My Little Pony: Winds of Change

by Raven_Eye

Rating: teen
Tags: Princess Luna, Original Character, Trixie, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Octavia, Romance, Adventure
Length: 11271

An adventure series tackling issues of what it means to find fulfillment in life.

Windshear is a retired Royal Guard who's lost sight of what he wanted in life. One day his life is turned upside down after being drafted into the service of Princess Luna who orders him to travel to a distant land and recover a stolen book filled with potentially dangerous magical knowledge not meant for the wrong hooves.

Windshear travels with his closest friend Octavia who serves as his moral compass, and eagerly seeks musical inspiration from different cultures. Also his unlikely ally Trixie who's quick to jump at any opportunity to find power, fame, and fortune. Along the way they will make new friends, and dangerous enemies.

Published 2012-03-23 08:14:02 UTC
Last updated 2012-03-28 21:40:47 UTC

Pilot Episode: The Draft

Prologue

A group of Royal Guards were deep in the Everfree forest, among them was a Pegasus flying above a group of spear wielding Unicorns and Earth ponies. His eyes scanned the area thoroughly, from the ground, a yell caused the Pegasus to cover his face with his hoof.

"You see anything Windshear?"

The Pegasus sighs deeply, "No, but if you keep yelling, he'll know were here long before we ever see him."

The other Unicorns snicked at the suddenly dumbfounded yeller, they smacked him upside the head playfully as they continued their search.

Windshear made a landing beside the Unicorn leader, "I need to give my wings a break, I've been up there for nine hours straight..." the Unicorn nodded to him in response.

"So, you mind telling me why we're after this, what did you call it, Abada?"

The Unicorn nodded and answered; "Yes, Abada. I don't know much about it except that it's a Zebra Unicorn thing from a distant land who supposedly came to Canterlot to study. But, he ended up breaking into the royal library and making away with a very special book. The book is suppose to hold the secrets to some very nasty kinds of magic, something Princess Celestia wanted kept safe and out of the hooves of anypony who'd misuse it. That's all I know."

"Understood sir." came his response.

"Hey Windshear, how's it going with that pretty friend of yours? You ever going to marry her? If not, can I?" came a blunt question which drove Windshear into gritting his teeth and seething.

"She's too good for me. That makes her several orders of magnitude too bucking good for you!" he snapped back.

The ponies all had a good laugh at Windshear's expense before the group continued through the forest. After sometime an Earth pony at the front of the group put his hoof up to the group, indicating they should stop here.

"What did you find?" inquired the lead Unicorn.

"Shhh!" came the response.

The Earth pony looked about carefully, paying attention to every detail.

"Something's not right here..."

Suddenly a series of strange noises came from all around the group which caused all the ponies to gather about in a circular formation on instinct, suddenly out of nowhere the flora came to life, and attempted to entangle the group in vines, they used their spears and hooves to defend themselves, their training overriding any other instincts.

Windshear glared about angrily, he broke ranks with the group and took position between them and the source of the angry plant life, he stomped his hooves down on a patch of dry dirt, breaking up the earth and rocks into shards of debris, he then opened his wings,

"Eat this!"

With a mighty flap of his wings he blew the displaced earth and rocks straight to the source of the attacking vines, shredding them instantly and stopping the attack.

"Good move!" came a cheer, followed by complementary hooves clomping on the ground.

"I'm not called 'Windshear' for nothing!" he said with a bow to the group.

Suddenly the earth below the soldiers became soft, their hooves sank into the ground and before they could get out, it solidified, trapping them all except for Windshear who managed to get off the ground and take flight before becoming trapped.

"What the buck?!" he cried out.

Suddenly a maniacal laugh came from the forest all around them.

"Who are you?! Show yourself!" yelled Windshear at the top of his lungs.

From out of the darkest and thickest part of the forest appeared the silhouette of a two horned Unicorn, when he finally stepped into the light, Windshear eyed him over carefully, assessing his opponent.

"So that's an Abada..." Windshear muttered to himself.

"Testing my new found power would be grand, but I must go, I've much to do, and not a moment to spare for a gloat!"

The Abada began to quickly gallop away, Windshear turned back to his comrades and started trying to dig them out.

"Forget about us, go get him!"

Windhshear ignored the order and continued to dig his comrades out.

"A good soldier doesn't leave anypony behind!"

The lead Unicorn took a breath and mustered up his most authoritative voice.

"If he gets away, who knows what kind of disasters he could cause! You HAVE to stop him!"

Windshear stomped his hoof down and heaved a heavy sigh.

"You know I'm right Windshear. We'll be fine, now GO!"

Windshear nodded and took wing, he headed in the direction of the Abada. The Pegasus flew along the path, it was sometime before his eyes finally caught sight of the Abada, like a hawk fixed on his prey Windshear dove in after him, the Abada looked back for a moment before picking up his pace. His goal was in sight, the edge of the forest where a strange looking airship was awaiting his arrival. Windshear peered ahead to the ship, inside he could see Zebra warriors waiting with spears at the ready.

"If I don't catch him now, I never will! Come on wings! Let's go!"

Windshear picked up his pace, flying as fast as his wings would take him, he could see he was catching up to the Abada now, he just might make it! The Abada stopped, he turned to face the incoming Pegasus with a smirk. He opened an old book and flipped some pages, as he read, his horns began to glow green.

Windshear felt the wind from around his wings being sucked away, he couldn't sustain his altitude, he began to fall, flapping his wings with all his might, he just couldn't regain any lift, his face met the hard earth with a thud and everything went black...

Five years later

The once 'great and powerful' Trixie wandered aimlessly around Canterlot, her once fabulous robes in tatters, she's a pony at the end of her enchanted rope. Nopony even offers her a second glance as she wanders down a busy road in Canterlot's center, she heads towards the bank and in she goes, she waits impatiently in queue for sometime before finally getting to meet with one of the bankers.

"Miss Trixie. Come to make your payment?" he asked her in a cynical voice, he could tell immediately she couldn't from the look of her, but he seemed to enjoy rubbing it in.

Trixie gritted her teeth and answered with a snarl "No... I need an extension."

"Can't do that. We've given you all the extensions we can give. If you don't come up with the bits by the end of the week. You'll be in big trouble." came his calm, even toned answer, but he couldn't help his smirk.

As she walked out of the bank, she heaves a heavy sigh.

"How did it all come to this? I am the GREAT and POWERFULL TRIXIE! And I've lost it all..."

She headed back down the street, her head held low, not even watching the ground she's walking on, her thoughts going over her life. She absent mindedly walked straight into somepony and bounced off his flank, falling flat onto her own.

"Hey, watch where you're going!" he said to her with aggression in his voice.
Trixie gazed up into his face, she narrowed her eyes and stood back up glaring at him menacingly.
"Watch where you're standing!" she retorted with fire in her eyes.
The stallion turned his body to face her, his eyes glanced her over critically.
"Looks like you've seen better days."
"Ha ha ha! The Great and Powerful Trixie does not need your pity! She only demands you get out of her way!"
The Stallion raised an eyebrow at her curiously before chuckling.
"I like your audacity! Never compromise your megalomania, no matter how bad it gets ei?"
Trixie felt a sudden surge of pride and smirked manically.
"No, the great and powerful never compromise! Now MOVE!"
The Stallion stepped aside and gave her the road, smiling blissfully. Once she was gone a soft elegant voice spoke to the stallion.
"Windshear, why in Equestria would you do that? She was a rude old nag!"
Windshear chuckled lightly.
"Because she's a pony who once had the world in her hoof, now the world has her under its hoof, and she won't give up. Rude or not, I respect that. Strength of the heart, no matter in what form, is a good thing. Wish I had more of that."
Windshear looked up to the sky while taking a bite out of a peach in his hoof. "Break time is almost over, cloud control doesn't do itself."
"Windy, you do have a strong heart. I just wish you could see that, see yourself the way I see you."
Windshear sighed deeply while taking another bite out of his peach, he turned his gaze to his friend's violet eyes and smiled.
"Octavia, pride and recklessness got me nowhere but here. I really wonder why you even waste your time on me, I'm nopony special."
Octavia frowned sadly while gazing back into his eyes.
"Because you're my friend. You used to have this, grand love of life. But you never told me what changed you so much."
Windshear donned his workman's cap and sighed to her.
"I just want to forget about it and do an honest day's work for an honest day's pay."

"The Windshear I once knew wanted a life of adventure, he wanted to be that Stallion every filly dreamed of being just like when they grew up."

Ending the conversation abruptly and dropping what was left of his peach into a nearby trashcan, he took wing and hit the sky. Octavia watched him fly and let out a deep sigh, hugging onto her cello in its protective casing.

"Oh Windy..."

Windshear took a deep breath of the open air, it brought a smile to his face, he indulged in it for a long moment before he headed to a large cloud which two Pegasi were struggling to move.

"Make way! Here comes Windshear!"

He yelled with pride as he used his wings to create a gust of wind which quickly geot the cloud moving, the two Pegasi smile in gratitude as they could now more easily keep the cloud moving. Windshear flew over to another cloud and turned his flank to it, with a powerful buck of his hind legs the cloud dispersed, he looked to the noon sun and down at Canterlot, he sighed.

"What's the matter Windshear? You just left poor Octavia in your backwash."

He turned to peer at a brightly colored Pegasus mare behind him with a long flowing red mane.

"Nothing, just an awkward conversation, she was just wondering how I ended up here."

The mare flew over beside him and poked him flirtatiously with her hoof.

"Yeah, how -did- such a handsome stallion end up here? Weren't you a Royal Guard?"

Windshear heaved a heavy sigh.

"I didn't tell her, think I'm going to tell you? You're not -that- pretty."

He flew off to buck the next cloud out of existence leaving the mare with an offended look on her face.

"GRRRR! What does she see in him?" she wondered out loud before getting back to work.

Later that evening, Windshear walked down one of Canterlot's many busy streets and into a popular Jazz Club where Octavia plays with her band mates every night. He took a seat near the back of the room, the sound carried perfectly there, too far upfront and it's way too loud, too far back and the sound is drowned by the noises from outside, but closer to the middle of the room, he found that the sound blended beautifully.

Windshear gazed up at them on stage, playing their music, fulfilling their heart's desires, he felt a pang of sorrow, thinking back on his life, but then he remembered the first time he discovered this cafe, and the first time he'd ever sat at that particular table.

Seven Years Earlier...

Windshear was walking down the same busy street in Canterlot, he was dressed sharply in his Royal Guard cadet uniform, he hated how it made him stand out, heads always turned no matter where in Canterlot he went, he decided to go looking for a place to get lost in a crowd, he peered over to his right at a cafe, "Long Tall Sally's Jazz Club" he eyed a sign that read 'auditions today' and figured this would be a good place not to be noticed.

He walked in and looked around, there were plenty of nervous musicians seated at the various tables, and all along the edges, only one table had a free place to sit, it was occupied by a young pony sitting next to a large musical instrument, Windshear walked over to her confidently and sat down beside her.

The pony raised an eyebrow to him and spoke with a soft and sophisticated voice.

"Excuse you? I don't recall giving you permission to sit."

Windshear looked into her eyes and smiled brightly.

"Well, if I had asked, things would just get too complicated".

She simply held her posture and stared blankly at him.

" Let me explain. First I would have introduced myself, and then I would have used the fact that you're the most beautiful pony in the room as my excuse for wanting to sit down with you, to which you would have told me to go buck myself. So I decided that it would be better for both of us if I just sat down, since I never take no for an answer. Why risk rejection and make myself seem like an ass by sitting down anyway after you said no to me?"

Octavia looked at him sideways, she couldn't help but smile, but still tried to force herself to look disgusted.

"How can you be so charming, and so obnoxious at the same time?"

Windshear leaned in towards her, gesturing for her to come closer to hear something he was about to say.

"Magic." he snorted twice for effect.

Octavia burst into uncontrolled laughter. Windshear smiled at her, her eyes met with his after she took a deep breath to regain her composure.

"I'm Octavia."

"Windshear."

"Could I just call you Windy?"

"Usually, I'd be very upset, but I do like the way it sounds when you say it. So sure. But only you can call me that."

"Windy?"

"Windy!"

Windshear was brought back to reality by a sudden shove of someone's hoof.

"Are you alright?"

He blinked his eyes as he reacquainted himself with the real world.

"Yes, sorry. I was just, day dreaming."

Octavia took a seat beside him and smiled.

"What were you thinking about?"

Windshear sat back and smiled at her.

"About you, the first time we met in this place."

Octavia smiled and rested her head in her hooves as she gazed at Windshear.

"Yes, that was a good day. I remember I was so nervous about my audition."

"You didn't need to be. You blew them away. You still blow them away. You play beautifully."

"If you didn't come along, I wouldn't have played half as well."

"What makes you say that?"

The pair drifted towards each other with bright smiles.

"Because I stopped caring about the crowd, the critics, I just wanted to play fo..."

"Miss Octavia! Miss Octavia! Could you sign this for me?" came a loud voice which pierced right into her skull, thoroughly interrupting the moment.

Octavia watched as Windshear glanced about casually, she wondered if he'd even realized what she about to say before she turned her attention to the source of the interruption, a pink pony with a fluffy pink mane.

"YOU!" said Octavia through her teeth.

"Yes me! Who else?" came the response with a big bright smile.

"You ruined what could have been my greatest performance at the Gala! And now you want me to sign you an autograph?! Grrr! Leave! Or I'll sign your cold, dead, corpse!"

"Sheesh! No need to be such a meanie about it!" came the response before she pranced away.

Windshear couldn't' help but laugh.

"What's so funny! You didn't see what she did!"

"No, but, it's rare to see you angry like that. It's amusing."

"Amusing?! What's so amusing about it?"

"That look on your face is priceless!"

The two laughed for a long while, enjoyed an evening of storytelling and more laugher before they decided to call it a night and head home. Windshear carried her cello for her as they walked down the quiet street together. It was a long, silent and contemplative walk.

Windshear suddenly caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of his eye that sent chills up and down his spine, a hooded pony at first glance, but a zebra at second glance!

"Could it be?"

He handed the cello to Octavia in a hurry. "Wait here."

He quickly trotted out leaving Octavia with a curious gaze as he trotted out in front of the hooded Zebra.

"Hey, who are you?" he inquired with an authoritative tone.

The zebra simply shoved past him.

"Hey! I asked you a question!"

The Zebra stopped and pulled down it's hood, it wasn't just a Zebra, it was an Abada! It wasn't the same Abada from five years ago, but the look in its eyes said it was no friend to ponies, the Abada spoke loudly:

"I am Alban! Student of the great and powerful Lucien! I have come with a message, life as you know it, is about to end!"

He began to channel magic, animating all manner of plants and causing them attack the defenseless ponies, Octavia froze in terror and let out a loud yelp as one of the vines started trying to entangle her, but all it caught onto was her cello which she stubbornly refused to give up! Windshear looked back at her and was suddenly seeing red!

He charged the Abada and body slammed him with all his might! But the Abada held strong, shoving him back, the two began to clash with their hooves, the ponies all over the street began to flee for their lives while the guards rushed to fight the plants.

Windshear was suddenly driven back by a violent gust of wind, not one to be dominated by his natural element, Windshear spread his wings and directed the airflow back at the Abada sending him to the ground. The Abada shook it off, got back up and began working another spell, surrounding himself with a vortex of debris, keeping Windshear at bay while his plant minions continued to cause chaos. Windshear tightened up and stomped his hooves on the ground, getting ready to charge, he lunged forward only to be blocked by a short ragged mare!

"Stay back! If you charge him now, you'll be shredded!" she yelled over the sound of the howling wind.

"What do we do then?" inquired a frustrated Windshear.

"Allow me!" came her response.

She took off her tattered pointy hat to reveal her blue glowing horn, with her own magic, she managed to disrupt the Abada's spell, causing much of the debris to fall out of the vortex.
"NOW! GET HIM!" came her yell.

Windshear didn't need to be told, he was already well on his way, he lowered his head as he made contact with the vortex, the remaining debris cut him up, but he was still able to get through and knock the Abada senseless.

"Now, with his control broken, it's almost too easy for the only, truly, great and powerful magical being to dispel this foul magic."

Trixie smirked manically as she unraveled the Abada's spells, returning the plants to normal. Windshear glared down at the unconscious Abada as the guards came to collect him.

"We'll take it from here." they said as Windshear backed off nodding to them.

Windshear turned to face the pony who came to his aid.

"Thanks. I owe you one." he said to her just as she was putting her hat back on.

"No need to thank me. Greatness is its own reward."

Windshear fought off the urge to facehoof as he heard her say that.

"Name's Windshear." he said.

"Hard to believe a pony like ME needs an introduction. I am the Great and Powerful TRIXIE!"

Windshear couldn't hold it back any longer, his hoof met his face.

"You know, I appreciate your help, but do you really have to blow your own horn so loud?"

Trixie smirked and giggled at Windshear.

"Why so serious? Take a look around!"

Windshear perked up his head and gazed about as the various ponies gazed in awe at their heroic feat. Octavia in particular was gazing at him in wonder, a vine still wrapped partly around her cello.

"You see? We're heroes! Enjoy the moment, it's not every day you see Trixie rise back up to greatness like a Phoenix being reborn from ashes!"

Windshear rolled his eyes at the comment and suddenly felt unsure of himself in the situation, he wasn't used to having so many eyes upon him. He simply walked over towards Octavia and asked if she was alright while picking the vines off her cello.

"I'm fine Windy. What happened?"

"I have no idea." came his genuine response.

A pair of Unicorn guards came up to them, one of them cleared his throat to get their attention before speaking.

"Windshear, the Princesses want to see you and that Unicorn. Immediately."

Windshear lowered his head in shame, but Trixie jumped for joy!

"Oh! Now the Princesses want to see ME! Do lead the way, we shouldn't keep them waiting. Come along Windy!"

Windshear turned to Trixie and growled in anger.

"My name is Wind-SHEAR!"

"Whatever." came Trixie's response as she walked behind the guard with her head held high.

"I'll catch up with you later Octavia. I'm sorry about all this." he said before trotting off to catch up.

"No need to be sorry Windy..." she said with a sigh.

The two were brought before Princesses Celestia and Luna, they each took a humble bow, Trixie wearing her signature smirk while Windshear kept a straight face and formal posture, even with the lack of armor, anypony could be forgiven for thinking was still a Royal Guard, in this room, his training and instincts overrode everything else in his mind.

"Windshear, it is good to see you again."

Windshear kept his formality carefully rising to his hooves again, Trixie followed him up, not being fully aware of the protocols of the room, her usual demeanor took a back seat to following Windshear's lead, for the time being.

"Thank you Princess Celestia. I'm humbled that you'd ask to see me." he spoke in a soft even tone.

"What you did today was very brave Windshear. But I thought you resigned from the Royal Guard? In fact, I was sure you had."

Windshear bowed his head in humility.

"Forgive me Princess. I didn't mean to take the law into my own hooves. But, it all happened so fast and..."

Princess Celestia rested a hoof on his head calming his fears.

"I didn't mean it that way Windshear. If you'd allow me to finish, I was going to thank you for what you and your friend did."

Princess Luna finally spoke up in her rather loud tone;

"But at the same time we wish thoust hadn't! We were trying to keep an eye on the Abada! To determine what it wished to accomplish!"

Windshear let out a deep sigh while putting his mane back together.

"I'm sorry to have disappointed you as well Princess Luna."

Celestia looked to Windshear curiously, "What do you mean Windshear?"

Trixie peered back and forth, not exactly sure what to make of the situation, but rather than speak up, she choose to remain quite to see what she could learn from the exchange, especially after what she heard from Princess Luna.

"What happened today was my fault. If I had stopped Lucien five years ago, this never would have happened. "

Princess Celestia looked down on Windshear and shook her head.

"No, you didn't let me down. You haven't let us down. You did everything which was in your power to do. If you had the help of the Unicorn guards, you probably would have been able to stop him. Today should have proved that to you."

Trixie perked up an eyebrow, her curiosity now at its peak.

"Yes Princess, I wouldn't have been able to defeat the Abada without Trixie's help."

Trixie finally spoke up. "Yes, my power is great. What can I say?"

Windshear's hoof met his face for the second time, how they remained apart for so long with Trixie around was a mystery to him.

Princess Luna spoke up in her loud voice to Trixie.

"Thou do indeed have potential, but thou hast much to learn if thou wishest to reach thine potential."

Luna quickly covered her mouth with her hoof and rolled her eyes.

"Sorry, I'm trying to work on the tone of voice, advise from a friend." she said in a low voice drawing confused looks from Windshear and Trixie.

"My sister has a student, but I'm keen to take one on as well. I need ponies capable of going places I cannot, able to withstand the hardships of the world outside of Equestria."

Windshear peers at Luna skeptically, but Trixie saw the opportunity of a life time!

"Yes! I'll be your student Princess!"

Windshear rolled his eyes while Luna elaborated.

"I want the two of you to travel to the homeland of the Abada, in Zebrica. Find out what is happening there, and what has been done with the magic book stolen from Caterlot five years ago. Bring it back if you can, destroy it if you must."

Windshear bowed his head to Princess Luna.

"My lady, with respect. I've already failed your sister. I'm afraid that if I..."

Luna peered at Windshear and gave him a deathly gaze, she raised her voice to him, yelling; "Windshear, there's no room for self doubt! Equestria needs your skills. Consider yourself drafted into my service. One day you'll thank me for this. I assure you!"

Windshear cringed at the yelling.

"Sorry." Luna spoke again in her soft voice before adding, "Everything you will both require for your journey will be provided for you. I will summon you again before we are ready for you to depart."

Trixie raised an eyebrow and smirked.

"As your student Princess, I assume I get to command Windy here?"

Princess Luna raised a curious eyebrow to Trixie, "No it does not!" she yelled, before softening her voice again hurriedly. "Sort yourselves out, just do what I've told you to do. The fate of Equestira could very well be in your hooves."

Windshear gulped audibly under Luna's glare before taking a bow, Trixie however was in awe of her presence, making mental notes about her persona, Windshear grabbed her by the cape and pulled her along behind him. When the two finally left the room Luna looked to her elder sister.

"Are you sure it's a good idea sending those two? I'm suddenly unsure."

Celestia smiled to her little sister reassuringly. "Trust me. I know what I'm doing."

Meanwhile, outside...

"Did that really just happen? Has the great and powerful Tri..."

Windshear put his hoof on her mouth, her eyes widened to the extreme at his audacity!

"Yes! It did just happen. I've been drafted, and ordered to travel to the end of the known world, with a narcissistic, megalomaniacal pony with delusions of grandeur, to save the world as we know it."

Windshear put his other hoof on his stomach as the reality of the situation suddenly sunk in.

"I'm going to be sick..." he pulled his hoof back from her face and took a moment to breathe deeply.

"It could be worse. You could have to do it all alone, and not have the awesome powers of the greatest Equine in the world to protect you!"

Upon hearing that, Windshear turned a dark green and surged off to the nearest window where he proceeded to hurl.

"WHAT? I don't remember eating that!" he yelled before coughing up the rest of his stomach's contents.

Trixie looked on in amusement while taking a moment to let it all sink in.

"Now I finally have the chance to prove myself not only as the greatest practitioner of magic, but as the greatest hero in all of Equestria! Oh could this day be any better?"

Windshear made the mistake of overhearing what she said to herself and proceeded to vomit yet again.

Windshear and Trixie later emerged from the castle, Windshear had a staggered walk from the pains caused by his earlier fight, he'd put it out of his mind until then, he picked his head up when he heard a voice calling out to him.

"Windy!"

Octavia rushed to his side glancing him over. "You're hurt."

"It's nothing, it'll hurt even more come morning." he responded with a smile.

"Uuuh! Get a room you two! I'm going to bed." said Trixie with a mocking tone.

Windshear held back his response, his stomach was still turning from earlier, he choose a random direction and began to walk, Octavia followed close, she knew how he was when he got this way, he'd speak up when he collected his thoughts. Sure enough, he eventually did.

"I'm back in the service." he muttered lowly.

Octavia peered at him with a raised eyebrow and listened carefully as he went on.

"I made a mess of things again. Fighting that Abada. Princess Luna said she wanted to keep an eye on him, see what he was going to do. But I just had to fight him. I don't know what came over me. I saw him, I remembered what the last one did, and I let my instincts take control."

"I think it's time you finally told me what happened when you left the guard."

"I left because I failed. A powerful Abada stole a magical book from the Royal Library, a book which held dangerous magical secrets. A book Princess Celestia never wanted to have fall into the wrong hooves. That Abada, Lucian, managed to defeat us all, and made away with the book. His magic was just too strong for me. Even that Abada today, if Trixie didn't show up, blah. I hate giving her credit, it leaves a sour taste in my mouth."

"I thought you said you respect her, strength of heart, and all that." she said with a giggle.

"That was before I was actually forced to have to work with her."

"What do you mean?"

"Princess Luna drafted me back into the service now. And Trixie as well. She ordered us to travel to Zebrica, defeat Lucien, and bring the book back if we can, destroy it if we must."

"When do we leave?"

"We? Oh no."

"Oh yes. You're not leaving me behind Windy!"

Windshear turned to face her with a stern look. "You're not coming along. It's too dangerous!"

"I didn't ask you. I told you."

"Octavia, outside of Equestria, is a dangerous world. Even here in Equestria we have dangerous things, but out there, it gets worse, much worse. Besides, what about your band, your life? Joining the greatest Orchestras? Composing music for the ages?"

"But I need inspiration! Out there are different people, different sounds, instruments, and ideas. I want to experience it all! And I'm not taking no for an answer. Besides, you need a pony around who's hooves are firmly planted on the ground to keep you out of trouble." she said with a smile.

"I'm going to regret this, aren't I?"

"You'll only regret it if you don't say yes. Would you rather be alone with Trixie? And when you inevitably get fed up with her arrogance, you'll end up leaving her in a ditch somewhere, then you'd be terribly lonely without me."

"Good point." he said with a laugh.

Octavia moved in to give him a hug, the two embraced for a long moment.

"This whole thing is going to be good for you Windy. You wait and see."

Episode 1: The Journey Begins

Canterlot

Windshear was in the royal armory looking through the various types of armor and weaponry he could choose from for his journey, he was getting an ear full from the blacksmiths and the other soldiers about their personal favorite items in the armory. Windshear heaved a heavy sigh, he turned to face the group of soldiers who were chatting his ears off.

"Look everypony, I appreciate what you're all trying to do here, but, if it isn't broken, don't fix it. I need to travel light across who knows what, in unbearable heat. So I need nothing but the basics."

"A very wise approach." came a new voice in the crowd.

The group turned to the newcomer and quickly fell to their knees.

"You honor us with your presence Princess Luna." he responded while taking a deep bow.

"Walk with me." she commanded.

Windshear stood back up and quickly trotted up beside her, ever the diligent soldier, he kept a polite distance from her, listening carefully, he kept his mind clear, refusing to allow things he had heard about her to cloud his impressions of her, except her beauty, it was too difficult for him to ignore or push out of his mind, all he could do was force his eyes to remain straight.

"I have heard many things about you since we last spoke Windshear. My sister and the other guards all speak highly of your skills. Is it true you're able to create tornadoes all on your own?"

"I did it once my Lady. I haven't been able to do it again. No matter how hard I tried."

"Is it also true that you defeated six well armed Gryphon bandits near Trottingham all by yourself?"

"That's an exaggeration my lady, I had help and we didn't defeat them all."

"The way I heard the story, your comrades had all be defeated and were lying unconscious in the clouds. While you defeated six bandits."

"No my Lady. At the end it was actually four against one, and I only got three of them. The last one escaped and I was too badly hurt to go after him. So instead I decided to let him go and go help my comrades. We caught up with that Gryphon later and finished the job."

Luna continued asking Windshear about some of the feats credited to him in the stories she had been told as they continued down a long hallway in the castle, the pair approached a large door protected by two of Princess Luna's personal guard, they quickly opened the door for them and they proceeded inside.

"Nopony is perfect Windshear. Not even my sister and I. We've both made mistakes, though, I made the worst mistakes in my life, my sister never stopped loving me, nor I her. They say that power corrupts, and that absolute power corrupts absolutely, but I learned in my life that isn't necessarily true. My sister never abused her power, but I did."

Windshear peered about the room carefully, it was a library much like any other in the castle, but it was also a reliquary of strange artifacts, most of which Windshear couldn't identify. He followed Princess Luna all the way to the back where they came upon two jeweled hoof bracers.

"Take these items for example. You see, the world wasn't always the peaceful and serene place it is now. Everything we have now, ponies had to fight, bleed, and die for. But the challenges they faced were often more than their capabilities could overcome, that was true, even for me."

"Even for you my lady?"

"Yes, even for me. These bracers have magical powers which not even my sister and I fully understand. But when they are worn, they can greatly amplify your talents. I used these to help defend Equestria against many great evils, but then I misused them in my jealous rage to prevent my sister from bringing about the day, which in turn forced her to use the elements of harmony to banish me to the moon."

"I'm sorry my lady."

"No need to be sorry Windshear. It all worked out for the best. But what if I told you I wanted to entrust these bracers to you?"

Windshear's otherwise professional composure was lost as he suddenly began to choke on what he had just heard.

"To, to me? Why? Do you doubt I'm able to handle the task you've set before me my Lady?"

"No, that's not what I mean Windshear. When my sister told me that book was stolen in my absence, I knew that no good could come of it. So I set about trying to determine what has been done with it. I discovered that the Abada, Lucien, had been quietly raising an army, training other Abada to use the secrets contained in the book. You see, Abada aren't as naturally powerful as Unicorns, but they do have a strong affinity for manipulating nature, in their homeland, the people depend on them to help grow crops. But with the knowledge in that book, they've been able to overcome their natural magical limits and amplify their powers to where they can control other natural forces, earth, wind, water, even fire."

"To what end my Lady?"

"Manipulating the natural elements will give them unimaginable power in the world. Imagine if they invaded Equestria, and took control of the clouds, the water, the very earth we stand on. The ponies would be entirely at their mercy. I hope to resolve the situation peacefully, Equestria hasn't had a war in more than a thousand years, but that doesn't mean I'm willing to sit back quietly and wait to be destroyed."

"I follow you my Lady, but I still don't understand why you'd want to give these to me."

"It's quite simple Windshear. If push comes to shove, I strongly believe it would be in our best interest if you had power. Real power."

"Princess, I..."

"You've experienced violence in profound ways, you've accomplished great victories and never let it go to your head. You've seen with your own eyes the horrors which could be unleashed with the power of that book. I'm confident that come what may, you won't make the wrong decisions on how best to handle the situation."

"I'm touched by your confidence my lady but I'm not sure I'm capable."

"You are capable. Ponies have a deep desire to preserve the balance of life in the world, something not every other culture has inherent in them. That isn't a bad thing on their part, it doesn't make them any less wise than we are, it just makes them different. But if anything should happen to upset the balance, I'm counting on you to be the instrument of my will, and set things right."

Windshear gazed into her eyes as she spoke to him, his thoughts drifting back over his soldier's life, the good times, the bad times. He believed he understood what it was she was saying, but still had some reservations just the same. Yesterday, all he wanted to do was an honest day's work, for an honest day's pay and never have to think about his life as a soldier, or the pain he felt at the thought of having failed his most revered Princess Celestia. But now he was being offered a chance for a clean slate in his service to others. Even though Celestia told him he didn't let her down, it didn't erase the fact that he himself believed he had failed her when she most needed him. He wasn't about to repeat that failure, he took a deep breath and mustered his resolve.

" I accept my Lady. I won't fail you, or Equestria!"

Luna looked into his eyes, pleased to see the fiery resolve which had filled them.

"Remember Windshear. There's what you want to do, and what you can do. These bracers will change that over time. When you need them, they will help you. But they won't do anything for you unless you can do it for yourself."

Windshear looked to Luna with a confused look, "I'm not sure I understand my Lady?"

"In time, you will." she replied before she levitated the bracers from their resting place and put them on Windshear's front hooves, he tightly shut his eyes as they made contact with him, he didn't know what to expect, but let out a sigh of relief when he wasn't shocked by the surge of power he believed was most likely to occur, this drew a giggle from Luna who then smiled at Windshear.

"I need to go attend to my student now, she's waiting for me in my chambers. But before I go, one last question for you, are you sure it's wise to bring your friend, what was her name, the musician?"

"Octavia."

"Yes, Octavia. Is it wise to bring her along?"

"Probably not my Lady. But she isn't the kind of pony you can say no to."

"She must mean a lot to you."

"She's my best friend."

"I understand. I'm sure it'll all work out for the best."

The two had exited the great reliquary and proceeded down the hall. She dismissed Windshear who then proceeded to get back to his preparations. Luna continued down the hall, getting lost in her thoughts as she proceeded up a flight of stairs.

Her thoughts drifted to her sister Celestia, she wondered how it was so easy for her to bring out the best in everypony she ever had dealings with, especially her student Twilight Sparkle, Luna thought back to the recent Nightmare Night celebration and couldn't help but smile, that pony brought out parts of her she had thought long lost, and now she was eager for this opportunity to do the same for the two ponies she had taken into her service.

Perhaps her student Trixie could become just as wonderful as Twilight? As Luna arrived at her chambers, she heard yelling from the other side of the door, her eyebrow raised in curiosity before she entered and saw Trixie standing on a table giving a long winded monologue about her own importance as Princess Luna's student, and of the many adventures she has yet to embark upon, Luna shook her head and sighed. Perhaps not.

Trixie was startled by Princess Luna's entrance, she quickly mustered a big bright smile and a loud squee to try and divert attention away from what she had been caught doing. Luna sighed and walked in, she lay down on a lavish carpet and instructed Trixie to take a seat nearby. Trixie eagerly trotted up and sat herself down, paying careful attention to the Princess.

"What exactly are you capable of?"

Trixie smiled brightly and took a deep breath before Luna put her hoof up.

"Think about it carefully first." she instructed.

Trixie took a long moment to let her imagination run wild. She'd thought back to all the magical shows she'd put on, but then she came to think more carefully about the 'great' feats of magic she had performed and compared them all to the stories she had told about her great feats and let out a disappointed sigh.

"Exactly." said Luna, "When you get right down to it. You're just a Unicorn, like every other Unicorn, except, you seem to have a talent for showing off rather than actually accomplishing anything significant."

Trixie sighed, she wasn't going to be able to refute the Princess assertion, she knew it was all true. She bowed her head and remained, silent.

"I've done some checking up on you Trixie, you're a walking disaster. Everywhere you've gone, you've caused nothing but trouble."

"Yes It's all true Princess. I'm a failure. I'll understand if you don't want me to be your student anymore."

"I wasn't finished. In your shows, you seem to put together some very interesting combinations of enchantments, and as I understand it, last night you managed to disrupt the Abada's spells, allowing Windshear to defeat him. Quite an impressive feat considering the magical forces which were in play. You have ability, of that I have no doubt. But you need training and experience to make the most of your gifts. To that end, I have something for you, which will help you get started."

Luna used her magic to bring out an old book from a nearby chest and set it down in front of her new student. Trixie's eyes fell upon the book with wonder as she read the cover, 'The Arts of Defensive Magic' by Midnight the Protector. Trixie peered back up at Luna with a curious expression.

"I don't understand? I'm sure I probably know most of these spells?"

"I doubt that Trixie, this book was written two thousand years before you were born, it's been locked away in my private collection ever since my banishment to the moon. This book was used to train the greatest of our Unicorn soldiers, ponies who fought and died to help create the world we live in today. Those Unicorns could ward off dragon's fire, they could repel magic so foul, I wouldn't even want to describe it to you. I believe you'd have much to learn from it. You'll need it if you hope to protect your comrades against the magic the Abada now posses, not to mention the many other dangers of the outside world."

Trixie nodded and opened to the first page of the book, she began to read while Luna observed her carefully. After a long while Trixie attempted the spell described, her horn began to glow intensely, she'd never attempted such an intricate spell before, she gritted her teeth and groaned in frustration she struggled to get the spell cast, finally after almost a minute of intense concentration the spell finally took form around her, it was a transparent, colorless magical shield which surrounded her, the only hints of its existence were sparkles which appeared around it from time to time.

"I think I did it!" she said excitedly.

"Very good Trixie. The barrier is the foundation of all the defensive arts you're going to learn. The next step is to practice until you can cast it as easily as you would perform levitation on objects. Once you've mastered it, you'll need to learn the different enchantments you can place on the barrier which determines what it will guard against."

"You mean I can't create a barrier that will protect against everything? And this barrier will protect against nothing?"

"Exactly. Now that's your lesson for today. You'd better go get ready to travel."

Trixie stood up and took a deep bow before picking up her book and leaving the room. As she wandered the halls of the castle she let out a delighted squee of joy before trotting down the great hallways, smiling blissfully. It was the first time in a long time she'd felt a sense of true accomplishment, one she didn't have to exaggerate in anyway, she was the first Unicorn in thousands of years to use that spell, that alone was a major accomplishment in and of itself. Then there was the fact that Princess Luna had entrusted such a magnificent tome to her, Trixie jumped for joy at the thought!

Later that afternoon, at Long Tall Sally's Jazz Club. Octavia was getting an ear full from her band mates.

"Octavia, darling, have you gone completely mad?!"

"Indeed, I can't even find the words to express how out of character this all is for you!"

"I'm sure you're only pulling our legs. Right? Please tell me you are. Because this is crazy talk!"

Octavia sighed deeply before speaking up.

"Yes, I'm serious about this. I'm just not happy with my music anymore. I need some change, I need to get some experience to put new emotions into my sound. Can't you all understand that?"

"I'll tell you what I understand. You're so head over hooves for that Windshear character that when he tells you he's going away for what could be a long time, you instantly decided that you had to go along with him, and you're just trying to rationalize your decision with these excuses about your music, and this need for life experience."

Octavia covered her ears with her hooves, she was instantly seething with a blinding rage, she stood up and slammed her front hooves down onto the table with all her might, shocking the entire club into silence.

"Oh shut up! All of you! If you can't understand what it is I'd like to accomplish, then perhaps you do all deserve to spend your lives in the most boring venues, playing half heartedly for a herd of hoof and mouth diseased elitist snobs who'll never truly appreciate the music that fills their useless ears! Maybe I want to break my routine, maybe I want to fulfill a dream of standing on the top of the highest mountain I can find, and to play my cello from deep inside my heart, and imagine that I'm playing for the entire world! Why shouldn't I take the opportunity to experience that? And all the better that I'd have my very best friend at my side to share those glorious moments with! Someone who, unlike any of you, has stood by me through all my best, and worst moments and never let me be anypony but me! Damn you all!"

Octavia picked up her cello and stormed out of the club through a standing ovation and words of encouragement from the many patrons, leaving her now former band mates behind in shock and disbelief. As she exited the establishment, she heard yet more applause, but this came with a familiar voice.

"Suddenly, I don't think it's such a bad idea to have you along." said Windshear, to which Octavia simply smiled.

"You know that Cello is staying here right?" said Trixie who had walked up beside Windshear.

"Oh no, the cello comes, if we end up with too much baggage, we can just leave you behind." replied Octavia with a snicker.

"Pffft! Excuse you? Don't tempt the wrath of the great and pow..."

Windshear quickly cut her off, "Oh put a sock in it. Both of you. The cello is coming, so just come to peace with it Trixie."

Windshear took the cello from Octavia and loaded it up into a nearby wagon, Octavia smiled as she eyed the back of the Wagon, Windshear had evidently packed it with the cello in mind. He asked her if there was anything else she would have liked to bring, Octavia thought about it for a long moment before shaking her head, she had everything she needed, her whole reason for even going was to leave life as she knew it behind and experience the world, to do that, all she needed was her cello, and her friend.

The three seated themselves in the wagon and Trixie used a come to life spell to get it moving without the need of anyone to pull it. Trixie was a master of using that spell to get a wagon going where she wanted it to go, she'd used it to travel all over Equestria when she was doing her magic shows, the only difference now was, she'd be using the spell to go a lot further than she'd ever gone before, the idea thrilled her immensely.

"So where do we go now?" asked Octavia.

Windshear smiled and pulled a map out from behind his seat, he spread it out across both of their laps and pointed to the port city of Canterbury along the Bridle Shores bay. Octavia smiled at the map of the entire known world, she couldn't wait to see those places for herself. Octavia had traveled all around Equestria with her band, playing in different villages, towns, and cities, but as she looked over the map, Equestria seemed so small when seen against what's really out there.

Episode 2: Welcome to Canterbury

The wagon finally arrived at the peaceful port of Canterbury, the town was abuzz with all manner of traders conducting their business. Windshear, Octavia, and Trixie gazed about in wonder at all the activity, sure big cities were busy, but the population of Canterbury seemed condensed into one small area around the harbor where cargo was being loaded and unloaded at a frantic pace, captains of various ships could be heard haggling prices at the top of their lungs, the activity went about at a dizzying pace for Octavia who was accustomed to high society's much slower pace.

"So who are we looking for Windshear?" inquired Trixie.

"We're looking for a trade ship named the Dawnstrider, Princess Luna told me we'd find it, and something useful at pier thirty nine." came his response.

Trixie nodded and looked around for any sign to point the way, she noted the dock numbers and proceeded up to the specified dock, there Trixie and Octavia looked up in horror at what could only be described as a shipwreck waiting to happen.

"You can't be serious?" moaned Octavia. Trixie nodeed along with her in agreement.

Windshear burried his face in his hoof. "What did you expect? A ride in the royal airship all the way to the Abada's front door? We need to avoid unwanted attention."

"Yes, I understand that Windy, but, shouldn't we at least be trying to arrive safely?" inquired Octavia.

Windshear began to reply, "I'm sure the Guard wouldn't book us passage with an incompo..."

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHOY EVERYPONY!" came a loud obnoxious voice from the bow of the ship.

"Or maybe they would." finished Windshear.

Windshear peered up at the sailor yelling down to them, to describe him as thoroughly unkempt, would be an understatement. He had a large jug in his hoof from which he took generous sips before holding it up to his eye and peering into it before throwing it into the sea.

"The rum is gone! But all hope is not yet lost! We shall resupply the ship! Even if it kills us all! WE SHALL RESUPPLY! All hands on deck! Get our passenger's luggage aboard go fetch supplies! We need food, shade, RUM! You three best go find something fun. It'll be hours before we're ready to depart!"

"Umm, how do you resupply a ship with shade?" inquired Octavia while eyeing the ship nervously.

"Best not to ask I think." came Trixie's response.

The three wandered down the street leaving their wagon behind in the hooves of the crew of the Dawnstrider as they sought out entertainment. The group came upon a port side tavern called 'The Washed up Pony' and proceeded inside, Trixie and Octavia gave Windshear their drink orders before going to get a table.

Octavia and Trixie glared at each other in silence for a long moment before Octavia spoke up. "What?" she inquired.

"You have something on your face dear."

Octavia tried to discreetly rub around her face with her hoof trying to get it off. "What is it?" she inquired.

"Your face." Trixie laughed hysterically.

"What made you into such a cruel being Trixie?"

Trixie pondered the question for a moment, she was looking for a witty insult but her memories quickly overpowered her. A tear gathered in the corner of her eye as her thoughts descended into her deepest and most painful memories. Octavia noted the look on her face and held silent while Trixie thought deeply.

Trixie pondered the question, trying to figure out where it all began. "How does one become a megalomaniac?" Trixie wondered to herself. "Do we all want power for power's sake? I didn't always want that... I just wanted to protect my only friend." Trixie said to herself inside her mind, while bringing a hoof to rest on her bag.

Fifteen years earlier...

Trixie was struggling to learn her first ever magical spell ,every attempt she was making would fizzle out leaving her frustrated. Trixie looked all around at her classmates who were jumping for joy as they had mastered their first spells. She tried, and tried, and tried, her teacher tried to calm her frustrations and help her overcome her difficulty, but she just couldn't do it.

With a sigh and some words of comfort from her teacher, Trixie fell down in a fetal position, cuddling her teddy bear which went everywhere with her. Her best friend in the world, her only friend in the world. She thought back to the day she'd first found him, she didn't understand why she had been brought there or what was going on, she was just a very small filly, she was shaking in fear at the sight of everything and everypony around her. She was taken to a room full of other little fillies and placed down on one of the many bed, the older ponies who brought her there spoke to her, but, though she tried hard, she couldn't hear what they said to her, her memories of that time don't include sound, only flashing images.

After a long while, Trixie got up the courage to explore her surroundings, though, she only managed to have a look at what was immediately around her bed, she decided to have a look under it, and there he was, covered in dust was a white fluffy teddy bear with black buttons for eyes, he even had a little black bow tie around his neck, though it was on its last thread. She wondered how long he'd been under that bed, she even spoke to it, asking him softly how long he'd been hiding there, after a few moment she spoke again reassuring him that it was safe before she reached out to pick him up, she cradled him in her arms, dusting him off gently. She smiled thinking about the white color he was under all that dust, he matched her mane perfectly.

"It's going to be ok, we'll get through this together." she said to him.

Trixie was snapped out of her daydream by the sounds of her class mates heading outside to play. She sighed and got up, figuring she may as well go outside and try to clear her head. She went to her usual spot under a tree in the field outside the orphanage, nopony ever bothered her there, they were always too busy playing on the swings, or whatever other playground contraptions were free. She took in a deep breath of the fresh afternoon air and curled up with her teddy. She started talking to him like she always does, though he couldn't answer, he didn't need to, just talking to him made her feel better, whatever was on her mind, she'd tell him, he was, after all, very good at keeping secrets.

She stubbornly refused to go anywhere or do anything without her teddy bear, he took baths with her, had breakfast, lunch and dinner with her, slept with her, attended classes, even went out on field trips. Trixie once tried to repair Mr. Fluffy's bow tie a few days after they'd first met, but she failed miserably, destroying it utterly, this made her resolve to learn how to make a new one, as a result Mr. Fluffy has a wardrobe for all occasions, and though Trixie didn't have even a single article of clothing, she figured she didn't really need any, the only thing she ever wore was a bag she made to keep Mr. Fluffy in so he'd be safe, the bag even contained all his cloths and accessories.

After a long while content in her day dreams and casual conversation with Mr. Fluffy, Trixie was surrounded by her class mates, this had never happened before, everypony usually ignored her, they started laughing at her, and she didn't understand why, she couldn't make out what they were saying to her as all the voices had blended together into an awful noise which was now hurting her ears, she kept herself curled up with Mr. Fluffy, cradling him tightly as she shivered in fear.

"Haha, Trixie can't do magic! She's not a unicorn!"

"If she's not a Unicorn, she doesn't need her horn!"

The bullies all around her tried using their newly learned levitation magic to pull off Trixie's horn, she cried out in agony, blood was dripping out from the base, but it wouldn't come off.

"Get her teddy! She doesn't need it either!"

Trixie cried out in horror, trying to protect her stuffed toy, as the children came in to try and grab it with their mouths, she quickly managed to stuff him under her, keeping the toy between her belly and the ground where they couldn't reach him. The children tried pushing her away but she held on too tightly.

Trixie felt fear more intensely in that moment than she had ever felt it in her life, her instincts overpowered her reason, taking her into survival mode, her focus became clear. She resolved to protect Mr. Fluffy! Images of what they would do to him flooded into her mind, it caused her tears to flow freely down her face. Her horn began to glow intensely before a bubble of magic exploded from all around her, knocking away all the children who had surrounded her, leaving them on their backs crying out in pain.

Trixie rose to her hooves, she kept her little toy clutched tightly under her hoof against her heart. Her eyes and horn were seething with raw magical fury, the blood dripping from the base of her horn down around her face enhanced her now horrific visage! As her glare fell upon each individual, they couldn't help but cower in fear at the sight of the monster they had just created. With her voice raised to the highest level she could muster, Trixie addressed the band of cowering bullies.

" If anypony ever even thinks about laying a hoof on Mr. Fluffy, I'll make you all suffer for it! Nopony will ever try to hurt him! NOPONY!"

The bullies rushed off, leaving behind pools of foul smelling yellow liquid where they once lay. Trixie remained in her place, cuddling her Teddy tightly to herself as her fury began to subside, being replaced with a new emotion, one she'd never experienced in all her life, the thrill of victory and a surge of pride in power she never knew she had in her.

Trixie clutched onto her bag tightly, Octavia pondered this action carefully, trying to find some clue, any clue to what was happening inside Trixie's mind at that moment. Octavia's eyes caught a glimpse of something under the flap of Trixie's bag, it was a stuffed animal, a little ball of white fluff with black buttons for eyes, Trixie's eyes met Octavia's as she quickly pushed her bag back under her cloak.

"Don't ask, It's none of your business." was all Trixie could say.

Octavia was all the more confused, but she decided against pressing the matter any further, the awkward silence was then broken by Windshear who finally came back with drinks for everypony. At the back of the Tavern there was a small stage, a black stallion wearing black cloths and carrying a black guitar came up to the microphone, behind him were his two band mates.

"Hey Octavia, you wanted to learn about different music, get ready to take notes." said Windshear with a cheerful smile.

Octavia turned her attention to the musicians as the lead stallion introduced himself.

"Hello, I'm Pony Cash." which drew a round of very loud cheering and applause before the music started to play.

I hear the train a comin'
It's rolling round the bend
And I ain't seen the sunshine since I don't know when,
I'm stuck in Foalsom prison, and time keeps draggin' on

The three sat and listened as the band played on before a stranger stepped up to their table.

"Look at this. I haven't seen you in a long time Windshear." he spoke condescendingly.

But that train keeps a rollin' on down to Appleoosa..

"I don't think we've ever met." replied Windshear coldly from behind his mug.

The stranger pounded Windshear's mug with his hoof knocking it straight into Windshear's face getting stuck on his muzzle. Windshear pulled it off and threw it to the ground as he got up.

When I was just a baby, my mama told me. Son,
Always be a good boy, don't ever play with guns.

"What is your problem?" he demanded.

"We met at my brother's funeral! You got him killed!" came the sharp response, along with a hoof to Windshear's face knocking him to the ground.

But I shot a bull in Reno just to watch him die

Trixie was about to cast a spell on the aggressive colt when Octavia got up and blocked her shot, she started trying to reason with the colt. Meanwhile, the tavern was still too busy with Mr. Pony Cash to care what was going on. The colt shoved Octavia aside, sending her crashing into the table, Windshear didn't need any more provocation, but that was the last mistake that colt would ever make as far as he was concerned!

When I hear that whistle blowing, I hang my head and cry..

Windshear kicked himself up and charged the colt, body slamming him into a crowd of people who quickly stepped aside letting them crash into a table, mugs along with the contents spilled out onto the combatants as they wrestled around. Trixie positioned herself in line of sight to the two combatants, but try as she might, she couldn't find a clean shot at the attacking colt as the crowd kept moving around to get a better view.

I bet there's rich ponies eating from a fancy dining car
They're probably drinkin' coffee and smoking big cigars.

Windshear and the colt got up to their hooves and began slamming and kicking at each other the two eventually met with the wall and crashed through it, kicking and slamming into each other in a mess of mud, blood, and beer.

Well I know I had it coming, I know I can't be free
But those people keep a movin'
And that's what tortures me...

Windshear and the colt continued to battle it out, the music still played on rather loudly. Kicking each other with whichever hoof they could get a shot with. After a short time, police ponies came to break them up, they couldn't stop attacking each other, breaking free of the officer's grasps to keep attacking each other.

Well if they freed me from this prison,
If that railroad train was mine
I bet I'd move it on a little farther down the line
Far from Foalsom prison, that's where I want to stay
And I'd let that lonesome whistle blow my blues away.....

The two were eventually locked up in separate police wagons and taken away, leaving Trixie and Octavia looking on in disbelief. Behind them, the crowds were cheering for Mr. Pony Cash, the two looked to them, and then to one-another and shrugged, wondering how all that could happen, and nopony even cared.