Guitar Strings and Dragon Wings

Metal in Equestria:

Chapter 22

"Why don't we all have a nice chat?" Said Celestia. "I don't think anyone needs to be kept in the dark any longer." She was of course referring to the rest of Twilight's friends, the ones who weren't exactly up to speed as to what was going on.

Twilight was sure the princess needed to address something to her friends, so it happened to be opportunistic that Pinkie Pie had already gathered everyone together. So far it seemed like only Rarity was left out in the whole ordeal, a fact she didn't particularly enjoy. On the first day the humans arrived, she had barely gotten to say hello, much less introduce herself. She just happened to be busy that day and decided to leave everything to her friends to sort out.

"Princess Celestia," she said, "I'm sorry I wasn't able to come to the castle a few days ago. I probably missed so much."

"Actually Rarity, you haven't really missed the main point I'm about to get to." Replied Celestia.

Packie fumbled through the crowd of ponies to get to Fluttershy who was standing, as usual, in the back. She could tell he was trying to hide something but decided to ignore it for the moment. Without any hesitation she placed a hoof on one of his reformed wings and ran down the length of it. "They look much better. Princess Celestia did an amazing job."

"But those bruises, ouch." interrupted Rainbow Dash, "Don't worry, they go away eventually."

"Yeah, I hope sooner than later." Packie added.

Rarity turned to Packie and casually extended her hoof to him. "I don't believe I gotten your name yet dear. What would it be?" she asked.

Packie grabbed her hoof and gave it a friendly shake. "Um, the name's Patrick. And yours?"

"Mine is Rarity." She responded. "And you'll never forget it. That I can guarantee." With a calm break in their greeting they both turned back to the princess.

"Now that I have everyone's attention, please walk this way." Celestia said. With a few steps she placed herself at the center of library's main floor. Without giving it much thought, the humans stayed within reaching distance of the pony they were closest too. Wallace preferred to stand near Pinkie, as Jiggs stood close to Applejack, while Packie stayed close to Fluttershy. The other girls stood in a semi-circle around Celestia, making a tight intimate group.

"Hey princess, where's your necklace?" asked Applejack. "I don't think I've ever seen you without it."

"Very observant of you, Applejack. Wallace, if you'd please." Celestia said.

Wallace could feel their eyes trained on him, looking for what the princess was referring to. But what the princess was looking for was still concealed by a towel wrapped around his head.

Pinkie Pie gave him a little nudge on his shoulder. "C'mon Wally, take it off." She urged him.

"Ugh." He grumbled. "Fine." With a few unwrapping motions he removed the towel to show his disheveled hair, and under it the Princess's familiar golden trinket, though it looked a little different now.

"It's… a headband?" asked Applejack.

"Oh Wally! It looks sooo pretty." Announced Pinkie.

"Yes, I gave it to Wallace to help him better cope with his ability." Said Celestia.

"He definitely needed something like that." Said Twilight.

Wallace just rolled his eyes.

"Oh which reminds me…" said the princess, "Pinkie Pie could you come here for a moment."

"Okie dokie!" she responded. With one energetic hop she was close enough to the princess where she could lean in close. Celestia bent her head down to whisper in Pinkie's ear. While Celestia was speaking Pinkie would occasionally say a "Mhmm" or "Okay" to show acknowledgement, all the while an unamused Wallace stood with his arms crossed. Everyone gave the two total silence until the princess said something that made Pinkie withdraw a little in shock. There was a slight flicker of fear in her eyes.

"Umm… okay. If you say so." Said Pinkie nervously.

"Don't worry, you'll be fine." Celestia assured.

"Okie dokie." She replied feeling a little more confident. She turned and took her place next to Wallace and whispered in his ear. "I got a secreeeeet." She sang in a mocking sort of way, like a child might.

"We'll see." He retorted.

"Now I also gave something to Anthony." Said Celestia. "Applejack could you come here for a moment."

"M-m-me?" she stammered.

"Yes you, Applejack." The princess replied.

Much in the same way that she had conversed with Pinkie, Celestia had a few private words for Applejack. Every so often the princess would whisper something which would incite an "Okay" or "Sure" out of acknowledgement. While Celestia was relaying this new information Jiggs couldn't help but twiddle with one of his bangles. He knew she was obviously talking about him.

"That's all I gotta do?" asked Applejack.

"That's all." Answered Celestia.

"Alrighty then, you got it." Applejack took her former position, back in the circle.

"Now," said the Princess. "On to why I'm actually here. The reason why I gave these boys their abilities in the first place is because I believe we might be coming under attack… by dragons." She added the last part reluctantly.

"WHAT?" yelped Pinkie. She jumped in pure shock.

Rarity kept her friend from hitting the ceiling. "Pinkie Pie, you must stop that dear. It's most unbecoming of a lady."

"I knew it." Said Twilight sternly.

"Yes I'm afraid it's true." Said Celestia.

"What's the big deal?" asked Rainbow. She started to unconsciously hover off the floor, and assumed a fighting stance. "We've dealt with dragons before. We'll just WAM! BAM! And Beat em up!" she threw a few mock punches and kicks at the air to show emphasis. "Just like we always do."

"Um I don't mean to interrupt," said Fluttershy. "But can't we just use the Elements of Harmony, or maybe just ask them to go away."

"Fluttershy's right." Asserted Rarity. "Sometimes these things can be solved with a little kindness and hospitality. Although I don't believe we should use the Elements every time we have a major problem on our hooves."

"That's just the problem." Said Celestia. "I don't know if any of that will work this time, the elements nor peaceful negotiation."

"Why not?" asked Twilight.

"No one in Ponyville except you can know." She said. Everyone in the room gave a nod in agreement.

"Our lips are sealed, Princess." Said Applejack. She removed her hat and placed it over her chest to show her concern.

"Very well." Celestia paused for a brief moment and took a short breath. "A few nights ago, before the boys came to Equestria… I… I had a dream. It was a terrible dream, or a nightmare I suppose you could say, but I have a feeling it was a premonition of horrible things to come."

"You've had these before, haven't you?" asked Twilight. "I know you've told me about them a long time ago."

Celestia nodded silently. "But what scared me the most is that this time, I… I think I failed, in my dream."

"Failed at what?" asked Fluttershy.

"At protecting everyone." She muttered. "And if what Patrick and Fluttershy said is true then I feel we are already running out of time."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Finally, civilization." The white dragon remarked.

After a long stretch of flying over mostly forested areas, Fletch was now about to reach his target. He started to make his descent to keep low to the ground, to keep his arrival as subtle as possible. With the sun high in the sky and his underbelly perfectly concealing him from ground level he knew that it wouldn't be too difficult to remain undetected. He flew past the last of the tree line and over an open field.

I should stick to the rooftops and keep my head down. None of these ponies will even notice me. He thought.

He kept his distance from any pathways leading into town and came upon the back of one building on the outskirts. He was coming in with ferocious speed and knew he would have to disperse his momentum to land quietly. With a hefty backwards flap of his wings he directed himself upward and briefly floated in midair for a moment, until quietly planting his claws on the flat squared roof.

Gotta keep my head down.

He kept his body low to the floor and approached the edge of the roof. He didn't hear any shouting. He took that as a sign he hadn't been spotted. While keeping his head glued to the stone surface he leaned over the edge to get a better view of the place he was dealing with. Some of the buildings were made of stone, some made of wood, but what really caught his eye was that most of the roofs of the buildings were made of straw.

He looked straight down and could see he was directly overlooking several groups of ponies sitting at tables, eating exclusively vegetarian dishes. The building he was on was obviously some kind of restaurant or café.

Oh these ponies, he thought, everything about them is just so… flammable. He gave a wide grin to expose rows of pearly white serrated daggers for teeth. From this position he could easily hear conversations going on below him.

"Did you see Princess Celestia?" Said a turquoise colored pony to her companion. "She's here, in town!"

"Lyra, that's ridiculous." Replied her cream-colored friend. "Why would the princess come to Ponyville, anyways? That's only happened like… twice ever, if that."

Ponyville? Honestly these ponies are so unimaginative when it comes to naming anything. The dragon thought.

"It's gotta be dragons. Remember the town meeting the other day?" asked Lyra.

"If by meeting you mean those humans putting on a crazy show for everypony, then yes. But I didn't hear anything about dragons."

"C'mon Bon-Bon it makes perfect sense, the princess is here to train the humans to fight the dragons!" Lyra yelled.

"Ugh… as if. You and your crazy theories." Bon-Bon dismissed.

Fletch withdrew from the edge of the roof and tried to absorb the new information.

Humans? Here? The king must know right away. But the green one said the Princess is here too. If I could find where they were I could prevent any 'accidents' with the plan. That was my mission first, regardless. I have to find any pony of significance. I would say any humans and the princess both qualify.

With a quick flick of his head he could see a little bright flash out of the corner of his eye. There was a white light that flickered in a window for a moment. But it didn't come from a typical building. It came from a tree.

Do my eyes deceive me? I could've sworn I just saw a bright flash coming from that treehouse.

"So she's got a few guards standing watch at the library. That's proof that the princess is here." Lyra said.

"Whatever, Lyra." replied Bon-Bon.

Wait a moment. The tree! That's where the library must be. I suppose if it's not then I'll just keep looking around this 'Ponyville.'

With an exaggerated flap of his wings he easily cleared the distance over two building to another square roof. He tried to keep his presence as low as possible going for only length in his gait, not altitude. The noise he made was nearly non-existent.

"Did you hear something?" asked Lyra.

"You're going crazy." Said Bon-Bon dismissively.

With another long jump he had cleared another three buildings. Every time he landed he planted his entire body squarely against the roof. He cautiously moved his head out and over the edge of the surface he was now on.

Must be some kind of town square. Judging by the shape of that white building and intricacy of its architecture, I'd say its town hall. Well I can't go any further than this without making myself known. There's no way I can make it across this road without being seen… unless I make a distraction. Have to be subtle about it though.

With a deep gulp of air he started the process of developing a blue fireball in his throat. He looked around trying to find an innocent enough target. After some searching around he found a perfect target tucked away within a farmer's market. He pulled the ball of flame into his mouth and prepared to unleash it.

An unattended carrot stand? Too perfect! He thought.

The owner of the carrot stand was most likely looking at other vendors' goods within the market at the time. Ponies were arbitrarily coming and going, ducking underneath the vendor's tents and coming out every so often.

I have to time it just right…

He looked to his left and right. There was no one.

Now!

With precise accuracy he spit the flame straight up into the air. The ball of flame traveled in an arc over all the other stands and gently landed on top of the carrot stand. Fletch grinned at his handiwork, nothing at all seemed out of place, just as planned.

The flame stared to spread across the fabric hanging over the stand and down the planks supporting it. It was only a matter of time before somepony noticed.

"FIRE!" a male pony yelled.

There was a sudden mass panic as all the vendor's in the farmer's market started to gather their things and leave in a hurry.

"NO! That's my stand!" a yellow female pony shouted.

"Get some water!" a blue Pegasus shouted to some bystanders as he took off.

The flames continued to consume the stand, and soon would consume others should it not be extinguished. Customers all fled while only the neighboring vendors attempted to subdue the flame with various blankets and sheets laying around. All pegasi had already fled to go retrieve water. The horrified owner of the stand was desperately trying to knock back the flames, trying to buy back what little time she had left.

I'd say this is my chance. He thought.

With a great thrust from his back legs and heave of his wings he cleared the gap across the road and made it onto another roof. A few more jumps and he started to near the treehouse. The sight of pegasi flying overhead made him stop in his tracks. He found a greyish surface on a roof and quickly plastered himself to it, remaining perfectly still until they passed. He could see that they were taking pails of water over to the area he just left.

No harm done. And now I've reached my goal.

He leaned his head over the edge once more and had a clear view of the treehouse. There were telltale signs that the princess was here. Three pony guards clad in golden armor stood at the entrance, two Pegasus ponies and one unicorn. Nearby was a similarly clad chariot, no doubt for royalty.

They're making my job too easy. Now, I just wait and let them come to me.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Now," said Twilight, "does everyone have their element of harmony?"

"Yes." Her friends collectively replied.

"Good." She said.

"I hope the elements will work." Said Celestia. "Especially this time."

Fluttershy touched her hoof to the necklace now hanging around her neck. She marveled at its intricacy but honestly she was always afraid every time she had to put in on. "Hohh…" she sighed.

"What's wrong?" asked Packie.

"I hate this thing. It's never a good sign for anything." She responded.

"Have they ever… not worked?"

"No. They always work… it's just… I don't know, it worries me."

"Well if they don't work don't worry about it, cuz we'll be here." He stuck his thumb directly at himself. "That's a promise."

"I'm glad." She smiled at him.

"Ugh, sappy stuff." Lamented Wallace.

He suddenly felt Pinkie Pie wrap his hooves around his neck in a tight hug. "Oh Wally, you gotta get used to the sappy stuff if you're gonna hang out with us."

He let out a long sigh. "Ugh… fine."

"Applejack." announced Celestia.

The orange pony cringed in fear at her name. "Uh, yes Princess?"

"I want you to take everyone outside. Help the boys get better acquainted with their abilities. I need to talk to Twilight in private for a few minutes." Celestia sternly turned to her pupil.

"O-of course Princess. Right away." Replied Applejack.

Without and argument or resistance everyone filed out the doors with Rarity at the back. She got in one last peek at Twilight before shutting the door tightly.

"Twilight, I know the elements aren't going to work." Admitted Celestia.

"What? How are you so sure? We could at least try—"

"They won't work." Celestia bluntly cut her off.

"Um… sorry to hear that." Twilight was obviously trying to hold back a tear.

"No, Twilight. I'm sorry. Look I know I'm sounding very harsh right now, but… there is one last thing we need to do."

"Anything, princess." Said Twilight.

"Do you remember our first private lesson together?"

"You mean about the source of our power? Yes. The orb."

"And what is inside the orb?"

"Our magic and 'who we are', if I remember correctly."

"That is quite right." Assured Celestia. "The source of our magic and what makes us unique. It resides in every orb, in everypony."

"So… where are you going with this?" asked Twilight.

"My magic is running out Twilight. It won't last forever. That being said, I need you to help me bare my burden. I'm going to give what little remains of my power, to keep it out of the wrong hands."

"What?! That's crazy. You act as if anyone can just take the orb right out of you, but no one has ever figured out how to do that. Heheh…right?

"But I did Twilight." Celestia replied. "Ages ago, I figured it out. Would you like to see?"

"Uhh…" Twilight paused for a second, not really sure what to say.

"Well, I'll show you anyway." Said Celestia.

With a flash of her horn and white beams surging forth from her eyes she brought into existence a brilliant shining sphere. The sphere rotated at an accelerated rate which gradually slowed, a few electric sparks jumped off and made jagged trails. There was little noise, in fact the whole spell was completed with almost utter silence. Celestia's eyes gradually faded from the bright white hue to her natural color. When the white sphere stopped rotating she handed it over to Twilight who held it one hoof. She delicately rocked the globe back and forth.

"Now all you have to say is 'Celestia's Magic: Release.'"

"And what'll that do?" asked Twilight.

"It'll give you what I have left."

"Wait you won't die will you?" pleaded Twilight.

"Absolutely not. The orb does not control your will to live. It simply acts as a medium between us and our spirit."

"Alright then." Twilight held the orb slightly from her face. "Celestia's Magic: Release!" she shouted.

With an almighty crack of lighting the orb cracked in two, revealing inside two different stars. One star slowly lifted itself out of the broken shell and planted squarely at the tip of Twilight's horn. The other star seemed to bring the two halves of the orb back together, sealing itself within. With a little wisp of a yellow flame, the orb was extinguished and gone for good.

The star that had planted itself on Twilight's horn gradually worked its way down the shaft and into Twilight's skull. She could feel a slight stinging sensation on her brain which she had been told as a filly meant there was excess magic trying to weed itself out. Her eyes temporarily flared up just as Celestia's had but she knew better than to let it out. With the proper training she had taught herself to control any such overflow of magic.

"Good to see that training paid off." Celestia smiled.

Twilight ran up to her and locked her in a deep hug. "Don't ever ask me to do anything like that again."

Celestia gave a little chuckle. "Ha, no I don't think I'll ever need to. Why don't we go check on everyone else? Plus there's someone I need you to meet."

"The unicorn guy out there in the armor?" she asked.

"That's the one." Celestia replied.

"Alright." Moaned Twilight. "Then back to training?"

"Then back to training." Agreed Celestia.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Jiggs and Wallace locked eyes from across the grass field. They walked in perfect synchronization, matching each other step for step.

Packie raised his right hand off to the side. "Alright let's have a good clean fight. No cheap shots. Anything in the environment is fair game. First one to go down is the loser. Got it?"

"Got it." They replied.

"What have I done?" said Applejack. "This isn't what ah' had in mind. I just hope they don't hurt themselves now."

"Good!" Packie threw down his hand. "Let's get ready to ruuuummmmmmbbllleeeeeeeeee!" he bellowed.

Almost instantaneously Jiggs dropped and picked up a rock roughly the size of a football. With a hefty chuck the rock took off for Wallace with impact eminent.

The diadem affixed to his head flared up without him consciously willing it to. He accessed his power though it seemed much more difficult to do so and held up his hand. It was as if the flow of his power had been cut by ninety percent. However that was all he needed.

He could feel the rock coming at him as it fell into his telekinetic grasp. With a tight squeeze of his fist the rock disintegrated in midair. The rock's dust particles flew harmlessly past his head.

"Careful Wally!" shouted Pinkie.

He turned and gave her a casual thumbs up, but out of the corner of his peripheral vision he could see Jiggs running at him full speed.

"Oh this is gonna be good." Wallace commented.