Author's Note

Done! The editing overhaul is finally done. Things should get back to normal with updating and thanks to the new team mistakes should be few and far in between.

The Lives We Live Ch. 4: Fun Times

The Lives We Live Ch 4:

Fun Times

Rays of sunlight pierced through the window to Fluttershy’s house, waking the two humans that were sleeping their injuries off. Leon slowly got up from the bed, still feeling as though someone used his body as a makeshift punching bag. Mia was fairing no better, her head still throbbing in pain slightly, and the bright sunlight was not helping with the situation.

“Guh, morning Leon,” Mia said sorely, trying her hardest to get out of the bed. Still too tried to answer, Leon just made a groaning noise as a response. “Come on soldier get up. What would Ven say if he saw you like this,” She asked with a teasing tone.

This seemed to serve it’s purpose in getting Leon to respond as he started to laugh. “Ha, he most likely say that I need to man up, or something like that.” Leon laugh, starting to move out of the bed.

“Probably,” Mia said, shrugging her shoulders and smiling. Mia heard her stomach growled at her in hunger. “Hey wanna see if Fluttershy has anything for breakfast?”

Leon shook his head at Mia, “You always hungry aren't you?” He smirk.

“I’m going to let that one slide, but next time you should watch your ass.” Mia treated walking out of the room.

“Umm...Mia? Still having troubles walking on my own.” No response, “Mia! Great.” Leon looked around the room to find anything that he could use as a crutch, all he found was a fairly large walking stick. “Perfect, this will just have to do.” He grabbed the makeshift crutch and placed it underneath his arm.

Leon finally walked out of the room with the aid of the crutch. When he made his way to the living room, where he saw Mia and Fluttershy talking about something. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything,” He said, getting the girls attention.

“Oh my, Leon! You shouldn’t be walking.” Fluttershy rushed over to the Terrain soldier’s side.

“I’m fine Fluttershy, been through a lot worse in the army.” Leon said walking over to an empty chair with the aid of Fluttershy.

“Still you need to rest,” Fluttershy insisted, sitting Leon down in the chair.

“Thanks, so what were you two talking about anyway,” Leon asked.

“Oh, nothing really.” Mia said, waving her hand. “Just getting to know each other better.” She said, kicking back on the couch. “So Fluttershy, you tend to animals in that forest,” Mia asked, picking up the conversation where she left it off.

“Umm...yes well, really it's only the animals that are close to here.” Fluttershy nervously answered, sitting back down next to Mia.

“So like a town veterinarian,” Mia asked, associating it with a career her father wanted her to go after.

“More or less, but not a lot of ponies have pets in Ponyville, so I usually take care of the little animal critters.” Fluttershy answered. “Most stay and make little homes around mine, I really like to see all of their cute little smiles.” She continued breaking her usual shy personality.

“Sounds like you're really passionate with taking care of animals.” Leon chimed in. “Had a cousin that was a veterinarian, but he wasn’t into it like you are.”

“Leon you have a cousin for everything,” Mia said with a flat tone. “But he’s right, I haven’t met anyone that was so into their work.”

Fluttershy smiled brightly at the compliments she was getting from the two. “Oh why thank you, taking care of animals is my cutie mark.” Mia’s brain perked upon hearing this.

“Cutie mark? What’s that some kind of personality test?” Mia asked, trying to learn as much as she could about the subject.

“Oh, a cutie mark is something that tells you what you’re good at,” Fluttershy said, but the confused looks from Leon and Mia told her that they wanted to know more. “Umm...it's like something you’re really good at, something you stand up for, and what you’re passionate about.”

“Hmm...I think I get now,” Leon said, rubbing his chin in thought.

“A cutie mark, huh? Won’t find me wanting one,” Mia said, leaning back in the couch.

“What? Why?” Fluttershy asked.

“Well...it sound great and all, to know what you really are good at and finding it yourself, but,” Mia paused thinking of the best way to describe her reasoning. “Even with a cutie mark, I’ll still would want to try other stuff even if I’m not good at it.” Mia stopped for a moment before continuing, “Look at it like this, to not know what you’re good at, to have no idea what is for you. Sounds like a reason for growth and change in a person, that’s why I really don’t stay with one thing for too long.”

“Wow, when did you start with the philosophical thing,” Leon asked, amazed by Mia’s reasoning.

“When you left for the Terrain military, Ven and I started to get in debates about, well everything really,” Mia answered.

“Oh I-I see, well that’s fun too. I guess,” Fluttershy said, finally processing what Mia told them.

“Don’t get me wrong, knowing what you're good at can be just as fun as not knowing.” Mia corrected. “Though, a few years before I met Leon or Ven, I had no idea what I wanted to do.” She said with a chuckle, “Really I guess you can say that I’ve already have my cutie mark.” Mia begun to laugh along with Leon and Fluttershy.

“Well I’ve been set on going to the Terrain military since I was a kid,” Leon added in, “Pop was really proud of me when I told him I was joining it.” He continued to say, smiling at the memory.

“Sounds like you two-” Fluttershy was interrupted with loud knocking at her door, which made her jump in the air landing in Mia’s lap. She quickly got off, muttering apologies as she went to answer the door. “Oh hi girls, Spike. What brings you here?”

“Hey Fluttershy, we came to see how Leon and Mia were doing,” Twilight greeted.

“Oh, well, please come in.” Fluttershy stepped out of the way to let everyone in. Twilight, Applejack, Spike, and Pinkie walked - or in Pinkie's case, hopped - in, each greeting Fluttershy in their own way.

Pinkie Pie bounced over to the couch a cheerful smile on her face. “Hiya, Mia and Leon! How are you two doing,” She asked hopping on the couch, causing Mia to bounce a little herself.

“Hehe, yeah I’m doing a lot better now that most of my magic is back,” Mia said, raising her hand and manipulating her magic to create translucent blue jets of magic.

“Well that’s good tah hear,” Applejack said, sitting in a chair next to Leon. “So what about you feller?”

“Eh, I’ve been through Terrain hell-week, I’ll be fine,” Leon said, remembering the brutal combat-survival training that he went through. “Damn leg still hurts though,” He said, rubbing it.

“Sounds like you’ll be out of commission for a while,” Twilight said, giggling a little too much, much to Leon’s dismay. “Oh and I want you two to met someone.” She gestured to Spike, who was standing on the other side of the room, staring at the two humans. “Mia, Leon this is Spike, and he’s my number one assistant.” Twilight introduced Spike. “Spike, I want you to met, Mia Young.” Twilight waved her hand to Mia.

“Hey.” Mia waved her automail arm.

“And Leon Virgo.” She motioned to Leon.

“Nice to met you.” Leon said with a nod

“Hey,” The dragon said, in a rather bored tone. “So you guys are really from another world?” He asked with a hint of interest, Mia and Leon nodded in an answer. “Huh, guess Sinps and Sails owe me some bits.” Spike said with a smirk on his face that remained Mia and Leon of Ven.

“Oh Nebula, he’s like Ven, but a dragon.” Leon said shaking his head while Mia was almost falling off the couch from laughter.

“Hey did Ven ever tell you that he had a dream about being a dragon?” Mia said through her tear soaked eyes.

“He want’s to be a dragon?” Leon asked unsure of what to think.

“He told me that he had a dream about it. I think he drew a picture of it as well.” Mia said thinking for a moment. “So Spike, you’re a dragon. How’s that work out for ya?” She asked Spike how was just standing around.

“Huh? Oh well I don’t really do much.” Spike said.

“Really?” Mia asked not believing the dragon. “A big, bad, and powerful dragon, and you don’t do anything?”

“Well, I help Rarity with digging up gems and stuff, and then I help Twilight at the library other than that, not much else.” Spike said shifting on his feet and looking away from Mia. “What, I’m not really good at anything else.” He said hoping that Mia would back off.

She won’t.

“Not good at anything huh?” She said standing up and walking in front of Spike. “Well have you tried anything really?” Her voice was strong and firm, something that even Leon didn’t see coming. “Haven’t you ever wanted to do something? Wanted to push yourself, to achieve something on your own?” The room went silent all awaiting Spike’s response.

However, Spike couldn’t produce any answers to Mia’s unexpected questions. He could feel the sweat running down his face and his tongue becoming an unbreakable knot. Spike was finally able to untie his tongue, but only nervous sounds came out. Mia remained unmoved, still awaiting an answer from the poor drake. After what felt like an eternity Spike finally responded to the pressing questions. “Umm...I-I d-don’t...know?”

The whole room went completely silent to the point you could hear a pin drop. All eyes were trained on Mia and Spike, waiting for the mechcromancer’s response. “Fine.” Mia said flatly and walked back to the couch to sit down. “So, Twilight any word from Ven?” She quickly changed the subject, deciding to deal with Spike at a later date. She caught Leon staring at her with a questioning gaze, but she waved it off with a slick smile.

“Umm...well, from what Celestia said in her letter, Ven was mostly getting fitted for his ‘punishment.’” Twilight recalled. “Though, we won’t know much any more until he and Luna wake up.”

“Wake up?” Leon asked finally breaking eye contact with Mia. “It’s like…” He looked towards a clock on Fluttershy’s wall. “Ten-thirty, what are they doing asleep?”

“Well you see, Celestia and Luna co-rule Equestria. So Celestia takes the day, while Luna takes the night.” Twilight explained to the Terrains.

“Hmm...makes sense seeing as how Celestia raise the sun, and Luna raise the moon.” Leon said in understanding.

“And it will fit Ven quite well, seeing as how he sleeps most of the morning anyway.” Mia said remembering the times Ven would wake up in the afternoon. “Though, he is quite sadistic when he sleepy.” She continued also remembering the school sleepover assignment that they all were required to do.

“Why do you constantly remind me about the worst times begin around that psycho.” Leon said burying his head in his hands.

“What do you mean?” Mia asked faintly knowing what Leon was saying.

“Remember when the track team and I pulled a prank on the girls?” Leon asked knowing his ass would be in trouble.

Mia took a moment to think to herself about the sleepover, though it didn’t take very long for the memory to hit her. “That was your ass?!” She suddenly stood up and shouted at Leon. “Leon! I’m going to kill you!” She charged at Leon, but was held back by Applejack.

“Leon what did you do?” Twilight asked not thinking anything could get Mia that reeled up.

Leon scratched the back of his head with a sheepish smile on his face. “Well...me and the team though it would be fun to start pulling pranks on the girls. And one thing led to another, and then…” He paused not sure if reminding Mia of the full prank would be a smart thing. “Oh come on. When Ven pulls a prank, everything alright, but when the team and I pull one it’s hell on Terra.” Leon defended himself.

“That’s because Ven doesn’t wake anyone up with his pranks.” Mia said cooling off, but still very irritated with Leon. “I mean, where did you guys even get a suck form anyway?”

“It was Larry's pet.” Leon said preparing for the worst.

“Larry…” Mia said in a low growl. “You know what? Now I’ve got to thank Ven for burying you idiots in the fucking ground.” She said with a smirk on her face.

“Wait, Ven buried the entire track team?” Applejack asked.

“Yup, all of their asses in the dirt.” Mia said with a dark chuckle. “Hey Leon remember, what the headmaster said when he found you guys?” She asked starting to laugh some more.

“Mia I- no I’m done, not doing it again.” Leon said crossing his arms. “That look in his eyes...they were just so...so…”

“Chaotic?” A disembodied voice called out, searching just about everyone in the room. Discord soon appeared right in the center of the room, eating a bag of chocolate popcorn. “You know your friend Ventus is a real card.” He said munching down.

“What do you mean Discord?” Twilight asked, eyeing Discord.

“Oh nothing really, but I can tell just from meeting him that he could be my grandchild.” Discord said with a hint of pride.

“You know, I would believe you on that.” Mia said in a knowing tone. “With all the crazy stuff he’s done over the years, it’s a wonder that he isn’t dead, or at least in jail.”

“Yes well enough about him, what about you two?” Discord said floating down to the ground.

“What you mean?” Leon said not liking the vibe he was getting from Discord.

“Come on, you humans may have similarities with ponies, but you’re far more chaotic than them.” Discord said.

Mia and Leon looked at Discord, not sure what he was saying, but Mia soon connected the dots. “You’ve been watching us all day. Haven’t you?” She asked in a unpleased tone.

“What? You humans are really entertaining,” Discord said in a fake defensing tone. “Well I must be getting back, Celestia must be worrying her head off no doubt.” Discord vanished in a ball of sporadic magical energy.

“Whatever, hey Fluttershy you got anything to eat?” Mia asked, holding her empty stomach.

Pinkie Pie jumped from the couch, the widest smiles on her face. “Oh, oh we can go to Sugarcube Corner,” She exclaimed, grabbing Mia by the hand pulling her close, and hopping up and down. Mia never really had time to realize just how short she was to Pinkie, as her face came square to Pinkie’s chest.

Leon started to laugh at Mia’s misfortune, knowing that she was more into girls than guys, and also that Mia was far too easy to get flushed. “Pinkie, you’re going to suffocate Mia.” Leon took pity on Mia knowing that she most likely was enjoying the close contact with Pinkie’s bouncy breasts.

Pinkie let Mia go with a spin that set her stumbling. Leon roared in laughter, seeing the bright red blush on Mia’s pale white skin. Mia only blushed even more when Leon’s laughter reached her ears. She reached down to her shoe were her metal wrench, that she carries around with her at all times, and brought it to Leon’s injured leg.

The man let out a whale of pain, Mia put the wrench back into its holster, and gave a satisfied nod. “So Pinkie, about this Sugarcube Corner.” Mia took Pinkie by the arm and walked out the door leaving Leon humbled over in pain.

Leon forced himself to look up to the still opened door, where he saw Mia and Pinkie walking down the path from Fluttershy’s house. He shakily raised a finger towards the woman, “The she-devil's child…”

“Things sure are going to be a lot more interesting around here,” Twilight said, with the others nodded in agreement, and Applejack went to help Leon up to his feet.

“Come on, feller. Knowing Pinkie, she got something or another waiting for you,” Applejack said, patting Leon on the back, and shooting a friendly smile.

“Fun times…”

Ponyville; dirt road heading towards Sugarcube Corner

The trek through Ponyville was a long and slightly uncomfortable one for Leon. The townsfolk stopped what they were doing to stare at the alien visitor, Leon half expected them to pull out torches and pitch forks, but lucky it seemed that the girls’ and Spike’s presents kept the ponies calm.

“So, Leon is Ponyville anything like the town you used to live in,” Twilight asked, wanting to know more about the place the Terrains used to call home.

Leon shook his head, “Nah, the city we lived in was more urban than this, but it does have this...feel to it,” He answered, there was something about the small town that Leon liked, or to better put it figured out about. “I wonder how Mia is taking it. She usually hate being away to small towns like these.”

“Why that,” Twilight asked, arching an eyebrow.

“Well you see she has a slight phobia of being in rural towns, just like this. In fact, when we visited one of my cousins out on the country-side, Mia started having panic attacks, and Ven had to take her home,” Leon explain, remembering the look of absolute fear that Mia had. “I forget what the phobia is called but Mia has it bad.”

“Well she didn’t seem that scared when she was with Pinkie,” Spike noted, still off put by the way Mia approached him. “Hey what was up with her anyway?”

“You,” Leon said, rather flatly. “Mia grew up with her father, seeing as how her mother was almost always sick, and she got a sense of hardworking attitude from him,” He said, shaking his head. “Don’t take it too personal, she does that to every guy she meets.”

“Oh, well that’s good to know.” Spike really didn’t want to near Mia much any more, knowing that she just going to keep messing with him. “What should I do?”

“Its now what ‘should’ you do, its what can you do.” Leon looked Spike in the dead in the eyes and all he saw was a fearful boy. “Look, Mia has this thing with dragons. The way she looks at it is: dragons are said to be the birth children of the creators of our plant, powerful beings that are masters of each basic element, and were creatures of thought and wisdom.”

When Leon finished the quick Terrain belief explanation, Spike and the others were left in awe, none of them knew just what to say so Leon just continued. “Of course, this is only a fraction of what most Terrains believe, but none the less Mia looks at you in high light Spike. You may be young but when she was your age, she was already working on her first robot.”

“But, why me?” Spike was confused, all his life he didn’t really thought of himself as anything special, and now here comes an alien from another world holding him on a high pedestal.

Leon patted Spike on the back, hoping to break him out of his worry. “Again, its not just you. Mia looks at every male thinking that they are supposed to achieve something in their lives,” He said, giving Spike a brotherly push. “Even if its just raising a kid, anything you can think of Spike. You’re young, you have time, and I can tell that you’ll think of something.”

Spike looked a Leon as though he just proclaimed the craziest thing in the world. “Wow, thanks,” He said, finally cracking a smile, and knowing what needs to be done. “I’ll see you guys later. There’s something I need to do.” Spike took off with the most detarime look on his face any of his friends have ever seen him have.

“Wow Leon, that was mighty kind of you for helping out Spike,” Applejack said, patting him on the back. “I never seen that feller so happy before.”

Leon chuckled, scratching the back of his head. “Hey, just did what my brothers did for me,” He said with a modest smile. “I figured that he could have used a boost.”

“Well its really worked, I wonder-” Twilight was cut of by the sound of a large explosion and the sound of some wood falling. Everyone started to make there way over to the explosion to see what happened. When they did, after managing to push through the crowd of ponies, they saw Mia with her hair tied back standing over two very beaten up stallions.

“Didn’t you mothers tell you not hit on a girl?” Her voice was vacant of any emotion, her eyes cold and sharp like steel daggers, and Leon could make out the small traces magic coming off of her. “Well? Got nothing to say, or are you just all bark and no bite,” Mia continued to mock the fallen stallions.

“Mia,” Leon called out to her. The moment she looked up on of the stallions started to charge at her. She ducked under the incoming fist and swung her automail arm to the stallion’s chin, a sickening breaking sound told everyone that she broke the bone.

The other stallion tried to run away but threw his crutch at him, making him fall to the ground. Applejack was quick to keep Leon standing up right, and a small group of guards flew in. “Alright nopony move,” The lead guard said, pointing a spell-gun at Mia.

“Sergeant Stronghold,” Twilight called out to the guard, easily recognizing him. “You’re aiming at the wrong one, the two you want are over there.” Twilight said, pointing towards the two stallions that were being loaded in a transport. Stronghold put his spell-gun away into the holster.

“So this must be the humans I’ve been hearing so much about,” He said, eyeing both Mia, and Leon. “You’re friends with the human in Canterlot, yes?”

“Spiky blue-silver hair?” Stronghold nodded to Mia’s question. “Always having headphones with him?” Another nod. “Then yeah that’s him, I was wondering when he’ll be up.”

“Well he’s an interesting man, that’s for sure,” Stronghold said, shaking his head. “The name’s Sergeant Stronghold by the way, sorry for almost shooting you.” He stuck out his hand to shake Leon’s.

“Leon Virgo, I used to be in the military as well.” Leon took the Sergeant’s hand and gave it a strong firm shake.

“Oh yeah? What was your ranking?”

“Private First Class, sir.” Despite of his injury Leon managed a mock salute.

“Private First Class, huh?” Stronghold rubbed the golden and white beard on his face, the universal sign of him thinking about something. “Well, we could always use new recruits, pony or not. Come to Canterlot if you’re ever up for it.”

Leon nodded his head, “Will do.” he figured that he should join the military anyway. No reason that he should let all of his training go to waste anyway.

“And as for you, young lady.” Stronghold directed his attention to Mia, who was undoing her hair. “Mind telling me why you beat up those stallions,” He questioned, impressed that the small female was able to handle two fully grown earth stallions.

Mia pointed to a mare that was being helped by the other members of Stronghold’s unit. “Those two ‘stallions’ thought it would be cool to harass that mare. I thought otherwise,” Mia said, still greatly upset that she didn’t get to do all the damage she wanted on the stallions.

“Well I thank you for the help, stallions like these really do need to be locked up, and they will.” Stronghold moved to shake Mia’s hand, which she did with the automail one. The Sergeant flinched at first when he finally noticed the device.

“Mia Young, by the way,” Mia said, breaking Stronghold out of his daze. “My name. Its Mia Young, I’m what is called a mechromancer. The arm is just a happy accident,” Mia said, putting any of Stronghold’s worries to rest.

“Ah I see, well I must be getting back. Paper work and the like, do take care everyone.” Stronghold boarded the transport as it took off, heading straight for Canterlot. Mia waited for a moment before busting out in laughter.

“Man, all of you military-heads think the same way,” She said, wiping a tear from her eye.

Leon looked towards his friend confused, and slightly offended by the statement. “What are you talking about?”

“I’ll tell you later, come on Pinkie made something for us to eat, and it's really good.” Mia started to walk back to the bakery with the other following close behind. Mia knew that it will take time for Leon but fun times were on their way whether he wanted it to or not.