protector now. Leavin a mare down in a dark and dirty cave to die. What kinda stallion does that? Shouldn't he be here? Facin what he'd done like a real stallion? Ah'd sure like ta give him a piece of my mind."
Octavia stopped crying, blinked tears away from her eyes, and looked at Applejack. Without a word she turned her head to the mouth of the cave. Everypony followed her gaze and nearly jumped out of their skins as a chill ran down their collective spines. Standing in the threshold between light and darkness was Rocky Road standing in complete stillness, gaunt, tired, covered in grime and ichor. Octavia's voice wavered only slightly.
Applejack's anger faded only slightly when she noticed Rocky's condition, but it wasn't enough to stop what was coming. Before anypony could react, Applejack leapt up off the blanket they had been using for their picnic and launched herself at the dirty stallion. Rocky didn't even flinch as Applejack gave him a verbal lashing so intense it made all the other mares wince. Rocky wasn't entirely sure what a "Consarnit" was, and he wasn't sure what the mare would accomplish by calling him "dumber than a stack o' hay," what he was sure of was the character of the mare that stood before him.
Not once did Rocky break eye contact with Applejack. He made sure to drink in all of the mare that stood before him. Not once did he respond or react at all from the verbal abuse either. If Applejack was intimidated by the stare down, she didn't show it. The fuming mare took advantage of his silence to unleash even more insults, absurd accusations and demands for an apology to Octavia. Rocky let her vent. He knew her now. A pony of honor, intense love for her family and friends, a mare overflowing with earth pony magic, a stubbornness that would rival even his.
Rocky decided that he liked this pony. She would have made his old master proud.
"WELL!?" Applejack asked, breathing heavily to recoup the air she expended tearing Rocky a new one. "What do you have to say for yerself!?"
Rocky spent all of two seconds before he gave his response.
"Miss Applejack." He started, voice just as raspy from disuse and dehydration as Octavia's.
"I would never..." Rocky coughed. He dryly cleared his throat and continued. "...never ask Octavia to do something I wouldn't do or haven't already done."
Applejack instantly knew that the stallion was telling the truth. But she wasn't satisfied.
"Tough guy huh?" She growled. "What you just did was get lost in the depths of a dangerous cave filled with Celestia knows what. What if ya'll got lost? What if either of you broke yer leg? What you did was downright dangerous, reckless and unnecessary!"
Rocky just stared before giving the absolute worst possible response he could have given at the moment. He grinned. Satisfied with the increasingly angry look on Applejack's face, He brushed past her. Of course, Applejack would not let him just walk away from the discussion they were having. She placed a firm hoof on his chest to prevent him from moving.
"Now just wait a gosh darn minute..." She started but realized that her hoof was having no affect. Applejack pressed with both hooves as she realized that she couldn't physically restrain the stallion as he stepped out of the darkness of the cave and into the light. Even after using the ground as leverage and using both forehooves to stop movement. Rocky just pressed on, pushing past Applejack and leaving her in the cave. Normally this would be comical to the Tei-Rah-Do Master and in any other situation he probably would have used this moment in time to show off and make a point. But there was no time. His apprentice's training was too important for these types of shenanigans.
"What good is all that strength if you don't know how to wield it." He muttered without sparing a glance at the fuming Apple farmer.
"Apprentice. We must finish the training while the conditioning is still fresh. Have you restored yourself?"
His apprentice, Octavia, shakily rose to stand on all four hooves, much to the worry of Twilight, Rarity and Fluttershy.
"Yes master." She said obediently and followed Rocky a short distance away into a nearby grassy field. Applejack moved next to her friends still fuming. "You just gonna lay there? You ain't gonna stop em?! Twilight? Rarity? Fluttershy?" She pleaded with her friends.
"I don't know if we should." Rarity said quietly looking after Octavia with awe and admiration.
Fluttershy nodded slowly before muttering quietly. "She's endured so much. If we stop her now, I don't think she would ever forgive us." After a moment. Rarity nodded in Finality.
"She needs this. She needs closure."
"She needs a hospital Rarity!" Applejack exclaimed and looked to Twilight. When she saw the Unicorn scribbling furiously on a scroll watching Octavia and Rocky intensely. Applejack collapsed on the grass. She could only lay there, watch and pray for Octavia's safety.
----
Octavia and Rocky stood opposite each other in stillness. Rocky appraised her with a long glance before approaching slowly.
"Octavia. I am going to touch you. Is that okay?"
Octavia fidgeted on her hooves but nodded her ascent. Rocky closed his eyes and reached up with his hoof to touch her shoulder, all the while doing his best to ignore the four pairs of eyes watching him from only a few feet away. His hoof made light contact. After a moment he smiled. The magic had been tapped. Now it was a simple matter of forming the gate. He breathed a sigh of relief and stepped back. He assumed the stance of his first gate. He stood on his hind hooves, knees slightly bent. presenting his side to Octavia with both forehooves spread wide as if trying to hold back two crushing walls.
"Do your best to mirror this stance. It will help with what comes next."
Without a word Octavia stood, she stumbled a bit, but after a few tries she was steady.
Rocky took a deep breath. Octavia did so as well.
"Now Octavia, close your eyes." Octavia did as she was told.
Rocky spoke ever so quietly. "Now...BE the cave."
Octavia scrunched her nose in confusion. She didn't really understand but decided to just picture herself back in that dark cave. For a few moments there was nothing and then...
Octavia gasped in awe.
"Master...How is this... How is this even possible?" Octavia's voice rose in equal parts alarm and excitement. Octavia made sure that her eyes were firmly shut. She could see the grass under her hooves. The ants that crawled. The Trees swaying nearby. The leaves fluttering and falling. In the distance she could feel the wings of flying pegasi racing through the clouds. The sun was an oppressive heat bombarding her and her surroundings with constant pellets and waves. She opened her eyes and shut them again. In complete and utter awe that she could see more with her eyes closed than with them open. She felt five heartbeats and the strings of various sizes that attached them together. She heard the increasingly annoying scratch of a quill. She felt and saw pressure approaching her alarmingly fast.
Octavia jerked to the side and felt the oppressive something fly past, the air tickling her sensitive ears. A second pressure was coming. She blocked it with her hooves and opened her eyes. Rocky stood there before her, nodding his approval. A Hoof outstretched toward her with Octavia clumsily blocking it with her own hoof.
"Keep your eyes closed Octavia."
"Yes master." She said and closed her eyes.
"Now my dear apprentice." Rocky whispered fondly. "Let's dance."
Rocky launched himself into the air backwards and Octavia stumbled back surprised by the sudden surge of power that wracked her new senses. She felt him land and launch himself at her at frightening speeds. Octavia did not think. She only reacted. Rocky's hoof strikes seemingly came from every angle. Octavia, followed the only training she knew, her self-defense classes in college. She was no slouch, easily the best fighter in her class. Her old teacher was a pegasus former Guards pony and taught her all the moves of hoof boxing and grappling. She wondered if it was enough. Of course not. They were enough for the changelings, but Rocky Road, no, her master, was a class all on his own.
One of Rocky's hoof strikes slipped her guard and stopped an inch from her muzzle. Octavia batted it away and attacked with a hoof strike of her own. To her surprise, she connected with the side of Rocky's head. She felt the impact reverberate through his entire body and into the soil below. She realized that it felt good to hit him. All the emotions of the past few days culminating in a single blow. The cathartic effect was lessened somewhat after Rocky gave a hearty laugh.
"You have good form, but you lack power. Don't worry we can fix that in time."
Rocky jabbed her in the side and sent her sprawling on the ground. Every impact illuminated her senses more and more as she saw more of her surroundings. Including what lay beneath her.
"WHAT THE HAY ARE YOU DOIN!?"
Came a voice amplified to a thousand. Rocking Octavia to her core and causing her to shudder in pain.
"Beruhige dich!" Octavia shouted kicking a pebble at the offender.
There was a sudden rush of motion all around Octavia as her opponent put himself between her and the offending voice.
"Octavia. That's enough. Open your eyes." Came Rocky's gentle voice. Octavia's eyes fluttered open and was surprised to find herself standing on the edge of a small crater. Her eyes rose from the crater to Rocky who was standing over the picnic blanket in protective stance, the remains of a shattered boulder scattered all around. Rarity and Fluttershy were huddled together in an scared embrace. Applejack lay there as if trying to merge with the ground eyes wide and in shock. Twilight had finally stopped scribbling and instead stared wide-eyed, and slack jawed at Octavia. Rocky let out a sigh of relief.
"Gotta work on your casting reaction time Twilight." Rocky muttered shaking his hooves to clear away dust from the boulder he just pulverized.
Octavia's eyes widened in horror, as she connected the dots. The pebble. It was a pebble, right? She thought it was at the time. When Rocky attacked her, he was all she thought about. Rocky warned her against tunnel vision during a fight in one of his many lectures before this training started. But how did she mistake a pebble for a boulder, and how in the hay did she even launch it as far as she had. Octavia suddenly felt very sick. Mix that with the exertion and the horror of what could have happened, she doubled over and threw up all over the newly formed crater.
"When an earth pony is denied all of his senses." Rocky began, turning to Twilight. "The body reacts by clinging onto what it has left."
Rocky stood in front of Twilight and manually closed her jaw with his hoof.
"At their core, an earth pony is a creature imbued with magic. Just like unicorns. Just like pegasi. The first gate is simply tapping into that innate magic and turning off the natural safeties that regulate our magic so to speak. That's why we call forms we use to shape that magic; gates."
Twilight looked up at Rocky Road who looked amused.
"You might want to write that down."
"Oh...Right." Twilight replied and scribbled the words down on her scroll.
Rocky Road nodded and moved quickly to Octavia who was still heaving. When Octavia noticed Rocky approach, she shuddered and turned away. "Master. I'm sorry, I didn't mean too..."
"Octavia. I'm not angry at you. You have done better than I could have hoped." Rocky said in complete honesty and with more than a little concern. "The training is over. We can stop now." Octavia turned to Rocky, wide eyed and in disbelief. The stallion that had caused her so much joy and misery in the past few weeks of her life presented himself. Hooves down and face presented. Rocky braced himself for what he knew was coming.
*Smack*
There it was.
Octavia struck him with all the force of Tartarus. Tears in her eyes. The blow stung for Rocky, and not just physically.
"That's for dragging me through that dark twisted cave you uncivilized barbarian!" She shouted with a hoarse voice, not caring if her own volume hurt her ears.
Rocky shrank just a little bit and bowed his head, taking Octavia's chastisement with much more humility than he did with Applejack's. Rocky braced himself for a follow up strike, but it never came. What hit him instead almost knocked him off his hooves and was much more effective. The embrace Octavia gave him had all the pressure of a crushing waterfall. Desperation and Hurt. Rocky dared not move and Octavia dared not let go.
"Thank you Rock. Thank you for not leaving me alone..."
Rocky grimaced as he felt a pang of regret pierce his heart. Witout another moments hesitation he returned the embrace with equal intensity, uncaring for anything else except the mare in his hooves.
Octavia sunk deep into the warm water, using the froth of bubbles as cover and groaned. She absolutely refused to look in the direction of Rarity's sly grin. After the training was over and everypony packed up to leave the White Tail Woods, Rarity absolutely insisted that they enjoy the rest of the day at the spa. Her treat. Octavia didn't raise any objection. After days in that cave, she had forgotten what being clean felt like. Octavia should have known there were strings attached.
What was supposed to be a retreat from the rigor of Rocky's training, was actually a web weaved by the gossip queen that was Rarity Belle. There was no way Octavia wanted to leave the comfort of this bath. In addition, Octavia felt obliged to satisfy Rarity's curiosity in order to repay her for her generosity. Well played miss Belle. Well played.
"I do think it was rather sweet how the two of you hugged things out." Added Fluttershy before she winced and sunk into her own cover of white foam. "That is, after you c...c...clocked him."
Rarity hummed her agreement. Octavia finally developed the courage to glance at Rarity and Fluttershy who sat on the opposite side of the shared bath. She remembered the look of fear on their faces from almost being crushed by the boulder she chucked at them and decided to relent. Octavia felt like she owed them that much.
"Our relationship is...Complicated." Octavia finally said, though she felt something heavy weigh on her heart. For a moment Octavia thought that she might cry and was ready to drop back into the water at the first sign of trouble. But somehow, she prevailed against the first wave of emotion to rock her.
"After today though, I'm not sure he'd want to continue." Octavia said evenly. Professionally. With as little emotion as possible.
"I said some pretty awful things down in that cave and he was standing right there the whole time. Watching over me. Overhearing everything." Octavia choked up a bit. She quickly splashed warm water on her face to compose herself. Rarity and Fluttershy watched the act with a little bit of concern. Here was a mare who had just been through Tartarus, and she was tearing up over the stallion that had sent her there.
"The worst part is. I agreed to all this. He told me exactly what was going to happen, how hard it was going to be, and I agreed to it."
Fluttershy made her way over to the mare who now had a mix of suds and tears running down her face and onto her coat. She did nothing else but sit beside Octavia.
"Balancing both would be a challenge he said. Understatement of the century." Octavia's half-hearted laugh turned into a sob as she buried her face into her hooves. Fluttershy placed a hoof on Octavia's back and was a little surprised when Octavia leaned into her.
"There, there, it's alright. I don't exactly know what you're going through right now Octavia. But I do know what's important."
Octavia took several breaths to try and stop the sobs. After achieving a modicum of success, she turned to Fluttershy.
"Was ist das?" Octavia said in Germaine
"What's important is, whether YOU want to continue." Fluttershy cooed.
"Das Training oder die Beziehung?"
"Both."
Rarity sighed and smiled to herself. Well said Fluttershy.
Octavia breathed in and out as she looked at Fluttershy and then at Rarity. Considering the question deeply. After a moment she looked down into the bathwater at her own reflection and closed her eyes. She instantly felt everything all at once. The customers next door, the mice running under the floorboards, Fluttershy's beating heart, the crackling of soap bubbles exploding on the surface of the water. It was all so much. She searched beyond the walls into the lobby where Rocky waited. His heartbeat was quick. He was... anxious? Twilight and Applejack were with him, they were talking. If she concentrated hard enough, perhaps she could hear what they were saying. Octavia opened her eyes immediately at the sudden temptation to eavesdrop. She came to understand the gravity of the power that she now wielded, and how dangerous it could be if she wasn't careful.
"The training. I'll have to think about...as for the relationship..." Octavia took a deep breath and smiled. She placed a hoof on her chest.
"I have to continue. No. I WANT to continue. I've never felt this way about anypony before and I know that if I end things now, I'll regret it for the rest of my life." Octavia's eyes widened in realization, and she suddenly had to fight the strong urge to dive back into the water and stay there. "Ich glaube nicht, dass es Liebe ist... jedenfalls noch nicht..." Octavia mumbled.
Rarity and Fluttershy both smiled knowingly at each other before Rarity gave a squeal of delight. "Well darling. Let's not waste anytime then. How did this all start? Tell us EVERYTHING!"
This time Octavia DID dive into the water and stayed down there for as long as she could. Rarity and Fluttershy only laughed at her expense.
---
Rocky Road had finished his seventh juice box since his arrival at this so called "spa". He had no idea what a "spa" was, but it became clear that a spa was some type of bath house, and a fancy one at that. Rocky didn't really bother with the luxurious looking bottles or strange looking herbs and creams, just soap and warm water. After scrubbing every inch of his coat, he rinsed, jumped out and shook himself dry. As expected, he was the first pony out into the lobby. Twilight and Applejack hadn't gone into the baths. Both were discussing something in hushed whispers. They stopped as soon as Rocky came within earshot. Without looking, Rocky tossed the expended juice box at a waste basket somewhere behind him. It clattered quietly off the rim.
Twilight and Applejack stared at him for a moment. Rocky raised an eyebrow. Twilight gave Applejack a sideways glance before elbowing her in the ribs. Applejack jerked up and looked at Twilight who nodded towards Rocky who in turn resisted the urge to roll his eyes and instead took a seat on the floor waiting for Applejack to do whatever it was Twilight convinced her to do.
"Look. Uh. Your Lordship..." Applejack said grabbing her Stetson into her hooves from atop her head.
"Please don't call me that miss Applejack." Rocky said wincing at the title of 'Lordship.' "Rocky or just Rock is fine."
"Oh thank Celestia. That would have made things much more awkward." Applejack said breathing a sigh of relief. She stepped forward.
"Rock. Ah thought ah'd apologize fer blowin up on ya back there at the cave. Ah still don't agree with what you let Octavia do. But at least you were stallion enough to go through it with her."
"Huh."
Now It was Applejack's turn to raise an eyebrow. "What?"
"Wasn't expecting an apology from you Miss Applejack. Perhaps I misjudged you. I thought you were at least as stubborn as I was."
Applejack gave a laugh. "Rocky. Ah can promise ya. Ah would run circles around you in the sheer stubbornness department."
Rocky couldn't help but smile. With the tension diffused Twilight felt it was safe to speak up.
"I can vouch for that one. Applejack here once tried to harvest her entire crop by herself."
Applejack laughed again. "Darn straight. Almost did it too. Then I hurt mahself and others."Applejack stared in the mid-distance as if lost in memory before shaking her head. "Never mind about that we're getting off topic. Your turn Twilight." Applejack stepped back and Twilight came forward.
"Rocky. I think we both want to know what's next for Octavia. You mentioned how the training was hard, and it was only going to get harder." Twilight levitated her notes from the now empty picnic basket and started shuffling through them. "When you came to me for permission for this trial to open the first gate, I only agreed because I have personally seen you in action and you promised me that she would exit the cave in three days tops. You also promised that you would be watching over her the entire time. All promises you kept. That being said..." Twilight breathed and Rocky was astounded that she could say all that with such clarity and with one breath.
"...what Octavia went through was not healthy and she most certainly needs to stop by Ponyville General Hospital to confer with a doctor. We're just concerned that future training will be just as...if not more dangerous than this ...Were also concerned that you will pressure Octavia into continuing. After today, I'm hoping you'll give her some space and maybe give her a chance to reconsider her training. Or at the very least take it...I don't know...a little slower." Twilight gave the nicest smile she could muster.
Rocky frowned and Applejack was a little surprised to see the normally strong and steadfast stallion slump a bit.
"I am inclined to agree." Rocky Road said. When he didn't elaborate, Twilight and Applejack shared confused glances and shrugged.
"Well...alright then." Applejack mumbled. Scratching her head. "Somehow I thought ya might need more convincin."
Rocky shook his head.
"The decision was hers. It's always been hers. She can quit whenever she wants. No strings attached." He said remembering the harshness with which Octavia spoke about him in the cave. "This is what I get for trying to have it both ways." He mumbled and swayed on his hooves. Rocky moved for the door but instead crashed into the wall next to it. The impact was such, that he shook the entire lobby.
"Uh sugarcube. Are you alright?"
"Honestly? No. My Fourth Gate is about to collapse, and I would really like to make it home before then."
Applejack looked at Twilight quizzically, but the purple unicorn was already checking her notes again.
"The Fourth Gate of Limits. Something about increasing the physical and mental endurance of earth ponies beyond what is normally safe and/or possible." Twilight scrunched up her nose in thought. "Now why in Celestia's name would you need that gate right now?"
"I haven't slept in three days." Rocky said feeling the wall for that blasted door.
It took a minute to properly process what Applejack and Twilight just heard. Their eyes went from Rocky's sagging posture to the juice box laying on the floor. Their minds began to race. It certainly wasn't like Rocky to display weakness, he fought hard not to show it during his bout with Chrysalis that Twilight knew for certain. And Applejack knew after all she saw of his abilities out by the cave, that there was no way he would miss a shot like that, even if it was from behind the back.
When Twilight did a health scanning spell on Octavia, she was malnourished, dehydrated, but not very sleep deprived. Octavia mentioned on the way back to Ponyville that she rested for a few hours at most, but that meant that some pony had to have been watching over her while she slept. That could have only been Rocky. In her concern for Octavia she had completely forgotten to check on him. Applejack wracked her brain but couldn't remember seeing the stallion eat anything from that picnic they had set up outside of the cave, and suddenly felt equal parts alarmed and ashamed. The stunned mares watched in horror as Rocky found a window, successfully opened it and slipped outside, instead of using the perfectly good door that was literally four steps to his right.
"Twi. We gotta get him home. Ah know how this goes..." Applejack said concerned. Twilight nodded and the two of them ran out into the mid-afternoon sun after the Tei-Rah-Do Master.
But to their dismay, they found no-pony. The Tei-Rah-Do Master was lost to the crowded streets of Ponyville. Leaving a bewildered and panicked Applejack and Twilight in his wake.
