To Set the Stage….
When word spread across Equestria that the changelings had moved on Canterlot, many a pony was shocked. How could they strike so deeply? How could anypony sleep soundly at night? Only tales of the heroics of Princess Celestia’s student and her companions eased the minds of Equestria’s citizens. Knowing that the changelings could be beaten brought peace of mind to the great cities and small villages of the land.
All except Hay Bale, for Hay Bale, so far distant from Canterlot, was no stranger to the threat of the shape-shifting creatures. Founded long before the return of Princess Luna, Hay Bale is a rural town that knows very few outsiders. The ponyfolk there are industrious and independent, and enjoy relative stability so far from the hectic life of Canterlot or Manehattan. Yet Hay Bale is but 10 minutes, as the parasprite flies, from changeling territory.
For generations, the Wardens of Hay Bale have stood watch over the town, perceptive equines with a keen eye for detail. Each knows their town inside and out, and knows their fellow residents just as well. Most hold everyday jobs, rotating out with fellow Wardens to keep watch for those who act like strangers.
Years before the battle in Canterlot, a colt of cobalt mane and winter cloud coat was born to one of the few unicorn families residing in this humble town. The father, a carpenter by trade, lifted his son up after being born and was met with an eager smile, a foal ready to take in the wide world. Drill Bit gave his new son a warm and gentle hug before tickling his adorable child. The foal giggled heartily, and in his excitement, the father received a shock. Literally.
Along the newborn’s tiny horn danced small arcs of static, the glow of magic already presenting itself. Drill Bit smiled, and named his firstborn, appropriately, Sparkhorn.
Sparkhorn was a curious and bright pony, and eagerly dove into whatever caught his interest, much to his parent’s chagrin. More than once, Sparkhorn became stuck in a tree chasing wildlife, or caught in a loom trying to follow its workings. As he aged, he began to display more self control, observing from afar. He read through what texts the town possessed, and proceeded to order more from distant Canterlot when he ran out of books close to home. He postulated and imagined the workings of tools and what simple machines the town possessed until he was well versed in mechanics. By the time he was finishing school, he had already earned a reputation as an intelligent craftspony, for he had in his studies found his place.
During a walk through Crystal Valley, a storm rolled in. Seeking shelter, Sparkhorn ducked into one of the crystal caves dotting the low ground. Within, he discovered various crystals of a dazzling array of color, shape, and size. He lifted one with his magic to observe its facets, and at that time lightning struck outside the cave. In a flash of destiny, the energy of the bolt resonated with his magic, the sparks of his namesake flashing brightly into arcs of electricity along his horn. With a cry of effort, the colt focused the surge of power on the crystal, and with a brilliant burst the energy was trapped within the gem.
Sparkhorn shook his head to clear it before gazing down at the gem glowing gently on the cave floor. Carefully lifting it with his magic, he discovered the electrical energy trapped within. A crystal battery. Upon his flank, an azure crystal was crossed by a lean bolt of lightning.
Since that day, he has worked at his own shop, crafting gadgets and the enchanted crystals necessary to power them, improving life in Hay Bale. When travelers and merchants heard of his talent, he began to receive odd visitors curious about his work, and soon his tools became rare and precious instruments for those who knew of the obscure unicorn mage of Hay Bale. He was also presented with examples of technology beyond anything in Hay Bale, and many a sleepless night was spent pouring over the details of how each new item worked.
To counterpoint this sharp mind, his lifelong friend was a smartalec of a pegasus by the name of Skyrocket. A crimson comet with a pale, silver streaked mane and emerald eyes, the fit and intrepid flyer was always searching for a new adventure, dragging his bookworm buddy into all kinds of mischief. Each took turns bailing the other out of sticky situations, and the two keep a running tally.
Skyrocket’s family had moved to Hay Bale not long before the two were born, and the curious unicorn had immediately been drawn to the strange winged pony who lived down the street. Many of the jams Sparkhorn had found himself in as a child had been averted thanks to the energetic pegasus, and the two enjoyed a bond of friendship that would make Celestia smile.
The bold flyer earned his mark doing the daring: Sparkhorn had decided to experiment with fireworks. Skyrocket had earned his name as an energetic foal, zipping straight up out of reach, always trying to climb higher and experience a new thrill of flight. So he had the bright idea to race fireworks.
For such a crazy idea it went surprisingly well. Sparkhorn would later explain, in typical smarty-farty fashion, how the air compressed in front of Skyrocket's flight path and saved him from frying. Skyrocket, however, always tells the tale as such:
The winds themselves protected him as he chased the fireworks up, through the bursts above him, and barreled through, scattering the flares in a brilliant corkscrewing display of light and sound. Townsfolk stopped in their work in awe as the firework display mushroomed out, brilliant viridian and emerald embers scattered wide. His flank now sported a red spiral firework, green sparks exploding just behind. From that day forth, the townspeople enjoyed a spectacular fireworks show at every town celebration.
Beyond all of these things, the two shared one thing above all others: a desire to help protect their friends and family, a call to be more than just another pony in the crowd.
This is the story of two colts growing up to become the greatest of Wardens.
Sparkhorn liked to work in the near dark. He felt the pieces in his telekinetic grasp more intuitively. Plus the other projects scattered about his workroom on various benches did not distract him if he did not see them. The only light he worked by was the icy azure glow of his horn, softly illuminating the components he held in front of him. His face was a mask of concentration, and the pieces whirled into alignment before slowly coming together.
With a thought, he picked up several screws and hovered them into place as the parts resolved into an unfinished power drill. With deft magical control, he slid home the screws one by one and secured the pieces together. Having finished his task, he laid the newly crafted tool down, and let out a contented sigh.
"HEY SPARKY HOW'S IT GOIN'?"
Sparkhorn jumped, hovering in the air for a second as his horn crackled into sporadic life, the room filled with the strobe light of uncontrolled electrical discharge. In that moment, he whipped his head in the direction the shout had come from, the image of a crimson pegasus being briefly burned into his vision. As soon as he was grounded again, the sparks fizzing along his horn quickly became more regulated arcs of energy. The brighter, steady flow illuminated the room properly, revealing the clutter of half a dozen unfinished projects scattered about on the various workbenches and shelves. But the object of his focus was the green eyed lout standing in the doorway.
Sparkhorn set his face to scowl and proceeded to lay into the interloper. "How many times have I told you not to scare me while I'm working, you jerk?" he deadpanned, gesturing over to the finished tool. "That one's a replacement for dad, Skyrocket. What if I had messed it up?" He sighed in recollection. "Took me a week to get all the parts together."
The pegasus simply laughed. "You were definitely done with it," he noted, gesturing to the tool himself, "especially since you put it down and made your 'I'm finally done' sigh." The winged pony's eyebrows rose twice before he bolted out the door, barely dodging a weak bolt of electricity. Sparkhorn stood there as his horn fizzled out, then sighed again as his head dropped in resignation and he trotted out to the front of his store.
The storefront was far better lit than the workroom, and tools with price tags hung on wall hooks. Skyrocket was looking over a recent addition, essentially a socket with wires leading away to hang disconnected. The pegasus cocked his head before asking, "The heck is this thing, Sparks?"
Sparkhorn looked over while he made his way behind the counter. "It's a crystal adapter for regular electrical systems," he explained as if it were obvious. "We don't exactly have nice electrical generators or magic appliance repairmen around here, so I made something that lets people around here use my crystals to power them instead." He picked up a gem with his magic and levitated it next to the adapter. The triangular crystal looked like a close fit.
"What if the gem doesn't fit?" Skyrocket asked, scratching his chin with one fore hoof. That question was answered with the introduction of an inert cube of crystal, which was gently pushed into the socket. The indent shifted slightly, a mechanical clicking noise accompanying the introduction of the gem as the device adjusted for the dimensions of the cube. With another click, the cube floated back over the counter and into a drawer behind the register, an antique mechanical design.
"Oh. That makes sense." Skyrocket flashed Sparkhorn a smile, and the unicorn rolled his cerulean eyes in response. In the light, his cobalt mane seemed much more warm than in the near monochrome of his horn's light, and certainly warmer than the platinum and white mane of his flying friend.
"So what, dare I ask, did you come by for today Sky?" Sparkhorn settled his saddlebags over his back, expecting to need them if his adventurous companion was here. He smirked, asking casually, "Find some more fascinating rocks to go fawn over?"
Skyrocket, ever the mature colt, stuck his tongue out indignantly before responding. "I'll have you know those rocks glittered in the sun and I thought you'd find them fascinating and worth a bunch of bits," he rebuffed, continuing with a flourish of his wings, "It's not my fault you're such a bookworm and know all this rock stuff."
Sparkhorn gave a short laugh. "It's called geology, and those glittery rocks are called 'foal's gold' for a reason," he finished with a sardonic smirk. Skyrocket simply scoffed and made his way out the door, gesturing impatiently with a wing for his unicorn companion to follow. Spark simply rolled his eyes again and made his way outside into the midday sun.
Hay Bale was enjoying wonderful weather, lazy clouds drifting high above the shingled stores and single story homes of the village. Log cabins sat next to brick and mortar structures, and town hall stood proudly in town square, a solid two story structure with simple columns lining the front. Off in the fields, the barns rested on the rolling hilltops of the countryside, and the sun brought an amber glow to the sea of grain that lay east of the community. Apple trees dotted the yards of homes, and a few families were out and about picking apples right out of their own trees. A quiet, sentimental little city far from the bustle of big old Manehattan or...
His pleasant thoughts were interrupted and he huffed as he turned to Skyrocket, who had just given him a soft jab to the shoulder. "Alright, I'll ask again, what are we doing today?"
Skyrocket smiled and took to the sky, leaping up and twisting above Spark to face out towards the woods on the edge of town. He pointed off to the northwest, excitedly stating, "The Wardens are out in the woods looking for something. Maybe if we help them they'll let us in!"
Sparkhorn blinked a couple of times before answering, weighing the information he had just received. One part of his mind began to jump for joy, ranting about how he could finally make some progress with the Wardens and convince them he was ready. The other simply harrumphed and reminded him that they had not recognized his efforts before, so why would they this time? It was always "when you're old enough and ready." The final thought that materialized was the one that drove him in his creative endeavors: nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?
After a couple of seconds processing this, he shook himself and a confident grin made its appearance. "Alright, buddy, let's get to it!" And with that, the unicorn galloped to keep up with his swift-winged friend.
The sun had made its way past its zenith by the time the two crested a hill near the wood's edge. From there, they easily spotted the captain of the Wardens and proceeded down to speak with him. Skyrocket, unsurprisingly reached the captain first, and was greeted with a practiced chuckle and roll of the eyes from the bearded protector of Hay Bale.
Skyrocket, not one to waste time with greetings, immediately spoke, asking, "So what are you guys looking for out here? I saw you send in Buckler and Bean Pole earlier." He hovered above the older unicorn, not even trying to disguise his eagerness. "We can definitely help," he claimed confidently.
The captain chuckled again, eyeing the approaching unicorn. "We, eh? Well, this is kind of a tricky job, and I wouldn't want you two getting hurt." Before Skyrocket could protest, Sparkhorn cut him off.
"And neither would we. My dad would be steamed if I got hurt. Nice to see you, Captain Steel," he greeted, nodding his head in a sign of respect. Steel laugh, raising a sand colored hoof to cut off Sparkhorn.
"How many times do I have to tell you? I don't need the formalities. Flint is fine, Sparkhorn. I'm good friends with your father, you know," he said. "Only the Wardens call me captain. And I'm guessing you two are here about that." The reception of eager nods readily confirmed this. "Well, while this would be a great opportunity to earn your place, this is also a job that is well above the risk I'll let you take. Timber wolves are no joke." The young stallions' eyes widened at the mention of the vicious magical creatures. "My job is to protect the townsfolk, to protect you, and if I don't then my name isn't Flint N Steel."
The two colts contained their near fan-boyish reactions, which was made simpler by the shouts that came from the edge of the woods. The ones who had called out shortly made their appearance, nearly out of breath. Buckler and Bean Pole, both scale mail-clad earth ponies, quickly turned and presented horned helmets in the direction from which they'd come, growls now emanating from the bushes at the edge of the forest and an awful stench wafting over to the recently conversational trio. A pack of five timber wolves presented themselves, eyes aflame with sickening green light.
Steel immediately set his face in a mask of determination, and galloped over to his fellow Wardens, a small wall of armored pony standing to meet the pack of timber wolves. Sparkhorn and Skyrocket were close behind and were about to join the line before the captain shouted them away wordlessly. At that moment the wolves leapt, and the first met the horn of Buckler's helm, the stout terra-cotta earth pony taking the beast to the ground and starting a vicious tussle. Bean Pole and two wolves danced in and out of each other's reach, the tall and slim stallion weaving between the two, waiting for an opening and trading blows. The final two leapt at Captain Steel, who stood firm, his horn glowing amber before blazing into life, flames reaching out and igniting the first timber wolf. The second, however, tackled him to the ground and put its weight fully on him.
Sparkhorn and Skyrocket had watched the initial attack without moving, having deferred to the authority in Flint N Steel's shout. Now however, they glanced at each other once, seeking support in each other, before nodding, then galloping or flying towards the fray.
The wolf atop the captain of the Wardens glared down at him, and he spat in its eye. The wolf reared back, opening its jaws to clamp down on his throat, but instead got a faceful of rear hooves, Skyrocket giving it a flying double kick to the snout, knocking it off and away from Steel. He immediately flew up for some height to strike again.
Bean Pole suddenly found one of his opponents spasming as a bolt of arcane lightning struck it, stunning it. It was followed by a grey unicorn, azure mane and tail a blur as he speared the beast on his horn, bashing it off with his forehooves. Bean Pole had the time to focus on one target now, and use his helm horn to similar effect. After spearing the wolf, he left the helmet in place, bucking hard into the piece of armor and shattering the timber wolf. He turned and found Sparkhorn staring down the first timber wolf, about to be pounced upon. Before the wolf could strike however, a vermilion blur careened out of the sky and smashed the twig and log beast into the dirt, crushing it and scattering pieces across the field.
The two remaining beasts regrouped, growling at the team of ponies. Buckler, using the moment of respite, helped the captain to his hooves as the others gathered. Bean Pole retrieved his helm, now with fresh dents. Eerie howls in the distance spoke of reinforcements. The captain made his decision and spoke. "We're outnumbered. They've won this round."
Skyrocket began to protest, exclaiming, "We can take 'em! Those guys aren't so tough!"
"No! You two have already done more than enough." A brief, well intentioned glare passed over the two. With a toss of his head and a flash of his horn, a short wall of fire burst into life between the ponies and the timber wolves. "The flames will burn out as we leave. Now get moving!"
The wardens immediately turned to make their withdrawal, and Sparkhorn made to follow, but paused as Skyrocket hesitated. "We don't have time for this, Sky! We're probably going to get enough grief for jumping in as is." He watched his friend hover for a couple seconds longer before turning and flying behind the wardens, Sparkhorn close behind.
Sparkhorn sighed for what seemed the hundredth time today. "We're going to get an earful for this."
That they did. After half an hour walking in tense silence, the group found themselves back in Hay Bale, and the ponies of the town glanced at the Wardens, noticing the fresh marks of battle on their armor. It did not take long for word to spread that the Wardens had returned from a fight, and with young companions no less. As such, it was no surprise when a steely coated unicorn arrived, safety glasses still on his face.
"Before you lay into the boys too hard, Drill Bit, they weren't hurt. They actually helped out some, although it was quite reckless of them," he finished with a sharp glance in their direction. Sparkhorn sagged a little, while Skyrocket crossed his forelegs, hovering defiantly in place.
"You two know better! How many times have I told you, safety first!" an exasperated Drill Bit reiterated, tapping his safety glasses in emphasis. "I can't worry about you every day you go out of town, son. And Skyrocket, just because your parents are busy flying the mail doesn't mean you can just run off and get yourself hurt."
"Dad, we didn't get hurt," Sparkhorn began. "We can handle ourselves!" His father gave him a disapproving stare. "We're almost grown stallions, and you still treat us like foals. When are you going to understand that we're ready to do what we've always wanted to, been meant to? You don't want us getting hurt, but we don't want to see our friends and neighbors hurt either."
Skyrocket jumped in at this point, exclaiming, "We just helped take down some timber wolves! What more do you want us to do to prove we're awesome?"
Sparkhorn face-hoofed, knowing his friend had just dug them a deeper hole. His father's reaction confirmed this, as he stiffened and paled as the thought of his young charges facing down the dangerous inhabitants of the woods filled his mind. His glasses actually slid down his muzzle some as the images formed. "You did WHAT?! Flint, you let them fight timber wolves?!"
The captain sighed before explaining. "I shouted at them to stay back, but they jumped in anyway. Not like I could have stopped the two of them. I was a bit busy trying to keep the wolves back. Something had stirred them up. Whatever usually keeps them in check isn't around anymore." He turned and faced the two under scrutiny. "You two need to stay away from the woods for now. If we hadn't been there and ready for a fight, you two wouldn't be arguing with us about how ready you are."
This brought a shudder to Drill Bit, his ice blue mane twitching slightly as his skin crawled. "You two, go wait at my shop. I'll deal with you two when I'm done with Captain Steel." The Warden flinched slightly, any semblance of levity erased with the knowledge of an argument with his friend.
The colts both sagged this time, and ruefully made their way to the shop as instructed. They ignored the inquiring glances of the ponies they passed, and heard the raising of voices that usually accompanied a "chat" between Drill Bit and Flint N Steel. It was a only a few minutes before they flopped onto their haunches and sat outside of the shop in the afternoon sun. The day certainly seemed less vibrant and exciting now.
Skyrocket snorted, "This is the thanks we get for helping out. Again." He snorted, expressing equine displeasure in the most basic way.
Sparkhorn merely sighed. "Well at least I have something to work on if we get grounded again." He suppressed an ironic laugh, commenting, "Literally for you, buddy."
Skyrocket simply glared. The two sat in silence until they heard the argument around the corner die down and Drill Bit wearily made his was to them. He looked at them strangely for a moment before shaking his head and walking over. The two glanced at each other, seeing if the other had divined the change in response to their risky behavior. Drill Bit stopped in front of them, and they looked up as he took a deep breath, apparently going to levy his verdict.
"You're not grounded." Two jaws dropped. "Captain Steel has supported your case," he raised a hoof to cut off any outbursts, "but I'm not ready to let you just up and enter such a dangerous career. Sparky, you have such a good job at your shop. Why would you risk that?"
"Because, dad," he stood up and squared himself to face his father. "I already lost mom. I'm not losing anyone else I care about."
Sadness touched Drill Bit's face, and he looked away, blinking away a couple tears before looking back at his son. "I understand you miss her, but the Wardens protect us and..."
It was at this point that Skyrocket jumped in, saying with emphasis, "And Flint is awesome but he can't do it alone. Nopony wants to volunteer for the Wardens anymore because things have been so calm around here, and he's not exactly a young and ready stallion anymore. He needs ready hooves to back him up!" His wings unfurled dramatically to punctuate his statement.
"Sky is right dad. We trust him to protect us, but he can't do it forever. Sky and I are ready dad. You've see us practice." There were a number of scorched wooden dummies of various predators scattered about the small junkyard on the edge of town as testament to that. "We may be young, but we're ready."
Drill Bit sighed, his shoulder's sagging in defeat, before a new emotion manifested in his body language, one they weren't familiar with. "I'm going to worry sick about you two, but I'm proud of you, and I want to believe in you." He motioned for them to follow, and around the corner they found the captain and a good number of the Wardens waiting for them.
Drill Bit nodded them forward, and the two moved into the circle of guards that had formed, Flint N Steel at the center.
"Boys, I can't make you Wardens without testing your worth. It is how we have inducted since our founding." Neither protested, simply listening as their hopes rose astronomically. "We know something strange is happening in the woods. Beast are roaming more freely and encroaching on our homes. As such, I will be leading an expedition to get to the bottom of it."
He levitated out a pair of bandoleers, the clasp emblazoned with a shield, a fire burning at its heart. "These are the first piece of equipment any Warden trainee acquires. Watch over this town in our absence, keep the people safe, and you may keep these, as you will be Wardens."
There was a sound like an open bottle of pop, Sparkhorn's magic reacting to his exhilaration. Skyrocket was slowly gaining altitude, his excitement manifesting as reflexive wing strokes. This was it. This was the moment they'd been striving for.
"I hope you will be up to the challenge." Captain Steel gave them a knowing wink.
They both snapped to, exclaiming in unison, "Yes, captain!"
The expedition team assembled rather quickly, and the bulk of the active Wardens had packed for the journey. The few that remained were those who maintained the Wardens' gear, and as such were not as well versed in combat. As such, the youthful new recruits were tasked with being guards, having demonstrated talent in that regard, even if inexperienced. Captain Steel explained that the expedition should draw attention away from the town regardless. Any foray in the direction of changeling territory would not be ignored by the shape-shifters.
As such, after a day preparing, the expeditionary team set off with farewell waves, hugs, and intimate moments between couples. Sparkhorn and Skyrocket immediately coordinated with the Wardens to establish shifts, times when personal work was set aside to wander the town, wary of suspicious activity. Most days this meant walking along and waving to neighbors or picking up a snack from the bakery. The rest were spent doing their everyday jobs. Skyrocket tended the weather, while Sparkhorn worked on a new project in his shop. An idea had struck him, a rekindling of an old idea that might finally bear fruit.
Several days after the departure of the Warden expedition, a letter arrived for Drill Bit and Sparkhorn.
My dear brother,
I know it has been years since we last spoke. We parted with understanding that we needed time apart. But things have become quite turbulent here, and I have a favor I must ask of you.
I have a daughter. Her name is Electra. I know its a great deal to ask, but please watch over her. I have sent her to you from Canterlot in the hopes that she might be safe with you. I do not know when I can speak with you again, and I am sorry. I am hoping you and your wonderful colt are doing well.
Your sister, Amber Brush
Father and son read the letter together, and both looked at each other in puzzlement.
Electra?