Eons of Equisby teslakanaChapterschapter II continuitychapter III love?chapter IV revalationschapter V RemedyChapter VI The devil insidechapter VII spirit songChapter IX RoyaltiesChapter X; Ranachapter XI; Ilonachapter XII; complicationschapter XIII; anonChapter XIV; eventsChapter XV; HomeChapter XVI; Family (maybe part 1/?)Chapter XVII; Dragon godsChapter XVIII; art, and events (also, Luna)Chapter XIX; PrototypeChapter XX; RoyaltyChapter XXI; Alternate Equis...Chapter XXII Magic, music and other mysteries....Chapter XXIII; oddities...Chapter XXIV: continuation...Chapter XXV; Evolution (And Religion)Chapter XXVI; to tell of Skyrim...chapter I arrivalchapter VIII changelingchapter II continuityThe next morning I was awoken to a light prodding, opening my eyes I saw Vinyl, sat next to a rather disrupted looking Octavia “Morning” I smiled “I’m here to apologize for my behavior last night” Octavia sighed “I shouldn’t have treated you like that Vinyl, I know it’s hard for you to break your habits and I know you’ve been trying very hard, but when you saw the temptation you took it, and Tesla, I don’t blame you for being what you are, how can I?” “You mean it Tavi?” Vinyl blinked “I think we’ll stick with Octavia for now” Octavia giggled “Well, I was gonna crash with Tesla” Vinyl bit her lip “Do what you think is best” she shrugged “but I don’t think Tesla has an actual home yet, do you?” she turned her attention to me “I used to” I shrugged “Where..?” Vinyl blinked “The castle” I flinched “How in the…?” she gasped “what happened?” “The dragon happened” I avoided her gaze “And the princesses kicked you out because of it?” Octavia stared at me “I’m unsure of what to say” “I second that” Blaze nodded “And I third that” I raised my hand “Morning Vinyl, Octavia, Tesla” Applejack gave a faint smiled, I didn’t respond “Ya’ll are Ok, Stretch, the princesses did give us a rather graphic description on what ya’ll said, and how ya work, and whilst Ah’m not one-hundred percent Ok with it, Ah do respect ya’ll fer what ya do, as a species Ah mean” “You’re not Ok with it, then why not do something about it?” I cast a moment’s glance at her “Because…” she sighed “because Ah love ya”, I rolled my eyes, stood up, and walked away, Vinyl and Octavia in tow “Not interested” I stated frigidly, walking toward Ponyville “That was harsh” Blaze whistled “I’m not in a good mood” I frowned “And walking toward a town full of ponies like her is a good idea because how?” she laughed “Touché” I hummed glancing back toward the silver-and-white ponies following me “So what is it that you do?” “We’re musicians” Octavia smiled “Whereas Vinyl’s ‘hard-core’ techno remix is rather intriguing, some ponies prefer stringed instruments” “Which do you prefer?” Vinyl glanced up at me “I’m impartial to both” I shrugged “Fair enough” she smiled “So what do you do here?” “Nothing, as of yet” I sighed, finally arriving at Ponyville “Used to work at the farm” Blaze shrugged “Why’d such a refined, albeit strange, being such as yourself work there?” Octavia gasped “I know, right?” I laughed, just as Luna teleported into view right in front of me “Are thou, well?” Luna stood before me “Why?” I tutted “Your home in the castle isn’t being forfeited” she smiled “Please, come home” “I was home when I was with Crystal back at the isles” I spat “do what you will, but leave me out of it” “We’re sorry to hear that” she bit her lip, tears in her eyes “We shall Celestia of thy decision, farewell” “Dude, really? “Vinyl gaped as a scroll blinked into view before me, landing in my hands, it read Dearest Tesla You are hereby invented to play a part in the royal canterlot orchestra as per Celestia’s decision that was made prior to this letter being written, I hope this finds you well, my little eon Yours sincerely, Cadance XOX “I get to play a part in the canterlot orchestra?” I blinked “but I don’t know how to play!” “They heard you sing, remember?” Blaze lightly tapped my head “Either way, I’m not going” I shrugged “Why not,” Octavia gasped “I’ve been trying to get a part in the orchestra for ages now, and they let you in for your singing voice, now this I have to hear!” “Oh, it’s nothing special” I bit my lip “To Hay it isn’t; if they think you’re royal material, I want to know what it is that has their interests piqued” she smirked “Fine” I sighed “The burning desire to live and roam free, It shines in the dark And it grows within me You're holding my hand but you don't understand So where I am going you won't be in the end. Im dreaming in colours of getting the chance of dreaming of trying the perfect romance The search of the door, to open your mind In search of the cure of mankind Help us we're drowning So close up inside Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? How will the lights die down, telling us who we are? I'm searching for answers Not given for free you’re hurting inside is there life within me? You're holding my hand but you don't understand So you're taking the road all alone in the end Im dreaming in colours, no boundaries are there Im dreaming the dream we all seem to share In search of the door, to open your mind In search of the cure of mankind Well help us we're drowning So close up inside Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Why does it rain, rain, rain, down on Utopia? And when the lights die down, telling us who we are why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Oh, why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Now when the lights die down, telling us who we are Why does it rain?” I sang with Blaze, as a duet “That was amazing,” Octavia stared at me “it’s no wonder you got offered a spot at the orchestra with the voice of an angel!” “Now you’re over-exaggerating” I laughed “Am I?” she pointed behind me, turning around I saw what seemed to be the entirety of ponyville staring at me, bursting into applause and cheering “Thank you” I waved “I’ll be performing live at the orchestra when if and when I can” -=- “Do you do solo or band songs?” a brown earth pony with a cream-coloured mane and tail smiled when I got backstage “Duet” I winked, glancing up at Blaze “Then you’d better practice out there then” he gestured to the stage in the empty theatre “That I will” I nodded, walking to the stage, Blaze perched atop my head “What song first, Brother,” “Within Temptation” I grinned, clearing my throat, as did she I can't feel my senses I just feel the cold All colours seem to fade away I can't reach my soul I would stop running, if i knew there was a chance It tears me apart to sacrifice it all but I'm forced to let go Tell me I'm frozen but what can I do? Can't tell the reasons I did it for you when lies turn into truth I sacrificed for you you say that I'm frozen but what can I do? I can feel your sorrow You won't forgive me, but I know you'll be all right It tears me apart that you will never know but I have to let go Tell me I'm frozen but what can I do? Can't tell the reasons I did it for you when lies turn into truth I sacrificed for you you say that I'm frozen but what can I do? Everything will slip away Shattered pieces will remain When memories fade into emptiness Only time will tell its tale If it all has been in vain I can't feel my senses I just feel the cold Frozen... But what can I do? Frozen... Tell me I'm frozen but what can I do? Can't tell the reasons I did it for you When lies turn into truth I sacrificed for you you say that I'm frozen, frozen...” I sang with blaze in another duet “Core blimey” the pony from before whistled as he and the rest of the band sat in the crowd “I think you might have us beaten there mate” “You haven’t heard anything then” I laughed “You would not believe your eyes If ten million fireflies Lit up the world as I fell asleep Cause they'd fill the open air And leave tear drops everywhere You'd think me rude but I would just stand and Stare I'd like to make myself believe That planet Earth turns, slowly It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep Cause everything is never as it seems Cause I'd get a thousand hugs From ten thousand lightning bugs As they tried to teach me how to dance A foxtrot above my head A sock-hop beneath my bed The disco ball is just hanging by a thread (Thread, thread...) I'd like to make myself believe That planet Earth turns, slowly It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep Cause everything is never as it seems (When I fall asleep) Leave my door open just a crack (Please take me away from here) Cause I feel like such an insomniac (Please take me away from here) Why do I tire of counting sheep? (Please take me away from here) When I'm far too tired to fall asleep (Ha-ha) To ten million fireflies I'm weird cause I hate goodbyes I got misty eyes as they said farewell (Said farewell) But I'll know where several are If my dreams get real bizarre Cause I saved a few and I keep them in a jar (Jar, jar, jar...) I'd like to make myself believe That planet Earth turns, slowly It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep Cause everything is never as it seems (When I fall asleep) I'd like to make myself believe That planet Earth turns, slowly It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep Cause everything is never as it seems (When I fall asleep) I'd like to make myself believe That planet Earth turns, slowly It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep Because my dreams are bursting at the seams” Blaze and I sang again with Blaze doing the background vocals “That was almost god-like” a cyan mare with a brown mane and tail applauded me “Again, I reckon we can do better” Blaze lightly patted my crown Close your tired eyes, relax and then, count from one to ten, and open them. All these heavy thoughts will try to weigh you down, but not this time. Way up in the air, you're finally free, and you can stay up there, right next to me. All this gravity will try to pull you down, but not this time. “When the sun goes down and the lights burn out, then it’s time for you to shine; Brighter than a shooting star, So shine no matter where you are. Fill the darkest night with a brilliant light 'cause it’s time for you to shine; Brighter than a shooting star, So shine no matter where you are, Tonight. Whoa, Whoa, Whoa! Brighter than a shooting star So shine no matter where you are, Tonight. Gaze into my eyes when the fire starts, And fan the flames so hot, it melts our hearts. Oh, the pouring rain will try to put it out, but not this time. Let your colours burn and lightly burst, into a million sparks, that all disperse. And illuminate a world that'll try to put you down, but not this time. When the sun goes down and the lights burn out, then it’s time for you to shine; Brighter than a shooting star, So shine no matter where you are. Fill the darkest night with a brilliant light 'cause it’s time for you to shine; Brighter than a shooting star, So shine no matter where you are, Tonight. A thousand heart beats beat in time, and makes this dark planet come alive. So when the lights flicker out tonight, you gotta shine. When the sun goes down and the lights burn out, then it’s time for you to shine; Brighter than a shooting star, So shine no matter where you are. Fill the darkest night with a brilliant light 'cause it’s time for you to shine; Brighter than a shooting star, So shine no matter where you are, Tonight.” I sang once again with my sister “Getting better” the first pony slowly nodded “Time for the finisher” Blaze and I winked to one-another “Just a small town girl Livin' in a lonely world She took the midnight train goin' anywhere Just a city boy Born and raised in South Detroit He took the midnight train goin' anywhere A singer in a smoky room The smell of wine and cheap perfume For a smile they can share the night It goes on and on and on and on Strangers waiting Up and down the boulevard Their shadows searchin' in the night Streetlight, people Livin' just to find emotion Hidin' somewhere in the night Workin' hard to get my fill Everybody wants a thrill Payin' anythin' to roll the dice Just one more time Some will win, some will lose Some are born to sing the blues And now the movie never ends It goes on and on and on and on Strangers waiting Up and down the boulevard Their shadows searchin' in the night Streetlight, people Livin' just to find emotion Hidin' somewhere in the night Don't stop believin' Hold on to that feelin' Streetlight, people Don't stop believin' Hold on to that feelin' Streetlight, people Don't stop!” I finished the final song, the band was silent, my sister having done the female parts of the song and a duet at times “That was…” the mare gasped, “stupendous, marvellously done sir!” “Call me TK” I smiled “That I will,” she nickered, “TK” “I thought I heard something interesting going on” Celestia appeared at the door to the theatre alongside Luna, Twilight her friends and the small purple lizard from the party “you’ve the voice of an angel, Tesla” “And you two have the wings” she raised an eyebrow “Damnit” “Thou art truly gifted Sir Tesla” Luna smiled “one does not simply sing like that out of sheer want or need, how do you do it?” “Practice” I winked “Quite a lot by the sounds” Celestia smiled “Fifteen years” I shrugged “Any reason?” she chuckled “Pure boredom” I laughed “ironic really” “I know, right?” Blaze chortled “Think we can do another?” “Easily” I glimmered “Gonna be awkward though” You know the bed feels warmer Sleeping here alone You know I dream in colour And do the things I want You think you got the best of me Think you had the last laugh Bet you think that everything good is gone Think you left me broken down Think that I'd come running back Baby you don't know me, cause you're dead wrong What doesn't kill you makes you stronger Stand a little taller Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone What doesn't kill you makes a fighter Footsteps even lighter Doesn't mean I'm over cause you're gone What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stronger Just me, myself and I What doesn't kill you makes you stronger Stand a little taller Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone You heard that I was starting over with someone new They told you I was moving on, over you. You didn't think that I'd come back I'd come back swinging You try to break me, but you see What doesn't kill you makes you stronger Stand a little taller Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone What doesn't kill you makes a fighter Footsteps even lighter Doesn't mean I'm over cause you're gone What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stronger Just me, myself and I What doesn't kill you makes you stronger Stand a little taller Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone Thanks to you I got a new thing started Thanks to you I'm not the broken-hearted Thanks to you I'm finally thinking about me You know in the end the day you left was just my beginning In the end... What doesn't kill you makes you stronger Stand a little taller Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone What doesn't kill you makes a fighter Footsteps even lighter Doesn't mean I'm over cause you're gone What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stronger Just me, myself and I What doesn't kill you makes you stronger Stand a little taller Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stronger Just me, myself and I what doesn't kill you makes you stronger Stand a little taller doesn’t mean I'm lonely when I'm alone” I sang once again with my sister in yet another duet “That was phenomenal,” a blue pony with a dark blue mane and tail whistled, the whole band applauded me “well done Tesla!” “It’s nothing special” I chuckled “Isn’t it?” Luna smiled with apparent glee (pun not intended) “how about thou say that after the orchestra” “You say that like it’s going to be a challenge” Blaze boldly declared “Oh?” Celestia grinned “then I don’t suppose you’d like proving that, Blaze?” “Easy” I tutted “when do I start?” “I’ll have the guards tell of the upcoming event tomorrow, if you’re so sure” “How many songs per event?” I titled my head “Three, why,” Luna smirked “nervous are we?” “Just curious on how bad I have to wipe that grin from your adorable face of yours” “Princesses never are, and never will be adorable” she raised an eyebrow “Keep telling yourself that” I laughed -=- When tomorrow came, I was pacing on centre stage, waiting for the audience to gather “Nervous?” Blaze laughed “Impatient to win more like” I clicked my tongue, when the audience finally gathered, I noticed Twilight, her friends, the lizard, Octavia, Vinyl, the princesses, and Crystal “Ready?” I whispered, Blaze nodded “Duet” “When I see your smile Tears roll down my face I can't replace And now that I'm strong I have figured out How this world turns cold and it breaks through my soul And I know I'll find deep inside me I can be the one I will never let you fall (let you fall) I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all (through it all) Even if saving you sends me to heaven It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. Seasons are changing And waves are crashing And stars are falling all for us Days grow longer and nights grow shorter I can show you I'll be the one I will never let you fall (let you fall) I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all (through it all) Even if saving you sends me to heaven Cuz you're my, you're my, my, my true love, my whole heart Please don't throw that away Cuz I'm here for you Please don't walk away and Please tell me you'll stay woah, stay woah Use me as you will Pull my strings just for a thrill And I know I'll be okay Though my skies are turning gray I will never let you fall I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all Even if saving you sends me to heaven to fade” I finished the song, with Blaze singing the background vocals “I'm waking up to ash and dust I wipe my brow but I sweat my rust I'm breathing in the chemicals I'm breaking in, shaping up, Then checking out on the prison bus This is it, the apocalypse Whoa I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones Enough to make my systems blow Welcome to the new age, to the new age Welcome to the new age, to the new age Whoa, whoa, I'm radioactive, radioactive Whoa, whoa, I'm radioactive, radioactive I raise my flags, don my clothes It's a revolution, I suppose We're painted it red, to fit right in Whoa I'm breaking in, shaping up, Then checking out on the prison bus This is it, the apocalypse Whoa I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones Enough to make my systems blow Welcome to the new age, to the new age Welcome to the new age, to new age Whoa, whoa, I'm radioactive, radioactive Whoa, whoa, I'm radioactive, radioactive All systems go, the sun hasn't died Deep in my bones, straight from inside I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones Enough to make my systems blow Welcome to the new age, to the new age Welcome to the new age, to the new age Whoa, whoa, I'm radioactive, radioactive Whoa, whoa, I'm radioactive, radioactive” I sang again You shout it out, but I can't hear a word you say I'm talking loud, not saying much I'm criticized, but all your bullets ricochet You shoot me down, but I get up I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose Fire away, fire away Ricochet, you take your aim Fire away, fire away You shoot me down But I won't fall, I am titanium You shoot me down But I won't fall, I am titanium, I am titanium Cut me down, but it's you who had further to fall Ghost town, haunted love, Raise your voice Sticks and stones may break my bones I'm talking loud, not saying much I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose Fire away, fire away Ricochet, you take your aim Fire away, fire away You shoot me down But I won't fall, I am titanium You shoot me down But I won't fall, I am titanium, I am titanium Stone-hard, machine guns, firing at the ones who run Stone-hard, those bulletproof guns You shoot me down But I won't fall, I am titanium You shoot me down But I won't fall, I am titanium You shoot me down But I won't fall, I am titanium You shoot me down But I won't fall, I am titanium, I am titanium “ and again, forming three duets in a row, the crowd bursting into applauding as I finished, bowing with Blaze mimicking my movements artp my head, relinquishing the stage for the rest of the orchestra “That wasn’t that bad” Blaze cooed as we made it to the main hall where tables and chairs were set up with various food and drink refreshments laid out on said tables “Says you, I’ve got a bit of a sore throat” I coughed, downing a glass of somewhat freezing cold water “that’s better” “I thought you were meant to be the professional?” she laughed “I’m not perfect” I chuckled “Happy birthday, Brother” she nuzzled into me “Thanks Blaze” I sighed, sitting on the stairs with Blaze curled up in my lap “There you are” I turned around, Twilight and her friends were stood there, gleaming at me “Hello Sparkles” I smirked “I guess we owe Rainbow Five Bits then” Applejack laughed, I got up and left “What?” I walked out into the castle’s gardens, Blaze perched atop my head “First Celestia jokes about you’re parent’s death, and now they joke about your potential career” Blaze spat “it’s disgraceful!” “I know, right?” I growled, igniting my fists with a dark, emerald flame, “Suishō hasu Karyu Ken!” I fired Gatling-like punches toward the tree in front of me, leaving indents that went deeper and deeper with each hit, until it went all the way through, felling the large, wooden plant “Impressive” she whistled “Just letting off a little steam” I tutted =-= “So, did you get in?” Octavia smiled alongside Vinyl as I stood in the main hall, not two hours later, which was filled with the audience from the theatre “I’ve no idea” I bit my lip “What’s even better, is you did it without rehearsal!” she beamed “Good guy like Tesla doesn’t need to rehearse” Vinyl jokingly tapped my leg “Well yeah, who do you think I am?” I laughed “God” Octavia slurred “of music anyway, with a voice like that you could probably sing a lullaby to Celestia herself” “I wouldn’t exaggerate” I chuckled “I would” Blaze shrugged “No hell, you would” I simpered “So, feel like bucking?” Vinyl winked “Vinyl, you now I got to Tesla before you, so step aside” Octavia stated haughtily “Ah, but I got dibs on his junk, so there” Vinyl smirked “I’m sure I could do better” Octavia scoffed as I managed to ‘sneak’ away “That was insane” I laughed “I know, maybe you could have a three-way” Blaze chortled “Who with,” I turned around; Celestia and Luna were there, eyebrows raised “Vinyl and Octavia” Blaze glimmered “Her idea, not mine” I gestured toward the Quilava sat upon my head “I see” Celestia winked, now that I got a good look at her, she was beautiful, just as much as Luna “I know what you’re thinking, eon” ‘Fuck’ “Exactly” her horn glowed as we were teleported into a large, ornately furnished room “Did you think that Rose was the only one with her interests about you, human?” “I’m not sure if follow-” she pressed her lips against mine, her and Luna changing to what appeared to be anthroforms “Ok, now I follow…” =-=-=-= “Well, so that happened” Blaze burst into roaring laughter as I sat on the stairs in the main hall “Damn straight” I chuckled “What happened to you?” Twilight and her friends –plus the small purple lizard from before- stood before me, eyebrows raised “Divine intervention” Blaze and I shared a soft laugh “What’s that mean?” Twilight blinked “Should we?” Blaze glanced down at me “Nah; let them find out on their own” I chuckled, again, walking off toward the theatre -=- As I stood on centre stage, I saw Luna sat there on her own, smiling down at me like the lunar angel that she was “I don't want this moment to ever end, Where everything's nothing without you. I'd wait here forever just to, to see you smile, 'Cause it's true, I am nothing without you. Through it all, I've made my mistakes. I stumble and fall, but I mean these words. I want you to know, With everything I won't let this go. These words are my heart and soul. I'll hold on to this moment, you know, As I bleed my heart out to show, And I won't let go. Thoughts read, unspoken, forever in vow, And pieces of memories fall to the ground. I know what I didn't have, so I won't let this go, 'Cause it's true, I am nothing without you. All the streets, where I walked alone, With nowhere to go, have come to an end. I want you to know, With everything I won't let this go. These words are my heart and soul. I'll hold on to this moment, you know, As I bleed my heart out to show, And I won't let go. In front of your eyes, it falls from the skies, When you don't know what you're looking to find. In front of your eyes, it falls from the skies, When you just never know what you will find. I don't want this moment to ever end, Where everything's nothing without you. I want you to know, With everything I won't let this go. These words are my heart and soul. I'll hold on to this moment, you know, As I bleed my heart out to show, And I won't let go. I want you to know, With everything I won't let this go. These words are my heart and soul. I'll hold on to this moment, you know, As I bleed my heart out to show, And I won't let go” I smiled as I finished the song “Nicely done, Sir Tesla” Luna teleported down beside me, pecking, my cheek “Thank you” I pecked her back on the lips “my little Tsuki” “My little eon” she smiled “And you said that you weren’t adorable” I raised an eyebrow “We may have miscalculated in our statement” she giggled “Cute” I smiled “As is thy eon form, Tesla” she chuckled “Likewise” I smirked “We do not possess another…” she stared at me “oh, that” “I’m not complaining either way” I laughed “Do thou know how to play an instrument?” “Only a few songs on the guitar” I shrugged “That’s good enough” she simpered “Anything for You Lulu” I gleamed, she looked around the theatre, which was still empty, dragged me via means of levitation backstage, locked the door, locked the door and changed to her anthro form, sitting me down on one of the chairs, removing her lingerie, undoing my trousers and boxers, rolling them down to my ankles, slipping my har4dening cock into her mouth, bobbiung her head up and down, placing her hands on my legs as she did so “How does this feel?” she smiled up at me “Brilliant” I sighed “Then we shall continue” she licked her lips, deepthroating herself on my length, twirling her tongue around the head, her saliva running down my dick and over my balls as she pulled away,, turning herself around, slamming my girth into her sex, bounding up and down as I moved my arms around her curvaceous body, gripping onto her breasts “Oh yes, take us Tesla, make us thine own bitch!” she gasped as I bucked my hips against hers “make us beg for release!” she panted as I slammed my member into her tight little cunny, filling her with seed, pulling out once it stopped endlessly pumping into her until then “That was… incredible!” Luna exhaled sharply, placing her lingerie back on, pecking my cheek as I got re-dressed, teleporting out of the backstage as I walked with Blaze out onto the theatre, which was still empty, surprisingly enough “That was intriguing” Blaze smirked “Yeah, so it was” I chuckled, my vision fading as I collapsed onto my face on the hard wooden floor “I’m gonna sleep now…” -=-=- The following day, I staggered to my feet, barely managing to walk in a straight line toward the xit of the theatre “How do you feel?” Celestia smiled “Absolutely hammered” I groaned “Hammered?” she blinked “Smashed right out of my brains?” she tilted her head “Drunk?” “Oh...” she slowly nodded “you’ll have to forgive us for that, our magic levels are nigh immeasurable “That’s alright,” Blaze laughed “mating with two goddesses in a day will do that to a wizard, right brother?” “I need a drink” I mumbled “So you do” Celestia giggled “my little eon” “I’m not sure how to respond to that” I slowly shook my head, walking with Celestia to the dining hall -=- Once breakfast was finished, I sat outside in the stands of the arena alongside Twilight, her friends, the lizard, and the princesses “Maybe you just need to release some of your magic” Blaze suggested “How so,” I raised an eyebrow “Well, everyone knows that wizards such as yourself absorb magic from the atmosphere, right?” I nodded “well, my theory is that you absorbed too much yesterday and that’s why you feel like shit right now, pardon my lingo” “You’re excused” I mumbled, gliding down to the arena, inhaling sharply “Eigo Hoseki Ryu,” I exhaled a vast torrent of silvery/pearl coloured flames into the sky, eventually relenting “Hokou!” “How do you feel?” she smirked “Damn you a third time for being right,” I folded my arms “I feel perfect!” “Told ya so” she laughed “So you did” I chuckled “And,” she rolled a paw with a downright smug-as-hell expression plastered on her face “You were right, again” I sighed “Too right I was” she smirked -=-=- As I hovered beside Crystal, Twilight and her friends in ponyville, my ears started twitched, almost pulling me toward the mountain on which canterlot was built “Going somewhere?” Crystal laughed “Apparently” I chuckled as I came across a statue of a Pegasus filly with an icy-blue coat with a white mane and tail with a similar bluish colour in them “Well I’ll be damned, it actually happened” Blaze whistled “take it way Tesla” “You cannot see but your heart is pure I know you feel trapped In a dark world Some brush you off and call you weak but your name is snowdrop and one day they'll see If you hold fast and stand strong you'll discover who you are If you listen to the world at night you can hear the twinkling stars If you use love to guide your heart you are bound to go far You have the power to change the world being uniquely who you are If you hold fast and stand strong you'll discover who you are If you listen to the world at night you can hear the twinkling stars If you use love to guide your heart you are bound to go far You have the power to change the world being uniquely who you are If you hold fast and stand strong you'll discover who you are If you listen to the world at night you can hear the twinkling stars If you use love to guide your heart you are bound to go far You have the power to change the world being uniquely who you are” I almost echoed as I sang “Holy hay, that was awesome!” Rainbow Dash cheered as a massive beam of light from the statue rocketed up toward the heaven, a sudden flash of light later, and the statue had vanished altogether “Uh, Tesla” Crystal pointed toward my back, glancing behind me, I saw an exact replica of the statue, only as an actual pony, staring up at me with cyan eyes, a small smile adorning her face “Hell Daddy” the pony giggled “I’m Snowdrop” “Nice to meet you, Snowdrop, I’m Tesla, and this is my sister, Blaze” I gestured to the Quilava using my head as a rug “Hello” Snowdrop held out a hoof, which Blaze shook “I’m going to bed now, Ok Daddy?” “Ok, just try not to move about too much” I smiled “Ok” she smiled, clinging onto me as she slept “To Canterlot,” Blaze smirked “To Canterlot” I nodded -=- As I glided in through the entrance to the castle a scroll appeared before me You’re needed at the theatre… “Ok, fair enough” I shrugged as the scroll disintegrated, flying toward the theatre “I heard that I was needed here?” I smiled as the members of the orchestra stood before me, Octavia and Vinyl included “Luna tells us that you can play the guitar” Vinyl smirked, glancing toward Snowdrop “who’s the filly?” “Snowdrop” I smiled “How long have you been here?” Octavia blinked “A week-ish” I tilted a claw “So how is she here?” “Magic” I winked “Anyways, Luna’s told us that you know a song on the guitar” the cyan mare smiled “can you do it, for a solo-Op tomorrow?” “Most certainly” I called my hands together “when’s the event?” “At ten-o’-clock sharp” she winked “I’ll be there” “Red jumpsuit Apparatus,” Blaze smirked “Nope, Utopia” I grinned as Snowdrop wearily awoke “Hello Daddy” Snowdrop “Hello Snowdrop” I smiled as Blaze and Snowdrop switched places, with the filly on my head, and the Quilava on my back “Where are we?” she yawned “Canterlot royal castle, in the theatre” I smiled again “Canterlot..?” she stared at me “My home, to make it brief” I chuckled “I love you Daddy,” she mumbled, nuzzling into me “Regardless of what you might be…” -=- The next day, I sat on an ornately crafted bench in the theatre as my friends and the princesses sat in the audience “The burning desire to live and roam free, It shines in the dark And it grows within me You're holding my hand but you don't understand So where I am going you won't be in the end. Im dreaming in colours Of getting the chance Of dreaming of trying the perfect romance The search of the door, to open your mind In search of the cure of mankind Help us we're drowning So close up inside Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? How will the lights die down, telling us who we are? I'm searching for answers Not given for free you’re hurting inside Is there life within me? You're holding my hand but you don't understand So you're taking the road all alone in the end Im dreaming in colours, no boundaries are there Im dreaming the dream we all seem to share In search of the door, to open your mind In search of the cure of mankind Well help us we're drowning So close up inside Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Why does it rain, rain, rain, down on Utopia? And when the lights die down, telling us who we are Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Oh, why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Now when the lights die down, telling us who we are Why does it rain?” I sang with Blaze in another duet whilst playing the guitar that’d been made for me, standing upright and bowing, the audience burst into applause and cheering as I walked backstage with Snowdrop and Blaze, the former on the back of my head, the latter on my shoulder “That was amazing!” Octavia cheered alongside Vinyl as we stood in the main hall not an hour later “That was me doing a guitar duet with Blaze” I smirked “It’s like you were born sing do that song!” she glimmered “although I thought you couldn’t play any instruments” “Not the ones they use in an actual orchestra, unless they actually use guitars in the orchestra here” I laughed “They don’t, which is for the better I suppose seeing as how you’d shine above the rest of them” she giggled “Too right” Snowdrop whispered “Next time I’ll sing a different song” I winked “I’m sure you will, Celestia trotted toward me alongside Luna, Twilight her friends and the lizard, the latter of which was on Twilight’s back “I’m surprised, how did, you bring Snowdrop back?” “He sang” Snowdrop nickered “Oh,” Celestia raised an eyebrow “And how did that happen?” “Heck if we know” Blaze and I murmured “Daddy,” Snowdrop smiled rather faintly, I’m hungry” Celestia levitated a muffin toward me, I passed it to Snowdrop “thank you Daddy” “And you think you’re ready for that role, Tesla?” Celestia “Blaze, if you would” I smiled “Mayonaka Nikkō Ryū” Blaze chanted “What in tha hay does that mean?” Applejack blinked “Dragon of the midnight sun” I winked “I’d be honoured “to fight for you, princess” “And I’d be honoured to have you as our knight, Sir Tesla” Celestia smiled, magicking a gem out of nowhere “Here, this gem is enchanted to give it’s user unlimited magical power for what’s been tested to last forever” I took the gem as she handed it to me, eating it fairly quickly, feeling a sudden burst of magical energy radiate from within me, scales appearing on my face, arms and hands “So, permanent ‘Dragon Force’ then?” Blaze smirked “Seems so” I sighed “Are those scales?” Vinyl gasped “I’m a dragon slayer, if given enough of my element to sustain my magicka levels I enter what’s call ‘Dragon Force,’ the final, ultimate form of dragon slayer magic, said to be equivalent in power to that of an actual dragon, the power to utterly destroy everything,” I explained not that I’m going to” “But of course” she said as sultrily as she could “And I suppose you’d like help fitting your armour, Sir Tesla?” “Armour?” I chuckled “Don’t need, it, and besides, it’d have to be especially designed as such, I gestured to my twin sets of wings “And besides, I’m a mage, not a warrior” “They magic is thy blade and thy scales are thy armour” Luna raised an eyebrow “Thank you” I sighed “Thou art most welcome, Sir Tesla” she smiled “Dragon knight of the midnight sun” Blaze simpered ”Mayonaka Nikkō Ryū Kishi” I sighed “you’d think they’d change it a little” “I know, right?” Blaze grinned -=-=-=- the knighting ceremony, was fun enough “Tesla, come forth,” Luna called I marched forward, my armoured feet making loud thumps even on the carpeted floor. “Kneel” I went down on one knee “Tesla, do you swear to serve us, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, in all we say and command?” Celestia smiled “I swear to serve you, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, in all you say and command” I deadpanned “Do you swear to defend Equestria against all enemies from without and within?” she continued “I swear to defend Equestria against all enemies from without and within” I nodded “Do thou swear to come when needed to assist us in whatever we may require?” Luna glimmered; her sister shot her an odd look “I swear to come to you when needed to assist you however you may require” An odd thing to add. Her horn glowed brightly and came down to my shoulder at once as did Celestia’s on my other shoulder I felt a searing pain as two extra appendages sprung forth from my back and my canines extended into fangs as my eyes burned with the heat of a thousand suns going nova “Daddy,” Snowdrop leapt forth, clinging onto my as I coughed blood, wiping my mouth as I fell on my backside “I’m Ok, angel, don’t worry about me” I smiled “Your teeth, your wings, and your eyes, you…!” she gasped, clinging onto me “I love you Daddy” “I’m fine Snowy, don’t worry about me, it’s you I’m worried about” I stroked her mane “I love you too Snowdrop, don’t let anyone tell you any differently Ok?” “Ok” she gleamed; beaming up at me “your eyes are like a cat’s Daddy” she giggled “and your new wings are like that of an angel” I eventually managed to stretch my new wings, getting a decent look at them, the feathers of gold, silver and crimson blazing in the sunlight filtering through the windows “This should be interesting” I chuckled “So it should “Blaze quickly bounded forward climbing up my back and perching herself atop my head, staring down at me “Smile” I opened my mouth in a weak smile “Bloody hell, look at them gnashers, and the eyes too, you’re like a demon-angel, a Nephilim!” “A what,” Luna blinked “What is this ‘Nephilim’ thou speakest of?” “It’s a hybrid between and angel and a demon, they’re also said to be the sons of god in Abrahamic religions” I explained “I see” Celestia smiled “You’ve the voice and wings of a crimson angel, the eyes and fangs of a demon-based creature and the power of a dragon” Blaze chuckled “you’re a ‘thing’” “That I am” I nodded, staggering to my, feet Snowdrop perched herself on the back of my head and Blaze sitting on my shoulder as I did so “And you’re a little fire hazard” “Oh am I now?” she laughed “At east those fangs will give you an edge on that meat we’ve stashed away” “We already ate it remember?” I facepalmed “Did we?” she folded her paws “I don’t recall such an event happening, Tesla” “We did” I nodded, walking with the crowd and the princesses out of the throne room, and into the main hall “And it was with Vinyl, if you’d just remember” “So it was” She slowly nodded “I suppose you can find another one, right?” -=-=- As I sat atop the large pile of gems in another dragon’s lair atop another mountain, I bit into the meat that I’d especially cooked “Happy late Birthday” Blaze held up a thin slice of meat “Are you sure you’re Ok with this Snowdrop?” “I can manage” Snowdrop looked a little pale “I won’t do anything you don’t want me to” I sighed “I’ve been through worse” she faintly smiled “I see” I slowly nodded as Blaze gorged herself on the roasted dragon carcass “just let me know if there’s something bothering you” “Ok” she nodded as something behind her let out a yip “Hello” I smiled as a young, Snow-white wolf plodded toward me, sitting ion it’s haunches, as it stared at the meat I had in my hands “Here” I smiled, the wolf let out a yip, almost smiling as it devoured the meat, fervently licking it’s lips as I cut out another piece, devouring said piece also “You’re a hungry pup aren’t ya?” Blaze chuckled, the wolf let out an affirmative bark, wagging its tail as it sat beside me, nuzzling into me “Think I’ll call you… Ryōshi” I smiled, patting the wolf on the head, gleaming as it licked my hand like a sweet, pulling it away “Do you like that name?” the wolf barked “Ryōshi it is then, or Just Rio, are you a boy or a girl, one bark for the former, two for the latter” Ryōshi barked, twice “Now that that’s settled, how about coming with me?” she barked again, now definitely smiling as her tail wagged at record-breaking speeds -=- “Why do you have a wolf following you, not that I’m complaining?” Twilight sighed as I walked into town “I found her up in the mountains” I bit my lip “Have you been hunting again?” I shrugged “Really Tesla, the dragon kingdom finds out about this you could be executed” Ryōshi growled “so, what’s its name?” “Ryōshi, Japanese for ‘hunter’” I smiled “Of course” Twilight sighed “it’s in a wolf’s nature to hunt, what I want to know is what it was doing on its own” Ryōshi let off as series of yips and light barks “You were thrown out as the runt of the pack?” I blinked, crouching down, Ryōshi let out a saddening *yip* “Damn” “You understood that?” Twilight gasped “I had a few jobs handed to me by the RSPCA” I shrugged “What’s that?” she smiled “The Royal Society Protection against Cruelty to Animals” I sighed “And you worked with them for a bit?” Rarity eyed Ryōshi up and down “I daresay we’ve another Fluttershy on our hands” “Beg pardon?” I raised an eyebrow “Fluttershy can communicate with animals, and runs her own sort of sanctuary” Twilight simpered, Ryōshi and I shared a glance with blaze, the three of us suddenly bursting into laughter “Must you be so rude?” Rarity scoffed “Do you know what a Lynx is?” I rebuked, she shook her head “basically a wild cat about an inch or two shorter than you, and with almost sabre like teeth” “And you had a run-in with one of them?” Twilight frowned “Nope” Blaze grinned “Tesla here acted as a secondary vet, saved the darn things life” “That’s nothing short of amazing” Twilight hummed “How’d you do it?” “Secondary, not primary, I only helped” I chuckled “And yet you did it anyway” she raised an eyebrow, Ryōshi let out a delighted yip as I crouched down to her level, scratching her behind the ears, which she leant into “You’ve found a weak point, it seems” Celestia appeared via teleportation beside Twilight “Nah, I just know where to scratch” I moved my hand to around Ryōshi’s chin, she collapsed to the ground “Given a little time, you could be seen as the Alpha” Twilight “You don’t mean” I glanced toward Ryōshi, who let out a hum of apparent satisfaction “It could happen, and where’d you learn where to scratch?” she smirked “The Wareham forestry Commission had a dog, an Alsatian aptly named Willow” “That’s nice” she smiled again “Is it?” Blaze smirked “the same type of dog that lives with the forestry commission is the same type of dog that’s used by both police and military on Tesla’s home-world” “No..!” Rarity gaped, I nodded “They’re used as sniffer dogs to find illegal substances and as gundogs to scout ahead for any hostiles, even pincer movements, and they carry around camera so that the owner can see what they see” I explained “they’ve even used them in search-and-rescue operations for their keens senses, who’s to say Ryōshi here can’t do the same?” the wolf let out an excited *yip* “It wouldn’t be a first; we’ve done a similar sort of things for years now” Celestia glanced down at the snow-white wolf sat by my side, Ryōshi tilted her head “perhaps she could be of used to you, Tesla” “There’s only one problem” Blaze sighed “how the hell are you gonna stop her from following you into the theatre?” “Or from howling along with me when I sing” I laughed “It could happen” Celestia chuckled “Ok, Test song” Blaze” “I don't want this moment to ever end, Where everything's nothing without you. I'd wait here forever just to, to see you smile, 'Cause it's true, I am nothing without you. Through it all, I've made my mistakes. I stumble and fall, but I mean these words. I want you to know, With everything I won't let this go. These words are my heart and soul. I'll hold on to this moment, you know, As I bleed my heart out to show, And I won't let go. Thoughts read, unspoken, forever in vow, And pieces of memories fall to the ground. I know what I didn't have, so I won't let this go, 'Cause it's true, I am nothing without you. All the streets, where I walked alone, With nowhere to go, have come to an end. I want you to know, With everything I won't let this go. These words are my heart and soul. I'll hold on to this moment, you know, As I bleed my heart out to show, And I won't let go. In front of your eyes, it falls from the skies, When you don't know what you're looking to find. In front of your eyes, it falls from the skies, When you just never know what you will find. I don't want this moment to ever end Where everything's nothing without you. I want you to know, With everything I won't let this go. These words are my heart and soul. I'll hold on to this moment, you know, As I bleed my heart out to show, And I won't let go. I want you to know, With everything I won't let this go. These words are my heart and soul. I'll hold on to this moment, you know, As I bleed my heart out to show, And I won't let go” I finished the song, glancing at Ryōshi, who’d apparently fallen asleep “I don’t know what to say” I tilted my head as the pristine wolf yawned, stretching herself as she awoke “Isn’t that the song you did for Luna?” Blaze grinned “So it is” I nodded, Ryōshi smiled, giving my cheek a light lick, sniffing my jacket before tilting her head at me, licking her lips “I haven’t got any more on me Rio, sorry” her nose twitched as her tail started wagging, and with that she walked toward the previous dragon carcass, sitting facing me once we got there “Or, maybe I do, go ahead Rio” she grinned, turning and lunging at the somewhat fresh kill, tearing chucks out and devouring them “This is how wolves eat?” Twilight shuddered “it’s both curious and somewhat sickening” “They don’t exactly use cutlery Twi” Applejack chided “them wolves are feral beasts, nasty critters” Ryōshi let out a low growl “And yet for a feral beast she seems awfully capable of understanding the difference between a compliment and an insult” I smirked “Alright, but Ah still say the others are just the same” Ryōshi let out a slight *yip* “It seems she agrees with you” I chuckled again “And besides we’ve all got a little animal in us, who’s to say she’s an animal who found a little ‘angel’ on the inside?” “That’s rather poetic” Celestia smiled “It’s a possibility” I shrugged as Ryōshi dropped a large steak of meat at my feet, sat on her haunches, I sat cross-legged before her, heating the slab of meat with dragon-fire before eating it “It seems Twilight’s hypothesis on you being the alpha wasn’t wrong” Celestia chuckled “Am I the Alpha?” I chuckled toward Ryōshi, who let out a light bark, lying in front of me, placing her head on a foreleg as I ate “I think that’s a yes” Snowdrop giggled “As do I,” Blaze grinned, “Tesla the Alpha-wolf” “You’d have to be barking mad to consider it” I gleamed “Paws for thought eh, Tesla?” she laughed “You’re bark’s worse than your bite” I smirked “Is it?” she raised an eyebrow “Here’s another question, how’re you going to get her to Canterlot and back?” “Shite” I cursed “hadn’t thought of that, unless you allow wolves on your railway systems?” “We might have to make an exception” Celestia nodded “Fair enough” I chuckled, again, finishing off the slab of meat that Ryōshi had given me “thanks girl” Ryōshi let out a rather cute *yip* “I think that means ‘You’re welcome’” Blaze laughed “So it does” I smiled -=- As Spike, Rarity and I wandered through the area to the southeast of Ponyville not a month later, Blaze sat on my shoulder, Snowdrop perched on the back of my head, and Ryōshi walked with me “So why’re we out here again?” Spike shot Blaze a glare “We’re collecting gems to use for my dresses, and a special surprised for you, Tesla” Rarity chimed as Spike pulled a small red wagon “Thanks, but I can already smell the gems from here” I smiled, throwing a tennis ball that Twilight had bought for me, the ball landed in a soft mound of earth, which was kicked up as Ryōshi caught the ball “Now dig, girl” and dig she did, using her claws as shovels, revealing a small pile of gems “And return” she bounded back to my side, I threw the ball again, which bounded a bit before rolling to a stop, Ryōshi chased after it “back a bit” I gestured for her to come closer to me, she did, walking toward me “stop” she stopped “dig” she dug another small hole, revealing another pile of gems “How is it that you can smell them?” Rarity blinked as spike collected the gems, placing them in the wagon “As a dragon slayer, I have enhanced senses, such as scent and hearing, like the ability to hear someone over there talking to himself” there was a rustling of leaves as a misshapen dog-thing fell out of a nearby tree, wearing a red jacket with a collar around its neck, said collar had a diamond shaped topaz hanging by a small metal ring “How you find me?” the being gaped, staring at me in horror, Ryōshi let out a threatening growl toward the creature “I can hear you,” I smirked “and smell you” I covered my nose “you could use a bath” the creature quickly dug a hole under ground “What was that?” Spike blinked “Whatever it was, it’s probably not happy that we’re hunting for gems” I frowned “Spike, hang on to that wagon, Ryōshi, lay low” Ryōshi dipped her head in preparation as I bought a clenched fist down on the ground, causing a grade six-point-eight on the Richter scale, grinning as the earth shook as the misshapen dog re-emerged from underground by the tree along with two others, one small and pale brown, one large and a mild grey colour “What you want?” the medium-sized creature growled, Ryōshi snarled back “What’re you doing spying on us?” I snapped “We keep post, these are our mines” he scowled “you see those mountains, I pointed westward “in the caves at the peaks of those hills lies masses of gems, if that’s what you want, go there, if not, they’re ours” “We don’t dig upward, but we’d like them anyway” he grinned “And in exchange,” Blaze folded her arms “what do we get for helping you?” “You say there are two, yes?” I nodded “then you keep one” “Why don’t you just dig to the base and climb the rest of the way up?” Snowdrop offered “Ok” the creature shrugged, tunnelling underground “Dumbasses” I tutted “there’s probably another dragon in those caves by now” “Their loss” Snowdrop shrugged “Amen” I nodded “have we got enough gems?” “We should do, if not we can just return for more” Rarity smiled, taking the lead with Spike as we wandered back to ponyville “You had a run-in with Diamond dogs?” Twilight chuckled as Spike, Ryōshi, Blaze, Snowdrop and I sat in the library alongside Twilight’s friends “Diamond dog, like the album?” Blaze chortled “I don’t get it?” Spike shrugged as Twilight glanced at the lizard “There was a music artist called David Bowie who released an album called ‘Diamond Dogs’” I explained “I see” she giggled as I glanced toward Spike “So, what are you?” I tilted my head “I’m a dragon” Spike smirked “Albeit, a baby dragon” Twilight nickered “I’m not that young!” Spike retorted “In pony years” she raised an eyebrow “I’m technically an infant” I shrugged “I know how you feel, mate, I’ve got another billion years ahead of me, give our take eighty or ninety years” “So, what’s that in human years compared to eon years” Rarity smiled “your age I mean?” “Just under a year in eon years, eighty in human years” “How is that possible?” Twilight’s eye twitched “Biology” I shrugged “Tell me, EVERYTHING!” she demanded, magicking up a pen and notepad =--=-=-=--= “Tesla, you’re next event’s tomorrow” the cyan mare from the orchestra smiled as I stood in the theatre with my new ‘family’ “What’s with the wolf?” “She’s my friend, say hi Ryōshi” I smiled, Ryōshi let out a light yip “She’s beautiful, for a wolf” she hummed “I never got your name” I smiled back “Beauty Brass” she winked, walking out of the theatre “be ready for tomorrow!” “That I will” I nodded -=- When tomorrow came, and I stood with my family on the stage, there were several series’ of mutterings being passed from pony-to-pony, all of them about Ryōshi, I cleared my throat, they stopped, all facing me “This time, I wonder what it feels like To find the one in this life, the one we all dream of But dreams just aren't enough So I'll be waiting for the real thing, I'll know it by the feeling The moment when we're meeting, will play out like a scene Straight off the silver screen So I'll be holding my breath, right up 'til the end Until that moment when, I find the one that I'll spend forever with Cause nobody wants to be the last one there Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares Someone to love with my life in their hands There's gotta be somebody for me like that Cause nobody wants to do it on their own And everyone wants to know they're not alone There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere There's gotta be somebody for me out there Tonight, out on the street, out in the moonlight And dammit this feels too right, it's just like de ja vu Me standing here with you So I'll be holding my breath, could this be the end? Is it that moment when, I find the one that I'll spend forever with Cause nobody wants to be the last one there Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares Someone to love with my life in their hands There's gotta be somebody for me like that Cause nobody wants to do it on their own And everyone wants to know they're not alone There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere There's gotta be somebody for me out there You can't give up, (when you're looking for) a diamond in the rough (cause you never know) When it shows up, (make sure you're holding on) Cause it could be the one, the one you're waiting on Cause nobody wants to be the last one there And everyone wants to feel like someone cares Someone to love with my life in their hands There's gotta be somebody for me, oh Nobody wants to go it on their own And everyone wants to know they're not alone There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere There's gotta be somebody for me out there Nobody wants to be the last one there Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere There's gotta be somebody for me out there” I sang, with blaze singing the background vocals “I'm so high. I can hear heaven. I'm so high. I can hear heaven. Oh but heaven, no heaven don’t hear me. And they say that a hero could save us. I’m not gonna stand here and wait. I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles. Watch as we all fly away. Someone told me that love would all save us. But how can that be, look what love gave us. A world full of killing, n' blood-spilling that world never came. And they say that a hero could save us. I’m not gonna stand here and wait. I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles. Watch as we all fly away. hi-igh-igh! Now that the world isn't ending, it's love that I’m sending to you. It isn’t the love of a hero, and that’s why I fear it won’t do. And they say that a hero could save us. I’m not gonna stand here and wait. I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles. Watch as we all fly away. And they're watching us (Watching Us) They're watching us (Watching Us) as we all fly away. And they're watching us (Watching us) They're watching us (Watching us) As we all fly away, (Yeah) Yeah. And they're watching us (Watching us) They're watching us (Watching us) As we all fly away (Yeah, yeah. Whoa-oh)” I sang, Blaze once again doing the background vocals “How the hell did we wind up like this? Why weren't we able, to see the signs that we missed And try turn the tables I wish you'd unclench your fists, and unpack your suitcase Lately there's been too much of this But don't think it's too late Nothing's wrong, just as long as You know that someday I will Someday, somehow I'm gonna make it all right but not right now I know you're wondering when (You're the only one who knows that) Someday, somehow I'm gonna make it all right but not right now I know you're wondering when Well I'd hope that since we're here anyway That we could end up saying Things we've always needed to say So we could end up staying Now the story's played out like this Just like a paperback novel Let's rewrite an ending that fits Instead of a Hollywood horror Nothing's wrong, just as long as You know that someday I will Someday, somehow I'm gonna make it all right but not right now I know you're wondering when (You're the only one who knows that) Someday, somehow I'm gonna make it all right but not right now I know you're wondering when (You're the only one who knows that) How the hell did we wind up like this? Why weren't we able, to see the signs that we missed And try to turn the tables Now the story's played out like this Just like a paperback novel Let's rewrite an ending that fits Instead of a Hollywood horror Nothing's wrong, just as long as You know that someday I will Someday, somehow I'm gonna make it all right but not right now I know you're wondering when (You're the only one who knows that) Someday, somehow I'm gonna make it all right but not right now I know you're wondering when (You're the only one who knows that) I know you're wondering when (You're the only one who knows that) I know you're wondering when “I finished the song, Blaze doing the background vocals for a third time running as the crowd burst into applause and cheering, relinquishing the stage for the rest of the orchestra “That was amazing Daddy!” Snowdrop cheered “Glad you think so angel” I sighed as Ryōshi did her business under a tree behind a bush in the gardens “I know so” she giggled “No guitar this time?” Blaze laughed “Not this time” I sighed as Ryōshi returned to being by my side “maybe next time, right Ryōshi?” the wolf let out a gleeful *yip* “I was half expecting her to take a crap right in front of you in the theatre” Blaze smirked “Nah, I’ve trained her well” I smiled “So you have” Vinyl appeared beside me alongside Octavia “What’s her name?” “Ryōshi, which translates simply as ‘Hunter’ in Japanese” “You mean neighponese?” she laughed “Call it a similarity between our worlds” I smiled “So it is” Octavia eyed Ryōshi up and down “she’s a rather elegant being, for a wolf where’d you find her?” “Somewhere in the mountain range, alone” Blaze sighed “She the runt huh,” Vinyl raised an eyebrow “Unfortunately, I met her after I’d ‘incapacitated’ shall we say, another dragon “You didn’t” Octavia went a little pale “She had her fill, and I had mine, that’s all I care about” I shrugged “You roguish bastard,” Vinyl chortled “you did it again didn’t you?” “Celestia herself said she’s alright with it so long as we keep our ‘limits’ set” I winked “She mentioned me?” she gasped “No, but I’m sure I can come to a compromise” I grinned “This is awesome” Vinyl drooled as she, Snowdrop, Ryōshi, Blaze and I sat around the dragon-flame-grilled dragon carcass juts on the edges of the everfree forest, eating away at it, save Snowdrop “May I try a bit, Daddy?” Snowdrop stepped forward “If you want” I sighed, handing her a small piece of meat, which she ate, a curious expression on her muzzle at first, which turned into a look of sheer delight afterward “This’s amazing!” she chimed “Told you so” Blaze smirked, I shot her an odd look “what?” “You’re too assertive, Blaze” “And your too unassertive” she grinned as my ears twitched “You hear that?” I raised a hand, dropping what I was doing and standing upright, Ryōshi’s nose rapidly twitching as she ran off along the edge of the forest, eventually letting out a faint bark as I ran after her with Snowdrop and Blaze at me heels When we caught up with Ryōshi, there was a brownish-grey unicorn with a chocolate brown mane and tail lying there, quivering in fear Being as careful as I could, I crouched down to the pony, that of whom was covered in bruises and cuts “It’s alright; I’m not going to harm you” I cooed, placing a gentle hand on the pony’s side, she flinched, but eventually relaxed as I gently stroked her fur, lifting her head, snapping her eyes shut as they came into contact with mine “It’s alright, I won’t hurt you, Mage’s honour” “You mean that..?” she sniffled, tears streaming down her cheeks as she opened on eye, then the other “I don’t harm those who don’t ask for it” I nodded “do you have a name?” “Littlepip” she gulped audibly “Where are you from?” I smiled, weakly “Las Pegasus” she croaked “Blaze, get Twilight, stat” I glanced at the Quilava sat beside me “Roger that!” Blaze saluted toward me, bounding off toward Ponyville “She can talk?” Littlepip giggled softly “that’s strange “That’s my sister” I chuckled “she’s as strange as they get around her, almost” “You look nothing alike” she smiled “We get that a lot,” I sighed “her parents were killed by poachers “I’m sorry to hear that” she blinked “your eyes are funny” “Being knighted will have that effect, especially if it’s from both princesses simultaneously” Snowdrop nickered “You’re her knight?” Littlepip stared at me, raising an eyebrow “you’ve also got fangs “I don’t bite, unless it’s on my food” I smiled “You’re actually kind of cute” she laughed “That’s twice I’ve heard that since I came here not even a month ago” I rolled my eyes “Tesla?” I glanced behind me, Twilight, her friends and Celestia with Blaze as my sister bounded up beside me “Blaze says you found something “That’d be me” Littlepip mumbled “Where’d you come from?” Twilight gasped “Las Pegasus” Littlepip bit her lip “and I don’t want to go back” “Why not, I’d of thought it to be luxurious” Rarity blinked “That’s upper-Las Pegasus” Littlepip sighed “it’s not important” “It is if it involves one of my subjects” Celestia raised an eyebrow “I’m sorry; I just don’t know who to talk to about it” Littlepip exhaled sharply “Try talking to me about it” I smiled “What?” she blinked “Just try, see if it works” “Alright” she shrugged “It all started when I was a filly, since my dad died, my mom’s been taking care of me, well, she used to, before she went elsewhere, said I wasn’t important enough, threw me into an orphanage, I was both angry and heartbroken at that, and when they’d had enough they kicked me out, I had to steal and beg just to get any food, drink or sleep, and that’s not even the least of it” “What do you-?” she glanced toward her flank, were dried bloodstains were showing on her rump “That’s…” I shook my head “That’s unbelievable!” Blaze growled, not at me but at the story Littlepip had shocked us with “You had to do that, just to get by?” my eye twitched, I shook my head “come on” I held out a hand “What’re you doing?” Littlepip sat on her haunches, flinching as she did so “Getting you out of here” I smiled “But, what, about you?” Celestia blinked” “Being a knight means I protect, and serve,” I simpered “it means that I do what I feel is right,, and that’s what I’m going to do,” I turned to face Littlepip “come on, let’s go” “Alright then” Littlepip shrugged, collapsing as soon as she tried to walk “Here,” I changed to my eon form “climb on” “What?” she blinked “Climb on, I can carry you” I glanced back toward her “If you want me to” she sighed again, climbing on, gently wrapping her hooves around my neck as Snowdrop perched herself on my head, and Blaze on my neck “And where are we going to get this money to pay for her from?” Blaze pointed out “When do I get paid?” I blinked “Tomorrow, if my estimates are correct. Which they usually are,” Blaze smirked “but first we need to get to the hospital” “That we do” I nodded, gliding toward said hospital -=- When we got to the hospital, a snow-white pony with a light pink mane and tail walked up to me in a nurse outfit “What’s the nature of your emergency?” the pony smiled, I turned around “oh, come right this way, I’ll have somepony look at her right away!” I followed her into a vacant room, setting her down on the bed as Blaze climbed down my back and onto the floor “Thank you…?” Littlepip raised an eyebrow as I reverted to human form “Tesla” I held out a hand, which she shook “Thank you, Tesla” she smiled “I owe you my life” “You owe me nothing” I chuckled “But I do” she retorted with a slight frown, and an also slight tint of anger in her voice “I told you everything and you still act as if it didn’t happen, so to speak, who are you exactly?” “An eon, a human, and a dragon slayer” I shrugged “You can kill dragons?” she nodded toward me “for real?” “I can easily bring an equestrian dragon flat on its backside” I tutted “An ‘equestrian’ dragon, Tesla,” Twilight frowned “With all do respect, it’s just that the ones from Earth and Earthland tend to be more, you know, draconic, killer, ferocious, intimidating, not some massive thirty-to-fifty-foot hulking wings gecko” “Spikes not a gecko!” she snapped “And he’s not exactly Igneel either” I rolled my eyes, again “Who,” she blinked “Fifty-feet-long fire-dragon king” I laughed “he’d easily beat all the dragons on Equis and get out relatively unscathed, from what I’ve seen so far” “I’d hate to meet him then” Littlepip nickered “He’s harmless unless you annoy him” I smiled “it’s just the booming voice you have to get by, other than that unless provoked, he won’t do anything to harm or bring harm to anyone” “He doesn’t sound that bad” Rainbow Dash scoffed “That depends on the perspective” I tilted my head ever-so-slightly “So it does” Celestia smiled =-=-= Once Littlepip was out of hospital, I headed to canterlot, once there, I stood in the theatre “Tesla,” Beauty Brass handed me a questionably large bag that clinked with its content when she passed it to me “Here’s your pay for your work, and a little extra in it for the effort” she winked, walking from the castle toward the city, stopping and glancing back toward me “next event is tonight at nine, Ok?” “Ok” I nodded “What do you do here in Canterlot?” Littlepip blinked “Tesla’s a solo singer for the orchestra” Blaze smirked “Oh,” Littlepip blinked, glancing up at me “I’d heard of a new member, I’d never of thought it’d be you, Tesla” “Surprise” I clicked my tongue as a familiar eon glided toward me “I was wondering where you were, Tesla” Crystal grinned, glancing at the bag “what’s in there “My pay for being a part of the orchestra” I gleamed “You do music now?” she laughed “No, he sings” Snowdrop giggled “And who might you be?” Crystal blinked “Snowdrop she held out a hoof, which Crystal shook “Crystal,” Crystal raised an eyebrow toward me “magic?” “Magic” I nodded “So, you sing now?” “Look who’s talking” I stifled a laugh “Oh the irony” she sighed, gazing toward Littlepip, glancing back at me “who’s she?” “I’m Littlepip” Littlepip smiled “And you’re Tesla’s marefriend?” “We’re married, but it’s an open relationship” Crystal winked “Ah, Ok” Littlepip slowly nodded -=-=- “ Here I am This is me There's nowhere else on earth I'd rather be Here I am It's just me and you Tonight we make our dreams come true It's a new world It's a new start It's alive with the beating of young hearts It's a new day It's a new plan I've been waiting for you Here I am Here we are We've just begun And after all this time Our time has come Yeah here we are Still goin' strong Right here in the place where we belong Oh it's a new world It's a new start It's alive with the beating of young hearts It's a new day And a new plan I've been waiting for you Here I am Here I am Yeah Here I am This is me There's nowhere else on earth I'd rather be Here I am It's just me and you Tonight we make our dreams come true Oh it's a new world It's a new start It's alive with the beating of young hearts It's a new day It's a new plan I've been waiting for you Oh it's a new world It's a new start It's alive with the beating of young hearts It's a new day It's a new plan I've been waiting for you (Waiting, waiting waiting) Here I am Here I am Right next to you Suddenly the world is all brand new Here I am Here I am Where I'm gonna stay Now there's nothin' standing in our way Here I am This is me” I finished the song with Blaze on my shoulder and Snowdrop perched upon the back of my head and Littlepip by my side and Ryōshi sat opposite her as I sat on the bench with a guitar in my lap “And another,” Blaze whispered “Blaze, sound the bugle” I mumbled “Sound the bugle now - play it just for me As the seasons change - remember how I used to be Now I can't go on - I can't even start I've got nothing left - just an empty heart I'm a soldier - wounded so I must give up the fight There's nothing more for me - lead me away... Or leave me lying here Sound the bugle now - tell them I don't care There's not a road I know - that leads to anywhere Without a light I fear that I will - stumble in the dark Lay right down - decide not to go on Then from on high - somewhere in the distance There's a voice that calls - remember who your are If you lose yourself - your courage soon will follow So be strong tonight - remember who you are Ya you're a soldier now - fighting in a battle To be free once more -Ya that's worth fighting for” I finished the second song forming a duet with Blaze “You can´t take me! Yeah Got to fight another fight, I gotta run another night Get it out, check it out I'm on my way and I don't feel right I gotta get me back I can't be beat and that's a fact It's OK, I'll find a way You ain't gonna take me down no way Don't judge a thing until you know what's inside it Don't push me, I'll fight it Never gonna give in, never gonna give it up no If you can't catch a wave then you're never gonna ride it You can't come uninvited Never gonna give in, never gonna give it up no You can't take me I'm free Why did it all go wrong? I wanna know what's going on And what's this holding me? I'm not where I supposed to be I gotta fight another fight I gotta fight with all my might I'm getting out, so check it out You're in my way Yeah, you better watch out Ooh Come on Don't judge a thing, until you know what's inside it Don't push me, I'll fight it Never gonna give in, never gonna give it up no If you can't catch a wave then you're never gonna ride it You can't come uninvited Never gonna give in, never gonna give it up no You can't take me I'm free Oh Yeah I'm Free” I finished my third song as ponies started cheering and applauding me as I bowed, placing the guitar on the bench “Another job well done” Beauty Brass shook my hand as I stood with my family and Littlepip in the main hall “I try my best ma’am” I smiled “Just call me Brass” she nickered, trotting off toward the theatre “Well I’ll be damned…” chapter III love?The following day I awoke from my place under a tree in the gardens, standing upright, I clicked multiple parts of my skeleton “Good morning Tesla” Littlepip wearily stood upright on all four hooves, blinking as she did so, Snowdrop perching herself on my head, as per the usual, Blaze also sat on my shoulder “What’s for breakfast?” “Pancakes, with any luck” I drooled over the thought of having a proper breakfast, the previous meals I’d had in the castle not counting for personal reasons, if any at all “Looks like I was right” I smiled toward Littlepip as she sat beside, Ryōshi sat on the floor between us “So you were, brother, so you were, pass me the syrup” Blaze grinned “I know what you’re going to do, sister” I grumbled “It’ll be fun” she winked “Says you” I mumbled “I do say so” she smirked -=- As I wandered through the aptly named ‘everfree forest,’ I started whistling the tine to Owl City’s ‘Fireflies’ “So, what’re we doing?” Blaze sat on my shoulder “Exploring” I smiled “In this place, really,” she sighed “are you sure that’s wise?” “I only know that someone has to do it, map the area out, as it were” I shrugged, wandering into a cave, Ryōshi following is in, Snowdrop trotting along at her side “What in the heck is that?” she pointed at a rather odd-looking tree of sorts, with five main branches, each one with a stony orb at the end of them with even odder indents, each shaped like a lightning bolt, apple, diamond, balloon, butterfly respectively, with a six-pointed star indent in the middle of the tree “I’ve no idea, but I can’t help but feel like I’ve seen it somewhere before” I tilted my head ever-so slightly “And now you’re hallucinating, great” she laughed as I changed to eon form, my chest symbol pulsating with a prismatic glow as I neared the tree Suddenly six beams of energy shot out of me, each one aimed at one of the indents, triggering a blinding flash of light When I could see again, I was lying on a bed in a dust-ridden castle “You’re awake, that is good” Nyx teleported beside the bed as I sat upright, having been reverted to my human form, Celestia, Luna, Twilight, her friends, Spike, who was on Twilight’s back, Ryōshi, Snowdrop and Blaze crowded around me alongside Littlepip, Blaze and Snowdrop leaping beside me on the bed What happened?” I blinked “You’ve ascended, just like that of the previous eons” Nyx gleamed “Ascended?” I blinked again “I’m not sure that that’s even possible” “It’s possible” Celestia hummed “Tesla I realize that there’s a few things I haven’t told you” “Do tell” I sighed, shaking my head “There wasn’t just one human here, there were many, each independent and completely reliant on him or herself, until one day, they stumbled across something that could’ve bought about the end of Equestria, and the world” Celestia exclaimed “they found darkness; a being of pure hatred an malice, frozen in time by a spell, which they triggered, which brought about the greatest war Equis has ever known” “Sounds like the forerunners, but please, go on” I nodded “At first it seemed like the humans ability to work together to reach a common goal, united under a single banner, might work, but then setback after setback, and then they fell, nation by nation, country by country, that’s when they thought of you; the eons, and so they began to work, trying to find a failsafe for the shadow creatures, it took many a day and night of blood, sweat and work, but they got there eventually, creating an antibody that would fight against the darkness, and, eventually, rid the world of it, but they did so at a cost, themselves, for you see, they, along with us, won the war, but at a cost, for each eon held an element; the power of which was so potent, so lethal, that it killed them as soon as it was activated, the elements in overall may have worked to stop the oncoming storm, but there was a much bigger, more evil threat, one who’s name we do not speak under any circumstances, who transported the eons to your world, Earth, ridding them of either their eon abilities, or their memory of the sub-species, we barely managed to defeat the nameless one, but it cost us one of our own, one sapphire storm, I’m sure you can take it from there” Celestia lectured “I see” I frowned “and you expect me to believe that, logical and true as it may be?” “I don’t expect you to believe it, but please, at least give us a chance” Celestia pleaded “I don’t know” I hummed “give me time to think about it, and then I’ll see whether or not we’ll go on with it” “So, what happened to the weird tree thing?” I tilted my head Celestia sighed “Only one who bears an element can activate it like you did and on that level,” Celestia bit her lip “you’re an Element bearer” “Tesla,” Twilight gasped “YOU’RE an element!?” “Apparently so” I nodded “But an element of nature” Celestia began, looking a bit shocked “I thought those had died out millennia ago” “Is there something ya know, Princess?” Applejack smiled “Long ago, long before Nightmare Moon, there were six other elements, the elements of nature, these, along with nature itself, were the most powerful weapons in equestria, even more so than the elements of harmony, to think that Tesla could be one is…. Extraordinary” Celestia smiled widely “the elements of nature have been used only twice before, both times they had to sacrifice one of their own to do so the price for their power is so high” “Daddy’s going to DIE if he uses his element?” Snowdrop lunged at me, crying into my shirt “please don’t die daddy!” “I won’t, don’t worry about it, my little snowflake” I smiled, weakly “Promise me!” she cried “Promise me that you won’t die!” “I promise not to die, in fact, I’ll pinkie promise not to” I grinned following through, performing the necessary action for a pinkie promise, four times, having learnt said actions from Pinkie Pie “Thank you Daddy,” she cheered, gripping me as tightly as I could “I love you…” “I love you too, Snowy, I love you too” I hugged her back “You know what this calls for!?” Pinkie pie somehow teleported us to the centre of ponyville, where Ponies rushed out of their homes to greet us as said party was already prepared and set for us, somehow, said ponies stopped in their tracks as soon as they noticed me “How?” I glanced toward Twilight, who shook her head as I steadily got to my feet “I tried for a week to understand how she does it, all I got was a rather painful headache” Twilight sighed “That being said,” Blaze hummed why do you have fourth set of wings, Tesla?” “What?” I glanced back toward my wings, quickly noticing an extra set of whitish-golden wings “well Damnit” “I think you look rather seraphic” Celestia winked “Try flying” Luna smiled; I did, starting with the top pair, gradually hovering above the ground, and then the second pair, gaining slight altitude, then the third pair, getting a little higher, then finally, the fourth pair, getting even higher, then landing “Impressive,” Blaze smirked “now try all at once, brother” “That I will” I nodded, flapping my wings in unison, gaining a much higher altitude, gradually landing again “All you need now is to be able to tuck the lower ones away” Snowdrop giggled “Or to somehow fuse them” I shrugged “Blaze, get me my welding kit!” Rainbow Dash shuddered “You don’t care for your wings?” Rarity raised an eyebrow “I do, just not as much as I should” I chuckled “Speaking of wings…” I positioned my wings to look like a warrior-esque angel, pulling twin Dawnbreaker swords from the inside pockets of my jacket “How,” Twilight blinked “how did you just do that?” “Hammer-space, the ability to pull items into, and back out of, nowhere” I explained, wielding the swords accordingly “Holy hell,” Blaze whistled as she stood in front of me, eyeing me up and down “Didn’t know you could look that awesome, all you need is the armour, and you don’t do armour, do you?” “How, when, why and what?” Twilight nodded toward one of the swords “One, because I can, two, around thirty years ago, three, again, because I can, and want to, and four, they’re called Dawnbreaker” “How aptly titled, they shine like thy sun, dear sister” Luna smiled “So they do”, Celestia simpered as I sheathed the twin swords “How did you find Snowdrop anyway?” “My ears work like magical dowsing machines when I’m in eon form” I laughed “That’s explain a lot,” Blaze smirked “So, what do ya reckon you can do, what with being an element and all” “I’ve no idea,” I blinked “perhaps we’ll find out eventually” “Perhaps, perhaps not, that is for us to decide, though, isn’t it?” she glimmered “Aye, it is” I nodded -=-=- As I stood in the centre of a now rather exquisitely Ponyville not a month later with Twilight by my side levitating a clipboard with Spike sat on her back, I glanced around the large town “What’s going on here?” I blinked, standing beside Crystal Snowdrop and Ryōshi “The ponytones are visiting Ponyville” Twilight nodded toward Rarity who was stood beside Big Mac and two unknown ponies, one was a tall, slightly gangly cobalt earth pony with a dark blue mane and tail, and the other was a creamy-pearl coloured earth pony with a multi-toned red mane and tail, all four of them stood on a stage with a small crowd of ponies stood before them, Applejack standing beside the pony who I’d leaned was her brother “Rarity’s with the ponytones?” Blaze tilted her head as she stood on her hind legs on my shoulder “Apparently, I didn’t know either until today,” Twilight shrugged as the Ponytones started singing “the pony between rarity and Big Mac is Toe-Tapper, and the one opposite him is Torch Song” “Good to know,” Blaze hummed, we both grinned like a pair of idiots “are you thinking what I’m thinking?” “Singing contest, wouldn’t be much of a contest” “I don’t know, they’re said to be the best in Equestria” Twilight giggled “That’s because you haven’t heard my brother sing his heart out before” Blaze cackled with laughter “What’s goin’ on over here?” Applejack marched toward us “Blaze thinks Tesla could beat the ponytones in a singing contest” Twilight laughed “Well, Ah suppose ya‘ll could try, but it’d be difficult” Applejack nickered “And that’s when I said that you’ve never heard my brother sing his heart out before” Blaze chortled “Call a doctor, because this’s going to be heart-rending,” Crystal smirked as we took centre stage “Iris?” “Iris,” I nodded “you know the lyrics?” “I still remember when you sang them to me on our wedding night, sir Knight” she laughed “Any time you’re ready” Torch Song raised an eyebrow as she and the other Ponytones “And I'd give up forever to touch you, Cause I know that you feel me somehow. You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be, And I don't want to go home right now. And all I can taste is this moment, And all I can breathe is your life, And sooner or later it's over, I just don't want to miss you tonight. And I don't want the world to see me, Cause I don't think that they'd understand. When everything's made to be broken, I just want you to know who I am. And you can’t fight the tears that ain't coming, Or the moment of the truth in your lies. When everything feels like the movies, Yeah you bleed just to know you're alive. And I don't want the world to see me, 'Cause I don't think that they'd understand. When everything's made to be broken, I just want you to know who I am. And I don't want the world to see me, Cause I don't think that they'd understand. When everything's made to be broken, I just want you to know who I am. And I don't want the world to see me, Cause I don’t think that they'd understand. When everything's made to be broken, I just want you to know who I am. I just want you to know who I am. I just want you to know who I am. I just want you to know who I am” I formed a duet with Crystal, our voices synchronizing, almost melding into one as we sang to our hearts’ content “That was…” Toe-Tapper blinked “almost extra-terrestrial, you two are amazing!” “Would you like to join us, and travel Equestria?” Torch Song stared at me in apparent awe “Nah, Tesla and I would rather stay here, at home” Crystal pecked my cheek “That’s right, we’re a stationary group, us” I nodded “What’re you called?” Rarity tilted her head “The Eons of Equis” I gleamed “Catchy,” Crystal giggled “where’d you get the wings?” “I got deemed an element of Nature by some random magical tree” I shrugged “As is normal with you, my love” she winked “Ain’t that the truth” Blaze grinned as Snowdrop, Littlepip, and Ryōshi stood beside me “Smile for the camera!” A pony with an old-fashioned camera glimmered, snapping a photo of my family, Littlepip and Crystal, galloping off into the distance “Well there’s goes the local media” I laughed “Have we got time for another?” Snowdrop giggled, having learned from me, the lyrics too almost every song I knew “We should have” Rarity nodded “Go for it, dear” “Lifehouse, Daddy?” Snowdrop giggled, perching herself on the back of my head, as per the usual “You know the one” I smiled “You were always hard to hold So letting go ain’t easy Im hanging on but growing cold While my mind is leaving Talk, talk is cheap Give me a word you can keep Cause you’re halfway gone and Im on way And Im feeling, feelin feelin this way Cause Im halfway in but don’t take too long Cause Im halfway gone, Im halfway gone I'm halfway gone...I'm halfway gone... You got one foot out the door And choking on the other Always think something more Is just around the corner Talk, talk is cheap Give me a word you can keep(you can keep) Cause Im halfway gone and Im on way And Im feeling, feelin feelin this way Cause you’re halfway in but don’t take too long Cause Im halfway gone, Im halfway gone If you want me out, then Im on my way And Im feelin, feelin feelin this way Cause you’re halfway in, but don’t take too long Cause Im halfway gone, Im halfway gone (wohoww wohoww) Im halfway gone, Im halfway gone (wohoww wohoww) Now Im halfway gone, Im halfway gone Don’t take too long Don’t take too long Cause Im on my way If you take too long Cause Im halfway gone and Im on way And Im feeling, feelin Im feelin this way Cause you’re halfway in but don’t take too long Cause Im halfway gone, Im halfway gone If you want me out, then Im on my way And Im feelin , feelin feelin’ this way Cause you’re halfway in, but don’t take too long Cause Im halfway gone, Im halfway gone (wohoww wohoww) Cause Im halfway gone, and Im halfway gone (wohoww wohoww) Cause Im halfway gone, yeah Im halfway gone” I finished the Trio with Snowdrop, Blaze singing the background vocals, the small crowd of ponies stood before us, ponytones included, starting to cheer, whistle and applaud “That was truly spectacular!” Rarity gleamed “you’ve taught her well dear, perhaps you could perform at Canterlot “We already do” I grinned “So you do,” she smiled “Silly me, perhaps you’d be so kind as to sing one more time?” “Snowy, Crystal, Europa” I gleamed “From Agincourt to Waterloo Poitiers and then Anjou The Roses War, the Hundred Years Through battlefields of blood and tears From Bosworth Field to Pointe Du Hoc Stalingrad and the siege of York The bloody turf of Gallipoli Had no effect on the killing spree Bannockburn to Austerlitz The fall of France and the German blitz The cruellest of atrocities Europa's blood is borne of these Heaven help in all our battles Heaven see love, heaven help us Bolsheviks and feudal lords Chivalry to civil wars Fascist rule and genocide Now we face the rising tide Of new crusades, religious wars Insurgents imported to our shores The western world, gripped in fear The mother of all battles here Heaven help in all our battles Heaven see love, heaven help us Avant hier, avons être Déja demain, (nous) sommes éclairée All glory, all honour Victory is upon us Our saviour, fight evil Send armies to defend us Empires built, and nations burned Mass graves remain unturned Descendants of the dispossessed Return with bombs strapped to their chests There's hate for life, and death in hate Emerging from the new caliphate The victors of this war on fear Will rule for the next thousand years All glory, all honour Victory is upon us Our saviour, fight evil Send armies to defend us Europa, Europa Find better days before us In kindness, in spirit Lead us to a greater calling Europa, Europa Find better days before us In kindness, in spirit Lead us to a greater calling Leningrad, Berlin wall March on Rome, Byzantium's fall Lightning war, Dresden nights Drop the bomb, end this fight! Never again!” I sang, with Snowdrop and Crystal forming a duet to make up the background choir “That was marvellous!” Torch song and Rarity fainted “Right in the feels,” Blaze laughed “Nice work there, brother!” “I try, I really do” I smiled, walking with my family, Littlepip, Ryōshi and Crystal back to Twilight and Applejack “Ah guess ya could win then” Applejack tipped her hat slightly “emphasis on could of course “Wouldn’t want to make I too easy” Blaze stifled laughter “Seriously,” I blinked “at least give them a fair chance, Blaze” “Oh all right” she sighed “but if I see so much as a single slip-up I’m calling the riot police” “There aren’t any riot police in Equestria, we have royal guards instead” Twilight chucked “JJB sports, two-thousand looters can’t be wrong” Blaze burst into sudden roars of laughter “Too right” Crystal chortled “Weird” Twilight slowly shook her head as I, with my family, walked to the train station, paying for the journey to Canterlot “So, what’re we gonna sing next?” Blaze clapped her paws together “Anything we want to really” I shrugged “you want to join us Littlepip?” “I’d be honoured” Littlepip gleamed “And so let it be written, so let it be done” Crystal beamed -=-=- Days passed, and Littlepip became the fifth ‘member’ of our so-called musical ‘group’ “We good to go,” Beauty Brass glanced toward Littlepip, who nodded “then let’s show Equis what we can do!” I marched out with Littlepip by my side opposite Ryōshi, Snowdrop on the back of my head, and Blaze sat upon my shoulder, the audience stared at Littlepip for a moment, before glancing back at the rest of us “Just a small town girl Livin' in a lonely world She took the midnight train goin' anywhere” I sang followed by Littlepip “Just a city boy Born and raised in South Detroit He took the midnight train goin' anywhere” she sang perfectly, passing the role onto Snowdrop “A singer in a smoky room The smell of wine and cheap perfume For a smile they can share the night It goes on and on and on and on” Snowdrop chorused, gesturing to Blaze “Strangers waiting Up and down the boulevard Their shadows searchin' in the night” we then joined as one “Streetlight, people Livin' just to find emotion Hidin' somewhere in the night Workin' hard to get my fill Everybody wants a thrill Payin' anythin' to roll the dice Just one more time Some will win, some will lose Some are born to sing the blues And now the movie never ends It goes on and on and on and on Strangers waiting Up and down the boulevard Their shadows searchin' in the night Streetlight, people Livin' just to find emotion Hidin' somewhere in the night Don't stop believin' Hold on to that feelin' Streetlight, people Don't stop believin' Hold on to that feelin' Streetlight, people Don't stop!” we sang as a quintet “next song” I grinned “Close your tired eyes, relax and then, count from one to ten, and open them. All these heavy thoughts will try to weigh you down, but not this time. Way up in the air, you're finally free, and you can stay up there, right next to me. All this gravity will try to pull you down, but not this time” I sang, passing the lyrical baton to Littlepip “When the sun goes down and the lights burn out, then it’s time for you to shine; Brighter than a shooting star, So shine no matter where you are. Fill the darkest night with a brilliant light 'cause it’s time for you to shine; Brighter than a shooting star, So shine no matter where you are, Tonight Whoa, Whoa, Whoa!” Littlepip sang like an angel, gesturing toward Snowdrop “Brighter than a shooting star So shine no matter where you are, Tonight Gaze into my eyes when the fire starts, And fan the flames so hot, it melts our hearts. Oh, the pouring rain will try to put it out, but not this time. Let your colours burn and lightly burst, into a million sparks, that all disperse. And illuminate a world that'll try to put you down, but not this time” Snowdrop and Blaze formed a duet as they continued the song, gleaming from ear to ear “When the sun goes down and the lights burn out, then it’s time for you to shine; Brighter than a shooting star, So shine no matter where you are. Fill the darkest night with a brilliant light 'cause it’s time for you to shine; Brighter than a shooting star, So shine no matter where you are, Tonight. A thousand heart beats beat in time, and makes this dark planet come alive. So when the lights flicker out tonight, you gotta shine” Crystal chorused, “When the sun goes down and the lights burn out, then it’s time for you to shine; Brighter than a shooting star, So shine no matter where you are. Fill the darkest night with a brilliant light 'cause it’s time for you to shine; Brighter than a shooting star, So shine no matter where you are, Tonight” we finished the song as a quintet for the second time running “And again” Littlepip exhaled sharply as she began the next song “This time, I wonder what it feels like To find the one in this life, the one we all dream of But dreams just aren't enough So I'll be waiting for the real thing, I'll know it by the feeling The moment when we're meeting, will play out like a scene Straight off the silver screen So I'll be holding my breath, right up 'til the end Until that moment when, I find the one that I'll spend forever with” she chimed with a tone akin to that of a goddess “Cause nobody wants to be the last one there Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares Someone to love with my life in their hands There's gotta be somebody for me like that Cause nobody wants to do it on their own And everyone wants to know they're not alone There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere There's gotta be somebody for me out there” Crystal glimmered “Tonight, out on the street, out in the moonlight And dammit this feels too right, it's just like de Ja vu Me standing here with you So I'll be holding my breath, could this be the end? Is it that moment when, I find the one that I'll spend forever with Cause nobody wants to be the last one there Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares Someone to love with my life in their hands There's gotta be somebody for me like that Cause nobody wants to do it on their own And everyone wants to know they're not alone There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere There's gotta be somebody for me out there” Snowdrop and Littlepip formed a duet singing in perfect unison “You can't give up, (when you're looking for) a diamond in the rough (cause you never know) When it shows up, (make sure you're holding on) Cause it could be the one, the one you're waiting on Cause nobody wants to be the last one there And everyone wants to feel like someone cares Someone to love with my life in their hands There's gotta be somebody for me, oh” Blaze and I continued as she sang the background vocals Nobody wants to go it on their own And everyone wants to know they're not alone There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere There's gotta be somebody for me out there Nobody wants to be the last one there Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere There's gotta be somebody for me out there” we formed a third quintet as the song finished There was awkward silence as a hush fell over the room, before the audience stood on their hooves in unison, bursting into cheering, whistling and applaud “They’re better than the ponytones!” I heard someone yell “Not quite” I laughed As we stood in the main hall, Ryōshi having had her midday walk around the castle, Twilight and her friends, Princesses included, trotted up to me “That was phenomenal!” Twilight gleamed “That’s what happens when you really try to do something you like doing,” I grinned “I’ve also got an idea for a song for the next event” “The way you worked was almost harmonious, where did you learn to do that?” Rarity batted her eyelids at me “Practice” I winked “What’s the name of the song?” Littlepip glanced up at me “Dreams of an absolution, it’s got two versions, the one is sing is probably better suited for a beginner, no offense” I chuckled “None taken,” she smiled “I’m just trying to get passed this feeling I’m getting” “What’s it like?” Blaze raised an eyebrow “Like I can do anything,” she whistled “it’s like I’m barely in control of myself!” “That’d be the adrenaline” I smiled back “think you need a glass of water to help you calm down, first time’s always the weirdest” “Thanks” she sighed, “Eons of Equis,” Celestia raised an eyebrow “what made you pick that name for yourselves?” “Just the facts I’ve been given in my stay here” I shrugged “I see, well I wish you luck” she winked “Thank you, princess” Littlepip nickered “Please, call me Celestia” Celestia simpered “Alright Cellsy” Blaze chuckled “Is your sister always so jovial?” she raised the other eyebrow, removing her mane from covering her face “I am what I am, ain’t nobody changing that!” Blaze laughed “Sot it’d seem” Celestia nickered “Well, it’d appear that you’ve a heart of fire, like your name would most certainly suggest” “And an attitude to match it” Snowdrop giggled “So I have, but you don’t mind, do you Tesla?” “I don’t, seeing as how I’m used to it” I rolled my eyes “First you end up on an alien planet with me, then you find some weird crystalline tree thingamabob, then you find out that humans existed on Equis, and combated a ‘great-and-powerful’ evil, what’s next, you and Cellsy being lovers in one of your previous incarnations?” “That’d be possible, however slim the chances are, be it impossible or otherwise, right?” I glanced at Celestia, who simply re-raised an eyebrow “oh bugger” “Looks like I was right again!” Blaze burst into a fit laughter “So you were,” Celestia pecked my cheek, staring right at me, as if gazing into my soul “”I hope you know how much I’ve missed you, Tesla” “But, why don’t I have any memory of you?” I tilted my head “Thou were poisoned with a hyper-lethal venom, thy other option was death in thine sisters’ arms, or to come back later, as thou have, Tesla” Luna explained “And thy wings along with thee, thou great eon” an awkward silence washed over the great hall as all eyes turned to face the princesses, Crystal and I “He’s an eon,” I heard one pony whisper to another “like in the legends?” “It seems to be the case” the other pony whispered back “though I heard they had sabre like-wings and could break the sound barrier” “So, we’re looking at a living legacy here?” the first pony muttered “I should hope so” the second pony nodded, both staring in awe as I changed to my eon form “And there it is!” I quickly changed back -=-=- “So, what’s with the stuffed animal?” I nodded toward an odd, slightly pony-shaped stuffed animal with buttons for eyes, one of them hanging by a thread as we sat in the library during a winter storm, sipping my hot chocolate drink “Oh, Smarty Pants?” Twilight blushed, wrapped in a blanket and scarf “Really,” Applejack laughed “I got used as a teddy bear, so I can’t complain” I shrugged “And thou were a good pillow too, thine little Sugarbear” Luna nuzzled into me “Even if a fifth of my weight resides in my skeleton,” I raised an eyebrow “We can assure thee that thou make a most comfortable headrest” she pecked my cheek “Score,” Blaze cheered “Nice work Tesla!” “I wasn’t trying anything” I blinked “So, how’d ya do it?” Rainbow Dash grinned “Do what?” I tilted my head “Snag the princesses, duh!” she shook her head as if it were the most obvious answer to man and pony alike “Rainbow Dash,” Twilight snapped alongside Rarity “I’ve no idea” I bit my lip “You must have some memory of that event, at least?” Twilight stared at me “Ya’ll heard the princess,” Applejack sighed “he was poisoned, and the only options he had were being sent tah Earth or dying the Celestia’s arms, personally, ah think ya made the right choice pardner” she smiled at me “And should the memories, or lack thereof, drive me insane, what then?” I frowned “Perhaps we can solve that” Luna lightly tapped her horn on my head as it flashed a deep, royal blue colour Suddenly, memories burst from places in my mind that since been disused, causing my head to throb and ache with pain as I clutched onto it, as if it was going to explode, gritting my teeth in agony After ten or so minutes, the pain eventually subsided, and I let go of my head “Art thou alright, Tesla?” Luna bit her lip as I shook my head, glancing at everyone in the room “I’m…” I blinked “I’m fine,” I sighed “just a little headache” “One-billion year’s-worth of memoires and you complain of a ‘slight headache’?” Twilight chortled “you’re insane!” “That’s the idea!” Blaze patted my head “Always a rollercoaster ride with you, ain’t it, brother?” “That it is” I nodded “Are you Ok, Daddy?” Snowdrop clung onto me “I’m Ok now Snowdrop, don’t worry about me” I chuckled “But you were in pain!” she stared up at me with nothing but sadness in her eyes “I’m fine, Snowdrop, don’t worry, Ok?” I smiled “Ok, if you say so” she hummed -=-=- At the next orchestra event in the theatre, I stood with my family, Ryōshi, Littlepip and Crystal on centre stage as I began the song “Hey, girl, you know you drive me crazy one look puts the rhythm in my hand. Still I'll never understand why you hang around I see what's going down” I ended the beginning as Littlepip picked up from where I left off “Cover up with makeup in the mirror tell yourself, it's never gonna happen again you cry alone and then he swears he loves you. Do you feel like a man when you push her around? Do you feel better now as she falls to the ground? Well I'll tell you my friend, one day this world's going to end as your lies crumble down, a new life she has found” Littlepip chorused, passing the baton to Crystal “A pebble in the water makes a ripple effect every action in this world will bear a consequence If you wade around forever, you will surely drown I see what's going down. I see the way you go and say you're right again, say you're right again Heed my lecture” Crystal sang with a voice of a seraph “Do you feel like a man when you push her around? Do you feel better now as she falls to the ground? Well I'll tell you my friend, one day this world's going to end as your lies crumble down, a new life she has found. Face down in the dirt, she said, ‘This doesn't hurt,’ she said, ‘I finally had enough’" Face down in the dirt, she said, ‘This doesn't hurt,’ she said, ‘I finally had enough’"” “One day she will tell you that she has had enough It's coming round again. Do you feel like a man when you push her around? Do you feel better now as she falls to the ground? Well I'll tell you my friend, one day this world's going to end as your lies crumble down, a new life she has found. Do you feel like a man when you push her around? Do you feel better now as she falls to the ground? Well I'll tell you my friend, one day this world's going to end as your lies crumble down, a new life she has found. Face down in the dirt, she said, ‘This doesn't hurt,’ she said, ‘I finally had enough’" we finished the first song as a group, bowing quickly “They say that life would be its hardest in your teenage years Well, some of what they say is really true They say that life will come and find you when your heart is new I don't believe it from the mouths of fools So hang on, hang on We got a million different ways to see our emotions We got a million different ways to trick our heads to bring us down We got a million different colours to see in the ocean But every time I analyse it plays a trick upon my eyes I'm lost I'm finding my way back to my dreams (Whoa) I'm finding my way back to my dreams (Whoa) Living in a world that only takes from you Makes you want to give in and give up (Don't give up) But soon you realize that you are not alone Innocence disguises what you love So do what you love We got a million different ways to see our emotions We got a million different ways to trick our heads to bring us down We got a million different colours to see in the ocean But every time I analyse it plays a trick upon my eyes I'm lost I'm finding my way back to my dreams (Whoa) I'm finding my way back to my dreams (Whoa) Hold on to the things that keep you young Nothing lasts forever, gone is gone ('Til we find our way) Don't be so hard on yourself There will always be a chance to make it better Things will get better We got a million different ways to see our emotions We got a million different ways to trick our heads to bring us down We got a million different colours to see in the ocean But every time I analyse it plays a trick upon my eyes I'm lost I'm finding my way back to my dreams (Whoa) I'm finding my way back to my dreams (Whoa) I'm finding my way back to my dreams Back to my dreams” we sang the hole song as a quintet, taking a moment to collect our breath before the next song “The burning desire to live and roam free, It shines in the dark And it grows within me You're holding my hand but you don't understand So where I am going you won't be in the end. Im dreaming in colours Of getting the chance Of dreaming of trying the perfect romance The search of the door, to open your mind In search of the cure of mankind Help us we're drowning So close up inside Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? How will the lights die down, telling us who we are? I'm searching for answers Not given for free You're hurting inside Is there life within me? You're holding my hand but you don't understand So you're taking the road all alone in the end Im dreaming in colours, no boundaries are there Im dreaming the dream we all seem to share In search of the door, to open your mind In search of the cure of mankind Well help us we're drowning So close up inside Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Why does it rain, rain, rain, down on Utopia? And when the lights die down, telling us who we are Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Oh, why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Now when the lights die down, telling us who we are Why does it rain?” we sang again as a quintet, glancing amongst ourselves, nodding to one another as the audience stood and clapped their hooves in applaud “As an extra, here’s that song I promise a few friends of mine a few days back” I waved toward Celestia “(every night, I stay awake I find my reflection And every night, I rethink my past mistakes I dream, of absolution) In the nightlife, do you see what you dream? All your travels, are they of what they seem? Look around you, then you may realize All the creatures saw with the light And i might know of a future But then you still control the past Only you know if we'll be together Only you know if we shall last. (in the nightlife) In the nightlife, do you still feel your pain Or the valour you waited never came? If you were evil, would you go change the past? And a faux paux with one last chance. And i might know of a future But then you'd still control the past Only you know if we'll be together Tonight. 'cause every night I will save your life And every night I will be with you 'cause every night I still lay awake And i dream of an absolution 'cause every night i will make it right And every night i will come to you But every night it just stays the same In my dream of an absolution (in the nightlife) In the nightlife, do you see what you dream? All your triumph and all you'll ever be Look around you, then you may realize Happiness lies trapped in misery And who knows what of a future We can all try to change the past Only you know if we'll be together. Tonight. 'cause every night i will save your life And every night i will be with you 'cause every night i still lay awake And i dream of an absolution 'cause every night i will make it right And every night i will come to you But every night it just stays the same In my dream of an absolution 'cause every night i will save your life And every night i will be with you 'cause every night i still lay awake And i dream of an absolution 'cause every night I will make it right And every night I will come to you But every night it just stays the same In my dream of an absolution (and you'll see) (why you'll be) (and you'll see) (all you can know) 'cause every night (every night) And every night (every night) And every night (night) I will dream (i will dream) And you'll see That this is my dream (and you'll see) That every night, i will always dream And every night And every night And every night I will dream...!” Crystal, Blaze, Snowdrop Littlepip and I sang together whilst Blaze sang the background vocals, the crowd once again clapping their hooves in applause “That was incredible!” Octavia gazed at me alongside Vinyl as we stood in the gardens, Ryōshi having her midday exercise “It’s what we do” Littlepip smiled “So it is” Vinyl slowly nodded “so I heard you and Celestia used to be together?” “That was…” I sighed “that was almost impossible to explain” “I’ll bet, you’ve only been her for two months at best!” she laughed “Vinyl!” Octavia snapped, Vinyl’s laughter ceased almost instantly “Sorry” Vinyl chuckled “It’s alright” I smiled “Besides, I’ve a few questions for her anyway” “Like what?” a soothing, almost motherly voice spoke Turning around, I saw my friends stood before me, Celestia standing at the front alongside Cadance “What happened when I left?” I smiled, albeit, faintly “Luna and I were heartbroken, the whole country descended into darkness, and Discord was released through all the chaos that ensued thereafter” Celestia bit her lip “Discord?” “The lord of chaos, none other than moi” a serpentine creature with the horns of both a goat and a gazelle, the head of a grossly disfigured pony, beard of a goat, wings of both a bat and eagle, the tail of a dragon and the arms of a gryphon and lion, and the fang of a snake ‘popped’ into existence before me “Wow, the creators of the universe fucked up when they made you; didn’t they?” Blaze whistled “Now, now, no need for such hostilities” Discord reached out to touch Blaze, but I grabbed his arm “Touch her, and I beat you like a runaway slave” I hissed, he quickly retracted his arm “Touchy” he flexed his fingers “Where’d you get this one from?” he glanced toward Celestia “Question is, what are you?” I frowned “A draconequus” Discord held out a hand, I raised an eyebrow “Joy buzzer” I smirked, he flipped his hand, revealing a button strapped to his fingers “How did you..?” he blinked “Psychic” I Littlepip frowned “If he’s the god of chaos, why keep him around?” “I’m almost offended by that” Discord chuckled darkly “We need him, after all, Chaos and harmony are two sides to the same bit, or coin, however you prefer” Cadance nickered “Just like sausages and Bacon” Blaze drooled slightly “So I heard you got knighted, well done my boy” Discord clapped his hands in applaud, resulting in an electric shock coursing through him “He usually like this?” I raised an eyebrow “Not always, he can be quite nice if you get him in the right mood” Cadance smiled “Uh-huh” I tilted my head at the strange, almost alien creature hovering before me “and I suppose you’d know about the eons?” “The eons?” he burst into laughter “why I know things that Celestia couldn’t tell you even if she wanted you to!” “Like?” I frowned, already not liking the draconequus’ tone “The fact that they were treated as slaves” he tilted his head back at me “honestly, you should’ve seen it, no wonder it was so easy for me to get out of that accursed stone prison-!” he was sent sprawling via reverse-roundhouse kick “He dun half talk shit, doesn’t he?” I grinned “He’s not lying” Celestia bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes “Told you so” Discord sighed, hovering beside me “I can tell you things you wouldn’t here anywhere else, Tesla, my little eon” “Like what?” Blaze snapped “The location of sapphire storm, perhaps?” he clicked his claw-tips together” “That’s in the past” I scoffed, turning and walking away, Littlepip, Ryōshi and Snowdrop following me back inside the castle “Is it?” he raised an eyebrow “And I suppose it’s also ‘in the past,’ that Celestia here’s been manipulating your entire life up until your arrival here?” he went on “Beside your wife of course, you can keep her all you want” I stopped dead in my tracks, turning around “Go ahead, tell him Celly, tell him how you did the unthinkable to his love-life” “And he’s not lying, I assume?” I frowned as Blaze clambered down to the floor, bursting into flames “I’m sorry…” Celestia was full-on weeping at this point, tears cascading down her face like waterfalls “She’s the one who separated you from…” Crystal gasped, the flames around my fading to thin air as I held her back “what’re you doing?” “Violence won’t get us anywhere” I scowled “and I think we’re through with negotiations” “But she,” Crystal glared at Celestia, then stared at me “are you right in the head?” “That’s always been the question, hasn’t it?” I sighed “Let’s just go” I turned and left, Blaze climbing back onto my shoulder, Snowdrop also perching herself on my head as Ryōshi and Littlepip followed me with Vinyl and Octavia into the theatre, beginning to sing when I got there “I used to rule the world Seas would rise when I gave the word Now in the morning I sleep alone Sweep the streets I used to own I used to roll the dice Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes Listen as the crowd would sing "Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!" One minute I held the key Next the walls were closed on me And I discovered that my castles stand Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing Roman Cavalry choirs are singing Be my mirror, my sword and shield My missionaries in a foreign field For some reason I can't explain Once you go there was never Never an honest word And that was when I ruled the world It was the wicked and wild wind Blew down the doors to let me in Shattered windows and the sound of drums People couldn't believe what I'd become Revolutionaries wait For my head on a silver plate Just a puppet on a lonely string Oh who would ever want to be king? I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing Roman Cavalry choirs are singing Be my mirror, my sword and shield My missionaries in a foreign field For some reason I can't explain I know Saint Peter won't call my name Never an honest word But that was when I ruled the world I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing Roman Cavalry choirs are singing Be my mirror, my sword and shield My missionaries in a foreign field For some reason I can't explain I know Saint Peter won't call my name Never an honest word But that was when I ruled the world” I sang, completely solo, as I sat on the edge of th stage “What’s the beef?” Vinyl sat beside me “I had a girlfriend who I loved with all my heart a few years before I left with Crystal,” I began “and then my dad decides that enough is enough, but it turns out, it was all Celestia’s doing, and my dad had the nerve to call me selfish, hah, the irony” “That’s…” Octavia glared “who’d do such a thing “I’d rather live my billion-year life as a recluse than go through what I’ve been through, only to find out what I just have” I placed my had in my hands, eventually sitting upright again “but that would mean I don’t get to feel the way I do when I’m around my friends” “Cheeky” Crystal lightly jabbed my shoulder, pulling me to my feet “shall we?” “Might as well” I nodded “When she was just a girl She expected the world But it flew away from her reach So she ran away in her sleep Dreamed of para- para- paradise Para- para- paradise Para- para- paradise Every time she closed her eyes Whoa-oh-oh oh-oooh oh-oh-oh” I sang, beginning the song “When she was just a girl She expected the world But it flew away from her reach And the bullets catch in her teeth Life goes on It gets so heavy The wheel breaks the butterfly Every tear, a waterfall In the night, the stormy night She closed her eyes In the night, the stormy night Away she flied” Snowdrop chirped as she sang “And dreamed of para- para- paradise Para- para- paradise Para- para- paradise Whoa-oh-oh oh-oooh oh-oh-oh” Crystal chimed “She dreamed of para- para- paradise Para- para- paradise Para- para- paradise Whoa-oh-oh oh-oooh oh-oh-oh. La, la, la, La, La, la, la So lying underneath those stormy skies. She said oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh. I know the sun must set to rise This could be para- para- paradise Para- para- paradise This could be para- para- paradise Whoa-oh-oh oh-oooh oh-oh-oh. This could be para- para- paradise Para- para- paradise Could be para- para- paradise Whoa-oh-oh oh-oooh oh-oh-oh” Littlepip sang yet again with the voice of a goddess “This could be para- para- paradise Para- para- paradise Could be para- para- paradise Whoa-oh-oh oh-oooh oh-oh-oh. Oo-oo-oo, oo-oo-oo, oo-oo-oo Oo-oo-oo, oo-oo-oo, oo-oo-oo” we all sang as another quintet, forming a group hug afterward “Another masterpiece I see?” Octavia smiled “We do our best” Snowdrop smiled “At least you try, I don’t what music you or Octavia make, but the Ponytones just don’t count as music to me, Y’know?” Vinyl rolled her eyes, perching her shades on the top of her horn “Noted” Littlepip smiled “I’m honoured to be with Tesla and his musical talents” “You haven’t heard me play the guitar” I winked “Touché” she slowly nodded as I picked the guitar from backstage, sitting on the bench, starting to play “The burning desire to live and roam free, It shines in the dark And it grows within me You're holding my hand but you don't understand So where I am going you won't be in the end. I'm dreaming in colours Of getting the chance Of dreaming of trying the perfect romance The search of the door, to open your mind In search of the cure of mankind Help us we're drowning So close up inside Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? How will the lights die down, telling us who we are? I'm searching for answers Not given for free You're hurting inside Is there life within me? You're holding my hand but you don't understand So you're taking the road all alone in the end I'm dreaming in colours, no boundaries are there I'm dreaming the dream we all seem to share In search of the door, to open your mind In search of the cure of mankind Well help us we're drowning So close up inside Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Why does it rain, rain, rain, down on Utopia? And when the lights die down, telling us who we are Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Oh, why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Now when the lights die down, telling us who we are Why does it rain?” I sang with Snowdrop, Littlepip staring at me, slack-jawed “That was beautiful” Littlepip had tears in her eyes “ “Just like you then” I smiled as she sat beside me “Looks like somepony’s made it to second base” Vinyl burst into laughter as Littlepip leapt at me, pressing her lips against mine, clinging onto me “I love you” Littlepip pecked my cheek, sitting beside me on the bench “Do you love me” “I could get to learn to, wouldn’t take much, putting into consideration you ponies seem to be” I laughed “Thank you, my love” she nickered “Third base” Vinyl smirked again “Vinyl!” Octavia snapped “What,” Vinyl shrugged “Tesla got himself a marefriend, we should be happy, congrats T” “TK, if you would” I chuckled “TK?” she blinked “Teslakana” I raised an eyebrow “Ah, I gotcha” she laughed “And this time, I won’t let some puny god get in the way of my friends” “She can move the sun!” Vinyl stared at me “Actually, when she was with me in Ponyville once, it raised itself, all thanks to gravity” I smiled “Explain” she tilted her head “Just imagine a giant, lit match head, that represents the sun, and imagine Equis too be a coin, and the moon to be a smaller coin the coin spins on its axis around the giant match head, and the smaller coin orbits around th larger coin, and that’s how night and day progress” Blaze explained “You don’t have anyone do it where you’re from?” Littlepip blinked “Nope, it’s all done by means of physics” Crystal chimed “How do you mean?” Octavia raised an eyebrow “Imagine spinning a full bucket of water over your head, now, if you stop, you get wet right?” both musicians nodded “If the earth slows down even a little, all human on earth, including the planet itself are reduced to cosmic dust, if that, it’s the same principle really” “That’s got to be horrible, knowing you can die like that at any given time!” Littlepip gasped “There’s hundreds of ways humans could go extinct within the next century or two, several of which involve asteroids and/or meteors” “But we needn’t worry since you’re here, with us, right Daddy?” Snowdrop smiled “Correct” I nodded “How do you put up with it?” Vinyl blinked “With what?” I tilted my head ever-so slightly “Being betrayed by the princess herself” she spat “surely you feel some form of hate toward her for doing that, right?” “I do, I’m just that good at hiding it” I frowned “Damn” she whistled as we walked out of the theatre, but not before I returned the guitar backstage “So, you’re the one who’s been killing my subordinates?” a massive blood-crimson dragon with white underbelly scales and spines stood before me in the arena, Twilight, her friends Spike, and the princesses stood behind me “Teslakana, Eon, human, Dragon slayer, what more do you want?” “I hope that titles is from your world, puny creature” he growled “May I know your name, Dragon?” I raised an eyebrow “Dragon emperor Grandoa, ruler of the dragons of Equis” he snarled, baring his teeth at me “An eon against a fully grown dragon, this should be interesting” Blaze smirked “You dare fight me!?” Grandoa roared with laughter as Snowdrop, Littlepip and Blaze hurried beside my friends, scales appearing on my face, arms and hands as they went “This should be fun, too long have I waited for a challenger worthy of your title, Teslakana of Equestria” “The battle between monsters begins!” Blaze cheered “Genso Eigo Ryu,” I inhaled sharply, exhaling a vast torrent of whitish-golden flames “Hokou!” “Not bad, that actually tickled” Grandoa laughed as I shot up above him spinning as I formed a drill-like pattern, encase from head to toes in flames as i rocketed down from the sky “Genso Eigo Ryu Rasen-Shadan!” I growled, piercing through the scales on the back of his neck “Well, that certainly stings a bit” he grinned as I landed in front of him, bringing down a claw, knocking me into the ground, bringing down the other one, the other, then the other, continuously beating away at me for five minutes straight “Is that it?” I clicked my neck as I staggered to my feet, followed by my shoulders, and then my knuckles “How?” he blinked “Ryu, no Dakara!” I chimed, both fists ignited as I fired Gatling-like punches at his chest and stomach “Genso Eigo Hoseki Ryu; Suishō Hasu Karyu Ken!” as the hits progressed, I noticed a few scales falling from his underside onto the ground as he clung onto said underside, falling flat on his face “You just!?” Twilight gasped as Octavia and Vinyl trotted up either side of me “I haven’t won, by a dragon slayers terms, however, I can see this battle going unceasingly, so I propose a draw” I held out a hand as Grandoa stood back up again, eventually leaning down to get on eye-level with me “Agreed” Grandoa shook my hand with a light claw, “you are definitely worthy of the title of ‘Dragon Slayer,’ Teslakana of Equestria, we shall meet again, soon” And with that he flew off “You went hoof-to-hoof against the dragon emperor and survived?” Twilight gaped, her expression eventually returning to a normal one “what was that last attack anyway?” “Genso Eigo Hoseki Ryu; Suishō Hasu Karyu Ken,” I smiled “Which translates into your language as elemental ‘Eon Gem Dragon Crystal Lotus; fire dragon fist’” Blaze whistled, clambering unto my shoulder as Snowdrop perched herself on my head “why not just call it an ‘Elemental Gem Dragon Gatling Lotus’?” “Touché” I nodded “That makes four times I’ve been right about something?” she smirked “Five actually, not counting back one Earth” I sighed “And the ferret strikes again” Celestia gave a weak smile “You don’t have the right to talk about my family like it’s nothing” I spat “Tesla, I don’t know what to say” she slowly shook her head “That’s probably because you shouldn’t” Vinyl snapped “What right do you have to decide who Telsa falls in love with, who died and made you the ruler of all that exists, tell me Celestia, who!?” “Tesla, you…?” Celestia held a hoof to her mouth “Her shame revealed as worlds crossover” Blaze held her head high, glancing at me “you alright, TK?” “I’ll be fine” I scoffed “I’ve got you and Pip with me, and Snowdrop, what more could I want?” “Your scales are showing” she smirked “I know, I just don’t really care,” I exhaled sharply, almost sighing “at least I can hope that she’s safe, wherever she is” “As do I” Snowdrop chimed “And me” Blaze patted the side of my head “As well as I” Littlepip placed a gentle hoof on my leg, smiling up at me, I crouched down to her level, Snowdrop and Blaze climbing down to the ground in the process, gently stroking Littlepip’s mane “I love you, Tesla” she smiled “And I you, my littlepip” I smiled, she gasped, beaming from ear to ear, pecking her horn, triggering an almighty wave of energy to rip through me, sending my flying “Daddy,” Snowdrop soared up to me, landing beside me as my vision faded to black chapter IV revalationsI awoke with a searing pain coursing through me, my vision rather blurry at first, gradually clearing “He’s awake!” I heard someone yell as my friends and family rushed into the room “What happened?” I blinked “You were hit with a blast of magic that almost split you clean in half” Celestia bit her lip “That’s what I get for being a dink” I chuckled, flinching as my chest ached “I wouldn’t recommend moving for a while, my love” Littlepip was in almost hysterics, tears cascading down her face like reverse geysers “I almost killed you” “You did nothing of the sort, neither of us knew what was going to happen, well, at least I didn’t” I rolled my eyes “This is what you get for dabbling in magic beyond your comprehension” Blaze laughed “Six times now” I tutted “Glad to see someone’s keeping count” she raised an eyebrow, sitting beside me “What was the surgery like then?” I sighed “We had to repair everything” Celestia’s face turned a light pink tinge “be it the insides of either your mind or body, we had to go through everything, just to keep you with us” “Thank you, Celestia” I smiled “You needn’t thank me,” she nickered “thank Littlepip, she hasn’t left your side once, ever since your little revelation to her eight months ago” “Six months?” I blinked “I hope they kept my position in the orchestra” “I have requested that they do so, so you needn’t worry” she smiled “Thank you, Littlepip, I grinned “ for keeping faith if nothing else” “You don’t mind that you almost-” I held a finger to her mouth “You could’ve but thanks to Celestia and the others, you didn’t, so there is nothing to forgive, nor is there anything to feel sorry for, you’re a great mare Littlepip, don’t waste it on feeling sorry for yourself” I gleamed, glancing toward Celestia when’s the earliest I can get out of here?” “Not for another two months I shouldn’t think” Celestia raised an eyebrow “planning on rushing off with her in your arms, are we?” “Maybe” my eyes darted from one side to the other “Tesla,” I glanced toward her again “I’m sorry, for making you go through that, truly, if there’s anything I can do for you, I will” “A cowardly action can be righted by a brave one, so there is nothing to forgive” I riddled “Have you been playing on your laptop?” Blaze smirked, folding her arms “Yes as a matter of fact I have” I grinned “speaking of which, where is my bag anyway?” “You mean this?” Celestia levitated forth my rucksack, clockwise in design, much like my clothing “At least, it’s safe” I sighed again as she set it beside me opposite Blaze as my sister climbed down the bed “why can’t I feel my leg?” “About that” Twilight giggled nervously as Blaze lifted up the lower end of the bed covers, revealing a mechanical left leg “That’s actually not that bad-!” I blinked as she lifted the side of the duvet revealing a mechanical arm also “-Shite…” I bit my lip as she returned the duvet to normal “so, that happened “You’re not worried by it?” Littlepip tilted her head “It is a little weird, but I suppose I can get used to it” I smiled as she sat beside me on the bed “Then so can I” she pecked my cheek “My little TK” “My littlepip” I gently stroked her mane “I assume that my attire has all but been obliterated “No, we managed to save that, barely” Celestia released a breath I guessed she hadn’t known about holding in “Rarity managed to copy the style to make repairs to it, I hope you find them to be what you usually wear” “Speaking of which, you weren’t supposed to be awake for another three weeks at least” Cadance giggled “Surprises like the ones I do stop life from being dull and boring” I smirked “So they do” Luna nickered “we hope thou know that the orchestra has donated two million bits to your wellbeing and persons, Tesla” “Next thing you’ll be is that you can recite the whole credits list For Gurren Lagann” I chuckled, albeit, somewhat painfully -=- Five minutes later -=- “Damn” I blinked “We hath also taken the liberty and time out of our schedule to enchant your arm with the ability to perform one of these ‘Giga Drill Breaker’s” she giggled “And I thought I couldn’t like you anymore” I shook my head “We art most flattered, Sir Tesla” she winked “Next thing is…” she magicked up a pair of Kamina’s ‘Gurren Lagann’ glasses, donning them “Curse me and my immobility, temporary as it may be” I grumbled “Why?” she smirked “Anata Wa watashitachi ga watashitachida, wareware wa ten no janai, wareware ga daredearu ka omoimasu. Kyū Yoru hakobi-te, Tesura” “Jesus Christ!” Blaze burst into erratic laughter “There’re two of them!” “Anata ga to shinji do~uon shinjinai, kono wasuremasen, Tsuki o Kiki, watashi o shinjiru Tsukide wa, shinjiru Tsuki o shinjite inai” I gleamed from ear to ear “No, no you didn’t!” Blaze laughed “Yes, Blaze, yes I did” I smirked “Ore Wo Dare Datou Omotteiru” “Enough with the quotes,” she grunted “Alright, just for now, sister” I beamed =-=-=-= The two months passed slower than I wanted them two, and with time, I’d been able to move again, and my newly repaired clothes had been left on the side of the bed, which I quickly got into, they felt like-brand new “Are thou well” Luna smiled, sitting beside me on the bed before the nurse returned to see if I could leave “I’m almost perfect” I draped a wing around her as Littlepip sat opposite her, draping a wing around her also, how do I use this?” I lifted my mechanical arm “Just will it, and it shall appear, without damaging thy attire” Luna pecked my cheek “Maybe later” I chuckled “Of course she nuzzled into me as the nurse returned, the same one as from before, when I’d helped Littlepip “You appear to have no complications, if you’d like to sign here we can let you go” she smiled, I quickly signed the note on the clipboard she was holding “Thank you sir” she giggled, trotting merrily out of the room as I left the hospital with Snowdrop, Littlepip, Ryōshi, Blaze and Luna following me out, Blaze on my shoulder and Snowdrop upon my head, as per the usual as I walked out into the mountain city of canterlot -=- “And here he is!” Pinkie Pie held up a microphone, gesturing toward me as we entered ponyville’s town square “He’s alive, after that blast of magic!?” one pony gasped “ felt it from all the way down here, so it must’ve been horrible” “I wouldn’t know, seeing as I wasn’t conscious for six of the eight months I’ve been in hospital” I shrugged “Tesla,” Octavia galloped toward me,, stopping within mere inches of me “are you alright?” “All the better for walking out of the hospital in one piece” I smiled “You’re hand, your wings..!” she gasped, taking a few steps back “are you Ok?” “I’m fine, well, as fine as a technical bioorganic human can get” I bit my lip “What happened to you?” she slowly shook her head, all eyes were on me “I got hit with enough energy to rip me into shreds, and somehow, I remain” I spoke, morbidly “How…?” she blinked “Magic” I sighed, stretching and examining my wings, which were also mechanical “well that’s new” “We’re sorry this had to happen to thee” Luna avoided my gaze “Wasn’t anyone’s fault” I shrugged “no one could’ve prevented it, really, it’s like a fixed point in time that can neither be altered nor removed from reality” “It was touch-and-go at several points” she had tears welling in her eyes “Luna, I don’t want you to feel sorry for having to witness what I was put through in that hospital, I want you to feel glad that I’m alive, and we’re together, try to focus on that, Ok?” I gave a faint smile “And so we will” she pecked my cheek as Littlepip teleported onto my back, her arms loosely wrapped around my neck as she placed her head on my shoulder, pecking my other cheek, nuzzling into me, teleporting back down as we walked into the area of the already-happening party “So, what’s it like, being an alien in love with a pony?” Vinyl smirked “Vinyl,” Octavia scorned “How can you rack up the nerve to ask such a thing!?” “It’s alright, it’s actually a rather good question,” I chuckled “it’s a little odd, but then so am I, so I suppose it’d work” “Very odd” Littlepip laughed “So, what’re you going to do for Nightmare Night?” Vinyl raised a suggestive eyebrow “Nightmare Night, what’s that?” I tilted my head ever-so slightly “It’s basically where you dress up for fun and gain sweets by scaring other ponies” Littlepip chortled “An apt way to explain it” Octavia facehooved “So, it’s like Halloween then” Blaze smirked “Tesla can just go bare chest, act like the terminator” “Blaze I’m not going to have reports of fillies and colts going into a mental breakdown just because of a prank” I scowled “You ruin my fun” she shrugged “You’re fun would’ve gotten me in prison, at the least,” I tutted “besides, where am I going to find a mechanical exoskeleton?” she grinned “Don’t you dare!” “I wouldn’t, I’m just wondering if we can’t get a potion or spell f some sort to do it for you, temporarily of course” she smirked “I did not need that mental image” I shuddered “Your mind, not mine” Blaze shrugged “So it is” Luna raised an eyebrow “Perhaps we shall participate, like last year’s event” “It’d be great if you did, princess” Pinkie Pie bounded over toward us, leaping up and down on the spot “What’re you going to Be Tesla?” Pinkie Pie nickered “I’m not going as anything,” I shrugged “haven’t got anything to wear, other than what I’m wearing” “That’s not true,” she giggled “Rarity’s been hard at work, designing something for you!” “Then I might as well take a look at it” I smiled “where’s Rarity?” “At canterlot, still working on your costume’s designs with the-” a lavender hoof quickly covered her mouth “With who, exactly,” I glanced toward Luna, who shrugged “one oddity after the next on Equis, honestly” “Ain’t that the truth” Blaze nodded “So what’re you going as?” I turned my attention to Twilight, who winked “Secret,” she giggled “As is yours by the sound of it” “Tell me about it,” I chuckled, again “so what’re you going as, Pinkie?” “I haven’t decided yet, maybe a dragon, maybe an alligator, or maybe I could do a bit of both!” “Too much coffee” I facepalmed “I don’t drink coffee silly, if I did that I’d be hyperactive and doing all sorts of crazy stuff!” she laughed “That… that’s rather worrying” I took a mildly large step in the other direction as she burst into laughter, bounding away in the direction of the gingerbread house “That’s rather disturbing,” Blaze shuddered “cute, and yet disturbing, who votes we test to see if she snorts cannabis?” “Blaze,” I snapped “I’m sure they wouldn’t allow illegal drugs to be, well, legal “Except in Cambodia” she smirked “Seven times now” Snowdrop smiled “Then how do you explain her seemingly unceasing state of hyperactivity; and without coffee nonetheless!” Blaze laughed “It’s a mystery, to be sure” I hummed “You know the line, Tesla?” she winked “I’m not a unicorn; I don’t have a horn, unless you mean the one down south, and unless you’re lit-” I stopped myself “Wrong,” she grinned “you were about to say Littlepip, weren’t you?” “Mind your own business” I smirked “That’s not, a ‘No’” she burst into roaring laughter “And it isn’t a ‘yes’ either” I grumbled “You wouldn’t mind me doing that,” Littlepip gaped, staring at me in apparent wonder “really?” “Bugger” I muttered =-=-= “Note to self,, never pronounce a typo” I muttered, having been whisked away to the library and back, both before and after raunchy ‘super-happy-fun-times’, I say on a bench next to the fountain “So, you have mechanical limbs, it’s like Fullmetal alchemist all over again” Blaze chortle “Doth, thou want us to sing the theme tune?” Luna smiled as she sat next to me opposite Littlepip, both smiling at me “if so; opening one, three, or four of Fullmetal alchemist Brotherhood?” “You two are the perfect beings” I stared at her in amazement, glancing toward Littlepip “Thou flatter us” their cheeks turned a crimson tint as Littlepip nibbled on my ear for a moment “I try” I smiled as Celestia trotted up to us “Is there a valid reason as to why the three of you were making that much noise earlier?” Celestia smiled “Well ya see, when a man and a woman love each other-!” I quickly stopped Blaze before she went too far “I’m not mad, just curious” Celestia smiled, sitting beside Luna “I don’t want you to be afraid of my royal status, my love” “That’s what they all say” Blaze patted my head, Celestia magicked up my guitar, somehow, from absolutely nowhere “Perhaps you’d like to play the town a song?” she smiled “Maybe I would” I smiled, walking with her and the others over to an aptly placed-and-crafted stage, sitting on the stool that was placed there as practically the whole town stopped what they were doing and walked over to the stage as I sat beside Littlepip, Luna and Celestia “The burning desire to live and roam free, It shines in the dark And it grows within me You're holding my hand but you don't understand So where I am going you won't be in the end” Littlepip stared the song beautifully “Im dreaming in colours Of getting the chance Of dreaming of trying the perfect romance The search of the door, to open your mind In search of the cure of mankind” Blaze continued, smiling with absolute glee as she did so “Help us we're drowning So close up inside Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? How will the lights die down, telling us who we are? “Luna chorused with the voice akin to the goddess that she was “I'm searching for answers Not given for free you’re hurting inside is there life within me? you're holding my hand but you don't understand So you're taking the road all alone in the end Im dreaming in colours, no boundaries are there Im dreaming the dream we all seem to share In search of the door, to open your mind In search of the cure of mankind Well help us we're drowning So close up inside” Celestia chimed alongside Snowdrop “Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Why does it rain, rain, rain, down on Utopia? And when the lights die down, telling us who we are. Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Oh, why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Now when the lights die down, telling us who we are Why does it rain?” we finished as a septet The crowd remained silent, before a wave of cheering, applaud and whistling was directed toward us “And certain people say that I have the voice of an angel?” I glanced toward the princesses “Would you like us to actually try next time,” Luna smirked, I stared at her “what?” “I think brother’s going into a mental breakdown” Blaze laughed “I am not!” I chortled “Notice how you instantly denied it” she folded her paws, Luna raised an eyebrow “Alright, so they have amazing singing voices, what else is new?” I grumbled “Other than the mechanical limbs, who’s to say?” Blaze shrugged “More Fairy Tail crossovers?” “That gives me an idea” I grinned “I don’t even want to think about what’s going through that warped mind of yours TK” Blaze shuddered “See if we can’t get the royal canterlot orchestra to compose renditions of the soundtrack” I grinned “Can you get the notes?” she tilted her head “I can try” I shrugged -=-=- After a few months of practicing, the orchestra was finally ready to play “Which one are we doing, sir?” one of the cellists sat at the front-middle of the orchestra “‘A Blaze that burns evil hearts’” I smiled “I know you can do this” “Thanks” he sighed, the audience behind me as they began to play The rendition was almost perfect, if not absolutely so, the orchestra managing to successfully match the instrumental, note for note As the song finished, the audience was silent, as if registering the music in their minds, before applauding the orchestra “We did not know that you knew that particular ‘Anime’” Luna smiled as I stood with my family alongside Littlepip, Twilight, her friends, Spike and the princesses, Cadance included “I’ve seen all six-hundred episodes” I raised an eyebrow “Only four-hundred” she smirked “I won’t spoil anything for you” I winked “Could thou use ‘Ryujin no Koen’?” she raised an eyebrow “Probably” I shrugged, again “ “‘Combine together the flames of a dragon and a God,’” Blaze grinned, “’Dragon God’s brilliant flame’” “Episode one-hundred-and-five, if we aren’t mistaken” Luna nodded “Sister, I believe you’ve been spending too much time on Tesla’s ‘laptop’” Celestia giggled “I don’t mind” I smiled “Then perhaps we could watch the rest of the series together?” Luna nickered “Why not?” I smiled =-=-= Not a week later and another orchestral piece had been composed an played, much to the shock-and-awe of the audience “How do you do it?” Twilight smiled “My knowledge of certain pieces of music helps, somewhat” I chuckled “The Fairy Tail soundtrack is one of the best that’ve been released,” Luna smiled “As composed by Yasuharu Takanashi” “That it is” I nodded “You two; Really,” Blaze laughed “Wonder if you can still use magic on your metallic arm” I lit a fireball on th end of the mechanical limb “So you can” -=- When Nightmare Night arrived, I stood with Blaze on my shoulder and Snowdrop perched on my head wearing an especially crafted set of armour, with Nyx by my side alongside Littlepip, Ryōshi and Luna “Why am I wearing this again?” I facepalmed “Rarity insisted that thou wear the armour that she designed at the armoury with Black Hammer” Luna smiled “and even though thou don’t use armour, we think it looks quite, shall we say ‘Epic,’ on thee?” “Thank you, My little Tsuki” I smiled back “Thou art most welcome, Mayonaka Nikkō Ryū Kishi” she giggled “The new wizard in armour,” I chuckled “seriously I look like Endymion in this!” “Yoroi majutsu-shi” Littlepip nickered “So, what’re you going to do,” Blaze patted my shoulder armour with her feet “Sing, get a few snacks, scare the living shi-” “Language” I butted in “Well sorry, Sir-Bossy-pants” she tutted “but seriously, what’re we going to do?” “Well it’s not like I can show off what I can do, without doing significant damage to the town” I sighed As Twilight and her friends trotted up to me I heard someone cheering as two slightly disfigured colts stampeded past me, only for Twilight and her friends, with Spike, the small, bipedal lizard, or, as Twilight had borderline-scolded me, baby dragon, on Twilight’s back “Where’re they going?” Twilight blinked “Might as well follow them” I mumbled, walking with Twilight and her friends toward a large crowd “Behold, the great and powerful Trixie!” a mild blue unicorn with a purple wizards hat and cape, both with stars and moons scattered on them, cheered as several small fireworks launched behind the stage she’d set up “the greatest unicorn to ever live!” she went on a s a mustard yellow unicorn with a pale blue mane and tail and a short, stocky pale blue unicorn with a short, spiky ginger mane and tail glimmered at her performance “Someone, please get her outta here before she humiliates herself” Applejack and Rainbow Dash groaned “Whilst I do believe she should relinquish the stage for our dear Tesla, I believe we should at least give her a chance to show us what she can do” Rarity smiled, nudging my leg with a sultry smirk “I do believe we have some neighsayers in the audience!” Trixie croaked “If you’re so powerful, why don’t you do some proper spells?” Rainbow Dash frowned, folding her arms “I’d like to see you do magic, Pegasus” Trixie spat “I don’t need to,” Rainbow Dash stuck her tongue out at Trixie “I’ve already done TWO sonic rain-booms!” “Whatever that is” Trixie laughed, turning her attention to me, I glared at her “what have I done for you to give me that look, biped?” “You claim to be the best unicorn to ever live, yet all I see Is a scared little child” I deadpanned “if you were really the best unicorn to ever live, you’d be in canterlot, or in one of the major cities, not in a place like ponyville, no offense Twilight” I glanced at the lavender unicorn stood at my side “None taken” Twilight winked “And what of you, biped?” Trixie smirked “why are you in this wretched dump?” several ponies started to voice their opinions, I silenced them with a raised hand “If it’s a wretched dump, like I said, you wouldn’t be here, and, if I may ask, if it’s a wretched dump, why’re you here?” I grinned again “To show off of course, Duh!” the yellow unicorn stated toward me as if it were the most obvious answer on the planet “A true wizard shouldn’t need to feel the urge to ‘show off,’” I growled “a true wizard would be out adventuring across the country using his powers to help others, not for his own pathetic personal gain” “That’s your opinion?” Trixie cackled with laughter “you’re thicker than you look!” “And you have no actual knowledge about what magic really is” I snapped “clearly you lack discipline, and therefore grace, I’ll be in the library, should you wish to learn more” I glimmered “And what victories could you possibly have to your name?” she spat “I’m a dragon slayer, and I’m only the fifth strongest in the guild” I folded my arms “Very well” Trixie nodded; tutting to herself; turning her attention to the crowd “is there anypony here who wishes to see us test our might against one another?” Several ponies in the crowd cheered, several more nodded, several even more beamed with ecstasy “then it shall be so, in the everfree forest, in twenty minutes, be there, Biped, or forfeit!” By the time she’d packed up her things and left with the two unicorns, Twilight and her friends gaped at me “Tesla?” Twilight placed a gentle hoof on my leg “Yes?” I sighed, looking down at her “Are you really that annoyed by her?” Rarity blinked “To be frank, I hope there aren’t many ponies like her in this world” I frowned “You mean unicorns?” she blinked “No, I mean arrogant cocky immature stuck-up morons, who’ve not the faintest clue about what they could really do with themselves, if they had the aptitude” I clenched my fists “I’d no idea you’re so sensitive about magic like that” Twilight held a hoof to her mouth as I crouched down, placing Scootaloo on the ground “Take our time getting here did we?” Trixie smirked beside the two unicorns as I entered a clearing with her small caravan parked at the opposite edge “If you’re so powerful, attack me already” I snarled, fists blazing with a crimson fire as she charged up her horn, which lit up with a cyan glow as a flurry of magical energy bolts darted toward me “Is that it” I yawned as the darts collided against me all at once, creating an explosion “I wouldn’t laugh, biped!” Trixie cackled with laughter, only to be caught short as I inhaled the flames of the explosion, all but bolting them down, exhaling a large torrent of blood-red fire into the sky, sighing as I turned back toward the three unicorns, Trixie looked horrified as I slowly made my way toward her, knocking the other two aside as they charged at me “Please, stay away!” she screamed, as I reached out a hand, only to gently stroke her mane “Now you see; there’s always someone better” I smiled, weakly “I’m sorry!” Trixie cried, tears streaming down her face “I didn’t mean to gloat, I only wanted to be noticed” “Come here” I smiled again, wrapping my arms around her as she draped her hooves around my neck “you silly thing” I chuckled “if you wanted help, all you needed to do was ask” “I need some time to think” she sniffled as I let her go “Alright then” I nodded, walking back to Ponyville Once I was back at Ponyville “Tesla” Celestia gave me a look of concern as she, Luna, Twilight and her friends trotted up to me “She’s fine” I shook my head, sitting on the edge of the stage “just a little shaken is all” “What did you do?” Celestia blinked “I played her game, I showed off, cheap pyrotechnics, to put it simply” I clicked my shoulders “Will she be alright?” Twilight it her lip “If she’s as brave as she is arrogant, she’ll be fine” I smiled “That really grinds your gears doesn’t it?” Rarity hummed “People like that give us wizards a bad rep” I deadpanned “Besides; she wanted me to show off, so I did” “Thou art truly a devious one, Tesla” Luna smiled, sitting next to me “You mentioned something about being the fifth strongest in the guild, who’s the strongest?” Rainbow Dash smirked “Either Gildarts, or Guildmaster Makarov” I tilted a hand “So, the guild acts as a second family?” Celestia raised an eyebrow “It can do” I nodded “it’s a place where kids can go if they have nowhere to call home, it can be a place where aspiring mages can learn magic or earn enough to keep themselves alive, or it can be an endless adventure, hence the name, ‘Fairy Tail’” “That’s an interesting concept” she chuckled “It’s also a way of life” I raised an eyebrow “Ya’ll humans are weird” Applejack laughed “I know” I smiled “So what do we do about Trixie?” Rainbow Dash tilted her head, sitting next to me, opposite Luna “Search me” I sighed “to be honest, there’re one or two wizards like her in Fiore, but they’re easy enough to deal with that I don’t even bother” “You’ve seen ponies like Trixie before?” Twilight blinked “And as wizards?” “Not very successful wizards, but I’m afraid it’s true” I rolled my eyes, smiling as Littlepip sat beside me, with Blaze still sat on my shoulder, and Snowdrop perched on my head -=- “I’m sorry for showing off” Trixie bit her lip, I said nothing, merely folding my arms as I sat cross-legged on the ground “I shouldn’t have done what I did, and I request, no, I implore that I be your student!” she bowed her head, tears streaming down her muzzle “I don’t know what to say” I blinked “I don’t really know that much outside of dragon slayer magic“ “You have a right go at her and then turn around and say that?” Twilight laughed “Stick to what you know” I shrugged “Perhaps I could teach both of you” she nickered “I can teach myself” I tutted “Speak for yourself” she smirked “I just did” I blinked, steadily getting back to my feet, turning my attention to Trixie “So what magic can you use?” “Basic telekinesis, a few weak fire spells, and magic bolts” Trixie stammered “Well it looks the two of you’ll be learning as a duo” Twilight nickered again “have fun!” Two weeks had passed since Trixie and I had started learning magic outside of our usual perimeters, and to be honest, I didn’t feel like I was getting anywhere, sure I’d mastered all the spells like basic elemental spells and telekinesis, but other than that, nothing But I suppose that’s what I get for not being able to stop thinking about a certain winged unicorn, or as Twilight had taught me, alicorn; my mind alight with thoughts of the lunar goddess, it was almost unbelievable how many times a day I thought of her “Trixie believes that she has progressed” Trixie smiled gleefully at me in the library “This is basic stuff, you’re bound to progress” I sighed “Well sorry” Trixie frowned “Are you two arguing again?” Twilight giggled “We’re not arguing” Trixie and I spoke in unison glancing at each other, smirking “She’s right behind me isn’t she?” I grumbled, Twilight nodded as Luna appeared beside me “Greetings, Sir Tesla” Luna smiled, nuzzling into me “what’re thou doing?” “Studying,” I blinked “didn’t ever think I’d say that” “Wouldst thou likest to go out for dinner sometime,” she bit her lip “With thine sister?” “Why, are you saying that you’re not good enough?” I raised an eyebrow “because we all know that’s an absolute lie” “How’re you getting along with telekinesis?” Twilight sat before me “Don’t really need it but I’m learning anyway,” I sighed with Snowdrop sat opposite Trixie, Ryōshi sat next to her, with Blaze perched upon my head “Why not?” she blinked “A little handy spell called ‘Purple Flare’” Blaze smirked “Show me” she raised an eyebrow, I sat cross-legged on the floor, generating a fireball around my hand, reaching toward the book I was reading, and what appeared to be a tendril-like arm sprouted from the blazing sphere, closing the book and passing it to Twilight “That’s amazing!” she placed the book back on the floor, staring at me “Where did you learn that?” “We learnt a thing or two from the guild” “Blaze ignited her paws with miniature fireballs as somewhat ‘spiky’ almost blade life flame sprouted from her head, bursting into flames “What on Equis?!” Luna blurted out “I named my sister after her namesake ability” I grinned “So I see!” Twilight laughed “Just wait until Celestia hears about this “Until she hears about what-?” Spike glanced toward the now well-ignited blaze “That’s awesome!” “It helps” Blaze glimmered (pun not intended) As we stood outside of the castle in the arena, I breathed whitish-golden flames over the now flaming Quilava, who inhaled them with gusto, scales appearing on her legs, arms paws, feet, and face as her canines extended into fangs as wings sprouted from her back, those of which were akin to a dragon’s as she lout out a powerhouse roar that caused th ground itself to almost-literally tremble “That’s incredible, truly, where did you learn it?” Celestia stood in apparent surprise at Blaze’s new winged form “Blaze was low on energy at one point so I gave her a bit of mine,” I chuckled “the result is what you see before you now, the aptly named ‘Inferno’” “You didn’t think Tesla was the only dragon slayer here did ya?” Blaze cackled with laughter, inhaling sharply, tilting her head toward the sky as she perched herself on my head, and then exhaling an enormous torrent of fire into the sky “Karyu No Entei!” “Fire dragon’s flame emperor” I raised an eyebrow “Sounded good at the time, brother” she smirked, moving down to my shoulder “Fair enough” “So, ya’ll are a dragon slayer?” Applejack glanced toward Blaze “Don’t let my size het the best of you, I can put down a dragon just as easy as my brother” Blaze grinned “But you’re only as big as spike!” Rarity blinked “Alright, get Grandoa back here I’ll kick his ass in a minute flat!” she snapped “Or, we could see if there’s another dragon nested nearby” I facepalmed “That too” she simpered “But I don’t think your girlfriend would be too happy with it” “Touché” I sighed as she extended and retracted her wings a few times “Who exactly are you referring too, Brother?” she rolled a paw “Who do you think?” I exhaled sharply “Thank you, Tesla” Littlepip stood by my side “You’re quite welcome” I smiled, my ears twitched, as did Blaze’s “You hear something?” I glanced toward th winged Quilava on my shoulder “Don’t I just, it’s like the wind itself is being split in two,” Blaze shook her head as a pale brown Pegasus with a grey-scale mane and tail wearing an explorer’s hat and jacket with a compass rose cutie mark and magenta eyes landed before me “So, you two are what’s causing the influential disturbances of magic in Equestria,” the Pegasus frowned “I need to ask you to stop” “What’s wrong with a little fire?” I raised an eyebrow “You may not notice it but I can, the whole flow of magic in the atmosphere’s going crazy!” she scowled, I blinked, closing my eyes, ‘feeling around,’ as it were, with my other senses, the atmosphere felt thick, somewhat tangible, as if it were a dull, gloopy liquid “That’s new” I clicked my tongue “And it’s like that all over equestria, which is why I need you to stop,” she sighed “If you’re a Pegasus, how do you know what the magic’s like in the atmosphere?” I tilted my head “I was born here, that’s how,” she borderline-snapped “ever since you came here the atmosphere’s turned somewhat darker, almost like death itself where resurrected as a living being” “Yeah, no,” I spat “my power is akin to that of fire, as is Blaze’s, so how can it be me?” “Fire,” she deadpanned, I ignited both fists “So I see, then I was wrong about you..?” “Tesla” I held out a hand, which she shook “Daring Doo,” she smirked “Who’s the winged ferret?” “I’m a Quilava,” Blaze frowned “And my name is Blaze” “An apt name for such a creature” she raised an eyebrow “Where’s Spike?” I blinked “He left for the great dragon migration” Twilight smiled “we’re tempted to go with him, but his specie’s tradition is that they go alone “Tesla’s one-third dragon” Blaze smirked “Why don’t you go then?” Rarity smiled “I’ll bet you’ll have lots to tell them” “Yeah; and maybe when can find Crystagia whilst we’re at it” Blaze smiled “Who?” Daring Doo blinked “An elder, crystal dragon; one who gave me my abilities via gemstone, making me a second generation dragon slayer” I explained “But if you’re to find any sort of lead as to where they are, surely you’d want to go” “No thanks, I’m content in knowing that she’s fine” “She?” Twilight grinned “I’ll bet that she didn’t just give you your abilities, Tesla” “Fine, I’ll go” I grumbled” “Do we get to go with you?” Snowdrop and Littlepip pleaded, giving me their best –puppy-dog eyes “I don’t mind if you come with me, I just don’t want you getting hurt” I smiled “Thank you, Tesla” Littlepip cooed -=-=-=- When we got to the large –nay, humungous crater- there were dragons everywhere “This is as far as I can go” Celestia gave a faint smile as I slid down the side of the crater with Littlepip and Ryōshi, Snowdrop rested upon my head with Blaze flying beside me “What are you supposed to be?” a crimson dragon with golden underbelly scales and wings stepped forward alongside a white dragon with lilac spines and scales, a magenta dragon with purple scales and spines, and a dark brown dragon with gunmetal coloured-horns “Need your friends to back you up to face me?” I grinned “What?” he snapped “Don’t you know that ponies aren’t allowed here, this is dragon territory!” “And yet we’re still technically in Equestria” Blaze smirked “Who do you think you are?” he snarled “Teslakana, Wizard, Dragon slayer” I cracked my knuckles “Don’t make me laugh!” he chortled “I think this guy’s got a screw loose” the white dragon spat “As if an alien could beat a dragon, especially one so small and fragile-looking!” “Least I’m not a winged gecko” I tutted “now, where’s Crystagia?” “How do you know that name?” all four of them went pale “She’s my foster mother; and my magic tutor” I scowled “now, are we going to comply or do I have to get you to kneel?” “You, get us to kneel, to you!?” the magenta dragon cackled insanely “You really do have a screw loose!” “I warned you” I inhaled sharply, exhaling pitch-black flames at the small group “Why do these flames hurt?” the crimson dragon screamed in agony “there’s no way you could kill us!” “I won’t have to if you tell me where she is” I growled “You don’t have the guts!” I smacked him right in the jaw, sending him sprawling “Don’t I?” I glared at him as he crawled to his feet “Alright,” he blurted out, staring at me in apparent horror “We’re sorry, just don’t kill us, please!” “Better” I spat “Piss me around again and I’ll send your jaw flying away” “So, you want to know where she is?” the white dragon eyed me up and down “what are you?” “A human, an eon, and a dragon slayer” I smirked “I think we’d better get Grandoa” the magenta dragon stared at me, gesturing for me to follow them Once we entered the wider section of the crater, there stood Grandoa, in all of his prime “Do you seek me out to fight once more?” Grandoa grinned down at me, bringing himself down to eye-level with me “I honoured you with a fight; perhaps you could honour me with a few answers and directions” my eyes narrowed “Speak, human, what is it that eludes you?” he nodded “Do you know the one named Crystagia?” the whole crater practically gasped in surprise, Grandoa not included “I may do, why?” he frowned “She’s the one who took me in when nobody else would; I want to know where she is so I can show my gratitude I bowed on the ground before him “please, I implore that you tell me, where is she?” “Your dedication to the legendary dragon is noteworthy, but I’m afraid that I can’t help you” he sighed “You must know something” I stared up at him “I do, but I’m afraid for what’ll happen to your wellbeing should you go through with it” he grumbled “I don’t care if it kills me, I just want to say thank you, even if it costs me my body and mind, I’ll sing it out with my heart and soul!” I bellowed “Very well, I shall teach you of how to locate Crystagia” he laughed, his eyes glowing as they locked onto mine “do you, perchance, know, the dragonsong?” “No, she disappeared before she could teach me” I shook my head, tears streaming down my face” “Then I shall teach you” he stood upright, beginning to whistle a rather slow tune, mimicked him, cupping my hands against my lips as I did so “try again, without your hands” he chuckled “If you say so” I nodded, whistling the tune that he whistled “Now try to whistle it a little faster, and vary the pitch a little more” he nodded I tried again “Good, now you know the first part, onto the second” he smiled =-=-=-=-= When I returned to canterlot, I fell back on the grass in the shade below a nearby tree “Tesla, you’re back” I sat upright, the princesses were stood there with Twilight and her friends “Afternoon” I smiled “Likewise” Celestia glanced at my wings “you changed them?” “Grandoa said that if I were to be a slayer of dragons, I need to at least have the wings of one” I chuckled “I heard what you said” she bit her lip “about Crystagia, I must say I’m shocked“ “Igneel has a human son, as does Mettallicana,” I shrugged “they both use fire and iron dragon slayer magic respectively” “But for a dragon to have a human son at all is unheard of, even in the times of old!” Luna stared at me in awe “I guess I’m one of a kind” I gleamed “Literally!” Blaze and I shared a laugh “I didn’t think you’d be able to master such an art as the Ryū kyoku” “The dragonsong,” Celestia gaped “Grandoa taught you that legendary spell!?” “It’s a spell?” I blinked “mind you, some spells do use incantations” “And this is one such spell, you could call down the greatest dragons from ages past with that song, I trust that he taught you how to use it appropriately?” she raised an eyebrow “I’m still wondering what to do with it, he said that I’d know who to summon and when, but he didn’t say where or how” I sighed “The dragonsong will take care of that, all you need to do is use your willpower to forge the dragon you need from the grave” she slowly shook her head “I would never of thought for this to happen to you, Tesla, be careful, what you hold in your very being now could wipe out the whole of Equis if its misused” “The whole planet,” Blaze whistled, whereas I stared at her “just how strong are these dragons?” “They are almost gods in their own right,” Luna began “anger even one of them and it’d be like signing thine own death warrant, they’d kill you in a second, and for such reasons, there was held, a moot, to determine whether the dragons were to be reverted into the state they’re in now, or to keep their borderline divine power, knowing that their anger could bring the world crumbling down around us all” she went on “now do thou understand thy risks of having thy spell?” “I understand,” I nodded “but that most’ve been a lot of power to sacrifice in order to save Equis, I mean a Giga-tonne “You don’t know the half of it” Celestia sighed “but that’s a story for another time” “I have one more question I’d like to add in” I bit my lip “Go on” she smiled, faintly “Did the dragons’ energy get used in transforming the humans into the eons?” I flinched “You said yourself that you’re one-third dragon;” she gave a mournful look “does that not answer your question, human?” “Thou hath always had that part of you ever since you became an eon, thou just need a way to release it, safely” Luna smiled “And how would I go about doing that,” I clicked my neck “preferably without killing all who live on Equis, they have as much right to be here as I do, after all” “You are noble; that much is apparent” Celestia smiled “I just care about my home, as any sentient being should” “No transformers quote?” Blaze patted the side of my head, her scales, wings and fangs receding into her small body “Freedom is the right of all sentient beings” I grumbled “There’s a good dragon” she grinned, turning her attention to Celestia “so what happens when these dragons are apparently ‘summoned’ by the song?” “Our memory is vague at best,” Luna shook her head “forgive us but we have forgotten” “Guess there’s only one way to find out” I sighed, again “Not that I’m going to do it here, of all places” “I wouldn’t push your luck, if it’s as legendary as they say it is, I’d try it elsewhere, away from any major populated areas” Littlepip smiled “Or any of the smaller ones either” Snowdrop giggled “May we have access to the archives, to study on the matter?” Littlepip sat beside me “You may, however I may not be wholly be held responsible for what you find, Littlepip” Celestia gave a slight nod “Then that settles it then, thanks Cellsy” I smiled “There is one thing I may’ve forgotten to add,” Celestia declared as I walked into the castle with Ryōshi and Littlepip at my side, Snowdrop still perched upon my head “when you became an eon, both the first time one billion years past, and the second time a few years ago, you had the soul of a dragon implanted in you, one with unimaginable power, but, like your willpower, it will only be as strong s you are, and we both know what you’re capable of, Tesla” “Thanks for the tip” Blaze and I waved as I walked to the archives -=-=- As I sat in the archives, reading books I’d found about the dragons of old, I couldn’t help but feel somewhat nostalgic That was, until I found a certain page on a certain book… “This…” I dropped the book I was reading, staring at the depiction of a legendary, elegant-beyond-belief dragon, one with small, prismatic, crystalline spines growing in rows along its back and down its tail, ending in a trident-blade- tail-tip, with glowing sapphire eyes and a snow-white coat of scales with silvery-pearl coloured underbelly scales “what is this?” “Judging by the look I’d say it’s Crystagia,” Blaze whistled “never thought she looked like that!” “Guess I’m going to have to use the song sooner than I’d hoped to” I bit my lip “Crystagia, the size, element, and origins of this mythic dragon are all but unknown at best,” Blaze read aloud “many have spent their lives searching for her in an almost epic quest for her secrets, but so far not one being has been reported sighted again” she went on “it is ill-advised that anyone go searching for her, as there have been reports of constant, unceasing wails and scrams wherever many an adventurer seem to have passed away” she finished “My mom’s not a murderer!” I growled, slamming the book shut, marching out of the “We know that, but the rest of Equestria seems to think differently” Littlepip nodded as we marched out of the archives, and down to the main hall, and from there to the arena “Are you sure you want to do this?” Blaze bit her lip as I picked a long blade of grass from the ground surrounding the arena, holding it in my hands like a grass whistle “There doesn’t appear to be another way to go, Blaze, I’m sorry” I began to play the dragonsong, the clouds swirling in spirals as I did so, great bolts of thunder and lightning clashing through the sky, and the reek of death sprung into the air as a large, decaying dragon burst from the ground, though somehow managed to come forth without damaging anything “What is it that you need; greenhorn?” the dragon bowed before me “Do you know of anyone named Crystagia?” I inhaled sharply “Aye,” he nodded “many an adventurer seek her counsel, none ever make it to her alive, be it fate or simple misfortune,” I glared at him “why do you ask, newbie?” “She took me in when nobody else would, she cared for me like one of her own, acted as a mother would, and then she just vanished, not so much as a ‘goodbye,’ or ‘see you later,’ she just left” I snarled “Ah yes,” he blinked “I am sorry to hear that, but I can’t help you, though I know of someone who can” “Who?” I clenched my fists, holding onto my hopes as tightly as I could “You want to speak to Faust, and unfortunately, and this is assuming my history is correct, she died several centuries ago” the reanimated corpse sighed “it seems fate has struck you as the unlucky type, greenhorn, is there anything else that I can do for you?” “If she’s dead,, then I’ll just have to bring her back, just like I did snowdrop” I frowned “Are you sure,” he smirked “Faust is a god, an alicorn, she has more magical prowess than the current three princesses combined, and is just as wise and caring, are you sure you want to go down this road, I’d hate to sound too cliché, but if you start, there is not stopping the events that will unfold, be they next year, or even tomorrow “I don’t care about the future, I just want to see mom’s smile again” I snapped “So be it,” he nodded “what you’re going to need is in the castle in the everfree, I shall give you the other half of what you need, what you do from here on is of your concern, not mine…” =-= As I stood in the castle in the everfree on the following day, I walked up the stairs in the main hall, walking through the winding corridors until I reached a set of double doors, Ryōshi and Littlepip having followed me all the way, whilst Snowdrop and Blaze were sat on my head and shoulder respectively “This is it” I sighed, pushing the double doors open, walking into the room “So, this is where it all begins” Blaze whistled “in an ancient castle on a quest to give our gratitude to an ancient dragon, neat” “Indeed” I hummed, lifting the pillowcases on the king-sized bed, revealing twin pendants, one black, the other white, fitting the two together; I found that they made the yin-yang symbol Opening the drawers; I found a set of footwear, the exact same type as the princesses wore, alongside a torque-like necklace, s well as a crown similar to Celestia’s only with a large diamond in it Placing the jewellery on the floor in a position I’d expect to find it in a coffin, I bit down on my finger, drawing a little blood, letting it drip over the armour “We’re doing alchemy now?” Blaze laughed “Just sit back and watch” I glimmered, clapping my hands together, slamming them against the wooden floor, looking on as arcs of cyan lightning encircled the accessories, floating into the air as a skeleton faded into being, eventually followed by the musculatory and circulatory systems, the nervous system, as well as the organs, followed by the skin and fur, and then the burgundy mane and tail, and finally her teal eyes, her wings and horn, landing on the floor as the jewellery, which had silver fleur-de-lis markings, as did the crown, fitted onto her, almost clicking into position “Welcome, human, to my room, and I assume there’s a reason you’re here?” the alicorn raised an eyebrow “You do realize you’ve been dead for quite a while?” Blaze folded her arms; I shot her a glare “Sorry” “How long have I been gone?” the winged unicorn blinked “I’d say one millennia, maybe two” I shrugged “I’ve only gotten here last year” “So, the humans have returned,” she had a hopeful look in her eye “are they returning to Equis to rule as Tesla once did, and why do you look an awful lot like him?” “I can’t answer that because I honestly don’t know” I bit my lip, my back suddenly feeling lighter “Your wings have disappeared,” Littlepip gasped as I glanced behind me, my wings, or four of them, had vanished, their remains lying in bits and pieces on the floor “I still have a set or two, so I don’t mind” I smiled, turning back to the snow-white alicorn “perhaps you’d like to join us, we’re heading back to canterlot anyway” “Is Celestia Ok,” she gasped “are my daughters well?” “They’re fine” I smiled “you needn’t worry” “Thank Concordia” she sighed with relief -=- “What…” Celestia and Luna gaped at me with apparent surprise “What is the meaning of this illusion, Tesla?” “This is no illusion, Princess, she’s really here” Littlepip smiled “Then it’s really you, mother!” Celestia burst forth, leaping into a loving embrace of the red-haired alicorn “I missed you so much!” “And I you, my little Celly, and you too Lulu” the alicorn draped her wings around the two sisters “I’ll leave you three to catch up” I smiled, walking into the gardens, relaxing under the shade if a tree “You really did it Daddy,” Snowdrop nuzzled into me as she curled up in my lap “you really ought Faust back?” “It’d appear so, my little snowflake,” I smiled “I’m sorry for scaring you with that accident” “It’s Ok,” she giggled “I know that it’d take more than that to keep you down daddy, you’ve beaten dragons, and got toe-to-toe with the emperor himself, and to top it all off, you’re an element of nature, an all-but forgotten force of Equis that’s apparently more powerful than the elements of harmony themselves” “And that I am” I nodded sacrificing one set of wings to bring her body back, and the other for her magic, I’d say it was a fair trade-off” “What’d you consider to be a challenge?” Blaze smirked, again “If it can’t cause great harm or kill you, you don’t get the title of dragon slayer” I shrugged “Seems fair enough,” she nodded “what do you think of the new mare in town?” “I just hope she’ll be Ok when she gets word of what’s happened since her passing” I “As do I” Littlepip hummed “she’s said to have died nearly three millennia ago, and yet she looks younger than you, no offense “None taken, after all, I’m around a century old, give or take a decade” “So, what was with the apparent trade-off?” she blinked “It’s alchemy’s most basic principle;” I smiled “to obtain, something of equal value must be sacrificed” “It’s the law of equivalent exchange, or the equilibrium constant, however you prefer” Blaze chuckled “That sounds simple enough” Littlepip nickered “It is, that’s why it’s so dangerous, for inexperienced alchemists” I lay on my back, with Blaze on my chest, and Snowdrop on my stomach “So when do you think Faust’s going to be accepted into the society?” Blaze grinned “Wouldn’t take much, with her being a goddess and all” I sighed, again “You think so?” she raised an eyebrow “I can’t help but feel like an overly-clichéd villain trying to bring about the end of the world with what I’ve done” I hummed “That’s because, with all things considered, probably could with the depth of what we’re trying to do, what you’re trying to do” Littlepip gave a faint smile “but I’m sure you’ll know what to do when the time comes “Speaking of clichés” I laughed “Leave her be, Blaze” I exhaled sharply “Tesla”, I sat upright, Blaze moving back onto my shoulder as I did so, the princesses as well as Faust were stood before me, frowning “We believe you have some explaining to do” Celestia’s eyes narrowed “and why’re you’re wings missing?” “Alchemy” I blurted out “And what did you think you were going to accomplish by resurrecting our mother?” she scowled “I hope you realise the gravity of what you’ve done here today, Tesla” “Please, let him speak” Faust spoke with a motherly tone, placing a gentle hoof on her daughter’s shoulder “I do realise the gravity of the situation,” I bit my lip, glaring toward Celestia “why didn’t you tell me Crystagia was a murderer?” “What are you talking about?” Celestia stared at me “It’s all there in the archives,” Blaze snapped “how many an adventurer have suffered similar ill-met fates trying to find Tesla’s foster mother, that was bad enough, but having it written out in such a way that it makes her seem like she’s the one doing it, who the hell do you think you’re dealing with here?” “I only wrote it that way to stop others from risking their lives trying to find her!” Celestia yelled, quickly covering her mouth with a hoof “And unwittingly, you separated Tesla here from his apparent foster parent, I thought better of you, Celestia” “But mother I-!” “To your rooms, the both of you” Faust snapped, they left without a word, teleporting away “I’m sorry for any inconveniences that they may’ve caused you, my love” “What?” I blinked “Before I apparently ‘died,’ you and I were inseparable” she smiled “The ‘king and queen’ of Equis, as it were” “You can be my queen anytime you want, you’re gorgeous” I gleamed “I’d be honoured” she bowed, walking with me as Snowdrop perched herself back upon my had, with Ryōshi and Littlepip by my side as we walked “Celly tells me you’re quite the singer, care to sample a song?” Faust giggled as we stood in the theatre, passing me the guitar from backstage “Now I’m the one who should be honoured, my queen” I quickly bowed, sitting on the bench, beginning to play “The burning desire to live and roam free, It shines in the dark And it grows within me You're holding my hand but you don't understand So where I am going you won't be in the end. Im dreaming in colours Of getting the chance Of dreaming of trying the perfect romance The search of the door, to open your mind In search of the cure of mankind Help us we're drowning So close up inside Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? How will the lights die down, telling us who we are? I'm searching for answers Not given for free You're hurting inside Is there life within me? You're holding my hand but you don't understand So you're taking the road all alone in the end Im dreaming in colours, no boundaries are there Im dreaming the dream we all seem to share In search of the door, to open your mind In search of the cure of mankind Well help us we're drowning So close up inside Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Why does it rain, rain, rain, down on Utopia? And when the lights die down, telling us who we are Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Oh, why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Now when the lights die down, telling us who we are Why does it rain?” Snowdrop, Littlepip, Blaze and I sang a s a quartet alongside a fifth member whose voice came from nowhere “Hello, Tesla” Crystal smirked, hovering right in front of me “Hey Crystal” I waved “How’re you today?” “In all our sixty years together, I think that’s the first actual greeting you’ve given me” she laughed “You two are together?” Faust blinked “We’re married, but I keep having to tell Tesla that it’s an open relationship” Crystal sighed, turning her gaze towards me “Alright, what did you do this time, nearly cause the end of life as we know it again?” “I guess you could say that” I rubbed the back of my head “How’d you do it this time?” she sighed “Tesla used the dragonsong” Blaze chortled chapter V Remedy“The what-song, now?” “Dragonsong, I was taught how to use it by Grandoa” I explained “Ah yes, the dragon emperor, is he well?” Faust nickered “He’s fine” I nodded, leaning the guitar against the wall “his temper’s as hot as the flames he breathes” “He’s always been like that, I’d even consider him a brother of mine” she chuckled “How old is he?” Littlepip smiled “He’s been around for six-hundred rotations of the moon” she winked “He’s ancient,” Crystal whistled “it’s no wonder Tesla barely managed to come out on top!” “Indeed” Faust nodded “he is the only remnant of the dragons of od who still exist, amongst a select few” “And would Crystagia be one of them?” I bit my lip, again “She would, her location however, I cannot tell you,” she frowned “unless of course, you would lay down you r life for those who you care about” “Gladly” I tutted “that’s the thing about the Fairy Tail guild, we look after our own, even if it should cost me my life, I’ll find a way to defend all who I care about” her horn glowed for a split second, she smiled “It seems that you’re being perfectly honest with me,” she sighed “very well, I can tell you of her location, but first” her horn flared a bright crimson colour “just in case, I’ve soundproofed the room, now, without further ado, your mother resides in the scarlet hills, beyond Equestria’s borders “I thought you said your mother died?” Crystal folded her arms “My actual mother did,” I nodded 2Crystagia acted as a mother figure toward me, and just like a mother would, she did all she could for me, watched me as I stumbled, praised me when I did something good, and warned me when I did something that she didn’t see as right” I continued “and then she vanished, just like that” I snapped my fingers “and now I’m on the journey of my life to find her” “Sounds cliché, but I’ll roll with it, if only for you, my love” she pecked my cheek as a great rumbling echoed throughout the castle “I think we’d better see what that was” “Agreed” Faust and I quickly marched with the others at my side as ran through the castle, and out into the gardens, only to bear witness to one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen, period” “Is that” I gaped, quickly spotting the form of a legendary-looking, elegant-beyond-belief dragon, one with small, prismatic, crystalline spines growing in rows along its back and down its tail, ending in a trident-blade- tail-tip, with glowing sapphire eyes and a snow-white coat of scales with silvery-pearl coloured underbelly scales “Crystagia!?” Twilight and her friends galloped out of the castle, only for fluttershy to run back in at the sight of the apparent living-legend before us, the only key difference was the whitish-golden claws that the dragon had, a small one above its snout, and two from the corners of its head, all thee glowing like topaz’s “Hello son” the dragon cooed, coming down to eye-level with me “how’ve you been?” “You, I, we…” I stammered “I missed you mom” I nuzzled into her “Ok, now that’s weird” Blaze laughed “I’ve missed you so much…” the dragon known as Crystagia gently nuzzled into me “And to see my son as a grown dragon slayer, too…” “I’ve missed you too mom,” I smiled, “but when, how, why?” “I felt an unknown presence enter Equis atmosphere, what’s more is I felt a familiar type of magic flow throughout the planet, I held onto my hopes that you’d come to find me, and when I heard the dragonsong, I had to come, and look at who I found” she had tears in her eyes, quite unexpected for a dragon “You don’t have to get so emotional” I bit my lip “but how did you hear the song if you’re possibly in another country?” “A mother always knows what’s best for her son” Crystagia smiled “I would’ve been honoured to meet your original mother, how she saved your life at the cost of her own is rather noble, for a human, don’t you think?” “For a human” I smiled as she lay in an arc around me “So, the book that’s in the archives labels you as a murderer, is that true?” “Blaze,” I snapped “that’s enough!” “No, you need to hear it” Crystagia sighed, her voice sweeter than honey “I was so frustrated at the thought of being away from you for too long, and the apparent ‘excuses’ weren’t enough for Celestia, so I acted out, I’m sorry” “You were frustrated at being away from your only son for longer than expected, that’s enough to make anyone annoyed I suppose, and so there is nothing to forgive” I placed a gently hand on her chest, the course feeling of her scales rubbing under my skin as I lightly massaged the area was somewhat awkward “Thank you Tesla” she smiled, staring at me with her gleaming sapphire eyes “you’ve no idea how much it warms me to hear that” “It’s the least I can do, mom” “So let me get this straight, she’s your adoptive mother?” Rainbow Dash stood at the front as Twilight and her friends stood before me as I sat myself against Crystagia’s stomach area, Spike sat on Twilight’s back “And the one who taught me Dragon slayer magic” I nodded “How is such a thing possible?” Twilight raised an eyebrow “You take of spike, do you not?” Crystagia smiled “That’s different” Spike gagged “She hatched you, that makes her your mother,” Crystagia laughed softly “I can feel whenever a new dragon is born, an old trait from an old dragon like me” “That’d mean that-!” “I felt it when you became an eon,” Crystagia nodded “you have the soul of a very ancient, very powerful dragon within you my son, use it wisely” “A dragon’s soul, an eon’s heart, and a human form, that’s cultural diversity right there” Blaze laughed “Careful Blaze, you can also use dragon slayer magic” I scratched the Quilava behind the ears “So I do” she leaned into the scratch “Tesla, you’ve a sister” Crystagia winked “I know- wait, what?” I blinked, staring at her “You’ve a sister” she smiled “I’ll be right back, just wait here” and with that she flew back to where she’d come from, disappearing in about all of three seconds “Holy fudge” I whistled as she returned, landing beside me with a small, quadruped dragon in her arms, once again lying in an arc around me as the dragon, who was pitch-black in colour with silver scales and spines with a blade-like tail tip with silvery/pearl-white horns, hid behind Crystagia “Go on, he’s your brother” Crystagia smiled as the dragon slowly made his way over to me, stopping every so often “Brother?” the dragon glanced back to her as she pointed to me “Yes, brother,” she nodded “go on, he won’t hurt you” “He doesn’t look like a dragon” the small reptile chuckled, I flapped my wings “in part” “He has the soul of a dragon; and the heart of an eon, his form maybe that of a human, but rest assured, I wouldn’t have him any other way” “Would you rather I take a draconic look?” I smiled, the small fem-dragon nodded, I triggered dragon force, my canines extending a little as scales appeared on my face, arms and hands “You activated it by yourself!?” Twilight gasped “I never said what generation dragon slayer I was” I smirked “I’m third generation, blaze is first gen” “Third gen dragon slayers can activate it simply by willing it” Blaze explained “Whereas first generation slayers need to get extra power from an external source” “Dragon, slayer,” the small black dragon quivered “I won’t kill my only family simply because I can” I rebuked, she sighed, standing beside me, feeling the scales on my hand “As voiced by Todd Haberkorn” Blaze spoke almost mysteriously “Actually I’m voiced by Vic Micogna in ‘the series’” I winked “That’s all I’m saying “Wouldn’t want to reveal too much, Tesla” Blaze chortled “I’m well aware of your antics on Earth, Tesla” Crystagia giggled “Vic Micogna, really, Tesla,” Blaze guffawed “It was either that or Travis Willingham” I shrugged, turning my attention to the young dragon beside me “So, how old are you, little one?” “Fifteen,” the dragon smiled, climbing up my arm and standing on my shoulder “you?” “Eighty,” I smiled “So, what’s it like, being reunited?” Faust nickered “Fantastic” I laughed “I should hope so” she simpered as Celestia and Luna trotted from the castle, walking toward us “You know what this calls for!?” Pinkie Pie leapt to ridiculous heights as she bounded up and down “A PARTY!” All of a sudden, an entire crowd of ponies appeared alongside the other necessary ‘parts’ to a party, none of the ponies seemed to mind Crystagia’s presence, nor that of the other dragon perched on my shoulder “What were to happen, should a dragon enter ‘Dragon Force’?” Spike raised a claw “Nothing much, they’d just gain more power in both magic and might” Crystagia shrugged “But Tesla’s part dragon” Twilight retorted “how is he able to use it so well?” “I’m one-third human, one-third dragon, and the rest is human” I sighed “that’d probably be the answer to your question” I turned my attention to the dragon on my shoulder “do you have a name?” “I’m Kiary” the dragon gleamed “Hello Celestia,” Crystagia snarled “I see that you still rule, so I can trust that all is well?” “Shall we see if a dragon slayer can truly kill a god?” I winked toward Kiary, who shrugged “How could a dragon slayer defeat a god?” Spike frowned “it’s impossible!” “I dunno, Natsu managed to beat the hell into Zancrow fairly easily” I grinned “Hey TK,” Pinkie Pie threw a guitar into the air “catch!” “And I suppose you want me to sing?” I sighed, holding the guitar as I caught it “If you would,” Crystagia smiled “show an old dragon a thing or two about music” “The burning desire to live and roam free, It shines in the dark And it grows within me You're holding my hand but you don't understand So where I am going you won't be in the end. Im dreaming in colours of getting the chance of dreaming of trying the perfect romance The search of the door, to open your mind In search of the cure of mankind Help us we're drowning So close up inside Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? How will the lights die down, telling us who we are? I'm searching for answers Not given for free you’re hurting inside is there life within me? You're holding my hand but you don't understand So you're taking the road all alone in the end Im dreaming in colours, no boundaries are there Im dreaming the dream we all seem to share In search of the door, to open your mind In search of the cure of mankind Well help us we're drowning So close up inside Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Why does it rain, rain, rain, down on Utopia? And when the lights die down, telling us who we are why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Oh, why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Now when the lights die down, telling us who we are Why does it rain?” I sang with Blaze, Littlepip and Snowdrop as a quartet alongside Crystal, who hovered beside me, opposite Kiary, playing the guitar as best I could throughout the whole song “A masterpiece, truly worthy, award-winning even” Crystagia glimmered “That’s nothing,” Littlepip smiled with apparent glee “Tesla managed to compose one of the greatest pieces of music I’d ever heard” “A blaze that burns evil hearts, I trust?” she beamed “How did you..?” Littlepip blinked “I know all of Tesla’s antics as if they were my own” she chuckled “how he managed to do it I’ll never know” “Royal Canterlot orchestra” I shrugged “with their help I managed to do it, barely” “What were to happen if you, say,” Spike waved a claw “I dunno; had to fight Discord?” “Well, has anyone read ‘Ignis Draco Nocturna’?” I grinned “It’d be like that but only a slight amount easier” “How about another song,” Twilight smiled “Just for us” “As you wish” I nodded “I've been watching you stumble Through the darkest night Let me tell you It's gonna be alright I can see you've been trying but Your wings got clipped Been waiting in line but Your turn got skipped” Blaze began the song, gesturing for Snowdrop to follow “I'll be there when you need me I'll be there when you call Yeah I'll be there to catch you when you fall Know that I'll never leave you Out here on your own I'll be the lights that guide you home” Snowdrop chimed, winking at me “Been a long time coming Feelings for you My hearts been skippin' a beat Maybe two Right now you're weak but But you'll be strong I know where there's a place That you belong” I sang with Littlepip, draping a wing around her “I'll be there when you need me I'll be there when you call Yeah I'll be there to catch you when you fall Know that I'll never leave you Out here on your own I'll be the lights that guide you home” Crystal chorused perfectly with the voice of an angel “I don't know if you want me Or if you care But even if you don't I'll be there 'Cuz when I'm beside you My soul burns bright Let me be the one Let me be your light” Snowdrop and Blaze formed a serenaded voices sweeter than honey “I'll be there when you need me I'll be there when you call Yeah I'll be there to catch you when you fall Know that I'll never leave you Out here on your own I'll be the lights that guide you home” i continued the song with Littlepip “Now I know you've had problems We could solve 'em We could make it through Tried and true We could fight 'em off, all of 'em We could make it through a brighter day, anyway Gettin' by another way So I guess I'm trying to say I wanna be the lights guiding you through the night When things get dark, when you don't know what's right I wanna hold your hand, and tell you that you can So don't worry, it's gonna be alright” I sang again, solo this time “I'll be there when you need me I'll be there when you call Yeah I'll be there to catch you when you fall Know that I'll never leave you Out here on your own I'll be the lights that guide you home” Blaze, Littlepip, Snowdrop, Crystal and I sang as a quintet finishing the song “And again” Blaze chortled “Did you break your wings When you fell from grace When you came from heaven To this darker place” I cooed in song “Did you watch me fall From the clouds on high See the glimmer of tears Streaming from my eye” Snowdrop chimed “I think I bruised my soul Climbing back from hell But if you're here to change me Then it's just as well” I continued “Your scars run deep But darling they will fade They told me to fear you But I'm not afraid” Littlepip serenaded this time “Don't hold back We're here right now There's nothing left here to keep us out, oh As different as The day and night I'm starting to feel like this is right and You're the memory I can't erase You're the part of me I can't replace You're the angel that loved me somehow And you're the demon I can't live without” snowdrop and I formed a duet “I'm the crossroads king In this wretched land You found me a mess But I'm a better man” I chorused “I could see it hidden Right from the start 'Neath your jagged bones Was a beating heart” Blaze sang “And that heart is yours Or what I have left So take my secrets Take them off my chest” I went on “That's why I'm here I've been broken too So maybe you can fix me And I'll fix you” Crystal winked “Don't hold back We're here right now There's nothing left here to keep us out, oh As different as The day and night I'm starting to feel like this is right and You're the memory I can't erase You're the part of me I can't replace You're the angel that loved me somehow And you're the demon I can't live without” I added with Littlepip “Welcome to my universe Touch me now and break my curse You'll be mine and I'll be yours So let's live life in reverse Back to basics, back in time Meet you halfway in the sky Breaking mirrors, smashing through I don't need luck when I'm with you “Eternity can wait You're my afterlife For once in my existence I see the light We've got it all, we've got it all Right here We've got it all, we've got it all Right here” Blaze and Crystal added even more to the song “Don't hold back We're here right now There's nothing left here to keep us out, oh As different as The day and night I'm starting to feel like this is right and You're the memory I can't erase You're the part of me I can't replace You're the angel that loved me somehow And you're the demon I can't live without” Littlepip, Snowdrop and I sang as a trio, ending the song “That was amazing!” a golden-yellow Pegasus with a fiery golden mane and tail with amber eyes applauded as she hovered down in front of me alongside a cyan Pegasus with a white mane and tail and an icy blue Pegasus with a dark blue mane and tail with emerald eyes “perhaps you’d like to create a theme tune for us?” “Who are you?” I tilted my head “We’re the main trio of the aerial acrobatics performers known as the Wonderbolts” she smiled “I’m spitfire, and this is Soarin’ and Fleetfoot, but most just call her ‘Echo’” “Never heard of you” I folded my arms “I wouldn’t expect you to, you are, after all, a human” she nickered “Says the talking pony” Blaze retorted “Noted” Spitfire nodded “would you be able to give us a theme?” “Based on the fact that you’re Pegasi, and what you do, I think so” “‘Take to the sky’?” Littlepip gleamed, I nodded “Shipwreck in a sea of faces There's a dreamy world up there Dear friends in higher places Carry me away from here Travel light, let the sun eclipse you 'Cause your flight is about to leave And there's more to this brave adventure Than you'd ever believe Birds-eye view, awake the stars 'cause they're all around you Wide eyes will always brighten the blue Chase your dreams, and remember me, sweet bravery 'Cause after all those wings will take you, up so high So bid the forest floor goodbye as you race the wind And take to the sky (you take to the sky) On the heels of war and wonder There's a stormy world up there You can't whisper above the thunder But you can fly anywhere Purple burst of paper birds This picture paints a thousand words So take a breath of myth and mystery And don't look back Birds-eye view, awake the stars 'cause they're all around you Wide eyes will always brighten the blue Chase your dreams, and remember me, sweet bravery 'Cause after all those wings will take you, up so high So bid the forest floor goodbye as you race the wind And take to the sky (you take to the sky) There's a realm above the trees Where the lost are finally found So Touch your feathers to the breeze And leave the ground Birds-eye view, awake the stars 'cause they're all around you Wide eyes will always brighten the blue Chase your dreams, and remember me, sweet bravery 'Cause after all those wings will take you, up so high So bid the forest floor goodbye as you race the wind And take to the sky (You take to the sky) (You take to the sky)” I sang alongside Littlepip, Crystal, and Snowdrop with Blaze singing the background vocals, as per the usual “Have you got anything, I Dunno, faster?” Echo rolled a hoof “Faster?” she nodded “alright then” “I can't see, cause it's burning deep inside. Like gasoline, a fire running wild. No more fear, cause I'm getting closer now. So unreal, but I like it anyhow. I go faster and faster and faster and faster and faster and faster and faster. I can't live in a fairy-tale of lies. And I can't hide from the feeling cause it's right. And I go faster and faster and faster and faster for love. And I can't live in a fairy-tale of lies. I can feel that you've mesmerized my heart. I feel so free. I'm alive, I'm breaking out. I won't give in, cause I'm proud of all my scars. And I can see I've been wasting too much time. I go faster and faster and faster and faster and faster and faster and faster. I can't live in a fairy-tale of lies. And I can't hide from the feeling cause it's right. And I go faster and faster and faster and faster for love. And I can't live in a fairy-tale of lies. I can't live in a fairy-tale of lies. And I can't hide from the feeling cause it's right. And I go faster and faster and faster and faster for love. And I can't live in a fairy-tale of lies. A fairy-tale of lies” I sang with Crystal “Any better?” I smiled “Better” Spitfire nodded “Got anything else for us?” “Just the one” Littlepip Glimmered “‘Hero’” “I'm so high. I can hear heaven. I'm so high. I can hear heaven. Oh but heaven, no heaven don’t hear me. And they say that a hero could save us. I’m not gonna stand here and wait. I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles. Watch as we all fly away. Someone told me that love would all save us. But how can that be, look what love gave us. A world full of killing, n' blood-spilling that world never came. And they say that a hero could save us. I’m not gonna stand here and wait. I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles. Watch as we all fly away. Hi-igh-igh! Now that the world isn't ending, it's love that I’m sending to you. It isn’t the love of a hero, and that’s why I fear it won’t do. And they say that a hero could save us. I’m not gonna stand here and wait. I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles. Watch as we all fly away. And they're watching us (Watching Us) They're watching us (Watching Us) as we all fly away. And they're watching us (Watching us) They're watching us (Watching us) As we all fly away, (Yeah) Yeah. And they're watching us (Watching us) They're watching us (Watching us) As we all fly away (Yeah, yeah. Whoa-oh,)” we sang again as a quartet, with Blaze once again singing the background vocals, and with me playing the guitar the whole way through “That there’s our second theme tune” Soarin’ chuckled “Then so be it, Tesla, we’ll see you later, maybe” Spitfire nodded, flying with the other two of into the distance “That was…” Twilight blinked “Different” “So what happened with you and that other dragon in the crater?” Rainbow Dash folded her arms “It’s just what happens when you annoy a dragon slayer” I shrugged “Be it a full-grown dragon-King or someone like him, the advice I give is all the same, don’t piss me off” “Too right,” Blaze chortled “you’d beat him senseless within a matter of minutes; I’ve seen it when you go all-out brother, once you snap, there’s literally no stopping you!” “That’s,” Applejack blinked “that’s impossible!” “And yet the whole point of Gurren Lagann is to show that nothing is impossible” Blaze face-pawed “I know, right?” I laughed “So what powers does your character have in ‘the series’?” she smirked “Same ones as I have here,” I beamed “the ability to go anywhere and any-when, and dragon slayer magic “They actually allowed that on the show?” she guffawed with a constant roar of laughter “Just wait for the fan-art fanfiction, songs, and everything that comes with an awesome character, whatever it is thou art talking about” Luna grinned “Caught red-handed!” Blaze chortled, again “We believe you two have some explaining to do” Luna raised an eyebrow “You know what a play is, entertainment,” she nodded “just imagine seeing that on an electronic screen, that’s essentially what a television is, and guess what one of the programmes is on said television” “No..!” she gaped “You, watch us?” Twilight looked appalled “Not you-you, but an alternate, fictional-you,” I bit my lip “if that makes any sense” “Who made this ‘programme’?” Celestia giggled “A human named Lauren Faust” I flinched “So, it’s a matter of convenience?” she smiled “It would appear so” Blaze nodded “Then we have nothing to worry about” she laughed “And thou asked to be on this ‘programme’?” Luna blinked “I don’t know what I was thinking” I held my head in my hands “Just like when you apparently ‘Stumbled’ into the Equestrian wasteland,” Blaze chided “you barely came back alive, brother, I know you were trying to do what you could, bet when all you have is magic with no armour other than the clothes on your back, what can you so?” she went on “it took a heck of a lot of magic to get arid of the scars and bullet-holes, and an awful lot more to remove everything else, maybe you ought to think twice before doing something that reckless, right, Tesla?” “Equestrian wasteland, what’s that?” Twilight frowned “Alternate Equestria, post-apocalypse” I avoided her gaze “even the air you breathe has even the slightest amounts of radiation due to the use of megaspells” “And you ran headlong into it” Blaze folded her paws “Dumbass” “You mean you got injured,” Faust blinked “how badly?” “Both arms and a leg, alongside countless plasma burns and bullet wounds” I bit my lip “Seriously, never bring magic into a gunfight, ever” “How did you survive?” Celestia looked shocked, to say the least “I may or may not have used purple flare to bring an entire wall down on someone” I nodded sideways “Purple flare?” she raised an eyebrow “It’s a telekinesis-like spell, sister,” Luna explained “he creates an arm of fire which he then uses to hold onto objects and, apparently, bring walls down on ponies” “Ponies?” Celestia frowned “Alternate Equestria” I rebuked “it wasn’t really yours anymore, considering all that’d happened” “Explain” her eyes narrowed “Basically, a Giga-tonne of explosives was bought down on canterlot, irradiating basically the whole of Equestria, and since the sky had been closed up by the Pegasi, the radiation was trapped “How is that possible?” she stared at me “Megaspells” I simply shrugged “There may have been a few ponies I was trying to defend in the process of bringing wall down on said ponies” “Velvet Remedy and Calamity” Blaze nodded “I was there, remember?” “So you were” I sighed “it’s lucky you weren’t hit by anything” “Or just convenient” she chuckled “Or both” she smirked “Fight and defend for the ‘light-bringer,’ eh Tesla” “Who’s the ‘light-bringer,’” Twilight gleamed from ear to ear “is it me?” “I can’t say” I stared at the ground, strumming the guitar a few times “We all have our secrets Tesla, if you think that we shouldn’t hear them, after what you’ve apparently been through, I won’t stop you” she smiled, faintly “Arigato” I winked “Thank you, in Japanese” Blaze smiled, glancing toward me “Shall we?” I nodded “I watched them change before my eyes Destinies rearranged to my surprise I tried so hard to make amends But my mistake has separated my friends White turned to blue, and blue to white Harmony rewritten out of sight What can I do to bring you back My Technicolor world has faded to black” I sang, solo “Wake up now and see the truth I'm here to show the world to you The way it was meant to be So follow your destiny This twisted future isn't right Let's bring the real you to the light I'm going to make you realize So open your eyes” Snowdrop and Littlepip sang as a duet “I've made mistakes and failed before But somehow this time it's something more Broken your life and who you are I'm afraid I've left a terrible scar But apologies won't save me now It's up to me to restore you somehow I'll bring you back your memories piece by piece restoring harmony” Blaze and I continued the song “Wake up now and see the truth I'm here to show the world to you The way it was meant to be So follow your destiny This twisted future isn't right Let's bring the real you to the light I'm going to make you realize So open your eyes” we sang as a quintet “I've got to find a way To make this all okay I've got to find a way To fix my own mistake Oh, but I promise to succeed But I know you're still in need I know you have been misused And you're probably confused But there's not much I can do The cure is within you So hold on tight And open your eyes” Littlepip and I formed a second duet “Wake up now and see the truth I'm here to show the world to you The way it was meant to be So follow your destiny This twisted future isn't right Let's bring the real you to the light I'm going to make you realize So open your eyes” Crystal chorused “Wake up now and see the truth I'm here to show the world to you The way it was meant to be So follow your destiny This twisted future isn't right Let's bring the real you to the light I'm going to make you realize So open your eyes” we sang again as a quintet, the crowd of ponies stood behind Twilight and her friends applauding and cheering as we ended the song “Aviators; open your eyes” Blaze clapped her paws “So it was” I clicked my neck “How do you get them to sing these songs?” spoke a soothing voice from nearby, turning in said direction, I saw a black-as-night unicorn with a snow-white mane and tail with zigzag gold and crimson highlights with dark sapphire eyes smiling at me “Velvet?” I chuckled “you’re here now?” “That I am” she giggled “Always a pleasure, Teslakana” “Just Tesla will suffice” I smiled “So it will, Tesla” she nickered” I trust you had no trouble getting here?” “None at all” I smirked “Who are you?” Littlepip tilted her head “I’m Velvet Remedy” she held out a hoof “Littlepip” Littlepip smiled “Shall we?” Velvet Remedy winked at me, I nodded “I'm so high. I can hear heaven. I'm so high. I can hear heaven. Oh but heaven, no heaven don’t hear me. And they say that a hero could save us. I’m not gonna stand here and wait. I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles. Watch as we all fly away. Someone told me that love would all save us. But how can that be, look what love gave us. A world full of killing, n' blood-spilling that world never came. And they say that a hero could save us. I’m not gonna stand here and wait. I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles. Watch as we all fly away. hi-igh-igh! Now that the world isn't ending, it's love that I’m sending to you. It isn’t the love of a hero, and that’s why I fear it won’t do. And they say that a hero could save us. I’m not gonna stand here and wait. I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles. Watch as we all fly away. And they're watching us (Watching Us) They're watching us (Watching Us) as we all fly away. And they're watching us (Watching us) They're watching us (Watching us) As we all fly away, (Yeah) Yeah. And they're watching us (Watching us) They're watching us (Watching us) As we all fly away (Yeah, yeah. Whoa-oh.)” I sang with Velvet Remedy as Blaze sang the background vocals, as usual “That was amazing,” Littlepip blinked “why don’t you join us?” “I’d be honoured” Velvet Remedy smiled “So, you had all that happen to you, and you never told me about it?” Crystal folded her arms, frowning at me “You’re a right piece of work, you know that?” “We did what we had to” Blaze deadpanned “defend the light-bringer, escort her to the ‘SPP,’ make sure she’s safe once there, and let fate take care of the rest, there was nothing else we could do” “You could’ve brought me with you!” she snapped “Too risky” Blaze replied “we- Tesla, didn’t want you getting hurt, so he went alone, with me” “And yet he went with you, why?” she snarled “Blaze has proven herself, battle-capable, whereas I don’t want you getting hurt, as she said,” I sighed “If you want to fight, fine, just don’t do it in the Wastelands” “Alright,” she rolled her eyes “But you owe me, matey” “I’m sure I do” I shuddered “Are you two together?” Velvet Remedy tilted her head “We’re married,” Crystal exhaled sharply “fortunately Tesla won’t meet another like me” “Tell that to Littlepip” Blaze mumbled “Oh, have you two, shall we say, bedded?” she scowled “That’s our business, isn’t it?” Littlepip frowned “What?” Crystal glowered “It’s our relationship, Tesla doesn’t need some moody freak to be following him around all day,” Littlepip spat “in fact; I’d say he’d be better off without you altogether!” “You; take; that back!” Crystal lunged toward Littlepip, creating a fireball around her claws, I quickly changed to eon form, using myself as a shield as Crystal hit my chest symbol, a solid crystalline-alloy shaped like thin-wide upside-down delta arrow, which cracked, releasing a torrential wave of energy toward the eon, sending her flying through one of the castles windows I collapsed, Kiary and Littlepip rushing to my side “Has anyone got any gemstones!?” Blaze yelled, Celestia magicked/ teleported in a pile of gemstones, which I quickly devoured, the cracked gem in my chest sealing itself as the energy from the gems coursed through me “That’s better” I cracked my knuckles “Never hit Tesla’s chest-piece, it’ll explode with enough energy to destroy an entire city” Blaze smirked “What’s it made of?” Twilight glanced at my chest symbol “Solid energized crystalline alloy” I grinned “I’m sorry for calling her a freak” Littlepip bit her lip “I’ve heard worse insults from worse people” I shrugged, twitching my wings, she climbed onto my back, Snowdrop perching herself on my head “You have a crystal, sticking out of you?” Rarity was almost in hysterics “Non-reactive, high explosive, standard issue” I laughed “My little eon” Littlepip nuzzled into me “My Littlepip” I glimmered like an idiot “My little human” she simpered as Crystal re-appeared through the broken window, looking rather battered “It’s either her or me, make your choice” Crystal pouted, somehow still hovering “I think it‘s obvious then” Littlepip and I stifled a laugh as I reverted to human form, Littlepip nuzzling into me as I sat, cross-legged, draping a wing around her, pecking my cheek, sitting in my lap, placing her arms on my shoulders, and pressing her lips against mine, Velvet Remedy quickly sitting beside me, pecking my cheek as we parted “What?” Littlepip blinked “Tesla and I are lovers” Velvet Remedy giggled “Fair enough,” she shrugged, turning her attention toward me “so you’re herding then?” “If I feel like it” I winked, they shared a grin, gleaming at me with somewhat killer intent as their horns started glowing, dragging me by the arms via magic into the castle, all the way into one of the guest rooms -=- “Double Kill!” Blaze chortled yet again as I walked into the main hall alongside Velvet and Littlepip “I’d say so” Velvet Remedy winked at me” Didn’t know a cyborg could do that” “I prefer the phrase, ‘biomechanical entity’” I laughed as we practically marched out into the gardens “So you do” Blaze clambered onto my shoulder as Snowdrop perched herself on my head as soon as she spotted me “Hello Daddy” Snowdrop nuzzled into me “Hello Angel,” I smiled “How’re you?” “I’m fine, thank you” she giggled as I noticed a banner hung between two trees that read ‘Congratulations Velvet, Littlepip and Tesla!’ “Looks like they heard you” Velvet laughed “Kind of hard not to,” Rarity, Twilight and her friends trotted toward me, mixed expressions being sent from each one of the ponies that stood before me “must you honestly create that much racket?” “That’s just half the fun of it” Littlepip clung onto my back, gently wrapping her arms around my neck as she placed her head on my shoulder “My little eon” “My Littlepip” I smiled “Ain’t no other pony gonna be my little filly” “Ahem?” Velvet nickered “Other than you, of course” I chuckled =-=-=-= As I stood with Twilight and Applejack at Sweet Apple Acres, Littlepip and Velvet Remedy also at my side, and with Spike atop Twilight’s back, I sighed, with Snowdrop atop my head, and Blaze upon my shoulder “Thanks fer helping me with this Twi” Applejack smiled “Ah made a bet with Big Macintosh that Ah could buck more apples, if Ah win, he gets to walk down Stirrup street in one of Granny Smith’s girdles” she nickered “Amusing” I gave a weak smile “And happens, should you lose?” “Then Ah do the same” she shuddered “Seems fair enough” Velvet smiled” But what if he hears about us helping you?” “He won’t mind” Applejack chuckled “he’s stronger than Ah am, but Tesla’s stronger still “Darn straight!” Littlepip cheered, I changed to eon form; she leapt onto my back as Blaze lay along my neck “So this is ponyville,” Velvet hummed “how peaceful” “There ain’t anywhere else in Equestria like it” Applejack exclaimed “Unless ya’ll are from an alternate world or somethin’” she glanced toward me “Earth’s nice, but it’s no Garden of Eden” I shrugged “And the wastelands aren’t any better” “The isles weren’t bad” Blaze yawned “They’re the best part of it all” I smirked “Aye, so they were” she nodded “Your home, I assume?” Littlepip sat beside Velvet on my back “My old home” I sighed “not that it matters now that I’m with you two” “What about Luna?” Twilight raised a hoof “If she wants to join, then I don’t have any right to stop her,” I laughed “I’m merely her night, her sword and shield; she’s a princess and/or goddess of the moon and stars” “You’re her knight?” Velvet Remedy gasped “Tsuki No Ryu” Blaze nodded “What does that mean?” she blinked “It means ‘Lunar Dragon’” I smiled “I would’ve been on a few quests for her, had I not been put out of commission, not that I’m blaming anybody” “How long did that last?” Kiary raised an eyebrow as she sat perched on Littlepip’s back “Eight months” I shrugged “I’ve had worse” “How can ya‘ll have had worse than that? Applejack frowned “I don’t want to talk about it” I avoided her gaze, biting my lip as I stared at the ground “Not even a little,” Twilight blinked, I shot her a glare “Sorry…” “I don’t talk about my personal life, except that of my mother, and even then it’s only to those who I can trust” I frowned “Sounds cagey” Twilight nickered as a light amount of snow began to fall from the skies above, Spike belched a light green fire, a sealed scroll appearing from said fire “Dear Twilight, Littlepip, Velvet and Tesla,” Spike read aloud as he held the letter in front of him “you are hereby invited to the Grand-Galloping Gala later this month, please show the tickets provided to gain entry to the castle, I hope to hear more from you, yours sincerely, Princess Celestia, P.S. Luna says ‘Hi’” “That was nice of her” Littlepip smiled “Much has changed in the past thousand years,” I folded my arms “that much is obvious, even for a dimension-hopper like me” “And you think you could do better?” Applejack scowled “That ain’t what I meant,” I blinked “I just said that there’s been change, I’ not trying to imply anything” I grumbled as Spike held up five golden tickets “And they’re even in gold, how cliché” Blaze rolled her eyes “It goes on to say that Discord will be attending” Spike shuddered “Why would the princess allow the lord of chaos himself to attend?” Applejack “Judgement,” I tutted “she wants to prove to everyone that he’s not who he used to be, I’ve seen it happen before, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t” “Either way, we’ll tell him what maul told us, and what you told Red-Eye” Blaze smirked “Which was?” Littlepip gleamed “Slip up, and I gut you like a fish” Blaze and I spoke in unison “Do ya have tah be so barbaric?” Applejack’s eyes narrowed “But for every barbaric presence in the world, there is also an opposite,” I smirked, glancing up to the icy blue Pegasus atop my head “Right Snowy?” “Right, Daddy” Snowdrop smiled “Your shadow to my light” “And my fire to your ice” I winked “Could you get any sappier?” Spike gagged -=-=- As the night of the gala approached, I walked out of the castle’s armoury, clad in the armour that’d been given to me upon my being knighted, the two Dawnbreaker swords sheathed on either side of my hips, Ryōshi stood by my side “That’s amazing!” Velvet Remedy eyed me up and down alongside Littlepip “It’s a gift from Luna herself” I clicked my shoulders, Blaze clambering up onto my shoulder as Snowdrop perched herself back unto my head as we walked into the main hall of the castle, and from there to the gardens “I must say you wear your armour well” Discord smirked as he popped into view right in front of me “Slip up and I gut you like a fish” I smirked “Noted” he raised an eyebrow as Twilight and her friends appeared before us, all dressed for the gala “Not bad” Discord glanced at each of them “I’d almost call them stupendously designed” I rolled my eyes, focusing on my wings, beaming as feathers began to appear along their lower parts “now that’s magic” he gave a sly grin “I try” I smiled, walking back into the castle, Littlepip and Velvet following me to the throne room “I see that you managed to make it,” Celestia smiled “I apologize for any inconveniences that I might’ve caused you, Tesla” “I’m only here because I thought it’d be nice to take up your offer,” I shrugged “other than that I would’ve gladly spent another day working at Sweet Apple acres” “You’d rather work there than be with your friends?” she raised an eyebrow “We’d be with him in whatever he may choose to do” Littlepip placed a gentle hoof on my leg, as did Velvet “He’s our Alpha, and that of Ryōshi” “Speaking of which,” Blaze began “where’s tesla’s rucksack?” Celestia magicked/teleported my rucksack beside me “Thank you” she smirked as I slipped it on, turning and walking out of the room “Element of magic, yet she ain’t got trash on Natsu or any other dragon slayer I can think of” Blaze gave a sly grin as we walked into the main hall “I know, right?” I laughed like an absolute maniac “it’s as if they expect her to do something she’s clearly not capable of” “Expect who to do what?” Twilight and her friends spotted me from across the hall, walking up to me, eyebrows raised “Well, with the apparent ‘lord of chaos,’ he would’ve had his rear handed to him within around twenty minutes, if not seconds” Blaze glimmered with apparent glee “Who, Tesla,” Applejack glanced at me, eyes narrowed in apparent irritation “Not tah sound negative or anything but Ah know he can beat a dragon, but Discord, really?” “You’d be surprised” Velvet Remedy winked at me “Tesla beat him once in the wastelands, I’ve no doubt that he could do it again with little to no effort” “I’ll bet Twenty bits that she’s lying,” Rainbow dash smirked, I shot her a glower “What?” “If you wish to keep having a mouth I’d recommend shutting it” I grinned “How about you prove that you can do it then?” “Alrighty then” I gleamed toothily “Blaze get me a can of you-know-what” “Will do” she saluted me, climbing into my bag, climbing back out as I walked outside onto the arena, sipping the contents of the can as I went “What is that?” Velvet Remedy blinked, gesturing toward the can “A type of stimulant” I simpered as ponies began to flood the stands, Twilight, her friends, Spike and the princesses included “Stand well back, and watch the mayhem” they did so, standing at the edge of the arena, Snowdrop and Blaze included “So I hear you wish to challenge me?” Discord laughed as he popped into view in front of me “What of it?” I spat, clicking my neck, shoulders, knuckles and ankles “I think it’s humorous, how you think you have a chance of beating me” he chuckled as a third, wicked-looking set of wings sprouted from my back, piercing through the armour as I removed it “You would” I tutted “Are there any rules I should know about” he sighed “No teleportation or anything of the sort, flight is allowed” I grinned sadistically as scales appeared on my face, arms and hands, horns also sprouting from my head as my fingernails extended into claws “Starting now” Discord lunged at me, trying to land a hit, I blocked it, twisting his arm behind his back, grabbing onto both of his wrists, slamming my foot down onto his back, dislocating both arms as I gave a hard tug on them “That didn’t take long” I kicked him right in the stomach, sending him sprawling across the arena floor “God of chaos, are we sure that’s your title, Discord?” I burst into whitish-silver flames, slowly walking toward him as he righted himself, apparently/magically popping his arms back into place, letting out an unearthly roar as I charged at him “Suishō hasu Karyu Ken,” I chortled, releasing a wave of Gatling-like punches at him, most hit him, but not all of them, due to his serpentine figure “And; Tsuin Ryujin no Koen!” I created a pitch-black fireball in one hand, and a silver one in the other, clashing the two together as they collided with the draconequus, the resulting explosion sending him flying into the air, third to first degree burns covering him from tail-tip to snout “and finally, the roar” I inhaled sharply, exhaling a mild grey torrent of flames toward the lord of chaos, clapping my hands together as he smashed into the ground “Tatakai no tame kansha, Discord” “He actually did it…” Rainbow Dash gaped toward me in apparent awe and/or horror as I I walked back to Littlepip and the others “Why do you have horns now?” Velvet Remedy giggled “‘Double Dragon Force,’” I began “it gives the user incredible power for a certain amount of time, but the side effects can be horrendous” “You beat Discord!” Littlepip cheered “when do the horns and claws recede then?” and just like that, the horns receded into my skull, and the claws reverted to normal fingernails “You just did alone what they nearly failed to do as a team,” Blaze burst into a fit of laughter “case in point about what I said about the Twilight not matching any dragon slayer I know of’ thing” “How strong is he!?” I heard someone from the crowd shriek as we walked back to the gardens I collapsed under the shade of a tree, cringing as I felt the strain of the forced magic work its way through me “Does it hurt?” Littlepip bit her lip, I nodded, gritting my teeth as the strained parts of my body attempted to heal themselves “It puts quite the strain on Tesla, even a shortened use of the hidden ability can hospitalize him” Blaze explained” There was the one time he hit an opponent hard enough that the muscles in his arms literally shredded themselves to pieces” “And thus is another life lesson,” I smiled, faintly “the great joy of life is doing what people say you cannot do” “How much have you progressed, since we first met?” velvet stared at me “quite far by the sounds of it” “How’d you get here anyway?” Littlepip glanced at the charcoal-coloured mare “Tesla gave me a glimmer of his teleportation and/or dimension-hopping abilities” Velvet smiled “And that’s how you got here?” she tilted her head, Velvet nodded I didn’t think it possible,” Twilight and her friends, princesses and Spike included, trotted toward me “to think that a lone being could beat Discord, and like that no less!” “You’d of thought that he’d at least give him a chance to retaliate” Rarity mumbled “How long did it take?” I glanced toward Blaze “One minute and twenty three seconds approximately” the Quilava perched on my shoulder grinned “Tesla, you awakened your dragon soul” Celestia stared at me “And here I thought it was just another hidden magical ability” I chuckled “Nay, ‘tis quite the powerful spell, as thou hath witnessed against Discord first-hoof” Luna raised an eyebrow “how did thou manage it?” “Just take one of these” Blaze held a can between her paws “the only downsides are the sugar crash, possible heart attack, eventual death, near imminent chest pains and impatience, amongst others” she sighed “you really should stop drinking these you know?” “And how else would you suggest using the new ability?” I tilted my head “Ask that I use the ‘Flame of Rebuke’ whilst using normal ‘Dragon Force’?” she suggested “Wouldn’t work, the first time it would, but after that you’d only be adding duel to the fire, pun intended,” I smirked, she glared at me “sorry” “Those things can kill you?” Twilight gasped “They can make your heart do a proverbial backflip,” I shrugged “probably explains why they’re so cheap” “It would also explain the silver flames,” Blaze sighed “the energy from the liquid and caffeine gets converted via catalyst into actual fire, magical properties included” “Tsuin Ryujin no Koen,” “Cadance raised an eyebrow also “Honestly, Tesla?” “Twin dragon god’s brilliant flame” Blaze grumbled “you really do push yourself a little harder than you should, brother” “And that was without using Dragon’s Apparition” I sat against the tree trunk “Dragon’s-what now,” Applejack blinked “What in tarnation?” “I’ll explain later,” I simpered “ “If you’d have used that, I think a few members of the crowd would’ve had either had heart attacks or fainted,” Blaze face-pawed “or both” “That’s half the reason I didn’t use it” I nodded “Just how powerful can dragon slayers get?” twilight shuddered “That remains a mystery, even to us” Blaze folded her arms “I suppose it could go further, who knows, perhaps there is such as a dragon-god slayer” “Here’s hoping anyway” I smiled “But first you’d have to pass through dragon-king slayer” she shook her head “you’re impossible, TK” “And you’re a little fire hazard” I gleamed “And you’re going to end up killing yourself at the rate of danger you go through, and the severity of said danger” she tutted “Please, tesla, for us, don’t do it anymore” Littlepip sat beside me opposite Velvet, both staring at me with their best puppy-dog eyes, no way was there any hope for anyone to beat that “Anything for you two, My Littlepip and Remedy” I draped a wing around each of them “Thank you, Tesla” Velvet pecked my cheek, nuzzling into me, so did Littlepip as i curled my wings around them, my third set of wings seemingly fading into thin air “you mean more to us than you could possible imagine, our love, our heart, our Alpha” Ryōshi bounded up to me, giving me a series of licks on the side of my cheek as she sat right in front of me “How’ve you been girl?” I scratched Ryōshi behind the ears, she gave a light-hearted *yip* as a reply “That’s good” “But what of the light-bringer;” Celestia tilted her head “What of your little escort mission with her?” “She’ll be fine,” I smiled “She’s got the light of an actual god shining down on her, after all, destiny is what you make it out to be” “What do you mean?” she blinked, I raised an eyebrow at her “oh” “You consider us gods?” Luna simpered “If you’ve immortality along with the potential abilities that I’ve seen and heard of, I suppose I might as well” I shrugged “And what have you heard?” Celestia nickered lightly “That you took out no less than a country’s-worth of enclave soldiers armed with nothing short of nukes, more or less” I grinned “Let’s not forget the usual weather forecast for the wastelands either,” Blaze grinned “cloudy with a chance of rain, gunfire and bloody dismemberment, and, in your case, a storm of hellfire” “This so-called ‘storm of hellfire,’ just so happened to clear the skies of radiation and reveal the sun, moon and stars once again” I smirked “Metsuryu Ogi Kai; Gurren Me-en” Blaze rolled her eyes “I know all too well, brother, and I also know of how it drained your magic energy for about a whole month, maybe even two” “Three, actually” I bit my lip “And it was a rather interesting change of perspective, living without any magic in me for a while” “You cleared the skies, of all of Equestria by yourself?” Rainbow Dash deadpanned “impossible” “‘Double Dragon Force’” I clicked my back “and didn’t I already say that anything’s possible, RD?” “But, you cleared all of Equestria, how is that possible, it’s against all laws of science!” Twilight argued “Give enough firepower and you can melt or burn through anything and everything, even the skies and heavens themselves, trust us, we know” Blaze gave a sly grin “and to be honest, Tesla’s flames don’t give of smoke and/or fumes of any kind, so they’re safe, they all are, every living being in the wastelands is free of taint and radiation, as did the light-bringer” she went on “Tesla and I cleared the skies above, and the Light-bringer cleared away the ground below “I still don’t see how it’s possible” Twilight shook her head “Says the talking pony” Blaze beamed “I think we could’ve done that reference when we got here, Sister” I chuckled “So we could have” she nodded, Snowdrop perched herself on my head as I stood upright, Kiary on my neck, and Littlepip and Velvet on my back as I changed to eon form “Are you sure you’re Ok?” Cadance gave a weak smile as I rolled my shoulders “We’ll be fine” Velvet pecked the back of my neck, staring down at me “why didn’t you use the weapons given to you in the wasteland, my love?” “With dragon slayer magic, you can save ammunition, and it’s easier to tell if they’re no longer, shall we say, ‘a bother to anyone’?” I spoke icily “Now that’s cold” Blaze laughed “ironic enough for you, brother?” “Quite so” I smiled, faintly “besides, I wanted to use something other than what I’ve been using for the past fifty years” “Explain” Celestia’s eyes narrowed slightly “I said I was a brigadier for the UNSC, I wasn’t joking” I frowned “And they use firearms?” she raised an eyebrow “Anything from your standard issue Model-six sidearm toa magnetic accelerator cannon, that of which could level a small town” I nodded “That’s barbaric!” Rarity spat “It’s called war for a reason, the human-covenant war, to be exact, what was going to be a quick and decisive win, turned into thirty years of hell” I scowled “How old are you?” Twilight blinked “Eighty-odd” I smiled “fifty of which have been spent trying to save humanity, the rest on the matter is classified, ten years in the wastelands, and twenty on earth, and the final one here, almost a year anyway” “What’s the date?” “The seventeenth of December” Luna titled her head “why?” “No reason” Blaze and I smirked =-=-= “So what’re you doing for hearth’s Warming?” Twilight smiled “I’ve no money on me, so I can’t get anything at the moment,” I tilted my head “Speaking of which, where is it anyway?” “In the castle’s treasury, with your name on it” Twilight smiled as Spike at on her back, and Velvet and Littlepip on mine as I hovered in the centre of Ponyville, Snowdrop once again perched on my head as a type of pony-made winter cap “And it’d probably take a day for the train to get there” Spike raised an eyebrow, Blaze,, Snowdrop, Littlepip, Velvet Remedy and Twilight all face-pawed/hooved “I can fly, Spike, it’s not going to take more than five minutes at best” I laughed “Hold on!” and with that I soared as fast as I could go without anyone falling off, flying toward the castle, slowing down as I glided through its double doors “Where to now?” “That way” Littlepip’s horn glowed for a brief moment, pointing down a nearby corridor “Very well then” I smiled, flying down said corridor, eventually finding myself at a set of double doors, opening them, finding a large- nay, massive earthy-brown bag which was tied at the top with a substantial amount of rope, with a label on the rope that read out my name “How much do you need?” Blaze smiled form atop my neck “How much don’t I need?” I chortled “Touché” she nodded as I carried the bag back to ponyville, albeit, with somewhat notable difficulty “How many bits are in that thing?” Applejack nickered as she trotted toward me “Enough for a lifetime, I should think” Littlepip laughed “Or three” I winked “or maybe a small family” “You flatter me” she blushed “No, you flatter us” Velvet giggled “So, who wants to test out the drill that you’ve been given?” Blaze chimed “Later” I sighed “Honestly, you get too worked up for your own good” “Don’t I just?” she smirked “So, what’ll you do with it?” Applejack nodded toward the large brown bag underneath me “Just a bit of this and that” I nodded sideways, lowering myself down as Littlepip and Velvet remedy hopped down to the ground “We’ll be off whilst you get what you need, Tesla” Littlepip winked as she and Velvet wandered toward the library “How’d ya get those two anyway?” Applejack smirked “I’ve no idea” I mumbled, feeling my wings stiffen, turning hard-as-iron “Dammit” “Wing-boner,” Blaze laughed “I didn’t think that as bein’ possible if ya’ll have wings like blades” Applejack chuckled “Who’s got a wing-boner now?” Rainbow Dash glided down beside Applejack, Blaze pointed down toward me “How?” “Heck if I know” I shuddered “It just happens” “Sure it does” she gave a wicked leer, slowly nodding all the while “Oh, shut up” I laughed, carrying the large bag over to the nearest shop Chapter VI The devil insideAs hearth’s warming arrived, and I sat at the piano in the theatre, Snowdrop and Blaze sat atop the piano, I began to play “He'd watch the snow fall Pretending it all Would go away On hearth's warming day He thought life all for not But in this season he forgot The mess he'd made It would all fade away But none of it changed the fact He was broken and still alone Until he walked by a store window And a pink figure waved hello” I sang, beginning the song “He said he felt his heart leap Like it been asleep With that sparkle in her eyes He could barely breathe And so he tells the story Of that pink pony Who changed his life One hearth's warming eve” Snowdrop chorused “He went inside the store As she opened the door He wondered why This mare caught his eye They sat down for a while As they talked he would smile Until he told Her he was all alone But she wouldn't let him feel abandoned Because no one should spend the holidays alone They spent hearth's warming together Making memories he'd never let go” Blaze chimed “He said he felt his heart leap Like it been asleep With that sparkle in her eyes He could barely breathe And so he tells the story Of that pink pony Who changed his life One hearth's warming eve” Snowdrop and Blaze sang as a duet “Thirty two years down the road He had let the past go But he hadn't forgotten That beautiful mare from years ago In a hospital room His last hearth's warming he knew He'd never see her again That dream would never come true But then from the hall He heard her call That sweet familiar voice She found him after all She said "I never forgot The day you walked by the shop I've spent these thirty two years Looking for you non-stop" Tears came to his eyes As she stood by his side Until he had to say goodbye And promised to stay” I added, smiling at the audience as they sat, staring down at us as we performed “He said he felt his heart leap Like it been asleep With that sparkle in her eyes He could barely breathe So this is the story Of that pink pony Who changed his life One hearth's warming eve” we sang as a trio, finishing the potential masterpiece -=- I stood with my family, Ryōshi, Littlepip and Velvet Remedy in the main hall, Twilight and her friends trotting up toward us “Where did you get that song from then?” Rarity batted her eyelashes at me “Aviators” Blaze smirked as Snowdrop perched herself on my head “they’re an amazing musical artist, with an almost god-like potential” “Speaking of Hearth’s warming, what’d you get?” Littlepip nudged my leg “These,” I reached into my jacket, handing Littlepip and Velvet remedy a glassy, translucent sapphire sphere “I hope you like them” “What are they?” Twilight gazed at the orbs “Soul dews, that of which an eon turns into after they die, either by natural causes or otherwise” I smiled “and I believe I can bequeath them to you, Littlepip, and Velvet Remedy” “They’re beautiful,” Littlepip exclaimed “You found these in the wastelands, didn’t you?” Velvet sighed “I cleaned them of radiation, yes,” I nodded “took a while, having to use that sort of delicacy is a little irritating, but it’s worth it in the end” “And you’re just giving them away, to us?” Littlepip gaped at me, I nodded “I feel like I can trust you with them, after all, trust is the anvil on which friendship is forged” I glimmered “I love you, my little Remedy and Littlepip” “We love you too, Tesla” the chimed, leaping at me, knocking me to the ground, pecking either cheek, nuzzling into me as I eventually sat upright, “And what, about the rest of us?” Rainbow dash raised an eyebrow “Ask Celestia” I winked, draping a pair of wings around both Littlepip and Velvet remedy “But what about Nightmare Moon-err, Nyx” Twilight giggled “What about her?” I tilted my head “Well for one, she’s been worried sick about you,” she smirked “and for another,” her smirk turned to a look of worry “Ponies have started to worry about her return as the tyrant she was, they’re afraid of what she’s going to do” “Fear is not evil, it shows you your weaknesses,” Blaze gestured for me to continue “And once you know your weaknesses, you can become stronger, kinder, and gentler” I finished “You’re calling us weak?” Rainbow Dash glowered at me “Not at all, fear is natural, and it lies within us all,” I sighed “for instance, I’m worried about what’d happen to me should I lose my friends, family and loved ones, I can admit it, and that’s what fear is, Rainbow, it’s a part of everyone, no matter how much that person or thing might try to hide it” “That’s rather philosophical” a regal, angelic voice called out from behind me Turning around, I saw the three princesses stood beside Faust, all smiling at me “I only said what I know,” I shrugged “besides, I learnt a lot from being in a guild” “So you did,” Celestia smiled, turning her lilac-coloured gaze toward Twilight “Come, I believe it’s time to see what Tesla had in store for you, pun not intended” As they walked out through the double doors at the front of the room, I felt a pang of guilt “You’re wanting to get them more, aren’t you, brother?” Blaze sighed “Sort of, it’s just that I wish I could be better than I am, personality-wise” I grumbled “How can you hope to do that?” Velvet Remedy nickered “you’re an incredible person, and I fail to see how you could be any better” “What did you get them?” Littlepip chuckled “I melded the gems from the dragon’s lairs using superheated dragon-fire into a series of statuettes,” I shrugged “it’s no big deal; I even made for one for the two of you” “For us,” Littlepip blinked “Tesla, you’re spoiling us!” “Am I?” I smiled “Not that we mind” Velvet Remedy pecked my cheek, leaping onto my back as I changed to eon form, as did Littlepip, Snowdrop once again perched on my head, and Blaze on my neck “How big are these statuettes?” Littlepip smiled “Around the same height as me” I bit my lip, flying toward the entrance of the castle, Ryōshi following me out, only to find Twilight, Spike, who was sat upon her back, her friends and the princesses stood before me, staring at each of the especially crafted statues “You melded gemstones together to make these?” Littlepip and Velvet Remedy hopped back toward the ground safely landing on all-fours, trotting toward their crystalline replicas “That I did” I nodded as their gaze altered between the statuettes and me “They’re incredible,” Rarity and Twilight gleamed “But how do we move them?” “I can teleport them” Faust smiled “Don’t worry, I can have them down to your homes within the next minute” and so she did, teleporting with each of them to each location, returning once the last eight remained, that of Remedy, Littlepip, Vinyl, Octavia, Celestia, Cadance, Luna and Faust =-=-= “You really are a piece of work, you know that?” Blaze cackled with insane amounts of laughter “Tell me something I don’t know” I chuckled, turning around, I saw Vinyl, alongside Octavia, both gleaming at me “You had to add wings?” Octavia smirked “It felt appropriate at the time;” I smiled “considering most ponies I know are like angels, so I thought I’d give you the wings of one” “You think I’m an angel,” Octavia blushed, whereas Vinyl burst out laughing “I’m flattered, honestly Tesla!” “And what’s with the weird glasses, not that I’m complaining” Vinyl gestured toward the Gurren Lagann-styled glasses I’d made on the statue “I just thought that with the wings and horn that it’d compliment your figure” I quickly reverted to human form, covering my mouth with a free hand “What,” she grinned “my ‘figure,’ am I that interesting?” “I could probably make a set of them for you” I avoided her gaze “That’d be great, thanks Tesla” she leapt at me, pressing her lips against mine as she wrapped her arms around my neck, eventually parting,, landing back on the ground beside the silver mare named Octavia “When could I get them?” “Right now if you want” Blaze smirked, standing on her hind legs on my shoulder, grabbing an armful of gems from my bag, laying them out before me , the two of us breathing fire over them , melding them into the boomerang-shaped shades that also appeared on Vinyl’s statuette, and on a certain anime character… “Now we just wait for them to cool down a little” I smiled, holding the shades into the sunlight, they’d come out as a crimson shade of red, pun not intended “So,” Octavia giggled “I assume that these are our Hearth’s Warming Eve gifts?” “That they are,” I nodded “They’re amazing,” Vinyl whistled “How long did it take to craft each one?” “Around an hour,” Blaze waved a dismissive paw “Tesla was quite insistent on finishing them on time for today” “And we thank you for it, Tesla” Octavia smiled as Littlepip and Velvet stood either side of me, leaping onto my back as I changed back to eon form “Are the three of you, together?” “Yep” Littlepip gleamed “We’re a trio, to put it in musical terms” “So you are” Octavia nickered as a scroll flashed into existence before my eyes, I caught it, opening it, it read; Dearest Tesla, Come alone… The rest was apparently directions to a certain room in the castle “Blaze, take care of Snowdrop, Ryōshi; stay here” I winked, Littlepip and Velvet staring at me as I once again reverted to human form, leaping to the ground as I did so, walking into the castle, following the directions given on the letter Tesla,” Cadance exclaimed, lying across the bed in what appeared to be an anthro form “So glad you could make it” “What’re you doing?” I backpedalled, only to come back-to-wooden surface as she locked the door behind me using her magic “Shining Armour’s nice and all, but from what I’ve heard, you’ve got the potential to do better, my dear sweet eon” she ‘explained,’ her voice sweeter than glazed honey “Now come, Tesla, give me thy love…” -=-=- As I staggered out of the room, I managed to keep myself walking until I reached the gardens “What happened?” Velvet Remedy and Littlepip gawked at me with a look of mild concern “I think someone’s going to get a right seeing to, let’s leave it at that” I grinned like an idiot “Like who?” Littlepip blinked “We shall see, my littlepip, we shall see” I smiled =-=-= Around a month later, I was on the receiving end of the so-called ‘captain of the guard’ as I sat with Littlepip and Velvet Remedy either side of me as I ate breakfast “Does anyone mind telling me why Cadance is acting differently?” Shining Armour scowled at me “That depends on how one were to define ‘different’” Blaze sighed “Where is she anyway?” “That’s what I’d like to know” he grumbled “She had an urgent matter to attend to, and as such, cannot join us this morning” Celestia winked at me “Why do I feel like I’m missing the punch-line of this somewhat outrageous joke?” Shining Armour glowered at me “And you think I’m to blame,” I raised an eyebrow “As if I’d do such a thing, sure I may have beaten discord within an inch of his life, and I may’ve saved a few dozen ponies in the wastes, but meh, I can handle a little disdain” “See to it that u stay away from her,” he snarled “she’s mine, and I don’t want an alien anywhere near her” blaze burst into a fit of laughter, I quickly followed her “And you think being like an over-protective five-year-old is going to solve anything?” I chortled “I’m the captain of the guard” he snapped “Brigadier of the United Nation Space Corps” I sighed “Really, how about you try stating something new if you’re going to try to one-up me, pony” “I’ve led an army against all that is evil in Equestria” he smirked And I’ve stopped the Halo rings from firing, saving your sorry rear in the process,” I glared at him “if one were to fire the ark, all seven halo rings would fire, relinquishing al life in the universe, nothing larger than a cat, would survive” I heard someone do a spit-take at that “you are swimming in my wake, little pony, whatever you have done in the past, us humans can double it, and then triple it!” “Very well then” he grunted “but I must insist that you leave Cadance alone” “Fair enough, but what if she decides to come with me anyway, should she choose to?” I tilted my head ever-so slightly, seeing as Snowdrop was, as usual, perched there “Why would she do something like that?” he burst into abrupt laughter “When you see an anti-war protester, smile, shake his hand, then wink at the girl next to him because she knows she’s dating a pansy” Blaze smirked “So be it,” he chuckled -=- “Nice work there Blaze” I glimmered “No problem-o, Brother” Blaze laughed “Though I think I know where you went last month, at least now we do” “Cadance joined our little herd?” Velvet remedy whispered “Apparently” I shrugged “I’m just as surprised as you are” “About what,” I spun around; Cadance was stood there, in her anthro form, wearing a crimson dress that went down to her knees, wearing a cobalt necklace with a teal/aquamarine gemstone attached to it “Hello Tesla” she giggled, glancing around, before pinning me to a nearby tree, pressing her lips against mine, gradually parting, and then winking at me “Love you” she cooed as she reverted to her pony form with a glow of light “Ahem,” Shining Armour galloped toward us, looking quite annoyed with me “What do you think you’re doing!?” “Now Shiny, I’m sure that I can explain this-!” Cadance began only to be interrupted “Don’t say a word,” Shining Armour blared, “we’re married, and yet I find you flirting with this, this…” “Eon” I finished for him “Shut up you!” he glowered at me “now I know why Cadance’s been acting off lately, and it’s all because of you!” “Please Shiny, can’t we work this out?” Cadance bit her lip, Shiny, however, thought differently, raising a hoof as he hobbled toward her, and he would’ve hit her, had I not dived in and blocked it, clenching down on his stump-ended appendage “Lay so much as a finger on her, as you are now, and I’ll make you wish you’d of died” I hissed “And go and tell your subordinates what huge failure you’ve been whilst you’re pissing yourself in the middle of praying to your impudent god”, he quickly slipped out of my grasp, galloping at full sprint back into the castle, the smell of urine lacing the air as he ran “Tesla, you-” I turned around and pressed my lips against that of Cadance’s, smiling at her as I stroked her mane afterward “Hush, my dear Cadance, all will be well, just you wait” I simpered “Tesla,” she whimpered, clinging onto me with both her arms and wings “Don’t ever leave me” “I wouldn’t dream of it,” I draped my wings around her back, and my arms around her neck as we shared a warm embrace “although if you’re the princess of love, does that mean I’ll have to be prepared every time we consummate our love?” I chuckled “I won’t do anything you don’t want me to do, my prince” she cooed, pecking my cheek as she let me go, and I her “You’re a prince!?” Littlepip and Velvet Remedy shrieked “Technically,” I nodded “I’m a knight, a prince, and you’re the best things to happen to me since sliced bread” they blinked “it means you’re the best things to happen to me, period” “And you us, Tesla, and you us” Cadance smiled “You’re my little TK” “And our little eon” Littlepip and Velvet chimed as I heard footsteps from behind me Turning around, I saw Twilight, her friends, Spike -on Twilight’s back-, Shining Armour, and Celestia “You’ve upset my brother!” Twilight snapped “Wow, and even my siblings aren’t that arsehole-ish,” I blinked “no offense Blaze” “None taken, TK, none taken at all” Blaze laughed “Cadance; explain yourself” Celestia spoke calmly, and somewhat sternly” “It’s simple,” Cadance winked at me “Shining Armour’s good and all, but from what you said about him, I had to see it for myself, add that to the things we’ve seen that he can do, I’d easily have him over anypony” Twilight glared at me “And the threats were at all necessary, Teslakana?” Celestia turned her attention toward me “I don’t care who or what it is, you have a g at me, fine, you can do as you like with me, I’ll just shrug it off, but you think about harming my friends, family and loved ones, and I’ll do everything in my abilities to make your last seconds of life a living hell” I glared dagger5s at the armour pony by her side “You’d go that far!?” Twilight screamed “I’d tear this country apart if I’d of thought that it’d help” I deadpanned, she shuddered “And now you’ve declared yourself a threat” Celestia’s eyes narrowed “Who’s to say you wouldn’t do the same,” I raised an eyebrow “maybe not as harsh, but say something were to arise that require d your immediate attention, something that put every one of your oh-so dear subjects at risk, what then?” “I would try to negotiate” she scolded me “And if that doesn’t work in any way shape and form?” Blaze folded her paws “Then it’d be war” she stated icily “And now you know what it’s like whenever someone threatens my Nakama” I growled “Nakama?” she blinked “It means comrade,” Blaze began “someone who you’d do anything to protect, even if it cost you your very life, without question, no matter what, it can also be translated to mean friends that’re closer than family, as it means to Tesla here” she went on “Do you have any Nakama, princess?” “I’d never of thought…” Celestia stared at me “That doesn’t surprise me” she spat “I beat a god once, and if you don’t tell your little captain to put his leash on, I’ll do it again” my eyes stung as they turned to slits, or so I’d been later told “I’ll get on it” Celestia teleported out of view, taking Shining Armour with her “Friends that’re closer than family,” Rainbow Dash snorted “who’s ever heard of such a thing?” “The heart wants what it wants, who’re you to say any differently?” Blaze snapped “Love is but a chemical, we give it meaning by choice, and isn’t it said that it’s our choices that define us?” I tutted “Poetic, at best” Rarity nodded “but you can’t just go around threatening Twilight’s brother like that” “I said it once I’ll say it again,” I sighed “I don’t care who or what it is, you have a g at me, fine, you can do as you like with me, I’ll just shrug it off, but you think about harming my friends, family and loved ones, and I’ll do everything in my abilities to make your last seconds of life a living hell” “Even us?” Littlepip, Cadance and Velvet stood in a line, a hopeful look in each of their eyes “Especially you” I smiled “I’m honoured that you feel that way about me” Cadance sat beside me “ “This is going to result in my being mobbed by the local media, isn’t it?” I grumbled, she gave a slight nod “Nothing I can’t handle” “How so,” Rarity raised both eyebrows “I’ll tell you when it happens” I smirked =-= sex is coming up, for the end press CTRL+F “sex is over” Seeing as Velvet and Littlepip were in Ponyville, as were Twilight and her friends, Cadance guided me to her ‘chambers’ “What’re you doing?” I blinked as she changed to her anthro form, sitting me down on the bed, removing her dress, revealing a set of black lingerie, which she also removed, throwing the whole lot down the side of the bed “Just making myself comfortable, she giggled, locking the door, walking over to me, sitting in my lap “Why don’t you do the same?” “Public indecency” I shrugged “Ah, but we’re in private right now, we can do anything we want” she cooed “Anything, we, want” I bit my lip “Don’t look so worried, if the event should arise, I’ll defend you with my life, isn’t that what Nakama do?” Before I could say anything, her horn had flared a cyan colour, my attire disappearing for a brief moment before reappearing as a neat pile by the side of the bed “And they’ve been keeping this from me,” she whistled, tracing a gentle hand around my muscular structure “what naughty princesses those two are, but more about them later” “If you say so” I chuckled “I do say so” she nickered, removing herself from my lap, kneeling on the floor between my legs, tracing her tongue along the base of my shaft “they didn’t tell me it was salty though, Celestia you little rascal” I shuddered “Oh,” she gleamed “you like this?” I nodded “well then, allow me to indulge myself a bit” she twirled her tongue around the head of my cock, causing me to flinch at the amount of pleasure racking throughout my body as Pre leaked from the tip, which she quickly devoured “Salty” she winked, taking the whole darn thing into her maw, pressing her lips down on it, sealing it in her mouth “Holy…” I mumbled as she sandwiched my dick between her voluptuous breasts, slowly bobbing them up and down along with her head, constantly twirling her tongue around the head, slurping on it as she went, swallowing any seed that was unlucky enough to be fire prematurely, removing herself from my nether regions, lying on her front on the bed, her head on the pillow as she raised her rump high in the air “Fuck me,” she moaned as I knelt behind her, lining my manhood with her sex, sliding it in as I held her ‘flanks,’ pumping my member in and out of her cunny, causing her to groan “faster,” I sped up a little “Harder” she bit her lip as I hilted her, letting out a low moan, slamming into her as seed filled her tight little cunt only slowing down as it flowed through my urethra, and into her metaphorical depths, sliding out of her once finished “Now do me in the ass,” she wiggled her ass at me “in eon form” she winked “As you wish M’lady” I nodded, changing to eon form, prodding the head of my eonhood at her pucker, sliding it in as she released another moan, speeding up as I pumped it in and out of her flankhole, still clinging onto said flanks, circling my claws around her cutie mark, eventually moving as a blur, almost, as I fucked her, bucking my hips against hers, grunting as I repeatedly hilted her, lightly smacking her ass “Yes, spank me,” she screamed I’ve been a very bad girl,” I smacked her again “harder!” ad again, harder this time, more seed firing through my length into her tailhole, quickly sliding it out and hilting her tight little cunt, filling said orifice with sticky, white, hot spunk “That was incredible” Cadance sighed as she lay on her back on the bed “I could make it better” I suggested “How could you-?” she was cut off by me, jamming my tongue into her dripping wet vagina “Oh, Gods, that’s amazing” she shuddered my tongue danced around the insides of her entrance, pressing it against her clit, releasing a slight waterfall of her juices to leak “Sweet Mother of faust you’re good at this!” she panted “That’s nothing” I grinned, placing my lips around one of her nipples, and my hand around the other, tweaking it whilst I sucked on the other, she quickly placed her hand on the back of my head, keeping me there “By the heavens,” she moaned “don’t stop, my love” I smirked (Sex is over) -=-=- “Have fun?” Blaze stood on my shoulder as Snowdrop sat on my head “Not half” I mumbled as Littlepip and Velvet Remedy stood at my side, sitting with me as I placed myself against a nearby tree “I noticed that you arrived in your eon form,” she smirked “Do anything exciting?” “I might’ve used enough calibre to make the world’s greatest prostitute green with envy” I whispered, winking at her with a sly grin “Oh really?” she gleamed “What did you do, exactly, I could hear the two of you from here” “Gave the princess of love a crash course in eating out” I deadpanned “You really pick your poisons, dontcha?” she laughed “I like to think I know what I’m doing” I smiled “So you do” I turned around, Twilight, her friends, save Fluttershy, Celestia, and Shining Armour were stood there alongside Cadance, who bounded over to me, pecking my cheek as she sat beside me “Cadance tells me that the two of you engaged in coitus, alongside some other interesting concepts” Celestia raised an eyebrow “One-hundred-and-one uses for the human tongue” I grinned “How do you do it?” she smirked “How do you think?” I shrugged “Humour me” she winked -=- “That’s the last time I’m doing that” I frowned, once again sat under a tree in the gardens on the following day, Littlepip and Velvet remedy sat both in front of and beside me, Cadance sat on the other side “You didn’t seem to mind doing it with us” Velvet Remedy winked rather flirtatiously at me “You’re my Little Remedy; of course I’m not going to mind” I smiled “Let’s just hope they don’t hold a moot and make you their new royal breeder, eh Tesla?” Blaze simpered with a wicked leer “Aye,” I grumbled “that’d be the death of me for sure” “How so,” Littlepip pecked my cheek “Well, Celestia and Luna are what, three-thousand years old, they’ve got a lot more experience than I have, so there’s that, and the fact that their insides feel like heaven” I quickly shook my head “sorry” “It’s Ok, you can take us anytime you want, my love” Velvet slurred, placing her lips against mine, slowly parting “you’re our little eon after all” “I forgot to mention something” Cadance giggled “I asked for a divorce, when they asked why, I mentioned you; it’s either that a few ponies are interested in you, or they know not to anger you, Tesla” “Are you suggesting something?” I raised an eyebrow “Not at all” she nickered “Though I think there’re more than a few ponies after you now” “Good to know” I blinked “When she said a few, I thought she meant ‘a few’ as in five, maybe six or seven” I grumbled, walking toward Sweet Apple Acres, half a dozen ponies following me there as Velvet Remedy, Littlepip walking by my side as I removed my jacket when I got to the farm, placing it on a nearby branch, starting to work, getting the apples from the trees into the containers, and then carrying the containers to the wagons “This is not ‘a few’” “Give ‘em a show, eh Tesla?” Blaze winked, standing on the branch on which I’d placed my jacket “No, Blaze, just no” I sighed “I’m not a stripper” “Not even just this once?” she placed her paws together, giving me her best puppy-dog eyes “Fine” I rolled my eyes, removing my shirt, placing it on the branch Now that I thought about it, it was rather hot “Mornin’ Stretch,” Applejack eyed me up and down as she trotted toward me “Working here again?” “The concerts not until next week” I shrugged, placing another pair of containers down on another wagon “that all of them?” “Looks like it pardner” she smiled with apparent intent “Though Ah think ya’ll are gonna have a might bit of trouble Gettin back” she gestured to the now three-dozen ponies stood before me at the entrance of the farm, only to have them board onto the wagons “Not at all” I laughed, triggering ‘Dragon Force,’ pulling the carts toward Ponyville, Velvet and Littlepip walking by my side as I hauled the wagons into the market, Applejack soon joining them thereafter “You managed to pull them all the way here?” Velvet Remedy blinked “Never question my skill” I chuckled “So we won’t” Littlepip smiled =-= Later that week, I stood in the gardens of the castle with Littlepip Velvet Remedy, and Cadance, Blaze and Snowdrop having taken a tour of the castle “So, what should we do?” Littlepip smiled “I have an idea” Cadance purred -=- “That was fun” Velvet Remedy whistled “Too right,” Littlepip panted for breath “when you said one-hundred-and one uses, I thought you were joking!” “What’re you doing?” Blaze smirked “Nothing much” I clicked my neck “orchestra waiting for me?” she nodded “Let’s go then” “What’re you going to sing this time, not that I’ve heard you sing before?” Cadance smiled “You’ll soon see, my Dear Cadi” I smiled, Velvet Remedy and Littlepip sat beside me on the bench as I began to play my guitar, the audience fell silent “The burning desire to live and roam free, It shines in the dark And it grows within me You're holding my hand but you don't understand So where I am going you won't be in the end. Im dreaming in colours Of getting the chance Of dreaming of trying the perfect romance The search of the door, to open your mind In search of the cure of mankind Help us we're drowning So close up inside Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? How will the lights die down, telling us who we are? I'm searching for answers Not given for free You're hurting inside Is there life within me? You're holding my hand but you don't understand So you're taking the road all alone in the end Im dreaming in colours, no boundaries are there Im dreaming the dream we all seem to share In search of the door, to open your mind In search of the cure of mankind Well help us we're drowning So close up inside Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Why does it rain, rain, rain, down on Utopia? And when the lights die down, telling us who we are Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Oh, why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Now when the lights die down, telling us who we are Why does it rain?” Velvet Remedy, Snowdrop, Blaze, Littlepip and I sang as a quintet “What shall we do for a second song brother?” Blaze winked “I know the one” I smiled “The stars lean down to kiss you And I lie awake and miss you Pour me a heavy dose of atmosphere Cause I'll doze off safe and soundly But I'll miss your arms around me I'll send a postcard to you, dear Cause I wish you were here” Littlepip and I began the song “I'll watch the night turn light blue But it's not the same without you Because it takes two to whisper quietly The silence isn't so bad Till I look at my hands and feel sad Cause the spaces between my fingers Are right where yours fit perfectly” Blaze almost sang with the voice of the perfect being “I'll find repose in new ways Though I haven't slept in two days Cause cold nostalgia chills me to the bone But drenched in vanilla twilight I'll sit on the front porch all night Waist deep in thought because when I think of you I don't feel so alone “I don't feel so alone I don't feel so alone” Velvet Remedy chorused As many times as I blink I'll think of you tonight (Tonight, tonight, tonight...) I'll think of you tonight” Snowdrop chimed, Blaze once again singing the background vocals “When violet eyes get brighter And heavy wings grow lighter I'll taste the sky and feel alive again And I'll forget the world that I knew But I swear I won't forget you Oh if my voice could reach back through the past I'd whisper in your ear: “‘Oh darling I wish you were here’” we sang again as a quintet “And again” Littlepip nickered “This time, I wonder what it feels like To find the one in this life, the one we all dream of But dreams just aren't enough So I'll be waiting for the real thing, I'll know it by the feeling The moment when we're meeting, will play out like a scene Straight off the silver screen So I'll be holding my breath, right up 'til the end Until that moment when, I find the one that I'll spend forever with” I started the song “Cause nobody wants to be the last one there Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares Someone to love with my life in their hands There's gotta be somebody for me like that Cause nobody wants to do it on their own And everyone wants to know they're not alone There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere There's gotta be somebody for me out there” Velvet Remedy added to the potential masterpiece “Tonight, out on the street, out in the moonlight And dammit this feels too right, it's just like de Ja vu Me standing here with you So I'll be holding my breath, could this be the end? Is it that moment when, I find the one that I'll spend forever with” Blaze continued further “Cause nobody wants to be the last one there Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares Someone to love with my life in their hands There's gotta be somebody for me like that Cause nobody wants to do it on their own And everyone wants to know they're not alone There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere There's gotta be somebody for me out there” Littlepip and I formed an almost god-like duet, as if our souls themselves were resonating from one-another “You can't give up, (when you're looking for) a diamond in the rough (cause you never know) When it shows up, (make sure you're holding on) Cause it could be the one, the one you're waiting on Cause nobody wants to be the last one there And everyone wants to feel like someone cares Someone to love with my life in their hands There's gotta be somebody for me, oh” Velvet Remedy, Blaze and Snowdrop sang as a trio with the voices of angels “Nobody wants to go it on their own And everyone wants to know they're not alone There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere There's gotta be somebody for me out there Nobody wants to be the last one there Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere There's gotta be somebody for me out there” we finished as a third quintet, the audience slowly beginning to stand on their hooves, clapping said hooves in applause “That was phenomenal” Cadance glimmered “So it was,” a familiar tall cobalt pony with a dark blue mane and tail, Toe-Tapper, stood beside Torch Song and Rarity alongside Twilight, her friends, Spike and the princesses “I must ask,” he raised an eyebrow “Are you trying to upstage us?” “Pun intended?” Blaze laughed “Maybe” he frowned “Answer the question” “If I were to do that, it’d be solo, not as a quintet” I rolled my eyes “You think you can do better than us, on your own?” Torch Song spoke rather haughtily “I know so” I know you, who are you now? Look into my eyes if you can't remember. Do you remember, oh? I can see, I can still find You're the only voice my heart can recognize But I can't hear you now, yeah. I'll never be the same I'm caught inside the memories, the promises our yesterday’s when I belong to you. I just can't walk away 'cause after loving you I can never be the same. And how can I pretend I've never known you? Like it was all a dream, no. I know I'll never forget the way I always felt with you beside me and how you loved me then, yeah. I'll never be the same I'm caught inside the memories, the promises our yesterday’s when I belong to you. I just can't walk away 'cause after loving you I can never be the same. You led me here, then I watched you disappear. You left this emptiness inside and I can't turn back time No, stay! Nothing compares to you. Nothing compares to you. I can't let you go, Can't let you go. I can't let go. I'll never be the same, not after loving you, not after loving you, no. I'll never be the same I'm caught inside the memories, the promises our yesterday’s when I belong to you. I just can't walk away 'cause after loving you I can never be the same. I can never be the same. I will never be the same. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. I just can't walk away. No, I can't walk away from you” I snag alongside a familiar, soothing voice, glancing behind me, I saw Crystal hovering there, looking rather upset about something “I just came to say that I’m sorry for what I did, I shouldn’t have acted out, at all” Crystal bit her lip “We all lose control at one point or another Crystal; you are of no exception to that rule, welcome back” “Thank you, Tesla” she smiled “You’re welcome” I sighed “just try not to do it again, Ok?” “Ok” she chuckled “How about another song, just for us” Littlepip smiled “you and Crystal could do a duet “Baby I Think We Both Know It's Gone Wrong, Wrong, Wrong And I Know You Don't Think We Can Carry It On Baby I Think We Both Know It's Gone Bad, Bad, Bad Think Of All The Good Times We Had Driving To Your House Member When We First Met Dancing' On A Friday Night Under The Moon Light Talkin' Till The Night Was Gone In The Back Of My Truck With The Radio On” I sang, beginning the timeless classic, still playing he guitar, as I’d somewhat conveniently carried it with me “Then That Ol' Song Comes On Together We're Singin' Forever We're Singin' When That Ol' Song Comes On Together We're Singin' Forever We're Singin' That Ol' Country Song Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah” Crystal and I formed a duet “Baby I Think We Both Know It's Alright, Alright But How Could I Forget What You Did That Night Baby You Told Me You Loved Me In Tennessee Where We Were Gonna Live But Now You've Done A Few Things That I Can't Forgive Driving To Her House Tellin' Her You Love Her Lying On A Friday Night Ring In Your Pocket Lying To Me All Along In The Back Of Your Truck With The Radio On” Crystal sang “Then That Ol' Song Comes On Together We're Singin' Forever We're Singin' When That Ol' Song Comes On Together We're Singin' Forever We're Singin' That Ol' Country Song Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah” we formed another duet “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah” Then That Ol' Song Comes On Together We're Singin' Forever We're Singin' When That Ol' Song Comes On Together We're Singin' Forever We're Singin' That Ol' Country Song Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah” “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah” Crystal and I formed one final duet as we ended the serenade “Me and Tennessee, really?” Blaze chortled “Sounded good at the time” I shrugged “So did reading MLD, Right Tesla?” Blaze smirked “How was I to know what the ending was like?” I frowned “Sappy” she slowly nodded “you really pick your poisons dontcha?” “So I do,” I smirked “Do you think we could join together at one point?” Toe-Tapper smiled “It could work, but we’d have to switch songs a little bit, pun not intended” Little pip nickered “But of course,” I chimed -=- As I sat with Littlepip, Velvet Remedy, Twilight and Spike in the library, I glanced at the book Twilight was reading “What’re you going to attempt this time?” I smiled “A basic Summoning spell” Twilight smiled, her horn flaring a bright magenta colour as a vortex of pitch-black magical energy appeared between us, said vortex released a momentous amount of energy in a wave-like motion, creating a blinding light When I could see again, I saw what I guessed to be an anthro pony with a white mane and rabbit suit, complete with ears, with pointed horns between her ears, smiling at me rather sultrily with a pink bow-tie and bright red eyes, her crimson coat gleaming in the sunlight that filtered through the windows as he Blood-red-cutie mark shone in the sunlight, that of which was a love-hear with devil horns which complimented her devil-like wings “Hello, master” the being spoke “I’m Chilly Pepper, a succubus, and your personal slave” “I thought you said this was a basic spell?” I glanced toward Twilight as the succubus pecked my cheek, tracing a light hand around my chest area “I don’t get it, I researched the entire set of notes thoroughly, and repeatedly” Twilight blinked, glancing between her books and the being who was now attempting to undo my pants “Please stop that” I mumbled “Ok, Master,” Chilly Pepper giggled, her tiny fangs glimmering like snow-white icicles, turning her attention to Twilight “the reason your spell failed was that Tesla has a larger amount of willpower in him, just waiting to be released alongside his magic that’s also stored within his body, mind, and soul, plus he’s stronger in general, kind of cute too” she pecked my cheek again “Have you a normal form?” I grumbled, she changed to an apparent pony form with a flash of light, minus the suit and ears, and with a long, slender devil-like tail “Do I not please you in that form?” she blinked “it’s just that I don’t want to be surrounded by awkward stares when I go outside, assuming you’re going to be with me now” I shrugged “love the forms though” “Thank you, Master” “I’m Tesla” I sighed “Thank you Master Tesla” she bowed “Just Tesla will suffice, I’m eighty, not eighty-million” I chuckled “Thank you, Tesla” she smiled “I wonder how you’re going to explain this to the princess” Spike drooled at the sight of the crimson ‘mare/devil’ curled up in my lap “That’s what I’m worried about” Twilight bit her lip “Just say it was an accident, and the explain the rest when she gets here,” I smiled “leave the rest to me” “She’s beautiful, for a succubus” Velvet Remedy hummed “I’d heard legends that they’d mate with you until they eventually suck out your soul, and then rut you senseless anyway” “I love you Tesla,” Chilly Pepper mumbled “Do you love me?” “I love every one of my friends,” I smiled “including you” As we walked out of the library, Chilly got an awful lot of stares “Told you” I sighed as Celestia appeared in a bright flash of light “What is this… thing?” Celestia’s eyes narrowed at the sight of Pepper “Explain” “I was trying a summoning spell, and then there was a vortex of magical energy and then a bright flash of light and then, she appeared” Twilight gestured toward the crimson she-devil-mare stood beside me “And the reason you summoned a being of tartarus?” she scowled at Chilly “she does not belong here, she needs to go back, and she needs to stay there” “I won’t go without Tesla!” Chilly snarled, baring her fangs at the solar princess “And I won’t let you take one of my friends away from me, I’m not having a repeat of that happening again” I growled, triggering ‘Dragon Force’ “Explain” Celestia frowned at me “I had my whole, life, world and heart torn to shreds, all in one event, that was seventy years ago, and I refuse to allow it to happen again!” I glowered at her, my fangs growing slightly as my nails turned to claws, and horns sprouted from my skull “I see” she slowly nodded “then I shall leave the demon to you, Tesla, if I hear that you’ve let her do as she pleases, and that she’s caused any form of chaos, she goes back, are we clear?” “Not, allowing it, to happen” I reiterated “ever” “I won’t cause any trouble if that’s what you’re thinking” Chilly Pepper spoke up, almost nervously “I’d never do what my master won’t allow me to do, his word is the law of my life, and it shall be so long as I can see the sun as it burns brightly above the horizon” “If you insist” Celestia scowled, vanishing via teleportation “A demon, really?” I blinked “You can talk,” she giggled “you’ve grown horns!” “I’m part dragon” I shrugged “And I’m part devil” she winked slyly at me “You entered ‘Dragon Force,’ and then ‘Double Dragon Force’!” Blaze stared at me “It appears that my emotions are the key to my power” I studied my nails and wings with great curiosity “curious, almost demonic, and yet it’s pure dragon slayer magic” “You can slay dragons?” Chilly simpered “I can, and if I have to, I will” I stated frigidly “Fair do’s” she gave a cute giggle “by your word, Master- I mean, Tesla” “So how old are you?” Spike sighed with a dreamy look in his eyes as he gazed at Chilly “On Equis, less than twenty minutes, in general, I am as old as the realm I used to inhabit, I am a timeless chorus, join your voice with mine, and sing victory, everlasting!” she and I spoke in unison toward the end of the sentence “You know devil script?” she blinked “That’s what that is?” I blinked “I was just quoting the Gravemind” “He’s the founder of the ancient textures” she stared at me “What others do you know?” “Time has taught me patience, basking in a new freedom; I know all that I possess” I growled in my impression of the Gravemind “Dude, that’s creepy” Spike shuddered “Perhaps we could form a duet?” Chilly nickered “Perhaps we could,” Littlepip “or maybe you could join us, we need a seventh member to or band!” “You play music?” she blinked “We sing, I play the guitar,” I sighed “it’s a work in progress” “Perhaps you could teach me, master?” she batted her eyelids at me “Perhaps I could,” I nodded “and I will” -=-=- “Are you serious?” Crystal burst into laughter before our next ‘gig’ “you want her in our group?” “You haven’t heard her sing” I winked “Very well then,” she sighed, turning her gaze to the crimson mare “What’s your name?” “Chilly-Pepper, but master calls me ‘Pepper’” “Master?” Crystal grinned “I was summoned by the purple one known as Twilight’s spell” she shrugged “So I see, and he asked for it?” Crystal nodded toward me “No, I simply came of my own volition, after all, we succubi need masters to rule over us, lest we go mad” she giggled “Good to know” Crystal shuddered as we crowded the stage, placing the guitar on the bench, Littlepip and Velvet Remedy sat either side of me, Pepper sat in front of me , Snowdrop and Blaze positioning themselves on my head and shoulder respectively as the audience took to their seats, al staring at Pepper in somewhat apparent confusion “Shall we?” Velvet smiled as Crystal hovered beside her, I nodded “Just a small town girl Livin' in a lonely world She took the midnight train goin' anywhere” I began the song “Just a city boy Born and raised in South Detroit He took the midnight train goin' anywhere” Chilly Pepper chorused, her voice, ironically enough, like that of an arch-angel “A singer in a smoky room The smell of wine and cheap perfume For a smile they can share the night It goes on and on and on and on” she continued Strangers waiting Up and down the boulevard Their shadows searchin' in the night “Streetlight, people Livin' just to find emotion Hidin' somewhere in the night” Snowdrop chimed as she added to the song “Workin' hard to get my fill Everybody wants a thrill Payin' anythin' to roll the dice Just one more time” Velvet Remedy and Littlepip sang as a duet “Some will win, some will lose Some are born to sing the blues And now the movie never ends It goes on and on and on and on” Blaze and Crystal formed a second duet “Strangers waiting Up and down the boulevard Their shadows searchin' in the night Streetlight, people Livin' just to find emotion Hidin' somewhere in the night” Snowdrop, Blaze and I serenaded, almost “Don't stop believin' Hold on to that feelin' Streetlight, people Don't stop believin' Hold on to that feelin' Streetlight, people Don't stop!” Pepper, Snowdrop, Blaze, Crystal, Velvet Remedy, Littlepip and I completed the song as septet “When I see your smile Tears roll down my face I can't replace And now that I'm strong I have figured out How this world turns cold and it breaks through my soul And I know I'll find deep inside me I can be the one I began the second song “I will never let you fall (let you fall) I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all (through it all) Even if saving you sends me to heaven” Snowdrop chorused as Pepper sang the background vocals “It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. Seasons are changing And waves are crashing And stars are falling all for us Days grow longer and nights grow shorter I can show you I'll be the one” Blaze and Crystal chimed together “I will never let you fall (let you fall) I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all (through it all) Even if saving you sends me to heaven” Littlepip sang with Velvet Remedy serenading the background vocals “Cuz you're my, you're my, my, my true love, my whole heart Please don't throw that away Cuz I'm here for you Please don't walk away and Please tell me you'll stay woah, stay woah” I sang, solo “Use me as you will Pull my strings just for a thrill And I know I'll be okay Though my skies are turning grey” Pepper sang her heart out, her wings giving off a blinding light as they changed from devil-like wings, to those of an angel, although their colour remained the same “I will never let you fall I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all Even if saving you sends me to heaven I will never let you fall I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all Even if saving you sends me to heaven” we sang a second time as a group “And here’s the third song running” Blaze declared as I sat on the bench, my friend snad family crowding around me as I began to play the guitar “The burning desire to live and roam free, It shines in the dark And it grows within me You're holding my hand but you don't understand So where I am going you won't be in the end” Chilly Pepper chorused “I'm dreaming in colours Of getting the chance Of dreaming of trying the perfect romance The search of the door, to open your mind In search of the cure of mankind” Littlepip and Velvet Remedy formed a duet, both smiling at me as they sang “Help us we're drowning So close up inside Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? How will the lights die down, telling us who we are?” Snowdrop and Blaze formed another duet I'm searching for answers Not given for free You're hurting inside Is there life within me? You're holding my hand but you don't understand “So you're taking the road all alone in the end I'm dreaming in colours, no boundaries are there I'm dreaming the dream we all seem to share In search of the door, to open your mind In search of the cure of mankind Well help us we're drowning So close up inside” I sang with Pepper, it was as if our hearts had touched, and were now resonating off on-another “Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Why does it rain, rain, rain, down on Utopia? And when the lights die down, telling us who we are Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Oh, why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Now when the lights die down, telling us who we are Why does it rain?” we sang a third time as a septet, bowing before the audience, who clapped their hooves in applaud as we marched from the stage, to the backstage area, and from there too the main hall “That was amazing!” Octavia gaped at me, then glanced toward Pepper “who’s she?” “I’m Pepper” Chilly Pepper smiled “Octavia” she raised an eyebrow as Twilight, her friends and the princesses trotted toward us “I didn’t know succubi could sing that well” Twilight glimmered, all eyes were on us, I heard faint whispers being passed back and forth “I didn’t know she could sing that well” Twilight face-hooved “She’s a succubus?” Rainbow Dash glowered at Pepper “like one of those demon-things that hunts you down and ‘does the nasty’?” “But her wings don’t match” Cadance blinked “We’re all like angels with a little demon on the inside, maybe she’s a demon that found a little angel on the inside?” I suggested “Thank you, Tesla,” Chilly Pepper smiled “You said that once, about The ghoul in the wastes, the one who was still alive and very much sane” Velvet chimed “She had her mind intact, what was left of it anyhow” I sighed “For a Succubus, you’ve the voice of an angel” Twilight smiled “ “Don’t I just?” Pepper nickered “She’s one of the demons from Tartarus?” I heard someone yell “Get her out of here!” another pony screamed “We don’t want one of her kind here!” a third one jeered “get her out!” “Just keep it up” I mumbled, clenching my fists, scales appearing on my arms, hands and face “What’re you waiting for, someone call the guards!” a fourth pony snapped “That’s enough!” I bellowed, a burst of energy washed over me, a seemingly holographic dragon made of pure energy and fire appeared above me, my eyes shining like suns, my canines extending into fangs as I let out an unearthly roar “Now we’re going to allow her to live an everyday normal life, just as anyone else would, and we’re going to do it without question, are we clear?” everyone in the room nodded “Good” I sighed, my teeth, eyes, face, arms and hands returned to normal as I let out a sigh “Dragon’s apparition” Blaze grinned “Gets shiv done” “That it does” I nodded as the holographic dragon faded from view “It’s a little tiring though” “That was incredible!” Pepper gasped “How did you do it?” “Simple, and yet somewhat advanced dragon slayer magic” I glanced around the room, all eyes were on me, rather nervous eyes, at that “That was overkill” Velvet Remedy shuddered “I did not mean to scare you, Velvet, nor you, Littlepip, Snowdrop” I bit my lip “It’s alright Daddy, you did what you had to” Snowdrop smiled “Yeah, you don’t let anypony mess with your friends, ever” Littlepip gleamed “That was both amazing and yet somewhat terrifying” Luna blinked “remind us, not to annoy thee” “Noted” Celestia and I nodded “But I must ask, was such an action necessary?” Celestia raised an eyebrow “For every action in the world, there is always an equal reaction” Blaze sighed “besides, you know what Tesla said about his friends, about how he’d defend them with his life if need be” “So you would” she sighed “then I shall leave you for today, Tesla” with a flash of light, she vanished “I hate having to do that” I sighed “And I thought you were awesome before!” Rainbow Dash laughed, Twilight shot her a glare “what, he beat discord single-hoofed, who else can do that other than the princesses?” “Always fighting” I mumbled, walking with Velvet, Littlepip, Chilly Pepper, and Ryōshi out of the castle, standing in the gardens “I’ll bet it’s what the eons of old did as well, in their war against all forces that might’ve been related to the antagonist of that era” I lay on by back under the shade of a large Oak tree “I’ll bet” Blaze nodded “and I’ll bet that they didn’t have to put up with the amount of hatred and prejudice that your little Pepper was on the receiving end of, either” “I’m used to it” Pepper shrugged “Us demons of tartarus are used to the insults, curses and abuse that we’ve received for the past two billion years” “Two billion,” I blinked “how old are you?” “A few hundred years, the old tartarus was destroyed in a great civil war between the demons of what can only be described as hell; and the succubi of that same area” she sighed “There’s a reason Celestia doesn’t mentioned it to anyone, even her beloved sister, and my kind is a part of that reason” she had tears in her eyes “You can let your emotions go you know, you don’t have to try and act tough when I’m around, I won’t laugh, and I won’t think any less of you for it” I smiled, sitting upright “Oh, Tesla,” She burst into tears, clinging onto me, draping her wings around me, as I did with my wings around her “It’s over now, Pepper, you’re free now” I smiled, faintly “I’m glad for it,” she cried “I’m glad I’m free of that pit, I’m glad I had the chance to come here, and I’m glad I met you, you’re an amazing person Tesla, don’t let anyone tell you differently!” “That’s it, let it all go,” I cooed “it’s going to be alright” “Thank you Tesla,” she sobbed, tears cascading like Luke-warm waterfalls down her cheeks, and down my shoulder “thank you so much for loving me like you have” “It’s Ok” I smiled, stroking her mane “I won’t leave you or any of my friends or family for anything, unless I absolutely most certainly have to, you’re my Nakama, which means you’re closer than family to me, and that I’ll do anything to be with you” “And I you, Master,” she sniffled “And I you, with all of my pitch-black heart” “I’d say it’s onyx” I gave a weak chuckle “Thank you, Tesla” she smiled faintly, letting go of me, pecking my cheek “do you know what us Succubi feed on?” “Love?” I took a wild guess “Lust,” she gave a weak grin “Ravage me tonight, my love" And so I did chapter VII spirit songAs I awoke the following morning with a stiff back, I felt something lying on my chest “Wakey, wakey, my little devil” I smiled as Chilly Pepper rolled onto the ground, stretching as she awoke “Hello handsome,” Pepper smirked “Have fun yesterday” “Not half,” I exhaled sharply “Didn’t know you could do that, my Little Pepper” “I can do anything your heart desires, Master Tesla” she winked flirtatiously at me “Don’t toy with me” I deadpanned, quickly grinning like an idiot “I won’t do anything you don’t want me to do” she smiled “And thanks to that I have no feeling in my legs;” I laughed, changing to eon form “hop on” “That I will” she smirked, leaping onto my back as Littlepip perched herself on the back of my neck =-= As we flew down to ponyville, Velvet Remedy also sat on my back, Snowdrop lay atop my head, and Blaze lay cradled in my arms, I heard someone screaming Rushing toward the library, I burst through the front door, only to find Twilight sat on her haunches, staring in apparent horror at a large mess on the wall, the mess turned out to be thick, bold, blood red writing, which also looked like it was written in blood, reading out ‘I’ve had incest with my brother’ “Have you now?” I glanced toward the lavender mare, who looked at me with a look of meixed fear and terror plastered over her muzzle “Well at least it can’t get worse, right?” Blaze and Chilli Pepper giggled nervously “Who said that it couldn’t get worse?” I sighed, staring at one of the walls in the carousel boutique that was run by and owned by Rarity, the same blood-red letters appearing on the walls which read out, ‘I’ve watched my sister have coitus with my parents’ “I may have miscalculated” Blaze hummed, bounding up and taking a small sample of the crimson liquid, tasting it “Blood” she bit her lip “it’s actually blood” “It’s appalling, that’s what it is!” Rarity snarled almost uncharacteristically “Well I know it can’t get any worse at the farm, right?” Blaze giggled weakly “Ok, Ok, I was wrong again” Blaze grumbled at the sight of snow-white fluid that trailed down the side of the barn at Sweet Apple acres that read; ‘I wish I could have him all to myself’ “Although this one isn’t as bad in context, it’s the stuff it’s possibly made of that makes it awful” Snowdrop observed “Indeed” I turned around, Cadance Celestia and Luna stood before me “Now do you see why she needs to go back?” Celestia frowned “Why, what’d you end up with?” Blaze smirked “I’d rather not say” she raised an eyebrow “Although you yon the other hoof, Tesla, you got one that was rather, interesting” “I already know, somewhat” I bit my lip “what if it’s a test, to see if people can see one-another’s worst parts, and still see if they can look past them?” “Explain” her eyes narrowed “A friend is someone who can see you for who you are and know what you’ve been through, and still tolerate you, maybe even love you for it, who’s to say that it’s actually happening now?” “I see” Celestia slowly nodded “I’ll be in the town square in ten minutes, see you then” “Well, what do ya’ll reckon?” Applejack stood by me with a bucket of paint and a brush “If this is what Celestia and I think it is, it won’t come off, let alone be painted over” I hummed “Aww come one, of course it’ll come off; we just have tah try!” she giggled, walking toward the wall, attempting to paint over the white writing,, only for it to fade instantly as it came into contact with the substance “Well Ah’ll be it doesn’t work!” “Told you so” Blaze laughed “Cellsy said she was meeting everyone in ten minutes in the square, we should probably go” “So what’s your message then?” Applejack smirked “Probably something family-based” I mumbled “And Rarity?” she nickered “Apparently she’s watched her sister have coitus with her parents” Blaze bit her lip trying to stifle laughter “And Twilight?” Applejack burst into a roar of laughter “Apparently had sex with her brother” I chuckled “Well that’d be the day” she rolled her eyes “Ah know he’s a right decent pony, but to go that far, when he’s her brother?” As we reached the square, I was met with a rather frightened-looking Twilight, a rather annoyed Rainbow Dash, a dishevelled Rarity, and a flat-haired Pinkie Pie “So what’d you get on your wall then?” Rainbow Dash suddenly grinned “Dunno, I slept outside” I shrugged “I can imagine what it is though” “Citizens of ponyville,” Celestia began, standing on the stage in front of the town hall “As most of you can tell, there is a dark force at work here, one who seeks to spread lies about each and every one of you, do not listen to it, for it is the voice of darkness, and as such, should and will be vanquished from our minds, and all of equestria” “Wrong,” I mumbled “It’s not a lie the writing just shows our darkest secret, and the truth about who we are, friends are those of whom who accept that and the rest of who you are, and learn to live with it, perhaps even respect you and possibly love you for it,” I went on “Say what you want, but the writing’s quite literally on the wall” Blaze finished for me, several pairs of ponies began to discuss amongst themselves about the writings “And I suppose you have a better idea?” Celestia raised an eyebrow “Never thought I’d get to say this oh-so accurately,” I sighed “get over yourself, if you let one tiny error in another being cloud your better judgement of them, then where will your s-called magic of friendship, love and tolerance be then, it’s a attest, don’t you see, it’s to see if you can truly live united under a single banner, or in this case, roof,” I smiled “if we let things like this get in our way then our bonds will never progress, let alone be forged at all, don’t let some pathetic writing in your home get in the way,” I went on “now, who’s going to attempt to get past this little blip?” a wave of hooves were raised as everyone present raised an arm “Didn’t know you could manage to lead people whilst using an anime quote, brother” Blaze chortled “upcoming song?” “Why not?” I gleamed, flying into the sky “My best friend gave me the best advice He said each day's a gift and not a given right Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind And try to take the path less traveled by That first step you take is the longest stride If today was your last day And tomorrow was too late Could you say goodbye to yesterday? Would you live each moment like your last? Leave old pictures in the past Donate every dime you have? If today was your last day Against the grain should be a way of life What's worth the prize is always worth the fight Every second counts 'cause there's no second try So live like you'll never live it twice Don't take the free ride in your own life If today was your last day And tomorrow was too late Could you say goodbye to yesterday? Would you live each moment like your last? Leave old pictures in the past Donate every dime you have? Would you call old friends you never see? Reminisce old memories Would you forgive your enemies? Would you find that one you're dreamin' of? Swear up and down to God above That you finally fall in love If today was your last day If today was your last day Would you make your mark by mending a broken heart? You know it's never too late to shoot for the stars Regardless of who you are So do whatever it takes 'Cause you can't rewind a moment in this life Let nothin' stand in your way Cause the hands of time are never on your side If today was your last day And tomorrow was too late Could you say goodbye to yesterday? Would you live each moment like your last? Leave old pictures in the past Donate every dime you have? Would you call old friends you never see? Reminisce old memories Would you forgive your enemies? Would you find that one you're dreamin' of? Swear up and down to God above That you finally fall in love If today was your last day” Blaze, Littlepip, Velvet Remedy, and I sang as a quartet as we landed down by the fountain “You Truly are amazing” Celestia smiled “doing what I couldn’t, and just like that?” “Age makes us loud, but also wise” I shrugged “To paraphrase Norik” Blaze nodded “Indeed it does” Celestia nodded sagely Suddenly, as series of bursts of light, radiated from each and every building in Ponyville, beams of snow-white light erupting through the roofs, yet somehow not damaging them, all arcing down and hitting me with full force, forcing me to black out =-=-=-= As I awoke, I looked around the room, Littlepip, Velvet Remedy, Chilly Pepper, Twilight, her friends and the princesses were all stood there, softly smiling at me as I sat upright “What happened?” I clicked my neck “You were hit with an immense amount of magical energy; that of which had an opposite polarity to the magic that sustained the writing on the walls of everypony’s home in Equestria” Littlepip smiled “we didn’t know whether you’d wake up or not” “Wait, all of Equestria,” I blinked, looking down at my former mechanical arm, only to find that it’d been returned to a normal flesh-and-blood appendage, as had my leg “Yes, your limbs have been returned to their previous states due to the magic we’d managed to harness from the explosion,” Celestia smiled also “although we’ve only managed to ensnare a glimmer of what now courses through your veins, Tesla” “A glimmer?” I blinked “I need to stop giving supposedly inspirational speeches” “And you need to stop monologuing” Blaze smirked as she sat atop my shoulder “So I do” I clicked my shoulders, followed by my back, and my wrists “So, when can I get out of here?” “Wheatley said that you could leave as soon as you awoke” Littlepip pecked my cheek “So I guess we can leave” When I got outside, there was an almighty cheer as what I’d guessed to be the entire town clapped their hooves as they applauded me “What?” I blinked “They consider you their hero, wear the title well, Teslakana” Luna smiled “Tesla’s no hero” Blaze smirked “he is what he is, there isn’t any changing that, and trust me, almost everyone who’s met him has tried, al ending in a rather sour failure” “You think that’s sour, try barbecue sauce” I grinned “just add vinegar, tomato ketchup, brown sauce, and a teaspoon of sugar” “I’m not doing anything of the sort!” she grinned “your kitchen-wise concoctions nearly ended up with me in the hospital” “You ended up with a bad case of ‘wind valley’” I rolled my eyes “It felt like my bowels were going to explode!” she argued “how you can call that food is beyond me!” “What’s ‘Wind valley’?” Twilight nickered “It’s where you can’t help but pass wind, usually lasts a day or two” I explained, turning my attention back to the quilava on my shoulder “And my sausage rolls aren’t that bad, sister” “Ah’m guessing that’s meat-based?” Applejack sighed; I nodded “How do you humans manage it?” “I thought you were going to say stomach it, that would of made a pun worth sinking your teeth into” Blaze chortled “Cringe-worthy puns at their best” I facepalmed, as did everyone else who was present “Not sure how to digest that, are you?” she gleamed “Ok, that’s enough” I mumbled “Alright, I’ll stop” she sighed “But the memories of these puns will forever eat away at your sanity” “I said stop” I growled “Alright, that was the last one” she glanced at me awkwardly “It’d better be” I shook my head “Someone woke on the wrong side of the hospital bed” she smirked, looking up at the top of my head “Someone’s horny” “What?” I felt the top of my head, only to find there were indeed horns there, I quickly glanced behind me, there was a third pair of wings tucked just under the other two “It… it’s ‘Double Dragon Force’” I blinked “Not Quite, young Eon” Celestia smiled “When you absorbed that energy, albeit with slight difficulty, you newfound power somehow became literally attached to your actual physical form, what happens when you use that ability again is anypony’s guess” she explained “In all fairness you should be feeling rather light in comparison to usual” “Metsuryū Ogi Kai; Gia Sekando” Blaze chuckled “Indeed” I smirked “how long was I out?” “A month” Celestia hummed “we don’t know how much power you put into your attacks, but Discord’s still in the royal Canterlot hospital “And now you see why you shouldn’t annoy a dragon slayer” Velvet Remedy smiled as Kiary perched herself between my horns “I guess the part of you that’s dragon has grown significantly larger” “And so have your senses no doubt” Pepper smiled “And that’s not counting the ghost that’s been appearing in your room every night, watching over you like a guardian angel” “Really?” I glanced toward Blaze, who nodded “That things been with you since you went out like a m light, I think it might be related to the dragonsong” Blaze folded her arms “She hasn’t said much though” “She?” I suddenly felt sick “She’s a dragon, even more reason to suspect her as part of your legacy as an eon, Tesla” Cadance smiled as a ghostly figure of a brilliant emerald dragon faded into view before me, her golden underbelly scales, horns and sapphire eyes gleaming in the sunlight “Hello, Tesla” the dragon smiled “You’re the dragon who’s been keeping an eye on me?” I tilted my head ever-so slightly “I am,” she nodded “my name is Ember, as I was never able to conjure a proper Dragonflame worthy to be used in battle, so I stuck with it,” she went on “now, shall we?” “Do what?” I blinked “Practice our spirit combination” she rolled her eyes “I see you’re new to the whole concept about spirit unity?” “A little” I grinned, placing a hand out before me as she morphed into a jade-coloured vortex that reshaped itself into a bright green orb, pressing said orb into my being, Kiary taking flight as I was overwhelmed with incredible energy “Now, we may fight and work as one” Ember and I grinned in perfect unison “It’s actual spirit unity?” Twilight eyed me up and down as Ember’s ghostly form appeared above me “I’d read about it, but I didn’t think I’d ever see it in person, they’re completely merged now!?” “Indeed” Celestia nodded “Tesla and Ember are fused now, in being, spirit, and all other attributes, even their heartbeat and breathing are as one” “Tsuin tamashī, Ryū tamashī” Ember grinned down at me “Quite the ability, wouldn’t you say?” “I’ve a feeling it only gets better from here on in” I gleamed “Quite so, this ability is like mastering a ‘Lightning Flame Dragon mode’” she nodded “What?” I blinked “I may have failed to mention something, whilst I failed to master fire, I honed and perfected my powers with that of the thunderstorms that rage through the heavens” Ember smirked “Needless to say, that I am a Lightning Flame Dragon” “Now that’s more like it,” Blaze glimmered “Elemental diversity for once” “A ‘Lightning-Flame dragon?’” rainbow Dash stared at me, and then toward Ember Twilight blinked “how is such a thing possible, Celestia?” “It is possible, through great amounts of time and effort, for a dragon to use an element other than fire, it’s either that or they’re born with it” Celestia smiled “and it would appear that Ember is no different “What kind of elements?” Littlepip stood beside me alongside Velvet and Pepper “there have been sightings and scenario’s where iron, lightning, poison, even the skies themselves have been used in dragon magic” Celestia’s eyes narrowed slightly “And then there’s Crystagia, the Gem dragon” Blaze smirked “Quite so” she nodded “Tesla’s foster mother, Crystagia, is a unique dragon, perhaps one in several generations, perhaps rarer still” she continued “to hear of a gem dragon, ironic as th title is, is legendary, the stuff of myths and folklore themselves, she’s a regal dragon, Tesla, you’re actually rather lucky” “You know Crystagia?” Ember stared at me in apparent awe “She’s my foster parent,” I beamed “do you know her, Ember?” “She’s the one who let me hone my skills as a lightning flame dragon and she’s is the only dragon in existence thus far; who has mastered every possible element in dragon magic” Ember pondered “to think that you’re her son is nothing short of almost impossible!” “And here I thought things couldn’t get any weirder” Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes as the party slowly picked itself up “If you think it’s weird now, just wait,” I laughed “allow me to try something,” I raised my arm above my head, concentrating my energy into it, with an almost blinding glow the lower half had morphed into a large, silver-coloured drill, which set itself alight as I concentrated further, shortly followed by lightning bolts that encircled the flames “Metsuryū Ogi, Ryu No Tamashī, Giga, doriru, burēkā!” I cheered charging into the sky as the drill began to spin at breakneck speeds soaring into the sky, creating an incredible explosion of rainbow-coloured flames “Dragon slayer magic combined with spiral energy, that’s a new one” Blaze whistled as I landed before my friends and family, Kiary perching herself on my other shoulder as Snowdrop lay atop my head, as per usual “So, you’re like a shaman, you command the spirit of the deceased?” Twilight gaped at me “Two things, Twilight Sparkle, I do not ‘command’ anyone, no matter who they are or what the circumstances may be,” I frowned, then grinned like an idiot, again “and two, where on Equis do you get this information!?” I burst into a constant fit of laughter “I read books of course,” she nickered “I do live in a library after all” “So you do” I sighed “And here I thought I was going insane” “As if you aren’t already?” Blaze raised a smug eyebrow “Touché” I simpered, my arm now back to normal as it hung freely by my side “How did you know that you’d kept your ability with your arm?” Twilight nickered “I guessed” I shrugged as an unearthly rumbling escaped me “What was that, an earthquake?” Cadance blinked “More like my stomach” I stifled a laugh “What I wouldn’t give for Barbeque ribs right now…” “How are these made exactly?” Celestia raised an eyebrow “Don’t toy with me woman” I deadpanned, m she vanished for a moment, returning not five minutes later with a large amount of succulent-looking -what appeared to be- ham in her magical grasp, said ham was laced with what smelled like barbeque sauce “Damn, she’s god at this;” Blaze smirked at me with a sly leer “isn’t she Tesla?” my stomach let out another rumble “I think that says it all, really” “You can’t exactly blame me, I’ve been out for six months, seven including this one, and through all that I haven’t eaten anything whatsoever” I frowned “Never get between a dragon and his next meal” Twilight sweat-dropped “Basically” I nodded as Celestia handed me the meat, complete with leg bone sticking out of the end, beginning to eat away at it “Where’s this from?” “The gryphon kingdoms, I take it you like it?” Celestia raised an eyebrow “They really do make a good ham” I smiled “What’s ham?” Applejack blinked “What’s this from?” I stopped, momentarily “Pig,” Celestia raised the other eyebrow “Why?” “Then it’s either ham or bacon, depending on how you make it” Blaze smirked “Everything’s better with bacon” I nodded “Amen” she nodded as I finished off the meat, disintegrating the bone with Dragonflame “So when do we start practice then?” “On what?” I tilted my head slightly “Our new octet, duh!” she lightly smacked me on the cheek “you really are dense aren’t you?” “Depending on how one would define such a word, then maybe” I exhaled sharply “So who can see you then?” I glanced up toward Ember “All of them, but it appears that they’re transfixed on your party right now, only sharing a moments glance with me” Ember nickered, almost “T’would appear that I’m not the one who matters right now, Tesla” “And, to quote Admiral Preston Jeremiah Cole, let me show you what one puny human can do!” Blaze grinned “Too right” I smiled, walking toward the so-called ‘party’ “Yo Tesla, glad you could make it!” Vinyl trotted toward me alongside Vinyl “Who’s the dragon?” “I’m Ember,” Ember smiled “Tesla’s guardian ghost” “A ghost,” Vinyl blinked “you look real enough to me” “That’s because I’m allowing others to see me for what I am” she let out a giggle “Ok, but why’ve you got horns?” Vinyl stared at the top of my head “I’m part dragon, it’s only fitting I have the scales, horns, wings and flame-based magic of one” I smirked “That’s awesome!” she cheered “So, we heard that you saved the town, more or less” Octavia nickered “Did I?” I glanced toward Celestia, she smiled “Learn something new every day, eh Tesla?” Blaze laughed “So we do” I chuckled -=-=- As I flew around the area near Cloudsdale, I found a single, massive, stone pillar with a mansion built onto its annex, and it looked abandoned “Is anyone in here?” I knocked on the door, only to have it swing open due to a sudden breeze as Littlepip and Velvet Remedy landed safely on the ground “Apparently not,” I frowned, my nose twitching as I flew into what appeared to be the main lounge, finding three ponies’ bodies in a small pile, two female, one male, two adults, one fill, all a mild greyish colour with darkish-pale bluish manes and tails, the filly’s eyes opened, staring at me in awe “Hello there” I smiled, putting on the softest voice I could manage “Who are you?” the filly quivered I all-too obvious fear “I’m Tesla” “I’m Snowdrop” Snowdrop simpered “Littlepip” Littlepip smiled “Velvet Remedy” The charcoal-black unicorn mare beside me gave a soft smile “Chilly Pepper” Pepper nickered “And I’m Blaze, Tesla’s adorable little sister” Blaze laughed softly “But you look nothing alike” the filly blinked her cat-like irises staring at me apparent curiosity “I’m her adoptive brother, her family was killed by poachers” I sighed “Oh,” the filly’s eyes lower to what I’d assumed to be her parent’s unmoving forms “Mommy and daddy aren’t breathing, are they going to be Ok?” “They’ll be fine, as they’ll always be watching over you, no matter where you are,” I gave a weak smile “What do you mean?” she gasped “May I have a look at them, I promise on my honour as Luna’s knight not to do anything to them” I smiled, she nodded, I placed my head against the mares’ chest, then the stallions, shaking my head toward Velvet Remedy, who bit her lip “I’m sorry” I avoided the filly’s gaze “About what, they’re Ok aren’t they?” she had tears in her eyes “They are, in a way, they’re watching over you, as they always have and always will, from heaven” I flinched “NO!” the filly burst into tears, hitting my chest with all the force she could muster “they’re not dead, they’re not!” she cried, nuzzling into her parent’s bodies “They’re hearts have stopped beating, and so has their breathing, I’m afraid there’s nothing I can do” “So what should I do?” she wept “I do not know the answer to that, but you could either stay here, or you could come with me, I know it sounds awkward, but I’ll give you the best of what I can offer, knight’s honour” I saluted her “Can I have minute to say goodbye to mommy and daddy?” she whimpered, wiping away her tears “Take all the time you need” I bowed quickly, exiting the lounge, Blaze in my arms, Snowdrop atop my head, and Littlepip, Velvet Remedy alongside Pepper upon my back as I hovered at the entrance to the castle/mansion-like building, the filly eventually joining us, perching herself on my neck “I’m ready, let’s go” there was no emotion in her voice “Then we’re away” Blaze and I spoke in unison, nary a trace of neither happiness nor sadness on our voices “Where are we going?” The filly whispered, monotonously “To see Celestia and Luna” I frowned as I flew into the castle, knocking on the doors to the throne room “Enter” a rather authoritative voice called from the other side of the large double doors “And who is this?” Celestia raised an eyebrow as I entered the throne room “I’m Gracy Gloom” the filly atop my neck mumbled “can you help me?” “Where are your parents?” Celestia seemed shocked, to say the least “Dead” she sniffled, Celestia glanced toward me “I don’t know what happened to them, I just found her lying with them in the house” I explained “We see, and who were thy parents?” Luna hummed “Night Shade and Moon Heart” Gracy Gloom bit her lip “Lieutenant Night Shade?” Celestia stared at the pair of us “I’ll send a letter to Shadow Swift as soon as I can, you needn’t worry Gloom” “Thank you Princess” Gloom gave a very small, rather faint, smile “And what of you, Tesla, now that you’ve brought her here, will you take care for her and love her as a father would?” “I don’t know if I can,” I sighed “I want to make sure she’s safe, but I don’t know if I can take care of another” “A difficult choice; that much is certain” Luna hummed “Thou could leave her here with us, our guard would take care of her like she was one of their own, and the maids and servants that work around the castle would act as her brothers and sisters, per se” “‘Maids and servants,’” Blaze spat “Tesla and I prefer the term Nakama, that way; it doesn’t make us sound like power-hungry tyrannical scum-balls” “I noticed,” Celestia smiled “shall you leave her with us, or take her with you?” “What do you think Gloom?” I glanced toward the filly “Stay with me, or live with them?” “I’ll go” Gloom glided down to the floor, standing between Celestia and Luna “Goodbye Uncle” she smiled s I lowered myself down to give her a hug, shortly followed by a peck on the gorehead “I’ll see you later, Gloom” I smiled, turning around and gliding out of the room, raising a finger and thumb claw into an ‘L’ shape as I left, Blaze doing the same with her paws ==-=-== “We had to do the salute,” Blaze laughed as we stood in the centre of Ponyville “I thought it fitting, I’m a Fairy Tail wizard, she called me a family member, ergo, by the transitive property; she’s a fairy Tail member also” I shrugged “That makes sense” Littlepip giggled “So you’re her uncle now?” Pepper smiled “If that’s what she wants me to be, then that’s what I’ll be” I smiled back “And that’d make me her aunt” Blaze chuckled “And me her sister” Snowdrop simpered “Looks like, our little family just keeps on growing” she smirked “So it does” Velvet Remedy nickered “you’re a noble eon, Tesla, even if you attempt to deny it, what you’ve just done will possible resonate throughout Equestria for generations, by saving one pony, you affect many, and they, in turn, could turn around and change the hearts of everypony” she went on “you’re a special eon, not because you’re one of the only two that I know, but because of what you’re like on the inside, and not your draconic legacy or your human originalities, I mean who you are in there,” she pointed toward my chest “your heart is that of gemstone, and your soul is that of diamond, your mind is like that of the sea, calm, crystal clear, and your form is that of the wind, ever-changing between your eon and human halves, I love you Tesla, as does Littlepip, and Possible Pepper also, and we[‘re proud of it, you say that it’s our choices that define us,, and I say you’ve made an excellent one, my love” “That calls for a Carlsberg” Blaze laughed as I glanced around, noticing that Pinkie Pie had, somehow, set up another one of her apparently infamous parties throughout the large town, and that Twilight and her friends, save fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, were staring at me in apparent curiosity “So it does” I smiled as Twilight and her friends trotted up to me “What’d you do this time?” Applejack nickered “Save a filly’s life” Snowdrop squee’d “What?” Twilight blinked as Ember appeared above me “Tesla travelled to a seemingly abandoned tower held in the sky by a pillar of stone, once there he found a lone filly, held by her parent’s bodies” Ember explained “Where is she now?” Rainbow Dash blinked “She’s with Celestia,” Pepper giggled “Tesla wanted her to be safe, and knew that he couldn’t take care of everyone he so happens to save, so he made an arrangement with the princesses, so she now lives in the castle, with the guard, maids and servants taking care of her” “That’s noble of you” Twilight gleamed “how did they die?” “Twilight,” Rarity gasped, apparently horrified that her friend could ask such a thing “that’s very rude you know, I’m sure the poor filly’s been scarred, possibly worse even!” “Even so, it’s a fair question” Blaze shrugged “When we got there, it seemed like they were sleeping, even if it was in what appeared to be the lounge area, that’s when we found her, Gracy Gloom, tucked under her parents wings, as if they were trying to shield her from something” “What if they were, and whatever kill them had returned?” I blinked “We need to move!” as soon as I’d finished talking I set off for the pillar of stone, which was an absolute bastard to find “Here we are” I muttered, flying into the lounge, the corpses of Gloom’s parents hadn’t moved, naturally, I spotted a hooded figure take-off up the stairs, chasing after him as he made his way into one of the bedrooms “Who are you?” I scowled; creating twin fireballs in either hand, the figure bristled “I said,” I snarled, the fireballs doubling in size “who are you?” “I am not important, I was only sent here to ensure the retrieval of an item,” the pony scoffed “and that’s all you get, for now” a quick dart of fiery magic removed the being’s hood, revealing a cyan, pony-like head with fangs and silvery eyes “So, the plot thickens, now that you’ve seen who I am, but have no name to go with it, what will you do?” “I can bring the house down, pillar, foundations and all, and I will if you don’t give me some answers” I snapped “Very well, have your resolution” the cyan pony/.bug hybrid removed her cloak completely, revealing more of herself to me, she had insect-like wings with holes in them, her tail, and her legs “What are you?” I frowned “A new species, created to deal with any threat that my dear lord sees that could topple his hopes and dreams and turn his desires into mere ash” the being spoke haughtily “Well, aren’t you going to arrest me?” “I’m a knight, not a guard” I tutted “And if this is a conspiracy theory, I must say it’s rather intriguing…?” “Sapphire Star” the ‘new species’ winked “take me whilst you can, Tesla, but you just wait, everything you know will crumble before your eyes!” she went on “but I’m glad you think that of master’s plans, my little eon-!” I quickly knocked her unconscious with a swift chop to the back of her neck, my ears pull-ing me toward a drawer, Opening said drawer, I found a rainbow-coloured, pearl necklace; each one of the pearls giving off a prismatic glow, I then carried the cyan being over my neck as I flew back to the castle once more -=- “And what is this being that you bring before us this time, Tesla?” Celestia smiled “Blaze pointed out the theory that whatever killed Gloom’s parents might’ve returned, I went back and found her, looming around the upstairs area, searching for this” I held out the necklace I’d found, Celestia took it with her magic “We remember this” Luna’s eyes narrowed as she studied the jewellery piece “We gave it to Night Shade and Moon Heart in hopes that they’d use it when the time came, now, however, it may never happen” “What does it do?” Blaze smirked “Vanquish evil using sacred light” Celestia smiled “Cliché” she rolled her eyes “Where am I?” the Sapphire Star steadily got to her haunches “In my castle, in my kingdom,” Celestia spoke calmly, yet with the anger of a thunderstorm “you stand accused of the deaths of both Night Shade and Moon Heart, how do you plead?” “Guilty” Sapphire gave a wicked smirk “Explain thyself!” Luna glowered “It’s simple, master is making way for a new, brighter, and better Equestria, and then the rest of Equis shall be liberated, none shall be left behind when our Great Journey begins, that is our lord’s promise, and it shall be fulfilled!” “Either you start making sense, or I use what I’m assuming is your chitin to make a small set of light armour for Snowdrop and Blaze” I snarled “It’s all rather easy,” Sapphire laughed manically, eventually calming down, if even a little “Once Master finally gets that necklace, he’ll be able to do the impossible, and make it all the more of a reality,” she continued “the liberation of Equestria is but a small step in his march to glory, do what you will with me, but rest assured, where one of us falls, another seven shall arise!” she chimed “don’t you see, this world is corrupt, we need a better leader, not just those with the ability to move the Celestial bodies, but those with the ability to shape the universe as they see fit” “And you don’t care who gets hurt, maimed or worse on your little parade through hell?” I growled, picking her up, slamming her down to the floor by her neck “assuming we let you out alive; that of which I’m not really inclined to do at this point, just so you know, you can tell this oh-so high-and-mighty ‘lord’ and tell him that if even so much as flinches out of line, I will personally see to it that his remaining days, dreams and nightmares on this planet are those of fear, cowardice, weakness and anything else that he fears most, are we clear?” “Yu think master fears death,” Sapphire burst into laughter “he lives for the kill, much like a wolf lives for the hunt, and when he doesn’t get what he wants, he too, will personally see to it that he gets his way” “I’m not asking for thinks to go my way,” I glowered at her “I’m asking for things to go the right way” “And so they shall,” she sighed with apparent amusement “you really are dense, aren’t you Tesla?” “I’m also the one who’s contemplating whether to crush your thick skull or not” I raised an eyebrow “Do what you will toward me,” she shrugged, almost “but, it’s as I said, you interrupt his plans and he’ll come down here himself to deal with you, can you really handle that, Eon?” “I’ve defied gods and demons, and slain dragons bigger than your level of arrogance,” I laughed “I think I can handle a strange, bug-pony hybrid” “Changeling” she smirked “or rather, Neo-Changeling” “Call yourselves whatever you want, you’re all part hug, and they all burn the same” I shrugged, letting her go “Now that you’re finally released from your otherwise humorous captivity, somewhat,” Celestia stifled a giggle, then frowned “Now, changeling, what do you want?” “I want nothing more than for master’s plan to come to fruition” Sapphire rolled her eyes “”What you do with me is of your concern, not mine” “Then it’s to the dungeons with you until I can find a better use for you” she spoke icily, the guards at either side of her throne quickly escorted Sapphire from the room “Tesla,” she smiled “I believe we owe you a commendation” “Simply doing what I can for my country” I shrugged, Littlepip, Velvet Remedy, and Chilly Pepper landing on all fours on the pristine floor as I reverted to human form “Your country,” she raised an apparently amused eyebrow “Explain” “Equestria’s my home now, has been for the past year,” I smiled “Can’t have conspiracies about a possible tyrant queen running about, can we?” “Those words mean more to me than you could realise, Sir Teslakana” she bit her lip, as if trying to hold back tears of either sadness or joy, I knew not which “By your word, Princesses” I bowed quickly, turning around and walking with Pepper, Littlepip and Velvet out of the room “Oh, and Tesla,” Celestia called out from her rightful throne as I opened the door, I turned my head to face her “I love you” “Noted” I winked as I left the throne room -=- “She loves you?” Blaze blinked, as if I pondering for a moment, before continuing, “I wonder how long she’s withheld that, or when it started” “Probably the same time that Crystagia arrived,” I hummed “or the time when I mentioned her, think about it, a lone wanderer searching every place he can find in a quest to find his parents, just to see their smile again” “It’s almost tragic,” Littlepip bit her lip “Quite so,” I nodded “I think her admiration, let’s call it’ of you only grew when you saved the town,” Velvet simpered “only then did she realise what she was feeling, in its purest of forms” “Poetic, almost,” Chilly Pepper smiled “What’re you going to do about it?” “Dignis Solis*” I shrugged “So be it,” Blaze smirked “you cheesy ferret!” “Is this another case of the pot calling the kettle black?” “No it’s the pot calling the kettle a racist” she grinned from ear to ear “Fair do’s” I shrugged “Ahem?” I turned around; Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Celestia, and Cadance were stood before me, eyebrows raised “Blaze,” I sighed “Yes brother?” the quilava smirked “Thank you” I groaned “No problem TK” she laughed “Is there nothing wrong with love?” Celestia raised an eyebrow “We didn’t say there was” Blaze gave me a sly grin, I simply looked the other way “Then you shouldn’t mind me doing this,” Celestia walked forward, standing within mere inches of me, placing her lips against mine, her lilac eyes staring into mine with the warmth and caring I’d come to expect from her, gradually parting “Well?” she raised an eyebrow,, smiling as I eventually raised gentle hand to her cheek, running my fingers through her somewhat ethereal mane, letting my hand rest by my side, pecking her cheek “I must say that was rather relaxing,” she smiled as I slouched against a nearby tree, sitting against the trunk, lying next to me with her head in my lap, staring up at me with her bright pinkish eyes “you could get a job down at the spa, were it not for your musical career” “Could do; but I’ve a family to take care of,” I smiled “Besides, how on earth did I get lucky enough to end up on Equis in the first place?” “That’d be because of me,” she sat upright, staring right at me, a look of apparent concern in her eyes “when Discord said that I was responsible for everything in your life, I was,” she flinched, as if expecting to be hit “I’m the one responsible for your reclusive nature, I alone am at fault for causing you to be the way you were” she bit her lip “I only wished for you to return here, to be with me, together forever” she finished “Whilst I am annoyed that I had to go through that, I’m thinking it was worth it, after all,” I clicked my neck, each vertebrae making a loud cracking sound as I did so “without it, I wouldn’t have met any of you” “You’re kind, considerate, and noble,” Velvet Remedy smiled “Tesla, I’m honoured to be with you” “As am I” Littlepip pecked my cheek as she sat beside me, Chilly Pepper sat beside her as velvet Remedy curled up in my lap “And me” Pepper smiled “All of us in general” Kiary chimed as she sat upon my shoulder, Blaze “And me, Daddy” Snowdrop smiled from atop my head, as per the usual “I might as well join the bandwagon and agree with them” Blaze rolled her eyes “So, how’d you manage it this time?” Rainbow Dash smirked “Heck if I know, hell if I give a damn” I clicked my tongue “Then you admit your love for me?” Celestia blinked “I love all my friends” I smiled, again “That’s not what I meant-!” I silenced her by pressing my lips against hers; she blinked “fair enough” “Princess,” Shining Armour galloped out of the castle, running toward us, only to come to a screeching halt “I’ve received reports of an Ursa appearing in Ponyville, and that you’re to be summoned immediately!” he panted for breath, Velvet Remedy clambered to her hooves as she stood beside me as I pulled myself to my feet “This should be interesting” Rainbow Dash grinned -=- As I glided down toward Ponyville, I quickly -and instantly-, noticed a large cobalt blue bear that appeared to be made of stars and the energy of the cosmos bound into a physical entity Said entity was busy destroying the town “Well like she said, let’s make this interesting!” I glimmered, my friends and family landed beside me along with the princesses as I reverted to human form, bursting into flames “I believe this would be a good time to test our spirit unity” Ember appeared beside me in her usual ghostly form, gleaming “Likewise” Celestia and I smiled, holding my hand out as Ember diminished in a miniature whirlwind, morphing into the same spherical shape as before, which I then implanted into my chest, a sudden burst of energy causing my wings to extend “Modo Raien Ryū” with a second burst of energy I found myself encompassed in whitish-golden flames and golden-primrose lightning as I bolted toward the Ursa, firing Gatling-like punches once I was close enough “Raien Ryū no Hoseki-Ryū ken!” I boomed, striking the bear possible hundreds of times, maybe thousands even, forcing it to practically slide backwards along the ground away from Ponyville “And now, the finisher” Ember and I smirked in unison as I generated a sphere of fire in one hand, and a sphere of lightning in the other, bringing the spheres down as they doubled in size, crashing them down onto the Ursa, creating an explosion fit for a battlefield of the gods “Raien Ryū no Gakkotsu!”** The Ursa shone with a bright light as it seemingly exploded into millions upon millions of tiny star-like shards of what I assumed to be energy “That was amazing!” Rainbow Dash gleamed as she and the rest of Twilight friends, the lavender mare herself included, galloped up to me, save Fluttershy, who stood in the crowd that burst into cheering as I landed before them, Ember de-fusing with me as I did so “That was truly magnificent, such a brilliant display of your magical prowess,” Rarity glanced toward Twilight “no offense Twilight” “None taken Rarity, I’m sure I couldn’t have done it myself like Tesla did” Twilight nickered “But I didn’t,” I gestured toward Ember who was busy staring at something behind me “Uh, Tesla, you might want to re0-check for damage” Ember pointed to the area behind me Turning around, I saw a large crater on the edge of Ponyville, one which had arcs of lightning jolting from one area to the next “It would appear that thou hath gone, how would thou say, ‘Overkill’?” Luna giggled as she, Celestia, and Cadance trotted toward us casually alongside my other friends and family “Indeed,” Blaze smirked as she clambered up onto my shoulder “one does not simply use such a spell without causing large amounts of damage to the immediate vicinity” “I’m just hoping I didn’t do any significant damage” I bit my lip “None that I can see” Snowdrop smiled as she sat atop my head “That’s good” I exhaled sharply, feeling a little numb “I’d say our unity worked at approximately eighty-percent,” Ember ‘reported’ “The next time we use it, it should be at least ninety,” she smiled “any sign of numbness you may be feeling is due to your nerves being rebuilt in order to withstand the voltage” “How can your own magic hurt you like that?” Twilight blinked “Lightning as it may be” “Because the air around a thunderbolt burns at around forty-five-thousand degrees” I explained, sort of “But I still don’t get why your nerves would be affected?” she tilted her head, Spike mimicking her as he sat atop her back “Because the brain delivers messages via electromagnetic pulses to the nerves and the areas of the body, anywhere from the horn-point down,” I smiled “that’s why I’m feeling, well, actually, I can’t feel anything, physically speaking” “So ya’ll are a Lightning Flame dragon now?” Applejack giggled “Ah thought dragons could only have one element” “It is possible, although extremely rare, that, under certain criteria, a dragon can gain another element,” Celestia smiled “Like Gajeel the Iron-shadow dragon slayer” “He ate shadows?” Twilight blinked “How does that work?” “Magic” I facepalmed “And here we were told that she’s the element of it” Blaze slowly shook her head as she held it in her paws “I don’t know everything!” Twilight frowned “You don’t?!” Rainbow dash chortled “Brother, I’m no longer surprised about why there’s a drinking game based on this series” “Neither are we” Littlepip and I rolled our eyes -=- “Remind me why we’re out here again?” Velvet Remedy all-but staggered out of the train as we made it to what I’d been briefed as Appleoosa “We’re here; ‘cause Mah cousin needs help with a few buffalo that’re causing a right ruckus around his orchard!” Applejack frowned “And he thought it’d be a good idea to make a town in the middle of the desert?” Blaze grumbled “Not that I can feel the heat, nor can Tesla, and nor can Kiary” she gestured to me, and then to the dragon laid across my head like a rug “What’s yer point?” Applejack scowled “If someone were to so much as drop a lit hatch-head, the whole town would be reduced to ash, that’s how dry the air is” Blaze grunted “do they not teach you environmental and/or biological technicalities in pony-land?” “Now wait just a minute!” she glowered at the quilava sat on my shoulder “That’s mah home ya’ll are talkin’ about!” “And mine too, but I’m not going mental about it, and my life here means as much as anyone else’s should,” I glanced toward the orange pony “It’s not a problem if you don’t make it into one, AJ” “Welcome to Appleoosa!” a yellowy-golden earth pony wearing a Stetson hat and a brown jacket, or so I thought, with a fiery golden mane gleamed at me from ear to ear “Yer a sorry-looking bunch” he eyed me up and down “what in the hay are ya meant to be, some summoning spell gone wrong or somethin’?” “See what I mean, not letting it affect me” I turned to face Applejack “I may be rambling about it but I’m not throwing a right hissy fit about it” “He’s mah cousin” Applejack glared daggers at me “Alrighty then” I slowly nodded “Ah take it yer insulting me fer a reason?” the pony raised a dangerous by his standards- eyebrow “Case in point” Littlepip laughed “You said something about a buffalo problem?” I stifled a laugh “They’ve been here a while now, longer than Ah have actually,” he deadpanned “why?” “I help friends of my friends,” I shrugged “just tell me where they are and I’ll be on my way to solve everything” “Ya’ll think ya’ll are strong enough to deal with them?” he burst into a fit of laughter “He beat the dragon king!” Kiary screamed the golden-yellow pony stopped “Ya’ll are joking, right?” he blinked, I sighed, igniting both hands with a crimson flame “So ya aren’t, Mah bad, pardner, they’re due east of here, in the hills,” he gestured to the nearby hills on the outskirts of the desert village “Sorry fer doubting ya” “I’m used to it” I clicked my knuckles, walking through the town, climbing up the steep slope, only to arrive on the edge of what looked like a native Indian encampment, complete with tepee’s “Who goes there?” a large, dark brownish buffalo stood before me, complete with Indian headdress and war-paint, and a dozen more surrounded, Velvet, Pepper, Littlepip and I as we entered the village “We wish to negotiate peace with the natives of the village at the feet of these hills” I smiled, faintly “We too have tried, but to no avail, tell their sheriff Silverstar that if he doesn’t move the trees by hoof, we’ll remove them with force” the ‘chief’ scowled “I’ll pass on the notion, if anything” I nodded When we got back to the village, my friends, alongside Applejack’s cousin, and a new, light-ish brown pony with a black Stetson and a silver marshal’s badge complete with a bandanna and jacket with a black moustache stood before me “Well?” Applejack frowned “He’s giving us the option of either we move the trees or he’ll apparently come down here and do it himself” I sighed “We’ve already told him we can’t,” the newcomer stamped his hoof on the ground “we’d simply be doing it all for nothing “Oh for crying out loud” I grumbled, flying into the sky, looking around the orchard, hovering above him, you can easily move the edge of trees from the left side over to the right, you wouldn’t be ruining anything, or is your earth pony pride thicker than your skull?” “Give me one reason I shouldn’t have you arrested!?” he glowered at me as I landed “Well for one, I’m a knight to the princesses, and two, I’m the only one here who can take care of them, properly” I pointed to the hills behind me with a thumb “First ya‘ll claim to be strong enough to beat the buffalo, and now ya’ll are claiming to be one a knight?” the golden yellow pony spat “Don’t be ridiculous” “Would you like for me to level everything within the vicinity to the ground as proof?” I grinned at him rather wickedly “On second thought,” he gulped audibly “Ah’m Braeburn” “Noted” I scoffed, turning to walk away “I suppose I’ll have to do this myself, Littlepip, Velvet, Blaze and Kiary, stay here,” I smiled toward the quilava on my shoulder “and should he try anything on either of the two, Blaze, you know what to do” When I got back again, this time from roasting the buffalo tribe, I saw Braeburn standing awkwardly close to Littlepip, attempting to nuzzle into her, only for her to take a large step back as Velvet Remedy tried to intervene “What on Earth do you think you’re doing!?” I bellowed as I soared toward them, kicking him in the jaw, sending him flying “Ah told him what’d happen if he did somethin’ like that” Applejack sighed “And yet you let him do it anyway?” Littlepip gritted her teeth, blinking as I crouched before her, stroking her mane “I’m sorry Tesla” she stood on her hind legs, draping her arms around my neck, placing her head on my shoulder “You’ve nothing to apologize for, you haven’t done anything,” I glanced toward Blaze “and you, I thought I asked you to defend them!” “I’m not that strong,” Blaze held up her paws defensively “and besides, we did say that the whole place could be reduced to ash at the drop of a match” “So I did” I bit my lip “Thank you Tesla” Littlepip gave a weak smile as she let me go, pecking my cheek as I pecked her horn “for being there when I needed you, cheesy as it might sound” “If and when you need me, just ask, and I’ll be there, that’s a promise and/or guarantee o can give to all of my Nakama” “That’s Mah cousin ya’ll just sent flying!” Applejack boomed “I’ll defend those who I care about, with my life, mind, heart, body or soul, bet it a common pony or otherwise” I tutted as Braeburn came stumbling through the door of the building I’d sent him soaring through the window of, sitting on his haunches beside his cousin “Why do you continue to act like that?” Littlepip bit her lip, I raised an eyebrow “I meant no offense, I’m simply curious to where you get the urge to fight as you do” “I failed once; I refuse to do so again” I slowly shook my head “That’s more than fair enough” she stared at me, unblinking as she wrapped her arms back around my neck “that’s far more than just fair, my little eon” “My Littlepip” I draped my wings and arms around her, holding her close -=-=- On the day that’d been aptly called ‘Heart’s and Hooves day,’ I was, as per usual, sitting underneath the shade of a tree in the gardens, only for certain grey pony to sit on my lap, somehow changing to an anthro form, with a lavender dress, bunny ears and arms stockings that went just passed the elbow as she pecked my cheek, quickly removing her entire attire “Fuck me, big boy” Octavia purred -=+=- Later that day, I staggered into the main hall of the castle “Note to self,” I shuddered “when they want something, they’ll get it” “I thought she nearly gelded you!” Velvet Remedy chuckled “Who?” I turned around; Vinyl was stood there alongside Octavia, who winked at me with a devious grin, I raised an eyebrow “No…!” Vinyl turned to face the silver mare “Tavi, why’d you do that?” “Hey I’m not complaining,” I laughed “she just, and almost, lost control of herself, nearly” “Who’s not complaining?” I turned around again, Celestia stood there alongside Twilight and her friends; save Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie “Nice work brother, I think she heard you” Blaze chortled “No, really,” I rolled my eyes “I have to say your way of work is rather, interesting” Celestia smiled softly “I’m only wondering if you can do it again” ‘Fuck’ “Precisely” she giggled ‘Did you just-?’ “Read your mind?” she raised an eyebrow with a sly smirk “Our bond has been opened as far as it can go, my love” “Don’t toy with me” I grinned “Oh,” she smiled “what’re you going to do?” “You’d be surprised,” I walked up to her, gently holding the sides of her face, placing my lips against hers “My little sunflower” “My little eon” she nuzzled into me, changing to her anthro form, draping her arms around my neck, and her wings around my back as she placed her lips unto mine, slipping her tongue between my lips, intertwining it with my own, gradually parting “I love you so much, it’s unbelievable” “Just take it easy, my little Dawnflower” I smiled “That’s what we should be telling you” Vinyl burst out laughing “Happy Heart’s and hooves day,” Twilight nickered “I’ve got something I’d like to say to you, Tesla” “And what is it?” I smiled “I envy you,” she blurted out, suddenly flinching “I’ve seen your power and abilities with magic, and I have to say, I admire you, for it, love you even” “Loving someone for their abilities or status isn’t love,” Blaze snapped “if anything it’s a hope that you’ll be as good as them someday, right TK?” “Depends on the circumstances,” I shrugged “right, I’m off to the theatre” Once inside the theatre, Crystal having joined us on the way there, I stood with Littlepip, Velvet and the after-mentioned eon on stage as the audience began to filter in through the door, beginning to sing with Blaze and Kiary one ach shoulder, and Snowdrop lying atop my bead, situated between my horns “I've been watching you stumble Through the darkest night Let me tell you It's gonna be alright I can see you've been trying but Your wings got clipped Been waiting in line but Your turn got skipped” I began the serenade “I'll be there when you need me I'll be there when you call Yeah I'll be there to catch you when you fall Know that I'll never leave you Out here on your own I'll be the lights that guide you home” Snowdrop and Blaze sang together “Been a long time coming Feelings for you My hearts been skippin' a beat Maybe two Right now you're weak but But you'll be strong I know where there's a place That you belong” Littlepip chorused “I'll be there when you need me I'll be there when you call Yeah I'll be there to catch you when you fall Know that I'll never leave you Out here on your own I'll be the lights that guide you home” Velvet Remedy chimed with the voice of a thousand angels “I don't know if you want me or if you care But even if you don't I'll be there 'Cuz when I'm beside you my soul burns bright Let me be the one Let me be your light” Kiary sang her heart out from the perch that was my left shoulder “I'll be there when you need me I'll be there when you call Yeah I'll be there to catch you when you fall Know that I'll never leave you Out here on your own I'll be the lights that guide you home” Crystal, Littlepip Snowdrop and I sang as a quartet “Now I know you've had problems We could solve 'em We could make it through Tried and true We could fight 'em off, all of 'em We could make it through a brighter day, anyway Gettin' by another way So I guess I'm trying to say I wanna be the lights guiding you through the night When things get dark, when you don't know what's right I wanna hold your hand, and tell you that you can So don't worry, it's gonna be alright” I sang, solo “I'll be there when you need me I'll be there when you call Yeah I'll be there to catch you when you fall Know that I'll never leave you Out here on your own I'll be the lights that guide you home” Crystal, Velvet Remedy, Littlepip, Snowdrop, Blaze, Kiary, Pepper and I sang as an octet “Next song, from TGC” I chuckled “Just a small town girl Livin' in a lonely world She took the midnight train goin' anywhere” I cooed beginning the second song “Just a city boy Born and raised in South Detroit He took the midnight train goin' anywhere” Littlepip winked at me, continuing the (sort of) serenade “A singer in a smoky room The smell of wine and cheap perfume For a smile they can share the night It goes on and on and on and on” Blaze and Snowdrop formed a duet, as usual “Strangers waiting Up and down the boulevard Their shadows searchin' in the night” Velvet Remedy chorused “Streetlight, people Livin' just to find emotion Hidin' somewhere in the night” we sang as an octet for a second time “Workin' hard to get my fill Everybody wants a thrill Payin' anythin' to roll the dice Just one more time” Crystal sang with glee (pun not intended) “Some will win, some will lose Some are born to sing the blues And now the movie never ends It goes on and on and on and on” Littlepip Velvet Remedy and Pepper formed a trio, smiling at me as they sang “Strangers waiting Up and down the boulevard Their shadows searchin' in the night Streetlight, people Livin' just to find emotion Hidin' somewhere in the night Don't stop believin' Hold on to that feelin' Streetlight, people Don't stop believin' Hold on to that feelin' Streetlight, people Don't stop!” we sang as an octet for a third time “And now for something, completely different” I shuddered “No, don’t you dare!” Blaze gasped, but snowdrop had already begun to sing “Boy meets girl You were my dream, my world But I, was blind You cheated on me from behind So on my own I feel so all alone Though I know, it's true I'm still in love with you” Snowdrop chimed “I need a miracle, I wanna be your girl, Give me a chance to see, That you are made for me, I need a miracle, Please let me be your girl, One day you'll see, It can happen to me” Littlepip went red in the face as she serenaded “I need a miracle, I wanna be your girl, Give me a chance to see, That you are made for me, I need a miracle, Please let me be your girl, One day you'll see, It can happen to me It can happen to me Miracle” Velvet Remedy smiled at me with a rather dreamy look plastered on her face “Day, and night I'm always by your side Cause I know for sure My love is real my feelings pure So take a try No need to ask me why Cause I know it's true I'm still in love with you” Crystal smirked at me with a knowing grin “I need a miracle, I wanna be your girl, Give me a chance to see, That you are made for me, I need a miracle, Please let me be your girl, One day you'll see, It can happen to me I need a miracle, I wanna be your girl, Give me a chance to see, That you are made for me, I need a miracle, Please let me be your girl, One day you'll see, It can happen to me It can happen to me Miracle, Miracle” Snowdrop, Littlepip, and Pepper sang with Velvet “And continuing the apparent ‘spirit’ of Valentine’s Day,” I nodded toward Snowdrop “And I'd give up forever to touch you, Cause I know that you feel me somehow You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be; And I don't want to go home right now” I began to thong as a duet with Snowdrop “And all I can taste is this moment, And all I can breathe is your life, And sooner or later it's over, I just don't want to miss you tonight” Crystal sang with an apparent softness in her voice “And I don't want the world to see me, Cause I don't think that they'd understand When everything's made to be broken, I just want you to know who I am” Velvet Remedy chorused “And you can’t fight the tears that ain't coming, Or the moment of the truth in your lies When everything feels like the movies, Yeah you bleed just to know you're alive” Littlepip sang with the voice of a dozen arch-angels “And I don't want the world to see me, 'Cause I don't think that they'd understand When everything's made to be broken, I just want you to know who I am” I continued the song with Crystal and Blaze, the three of us singing to our hearts content “And I don't want the world to see me, Cause I don't think that they'd understand When everything's made to be broken, I just want you to know who I am And I don't want the world to see me, Cause I don’t think that they'd understand When everything's made to be broken, I just want you to know who I am I just want you to know who I am I just want you to know who I am I just want you to know who I am” Blaze, Littlepip, Velvet Remedy, Pepper, Crystal, Snowdrop, Kiary and I finished as another octet, bowing for the audience as they got to their feet/hooves, applauding us as we left the theatre via backstage -=-=- “Where on Equis did you get that third song?” Rainbow Dash gagged “And here I thought you ponies liked these sorts of events and/or holidays” I blinked “Too mushy” she shuddered “At least you didn’t sing it, brother, that’d be hilarious” Blaze laughed “That’s just as much of a love song as ‘Lights’ is” I frowned “‘Lights,’” Celestia raised an eyebrow “The first song I sang” I smiled “That’s a love song,” Twilight smirked “As is ‘Your guardian angel’ right Daddy?” Snowdrop giggled “Which one of your songs is that?” Cadance nickered “The one I sang with Crystal when I first got here” I sighed “Never a dull moment when we’re around, eh?” “Too right,” Crystal chortled “Alright, name one other love song that you can sing, right here and now” Cadance grinned “Did you break your wings When you fell from grace When you came from heaven To this darker place” I sang “Did you watch me fall From the clouds on high See the glimmer of tears Streaming from my eye” Littlepip added singing like a goddess “I think I bruised my soul Climbing back from hell But if you're here to change me Then it's just as well” I chorused with relative ease “Your scars run deep But darling they will fade They told me to fear you But I'm not afraid” Velvet Remedy smiled dreamily at me as she serenaded “Don't hold back We're here right now There's nothing left here to keep us out, oh As different as The day and night I'm starting to feel like this is right and You're the memory I can't erase You're the part of me I can't replace You're the angel that loved me somehow And you're the demon I can't live without” Snowdrop and Blaze formed yet another duet “I'm the crossroads king In this wretched land You found me a mess But I'm a better man” I sang, solo “I could see it hidden Right from the start 'Neath your jagged bones Was a beating heart” Pepper serenaded, again “And that heart is yours Or what I have left So take my secrets Take them off my chest” I continued the song with almost apparent pride “That's why I'm here I've been broken too So maybe you can fix me And I'll fix you” Snowdrop chirped “Don't hold back We're here right now There's nothing left here to keep us out, oh As different as The day and night I'm starting to feel like this is right and You're the memory I can't erase You're the part of me I can't replace You're the angel that loved me somehow And you're the demon I can't live without” I sang with Crystal and Blaze as a trio “Welcome to my universe Touch me now and break my curse You'll be mine and I'll be yours So let's live life in reverse Back to basics, back in time Meet you halfway in the sky Breaking mirrors, smashing through I don't need luck when I'm with you” I sang, again, solo “Don't hold back We're here right now There's nothing left here to keep us out, oh As different as The day and night I'm starting to feel like this is right and You're the memory I can't erase You're the part of me I can't replace You're the angel that loved me somehow And you're the demon I can't live without” Littlepip and Velvet Remedy sang as the perfect duet “Eternity can wait You're my afterlife For once in my existence I see the light We've got it all, we've got it all Right here We've got it all, we've got it all Right here” Snowdrop and Pepper formed a third duet “Don't hold back We're here right now There's nothing left here to keep us out, oh As different as The day and night I'm starting to feel like this is right and You're the memory I can't erase You're the part of me I can't replace You're the angel that loved me somehow And you're the demon I can't live without” Littlepip, Velvet Remedy, Blaze, Snowdrop, Pepper, Crystal, Kiary and I formed one final octet for the day “‘Angels and Demons,’ as sang by Feather and Aviators” Blaze chimed =-=-=-= “This should be fun” Crystal smirked as I stood in the arena, my family and friends, including Twilight, her friends, Spike, and the princesses stood alongside Faust sitting beside her as what seemed like an army of the royal guards best and brightest “Live weaponry is allowed, only non-fatal blows permitted,” Celestia raised an eyebrow “begin” within a moment the archers drew back their bows, firing a wave of arrows toward me “One against an army and that’s the best you can do,” I tilted my head, flapping my wings in order to create a sudden burst of wind, which, surprisingly, threw the arrows astray, and as the swords-ponies charged toward me, the archers redrew their bows “not bad” I smirked, drawing the twin Dawnbreaker swords, crossing them in front of me as I crouched “Nitōryū Iai: Rashōmon!” one moment I was in front of the guards, the next, I was behind them, sheathing the twin enchanted blades as a sudden wave of air gushed toward me from behind as a few dozen of the guards fell, unconscious, the rest turned back to face me, wounded by the attack, but not yet defeated Now I just had the rest to deal with “Where did you learn that?” Shining Armour frowned “Nowhere important” I smirked as I turned to face him and the remaining portion of the army I was facing “I’ll ask again when I beat you” he spat, charging at me, twin swords raised high, bringing them down “Is that all you can do?” I yawned, stopping the twin swords with a single hand, the swords blocked between the index, ring, and middle fingers “How,” he blinked, trying to move the swords, only to be met with failure as I threw them aside “How can you do that?” “Gotta be strong if I am to keep the title of ‘Dragon Slayer’” I glimmered, the archers redrew their bows a second time, the unicorns that were present, Shining Armour included, set the arrowheads alight “that won’t work” I stifled a laugh, inhaling the flames from the arrows, exhaling a torrent of whitish-golden flames that encompassed the guards “Eigo Hoseki Ryu Hokou!” “Is that all you’ve got?” Shining Armour steadily got to his feet, as did those who could, the rest seemingly unconscious “If I were to do more, you’d be dead” I gave a deadpan stare “Give it your best shot!” he yelled, staggering as he did so “Metsuryū Ogi; Shiranui Gata,” I beamed with intent, crouching down and forming a circle around me with my arms, generating a large pillar of fire as I bolted upright again, and out of the pillar, came an enormous sphere of whitish-golden flames that partially resembled the sun “Dai Enkai; Ryu-Entei!*” “That’s incredible!” Luna stared at me in awe “But I’m afraid we’re going to have to stop you there,” Celestia smiled “we don’t know how much magic you put into that orb, so we can’t let this fight progress, ending it in a draw” “Fair enough” Shining Armour gulped audibly, gawking at the massive fireball I held above me, which dissipated, causing a sudden rush of wind to burst in all directions =-= “How long have you been able to use that last attack?” Velvet Remedy smiled as lunch was served and we were sat around the dining table “A few decades” I shrugged “I chose not to use it in the wastelands due to the highly irradiated and possible oxygenated air; that of which would’ve made the resulting explosion over more, well, explosive” “Great Flame Commandment, Dragonflame emperor” Blaze whistled “Been a while since I’ve seen that go off in someone’s face” “Quite” I smirked “I take it that it’s your strongest attack?” Cadance nuzzled into me “It’s one of them,” I nodded “the others being Suishō hasu Karyu Ken, another being lightning flame dragon roar, and the other being twin dragon god’s brilliant flame” “Why name it ‘twin dragon god’s brilliant flame’?” Luna blinked “You and Celestia are, in all technicalities, gods, and I’m at least one-third dragon, so, put the two together” I raised an eyebrow “Thou flatter us” she smiled “would thou be interested in coitus?” “You don’t beat around the bush do you?” I stared at her “Pun intended?” she nickered, I heard several ponies choke on their food as a few more did a spit-take “Someone’s getting a little ballsy” Blaze chortled “Stop dicking around” I slowly shook my head “This is rather incon-seeded” Celestia nickered “That’s a rather premature joke” Velvet Remedy laughed, all eyes were on us now that we’d started “This is a rather lengthy line of puns, isn’t it?” I simpered “It seems that quite a list of jokes has been erected” Celestia’s cheeks went a light pink tinge “Thinking of these puns is getting rather hard” Pepper giggled “I’ll bet it’s not the only thing” Crystal lightly punched my shoulder “you can run; you’ll just die tired” “Really?” I sighed “You started it” she shrugged "Sort of” I tilted a hand “Sort of?” she raised an eyebrow “what’s that supposed to mean?” “Never mind,” I rolled my eyes “Thought so” she grinned Chapter IX Royalties“So, let me get this straight,” Sapphire sat before me as I stood beside Crystal, Velvet Remedy, Littlepip, Blackjack, Winter, Twilight, her friends, Spike, and Shining Armour in the throne room, the princesses and Faust stood opposite her “if I behave myself, I can go free?” “That’s the basics of it, yes” Shining Armour rolled his eyes “Then I choose to stay with him,” she pointed a hoof toward me “what did you say your name was?” “Tesla” I facepalmed “Then I’ll choose to stay with you, Sir Tesla,” she bowed, her neck dipped slightly as she slowly made her way toward me, sitting beside me “may you guide me to a happy life, should you want to” “Why wouldn’t I,” I smiled “you’re my friend now, Sapphire, we’re supposed to take care of each other, Blaze is not doubt going to comment on how cheesy I’m being, but in all honesty, I don’t care,” I went on “you’re my friend, my Nakama, and there isn’t any changing that now that Buckshot’s been dealt with” “Where is he?” she stared up at me, Blaze stood on one shoulder, Kiary sat on the other, Snowdrop perched upon my head, and Black Beetle clung to my back “In prison, and now that he’s been sent there to spend a length sentence for his crimes, you’re free” Celestia smiled “Why?” Sapphire blinked “You were his foot-soldier, but not his partner, and therefore, you share no common record of treachery,” Shining Armour gave a flat stare “you and the others of your kind that were with him at the time of his capture, are free to go, if you still wish to follow him, or attempt to get him back into the real world, then we’ll have no choice but to stop you” “I myself would never do such a thing, scout’s honour,” she nuzzled into my leg “but there are some that might, I can tell you who, if you’d allow me” “All possible help would be appreciated” he smiled, walking with her toward the dungeons “Cheesy” Blaze blurted out “See if I care” I rolled my eyes “I’m glad that we managed to solve that case without the use of unnecessary violence, not counting your newly demonstrated ability via use of your magic” Celestia glanced toward me “Where’s Grace?” Winter chuckled “She’s in her room, with one of the guards looking after her” “Cadance smiled “you really do all you can for those of whom you care about, Rick” “That I do,” I nodded “when’s the funeral?” “I’m sorry?” she raised an eyebrow “Can’t leave them up there forever, unless we remake the house into a cemetery of sorts” I sighed “Something’s got to be done about it” “Then you’re the leader of the project” she giggled “have fun” “What- I…” I blinked “fine,” I sighed “suppose I might as well do something with the cash I still have left from hearth’s warming” “You bought something else?” Twilight smirked “That’s for me to know and for you to find, literally” “Where is it?” Rainbow Dash gleamed “It’ll come to you eventually,” Blaze laughed “So how much do we have left, of the two-million we were given?” S “I’ve no idea” I shrugged “at least it’s going to be put to good use,” I simpered “and if I’m going to be the head of the project, I’ve one thing to request about its design, if I may” “Name it, my little eon” Celestia smiled “Make it fit for a king, if not a god” I glimmered “Explain” she raised an eyebrow “I meant no offense, it’s just that I can tell that Gracy Gloom’s an amazing pony, even if I’ve only been with her a short while, I can tell she could have the potential to be an absolute star,” I bit my lip “to be what I couldn’t be, to do what I couldn’t do, to think and feel what I daren’t try, she’s got the ability to do as she pleases, so long as it’s within reason, she could become almost legendary if she tried, and you know what, so could Snowdrop” I changed to eon form “You spend too much time on your laptop, brother, I think the cheesy monologuing is beginning to eat away at your sanity level” Blaze chortled “I have a sanity level?” I blinked “That’s debatable” she grinned “Damn right it is” I beamed like an idiot as we began to make our way to the main lobby “Alright Tesla, what are you on and how much?” Crystal folded her arms “My love for my friends is my drug, and I’m probably addicted,” I blinked “Ok, now I see your point” “Good, then shut up” she slowly shook her head “lover-boy” “Only to- god Damnit” I grumbled “Tesla, what’s that?” Twilight pointed toward my lower half, I glanced down, between my tail feathers, was a small, bold, blue flower “When did that get there?” I spoke in unison with Blaze “Oh for Fu-!” “Language” Blaze grinned “now where’s there last time you remember having a good roll in the hay, or, in this case, flowers?” “That was with me, if I’m not mistaken,” Vinyl and Octavia trotted toward me, smiles as radiant as the sun spread across their faces “Howdy Tesla” “How did you do it?” Crystal grinned “I might’ve been somewhat abrasively requested to use my eon form,” I glanced about the room “I tried, but she kept on insisting that I do so” “Lucky bastard” she whistled “ So what you fuck horses now?” “Ponies, and mind the language dear, please” Rarity shuddered “You, her, what,” Crystal glanced between me and Rarity “Nah, too high maintenance,” I laughed, Rarity blinked “that was a joke Diamond” “Diamond?” she fainted, landing on her side with a light *thud* “Strike,” Blaze guffawed “Six points!” “Two for the precision, two for the timing, and two because you’re awesome, Daddy” Snowdrop nickered, Kiary and Blaze now on my neck and back respectively, Black Beetle now perched on my upper-back “Make it seven, seven’s awesome” I hummed “Yep, he’s insane” Crystal grumbled “Aren’t I always?” I shrugged “Well, there was that one time you put a nicely baked cod into a chocolate sandwich” she nodded sideways “And don’t forget the time you dipped a nacho into whiskey” Blaze shuddered “And instead of using bread and butter with tomato soup like normal people, you use a chocolate sandwich” Crystal sighed “Tesla, you’re a freak” “I’m your freak” I raised an eyebrow “Love you too” she winked, pecking my cheek “Thanks dear” I smiled “If there’s any more mushiness I’m gonna go nuts!” Spike let out a groan of frustration “One could easily fix that in a multitude of ways” I stifled a laugh “how so?” he blinked “Like Blaze said, it’ll come to you” I winked “Tesla…” Crystal groaned “I wasn’t gonna do anything!” I held up my claws defensively “I’m pulling that thing out,” she frowned, grabbing hold of the flower, pulling it from its nested position between my tail feathers “Feel any better?” “I don’t feel any different” I tilted my head ever-so slightly “Make a compliment” she shrugged “Celestia, Luna,” I turned to the solar and lunar goddesses “you may have the most irritating, most aggravating job in the universe, and you may well be the most beautiful, but that doesn’t hold a candle to the love I hold for you, Crystal” I glanced toward the eon at my side “if I’d have to choose between loving you and breathing, I’d use the last of my breath to say how much I love you” “That’s overkill” Blaze burst into a fit of laughter “There may or may not have been something I neglected to mention when you became an eon, my love” Crystal’s face was a deep crimson “Eons, both male and female, go through a certain phase, or change, in their behaviour, usually lasts a years or two, maybe three” “And there isn’t a cure?” Celestia eyed me up and down “Not that I know of” Crystal shrugged “in all honesty I’ve never seen it happen before, not until now anyways” “So it’s like heat?” Rainbow Dash gave me a smug, ear-to-ear, grin “Basically” she smirked “I only know what I’m telling you from a rumour I heard from Lyra, apparently it’s been known to drive an eon clinically insane” “I already am” I raised the other eyebrow “Sort of” “So, Tesla’s going to be more enamoured than usual?” Twilight tilted her head, Crystal nodded “this should be interesting “Any compliments for me?” Octavia smiled with a sly wink “Your music sounds like it was made my angels” I bit my lip “And so does your singing” she nickered “And this is supposed to last for a year?” Celestia glanced toward the ruby eon “The longest recorded ‘heat,’ so to speak, from what I’ve heard, is ten years, maybe eleven, maybe even longer” Crystal exhaled sharply “Meh, I’ll live” I shrugged “It’s not that I’m worried about,” she avoided my gaze “this could have a permanent effect on your personality, perhaps even change who you are, indefinitely” “‘Could’ doesn’t mean ‘will,’” I tutted my personality may change but I’ll still technically be me” “No,” she gulped audibly, placing a gentle claw on my cheek “now you won’t, you’ll be a different you, completely changed from the one I know and am proud to call my eternal mate, Tesla” “So, we’ve got how long exactly before you change back?” Vinyl blinked “On average, a year and a half” she sighed “This should be fun” Vinyl Rainbow Dash and I gleamed “Wonder how it’ll affect thy singing” Luna hummed everyone stared at her “What, we art most curious to see how Tesla shall fare in an event that will make use of his angelic voice” -=-=- After the song, -=-=- “That was moderately different” Crystal stared at me “For instance, your tone is now more variable, and as such, is able to perform different songs better, who knows, your pay check might be double at your next gig” “Only then, it’ll be four five songs, not one, maybe even six” I grinned “Whatever you say Mr Fahrenheit” she slowly nodded, re-folding her arms “It was one time,” I frowned “how, was I to know what’d happen?” “You sang, whilst drunk, when I was there, right next to you” she raised an eyebrow “Hey, a drunken mind speaks with sober heart,” I blinked again “I just did it again, didn’t I?” “Yes, yes you did” Blaze smirked “not that it’s wrong, by any means, it’s just strange for you to be acting like this” “What if I promised not to try and scare you shitless?” I laughed “It wouldn’t exactly mean much,” she shrugged “But I’ll take it, for now” “Every little helps” I chuckled “Except for the prices of said shop, they’re horrendous” she gave a sly simper “But of course” I sighed =-= “When is my next gig anyway?” I went about work at Sweet apple acres, Blaze on one shoulder, Kiary on the other, Black Beetle clung onto my back, hooves wrapped around my neck, and Snowdrop perched upon my head, Twilight, her friends, Spike, the princesses, save Luna, and Faust also stood by me alongside Winter “You do gigs now?” a somewhat familiar, chirpy voice replied Turning around, I saw a slightly smaller eon hovering right in front of me “Angel?” I blinked “how did you-?” angel interrupted me by planting her lips against mine “That’s for making me wait, you silly little human” she giggled “Lyra got you here didn’t she?” I smiled “That she did,” Angel stifled a giggle “Equestria?” “How’d you figure?” she pointed toward Snowdrop “Fair enough” “Isn’t life grand?” she pecked my cheek “More like convenient” I smiled “Speaking of which, where’s Crystal, and Ellie?” “Ellie, you mean Winter?” I nodded toward the nearby Glaceon “Ellie,” Angel soared toward Winter “you’ve… changed!” “That I have” Winter chuckled “But I’m not the only one” she nodded back toward me “What happened?” Angel sighed “Tesla’s going through what crystal labelled as a type of ‘heat’” Blaze smirked “Ah yes, the mental inferno” she laughed “first one I presume?” I nodded “I wish you luck, my pet” “Ya’ll are her what now?” Applejack chortled “It’s a sentiment, nothing more” Angel frowned “Even so, that’s not a term that gets used lightly around these here parts” she raised an eyebrow, adjusting her Stetson slightly “And Ah suppose ya’ll meant it in a way that’d be calling him yer ‘precious,’ or somethin like that?” “Not one for words of praise?” Angel and I simpered “Why talk when ya‘ll can act?” she shrugged “Because if you act without build-up or warning you’re likely to get your rear handed to you, you have to have some form of fall-back, per se,” I sighed “if you don’t talk, you don’t get anywhere, and if you don’t get anywhere, how can your love for that other person progress,” I linked “Damnit!” “And what would ya‘ll do if ya’ll were a mare, and you were in that position?” she grinned from ear to ear “You tell me, you’re the mare here, err, mares” I flinched “Ah’ve never been one fer letting mah emotions flow like that” she shrugged again “Ah was wondering if ya had any advice on the sort, from a stallion’s perspective” “I’m no pony” I raised an eyebrow “But ya’ll have the carrot and apples right?” she smirked “I’m not sure how to answer that” I blinked, she gleamed “I mean I have them I just want to say it without sounding awkward” “How old do ya think Ah am?” she raised an eyebrow “Same answer” I bit my lip “Because ya don’t want it to sound awkward?” she nickered, I nodded “fair enough Pardner” “How old are you again?” Angel eyed me up and down, purring slightly “One-hundred-and-ninety” I winked “You look rather good for your age” she nodded “That makes the two of us” I gave a sly grin “You flatter me” she giggled “Two of us,” Applejack frowned “‘Us’ being you two” I quickly blurted out “Thanks Tesla, ya’ll really know how to treat a mare” she laughed “No, I’m just trying to be nice” I exhaled sharply, carrying twin containers loaded with apples to a nearby wagon, and repeating the process of ‘picking,’ carrying and placing for most of the day -=- When evening fell, and the last emptied wagon returned to the farm, I sat on a barrel beside the banner at the entrance, staring up at the stars in the sky “Didn’t know you were that strong, Mr muscle” Angel smiled; “look at you now, a hundred years ago I’d never have said that you’d be the one to change my life, now look,” she went on “so what’s your profession, warrior, knight, hero, herald?” “Knight,” I winked “and also a darn good singer” “Ah yes, I’ve all but forgotten how soothing that certain sing you sing is to me,” she sighed with apparent relief “Sing it to me, eon-boy” -=- After the song -=- “That was amazing,” she cooed, pecking my cheek as she pulled second barrel beside the one I was perched on, changing to her anthro form, sitting next to me, pecking my cheek “Oh how I’ve waited for this, just you, me and the stars above that light the heavens” “Who said you needed to wait?” I quickly shook my head; Ryōshi sat beside me also, sitting in the ground beside the barrel “Quite so,” she giggled, planting her lips unto mine, gradually parting “How do you do it?” a small purple biped made it’s may onto my shoulder “Do what, Spike?” I chuckled “Love someone” he shrugged “I’ve tried all I can to get Rarity’s attention, but she just seems to ignore me, all the time” “That’s what I meant when I said she was high maintenance, she’s focusing on making herself stand out, to be honest it’s almost working,” I chuckled but anyway, you want her attention, my advice would be to give her a gift or something, I reached int my rucksack, set between Angel and myself, bringing out a small statuette from said rucksack, handing it to him “What’s it made of?” he blinked “Chrome-diamond alloy, or so I’ve been told” I smiled “you can give that to her in the morning, or you can rush over there now, just don’t mention me, Ok?” he rushed off without a word “Well, well, well, being a little Romeo, are we?” Angel laughed “Just trying to help” I tutted -=-=- The following morning, I awoke under the shade of a tree near the entrance of the farm, Ryōshi lying by one side, and Angel at the other, Snowdrop lying on my chest, blaze on my stomach, Littlepip and Velvet Remedy opposite Ryōshi, and Blackjack opposite angel, both groups sitting upright as I pulled myself to my feet, slinging my rucksack over my shoulders “Morning everyone” Angel yawned “Morning, the rest of us more or less grumbled, Ryōshi let out a grumble as we made our way into Ponyville “Did anyone catch that racket coming from the boutique last night?” Rose walked passed with her friends, winking at me as she went by “How can we not?” her pink friend with the pale/lime green mane and tail gagged “to think that a baby dragon of all things; could do that with a pony, it’s ludicrous!” “What happened?” I tilted my head slightly, returning it to its original position as Snowdrop perched herself there “The local dragon, Spike, as you may or may not have heard, mated with Rarity” she shuddered “I’m Daisy by the way” “Tesla” I shook her hoof “Yes, Rose’s told us about you, the wayward eon, if I’m not mistaken” she nickered “you wouldn’t know about last night’s events, would you?” “No, except that I’m at least one-third dragon” I raised an eyebrow “We didn’t mean to cause offense” Rose gasped, quickly bowing “You needn’t bow” I sighed “I’m just a friend, not a ruler, nor a king” “So Spike did the nasty with Rare’s huh?” Applejack suddenly appeared beside me “So we’ve heard,” Rose rolled her eyes “So Tesla, what’s going on in your little perspective of Equestria then?” “Not much, just everyday run of the mill” I shrugged “Has anypony seen Spike?” Twilight trotted toward us “Check the boutique” Daisy nickered “I think you’re little dragon’s grown up a little” “Spike,” Twilight marched off toward the boutique; we quickly followed her there as she stormed into the lounge of the elegant place of residence, I silently walked in, not wanting to be blamed for the door being knocked off its hinges, literally “Spike-!” Twilight stopped herself, her eyes turning to pinpricks as she laid eyes on the couch, Spike was there, around a foot taller tall than usual, with his head laid back and his hand on the back of rarity’s head as she sucked him off “Spike!” she bellowed, the dragon quickly glanced toward her, his eyes turning to the size of a needle’s end, staring at Twilight in absolute terror “Twilight,” Spike stammered this… this isn’t what it looks like!” “What is it then?” she growled fiercely “Uhh,” he gulped audibly, glancing toward me, I shrugged “I… don’t know?” “Wrong answer” she glowered, her horn flaring a bold magenta as she and Spike were teleported from the room -=- “She’s gonna row at me isn’t she?” I sighed as we, minus Rarity, Rose and her friends stood/ hovered in the centre of ponyville “I wouldn’t worry about it” Angel burst out laughing “Got it on camera” Blaze passed me a video camera that she’d no doubt gotten from my rucksack “Blaze, you’re a gem “But what if Luna goes on your laptop and finds this?” she raised an eyebrow “We’ll delete it from my profile, and set it to log me out of basically every website on the internet” I shrugged “Good enough” she sighed “Wonder what the couch felt like” I slowly nodded “I wonder what she felt like” Angel shuddered “Les,” I blinked “Bi” she winked “Only for you though” “That’s not exactly reassuring” I gagged “I’m just saying” she shrugged “So you are” I exhaled sharply “What happens now?” Littlepip looked like she was about to cry from laughter “Follow me” I smirked, walking with my friends and family to the library, placing my ear against the door “I don’t care if you are the right age for it, you don’t just leave and don’t come back without telling me first!” Twilight’s voice boomed from within the library “It was one time!” Spike sounded like he was crying “I thought you ready for that sort of thing; you’ve proven me wrong, goodbye Spike” Twilight ;’s footsteps came close to the door, to which I leapt back, as Spike was flung out of the door onto his back on the dirt “What’re you doing here?” she growled, glaring daggers at me “Are you Ok?” I bit my lip “Peachy,” she spat “I’ve just watched one of my friends perform oral coitus with my former son, how do you think I feel!?” “Pissed off?” I suggested “Quite so,” she hissed “now, I ask again, what, do you want?” “I’m just wondering what happens to Spike now” I shrugged as the small dragon made his way up my back, perching himself on the back of my head “You two do what you want,” she scoffed “I’ve had it with him” she slammed the door shut “Well that was awkward” Snowdrop hummed as Blaze stood upon one shoulder, and Kiary sat atop the other, “Does this mean I get to be with Rarity?” Spike tapped two claws from either hand together “In a way,” I shrugged “go for it little guy” he quickly leapt from my head to the ground, sprinting toward the boutique “Time, for a beer,” I exclaimed “but I’m not sure where r how though, and that’s even assuming they’ve got beer here at all” “Oh I’m sure they have,” Blaze clapped her paws sarcastically “Here’s hoping she doesn’t find out, eh?” “You what,” the library door suddenly swung open as an enraged Twilight knocked me on my back, glowering at me with enough force to figuratively kill a dragon, I, unfortunately, was part dragon “You, did, what!?” “Who’s to say I did anything?” I flinched “If I find that you’re the one who did that to my little spiky wikey, I will, end, you” she hissed “Do what you want” I shrugged “your magic and might will fail long before my body will yield to any kind of damage” she hit me, straight in the jaw, I heard the bones in her hoof crack “see what I mean?” she limped away, tears streaming down her face as she magically closed the door behind her =-=-= As we sat around a tree at the park, I stared at the ground; I was picked up by the collar “Would you mind explaining yourself?” Celestia frowned as she stood me on my feet; I stared at her, a look of pure guilt and emptiness upon my face as I looked away “He asked for advice, I gave him advice” I mumbled, her eyes narrowed “Indeed you did, but I think the gift was unnecessary” she scowled “How was I to know what’d happen?” I bit my lip “I’m not a psychic, I can’t tell what’s going to happen and when, unless I absolutely know for certain about it” “And Rarity’s reaction?” she aimed her horn at me “Completely out of my control,” I held out my arms at my sides “strike at me if you must, I won’t retaliate, do what you will, I won’t stop you, Princess Celestia” “Then I shall speak to Rarity about the matter” she nodded, teleporting out of sight “Tense!” Blaze laughed walking with me as I slowly and gradually walked at a snail’s pace toward the main square of town When I eventually got to the main square, what seemed to be the whole town was stood before us, all frowning at me with looks ranging from disbelief to uncertainty to disgust “Stay here” I walked forward, sitting cross legged right before the crowd “have at me then, ponies” =-=-=- After what felt like an hour, the last blackjack was thrown, hitting my skull, bouncing off and landing on the ground behind me “Daddy,” Snowdrop galloped at full throttle toward me, clinging onto me as she sat in my lap, blood trickling down my body from various points around my torso and skull “Why daddy,” she cried as tears cascaded like great waterfalls down her muzzle as she buried her face in my jacket as Twilight, her friends, Spike, who hid behind Rarity, Celestia, Cadance and “Because violence solves nothing, even in the bloodiest of wars, so if they want to hit and kick at me with all their might, let them, I’ll just shrug it off,” I gently stroked her mane, pecking her forehead, setting her on the ground beside me, steadily getting to my feet “ “Is that all you ponies can do?” Blaze laughed as I burst into flames, scales appearing on my face arms and hands “I’ve told you twice, I’ll say it again, my body, spirit and soul will outlast all that you do to me, equine,” I growled “come them, have your resolution” “I’d never of thought of my little ponies to be able to do this,” Celestia stared at me in apparent horror “the very thought of it eludes me to no end!” “Even so, here I stand,” I clicked my shoulders “not such innocent little ponies now, eh Cellsy?” “Tesla I…” she mumbled “Just go back to your throne, princess” I snapped “continue to pretend that you know what’s going on and what you’re doing, whilst outside your castle doors and borders lies a very hostile, very different world,” I glowered “it’s called reality, you might want to get used to it!” “How is he still standing?” Applejack gaped “Willpower,” I scoffed “you can try and convince them that I am of no threat, but you cannot change another’s opinion, time is need for such things to occur, Celestia,” I went on “and time, is not something I would like to waste any more of on you” I swiftly turned around and walked back toward the park -=-=- Once at the lake, I sat by the lake, looking at my reflection, only for an eon-like figure to appear beside me “Who did this to you!?” Crystal screamed “Crystal, it’s not important, I-” “Not important!?” she shrieked “you’re my mate, have been for the past century of course it’s important!” “Violence won’t solve anything, Crystal,” I sighed “I know that, you know it, everyone knows it, but they did it anyway” “And that’s why it’s bad!” she glared knives at me “What do we say;” I gave a faint smile “people fear what they don’t understand…” I rolled my hand “And hate what they fear” she sighed “fine, but just this once!” “Good enough for me” Blaze rolled her eyes as “And me,” I muttered as a familiar set of ponies appeared not far from me on the lakes reflection “piss off” “We just want to talk,” Twilight frowned “And you haven’t done enough of that already?” I snarled “it’s all you ponies is talk about your pathetic hardships and trials, try having your entire life heart and world crumble before your very eyes within about an hour, all at once!” “You’re still on that?” Celestia blinked “Tesla, I’m sorry I-!” “You’re what!?” I blared “you’re sorry for being a selfish bitch and leaving me scarred, for a good thirty or so years, is that what you meant to say?” I head tears of unadulterated fury streaming down my cheeks, feeling light-headed also “Tesla, I…” she stared at me in quite apparent misery “I understand” she quickly teleported away, it was then that I was on fire, per se, the flames having set the grass around me alight, I quickly put it out “Anyone else?” I scowled; Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie almost instantaneously vanished “What have you to say for yourself?” Twilight spat “That depends,” I shrugged “what do you want to hear?” “I want you to apologize” she scowled “Words are inadequate, actions are necessary” Blaze tutted “Very well then” she winked, turning around and lowering her front end to the ground “have at me” “I’m not doing that,” I frowned “Then apologize” she snapped herself around, glaring straight at me “And how do you expect me to do that?” I tilted my head “Perhaps it should be you ponies apologizing, not the other way around,” Crystal snapped “Tesla does something wrong and you immediately leap at him for it, now look at him!” “Why?” Twilight growled “You do this, when I try and help your little local dragon, you go mental” “Then I apologize for directing my ire at the wrong pony,” she nodded, turning to face Rarity “well?” “Tesla gave the gift,” Rarity gulped audibly as she was cornered against a nearby tree “But you engaged in the act” Twilight’s eyes narrowed “I’m sorry, I just wanted to show my appreciation!” she blurted out, flinching as she quickly covered her mouth with a hoof “And you couldn’t do that any other way?” Rainbow Dash slammed her hooves together “I’m sorry, it was late, I wasn’t thinking straight and I… I just don’t know anymore” Rarity began to cry as she slowly trotted back toward the boutique “I need to be alone for a while” “Angel!” Crystal chimed, high-fiving the eon by my side “Sup girlfriend?” “Not much, just taking care, or attempting to care for Tesla, that’s all” Angel chuckled “Aren’t we all?” Blaze laughed “Why?” Snowdrop sat in my lap, clinging onto me “why let them do that to you?” “Because violence won’t solve anything, if they think otherwise, that’s their problem, not mine,” I smiled faintly “I won’t let them near you Snowdrop, you’re my little snowflake, and there isn’t anything in the universe that could change that” “And what am I then?” Angel smiled “You’re my little angel,” I glanced toward Crystal “and you’re my little guardian gem” “And you’re our little Eon” Crystal winked “And my little knight” “You’re a knight now,” Angel blinked “how did that happen?” “I requested for it to happen,” I beamed “my little shooting star’s incredible, after all” “I’ll bet she was” Blaze grinned “didn’t know you could do that, Tesla” “Tesla did the nasty?” Angel smirked “three days here?” “Two, actually” I mumbled “Get you, fuck-machine,” she chortled “anyone else on the go?” “Besides Littlepip, Velvet, Vinyl and I, not much” Pepper giggled, gesturing toward the two mares who were sat by my side “Where’s Vinyl?” Angel tilted her head “At her club no doubt,” I rolled my eyes “or in canterlot with “Octavia” “Done her as well?” she smirked, I shrugged “anyone else?” “Princess Cadance” Blaze grinned “Two princesses?” she gasped “you rowdy little bugger!” “But you’re still all mine; you hear?” Crystal pecked my cheek “I’m yours as you are mine” I nodded “Good,” she smiled “Then I suggest we consummate our love, post haste” “What?” -=-=- “So that happened” Blaze laughed on the following day, smiling as the sun blazed away in the sky, nary a cloud in the sky “Indeed” I clicked my tongue “perhaps next time shall not be so… publicized” “What does that mean?” she blinked “It means that he doesn’t want to have to do it in public” Snowdrop nickered “Right, Daddy” “That’s correct, my little snowflake” I smiled “If you didn’t want to do it in the park, why not ask to do it elsewhere?” Blaze smirked “I think we’ve got bigger problems” Littlepip nodded toward a crowd of ponies stood in front of a stage set up at the front of the town hall, stood upon the after-mentioned stage was a brown pony with a combed black mane and tail, wearing a maroon tie with a dark blue suit and/or collar with a dollar sign for a cutie mark “I bring you together now,” the pony frowned at me “to help relinquish a threat that has long since gone unnoticed,” he smirked “ do speak, of course, about Tesla, the wayward eon, as some of you have grown to call him as, I ask you to stop this, for he is a threat to Equestria, and to all of Equis” “You’ve no proof!” a small, alabaster unicorn filly with a lilac and pink mane spat as she climbed onto the stage, glaring daggers at the stallion “Oh, and what have you to say about him, little foal?” “He’s the nicest pony I know, he even gave us an allowance out of the salary he got by working down at Sweet Apple acres, he protected us from a pack of manticores, and he still, and I love him for it!” the crowd gasped “that’s right ponyville, I’m not afraid to say it out loud, I love Tesla!” Sweetie Belle chimed “Do you see now, fillies and gentlecolts, why this threat must be purged, lest he corrupt anypony else?” thee stallion spat, there was a shared mumbling amongst the ponies that were present “We’re with Sweetie Belle!” a familiar orangey Pegasus with a magenta mane and tail stood beside a yellow filly with a scarlet mane and tail with a pink boy in her mane “More of you?” the stallion laughed “go on then, have your resolution” “Tesla’s the nicest pony we know, and we were there when he defended us, risking his own life for ours, even if he mightn’t make it back alive” Scootaloo beamed toward me, all eyes were on me for a moment, before returning to the quartet of ponies upon the stage as I landed beside the trio of fillies “and if you can’t see that, then you’re just as bad as you make him out to be” “What did you say?” he growled “You heard us;” Applebloom snapped Tesla’s our friend, an’ we ain’t letting one o’ our own go like that!” “By defending him, you’re no better than he is” the stallion snarled “And you’re any better by staging an event about it,” I laughed “people fear what they don’t understand, and they hate what they fear, and bullies are usually afraid or jealous of what their would-be victims have,” I raised an eyebrow “like you for instance” “Yeah,” Scootaloo gleamed “you’re just a bully picking on Tesla because you know he’s better than you” “That’s not true!” he glowered “Say or think what you want, your measly, pitch-black heart doesn’t lie to anyone” I deadpanned, turning to face the crowd “Citizens of ponyville, and all of Equestria, think of me what you will, I won’t stop you, do with me what you like, but mess with my friends and I will defend both myself and they,” I continued “I love my life and home as much as the next person, or pony, in this case, and I don’t think we should be stopped by such trifles as this, I think we should be united, working and living together, thriving with our bonds as radiant as the sun, and if you agree with me, you’ll stop listening to this pony and his foul lies, we’re only mortal” I bowed, relinquishing the stage, which was followed by a round of applause and cheering from that resonated the towns-ponies as the three fillies followed me toward Sweet Apple acres “That was amazing,” Sweetie Belle clambered onto my left shoulder as Applebloom climbed onto the other one “That was psychological warfare, in a sense” Blaze chortled “Tesla here just used what he knew against the stallion in question, simple really” “Filthy Rick giving ya a hard time,” Applejack leant against the barrel beside the entrance to the farm “he did that to Twilight when Spike first hatched, an’ when Twilight bought Spike with her to Ponyville, it’s a shame really,” she sighed “how’d ya manage it?” “I told him the facts of what was happening,” I smirked “that shut him up” “Congrats pardner, ya’ll managed tah keep quiet about somethin’ if only temporarily” she nickered “How many ponies were there?” “Ah’d say the whole o’ Ponyville,” Applebloom cheered “More or less” “Well Ah’ll be darned, nice work Stretch” she laughed “though ya might want to turn around” I did so, the stallion was stood there, legs shaking as he stared at me in half anger, half fear “I’m warning you,” his voice nearly cracked “leave Equestria, and I won’t sue you out of town” “Freedom is the right of all sentient beings,” I snapped “and you would do well to remember to not meddle in the fairs of the dragon, for thou are crunchy and taste good with ketchup” he sprinted off as fast as he could “Ooh rah!” Blaze chortled “Will someone ask him if he wants any ice for those burns,” I grinned “It’s demeaning “How’re ya feeling, after earlier an’ all?” Applejack bit her lip “Believe me, I’ve had worse” I clicked my neck, crouching down, allowing the two fillies on my shoulders to climb down to the ground “So, what’re ya doin’ down here if ya’ll don’t my asking?” she smiled “Here’s as good as anywhere I suppose,” I sighed as Crystal and Angel glided toward me “Besides, I don’t think I’ve any more problems, for now” “But Celestia split you and yer special somepony!” she gaped “I’m going to do what I told her to do when she was angry with me,” I shrugged “get over it” “But she’s the one who made yer early life on Earth a living Tartarus!” Applejack stared at me in apparent awe “And I could easily do the same with anyone who I so chose to do such,” I raised an eyebrow “I just choose not to, because I’m better in that regard” “Ya thing ya‘ll are better than a princess?” she frowned “Only in the regard that I can easily forget about what happened, but not the people involved” I smiled “ “Wouldn’t take much if that’s what she does for a living” Crystal spat “If she wants to get to my little human, she’ll have to pry him form our cold, dead, claws” Angel growled, Blaze nudged the back of my head as she stood upon my shoulder, I turned around, Celestia, Twilight, her friends were there with Spike “Is that how you feel, Tesla?” Celestia bit her lip “It’s how we feel, not that you care about any of Tesla’s friends, do you, Princess?” Crystal snarled “Harsh, but noted, regardless” Celestia gulped audibly “What do you want, pony?” Angel scowled “I’m here to apologize for all that I may have done that you consider wrong, Tesla” “And if I were, to decline?” I raised the other eyebrow “I’ll do anything,” she flinched “please, I just want once chance to be with you again” “What do you mean ‘again’?” Angel frowned “Basically, eons and humans used to live on Equis one billion years ago, but they got too powerful, so they stripped themselves of their power and sought other worlds, hence, Earth, what I don’t get is how I was sent there, and reverted back to being an infant, in all sense of the phrase, with no memories of my previous life or possible conquests” I explained “Giggidy” Blaze gleamed “Probably” I mumbled “And you and her were apparently loves during that previous life, I presume?” Crystal tutted as Faust teleported beside Celestia “So I have been told” I hummed “I can show you if you don’t believe me,” Celestia had tears in her eyes at this point; I simply shook my head “Aren’t I your little Dawnflower?” “Is this about your previous being here?” Faust rolled her eyes, glancing toward me, when I nodded she sighed, turning to face Celestia “I told you this would happen, Celly “Alright, I’ll leave you be, on one condition” Celestia stared at me right in the eyes “kiss me” “Not this again…” Faust groaned as her daughter trotted up to me, leaning in as she planted her lips against mine, gradually parting, her eyes locking with mine, I felt bad for having to hate her like this, I even said that I’d let it go so why hadn’t I? “Well?” Celestia gave a weak smile; I blinked, taking a step backward “I’ll think about it,” I tilted a hand “Thank you, Tesla,” she stepped forward, but then stopped herself, giving a light giggle “What do you think you’re doing?” Crystal lightly tapped my shoulder “I want to, in all honesty go through with it, I just don’t want to go through all the bad parts” I grimaced “I can assure you that I won’t allow such things to happen, princess’s honour; was it?” Celestia nickered “I hereby promise you, as a princess, not to wrong you in any way, no lies, no secrets, nothing of the sort” she smiled “That’s what everyone on Earth said, more or less; look where I ended up then” I grumbled “Then I hand my crown to you, as I’ve no idea on what to do” she had a look of pure misery upon her muzzle “You can keep your crown and title, I’ve no need for such things” I sighed, again “Then what am I to do?” she blinked “Live” -=-=- “I can’t believe they call ‘the stare’ intimidating!” Blaze guffawed from atop my shoulder “It’s intimidating to them, at least” I shrugged as Kiary sat on my other shoulder; and snowdrop lay atop my head “Says the human with a pony atop his head” Twilight smirked as she, her friend, spike, Celestia stood beside Blackjack, Littlepip, Velvet Remedy and Pepper “Two words,” I smiled “Dragon’s apparition” “I shudder every time it’s used,” Blaze grimaced “not that I’m afraid or anything!” “Of course not, sister,” I chuckled “one would be hard-pressed to find anything that scares you, of all beings” “Ya‘ll are talking about what happened in Canterlot when they started insulting Pepper?” Applejack blinked, I nodded “how do ya do that anyhow?” “Magic,” I grinned “Ain’t that a might overkill?” she raised an eyebrow “If you want a dragon slayer to do something overly destructive, make him mad” Blaze laughed “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you mad,” Velvet Remedy stared at me “at least, not properly anyways” “That’s a little scary” Twilight took a large step backward “I have, and even I’m scared by it” Blaze flinched “Even if you did end up depleting your magic energy for about a month, maybe two” “Again,” Celestia tilted her head “how are you able to do such things?” “You don’t want to know what I’m capable of” I growled “And yet I think they already do, eh Tesla?” Blaze grinned as she nudged the side of my head “Touché” I slowly nodded “I don’t get it” Snowdrop blinked “I’ll tell you when you’re a little older” I sighed =-=-=-= As night fell, I snuck into the library, hopefully unnoticed, taking a book from each shelf and creating a somewhat complicated structure out of them, adding more and more books much like one would with blocks if they were using Lego As I finished the structure, ii added a book from my inventory to the top, standing it upright, taking pictures with a camera, also from my inventory “What’s going on down here?” Spike appeared at the bottom of the stairs, I quickly placed a finger over my mouth, Ne nodded, grinning from ear to ear at the sight of the newly-made ‘book-fort’ taking my book off the top of said fort, beginning to read it as I sat against the wall in which the fort was built against the makeshift walls surrounding me “How long did this take to build?” he chuckled “An hour or two maybe,” I shrugged “what time is it?” “Six in the morning,” he laughed as a familiar lavender mare stumbled down the stairs, took one look at me, then spike, then the fort, and then screamed “What do you think you’re doing!?” Twilight blared “Making a book fort?” I shrugged “They were in perfect order,” she raged “and you ruined it!” she ground her teeth “what were you even doing here in the middle of the night anyway?” “I thought this was a public library?” Spike tilted his head, Twilight shot him a glare “Sorry…” “How did you get in?” Twilight scowled “In-tru-der window?” I gave a weak smile “Very funny” she huffed “now put the books back where you found them,” I gave her my best puppy-dog eyes “now” “You have to admit, this is kind of funny” Spike chuckled “Fine, but only for a few hours,” Twilight placed her head in a hoof as she sat on her haunches “Celestia knows how many of those books are limited edition copies” “So am I” I shrugged, she glowered “Alright, geez” “C’mon Twilight’ it’s just a few books” Spike shrugged Twilight slowly turned to face him, steam almost literally billowing from her ears “Just a few books,” Twilight hissed, “A normal library’s collection is ‘just a few books’ this is a collection of ancient tomes and masterpieces from ages past, how can you say such a thing?” Whilst all this was going on Blaze had strolled into the library alongside my friends and family, all sitting around me as I bought out a bottle of Pepsi, opening it, raising it in the air “To librarians, for without them we’d be lost in a sea of knowledge” I smiled, sipping the fizzy drink “That’s…” Twilight blinked, gaping at me “that’s the most romantic thing I’ve heard from you, almost” she trotted toward me, making her way through the open space between the walls of the for, sitting beside me, pecking my cheek “So what is this exactly?” Blaze glanced about the book-laden structure “A fort, to put it simply,” I smirked “Nicely built, it might hold off a missile,” Blackjack laughed “that is, if the missile is an oversized pillow” “Twilight dear we heard you scream and-!” Rarity stopped alongside the rest of Twilight’s friends, staring at me in apparent awe alongside Littlepip, Velvet Remedy and Pepper “What is this contraption?” “A bookfort” Twilight smiled as she placed her head on my shoulder “And how did it take the two of you to do this?” she nickered “I did it, spent all night doing it” I grinned “You broke in?” she gasped “Rare’s, somehow Ah don’t think it’s possible ah break into a public library” Applejack chortled “What’s that you’re reading?” Twilight glanced down to the book I was reading “Game of thrones,” I smiled “first published in nineteen-ninety-six, then televised in twenty-eleven, there’re seven books in total” “And you have the set?” she winked “You can have them if you want,” I shrugged “Oh no,” she quickly shook her head “I could never do that, keep them, they’re yours” her cheeks turned a light pink “though I’d be honoured if I could read one” “Just a mild warning, the language used is enough to make the guy from the ‘Tourette’s cat’ video green with envy” Blaze glimmered “Is it that bad?” Twilight bit her lip as I handed her the book “It’s not how bad it is, but rather, how it’s used,” I exhaled sharply “it’s an adult fiction, so to speak” “I’m twenty” she raised an eyebrow “Really, you look sixteen,” I blinked “guess those wings work wonders, eh?” “I’m not a foal anymore!” she gave a mischievous grin “You’re my little filly,” I smiled, pecking her horn “you’re also my little bookworm” I simpered as Ryōshi burst through the door, skidding to a halt at my side, lapping my face with tender licks “How are you Rio?” I smiled, Ryōshi let out an excited *yip* “that’s good to hear, and you’ve been where exactly?” she quickly walked out of the library, I got up and followed her, and all who were present followed me, all the way to a cave in the Everfree as Snowdrop clambered up unto my head, and Kiary and Blaze on either shoulder, having rendezvoused with me as we went “What’s that stench?” Rarity gagged “I think there’s your answer I pointed forward, both fists ignited, revealing a pile of corpses all manticores “How in the hay,” Rainbow Dash gasped “how did she beat all these manticores?” “It’d appear as though our little Ryōshi’s quite the apex hunter and predator, as her name suggests” I smiled, again “But wolves are supposed to hunt in packs;” Twilight argued “there has to be a matriarchal system, lest they starve” Ryōshi let out a sudden bark, bringing a large section of manticore leg over to me, dropping it at my feet, sitting on her haunches, staring up at me “What was that about a system?” Blaze laughed as I burned the fur off using my dragonflame, cooking it and eating it with mild satisfaction “Thanks Rio” Ryōshi let out a rather merry bark, following us back to ponyville, skipping alongside me “I wonder when she’ll consider you a mate” Blaze grinned “Not going to happen” I frowned “Why not, you did it with Crystal” she tilted her head “Crystal’s an eon; and so am I” I shrugged “And what of Cadance?” she smirked “Let’s just say that most ponies here are more decent then most humans I know” I deadpanned “And what, of Celestia?” she raised an eyebrow “Let her run her kingdom how she thinks is best, but let her know that Ulfric Stormcloak’s doing a better job elsewhere” I spat “I could lead a revolution, I simply choose not to” “How so, Teslakana of Earth,” I turned around, what seemed like the whole of ponyville was stood there, staring at me “You saw it when I came into town, reference not intended, and the sun raised itself, she was with me, Luna, and Cadance and the bearer of the elements, alongside my friends and family, were you not wandering through Ponyville when that happened?”, most of the ponies there either muttered their responses or nodded in agreement “back where I’m from, the Earth goes around the sun, and the moon goes around the Earth, and judging by the look of things, the same rules of physics apply to Equis, you see, the gravitational pull keeps the moon and planet in place and their momentum is what keeps them spinning around one-another” I continued the ‘speech’ “if we are to live by the same routine every single day, what good will come of it, we’ll be following the flow of the river, and much like history, the river repeats itself, time and again, and how boring would that be, why not spice up your lives a little with a bit of change, I know it may seems scary at first, but just think about the possibilities, they’re endless, as is my love for my home and all who reside here, that is all, now whose with me?” there was an almighty cheering as hooves were both stomped and clapped in applause, I bowed “thank you, my friends thank you all” -=-=- You did what!?” Celestia spit out her tea as we sat at the dining hall, staring at me in half anger, half awe “Blaze technically started it, I just added fuel to the fire” I took a bite out of my sandwich “Tesla, you’ve created chaos; that of which I cannot fathom how you created nor why nor what with” she frowned “Was it not Preston Jeremiah Cole who once infamously said ‘allow me to show you what one puny human can do!’?” Blaze folded her arms “That it was” I nodded “Tesla, I’ve no clue what to say, I think it’d be best if you left” Celestia bit her lip, I did, walking out of the room with Blackjack, Littlepip, Velvet and Ryōshi walking alongside Pepper and I -=- “Well that lasted a while” Blaze glanced around ponyville, Snowdrop once again perched on my head as she and Kiary stood/sat on either shoulder, most of the townsponies present either smiled or waved at me, some even bowed “That depends,” I tilted my head slightly “who do you want as a ruler,” I called out, almost yelling, everyone stopped what they were doing, quickly forming a crowd before me “do you want someone who wastes their time raising the sun and moon, that of which is raised and lowered anyway due to gravity, or do you want someone who’ll actually try to get things done, if so, raise or stomp you hoof, the crowd ushered forth a stomped hoof from each of them, whilst others raised their hooves “if you want someone who actually cares, raise or stomp your hoof,” again, half the crowd stomped their hooves, whilst others raised theirs “if you want someone to care for you like a friend would, repeat the process” they did “and finally, if you want someone who’ll gladly do whatever it takes, whether it be in their power or not, to help you in any way, raise your hoof” and again, they raised and stomped their hooves “Thank you, everypony” I bowed as they let out a cheer, eventually going back to their objectives, I turned around and waved toward the castle, laughing to myself as I felt a slight shudder, taking a nice long walk through the forest, when I returned, my eyes gave way to the sight of a rather interesting event “Please, my little ponies, you have to believe me-!” “You’re nothing!” Celestia was silenced by a seemingly irate pony “just leave while we still let you” Am I not your princess any longer?” Celestia was crying, flat-out sobbing, tears streaming down her face “Tesla’s our ruler now, he said he’d do everything you couldn’t, and we know he’ll stick by his word, much like he does his friends!” another townspony snapped “Tesla did this?” she gasped “He’s our king, your nothing but his bitch!” a third snarled “and I’m not afraid to say it aloud, I quickly found myself standing between the crowd and the princesses “What do you think you’re doing?” Celestia wept “Hey, a king’s got to look after his subjects; and even more after his friends and Nakama,” I smirked “and besides, did you not, at one point, say that you’d hand over your title and your crown?” “I did but-!” “She admitted it!” Blaze laughed, turning on my shoulder to face the crowd “do you not hear that, fillies and gentle-colts, she’s retiring” there was an almighty cheer that erupted from the crowd, Celestia sighed, removing her jewellery, teleporting it away as she stared at the ground in apparent shame “Treat them well” Celestia sniffled “Best finish any paperwork you’re in the middle of, I won’t be doing any,” I grinned “I’ll be too busy actually getting out and giving a damn about my new friends and subjects, or Nakama, because the word subjects sounds like ‘underling,’ or ‘slave’ to me, and that’s something I can’t stand, ever” “Then I’ll do it for you, as your steward” she gulped audibly, teleporting away “Are there any rules, King Tesla?” on pony gleamed like an idiot as I turned to face the crowd, Blaze turning on my shoulder accordingly “Use language as foul as you want, so long as you’re not around foals I’ve no problem with it, don’t kill, rape, steal, or anything of the sort, don’t think of me as a king, rather, as a friend, and last but not least, have fun, and do what you more or less want, other than what I said just moments ago” I rolled my eyes “Fair enough” he shared a laugh with the others, walking and talking with themselves in pairs as they dispersed “So, what is thy first order of business as thine king?” Luna stood beside me “You’re not going to try and stop me?” I blinked “Nay, we hath grown somewhat tired of the same old routine for countless millennia, and we are most curious to see how thou cope as king of Equestria, King Tesla” she smiled “Might as well tear down the castle then, build something that’s going to be beneficial to everyone in the country, or the nearby towns and cities at least” I sighed “That’d be thine home” she raised an eyebrow “Alright, we keep the castle, but by the nine, at least change the throne room into something beneficial” I simpered “Why the throne room?” she tilted her head “Thrones are for gods and/or tyrants. I claim to be neither” I glimmered “keep the glass windows though, remind people of history, lest we repeat it” “We’re beginning to like thee already, as a king, rather than an eon” she giggled “Think of me as a friend, rather than a ruler” I pecked her cheek “Then we will gladly lay down our own life for thee, thou hath proven thyself capable of great leadership, even in a small town such as this” she nodded toward the plaza “And I you, my little shooting star” I nodded “And what of me?” Cadance stood opposite Luna “Do what you want, as I am not a king, rather, an ally,” I winked “one who hopes to unite all of Equestria under a single banner, that is, if you haven’t already” “We have, but now you must reunite them, as a country” she nickered “What’s going on?” Crystal glided toward me alongside Angel “Tesla’s the new king of Equestria” Cadance giggled “How in the fucking hell did you manage that?” Crystal laughed” Pardon my language” “Don’t worry, it’s legal” I chuckled “What,” she chortled “you mean to tell me that you made foul language, of any sort, legal?” “Basically” I nodded sideways “And I suppose you’ve yet to reunite the country again?” she smirked “I’ve lead armies, why not ponies?” I glanced toward Luna “No offense” “None taken, thine king” Luna smiled “Well, I suppose some type of speech is in order?” I grumbled “I’m afraid so” Cadance smiled “show us what you can do, Tesla” -=- As I stood on the balcony overlooking the gathered townsponies of both canterlot and Ponyville, I began my so-called speech, ponies from the local media having joined the crowds “Citizens of Equestria,” I smiled “Once I stood among you as a friend, now, I still stand among you, and still as a friend, an ally, you may treat me however you like, for I have no inferiors, no underlings, no subjects, only friends allies and loved ones, as well as my family,” I went on “and with Celestia as my new steward, and Blackjack Littlepip and Velvet Remedy as my thanes, I stand before you, as a changed being,” I continued “I once thought that I wasn’t fit for this title, now I need your help to prove me wrong,” I sighed “Discord roams amongst us a free being, also as an ally, if you wish to change that, then that is what I shall do, if you want something done, all you need do is ask, and I shall do all I can whether it’s in power or not, I’ll try nonetheless, for I am but one being I may be weak, I may be stupid, but by the nine, I’m not going to try and change both myself and the country, both for the better, now some of you may be wondering if I’m worthy to rule, and I’m honestly asking myself the same question , I shall leave up to you to decide, should you choose that I am unworthy, I will pass my rule onto Faust and Luna, just say the word, and it shall be done, this is my promise, and I hope to see it fulfilled, regardless of what happens, today Equis will hear our roar as we march through the streets and show the world what we can do!” There was silence for a moment, before one pony began clapping his hooves, then another, then another, and then there was a great wave of applause as ponies below started whistling and cheering -=- “There is still the matter of what to do with Buckshot’s followers” Shining Armour bowed as he trotted toward me “Have them integrated into the royal guard,” I smiled “and send them my regards while you’re at it” “And should they choose to resist?” he raised an eyebrow “We improvise” I clicked my tongue “the changeling army has fallen in line with us, as allies, why can they not do the same?” “We’re allied with the changelings?” he blinked “Chrysalis surrendered to us when she came searching for Black Beetle, I pointed a thumb toward the changeling clung onto my back “That doesn’t seem like them” he frowned “no offense, my king” “None taken,” I simpered “it is most likely because they are low on food and other resources, if it were up to me, and there weren’t another option, I’d use logic and do the same, she is wise, but not reckless” “And how would you explain her storming this castle before?” he tilted his head “Desperation” Blaze shrugged from atop my shoulder “she was reckless then, but not now, which is why she attacked Canterlot, it was an act of desperation that brought her here, and it’s an act of wisdom that she surrendered to us” “So be it, I’ll have a few of my best sent down there along with me” he bowed, quickly galloping out of the main hall where I stood alongside my friends and family “You’ve a strategic mind about you, Tesla” Cadance nickered “It comes with being in the UNSC, and the stormcloak rebellion, and so-on and so-on” I waved a dismissive hand “You must have a lot of stories then” she giggled “That I do,” I nodded “Like there was that one time we may or may not have gotten smashed and ended up causing a lot of chaos” “Smashed,” Luna tilted her head “please define” “Drunk” I grumbled “how long did they say it lasted again?” “A week-ish, maybe two” Blaze laughed “you did most of it though, brother!” “What happened?” Twilight and her friends, minus Fluttershy trotted up to me, Spike walking alongside them, almost as tall as they were, his spines growing slightly taller, the spike in the end of his tail growing somewhat sharper “I don’t want to talk about it,” I grumbled “the fact that it happened is bad enough” “What happened?” Twilight grinned “Tesla did the nasty with a Hagraven” “A what,” Cadance stifled a laugh “A combination of woman and bird gone horribly wrong” she patted the side of my head “I guess anything’s possible when it comes to alcohol” Twilight blinked, her expression turning to a wicked grin “How was she?” “I wouldn’t know, I was basically unconscious” I shuddered “That’s creepy” Spike shuddered “You don’t know the half of it” Blaze beamed “So what happened then?” Rainbow Dash chortled “Not much” she shrugged, again “wasn’t much else that happened that’s worth taking note of” “Other than the fact that Tesla got-!” I quickly covered her mouth; she shook my hand away, diving into my rucksack, bringing out a pale copper ring with a diamond in it “Is that a wedding ring?” Crystal glided toward me alongside Angel “Shit” I swore “Too right mister” she grinned “I mean, you crazy son of a gun, how much stupidity were you fuelled by when you considered that as an option?” “Not sure how to answer that” I bit my lip “Let us rectify that” Angel gleamed the two of them dragging me by my arms toward one of the spare bedrooms by my arms Chapter X; RanaThe following morning, I stood upon the balcony with my friends and family alongside Twilight her friends, minus Fluttershy, Spike, Crystal, and Angel, Cadance, Celestia, and Luna included along with Black Beetle “Got anything new?” Blaze smirked “A few things,” I smiled, extending the first set of wings out either side of me, concentrating as they turned harder than steel, glowing with a bright white light “Steel wing” she blinked “well I suppose you are a flying type now, Tesla” “A shield made of thy wings,” Luna commented “and we assume that this is lighter than an actual shield?” “Probably” I shrugged “I could probably turn it into an actual way of fighting” “Roku-yoku keishiki” Blaze slowly nodded, I flexed the newly morphed ‘steel-wings’ “What else can you do?” Crystal winked “seeing as how you’ve grown an extra set of wings “That remains to be seen” I grinned, concentrating further, all six of my wings now shining with a radiant glow until the light reached blinding point as I oared into the air my top and middle wings fusing and becoming around three times larger, a set of armour suddenly appearing upon my being alongside a halo-like crown that hovered above my head “Steel Dragon Seraph” “Right, now he’s overpowered” Angel laughed “Am I,” I chuckled, landing before her and the others “I didn’t realize, Dear Angel” “Quite the charmer, eh brother,” Blaze chortled “Care to get any cheesier?” “Indeed” I smiled, drawing both Duskfall and Dawnbreaker, striking a pose with my newly changed wings “I am the Alpha and Omega; the beginning, and the end, I will unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the waters of life, freely” “You quoted the Bible, really?” she guffawed “Revelation; twenty-one-six” I bowed slightly, flying back into the air, Black Beetle clung onto my back, Blaze and Kiary sat upon my shoulders, Snowdrop perched between my now slightly longer horns “Now Equis, allow me to show you what one lone human can do, when united with his Nakama!” I roared, literally, feeling the air itself almost quaking, placing my hands together, the Duskfall and Dawnbreaker seemingly melding into one almighty sabre “Part Dawnbreaker…” Twilight blinked “Part Duskfall…” Luna finished “They combine together into one!” Rarity and rainbow Dash stared at me “The Starblazer” I gleamed “was this staged or are we really being that cheesy?” “That was all without acting, Starblazer” Cadance laughed, my wings returning to normal all of a sudden, my armour and crown fading along with them, the energy of which melding into what appeared to be a rainbow coloured gem, I quickly pocketed it, the Starblazer having de-fused back into its original parts, which slid back into their sheathes “Looks like you can only use it for a certain amount of time” Blaze observed, climbing upon my shoulder as Kiary perched herself on the other, Snowdrop clambering unto my head “Honestly Tesla, you overwork yourself with your abilities, one day you’re going to end up possible crippled, or worse” “Daddy’s not going to die!” Snowdrop snapped “I didn’t say he was,” Blaze blinked “I was merely implying that he could end up grievously injured from his usual antics” “You’d be surprised what I can do, Dear sister” I grinned “No, I don’t believe I would, brother” she smirked, I raised an eyebrow “ok maybe a little” “I may have omitted falsities about having only two forms though, somewhat” I glimmered, changing to a somewhat different form “How in the hell..?” Crystal stared at me, or rather, my new form, which had a black-and-gold-trim colour scheme, golden-crimson wings and all “You thought I was joking when I said I was the alpha and omega, I wasn’t telling a complete lie” I spoke with a rather stern tone “Alphamon…” Blaze suddenly chortled “That’s incredible/Amazing!” Rainbow Dash, Twilight and Rarity chimed “How did you get that form?” Angel blinked “When the original Alphamon regressed to his earlier stage, I took the coding from his being, his DNA, if you will, and now, I’ve got all of the looks, powers and abilities he had, only with dragon slayer magic” I explained “Even the blade?” Blaze stared at me “Even that” I nodded “Now you actually look like a king!” she guffawed “Quite so” Luna eyed me up and down “And you’ve been hiding that away from us for how long?” Celestia’s cheeks turned a rosy tinge as she stared at me in somewhat apparent awe “A century, maybe a century and a half” I shrugged “time is beyond human comprehension, even in its most basic of principles” “Tia’s in love, it would appear” Luna gleamed “I fail to think so, sister” Celestia smiled “I’m merely interested in our king’s new looks, that’s all” “Noted,” I slowly nodded, “and whilst I do hold some negativity of sorts toward you, Celestia, I find myself unable to hate you, and thus, I redact my royal status, and wish to live as a knight, in your honour and service” I bowed before her “So you’ve just gone and quit, just like that,” Blaze spat “you had the country in you grasp, brother, you could’ve done anything, been capable of anything, if only you’d have done it, and here you are, bowing before the one who ruined everything you held dear!” she scolded me as I stood upright “What’s happened in the past, cannot be changed, even by me,” I tilted my head slightly, as Snowdrop was still lying there “and secondly, mercy isn’t a sign of weakness, but of wisdom, sister, and courage is not knowing when to take a life, but rather, when to spare one” “Damn you and your BIONICLE/movie references!” she laughed “I know, right?” I chuckled, “Having somepony like that as a knight?” Rarity gasped “you really do overwork yourself, Sir Tesla” “But what about a weapon,” Cadance raised an eyebrow other than your magic, you’re unarmed” “And yet I still maintain the most powerful weapon known to Earth,” I rolled my eyes “the human mind” “How so,” Celestia blinked “Well, so far, we’re the only recorded species in the galaxy to make nuclear weapons capable of bringing an entire country to little more than ash and rubble” I shrugged, again “and that’s not counting the large hadron collider that could basically create a large black hole and end the solar system as we know it” “Why would you create something like that?” Twilight blinked “Because it’s what humans do,” I smiled, somehow managing to do so without a mouth “progress on Earth is only made by a bunch of morns experimenting with certain things to see the results of their objectives, and earth’s full of morons” I went on “I reckon if it weren’t for people like Stephen Hawking and Albert Einstein, we’d be deep sixed already” “What’s that mean?” Rainbow Dash blinked “We’d basically of driven ourselves to extinction” I sighed, reverting to my normal human form “and that’s not counting all the wars we’ve had” “Didn’t someone make a song out of that?” Blackjack smirked “Europa- Globus” I nodded “Didn’t we sing that as a duet?” Blaze laughed “That we did,” I grinned “care to try it again?” =-= As I stood on centre stage with Littlepip, Velvet Remedy, Pepper as Crystal and Angel sat in the audience, Snowdrop, lay atop my head, Blaze and Kiary on either shoulder, and Ryōshi sat by my side, I began to sing the last song for the day “From Agincourt to Waterloo Poitiers and then Anjou The Roses War, the Hundred Years Through battlefields of blood and tears From Bosworth Field to Pointe Du Hoc Stalingrad and the siege of York The bloody turf of Gallipoli Had no effect on the killing spree Bannockburn to Austerlitz The fall of France and the German blitz The cruelest of atrocities Europa's blood is borne of these (Heaven help in all our battles Heaven see love, heaven help us) Bolsheviks and feudal lords Chivalry to civil wars Fascist rule and genocide Now we face the rising tide Of new crusades, religious wars Insurgents imported to our shores The western world, gripped in fear The mother of all battles here (Heaven help in all our battles Heaven see love, heaven help us Avant hier, avons être Déja demain, (nous) sommes éclairée) (All glory, all honor Victory is upon us Our savior, fight evil Send armies to defend us) Empires built, and nations burned Mass graves remain unturned Descendants of the dispossessed Return with bombs strapped to their chests There's hate for life, and death in hate Emerging from the new caliphate The victors of this war on fear Will rule for the next thousand years All glory, all honor Victory is upon us Our savior, fight evil Send armies to defend us Europa, Europa Find better days before us In kindness, in spirit Lead us to a greater calling Europa, Europa Find better days before us In kindness, in spirit Lead us to a greater calling Leningrad, Berlin wall March on Rome, Byzantium's fall Lightning war, Dresden nights Drop the bomb, end this fight! Never again..!” Blaze and I sang as a duet, with Kiary and Snowdrop filling in the background vocals -=-=- As we stood in the main hall once again, Littlepip, Velvet Remedy and Pepper stood by me alongside Crystal and Angel as Twilight, her friends, Spike, the princesses, and Faust trotted toward me “That was quite the performance, Sir Tesla” Faust raised an eyebrow “But you’ll have to tell me where you got the idea of becoming king from” “You said I was you king, and you, my queen, so I acted upon what I knew; and what I’d been through” I shrugged, yet again “it wasn’t hard to put the two together” “And you quit, because why?” she raised the other eyebrow “Because as much as Equestria may want it, I am no king, as there are no true kings,” I hummed “only tyrants, gods, renegades, liars, lords and honest men” “Game Of Thrones?” Blaze beamed “Quite so,” I nodded “You would have been incredible” Faust slowly shook her head “and you threw that chance away, you silly eon” she giggled “I hereby dub you Prince Tesla, and Sir Tesla of Equis, my love” “What’s this I hear about a new knight?” the same orange Pegasus as before huffed as he, Shining Armour, and Prince, blueblood marched toward me “he hardly looks even royal guard material, are you sure you want him as your knight, your majesty?” he smirked toward Faust “I’m quite certain about what I want and where and when I want it, sergeant Flash Sentry” she winked at me “And as a prince no less, this, I cannot allow, no matter the circumstances” Blueblood spat “Looks like I’ll have to do it again” I sighed, changing to Alphamon form with a shining light, wings armour and all “hit me with your best shot, even as one being , you three could not hope to defeat me, ponies” I glanced toward Faust “no offense, my queen” I bowed “Ah yes, Celestia told me of this form, and its legendary appearance,” She nickered “it suits you, my dear Knight” “By your word, your majesty” I nodded, standing upright “And here I thought mares have it easy” Flash Sentry” “I wouldn’t know” I scowled, pointing my arm out to the side, waving it in all four basic directions, pulling a large black-with-golden-trim blade out of practically nowhere, pointing it at him “your comment before, would you care to repeat it?” “Holy living Buck!” Shining Armour burst into laughter “Kyukyono senjin Ouryuken” I grinned, somehow managing to do so without a mouth, again “Ok, I take it back!” Flash Sentry looked as though he’d shit himself “Thank you” I frowned, the blade fading from view, disintegrating even “Why’re you so sensitive toward mares?” Blueblood raised an eyebrow “other than Aunty Celestia and Luna, they bear no significant element to our lives” “Mares; or females in general?” I cracked my knuckles “Generally” he shrugged “Oh you poor fool,” i chuckled “did no one tell you where foals come from?” “I care not for foals” he snarled “Open your mouth and shut your eyes and I’ll give you something that’ll make you wise” I smirked, reverting to human form, again, “I don’t see what you’ll be able to do, he shrugged, closing his eyes and opening his mouth as I bought a gender stone out of my pocket, shoving it down his throat, his eyes snapping open as he swallowed the gem “Dumbass” I shook my head as his mane and tail lengthened, and his figure became somewhat slender, the suit he was wearing somehow transforming into a dress fit for a queen “What have you done to me!?” he/she screamed, his tone changing to that of a mare’s “Call it a change of perspective, Bluebelle” I laughed “Change me back!” she demanded “Not unless you start being nice, period” I smirked “Why would I do that,” Bluebelle snapped “commoners and mares are the lowest forms of life on Equis” “Is that the pot calling the kettle black?” I folded my arms “or a racist?” “I demand that you change me back, human!” she growled “Say please” I chortled “Never!” she scowled “Then no” I shrugged “How about I make you?” she scoffed “Inn your present state, there’d only be two ways of doing that, and you won’t do either one” I gleamed “I believe the correct phrase is, ‘checkmate,’ is it not?” “What’re the conditions you’ll change me back?” she sighed “I think you know” I grinned “You will never reduce me to such atrocities!” Bluebelle glowered “Take your time” I waved a hand, walking away with the others who were present, Save Shining Armour and Flash Sentry “That was awesome!” Rainbow Dash guffawed as we stood/hovered in the gardens “It was what came natural” I shrugged, yet again “Where’d you get that thing anyway?” Crystal raised an eyebrow “Equestrian wastes” I smiled “the things Raiders do…” =-=-= As I stood with my friends and family in the main hall on the following day, I was approached by a familiar pony “Bluebelle” I nodded “I’ve tried being nice for all of the past twenty-four hours, and nothing’s changed” Bluebelle frowned “what’s the other option?” I quickly looked around; we were the only ones in the room “You really want to know?” I raised an eyebrow “Obviously!” she grunted “Admit that you were wrong,” I frowned “admit that females have as much a place in the universe as anyone else” “I’d never do such a thing,” she scorned “as nice as I may have tried to be, I will never go back on my word-!” I quickly grabbed her by the horn, pulling her to a well-hidden place behind the arena, throwing her on the dirt, turning to my family and friends “Go back to the castle, wait for me there” they nodded, Snowdrop, Kiary and Blaze clambering down to the ground, jogging off with the others back to the castle “What do you want with me?” Bluebelle snapped, I scoffed “What do you think,” I rolled my eyes, sitting beside her against the stone wall, turning her so that she was sat on my lap, pressing my lips against hers “What’re you thinking-!?” I planted my lips on hers again, her eyes turned half-lidded as she draped her arms around my neck, quickly removing her dress after she let go, parting her mouth from my own, quickly undoing my lower attire, running her tongue along the base of my shaft, sticking the head in her mouth, pressing her lips down on it, taking it in, inch by inch until only my balls remained “I’m yours” she purred, turning on an axis, I quickly dived my tongue into her depths as she twirled her tongue around the head of my shaft, pressing her lips against it as she bobbed her head up and down upon my length, suckling at it like a lollipop, eventually removing herself from it altogether with a *pop* turning her head, facing me, groaning as I twisted and danced my tongue inside her depths, gradually parting my oral muscle from her sex, she turned to face me “Take me, Lord Tesla” she groaned, slamming her cunny down around my dick, bounding her hips up and down as she forced her lips against mine; wrapping her arms around my neck as I gripped her by the flanks, thrusting my hips in sync against hers, hilting her again and again “that’s it, fuck me, I’ve been a bad girl!” she moaned as I pumped my seed into her depths, almost screaming as I came, removing herself once it stopped No, not yet” she panted for breath, raising her flank in the air as she lifted her tail, lowering her front half down to the ground I needed no invitation, kneeling behind her, prodding the end of my still-erect member into her flankhole, sliding it in, she moaned as I did so, shuddering as I hilted her, slowly sliding my cock in and out of her tight tailhole, slowly picking up speed, eventually moving as a blur, her eyes rolling into her head as I fucked her, moving faster and faster, gripping her flanks, slamming into her, she screamed as I fired more sticky, hot, white, spunk into her, quickly pulling out and hilting her tight little cunt instead, pumping my manhood into her sex without second thought, only pulling out when it stopped “That was…” Bluebelle gasped for breath “incredible, thank you, my lord” “You’re welcome” I winked as she put her dress back on, and I, my lower section of clothing “Same time tomorrow?” she purred “Why not?” I shrugged, walking with her back to the castle; she then galloped toward her room when we got there -=- “Problem solved?” Blaze smirked as she and Kiary stood on either shoulder, Snowdrop once again lying atop my head “I believe so” I nodded “So what happened?” Luna blinked as we sat at the dining hall, Faust, Twilight, her friends, minus Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy, and Spike included “Call it, an epiphany,” I smirked “What’d you do?” Shining Armour blinked “I solved the problem,” I laughed “what else?” “How?” Celestia raised an eyebrow “That’s for me to know and you to find out, my little Dawnflower” I winked as Ryōshi sat Between Littlepip and I, Pepper sat next to her, whilst Velvet Remedy and Blackjack sat opposite me “I see” Faust slowly nodded “care to demonstrate?” “What?” I blinked “It’s a simple request” she shrugged “I just asked you to demonstrate your tactics for getting our new princess to apologize, Sir Tesla” all eyes were on me “Are you sure we can’t do this later?” I gulped audibly “We could, but I’d rather get it over with” she smirked “So, if you don’t mind?” she rolled a hoof “You didn’t…” Twilight stared at me as I slammed my head against the table “Well this is a first” Cadance blinked “So it is” Faust, alongside the princesses, glanced from me to Bluebelle, and then back again “have fun did we?” “Somewhat” Bluebelle winked at me, I changed too eon form, flying out of the room, Snowdrop Blaze and Kiary following me “You actually did it?” Blaze blinked as I hovered in the space behind the arena “really?” “Seemed like a good idea at the time” I bit my lip “Next thing is you’ll be, wanting to do me” she flashed her eyebrows at me “I don’t engage in coitus with my relatives” I deadpanned “Neither do I,” she rolled her eyes “although, I am curious as to see what you and Cadance did in that room of hers, with your tongue” “Not happening” I snapped “Tesla?” I turned around; Celestia was stood there, a perplexed expression plastered upon her muzzle “What is it Cellsy?” I sighed; she stood beside me, pecking my cheek “I don’t blame you for what you did; though I am wondering why you did it in that way,” Celestia giggled “tell me, Sir Tesla, what were to happen if I were to disappear?” “The country would descend into chaos, your sister and niece would go mental as would Faust I imagine” I tilted my head slightly “Let me rephrase the question, what would you do if I were to suddenly disappear?” she bit her lip, staring at me with her beautiful lilac eyes “I don’t know,” I raised an eyebrow “a knight cannot function without a lord, lady king queen or another being of royal power, and so my title would be forfeit, as would my heart” “Tesla,” she suddenly planted her lips on mine “that’s what I was hoping you’d say!” “What’re you talking about?” I blinked, placing a gentle hand on her cheek “I’m your knight, and as such, it is my sworn duty to protect you and all you hold dear, be it with my life, or otherwise, so don’t you talk of disappearing whilst the sun still needs to rise, my little Dawnflower” “I…” she blinked, staring at me, slack-jawed “I don’t know what to say, I was going to say that I wanted a foal with you, just in case I did disappear” “If that is what you want” I smiled, pecking her cheek =-=-=-= “Two weeks,” I grumbled “two weeks, and I still can’t feel my legs” “That’s because she’s a princess” Blaze giggled “she’s bound to be a little rowdy, for instance, when was the last time she had coitus?” “That’s a personal question” I berated her “Half a billion years ago, with your past self, I do believe, Sir Tesla” Celestia gave a soft smile “How much ‘pent up’ is that?” Blaze smirked “Are we doing this in terms of physics or actual emotion?” I simpered “Both” she shrugged “Then a metric fuck-tonne” I rolled my eyes “You were at it for seven hours straight, how come your nuts aren’t whistling ‘oh come all ye faithful’?” everyone present at the dining table either choked, on their food, spat out their drink, or just stared at the Quilava positioned on my shoulder “One does wonder” I nodded “How can you ask such a thing!?” Rarity gasped “Because it’s Blaze, being Blaze” I laughed “Is that even possible,” Twilight tilted her head, everyone in the room stared at her “what, I was curious?” “You apply enough physics in the right way and anything’s possible” I stifled a laugh “Did you hear about the human who stole a four-point-six-million quid solid gold vibrator?” Blaze grinned, everyone’s gaze turned back to Blaze “he forgot the charger “He’s a bit of a cunt then” Blackjack deadpanned, suddenly breaking into a wicked grin” “Either that, or he’s dicking about” I nodded sideways “he’s got a bit of a ballsy attitude either way” “Must you use such foul language, bad puns aside?” Rarity gagged “I don’t see what the problem is,” I shrugged “there used to be, and probably still is, a street in London called Gropecunt lane” “There’re several, actually” Blaze corrected me “spread over the country” “Pun not intended?” I chortled “Not at all” she smirked, again “why, are you cumming onto me” she flashed her eyebrows at me “I said before that I don’t fuck relatives” “But what of your Nakama, friends that are closer than family?” she raised a paw “Closer than family doesn’t make them family,” I frowned, gradually relenting “although I suppose they’re the only family I have, other than you and Snowdrop, no offense to anyone” “None taken” Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Celestia and Faust smiled in unison “I guess that says a lot, right Daddy?” Snowdrop nickered “I suppose so” I smiled -=-=-=- “Do I smell freshly baked muffins?” Blaze grinned, drooling slightly upon my shoulder, my friends and family in their usual places on and around me, “Most likely,” I rolled my eyes “then again, considering it’s you, anything’s possible” “Damn straight” she grinned, bounding off into a nearby confectionery, the same one, I noticed, as when Applebloom saved me those muffins “Looks like I was right” Blaze clambered back up my shoulder, passing me a muffin, taking a nibble out of hers “How did you pay for these?” I raised an eyebrow “I mentioned you, and they insisted they’re for free” she shrugged “I’m not to be used as a means to get free baked goods, Blaze” I grumbled “You are now,” she smirked, munching away at her muffin “chocolate chips and all!” “Please Daddy?” Snowdrop gave me her best puppy-dog eyes “Fine, anything for my little Snowflake” I chuckled, walking into the confectionery, alongside my friends “Well if it isn’t the knight in Shining Armour” a light/cyan blue mare with a two-tone pink mane and tail wearing a pink apron of sorts giggled as we entered the shop “How may we serve you, Lord Tesla?” “Just browsing” I smiled, noticing a long table with Celestia in the middles, sitting either side of her were Twilight, her friends, and Spike, Rainbow Dash apparently absent “What’s going on here?” “Princess Celestia’s come to ponyville to make an announcement, so I’ve heard” she eyed me up and down “love the choice of attire, Sir” “Thanks” Blaze smirked “what’s that?” she pointed to a birdcage attached to a metal pole via hook-and-loop connection “That’s Princess Celestia’s Phoenix, Philomena” she smiled “by the looks of it, it’s coming close to rebirthing” “It’s in one of its death cycles?” I raised an eyebrow, she nodded “I’m afraid what ponies will say or think when they see it fall to its ashes” she sighed “Hey, a phoenix is the only living animal in existence, to my knowledge, who can turn it’s dying ember into a full-on blaze of glory” I chuckled “Well, I suppose we’ll just have to wait and see” She shrugged, pouring the solar goddess a cup of tea, sliding a plate of baked goods onto the table as Celestia winked at me “Except for the fact that she’s magically disappeared” Snowdrop gestured toward the now-empty bird-cage “So she has” I nodded, all eyes turned to face the cage, turning and walking out of the shop, I quickly spied what looked like Fluttershy galloping off with the nearly dead bird on her back, retreating toward her cottage “What should we do?” twilight and her friends rushed up beside me “We wait,” I shrugged “the phoenix is nearly dead, it’s cycle’s probably already begun” “So we wait for it to die?” she gasped “Basically,” I shrugged “Velvet and I have already seen one or two phoenixes, the thing that makes this one special is because it belongs to our princess” “That a bit cruel, don’t you think?” Rarity raised an eyebrow “The phoenix will rebirth itself, as all of her species do, from a dying ember, to a blaze of glory” I sighed “I wasn’t referring to Philomena” she raised the other eyebrow “Touché,” I nodded “but then again, you send your ‘lessons’ on friendship to Celestia, so why not one on life?” “So, we wait?” Twilight sighed, sitting on her haunches “That we do” I nodded -=- Two hours passed, and I noticed a large crowd of ponies stood around the fountain “Blaze, blade of grass, now” I smirked, she clambered down, picking up the longest blade of grass she could find, clambering back unto my shoulder passing it to me “What’s going on?” I stood at the back of the crowd “There’s a strange bird atop the fountain, my lord” a pony smiled at me, faintly “Let’s see what I can do about that”, they parted, leaving me, my friends alongside Twilight and her friends along with Spike to walk through the crowd Atop the fountain, Philomena stood, perched with a sickened look “Looks like I’ll finally be able to do it,” I smiled, beginning to play a melody of sorts with the blade of grass, the after mentioned phoenix slowly closed her eyes, falling to the ground, set aflame and turning to a pile of ash in the process, the crowd gasped, as did Twilight and her friends “You killed it!” one of the ponies from the crowd gaped “Did I?” I burnt the grass blade, setting my hand alight, crouching down and placing it near the pile of ash “come on Philomena, show us a real blaze of glory” the ash swept itself up in a miniature tornado, and, in a sudden ball of flame, a newly rebirthed phoenix emerged with a blinding light as the flames around my hand dissipated, I stood upright, Philomena perching herself on my arm, preening the feathers between her wing and her sides “Never have I seen such a thing” I turned around, Celestia stood there in front of both the crowd and Twilights friends “Phoenix Song” Velvet Remedy “Tesla used it on Pyrelight in the wastes once, somehow refilled her with energy in the process” “Indeed” Celestia smiled “I owe you one, Sir Tesla” “You owe me nothing,” I rebuked, somewhat merrily, holding my arm out “I believe this belongs to you?” Philomena stretched her wings, as if to take off, turned her head to face me, her emerald eyes almost gazing into my very soul, and then flattened them back against her sides “It appears that she trusts you enough to stay with you, my dear knight” Celestia simpered, Snowdrop stood beside me, Blaze lying atop my head, and Philomena perching herself on my shoulder “Ok, so we have a talking ferret-thing, a dragon, and a phoenix, and then there’s the human and/or eon and/or dragon entity, this is like a really bad fiction” Blackjack laughed “Who’re you calling a ferret?” Blaze raised an eyebrow “I’m a Quilava” “Same difference” she shrugged “Why I ought to…” Blaze mumbled “Do what?” I glanced up toward my adoptive sister “You don’t want to know” she grumbled “Chances are her steel will outlast your flame, sister” I grinned “But, if I can get it hot enough, it could melt through anything, isn’t that what you said,” she smirked, again “that if a fire is powerful enough it can burn through anything?” “I didn’t limit it to just physical fire, Blaze” I rolled my eyes “Oh, Kokoro no Chikara then,” she laughed “Quite” I nodded, noticing a hooded figure standing far behind the crowd, staring at the ground as she dug at it with a silver-and-grey striped hoof “Who’s that?” I nodded toward the figure, everyone present, other than Twilight, her friends, Spike, Celestia, my friends and family took one look at the figure, then quickly rocketed into their homes, slamming and locking the doors behind them “Well that was rude” I frowned, the hooded figure glanced in my direction, nodded,and walked into the forest “Was that out of fear, or mistrust?” Snowdrop blinked “Most likely the former, judging by the smell in the air” I gagged “I hope that’s fear” Blaze shuddered “It is, just in tangible form” I mumbled “let’s go” I began to walk toward the forest, my friends and family walking beside me “Where are you going?” Twilight blinked “Where do you think?” I scoffed “I’m going to talk to it, her and/or him” “There might’ve been a good reason they’re afraid of the pony though” she argued, walking alongside me with Celestia, her friends and Spike “Pony,” I glanced toward her “what kind of pony has stripes?” she blinked “if anyone was paying attention to the being, or what it was doing, they’d have noticed stripes on its leg” “Like a zebra?” Blaze glanced down toward me “It’s a possibility” “But Zebra’s come from Africa, what’d one be doing here in Equestria?” she frowned “Is tourism outlawed, here?” “Well, not, but it might be” she shrugged “Freedom is the right of all sentient beings,” I sighed “and besides, I keep telling you that fear isn’t evil” “It’s what shows you your weakness” Rainbow Dash hovered down toward us “And once you know your weakness, you can become stronger, kinder, and gentler” I nodded “Do we have to quote Gildarts?” Blaze grunted “You don’t have to come with if you don’t want to” “Nah, I’d rather stay,” she grinned “oh, and avoid the blue flowers up ahead” “I know, I know” I hovered over a small clearing of cobalt flowers “You’re scared of a few plants?” Twilight glimmered “Beware, beware you pony folk, these leaves of blue are not a joke” I laughed “What in the hay does that mean?” Rainbow Dash frowned “You’ll find out later, should you choose to stroll on through them” I shrugged, sure enough, they trotted through them, save Celestia and Rainbow Dash, who flew over them, as did Blackjack and Snowdrop, landing by my side “Is that where it lives?” Twilight pointed toward a house carved out of a large, mangled tree trunk “Could be,” I nodded “might as well find out” I walked with her and the others to the window, the hooded figure, now no longer hidden by a cloak and hood, now revealed as a zebra mare with a Mohawk chanting in an unfamiliar language “What’s she chanting?” Applejack shuddered “it’s creepin’ me out!” “Let’s see, tribal masks, potions on the shelves, which’re also stacked with what look like alchemical ingredients, speaking in an odd language, and the fact she’s from Africa, what d’ya think Tesla, herbalist?” Blaze smiled “Most likely,” my eyes narrowed slightly “but why the digging?” “Maybe she was searching for something” Snowdrop suggested “And so there’s theory A” I slowly nodded “Either that or she buried something and came back to retrieve it” Littlepip shrugged “And theory A; Revelation B” I smiled “definitely a herbalist, or an alchemist” “Not in the sense we’re used to, eh Brother?” Blaze laughed “Not at all” I chuckled as the door to the hut opened, and the zebra stood before us, eyebrow raised “Standing by my hut would not be wise, as you’re one of the strangest beings that has been seen by zebra eyes” the mare tilted her head slightly “Forgive our abrupt arrival, we just wanted to welcome you to Ponyville” I smiled, holding out a hand “Tesla” “Zecora is my name, and potions and rhyming are my game” the Zebra now known as Zecora, shook my hand with a smile “Like witchcraft?” Rainbow dash frowned, slamming her hooves together “Never judge a book by its cover, but rather, by its punctuation and grammar” I scowled “Thank you, Tesla, for your help,” Zecora smiled at me, frowning toward Rainbow now what is it you want, little whelp?” “What was that?” Rainbow glowered at Zecora “I think there’s been a misunderstanding” I bit my lip, turning toward the cyan Pegasus “just because she’s different, then you automatically assume she’s evil?” I snapped “if that’s the case, what do you think of me!?” she blinked “You’re Tesla, you’re a human, an eon, and a dragon slayer,” she grinned “you’re awesome; way more awesome than anything I can do,” she glimmered “You’re a Lord for Faust’s sake, isn’t that enough?” “I asked you what you think of me, not what you know” I raised an eyebrow, again “I just did” she blinked “So you did,” I rolled my eyes, exhaling sharply “and I’m far different from you ponies, as is Zecora, in her own way, look what happened to me, who’s to say she can’t do better?” “She’s a Zebra!” she gestured angrily toward the striped mare “And I’m an alien, in a way,” I shrugged “checkmate” “Why are you so insistent on helping others?” she growled “Because isn’t that what friends do?” I folded my arms “And aren’t you meant to be the element of loyalty, Rainbow?” “At least I know my limits!” she glared daggers at me “As do I” I sighed “they’re just broader, somewhat” “Let me guess, your ex-marefriend again?” she smirked “At least I’ve bloody well had one!” I roared, she suddenly gasped staring at me in half awe half fear, and a little bit of sadness, soaring back the way we came “Tesla, calm down” Blaze almost commanded; I deeply inhaled, and then exhaled “good, now let’s continue, shall we?” “We shall, would you care to stay, for I feel it might keep the forest creatures at bay” “They’re of little problem to me” I shrugged, again “Then I bid the farewell, and as for you, may your heart stay pure and true,” she winked at me, walking back into her hut “See, no problem” I smiled “If you say so” Twilight sighed, beginning to make our way back to ponyville -=- “I assume the hooded figure’s been taken care of?” the stallion from the stage a few weeks back smirked “She has, but not the way you think it has,” I grinned “You dealt with her the way any monster would, Tesla,” he spat “you are a monster after all, are you not?” “I’m a knight, a human, an eon, and a dragon slayer, so there’re a few things I can do” I smirked “You, a knight,” he chortled “don’t make me laugh!” “Aren’t you already?” I blinked “Touché, human” he slowly nodded “So what’s happening with her then?” “That isn’t really for me to decide, as I cannot force my will onto another being, as I refuse to be so, obtuse, as it were” I scoffed “Celestia?” I turned to face the alicorn mare “She will live under my protection under the same conditions and rules as everypony else, you needn’t worry, Tesla” Celestia smiled “And you don’t mind that she’s a technical immigrant?” The stallion frowned “I love all my subjects the same way Tesla cares for his friends,” Celestia smiled faintly “whether they’re born abroad or within my kingdom, I cannot control, Filthy Rich” “And Tesla here?” he gestured toward me with an angered hoof “He is my thane; and my knight, should you have a problem with that, you’ll have to take it up with him” she pecked my cheek “You see me as I could be, had I a heart of darkness, not one of light, you’re an idealist,” I rolled my eyes “What could you do to me, you’re just one being!” he snapped, Blaze, and Kiary quickly disembarked, clambering down to the ground, Philomena took to the sky flying in circles above us, I changed to ‘Alphamon form’ “touché, once again you have bested me, somewhat” it was then that I noticed the particularly large crowd behind him “Hi” I waved a hand, giving off an invisible smile, the crowd gasped as one, single entity, slamming to the ground; bowing “You don’t have to bow, least of all to me” I facepalmed “When a royal knight facepalms, you know you’ve failed” Blaze laughed “Indeed” I grumbled “But I am just a knight, there isn’t a ‘royal’ in the title, sister” “I wouldn’t be so sure, Sir Lord and/or Prince Tesla” she grinned “Tempted to throw in a Gurren Lagann reference in there” I clenched my fists “Episode eleven?” she sighed, I nodded “I think we’ve had enough references for a couple of months, Brother” “Fair do’s” I smiled as Crystal and Angel appeared before me, gliding down toward me “Well look at you, Tesla” Crystal gleamed “battle ready, are we?” “Aren’t we always?” I tilted my head “Touché” she nodded, rearing her arm back and striking my chest as hard as she could, I heard bones crack as she held her claw, biting her lip in pain “What’s that armour made of anyway?” “That much is unknown to me, as of yet” I shrugged -=-=- I stood in the arena in ‘Alphamon form,’ Flash Sentry having challenged that my armour would break long before he would “If you’re ready” I yawned, he charged at me, rearing both arms back and hitting me with both simultaneously, I didn’t so much as budge an inch, he spun around and landed a kick to the side of my head with a hind leg, then the other one, the whole guard was watching, but that of Celestia and Luna, as he brought both forearms down, hitting me with both hooves on the crown of the armour, his bones giving way with a sickening *crack* “Why, won’t, you, just, move!?” he spat out each word in-between hits “You use physical strength, not realising the hidden power that most, if not everyone possesses, Sergeant Flash Sentry” I smirked, somehow “I don’t get it,” he hovered before me, clad in the golden armour that all of the solar goddess’s guards wore, now dented from the damage he’d delivered to himself “what on Equis are you talking about?” “Your guardsmen colleagues would do good to listen to me now,” I grinned “with your physical strength, you could move pebbles and wagons, but if you set your whole body and mind to in, and wish for it with all your heart, you could topple mountains!” for instance,” I raised my hand in front of me, a vivid, light green circle appearing before it “Digitalize of soul!” wave after wave of green, eon-shape-headed beams of energy came forth from the circle, covering the entire arena, Flash Sentry just barely managing to avoid them by taking to the sky “Class dismissed” I reverted to human form, walking toward the gardens -=-=- “Since when, were you able to do that?” Crystal laughed “Since I got the form” I shrugged as we stood on the edge of the forest alongside my friends and family, all were in their usual places on and around me “Fair do’s” she smirked as we walked/glided into the forest “You hear that?” I stopped, raising my hand as a loud moan resonated from elsewhere in the forest “Sounds like someone’s having fun” Blaze laughed quietly “Sounds like it” Crystal stifled a laugh as another; louder moan rang out from the forests depths “Should we investigate?” Snowdrop bit her lip “Tesla,” a third, even louder still, moan erupted from the same location “oh Seraphimon be damned I need you inside me now!” “Don’t tell me…” I groaned “Tesla,” Crystal folded her arms “who was that?” “She said Seraphimon, so there’s only one person it can be,” Blaze guffawed “And who might that be?” Crystal raised an eyebrow “Ranamon’s back!” she chortled “Shut up and run!” I bolted toward ponyville, my friends quickly following me “What’s going on?” Rainbow Dash blinked as she glided down beside me as I stopped running, catching my breath in the park “You don’t want to know,” Blaze smirked, patting the side of my head “Nor hell a fury like a female in heat, eh Tesla?” “Someone in ponyville giving you a problem?” she grinned “Nope,” Blaze shook her head “Rana” “I guess I’ll have to ask Twilight about it” she shrugged, soaring off toward the library “Whatever that woman does to you, you deserve” Crystal gave me a smug, ear-toear grin “Woman,” Blaze burst into a fit of laughter “nah she’s a monster girl!” “That depends on the perspective” I shrugged “She your little fan-girl,” Angel aww’d “She’s my little Ocean Gem” I quickly covered my mouth “She’s an ocean based entity then?” Blackjack now joined in with the somewhat apparent running gag “This ought to be interesting for us then” just then, Twilight and her friends, minus Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, trotted toward us “Rainbow Dash says you’ve a mare problem of sorts” Twilight glanced toward Crystal, then Angel, and then toward mare “Who is she, Tesla?” “I’m under no obligation to tell you anything” I mumbled “Then I guess we’ll find out when we drag you back to the forest then” Blaze grinned “Fine” I rolled my eyes, walking with all others present back toward the forest “Tesla?” a slightly faraway voice echoed throughout the forest, “Tesla!” I called out getting ever closer as its angelic tone calmed me, somewhat, I walked through the thick underbrush ahead of me, coming face to face with a familiar being, it’s skin was a mint green/pale teal, and it was as tall as I was, human in shape, with shell-shaped helmet and lower-arm protectors and a teal vest, all of which had rubies in them, her eyes shining like blazing garnets I the rays of sunlight that burst from the canopy, her attire of choice as a pale blue vest-type piece of clothing that went down to just above her knees doubling as a shorts and miniskirt, sort of, the part of her that completed the image, was the dark/mild cobalt hair that went down to above her waist, the silvery necklace that sported a radian emerald in it, and finally, the mild blue ankle band-type object above her bare feet “Tesla!” the figure grabbed a hold of me, via arms that seemingly came from nowhere, taking a hold of my collar, shoulders and wrists, dragging me to her, her plump breasts squishing against my chest as she pressed her lips against mine, her somewhat salty taste and texture briefly overwhelming me as she draped her arms around my neck, eventually letting me go, staring at me straight in the face “I’ve been looking for you Sugarbear, where’ve you been Hun?” “Places” I winked, pecking her cheek, she giggled, placing her hands in mine “Now don’t go tellin’ me you got yourself committed to another Mon, my love, we’re just gettin’ reunited after all” “Why would I?” I laughed nervously “you are my little Ocean Gem after all” “That I am, and you’re my little Alpha, my love,” she licked my cheek come on, I found a beach nearby that’d be perfect for just the two of us!” And so she dragged me all through the forest until the texture under my feet went from stiff as iron to light as a feather as sand passed under my boots, Snowdrop, Blaze and Kiary having long clambered/glided to the ground “Well, aren’t we gonna have a lil’ fun?” she removed her clothing, save her helmet and armour, diving into the water, I quickly removed everything other than my boxers, diving in after her, when I surfaced, I came face to face with all who were present with me at the park, alongside Celestia “Bugger” I cursed “Indeed” Celestia smirked “I’m not beautiful enough for you?” Crystal folded her arms, I quickly changed to eon form, diving back underwater, going as deep as I could, Ranamon quickly going after me, only to be pulled back to the surface by means of magic, turned around to face Celestia and the others “Who is she, Tesla?” Angel giggled, I struggled, only to end up with failure “Try as you might, you can’t break free” Twilight sighed, I tutted “Like hell I can’t” and just like that, I was pulled back under “I thought you said you weren’t committed!” Rana scowled “Keep your voice down” I whispered, she nodded, albeit, reluctantly “I’m only committed to you,” I muttered “and to you alone, my little Ocean Gem” “Darn straight you are,” she folded her arms “if I find you with another Mon, imma smack you one, ya hear” “Why on god’s green earth would I do that?” I laughed, quickly covering my mouth “Good, now rest easy,” she whispered, placing her arms out either side of her “I command these waters, sweetheart, and I order them to heal you, my little Alpha” she winked as a rush of energy coursed through me “Who’s she?” I turned around; Crystal was there, eyebrows raised, not looking at all amused “Fuckberries” I swore as she surfaced, flying back toward the shoreline “Just leave her to me Sugarbear, she’ll be gone before ya know it” Rana pecked my cheek “there ain’t no Mon who’s laying so much as a finger on my beloved!” “We can hear you y’know?” Rainbow Dash laughed “Trouble with the natives?” she laughed “that part of you never changes, my little Alpha” she waved her hand in a circle, I rushed to the surface, appearing above the ocean in a sphere of water “Explain, yourself” Celestia frowned “Now” “It happened before I met you, there’s nothing you can do to stop that,” I scowled “leave me be, pony abomination” “Am I not you’re lover?” she looked at me with a look of fear “Are you?” I shrugged, diving back underwater “What’s she moaning about?” Rana spat “Pony issues” I scoffed “best leave her be; before she tries to imprison you on the moon” “She can do that?” she blinked “at least I’ll have the memories of you, Tesla” “And I you, Rana” I placed my lips on hers, she placed her hands in mine as our tongues intertwined “Where shall we go to, Sugarbear?” she giggled rather cutely “Anywhere you want, my dear lady” I bowed “I want you, right here and now, to swear your loyalty to me; and no one else” she folded her arms with a sly smirk “I hereby swear my fealty and loyalty, to you, Rana, my little Ocean Gem,” I nodded “and I also to come to aid you in your time of need, my love” “Good,” she laughed “I hereby dub you Sir Tesla of Aquarius, my dear oceanic knight” =-=-= In human form, I surfaced again, there was no one there, nothing remained but the sand, sun, sea, and our clothing, Rana surfaced beside me “They’re gone,” Ranamon huffed “now we can get some TLC time, if you catch my drift” she purred, tracing a hand around my chest as she draped the other around my neck “Pun intended?” I chuckled “Anything for you sweetheart,” she cooed, swimming with me to the shoreline, sitting beside me as the sun began to set over the horizon, turning the sky a fiery reddish orange “Ain’t it beautiful?” “Not as much as you, the one with hair as soft and free flowing as the sea and the air that surrounds its vast area” I smiled “Thank you, Sir Tesla” she giggled again, her tone as soft and melodic as harmony itself “but I must thank you for coming with me here, alone I hope” “It’s nothing” I waved a dismissive hand “not like I had better things to do” “Precisely” she smirked, pecking my cheek, leaning into me as the sun set, completely vanished over the horizon, replaced by the silvery-whitish glow of the moon and stars high above us “tell me who’s the prettiest, fairest and most beautiful out of them all” “That’d be you, your grace” I bowed quickly “And don’t you let anyone else tell ya differently!” she spoke haughtily “I’m yours as you are mine, my little Alpha” “I am yours to do with as you so please and/or wish to do,” I slowly nodded, kneeling and bowing before her “Good little Eon” she stroked my head as I turned onto my back, lying beside her “Do any better and I’ll have to reward you for it!” “Thy gratitude is enough, milady” I smiled “Oh now I’m gonna have tah reward ya!” she chortled, and so she did -==-==- I awoke the following morning to find myself staring up at the stars, being prodded “Tesla,” Luna raised an eyebrow as I stared up at her “we believe we have much to discuss, little human” “No, we don’t,” I nuzzled into Rana as her hand moved over my chest, nuzzling aback into me, pecking my cheek in her sleep “just let me go to sleep, Luna” “Not until thou tell me who she is, and what thy plan is now that thou art no longer welcome into ponyville, Sir Tesla of Aquarius” She frowned “I have a plan, but I’m going to need a little help” I bit my lip “We do not wish to help thou, human” she spat “Rana” I smiled, she blinked “her name’s Rana, she’s a close friend” “Judging by thy dreams last night, we’d say that thou art much closer than mere friends” Luna’s eyes narrowed “Ok, Ok,” I gulped audibly “I met her on another world, how she got here is beyond me, believe me, if I knew a way other than my own abilities, I’d tell you” I noticed her horn was glowing “Go on” she raised the other eyebrow “We were meant to go on a trip somewhere, but something rather dire came along and stopped us,” I sighed “And what would that be, Eon?” she gave a faint smile “We were enemies, her former masters wouldn’t hear of our relationship, let alone approve of it” I glanced toward Rana, who was mumbling in her sleep, something about protecting me, apparently “So what did thou do?” Luna rolled a hoof, as if to encourage me, her horn still glowing “Her masters found out, and they beat her within an inch of her life, or at least they would’ve if I hadn’t of defended her to the bitter end, so to speak” I smiled “they said that I could have her, they didn’t want anything to do with anyone who had love in their heart, or so they told me in a grim tone,” I went on “and so we went on the formerly postponed trip, and I think she enjoyed every bit of it as much as I did” I finished the Romeo-and-Juliet-esque tale “Thou art telling the truth, Sir Tesla, we shall see the pair of thee in the morning, Sir Tesla, Rana” she bowed as she teleported away -=-=- When the actual morning came, I bolted upright, Rana sat beside me, giggling as she pecked my cheek “Ya went out like a light after our fan last night, ya know that?” she laughed “Anything for my ocean princess,” I kissed her hand as she raised it she gently placed my back on the soft, cool sand “Hush now, quiet now, my Sugarbear “Daddy,” Snowdrop burst forth from behind me, landing beside me, thank Christ for the fact that I’d thought to put my boxers back on after last night’s activities, and Rana, her clothing “Daddy,” Rana frowned “I went to her gravestone, sang a little song and before I know it she’s on my back calling me Daddy” I gave a nervous grin “Just so long as you’re nut engaging in our little reward with ponies, I don’t care what happens” she shrugged “Celestia’s redacted your ban from Ponyville Daddy,” Snowdrop climbed atop my head as I sat upright “she’s also convinced Twilight and her friends to let you go also” she gestured behind me “That’s a rather ugly creature” Rarity gagged as I turned to face her and the others “Says the talking, miniature horsey” Rana huffed “This ‘horsey’ is about to kick your flank if you don’t quit it with the attitude!” Rainbow Dash scowled, slamming her hooves together “Let Tesla go!” “I’m Tesla’s as he is also mine, ain’t there no changing that!” Rana spat “What have you gotten yourself into?” Twilight raised an eyebrow toward me, I shrugged “Hell if I know damned if I care” I sighed “And what’s with the shells?” Rarity shuddered “trying to make a fashion statement are we?” “At least my hair’s the way other people like it” Rana rebuked, nudging me with a gentle shoulder “We so happen to like it the way it is” Twilight retorted “it’s different from others, that’s what makes it stand out more” “You manage having different mane styles, but if a sentient being that’s different comes along, you go mental, why is that?” I raised an eyebrow in return, gently stroking Rana’s hair “Well aren’t we a little specist,” Rana spat “can’t ya handle a little variety with your life girlfriend?” “I can handle plenty!” Rarity scowled “Next thing you’ll be telling me is that ya make dresses for horses” she laughed “We’re ponies, and yes, I’m an expert fashionista, Foul creature” Rarity snarled rather un-ladylike “Case in point, quadruped” she waved a dismissive hand “Besides, I’d have more fun with Tesla here than all of you can in the world!” “Yeah, Luna told us about that” Twilight shuddered “Tesla, will you come with us, with her, or stay here?” “My little Alpha can make his own choices thank you purple,” Rana scoffed “And on that note,” I exhaled sharply “if the rest of ponyville is going to be as you are now, I think I’ll stay here, with Rana” “Then we’ll stay too” Twilight sat on her haunches “You are still Princess Celestia’s knight, Tesla, and a lord, be lucky that she’s kept your titles, and your place in society” “That slug’s a princess,” Rana blinked, who’d of guessed it?” “What’d you say!?” Rainbow Dash blared “She may control that huge light in the sky, but I control all the world’s oceans and waterways,” she smirked “one simple flick of the wrist and you’ll be six feet under, horsey” “Is it magic?” Twilight blinked, her friends stared at her, as did the newly arrived Celestia, who stood behind her alongside Cadance “I heard that you’ve been having interesting dreams, Tesla” Celestia frowned “What of it,” Rana cooed, leaning into me, placing her hand on my chest “Tesla can’t help it if he’s interested in me can ya Sugarbear?” “Not at all” I smiled, turning to face the solar princess “so how do you suppose we get past this?” “Well, for a start, the citizens of ponyville are waiting for your arrival, and are curious to see Rana here,” she nodded toward the ocean princess “and I’m waiting also, for our foal” “When in the heck did that happen,” I blinked “Snowdrop, do I do anything in my sleep?” “Not that I know of daddy” she shrugged “Huh, weird,” I tilted my head, setting it upright again as she perched herself there “When did that happen?” Twilight, and everyone else present, stared at Celestia in confusion “Apparently my little Alpha got raped in his sleep” Rana scowled “So I did” I nodded, quickly getting dressed, changing to eon form “climb on” “What?” she blinked “May the lady ride a dragon?” I smiled “May I?” she glimmered, climbing onto my back “might as well see what this ‘Ponyville’ place is” “Oh you’ll love it; it’s quiet, peaceful, and friendly beyond what should be possible” Twilight gleamed “So are we, if left to our own devises” I shrugged, flying into and through the forest, Twilight, her friends, and the princesses following me, eventually winding up at Ponyville, where a large crowd had gathered, Pinkie Pie appeared from nowhere, somehow setting up one of her infamous parties within an instant “I didn’t get to throw her a ‘welcome-to-Ponyville-please-don’t-destroy-us-with-a-giant-tsunami’ party!” Pinkie Pie laughed “There’s no water around, and where there’s no water, I’ve no real power” Rana hummed “ “I could protect you, milady” I smiled, glancing back toward her “Thy assistance is noted Sir Tesla” she giggled, stroking the back of my neck with a gentle hand, which I leant into “you’re my Alpha, my eon, and my somewhat noble steed” I snorted, she laughed “Case in point” “He can by my noble steed anytime,” someone from the now-ongoing party sighed, staring at me rather dreamily “Are ya herding or somethin’?” Rana blinked, I shrugged “guess I’ll have tah get used to it then, just make sure you only treat them with less than half of what you used to give me, Ok, Sir Tesla?” “Rick,” I smiled, she blinked “my name’s Rick, Tesla’s just a nickname I made for myself”, my ocean princess” “So it is, do you have a last name?” she almost purred “Hawkins” I nodded “Well then, I guess there’s a lot of change that we’re going to have to go through, Sir Hawkins” she gave a heartfelt smile “Or is that Lord Tesla?” “Just Tesla should suffice, your majesty” I bit my lip “So it does” she smiled again, patting the back of my neck, tracing a light finger down my spine, I shuddered “Does my little Alpha like that?” she raised an eyebrow “I do” I gulped audibly “Now why act like that,” she sighed dreamily “there’s no shame in admitting your feelings for me, is there?” “Of course not your grace” I bowed quickly “Then say it” she began to lightly massage the backs of my shoulders “I love you, truly, with all my heart, Princess Rana” I smiled “And I you, my little Hawk” she clicked her neck, followed by her shoulders -=-=- As the party continued, my friends, Blackjack, Littlepip, Velvet Remedy and Chilly Pepper, with Blaze on Blackjack’s back, trotted toward me “How’d you get here anyway?” Blaze tilted her head, frowning at me, glancing toward Rana “I wished to be with my beloved, with all my watery heart,” Rana held a hand over her chest where her heart was “So, it’s the same as me then?” Blackjack and Velvet blinked, staring at each-other, blinking, then bursting into laughter “It would appear so” Celestia smiled as she stood beside me “Whilst I’m not quite ready to forgive you, brother, I suppose I can live with another being for now” Blaze rolled her eyes, grinning “so what part of her did you fall in love with first TK?” “Her personality, then her hidden beauty, and finally, her as a whole” I winked ”She has beauty,” Rarity scoffed “That’ll be the day!” “Everything has beauty, not everyone sees it” I shrugged “Renders your job as a fashionista redundant, does it not, horsey?” Rana winked toward Rarity “I can still make other ponies look like princesses compared to you!” she huffed “Looking like a princess, and being one, are two different things, pony” Rana wagged a finger dismissively “That may be true,” Rarity scorned “but that doesn’t mean I can’t try!” “Gurren lagann reference, brother?” Blaze smirked “Tempted, but I won’t, not yet anyhow” I shook my head “Do you do everything she tells you?” Twilight raised an eyebrow “I could ask you the same thing about Celestia” I turned to face her and her friends “I do it because it’s what’s right!” she stamped her hoof “And you do it to remain loyal to her, yes?” Rana tilted her head, Twilight nodded “Then we are the same, in that regard” I hummed “But Celestia’s not a tyrant” she rebuked “Neither is Rana” I frowned “Tread lightly, pony, anger either of us, and you may end up either roasted or drowned” “At least Celestia’s kind, loving and caring” Twilight huffed “So are we, when left to our own devises” I reiterated from earlier “though your behaviour warrants nothing of the sort” “Alright,” she slowly nodded “what would it take for you to be nice again?” “You get what you give,” Blaze blurted out “Bold words for a creature so small” Rarity scoffed “Bold, but true,” Rana smirked chapter XI; IlonaIt was on what the ponies called ‘Summer Sun celebration,’ that I found myself back at the beach, Rana at my side along with my friends and family as we sat on the soft, cool and somewhat refreshing sands “Why’re we here, when we could be enjoying the events taking place in Ponyville/” Littlepip blinked “This is better, you can relax, swim, do what you want, all under a blazing sun and sapphire sky with the gentle ocean waves by your side” I smiled “We could make a campfire?” Velvet Remedy gave a faint smile “In the middle of the morning,” I laughed “maybe later, my little Remedy” “And we get to spend the day with you, Sugarbear” Ranamon sat right beside me, draping an arm around my neck, placing her other hand on my chest, gently “And I you, my little Ocean Gem” I pecked her cheek “So where’s the sun?” Blaze nodded toward the thick “Allow me” I smiled, taking to the sky, raising my arms either side of me, releasing a sudden wave of energy around me, that of which gradually cleared the cloud-line, clasping my hands together, staring toward the sky, I smiled as I hovered down to the ocean’s surface, gliding toward the beach “FLCL reference, really, brother?” Blaze “Why not,” I shrugged “how else did you expect me to do it, Blaze?” “I don’t know, maybe a little less dramatic?” she laughed “Alright then Sister, maybe next time I’ll add a little of my flame to it?” I chortled “Or your sword” she smiled “Or both” Snowdrop nickered “Indeed” I nodded “I don’t mind what you do, as I’ve said before, my little Alpha” Rana smirked -=-=- As I turned to leave, in eon form, Snowdrop atop my head, Blaze atop Blackjack’s head and Rana riding upon my back I saw Crystal hovering by the beginning of the forest “Is this it then?” Crystal raised an eyebrow “are we finally at the moment where we part ways, Tesla?” “We never were,” I bit my lip “Crystal, please, i’d do anything for my friends, that includes you, and Angel also” “Then why say it?” she frowned “am I not your little Gem anymore, Rick?” “You’re my little gem, and Rana’s my little ocean gem” I flinched “What type of gem?” she smirked “You’re a ruby, she’s a sapphire” I grimaced “I’ve been your little Ruby for all this time, so what am I to do when I find her riding you like a stallion?” she grinned “Not that I mind of course, Celestia and Luna were awfully insistent on letting you go without any trouble, so what choice did I have but to agree?” “You can do what you want, Crystal, I won’t stop you,” I hovered toward Ponyville, Crystal flying alongside me, my friends quickly following us “Well, I have to agree the change in scenery is nice enough” Rana smiled “I’m pretty sure there’s a lake near the farm” Crystal raised a smug eyebrow “Maybe later,” she shrugged -=- “So what’s this movie that Hasbro thought about doing again?” Blaze laughed “It’s called ‘Rainbow Rocks’” I shuddered “basically it involves we-know-who going back to the other ‘location,’ let’s call it,” went on, rolling my eyes “and as far as I’m concerned, it’s just as bad if not worse than the original” “Why?” she blinked “It’s murphy’s law of movies that the sequel is garbage, and the third is the best of the three,” I grinned “and besides, according to Hasbro, the term ‘rock,’ as in music-wise ‘rock,’ can be defined by a simple hand gesture, how ridiculous can humans get?” “Please explain” she raised an eyebrow “Basically, there’re two sides to everything, one light, one dark, one good, the other bad, there’re both negatives and positives to everything, there isn’t a single item, being, or term that can be defined that simply” I explained “‘rock’ was made in the eighties, to my knowledge, and, as they say, nineteen-eighty-four wasn’t meant to be an instruction manual!” (I hope you’re taking notes Hasbro!) “Makes sense” Rana smiled “there’s always a deeper, more sophisticated way to everything, be it the basic elements that make up the universe, or something as complicated as love, there’re always two halves to it Sugarbear, and I think ya deserved somethin’ for that” “No need, your grace” I simpered “you do enough by merely being in my presence, milady” “Wonder if you’ll be there” Blaze hummed “you did request to be in -and were placed in-, the series, after all, Tesla” “That’d be cringe-worthy” I shuddered again “I’d ask them to have me removed from the show in the cheesiest way possible, but I’m you busy caring for you lot” “Talk about cheesiness, brother,” Blaze winked “and while you were away I passed Applejack one of those stones you have” “You did what?” I yelled “Don’t worry, I snuck out through the window before she even noticed me” she held up her paws defensively “And I suppose we should go to the farm then?” I sighed, gliding toward Sweet Apple acres, my friends quickly following me there “What happened to ya’ll, Applejack?” Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo stood in front of her brother, staring at him/her in awe “Ah’ve no idea Applejack shrugged, now with a longer mane and tail and a much slender build, with a n ample set of breasts above her crotch “Ah just woke up like this, that’s all Ah know” “What’s going on?” I flew toward the pair of farm-ponies “Mah brother’s turned into a sister!” Applejack gulped audibly “it wouldn’t happen to be one o’ yer gems would it pardner?” “I only did that to show Blueblood a change of perspective, you can blame my sister on this one” I pointed toward the quilava “But it’s your gem” she raised an unamused eyebrow “I wasn’t here when she did it, was I?” “Too busy with me,” Rana pecked my cheek as I glanced toward her “Isn’t there anyway in Equestria to solve this?” Applejack bit her lip “not that Ah don’t blame ya, Blaze” “We’ll just have to wait for it to pass through her system, if that doesn’t work, it’ll probably be melted by her stomach acids and fuse with them” “Say what now?” Scootaloo blinked “Basically, if it doesn’t come out of her other end, she’ll most likely stay like that” Blaze flinched “So ya’ll are tellin’ me that Blaze made my brother a mare, and now she might not make it back, so tah speak?” Applejack hissed “To put it briefly,” I nodded “This is not how in wanted to spend the day” Rana clambered down to the ground as I reverted to human form, “It’s no problem, Applejack,” Big Mac smiled “after all ya’ll said that you wanted him fer yerself, didn’t ya?” “Since when have I said that?” Applejack snarled “Since it appeared on yer barnyard wall” she shrugged “If you don’t want him I’ll have him, being a mare and all” Sweetie Belle clambered onto my shoulder, pecking my cheek as she sat there “Now what’d Rarity say about that?” Applejack scoffed “She doesn’t have tah know” Applebloom purred “Besides; we still owe Tesla one fer those bits he gave us last year” I was quickly dragged away by the trio of fillies into the farmhouse, once there, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo undid my lower attire, sliding said clothing down to my ankles, undoing the laces on my boots, completely removing the lot, Applebloom’s eyes glowed as her form changed, sitting me down on the bed, beginning to climb down my body, placing kisses on my neck as she leant into me, kneeling on the floor as Sweetie Belle locked the door, placing her ample breasts either side of my hardening cock, gently sliding them along the sides of my length, pressing her lips down on the neck, twirling her tongue around the head as she bobbed herself up and down “Ya’ll like this?” Applebloom winked at me as she pulled herself away, I slowly nodded, gently stroking her mane, she giggled, taking the head into her maw as Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo’s forms also changed to ones of similar dimensions, particularly around the chest area, placing their lips on either side of my dick, sucking it like a sweet, Sweetie Belle switched places with Applebloom, The farmpony then proceeded, with Scootaloo, to coil their tongues around my balls as Applebloom took my manhood to the hilt, I shuddered, gently placing my hands on her and Applebloom’s mane “What’d you like next?” Sweetie belle smiled dreamily as her two friends stared up at me,, having pulled themselves away, I shrugged “Alright then” she nickered; Scootaloo and Applebloom slammed their cleavage together around my member, Sweetie belle taking the head into her mouth, pressing her lips around it as she twirled her tongue around the tip, gagging as I filled her with seed, pulling away, letting the lasts of it trail down her chest “Mah turn, Pardner” Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo removed themselves as Applebloom sat in my lap, lifting herself up slamming her tight little cunny around my phallus, gasping as I hilted her, sliding herself along my shaft, eventually picking up speed, taking hold of my shoulders as I gripped onto her flanks, bouncing up and down on me endlessly, pressing her lips against mine Feeling myself readying for another burst, I bucked my hips in sync with hers, hilting her again as I painted her inner walls white, she almost screamed as I filled her with sticky, hot, white spunk, collapsing onto me, pecking my cheek as I stopped loading her with fluids, sitting on the edge of the bed as Scootaloo lay on her back on the bed, I rolled my eyes, prodding the head into her sex “Not there” Scootaloo grinned; I blinked, prodding it into her flankhole instead, sliding it in, she gasped as I hilted her, slowly sliding my dick in and out of her, gripping my flanks as I sped up, eventually moving as a blur, pulverising her plot, hilting her each and every time, and as I did so, she shuddered, groaning each time also “Buck…!” she moaned as I plundered her tailhole relentlessly, grunting as I fucked her what appeared to be senseless, pulling out to the head and hilting her with each thrust, gritting my teeth as I hilted her again, flooding her anal passage with my juices, quickly pulling out and slamming it into her tight little cunt, almost overflowing her cunny with spunk, continuing to pump into her until it stopped “That was incredible…” she mumbled as she rolled to one side, Sweetie Belle quickly took her place, pulling me so my cock slid into her nether’s “Do me in your other form, please/” she gave me the most adorable look I’ve ever seen, period “Just for you, my little Belle” I nodded, pulling out of her, changing to eon form, slowly sliding my now enlarged length into her glory hole (first time I’ve called it that BTW!), eventually meeting the point where it couldn’t go any further, gradually beginning to pump it in and out, slowly but surely gaining speed “Harder” she practically begged me, and so I went harder, beginning to plunder her little fuckhole “faster,” she moaned, and so I went faster also, moving as a blur, she clenched her fists on the bed sheets as her eyes rolled into the back of her head, I smiled, sliding my dick out of her cunny, and prodding her pucker with it “Yes,” she grinned rather sadistically, staring down at the area between her legs with obvious merriment/hope “Buck me,” she grabbed a hold of my cock, slamming it into her flankhole, pushing it in as far as it could go, I felt myself release a burst of energy from within as I came a fourth time, filling her rear entrance with my sperm, I quickly pulled out, sliding my manhood in and out of her sex, flooding it with my juices, collapsing on the bed beside her “Thank you, my little eon” she giggled, falling asleep beside me as Applebloom lay beside me, and Scootaloo opposite her =-=-=-= “What happened, that was so important that my dear sister couldn’t join me yesterday?” Rarity tilted her head as Twilight, her friends, minus Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, Spike and Celestia stood before me, my friends, Applebloom Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo “Ah’ll tell ya” Applejack frowned “Yer sisters a mighty big fan of Tesla’s” “And..?” Rarity blinked toward Applejack, who merely raised an eyebrow “No,” she gasped “not my little Sweetie Belle, not in a million years!” “We’re awfully sorry” Sweetie Belle sat on one shoulder, and Applebloom on the other, Scootaloo clung to my back as my friends and family, including Black Beetle, stood beside me, Snowdrop lay atop my head between my horns, as per the usual “We just wanted to show Tesla how much we appreciate what he did for us” “It was a few bits” Applejack and Rarity scorned “Money, paper and metal, simple material, love, however, is both timeless and priceless,” Blaze gagged “don’t make me say that again” “And you didn’t do anything to stop them?” Celestia raised an eyebrow “How do you someone from loving, let alone three of them?” I shrugged “That’s not what I meant” she frowned “It’s our fault, really” Applebloom hung her head in shame, as did the other crusaders, standing by my feet in what appeared to be sadness “Whilst I do believe you are coming of age, I do not think it wise to perform acts like that just yet” Rarity sighed “Just tell me, Ok Sweetie Belle?” “And Ah dun mind it much either, just say tha word and I’ll make sure granny don’t find out, Right Applebloom?” Applejack winked “Ya’ll really mean it?” Applebloom gasped, Applejack nodded alongside Rarity, she quickly clambered up my back, perching herself on my shoulder “I didn’t know they were fans” Twilight blinked “It’s only the most obvious thing in the world,” Blaze grumbled “she winked at tesla when he gave them the coins, she was the first to defend him from that other stallion, and she’s been the same since he got here, haven’t you noticed?” “She even left him those muffins at the confectionery when he gave them said coins” Pinkie Pie popped up from absolutely nowhere “Mrs Cake told me so” “Didn’t know you were good with foals?” Twilight smirked; I glanced toward Snowdrop, changing to eon form “You hear that Snowdrop, I’m not good enough for you” I laughed “The hay you aren’t,” she scowled “you’re an eon, a human, and a dragon slayer, you’re a hero; you’re MY hero, Daddy, and nothing’s going to change that, not even a god could stop the love I hold for you!” “Wait, what-?” I blinked as she turned me around so that I was hovering with my back facing the ground as she set herself just below my head, taking hold of my cheeks, pressing her lips against mine, gradually parting, setting herself back atop the crown of my skull as I righted my self “I love you Daddy” she giggled “I’m not doing it with my own daughter” I glowered “that goes against my morals” “Morals?” she blinked “My sense of right and wrong,” I rolled a clawed hand “Oh,” she blinked “I’m sorry, I just thought…” she began to cry, I quickly reverted to human form, sitting cross-legged on the ground, bringing her into my lap as she buried her head in my chest, tears cascading down her face “Snowflake, it’s going to be Ok,” I stroked her mane, draping my wings around her “if you really want it that much, then I won’t mind, but you just need to tell me beforehand, Ok, angel?” “Ok” she sniffled, pecking my cheek “my little Hero” she giggled, Scootaloo sat on my lap next to her “I’m…” Scootaloo inhaled sharply, slowly exhaling “I’m adopted…” “And your parents don’t care about you I presume?” she nodded “well then, assuming I’ve got my title and freedom about me along with my powers, risks and responsibilities, I hereby adopt you, Scootaloo” “Thank you!” she cheered, lunging at me, wrapping her arms around my neck, nuzzling into me as she perched herself on my shoulder “Hey, you’re family now; that means you look after me, and I you, the same goes for all my Nakama, Ok?” “Nakama,” she blinked “what’s that mean?” “You’re a friend who’s closer than family” Snowdrop held out a hoof, Scootaloo bumped it, albeit, reluctantly “I-I don’t know what to say…!” Scootaloo blinked as Applebloom perched herself on my other shoulder “Then it’d probably best to say nothing,” Blaze smirked “Words are inadequate, actions are what’s necessary” “Another cheesy quote, sister?” I smirked “I got it from you, of all places, wise-arse” she retorted, clambering onto Blackjacks head “Next thing you know is I’ll be acting as you do as well as speaking as you do” “Don’t you already?” I tilted my head slightly “you’re speaking in perfect English” “Actually I’m speaking in my own language,” she laughed “it’s just the eon part of your brain that’s translating it as such” “That’d imply that I was always an eon,” I blinked “And that’d mean that, by the transitive property...” I stared at Celestia, who nodded “Well doesn’t that put a wrench in the works?” Blaze chuckled “And I’m guessing we’re also going with the clichéd ‘your-mind’s-always-been-that-of-an-eon-it’s-only-the-change-that’s-reawakened-it’ option, aren’t we?” I sighed “I’m afraid so” Celestia giggled softly “Well that’s just great” Blackjack mumbled “Can we get a bit of backstory whilst we’re here?” Celestia quickly explained everything about the eons of ages past; nobody said anything whilst she spoke with a gentle, motherly voice “Tesla was the commander of the eons of old?” Littlepip stared at me “and yet he can barely manage day-to-day life” “I try to take life one day at a time, but sometimes they gang up and all attack me at once” I grinned, my rucksack teleporting into me as Celestia’s horn flared a bright primrose colour, I opened it, reaching into it and pulling out a pitch-black/deep purple and light/vivid green colour glassy orb “That’s quite the unique soul dew,” Celestia observed “where’d you get it?” “The Lunar Isles, Earth,” I smiled, holding the gem in my hands, standing upright “I’ve always thought, that since eons souls go into these hems when they die, that it’d be possible to reverse the process?” “That’s insane,” Blaze scorned “even if it were possible, they’d just die again within the few seconds in which, they were released from the stone!” “But what if it could happen?” I shrugged slightly “Can you hear me?” a faint voice echoed from the soul dew “You can talk?” I stared at the oddly coloured orb in my hands “I can, but I’m not sure for how long,” the sphere held in my hands somehow gently shook itself “please, I need you to release me” “Say what now?” I blinked as Crystal and Angel flew down toward me, hovering beside me “Just focus your energy into me, the rest should solve itself,” the soul dew commanded “I fear the version and/or form of me you meet in mere minutes won’t be the old me from ages past, farewell, commander Tesla” I focused my energy through my arms in through my hands and into the soul dew, causing it to shine with a blinding light “I’m Ilona by the way…” the voice faded, as did the light, and an eon gently landed in my arms, one with purple where there was usually red or blue, and a dark grey rather than white, her body marked with golden markings, and her ears had strings that had small hexagonal gemstones attached to the end, her forehead symbol a bright green love-heart shape, and her chest symbol that of a golden triangle with another green heart within, her tailfins ending in a bright golden-yellow “We’d best get her to a decent place to sleep” Celestia smiled, her horn flared again, teleporting us to the castle, specifically, what I assumed to be a spare bedroom “I don’t recall an eon called Ilona, perhaps it’s possible she’d either died, or was elsewhere when the war took place” she simpered as I sat on the edge of the bed, Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo sitting beside me “She looks a might bit odd, dontcha think Twi?” Applejack raised an eyebrow toward the lavender mare “I’d rather not judge somepony we don’t even know, we’ve only just met her, after all” Twilight smiled “You’re learning” Blaze stood beside me, opposite the crusaders as I draped my wings around Ilona, holding her close as she wearily opened her eyes, where anyone else would have whites around their eyes, hers were a dark olive green, and her pupils were black “Dada,” Ilona reached up to me with both arms, I smiled, resting her against my chest, her head placed upon my shoulder as she nuzzled into me, my wings still draped around her like a blanket “Dada” she smiled weakly as I used my arms as a cradle, she glanced toward Crystal who was hovering before me “Mama” she tilted her head “Oh my god…!” Crystal held her claws over her chest staring at Ilona in apparent awe “She’s beautiful, Ilona’s her name/” I nodded “she’s our little Ilo, Tesla” “Ilo,” Ilona pointed toward herself, blinking “me, Ilo?” “Yes, you are my little Ilo” I bit my lip, pecking her forehead, she let out a cute giggle as I tickled around her neck and stomach, a baby’s milk bottle appeared before me, hovering above Ilo with a cyan blue glow, I took a gentle hold of it, Ilona took hold of the end, sucking on it, feeding herself with it “I didn’t sign up for this,” I mumbled as Twilight and her friends stifled giggles and laughter “No, but we’re here regardless” Crystal pecked my forehead, and then Ilo’s, the latter of whom let out a gleeful smile “I don’t think I’ve ever seen this side of you, Tesla” Celestia raised a smug eyebrow with a sly grin “I can be hell on Equis; or an arch-angel from heaven, your choice” I smiled “Why?” Crystal blinked “I’m using myself as a social experiment, to show that people are only a problem if you make them into one” I winked “And so you have, my little wayward eon” Celestia nickered, standing beside Crystal alongside Cadance as Ilo pushed the bottle away, I placed it on the bedside table, rocking her to sleep, she went out like a light, quietly snoring away, it was cute really “You know what this calls for?” Pinkie Pie quietly cheered, somehow not managing to literally ‘wake the baby’ as it were, “A party!” still Ilona didn’t awaken “What’s with the odd earrings?” Rainbow Dash gestured toward the string that hung from Ilo’s ears “They’re a part of who she is,” I smiled and they look cute on her” “Mushy enough for you, brother,” Blaze gagged, “seriously, I can’t take much more of this” “You may want to exit the room then” I chuckled, pecking Ilona’s forehead, holding her close, my wings once again draped around her like a blanket, she did, bounding out of the room, disappearing down the corridor, quickly followed by Rainbow Dash -=-=-=-=-=- As the years passed, I got stronger, and became a better parent, as did Crystal, and Celestia and Cadance gave us quick and easy tips on how to raise a new-born as best they could, not knowing that much on how to raise an eon On the thirteenth year, I was awoken by a light prodding Sitting upright, I saw Ilona sat beside me, letting out a soft giggle, Crystal still asleep by my side “What is it Ilona?” I yawned “I just wanted to say good morning Dad” she giggled, opening the curtains, letting in a burst of sunlight her learning how to fly came as quickly as her speed when she was actually in the air “I love you, Dad” “I love you too Ilo,” I smiled, pecking her forehead “And I always will, my little Eon” “What time is it?” Crystal yawned; stretching as she awoke “Good morning honey” she pecked my cheek “Eww” Ilona gagged “Mom, don’t do that when I’m here!” “If you say so dear,” she chuckled, pecking her daughter on the forehead “We love you, Ilona” “I love you too mom, but please, don’t do any of that kissy stuff in front of me” Ilo shuddered “I won’t do anything you’re uncomfortable with” I winked “Nor will I, you’re our special eon, Ilona, nothing’s going to change that, not now, or ever” “Watch the mushiness level Crystal,” Blaze smirked, sat beside me on the bed “I might just faint “Good morning Auntie Blaze” Ilona smiled with a small wave “And to you, Ilona” Blaze nodded “Now who’s up for breakfast?” I smiled “Me!” Ilona glimmered, raising a claw into the air “Come on then” I smiled, she flew with Crystal and I as we walked from the room down to the dining hall, Blaze climbing unto my shoulder as we walked, entering the great hall “And here they come now,” Celestia smiled as Crystal and I quickly found a trio of empty seats, Ilona sitting between us “So this is Ilona, daughter of Tesla and Crystal” Luna smiled “we are pleased to meet thee, Lady Ilo” “Who’re you?” Ilona blinked “We are Princess Luna, guardian of the night, herald of dreams and nightmares alike” Luna smiled “we hath heard much about you, young Eon” “We,” Ilona tilted her head “Forgive us, Ilona,” Luna nickered “we hath gotten used to using the ‘ye olde’ way of speaking, we find it hard to change our speech patterns to the ones thou use” “How old are you?” she gave a faint smile “Two-billion years young, last we checked” Luna winked “So this Is Ilona,” Faust smiled as she sat in the seat at the end of the table “I’ve been waiting to meet you, Ilo” “How do you know me?” Ilo blinked “Word spreads like wildfire throughout equestria that our fabled eon princes has a daughter” Faust smiled “Different as you may be, you’re still royalty to us, dear Ilona” “I’m honoured” she covered her mouth as yawned “Fabled,” Blaze laughed “you speak of Tesla like he’s going to somehow change the fate of Equis!” “That’s what he managed to do before,” Celestia casually sipped her morning tea as if nothing out of the ordinary was happening “he fought against the shadows of Equis, leading an army of millions across the surface of Equis, be it on land, over the seas, or high above in the clouds, victory was all but certain,” she went on “there’s probably something in the archives that gives the vague details of the events from ages past, then again, there might not be, I cannot say for certain, but I’m sure there is” “Then that’s what we’ll do” Crystal smiled -=- As we browsed through the archives, I found a book as thick as my arm, I carefully slid it out of the shelf; it had the word eon etched into the thick, earthy-brown cover in gold leaf, dotted with tiny gemstones of all sorts, it was also wrinkled like a prune, most likely having been there for ages on end “Found something” I smiled, slowly opening the book, beginning to read as Crystal hovered by my side, reading it with me “So there used to be a pony on level with the eons,” Crystal smiled as we glided toward the main hall, Ilona lay atop my back, holding the book in place Snowdrop perched upon my head, and Blaze, my neck “I find tha hard to believe” “Starswirl the bearded, really,” Blaze guffawed as she stood upon my shoulder, Ilona sitting beside me on the steps in the main hall “what kind of name is that?” “Says the being who’s named after her ability” I chuckled as Twilight appeared alongside Spike, marching up toward me, Rainbow Dash quickly following her as did Rarity and Applejack “Starswirl the bearded is the wisest, strongest unicorn known in the recorded history of Equestria,” Twilight snapped “I’d like to see you do better!” “‘Recorded history,’” I used my claws as quotation marks “meaning there was probably someone better before that time” “Impossible,” she scoffed “Starswirl was theorizing time travel before he died, I fail to see how anypony can do better “Tesla can travel to anytime; and anywhere in reality,” Blaze shrugged “besides, there’s a type of magic back on Earthland where they practise what’s known as the ‘Arc of time’” “That can’t be true,” Twilight huffed “there’s not a being in the universe that could beat Starswirl” “Challenge accepted” I smirked “though I think it’s redundant, really” “Why?” she frowned “Well, like Blaze said, I can warp to any specific point in reality, and I have dragon slayer magic, as well as Gurren Lagann, and the Giga-drill-breaker also” “Don’t forget ‘dragon’s apparition’” Blaze smiled “And that as well” I nodded “And Alphamon” she smirked “That also,” I rolled my eyes “And ‘Dragon Force’” she laughed “You’re still not as good Starswirl” Twilight scorned “Who said I needed to be,” I shrugged “I do what I think is right, be it for my friends, family, or otherwise, some ancient corpse of a so-called ‘mage’ isn’t going to change that!” “How…” she glared at me “how dare you!?” “I dare because I exist, that’s who I am, after all” I smiled “tell me, what do you believe magic really is?” “It’s that irreplaceable moment that ya’ll spend with yer friends, and no matter what ya do, ya’ll can’t make it tha least bit awful” Applejack smiled with apparent glee “What about you, what do you see magic as?” Twilight smirked “It doesn't matter if you say the true origin of Magic is ‘Darkness,’ It doesn't matter if you say that it’s ‘Light’ either’” I smiled “Magic is alive. Its place changes over time and it grows along with us. Magic is anything you can think of. It can be felt in infinite ways... as light, as darkness, as red, or as blue and it is living freely, together alongside the Fairy Tail guild” I stifled a laugh, beginning to re-read the book I had set in my lap “That’s complicated” Ilona smiled “Indeed” Celestia stood before me, smiling “I trust you’re doing well, Tesla” “I am, and so is Ilona, aren’t you, my little eon? “I’m alright, Dad” Ilo smiled as my friends and Scootaloo trotted up behind me, Scootaloo clambered onto my other shoulder “Hello Dad,” Scootaloo gleamed, nuzzling into me “Hello my little rising comet” I pecked her on the forehead, draping my wings around both her and Ilona, Black Beetle clinging onto my back, wrapping her arms around my neck as she did so “and of course, my little changeling also, can’t forget my friends now, can we?” “But of course not,” Luna approached, standing beside Celestia, her mane now a mild blue that went down to her shoulders, here tail sharing the same colour “One mustn’t forget who they share close bonds with, especially ones as close as yours, Sir Tesla,” she winked “doth thou, likest our look?” “Why wouldn’t I, you look rather cute with your mane like that,” I smiled, she blushed, her indigo cheeks turning a mild lavender “Thou art both fabled and armed with a tongue of silver, Sir Tesla” she giggled “we love thee will all of thine heart, truly” “You don’t need to constantly call me by my little, just Tesla, or Rick, either one works” I simpered “But what of thy royalty?” she blinked “There’re only two types of people thrones are made for, gods and tyrants, I don’t want, or claim to be, either one” I raised an eyebrow, continuing to read “you’re the latter f the two, Luna, you deserve every bit of respect, love and admiration you get, I’m just a human, an eon, and a dragon slayer with a wife and kids, and a few great friends that’s all” “We have never heard such compliments before,” she blinked, staring at me “thou truly art a kind being, Tesla” “Never heard such a compliment,” I grinned “now that, I find hard to believe, you’re an amazing pony, Princess Luna, more than I think you, or anyone else, may care to realize, my little Tsuki”, I quickly placed the book by my side as she leapt at me, wrapping her arms around my neck, I hugged her back, placing one hand on her back, and stroking her mane with the other, the two of us eventually parting, pecking her cheek as she stood before me “We have to thank thee for thy heart-speak, Tesla” “Heart-speak,” I blinked, Celestia smiled “We were using magic to see if your heart was as honest as your words” Celestia smirked “That’d also mean that you’re telepathic” I grumbled “Quite so” Luna nickered “Here’s a question, what happened to the bag of bits you had?” Blaze pated the side of my head “It was returned to the treasury” Celestia raised an eyebrow toward me “And yet it has no guards, meaning that it’s magically linked…” I trailed off, staring at the twin goddesses, who merely grinned simultaneously “Damnit” “They attempt has been noted, any further attempts without first telling us will result in prosecution,” Luna slurred, changing to anthro form, sitting in my lap “and then thou will get punished, most harshly, our dear Eon” “Knowing Tesla he’ll try just for the punishment” Blaze chortled, I tilted a hand “I don’t get it?” Ilona titled her head “You will someday,” I sighed “just you wait, Ilo” “When will that day come?” she smiled “Sooner or later, we’ll see, my little Firefly” “How’s that possible, didn’t Celestia call you her little Firefly?” Blaze grinned “Not that I recall,” I slowly shook my head “must have hit your head or something, dear sister” Luna placed her lips against mine, draping her wing around me “Must you do that?” Ilona gagged “Thou will learn to live with it soon enough” she smiled “I’m not sure I will” Ilona bit her lip “I’m sure there’s a quote that could be used here” Blaze smirked “Not all that is dark, is evil, just misunderstood” I shrugged “Tesla, since our banishment, we turned as a filly, and nopony wanted to have us as thou have thy friends, but as time passed, our form returned to normal, and ponies began to fear our turning back to Nightmare Moon, and so we were an outcast, but thou do not fear us, nor do thou ridicule us, or hate us, why is that?” “I do none of those things, as I have little to no reason to” I glimmered “you’re not a monster, you’re not deserving of hate or resent that others may give you, you’re my little shooting star, Lady Luna-!” she quickly planted her lips upon mine “Will thou engage in coitus with is?” she blushed, Celestia grinned “And you’re sure there’s no other way to show your gratitude?” I blinked “Nay, we are not familiar with the concept of gift-giving” she raised an eyebrow “Really?” I gave Celestia a flat stare “I thought it to be interesting to see what it’d be like if the situation ever arose” Celestia shrugged, turning to face her sister “I do believe it’s time we spoke, in private, come on Lulu” “We shall see thee later, Sir Tesla” Luna reverted to her pony form, trotting away with Celestia, winking back toward me as she went “You lucky devil,” Shining Armour stood beside me, having apparently come from nowhere alongside Cadance “How do you get such a way with words Sir Tesla?” “I just try to be nice, I guess” I shrugged “Bullshit” Crystal chortled “you know what you’re saying and when and how you’re saying it, don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to, mister” “I’m not up to anything,” I frowned “I’m just trying to make her return back to Equestria that little bit more bearable” “Says the bee to the hornet” she folded her arms “That doesn’t even make sense!” Ilona stared at me -=- “I beg your pardon?” I stood Princess Luna’s chambers on the balcony the lunar mare once again in Anthro form “We asked thee if thou would be interested in being our royal pet” Luna smiled, her mane still as it was earlier as we sat on a pair of deck chairs set under the light of the stars and moon “Do I have to?” I mumbled “Thou don’t have to, as co-ruler of Equestria, I cannot and will not force you to do something you’re not comfortable with, Sir Tesla” she giggled, standing up, moving toward me, straddling my lap, just as a knocking came from the door as it opened, revealing Celestia, who merely raised an eyebrow “What’re you doing, Luna?” Celestia facehooved “We are making Tesla comfortable for the night, Tia” Luna placed her hands on my chest “thou are comfortable, right?” “I’m trying to figure out a way of saying that I’m not complaining without sounding awkward” I bit my lip “Thou just did” she nickered, tracing a finger around in a circle on my chest, drawing it down my stomach, poking at my crotch “how would thou like us to begin, my dear Knight?” “I ask again,” Celestia sighed, trotting toward me, standing beside us “What’re you doing, Lulu?” Luna ignored her, choosing to undo her lingerie, discarding it as she collapsed onto me, placing her hands on either side of my head, pressing her lips against my own, our tongues dancing together as I placed one hand on her rear cheek, and the other on her back, gradually parting, staring at one another “Do you mean to discard all that I’ve taught you?” Celestia frowned lightly “Not at all, Tia,” Luna gave a soft giggle “we’re technically gift-giving, as it were, she at in my lap, pecking my cheek “Thine gift to thou, Tesla, is us, use us as you will, for we are thy own from here on, for all of the rest of your days” I fainted -=-=-=- When I awoke, I bolted upright, Snowdrop immediately perched herself on my head, and Blaze and Kiary stood on either shoulder, quickly noticing I was still in Luna’s chambers “What in the fudge happened?” I mumbled as Twilight, her friends, Spike, The princesses, Ilona, Crystal and my friends “You fainted dude” Rainbow Dash laughed “Do you need any water, something to drink?” Celestia smiled “I’ll be fine” I blinked “If you say so” she simpered “Know that we’ll always be here for you, Sir Tesla” “I know,” I smiled back “Not every day you get a goddess to give you a somewhat mild striptease, eh brother?” Blaze smirked “Blaze, shut up” I groaned “Can’t appreciate quality attention when you get it, Tesla?” she grinned “I appreciate it just fine, now please, be quiet” I frowned “Alright, geez, who the hell, crapped in your cornflakes?” she held up her paws defensively “I don’t eat cereal, Blaze” I glanced toward the quilava “Pancakes then” she folded her arms with a smug grin “Fair do’s” I nodded “You’ll never guess what Ilona, our little angel, asked me last week, before you collapsed” Crystal chimed as she sat beside me on the bed, Ilona sitting in my lap “What is it you need?” I smiled, pecking Ilona on the forehead “Can you teach me magic?” Ilona flinched “You want me,” I began, somewhat startled “to teach you magic?” “If you could, I don’t mind if you can’t, Dad” she shrugged “I had a little difficulty controlling my magic when I first got it, and I was ten years older than you are now,” I hummed “are you sure you want this?” “If I have to wait, I will, I just can’t wait to use magic as I’ve seen you use, Dad” she smiled with glee “Do you know, what my magic is referred to as?” I raised an eyebrow “Fire magic?” she tilted her head, an innocent expression plastered on her face “Dragon slayer magic” I corrected her “Sounds cool enough” she smirked “Eons are dragons, in part” I deadpanned “Oh,” she blinked “now I’m not so sure, is there anywhere I can learn normal magic?” “Define ‘normal’” I laughed” Just try closing your eyes, she nodded, closing them “now try and imagine a source of energy that’s hidden within you, and try to moving it about a little “I can feel it” she exhaled sharply “Good, now try and take it in a claw” she nodded, a small ball of silver energy appeared around her claw “now keep that going, and pen your eyes” she smiled, staring down at the sphere “That’s my magic?” she gasped the ball of silvery magic flickered a little “ “Keep that feeling, Ilo” I winked “I could barely hold a flame for a few seconds, let’s see how long that sphere lasts” “I don’t know if I can” she bit her lip “Just believe, Ilo,” I smiled “believe in the idea that you can do anything, and eventually it just might become a reality” “I can do this,” she inhaled through her nose, exhaling through her mouth “I’ve got my family beside me, I can do this” the size of the silver sphere double instantly, she repeated the process, and another sphere appeared around her other hand, roughly the same size, the flames turning a bright whitish-silver colour “That there’s light magic, not flame” Applejack smiled “It’s both,” Celestia raised an eyebrow “It’s got both the softness of the light of the sun, and a slight intensity and heat of a warm flame, Our young eon’s a hybrid-based wizard” “What’s, ‘hybrid’?” Twilight blinked “It’s where a unicorn, or a spellcaster of sorts, can use two elements of magic, or two types of magic, either separately or simultaneously, they’re as rare as blaze diamonds, and seldom appear in Equestrian history, but I’ve a feeling we know one already, Twilight” Celestia smiled “Starswirl the bearded,” Twilight gasped “he was a hybrid unicorn?” “he was, but that’s not who I meant” she nodded toward me “What?” Twilight blinked “How?” “Lightning-flame dragon, remember?” Blaze laughed “There’s another we know of, isn’t that right Blaze?” I rolled my eyes, the spheres around Ilo’s hands faded “Gajeel Redfox, Iron dragon slayer, shadow iron dragon slayer, to pe precise” she nodded “damn good wizard too” “I prefer the term ‘mage,’ if you don’t mind” I shrugged “Just because we went there, doesn’t mean you should think about it any further” she mumbled “Touché” I slowly nodded “Will you tech me more, Dad, or will I get tutored by someone else?” Ilona giggled “I’ll try” I nodded “anything for my family, after all” “So who’s this Starswirl character?” Crystal blinked “A legendary unicorn whose talent magic and wizardry is as legendary as the spells he wrote” “He literally made his own magic?” Blaze whistled, Celestia nodded “that’s impressive” “Indeed it is, it’s been several centuries since we saw him last” Luna spoke quietly, and calmly “his passing was one of Equestria’s darkest hours” “And he didn’t have anyone to pass this magic onto?” Kiary raised an eyebrow “His student, Clover the Clever, was a feisty unicorn with a talent that rivalled his,” Celestia nodded again “and so a bond was formed, Starswirl created spells, and Clover learnt them, albeit, eventually, the two worked in unison most of the time, working through long days and sleepless nights, when he passed away, she was his living legacy, an heir to his long-lost, but never forgotten magic, so to speak even now, there’s a scarce amount of unicorns using that very same magic, studying its algorithms, attempting to perfect it,, but most are confused by its complexity” “So, what magic can I learn here?” Ilona smiled “That depends, what do you want to learn?” she gave a faint simper “I like the warmth of the flames I can make, but I feel myself radiated toward light magic also, so I don’t know which path I should pursue” Ilo hummed “I’m assuming I must create a near perfect balance between the two, if I am to combine them?” “That is correct,” Celestia raised an eyebrow, glancing toward Ilona, then at me “she’s wiser than her age would suggest, she takes well after her father, Tesla” “I’m two centuries old” I facepalmed “And yet you can talk and act as if you’re as old as we are” she shrugged, again “You’d make Starswirl proud, I can tell, just by looking at your magic aura, and why, when and where you use it, that you’re a great mage, my dear knight, and I know that’d you’d make a good teacher of magic, if it were another magic other than the one you gained from Crystagia” she went on “you’re an extraordinary being, Tesla, don’t let anything or anypony tell you differently” “Where’s my rucksack,” I asked after a brief period of silence, said rucksack appeared in a flash by my side; I opened it, reaching around, pulling out a staff with a light-ish-pale green orb at the end claw-like curve-pieces holding it in place “I bequeath this to you, Lady Celestia” “What is it?” Twilight stared at the staff “The staff of Magnus,” I frowned “made to dispel magic anomalies, might need a little altering” “Where did you get this?” Celestia smiled “An alternate world” I simply smiled “It’s magnificent,” she teleported it away “I’ll have to study it later, thank you for the artefact, Tesla” “I only wish that it be kept safe, if people were to find out about is true power, your- no, our home, would no longer be safe” I grimaced “Then why give it?” Luna frowned “Because I feel like I can trust you, Lady Luna and Lady Celestia” I smiled “I’m a lady now?” Celestia smirked “You’re smart and beautiful, and wise as well as caring, so there’s that” I smiled “I’m flattered” she winked, Snowdrop passed my goggles, which had a cracked lens “Now isn’t that a shame,” Crystal sighed “those were your best ones, too” “I think we can get them refitted” Celestia hovered the goggles over to her, the glow around her horn intensifying for a split second, passing them back to me afterward “That’s handy” I turned the goggled around, the now-repaired lens reflecting the sun with a blinding shine to it “It’s a simple spell” she smiled -=-0-=- The following morning, I opening my rucksack, bringing out the full set of clockwise regalia, quickly putting it on, replacing it with my normal clothes, the goggles included “Are you trying to impress somepony?” Celestia smiled as I stood on the balcony, overlooking most of Equestria, Snowdrop perched atop my head, Kiary and Blaze stood on either shoulder, my friends staring at me as I stood there with a familiar solar goddess “Who’s to say,” I shrugged lightly “I could be doing anything” “That’s dangerous” Blaze shuddered “I know” I smirked “There is, however, a problem that’s going to arise, should you walk around ponyville wearing that” she tutted you know how those mares keep staring and winking at you as you go by?” I nodded “They’re most likely going to jump your bones if you war that, brother” “That’s their lack of self-control, not mine, Blaze” I laughed “It’ll be your privates being as sore as anything though, though I doubt you’d complain” she grinned “If someone’s intoxicated in any way, I feel it demeaning to do that sort of thing, you know that, sister” I frowned “I bet twenty bits that your actions are gonna say otherwise” she beamed “Fifty,” I grumbled “Two-hundred,” she winked suggestively at me “Deal” I shook her paw “I must say that you two get on rather well, even if you are talking of rutting my subjects” Celestia raised an eyebrow “You act as if it’s no big deal” I quickly covered Blaze’s mouth “What you do with them, I cannot hinder, I can only warn, or try to help,” she sighed “do try and control yourself” “If I couldn’t do that, I wouldn’t have made the bet with Blaze” I raised both eyebrows “You forget who I am, Lady Celestia” “I have not forgotten that you are a being capable of some of the greatest achievements Equis has ever seen, probably greater than that” she nickered “Good day to you, Milady,” I bowed, turning and walking with my friends through the castle, the maids and servants who I passed in the corridor either stopped and stared or tripped over whatever it was they were carrying, turning to face me as I went about my day “It’d appear that you’re drawing quite a bit of attention to yourself, Brother” Blaze folded her arms “You owe me two-hundred bits” I chuckled “We’re not in ponyville yet, TK” she rolled her ruby eyes -=- When we got to ponyville, most, if not every single pony there, stopped what they were doing and stared at me “Teslakana, Where on Equis did you get that,” Rarity gasped as Twilight and her friends somewhat ‘jogged’ toward me “it’s simply divine!” “You’d be surprised of what I can do, if I have the right resources, Rarity” I winked “How much did that cost?” Twilight eyed me up and down “A few handfuls of gems” I shrugged “this is proper clockwise, by the way” “That’s clockwise?” Rarity stared at me “I have to go” she rushed off toward the boutique “Where’s she off to?” Kiary tilted her head “Probably off to try and recreate the set of attire that Prince Tesla’s wearing” Twilight glimmered, all eyes in the town were suddenly on me “He’s a prince?” one pony gaped “I’d never of imagined” another pony hummed “I’d heard he’d stepped down from being king, but he’ll always be our little ruler” every pony present broke into cheering “Now, you owe me, sister” I mumbled “Not yet I don’t” she wagged a paw “Why does she owe you?” Twilight blinked “I made a bet with Blaze that I’d be able to control myself whilst here in ponyville, and vice versa” I raised an eyebrow “I see” she giggled “and, who’s winning” “Tesla, by this much” Kiary made a small gap between her claws as a familiar, creamy-white pony with a magenta-ish mane and tail trotted toward me, I crouched down to her level, stroking her mane, she quickly batted my hand away, practically lunging forward, wrapping her arms around my neck, planting her lips on mine, sliding her tongue into my mouth, the two oral muscles dancing together, gradually parting “I love you” Roseluck giggled, pecking my cheek, galloping away as if nothing happened “Fine, you win, how much do I owe you again?” Blaze grumbled “Two-hundred bits, I do believe” I smirked “And where am I meant to get that amount of money from?” she frowned “Should’ve though about that before you made the bet” I sighed “ “Fine” she quickly bounded away “You bet her two-hundred bits?” Rainbow Dash blinked “She said twenty, I then replied with fifty, then she finished it with two-hundred” I shrugged “She’s lucky, why didn’t I get the chance to do that?” a mare from the crowd mumbled “Oh dear,” Kiary glimmered “Looks like you’re the at the epicentre of attention now, brother” “So it would seem” I laughed -=-=-=- Where’re we going again?” Blaze grunted from atop my shoulder “Rainbow Dash wants to see where A.K. Yearling lives because she wants to know when the next Daring Doo book’s going to be published” Twilight sighed as we walked through an unknown forest “Speaking of books, thank you for the ‘Game Of Thrones’ book, it was a rather captivating read” “Keep it”, I’ve already read all seven” I smiled “I might ask to read them later” she winked as we came across a clearing with a seemingly abandoned house in the centre “This is where she lives?” Rainbow Dash blinked “None of you find this to be borderline-stalking?” Kiary frowned “Whilst I do believe it is such, I think we should give Rainbow a chance” Rarity tilted her head “Never meet your heroes, they’ve a tendency to let you down” Blaze deadpanned “How would you know?” Rainbow Dash glared at the Quilava atop my shoulder, glancing toward me, I raised an eyebrow “oh,” she blinked “darn” “Is that her?” Twilight nodded toward a pale gold pony with a grey cloche, red framed glasses and a magenta shawl, whistling as the pony entered her house “That’s her!” Rainbow Dash darted toward the door of the house “That pony has no sense of decency, nor any patience” Crystal folded her arms, tutting as she shook her head as we followed the cyan mare into the clearing as the golden pony opened the door “And what is it you want?” the pony sneered “Rainbow Dash wants to know when the next book’s being published,” I bit my lip “And what of you?” she raised an eyebrow as she eyed me up and down “you’re obviously not of this world, who are you?” “I’m a friend on a field trip, but most call me Tesla” I chuckled “And I suppose you want to know also?” she frowned “I’ve books to read whilst you write, so I have patience aplenty, Yearling” I smiled “At least you’ve a sense of decency about you, Tesla, I shall remember that when I add you to my next book” “I’d be honoured” I bowed quickly, a sudden wind bought, knocking her glasses away also, Twilight and her friends gasped in unison “You’re Daring Doo?” Rainbow Dash gaped “What of it?” Daring Doo snapped “you’ve obviously gone to great lengths to interrupt me as I was about to continue writing my next book, the one after that of which would’ve featured our wayward princes that stands beside you, ‘Rainbow Dash’” she ground the name to spittle “Well, I think it’s about time I took my leave, Miss Doo” I nodded, turning around and walking back toward Ponyville, Kiary, Blaze and I raising our hands/paws in an ‘L’ shape, Snowdrop doing the same with her hoof to some extent, Crystal following me alongside my friends “Did I, or did I not say ‘never meet your heroes’?” I clicked my neck as we arrived in ponyville “You did, she just didn’t listen” Crystal rolled her eyes “not surprising, considering what she’s like,” she sighed “that Rainbow Dash’s going to end up in quite a bit of trouble sooner or later, and I don’t want to be there when it happens” “I know, right?” Blaze chortled “but in all seriousness, did we have to do the salute?” “I thought it’d make things interesting,” I shrugged “Says the one wearing clockwise” she raised an eyebrow “Don’t judge me” I frowned “I wasn’t, I was merely commenting on your choice of attire” she smirked “Thinking of the author we just met, the remote location shows that she wants respect for her privacy” “And thus is the reason George R.R. Martin and Stephen King never reveal their real address, to anyone, under any circumstances,” Crystal laughed -=- When Twilight and her friends returned, Rainbow Dash was gliding softly through the air, a saddened look upon her face “I knew it was a bad idea” Twilight sighed, Rainbow frowned at her “Why’d you leave?” she glanced toward me “If someone doesn’t points out that I’m intruding on their property, that’s good enough of a reason to leave” I raised an eyebrow “if she wants me to leave, then I will gladly do as she asks, even more so seeing as I’m a knight” “How so,” Crystal blinked, smirking at me with a wicked leer “A knight’s duty is to protect and serve the rulers and their subjects, is it not?” I winked “I can’t believe somepony who’s never even heard of her gets featured in her next book, and I get nothing!” Rainbow Dash growled at me “I’ve been a fan of her books for ages” “Rainbow Dash, it’s only been two years” Twilight rolled her eyes “Same thing!” her cyan friend snapped “So, just because you don’t get something you want you instantly throw a tantrum and start acting like a child, is that how this is going to play out, because I tell you now, that’s not going to get anyone anywhere” I scowled “And people tell you, of all people, to grow up, brother” Blazed grinned “I know, right?” I smiled, beginning to walk back where I came from =-= When I made it back to the author-pony’s house, I noticed her stood between the door and three other ponies “Where is it?” one of the trio snarled “we know you have the ring, Miss Yearling” he frowned “Like I’d tell you bozos anything” Daring Doo spat, before they could utter a response I rushed behind them, performing a reverse-roundhouse kick to the middle pony’s side, sending him colliding with the being on the left, Snowdrop, Blaze and Kiary stood beside Crystal and the others , having leapt/climbed/glided from me to the ground before I lunged forward “Who are you?” the pony of whom still standing glowered “Sir, Prince and Lord Rick ‘Teslakana’ Hawkins; saviour of the Twilight, herald of the light, guardian of the sacred star of the Daedra, and protector of Equestria and all her inhabitants, save you three,” I grinned as the other two clambered to their hooves “be sure to carve that into your hearts when I send you packing!” scales appeared on my arms, hands and face, and as I let out a powerhouse roar, an apparition of a large crystalline dragon appeared above me “Did I mention dragon slayer?” the three ponies took one look at me, then the apparition, quickly sprinting away with their tails between their legs, it was then that I noticed Daring Doo stood there with a wicked grin, holding a quill and notepad “I believe they shan’t bother you any longer, miss Yearling” I bowed quickly “Thank you, Sir Tesla” she bowed, eventually standing upright “I believe I shall add those lines to your character in my next book” she nickered “didn’t know you were part dragon” “Maybe that’s a little extra you may add, but that’d be your choice, as I cannot force you to do what you may not wish to do” I shrugged Suddenly a large monkey-like creature with a long head and tail with a hand on the end burst through the trees to the side of us “Why am I being told of my subordinates evident failure?” the creature boomed “Maybe if they were better at their job you wouldn’t be so disappointed, bigfoot” I scoffed “You dare challenge me, the mighty Ahuizotl?” he blared “I dare, for I exist, I think, therefore I am” I beamed “Teslakana, Fairy Tail wizard, and Defender of Crystagia “How do you spell that?” Daring Doo, tilted her head “C-R-Y-S-T-A-G-I-A” I simpered “You take notes as your friend is about to meet his certain doom?” Ahuizotl raised an eyebrow, a solid uppercut to the jaw quickly shut him up, followed by a forward flip and a heel bought down upon his skull “Suishō Hasu Gurren Hoseki Ryu Ken!” I roared, firing Gatling-like punches toward his torso, fists blazing with a whitish-golden flame, sending him flying back through the forest “You beat him!?” Daring Doo gasped “Why not?” I shrugged “‘Dragon Force’ utilizes power that’s comparable to that of an actual dragon, Ahuizotl, clearly isn’t any match for a dragon” “Send word to Celestia that I wish to have my belongings moved to Canterlot, she’ll know what to do” “It shall be done” I nodded -=-=- “So, Daring Doo, or A.K. Yearling, wishes to move to canterlot?” Celestia smiled “I think I can manage that, I’ll send a small amount of guards to have her belongings bought here as soon as possible” she nodded toward a nearby guard, who galloped from the room “You’ve done well to bring that bit of news to me, Sir Tesla” “Just doing my job” I smiled “So you are” she nickered “you are dismissed, unless you’ve something to talk about?” “Nothing at the moment, Princess” I shook my head, turning and walking from the room, wandering into the main hall, just catching sight of around twenty unicorns clad in golden armour that all of Celestia’s guards wore sprint through the entrance of the castle “How’d you do it?” Crystal laughed, Ilona draped her arms around my neck as she place her head upon my own, using me as a form of locomotion, apparently “I live, I make friends, and I act upon the words that I speak, what more do you lot want?” I rolled my eyes “What was that about?” twilight and her friends trotted into the room, walking toward me “If by ‘that’ you mean the guards taking chariots toward due northwest of here, then I can’t tell you” I winked “Why not?” she tilted her head “Because it’s not my place to say, and I’ve not been told that I’ve been authorized to tell anyone” I shrugged, again “I’m Shining Armour’s sister” she gave a flat stare “And I’m the princess’s knight” I tilted my head slightly “I’m sorry but you’ll have to ask them if you wish to gleam any information about the current events, Sparkles” “Maybe I will” she pouted somewhat cheekily, walking with her friends toward the throne room “Is she going too like what you and the author pony have done?” Crystal grinned once they were out of earshot “Probably not, Rainbow Dash will probably be herself and go ape-shit and pester her to no end, in which case I’ll be asked to file a restraining order, assuming they exist here on Equis” I laughed “Most likely” she chortled “And assuming that happens, what’d transpire afterward?” “Anything can happen at any time, Crystal;” I tilted a hand “time is beyond comprehension, even in its most basic principles “This should be amusing” she stifled laughter =-=-= As the last chariot landed by the balcony, a trio of guards worked to carry Daring Doo’s belongings to her room “It feels good to be home” Daring Doo sighed “did you know I was born, raised and taught in Canterlot, Tesla?” “Learn something new every day” I blinked “I hope you enjoy your stay, Miss Doo” I quickly bowed “Call me Daring, everyone who’s close to me does” she smirked “And who’s that?” I bit my lip “You,” she winked “there ain’t nopony else comes to mind, Sir Tesla, have you read any of my books?” “I’ve been able to read a few” I tilted a hand “And I’ve been able to add you, your lines, and your characteristics to my latest masterpiece, your majesty” “Call me Tesla, or Rick, whichever you prefer” I smiled “Ahem?” I turned around, Twilight and her friends were stood there, Rainbow Dash glaring at me as if I’d done something I was going to regret later on “May I help you?” Daring Doo raised an eyebrow “Rainbow Dash wants to know, again, when the next book’s going to be published” Twilight grumbled “I’ve already told you that it’s going to be another while yet before I complete it, I’d say another two months, at least” Daring Doo facehooved “But I can’t wait that long!” Rainbow Dash grunted “And this is why I’ve a wider range of books in my inventory, if I’m waiting for a sequel of one to be completed; I read another, one of a different series” I sighed “that way, I’m not waiting as much as I am having fun reading” “I do read other books!” she spat “Like what,” I folded my arms “and other books of the same series don’t count, disregarding J R.R. Tolkien’s books” “Hey, Twilight, can I borrow that book he gave you?” she quickly glanced toward her lavender friend “I might be able to if Tesla will allow it” Twilight shrugged “What’s the age range on your books?” I turned to face daring Doo “Foals to mid-teenager, why?” the pale-golden mare blinked “Thought so” I slowly shook my head “the ‘Game of Thrones’ series is more of an adult fiction, you wouldn’t last two pages in comparison to what I’ve read in ‘Daring Doo’ series, no offense” “None taken” Daring Doo shrugged “my work’s not the best in the world, but it’s there on the list somewhere, probably” “I’d hope so” I chuckled “wouldn’t want bad reception to a well-written book, would we?” “Because you’re in it?” she raised an eyebrow “Because I think you’re a decent author,” “I smiled “not the bets, but by no means the worst, I’d say you’re the fourth best I know” “Who’re the other three?” Twilight blinked “Chris D’ Lacey, J R.R. Tolkien, and George R.R. Martin, in reverse order” I simpered “The ‘Game of Thrones’ boobs are the best books you’ve read?” Twilight gave a flat stare “Shortly followed by ‘Lord of the Rings,’ and ‘The Last Dragon Chronicles’” I nodded “And who’s fifth?” Daring Doo smirked “Dereck Landy” I unfolded my arms “Skulduggery Pleasant is the best detective series I’ve read, period” “Of course” she sighed “books for young foals will always pale in comparison to detective books” “I said yours were better, Daring,” I raised an eyebrow “besides, I stopped interest those books as soon as I read them” “Could I read them?” Rainbow Dash prodded the tips of her hooves together, her eyes darting from side to side “If I can find them, Thor knows the infinite space my inventory has” I laughed chapter XII; complicationsAs I trekked toward the castle in the forest, my friends walking alongside Twilight and the others, Spike and Celestia included, I quickly changed to eon form, My ears rapidly twitching as Kiary and Blaze scrambled onto my back, my eyes narrowed as Blaze sniffed the air “Ok, what reeks of death?” Blaze folded her paws “You feel that too huh?” I frowned “Damn right I do,” she glowered “looks like your old man’s back, somehow” I lowered myself to the ground “Snowdrop, Kiary, stay here, I’ll be back soon” I gave a faint smile “Ok Daddy” Snowdrop giggled, climbing down to the ground alongside Kiary and Blaze, I quickly reverted to human form, and then changed from that to Alphamon “We going all out then?” she clicked her neck sand paws “Most likely” I nodded as she clambered onto my head, soaring toward the castle, bursting through the doors to the throne room, only to find “And who might you be?” the figure stood opposite me spat, he had a dark green unzipped jumper with jeans and hiking boots with a black shirt, reeking of death as a shadowy aura surrounded him “Tesla” I quickly got into a defensive position “Is that so?” he snarled “I can’t recall ever meeting you before ‘Tesla,’ perhaps you’d like to make your acquaintance?” I reverted to human form, fists blazing “Ah yes, now I remember “he eyed me up and down “the wayward son I never cared for, your mother would’ve been fine if she hadn’t of wasted her life on you Y’know” “She didn’t waste it, she sacrificed it” Blaze snarled “and what, might I ask, would you know of love, I doubt you’ve even got a heart!” she burst into flames, standing beside me suddenly enveloped in a blinding light, her form growing to at least thrice her usual size , the light suddenly shattering like glass , revealing her in all her evolved glory “You’ve changed..!” I grinned “More on that later, now we deal with him,” she growled “got any ideas?” “Blaze bomb” I glimmered “I don’t think that’ll work anymore, brother” she laughed, clicking her neck, the ‘ring’ around the back of her neck suddenly exploding into flames “We move as one then?” “As one” I nodded, we lunged forward, fists/paws blazing as we began the assault “Tai No Hoseki Ryū Hokou!” I unleashed a torrent of flames alongside my now grown-up sister, eradicating the darkness around my former parent, followed by a series of Gatling-like punches “Hoseki Ryū Ken,” we yelled in unison, both performing a forward flip and bringing our heels down on his skull “Kagizume,” we leapt back, both concentrating as rings of fire formed around or feet, creating borderline-enormous fireballs at the tips of our fingers/paws, charging forward slamming them together “and Brilliant Giga-flame!” we gleamed as the being disintegrated to ash, if that, -=-=- “So, what happened,” Twilight stared at Blaze as did everyone else who was in sight “Nothing important” Blaze and I smirked “She’s grown, how?” Rarity blinked “That’s classified” Blaze wagged a paw “Though my personality remains the same, much to Tesla’s glee, my form has been, shall we say,’ altered’?” “No heck it has!” Rainbow Dash laughed “How much stronger are you now?” Celestia smiled “At least double, Princess” Blaze raised an eyebrow, inhaling sharply, tilting her head upward; exhaling a large torrent of fire into the sky, sighing as she turned to face me “Am I your noble squire, Brother?” she grinned, now that I looked at her, she seemed to be slender than most Typhlosion’s were “What’re you staring at?” “You’re my sister, I think that’s enough” I rolled my eyes “Oh,” she stop up on her hind legs, staring at me right in the eye “and what if I were to ask for more, eh Tesla?” “That depends on what you want,” I raised an eyebrow “for instance-”she leapt at me, knocking me on my back, using her paws to pin my arms to the ground, her ruby eyes staring at me with a laser-like focus “You don’t get it, Tesla” she purred, licking the end of my nose “I want you, I don’t care if it’s right, wrong, legal or otherwise, that just makes it more fun,” I tried to move, she easily stopped me “if you so much as think of moving, and I kick your nuts into your stomach, possible or otherwise, clear?” I quickly nodded “good, now just lie there and let me do all the work, my little eon” =-=-= “I thought you said you didn’t engage in coitus with your relatives?” Twilight smirked “Technically that was my doing, not his, so I think his mental state can remain as normal” Blaze4 sighed at me with a dreamy expression “Don’t even think about it” I frowned “I wouldn’t think of anyone, and isn’t I t about time you checked on Gracy Gloom?” “Who,” Crystal simpered “A foal that we managed to save” I sighed “You saved her; I just stood on your shoulder, as I always used to do” she rebuked “You still owe me two-hundred bits” I folded my arms “I think the sex more than made up for it” she winked “Speak for yourself…” I mumbled “You enjoyed it and you know it” she beamed “Oh, shut up” I pouted “Make me” she gleamed “and I know what you’re thinking of doing, Tesla, and I can say, it’s not a bad idea” she slammed me back-first against the nearest building, standing on her hind legs, planting her lips on mine, shoving her tongue into my mouth, twirling it around mine “Once was enough” I grumbled “Once is never enough if you’re like me, Tesla” “Speaking of crude activities, has anyone ever actually calculated how long your ‘Mini-me’ is when you’re in eon form?” crystal raised an eyebrow, everyone stared at her “Probably not, but that doesn’t mean we can’t” Blaze smirked “That wasn’t a challenge, Blaze” I shook my head “Just change so we can get this over with” she patted my shoulder, I changed to eon form, she immediately used her tongue to orally assault my nether regions, my dick springing out into her maw, she quickly pulled away “I’d call that a foot long,” she grinned “you got an impressive set of meat and veg on you, Tesla” “Unintentional of course” I bit my lip as she leapt onto my back, turning me around so that I was facing upward, sliding my length into her depths “not again…” -=-=- “That’s twice; twice you’ve been used as a sex object” Crystal smirked “Bite me” I frowned again as we stood/hovered in the main hall of the castle in canterlot “Maybe I will,” she grinned “but it won’t be a bite I can assure you, my love” she winked “You can’t catch a break, can you Tesla?” Cadance nickered as a mint green unicorn with a mane and tail of the same colour with white highlights trotted toward me, gleaming from ear to ear “I’m Lyra the unicorn held out a hoof, which I shook “and I’ve something I’d like to both ask; and something I’d like to confess” “Go on” I smiled “I love you,” Lyra blurted out, flinching “I’m fascinated by humans, though mostly I was ridiculed for my beliefs, but now that you’re here, we can finally show the Ponies of Equestria what you’re like, truly!” “And your question, what is it?” I tilted my head “Will you do me?” she lowered herself to the ground, biting her lip, tears welling in her eyes “I just want to see if ponies and humans are sexually compatible “Sure, why not,” I shrugged “I mean I’m inclined to do anything at this point” “Thank you, your majesty,” she picked me up in a primrose aura of magic, carrying me through the castle, closing and locking us in one of the spare bedrooms -=-=- “Three times,” Crystal smirked as I literally dragged myself into the throne room “three fucking times” “Pun intended?” I collapsed onto the arm red carpet, Celesta teleported down to my side, changing to her anthro form, kneeling, placing my head on her lap as she turned me on my back “What cruel fate has befallen my dear knight this day?” Celestia spoke in a calming/soothing, motherly tone “Nothing I can’t handle, princess” I slowly raised a hand, gently running my fingers through her mane, placing it carefully on her cheek “what curse has befallen Equestria to have such beautiful princesses?” “What curse has befallen Equestria to hand us a knight fit for the high hall of heaven?” she raised an eyebrow, holding my hand in hers, I found her delicate touch to be rather calming, needless to say, placing it on my chest, “or is it a gift that you’re here with us, Sir Tesla, living in Equestria, treated as you should be, with me, together” she smiled “Guards, you may leave us” the guards-ponies in the room quickly trotted out, grinning at me like an idiot as they left “now,” she simpered, staring down at me, her normally lilac eyes now with a tint of scarlet in them “what can I do for you?” she began to stroke my hair with a gentle hand “What do you want to do?” I shrugged “Just relax,” she gleamed “just for once I’d like a day where I don’t have to worry about the safety of my friends, one day where all I had to do was look after you, my dear Rick” “Looks like someone’s got a fantasy” Crystal grinned, raising an eyebrow toward me “Indeed” Luna smiled “Come, I believe we have a bit of fun to be getting on with” she smiled, lifting me onto her back with her magic, draping my arms around my neck, holding my legs up with her hands, carrying me to her chambers, my vision fading to black =-=-=-=-= “Wakey, Wakey wise-ass” Blaze grinned from ear to ear as I sat upright , standing alongside my friends and family “What happened?” I blinked, letting out a yawn as I stretched “You fell asleep” Celestia sat beside me, her form unchanged “you’ve remained undisturbed for three whole days, so I asked for Luna and Cadance to take over until you awoke, Rick” she smiled “Three days huh?” I clicked my neck, followed by my shoulders, Snowdrop leapt at me “Are you Ok, Daddy?” Snowdrop gleamed “I’m fine Snowflake, don’t worry about me, it’s you that I should worry about Ok?” “Ok” she beamed As I stood in the gardens, my friends and family stood at a distance as I burst into flames tensing my muscles as a great pillar of flame enveloped me, reaching the heavens above, scales appearing on my arms, hands and face, my wings also growing additional scales as well, my horns lengthened slightly as my fangs did also, my eyes becoming slits (or so I’d later been told), “‘Dragon Force,’” Blaze whistled “looks like Tesla’s found a way to upgrade it even further” “So it would seem” Celestia smiled, the pillar of fire instantly dissipated as I turned to face her, bowing on one knee “rise” she winked, turning her attention to Crystal “quite the charmer, isn’t he?” “Tesla does that,” Crystal shrugged as I stood upright “it’s in his nature” “Pun intended?” Snowdrop laughed “Quite so” she smiled “How long d‘ya reckon this one’s going to last?” she grinned “my bets are on a week “I’d say a month, at best” Blaze raised an eyebrow “And I don’t care” Snowdrop stood atop my head, having perched herself there “even if his form and abilities may vary like the wind itself, he’ll still be my daddy, and my hero” as she finished speaking, a crown-like halo appeared above my head, and my wings flashed with a blinding light, if only for a brief moment, turning a brilliant whitish-golden colour “Ryū oki tenshi” Snowdrop and I gleamed in perfect unison -=-=- As I flew around the edges of ponyville in eon form, my friends and family either upon my back or walking alongside me, the bearers of the elements, spike included, my ears bean to twitch, pulling me toward a clearing about the size of the average bedroom, pulling me down to the ground, the pull becoming more and more forceful with each second, literally dragging me underground A torch quickly lit up on either side of my a now dimly lit corridor that looked spiral-shaped “Well this is interesting,” I whistled, the ground above me fading from view, allowing the light of the sun and the air from above to come pouring in “How long has this been here?” Spike climbed down, quickly followed by the others “By my guestimate, ages” I rolled my eyes, leading a makeshift expedition into the darkness below, torches lighting up and fading as we went by “Or eons even!” Crystal laughed; I raised an eyebrow as we came across a thick, heavy intricately carved doorway “And how do we get this open?” as soon as I said ‘open’ the door slid open, sliding into the ceiling, revealing an enormous chamber, one with butter-yellow stones that shone with the radiance of a star, the walls and floors had symbols that formed letters and worse alongside depictions, not unlike those on the caverns on the Lunar isles “So you have, at last, arrived, Sir Tesla” a pony at the opposite edge of the cavern, she had a black/indigo coat, and a long mane and tail that, like Celestia’s, Luna’s and Nyx’s blew softly in an invisible breeze, that of which had what looked like galaxies slowly spinning inn them, her eyes were a brilliant yellowy-golden colour, her smile was as warm as a summer’s breeze “Who are you?” I frowned, my friends and family leaping safely to the ground, quickly reverting to human form “I’m Lulania, or as you’d recall, Shannon Perry” the mare giggled as the princesses teleported beside me “Hello, Rick” “Prove it” I folded my arms, she raised an eyebrow “You used to wait for me in the reception are of the college we went to, remember?” she smiled “and that we used to announce our love in front of basically anyone who’d listen; is that enough, my love?” everyone stared at me “Yeah I’d say that does it” I laughed “ “She, Lulania, creator of all that exists, is your ex-marefriend?” Celestia raised both eyebrows “She what,” I felt pale, glancing toward Celestia, then back toward Lulania, who winked “I am the creator of the universe; some might say that I am god,” Lulania giggled “I created all that exists, and I shall crate all that will exist in the future, no matter how near or far and will continue to do so for the rest of my days” she smiled “But that would mean…” I stammered, her form changed to that of a woman in her late teens, with dark brown hair that went down between her waist and her shoulders, pale blue eyes, a black shirt, a bright pink jacket, a pair of jeans and black shoes with a ring on the appropriate finger “I’ll be damned” “‘Everything you do, you do it for her’,” Blaze whistled “did you not say that once, brother?” “That I did” I slowly nodded “but I only met you not even two centuries ago, how can you be the creator of humans?” “Because I created your old self, the one who led the eons across Equis, and I am that of which merged it with that of who you are today” Lulania gleamed “I wished to see how you’d cope with a new form with no memory of your past,” I frowned, she sighed “believe me Tesla, what I felt was real, as was what you felt, our love burned with passion, but was cut short by we-know-who” she flashed her eyebrows at me “I see that my great-grand-aunt still lives then?” Cadance smirked “You’re what!?” Blaze and I gaped “She’s our grandmother” Luna smiled “did Faust not tell you?” “Nope” Blackjack pursed her lips “So this is her, is it?” Velvet and Littlepip stood either side of me beside Blackjack “Not bad, you got good taste TK” Blackjack laughed “But that would mean that…” I trailed off “Time travels faster here than it does on earth, and besides, I travelled back in time, had Faust, and then travelled back,” Lulania shrugged “and then she had Celestia, Luna, and, by the transitive property, the being you call ‘Nyx’” “Well there go my morals” I rolled my eyes, turning and marching out of the room, my friends and family following me out of the cavern, up the staircase, and into the forest, when the town was out of eye-and-earshot, I let out a deafening fusion of both a scream and a roar, scales rapidly emerging on my hands, arms and face, my canines extending slightly, a great pillar of blood-red flames encompassing me, my vision fading to black =-=-=-= As my vision blurred, I found myself lying on the ground, the sun’s rays beaming down upon me Sitting upright, I saw my friends and family sat round me, all with worried looks plastered upon their muzzles “What happened?” I mumbled, slowly shaking my head “You went AWOL,” Blaze shuddered “you went on a complete rampage, if it weren’t for our combined strength; you’d be halfway across Equis by now,” she sighed “I’ve never seen you that angry, brother, I can only imagine a glimmer of what you’re feeling right now “Where are we?” I fell back on the ground “I don’t know, you didn’t stop, so we had to physically knock you out” she shrugged, I steadily got to my feet “And the others?” I bit my lip “They ran as soon as they saw you, I don’t think you’re going to be welcome in Ponyville for a while now Brother” “Alright, where did I go, east, north, west, or south?” “East” Snowdrop perched herself on my head as Kiary landed on my shoulder “Then we go southwest to get to Nyx” I declared, wandering in the direction I hoped would land me back with Nyx, my friends and family following me as I went -=-=-=-=- After a day’s trek through the forests and plains of Equestria, I found myself entering the castle in the forest “Hello Tesla” Nyx smiled as I marched into the throne room “Greetings’ your grace” I bowed quickly “I must say I’m both flattered by your manners; and impressed by the magic you expelled over the last week” she nickered “Heard that did you?” I avoided her gaze “Hard not to, my dear Knight,” she smiled “best use that power for good from now on then, Rick,” I gave her and odd look “Crystal visited me whilst you were tearing the country apart, quite the name, Rick Hawkins” “Thank you, I think” I tilted my head slightly “Save your thanks for later, because of you, barely over a third of the Everfree forest exists” she raised an eyebrow “what’ll you do now, Human?” “What can I do?” I sighed “You may live here with me for as long as you like, I will not stop you from your rest, my little eon” she hummed “although I must commend you on returning to me, for I fear that Ponyville would not yet be ready to accept you back within their borders, not yet anyhow” “I understand their fear of me, for my new power isn’t without risk, milady” I exhaled sharply “So be it…” -=-=-=- A month passed, and I’d like to think that Nyx and I became somewhat closer in that time “Shall you be leaving now, my knight?” Nyx smiled “I’ll be back, most likely sooner than we think” I chuckled “Farewell, Rick” she bowed as we left the castle, raising a hand, finger and thumb in an ‘L’ shape as I walked through the forest “She wasn’t joking when she said a third” I blinked, the rest of the forest that I’d yet to walk through was reduced to ash , burnt and mangled branches, and the rotting leaves that’d yet to fade to dust “You went overkill, what more do you want?” Blaze shrugged as we progressed through the charred forest As we approached ponyville, barely anyone looked up to so much as glance at me, only shudder as they went passed, or merely nod toward me “I wonder how Twilight’s doing” I shook my head “She’s been quiet, hasn’t come out of the library, not since the incident last month” Roseluck trotted toward me, alone “how’re you doing, Hon?” “I’ll live” I tilted a hand “What about the others?” “They haven’t been around that much either” she sighed “Rarity keeps overly obsessing herself with her work, more so than usual,” Applejack’s been downright livid, Rainbow Dash barely visits anymore, Fluttershy’s in the hospital after having a heart attack, and Pinkie Pie tried to kill herself, so that’s basically the events of the past month” “And the princesses?” I flinched “Cadance’s horrified, and Luna and Celestia daren’t say a word, or so I’ve heard, and Faust’s been rather sombre also” she shrugged “No matter what you may think, you’re not to blame for this, Lord Tesla, you were but a pawn in fate’s hands in the chess game of the gods, so to speak” “Thank you, Roseluck, good day to you” I bowed quickly, walking with my friends and family to the library, finding my rucksack outside Reaching into my inventory, I quickly found the ‘Game of thrones’ book series, stacking them into a pile on the doorstep, closing the rucksack, slinging it over my shoulders, knocking in the door, and then walking away “You just left them there?” Blaze glanced toward me as we walked “She read the first one, so she might as well read the set” I mumbled “ “And now that they’re more or less scared shitless about you, what’ll you do?” she raised an eyebrow “I’ve no idea” I muttered “I never wanted to harm anyone, I was just angry about being lied to like that” “So angry that you destroyed two thirds of the forest?” she quickly covered her mouth, nobody appeared to pay attention to her words other than me “you’re a strange one Tesla, Y’know that?” “I don’t care, I just want…” I trailed off “I just want...” I stammered “I just want it to be how it was when I came here…!” I clenched my fists “Tesla?” I turned around Twilight was stood there, her purple eyes now bloodshot as Spike stood beside her, gulping audibly as he stared at me “Leave me be, before I break something else” I grumbled “I’m not here for that” she sniffled “I understand your anger, I can feel your pain, but I can only imagine a glimmer of it, Applejacks declared her love for you as soon as you left, Fluttershy fell to pieces, and Pinkie Pie went, well, insane, that’s as best as I can describe it” “What of Rarity?” Blaze glanced between me and Twilight “She’s totally lost it, and I mean gone completely off the deep end” Spike shuddered “And Rainbow Dash?” Blackjack raised her eyebrows “Barely visits anymore because she’s afraid that you’ll kill her” Twilight stared right at me in the eyes “This is because of me” I collapsed to my knees “if I hadn’t of discovered that cavern, if I hadn’t found Lulania-” “Nopony could’ve prevented what happened, Tesla” Twilight stated rather boldly “you’re the Twilight dragon, the Hakumei No Ryu no Kishi, remember?” she placed a gentle hoof against my leg “you’re our knight lord and saviour, cliché as it might be, it’s a fact of life, wherever danger may arise, the Lunar dragon will be there to defeat it, right Tesla?” I changed to eon form, my friends and family quickly leaping onto my back, I nodded “Wherever there is evil I shall be there to knock it down” I gave a faint smile “I believe the term is ‘I will be there to smack it down,’ brother” Blaze laughed “Same difference” I shrugged “So it is” she rolled her eyes “what’ll you do now?” “That depends on what can be done, and what needs to be done” I frowned -=-=-=-=- It took a lot of work, but Pinkie Pie eventually cheered up and was allowed from the hospital, although her beaming smile wasn’t as bright as it had been, and I doubted that it ever would be again “Can you check on Fluttershy for me, I’ve a cyan Pegasus to handle” I glanced toward the pink mare, who nodded thoroughly “No problem-o Ricky!” she almost cheered, bounding in gaits toward the hospital “Now, about Rainbow Dash” Littlepip sighed “where do we start?” “Canterlot” I simply smirked “We’re visiting the princesses?” she blinked “Daring Doo” I corrected her, gliding to the mountain city, my friends and family all aboard my back, Blackjack flying alongside me Knocking on the door of the author-pony, I was met with a soft smile from the pale golden mare “Is there something I can do for you, milord?” Daring Doo bowed “Do you have it?” I winked “The books,” she titled her head, I nodded “I do, but they’re the first copies, but I’m sure I can make an exception for you, Rick” she handed them to me “Thank you” I smiled, pecking her cheek, her face immediately flushed a deep crimson as I glided out through the entrance of the castle, and toward the library, knocking on the door to said library “Hello” Twilight opened the door only slightly, poking her head through, I could smell the raw fear that leaked through the gap between the door and the frame “what do you need?” I handed her the books “You’ll know who to give these to” I smiled, she nodded, closing the door behind her as she took the books into the library, followed by a muffled conversation behind the door to the literal treehouse, I turned and flew away, gliding somewhat aimlessly toward the forest Once there my ears began to pull me toward a certain cave When I was at the innermost section of the cave, the tree of harmony, or so I’d learnt it to be called, shone with an almost blinding light it’s form and/or shape rapidly changing to one of a four legged form, like that of a pony As the light faded, I saw a tall, pony, or what looked like an oddly-shaped unicorn with a swan-like neck, one with cloven hooves, a pure, snow-white coat with sapphire eyes and a lilac mane and tail with Twilight’s crown, only with six gemstones, one an eight-pointed star, connected at the top, and another five along the frame each a different colour/type, with what looked like bright pink daisies in her mane and tail, the mane of which was styled in a type of bun, her horn tipped like a tuning fork, the shorter point sticking up behind the longer one, her cutie mark was a six-pointed star-shaped flame with white on the inside, and a lilac-y-pinkish colour along the edges, her mane also had the small pinkish beads I’d also seen on the tree hanging from it’s mane I immediately bowed on one knee, having reverted to human form, by friends and family stood beside me, Kiary stood upon my shoulder, and Snowdrop perched upon my head “Hello, little ones” the being spoke in a beyond-motherly/angelic tone, smiling at me “you may rise, I am not your ruler, I am merely harmony, and as such, I have taken note of your acts this past year, Element of Nature” her horn flared, releasing a wave of bright white energy that rushed over me and out through the mouth of the cave “I have now returned all as it was before your little outburst, Human” she smiled “I am to accompany you, Nature, for you have displayed act of chaos, that of which needs to be observed by its characteristics and audacity, so to speak” she went on “now, shall we take our leave, Nature?” “We shall, milady” I bowed quickly, standing upright, walking with my friends and family alongside the being of Harmony out of the cave, and out of the forest “We felt a huge tremor from the Everfree forest-!” Twilight galloped toward me, her friends reluctantly following her “who on Equis is she?” “It is of no surprise that you do not recognize me, Element of Magic” the newly transformed tree of harmony smiled “You’re…!” she gasped “I am the unison of harmony, the combined power, speed and magic of your elements put into a single being” Harmony slowly nodded “What’d ya’ll do this time pardner?” Applejack simpered “Nature has done nothing, the rumbling and the forest returning to its once wondrous state is my own doing and mine alone” Harmony winked at me “I, Harmony, have reversed the chaos caused by nature, as it is in my nature,” she giggled “pun not intended” “How did you change into that form?” Twilight eyed harmony from horn-to-hoof-tip “Magic, isn’t that your element, Twilight Sparkle?” she tilted her head slightly “go on, tell your princesses that I have arrived, we have much to discuss, little one” Within the blink of an eye, the princesses, Faust included, stood before me, stationed between Twilight, harmony and I “It would seem as though you‘ve done the irreversible, little eon” Celestia raised an eyebrow “So it would” I bit my lip “I don’t believe we’ve met,” Harmony smiled, holding out a hoof “I’m Harmony, you majesty” “You needn’t call us by our title” Celestia smiled, faintly, “Just call me Celestia, Harmony” “And who might you be?” Harmony glanced toward Cadance “I’m Princess; Mi amore Cadenza” Cadance held out a hoof, Harmony shook it, somehow, a loud/deafening roar rand through my ears from behind me Turning around I saw a massive, mild purple bear with sabre-like fangs and a twelve pointed star upon its head that shone like the sun “It’s an Ursa Major!” Twilight gasped “from what I’ve read even an alicorn would have problems defeating one” “How will you fight it, Nature?” Harmony turned with me to face the monster, glancing toward me “You expect me to fight, after all that’s happened to me and my friends as of late?” I spat “and people dared to call me thick” “Then how do you expect to be rid of it?” she raised an eyebrow “Fine, but I expect you to let me know if I go overkill” I frowned “I shall aid you in this fight” Ember appeared, fading into view beside me, fusing with me in spirit unity “Modo Raien Ryū” Blaze observed with a calm expression “Not that I’ll need to use it” I shrugged, Snowdrop and Kiary glided to the ground as I raised my arm above me, the energy I had stored within it morphing it into a large drill with a sudden flash of light, as I concentrated further, the drill increased in size fivefold “Giga…” I used my flame-based magic as a means of propulsion to launch myself at the bear, the drill and I spinning as one “Drill…” my speed doubled with each second I flew at the monster-sized creature I bought forth a clenched paw which was broken through with ease “break!” I burst through the bear’s chest area with a thundering explosion, landing on the ground behind it after a triple-forward-flip, the drill reverting to its normal size, my arm also reverting to normal, the bear shattering like a massive glass window, it’s shards disintegrating as they fell “How in the bucking hell did you do that!?” Rainbow Dash blared, quickly covering her mouth with a rapidly-placed hoof “I simply converted my magic energy to spiral energy, then used that to amplify the drill’s size and power” I shrugged “So you did,” Harmony nickered “a rather interesting way to take down such a large creature” “And now I feel light headed” I mumbled, shaking my head, staggering a bit as A familiar draconequus popped into view before me “What do you want, Discord?” I sighed “I’m just here to say hello to my polar opposite” The no doubt self-acclaimed ‘lord of Chaos’ held up his hands defensively “Discount John De Lancie” Blaze face-pawed “Indeed” I smirked “Beg pardon?” He raised an eyebrow “It’s a joke, nothing special” I shrugged, Snowdrop and Kiary perching themselves back on my head and shoulder respectively “Then you won’t mind telling me?” he folded his arms “And possibly end the universe here-and-now?” I laughed “don’t think so, chimera” “Where’s the fun in not trying?” he shrugged “Because I actually give a shred of a damn about someone other than myself” I scowled “Touché, eon, touché” he slowly nodded as Ember appeared above me in her usual ghostly form “That was amazing, how’d you do it!?” Ilona clung onto my, wrapping her arms around my neck “A bit of spiral and magic energy melded into one” I smiled “I could feel the explosion from the wave of magic that gave you those mechanical limbs, human” Discord smirked “quite the charmer, aren’t we” “If you’re trying to annoy me it’s not exactly working,” I spat “I beat your sorry ass once, I can just as easily do it again” “I’d like to see you-!” I quickly lunged at him, knocking him on his back, Dawnbreaker held against his neck “If you’re going to boast, I’m the wrong person to do it to, scum” I snarled “Noted” he audibly gulped, I huffed, sheathing the Daedric blade, standing upright as he hovered back above the ground “but you do realize I’m Faust’s honorary son?” “What?” I snapped, glowering at him “I’m Faust’s honorary next of kin, only with chaos rather than life itself” he gave a smug grin “she didn’t tell you?” “Then that’d mean…!” Twilight glanced toward Celestia” “We are his sisters also,” Celestia sighed “although we don’t see it as that, at least, I didn’t” “Not even going to ask” I held up my hands, as if to block an oncoming insult, or attack “Then that’d make you…” Littlepip glanced between me and the ‘lord of Chaos’ “I would rather die than be related to such trash” I scoffed, turning around as I heard footsteps, the figure walking toward us was an alabaster alicorn -no taller or shorter than Cadance-, with a navy mane and tail with a black crown and necklace akin to that of Celestia’s “oh no way!” “Is there something wrong, father?” the alicorn, now obviously a female tilted her head, it took all I had in me to keep myself from screaming “Nothing much” I bit my lip, walking with my friends and family toward the castle in the Everfree changing to eon form, gliding on as they leapt upon my back =-=-= As I arrived at the castle, flying into the throne room, Nyx gazed at me with a worried expression “Are you well, my dear Knight?” Nyx gave a faint smile “I’m as good as I’ll get, for now” I hummed “Perhaps I can make it better?” she winked, pecking my cheek “Maybe, but I’d rather be with you than they, for the moment” my honorary passengers landed safely on the ground, Snowdrop remaining on my head as I reverted to human form, draping my arms around her as she did me her wings “How may I assist you, my love?” she purred “Live” I chuckled “Everything I do, I do it for you, Rick” she smiled “Likewise, Princess” I quickly bowed “Please, call me by the name you gave me, my dear Knight” she nickered “By your word, Nyx” I nodded “What of Celestia and the others, grown tired of them have we?” she gave a playful, and somewhat suggestive, smirk, winking “I care not for royalty, save three” I rolled my eyes “you, my dear Nyx, Luna, and Faust” “You’ve no idea how much it warms me to hear you say that” she glimmered “Just say the word, and it shall be done” I bowed “You’re quite the charmer aren’t you,” she planted her lips on mine “I may have to give you a gift for your admirable loyalty, Rick” “Thy gratitude is far more than satisfactory, milady” I smiled =-=-= The next day, next week, after much super-happy-fun-time with Nyx, I staggered toward ponyville, managing to stumble across the town before the sun even rose, my friends and family wearily following me, Snowdrop and Kiary in their usual places “What’s going on?” I found Twilight and her friends, minus Pinkie Pie, stood/hovering outside the aptly named ‘Sugarcube corner,’ or so I’d been told “Pinkie Pie’s not been seen since two days ago” Twilight yawned “Are we sure we need to do it this early, Celestia hasn’t even raised the sun yet!” Rainbow Dash grumbled “She doesn’t need to, you were all with me when she was by my side and the sun raised itself, right?” I shrugged “What’s your point?” she glared at me “Don’t fuck around with gravity” I rolled my eyes as Twilight knocked on the door, which immediately swung open, revealing the pink earth pony mare in all her hyperactive glory, quickly pulling us inside “What is all this?” Twilight glanced about the room, which was filled with piles of variously coloured stones “I need help taste testing these rock-candies for when my sister comes to ponyville today!” Pinkie Pie chirped “It looks almost literal, the candy I mean” Blaze laughed “It is” she giggled, I picked one from the nearest pile using ‘Purple Flare,’ breaking it in half with my teeth, crunching it to dust, then swallowing it “Not bad” I nodded, finishing the fruit-flavoured pebble “You can eat those?” Rainbow Dash blinked “I can eat any type of gemstone you can think of, Rainbow,” I smiled “be it ranging from sapphire to onyx, or ruby to diamond, I can bite through it like Spike can, if not easier” “And you’re sure you shouldn’t be picking her up from the station?” Twilight turned her attention to Pinkie Pie, who was stuffing herself with the multi-coloured rocks “I will, I just need to make a few of these into necklaces!” the fuchsia haired pony cheered -=- As we stood near the lake by/on/around a red-and-white checkered blanket, with Twilight opening the basket “So where’ve you been for the past week Tesla?” Rarity asked, glancing toward me with a comically large magenta hat covered in crystal-clear gemstones “Out” I lay on my side in eon form, my family and friends lying around me, noticing a few of the crystals from her hat had fallen into the basket, picking one up and biting into it, devouring it my eyes slowly moving from side to side “it’s got the transparency of a rock crystal, but the quality of feldspar, and the taste of an emerald” I quickly hummed “strange” “It was a diamond,” she deadpanned “and I thank you for eating it before I could re-use it, Tesla” she sighed as pinkie Pie trotted over the hill toward us “She’s coming now, I told gummy to stay with her in case she got lost” Pinkie Pie leapt from hoof-to-hoof, everyone apart from my friends, family and I stared toward the hill she’d bounded from “She’s not as fast as I am though” she giggled “Few people are, unless you count Arrancar” I chuckled “they can travel at the speed of sound itself, wherever and whenever they wish to do so, merely by thinking about it” I clicked my neck, placing my head on the cool, soft grass, my gaze turned toward the somewhat distant mild grey figure slowly making its way toward us, eventually stopping, within mere inches of us, stopping to stare at a pebble, sniffing it curiously “Sedimentary, the pony, a mare with a grey coat and a darkish/pale lavender/purple mane and tail hummed “A geologist then,” I raised an eyebrow “Indeed” she gave a faint smile “are you interested in earth sciences, strange creature?” “Somewhat,” I shrugged “And your chest item, it is gemstone?” she stared at my chest symbol, as if her gaze was transfixed to it “Pure, clean and simple, straight from Crystagia” I nodded “Interesting,” she raised an eyebrow “I’m Maud and you are?” she walked up to me, holding out a hoof, which I gladly shook “Tesla, or Rick, depending on your choice” I smiled “Have you studied any of Florence Bascomare’s works?” she tilted her head “Never heard of them” I shrugged, “I do know various gemstones and their different characteristics, however,” “Quite,” she gave another faint smile “would you be interested in joining me later?” she winked “I hear the fields to the south of here are littered with gems” “The only gems there’re the ones guarded by the Filthy Diamond Dog, the ruffians” Rarity scorned “Not that they’d want to, Meanwhile Tesla was going AWOL, well, let’s just say they won’t be bothering anyone anymore,” Blaze laughed “he heated the earth around their little underground home to the point where it practically melted, they came up to see what was wrong, saw Tesla, then ran as fast as they could, those who chose to fight were turned to all but the faintest remains of ash” “You can control fire?” Maud blinked; I nodded, setting my claws aflame “it seems that you are not without surprises, Rick, what else can you do?” “Where does the list start?” Blaze prodded my neck with a smug grin “You can talk?” she blinked again “you have some interesting friends, Rick” “She’s my sister,” I grinned “How so,” Maud “My original family was killed by poachers, it wasn’t a pleasant sight” Blaze hummed “but then Tesla took me in and cared for me, much like an older brother would!” “Shouldn’t that be a ‘loving father,’ rather than ‘older brother’?” she gave me a rather perplexed look “Blaze has too much pride in her to allow such a thing to be possible, right, dear sister?” I beamed “Too right!” Blaze chortled “And you’re named blaze, why, exactly?” she raised the other eyebrow, the ring around the back of Blaze’s neck lit with a bright crimson flame “I see, a fire based animal, interesting, what else can you do, Rick?” everyone stared at me, I quickly reverted to human form, Snowdrop and Kiary taking their usual places upon my head and shoulder respectively “Where does the list start?” I smiled “What are you?” she eyed me up and down “A human, an eon, and a dragon slayer” I shrugged “there isn’t that much else to say, really” “Interesting” she slowly nodded “and you can use magic, I assume, Rick?” “That I can,” I conjured a flame in either hand “Fire,” she blinked “Sort of,” I tilted a flaming hand “it’s more a crystalline fire than a normal flame, technically speaking” “How can you have crystalline fire?” Rainbow Dash frowned “You’d have to ask Crystagia” I smirked “You mean the legendary Crystal dragon?” Maud blinked “you know her?” “She’s both my magic tutor, and my foster parent” I gave a weak smile “she’s incredible” “That she is, I saw her flying overhead on her way here, I assume that was to meet you?” she smiled “That it was,” I nodded, again “I’ve only ever heard of her in the legends our parents used to tell us as foals, myths and fairy-tales of a mystic crystal dragon, capable of bringing Equis to its knees,” she stared at me, beaming “you truly are an interesting being, Rick, am I to assume that you’re from another world?” “I am,” I bowed quickly, turning my attention to Pinkie Pie “they used to teach you about Crystagia, Pinkie?” “I never really paid attention to it,” the pink mare shrugged with a grin “I mean, what kind of dragon would your mom be if she were a mass murderer?” she giggled “Quite” Snowdrop simpered “Crystagia’s not a murderer nor a thief or a villain in general, she’s on our side, right, Daddy?” “Right” I smiled as a great the earth rumbled, I glanced behind me Crystagia was arced around me, smiling down at me “Hey mom” I gleamed “Hello, my son” Crystagia cooed “I hear you’ve been somewhat chaotic, as of late, would you mind explaining that?” I quickly explained the events of the past two months, without telling anything personal “So,” she raised an eyebrow “you found the hall of the ancients then?” “That’s what it’s called?” I tilted my head ever-so slightly “it reminds me of the cavern on the lunar isles” “Let’s not get started on the ‘familiar’ status you received” Blaze smirked “Familiar, you mean like a summoning spell?” Twilight’s expression quickly turned from one of confusion to a wicked grin “I somehow got warped with Blaze to another world, can we drop it now?” I frowned “besides of which, it hasn’t a thing to do with the current conversation” “You didn’t seem to mind back then, so why now?” my sister gave a smug grin “Because my fire magic doesn’t affect an actual salamander, s I couldn’t really do much, and I wasn’t going to risk hurting it anyway” “You apparently didn’t care about what happened afterwards” she shrugged with a wicked leer “I could hear you down the hallway “With a Salamander,” Twilight shuddered “Really?” “No, the lizard was just someone else’s familiar, one of which was strong enough to carry me down the hallway whilst walking on its hind legs alone” I grumbled “Damn things fast” “Didn’t she give you something afterwards, an egg, was it not?” Blaze tilted her head “You’ve no idea how many jokes I could make out of that one line” I smirked “He actually admitted it!” Blaze chortled “in fact, I saw you carried all the way to the third floor, to a certain mage’s room; I do believe she asked you to, ‘light her fire,’ was it?” “She uses fire in a similar way I do, that’s all” I scoffed, taking my rucksack from my shoulders, reaching around inside it, bringing out a large crimson/blood red egg with golden zigzag patterns running along its surface, placing it in my lap, both hands blazing as I placed them on its sides, draping my wings around it “That’s no egg that I’ve ever seen” Blaze and Twilight spoke in almost-perfect unison “The egg of a salamander is quite different from that of a dragon” Crystagia explained “for instance, noticed how it’s slightly bigger, and yet an adult salamander will grow to about twelve feet, and will learn how to use its flame-based attacks as a child, be careful Tesla, this might be your greatest challenge yet” the egg started to crack “Here it comes!” Rainbow Dash stood before me alongside the others as the egg burst open with a flash of crimson flame, revealing a lizard-like creature with stocky horn-like appendages on the sides and angles of its head, its light jade eyes like slits, it’s scales a pale scarlet colour, and it’s underside was a bright golden colour, the flame on the tip of its tail burned with a bright glimmer as it stared up at me, curled up in my lap, it measured to around a foot long from snout to the flame on the tail-tip “Isn’t he cute” I smiled “You’re seriously, seriously, warped, brother” Blaze laughed softly “Although it is a little adorable, for a lizard” “Salamander” I corrected her “Same thing” she shrugged, the salamander in my lap gave a little cough, followed by a fireball sprouting from its mouth, which quickly faded “He needs a name, now that he’s trying to find his hidden flame” the dragon behind me smiled “Scarlet” I smiled, gently stroking the lizards head, Scarlet gave a light purr Blaze raised an eyebrow “didn’t Kirche name hers Flame?” “I thought it fitting” I smiled, glancing down toward my new friend “do you like the name, Scarlet?” Scarlet nodded, softly nuzzling into me, licking my hand as I scratched underneath her chin, her tongue was course, like sandpaper, and almost serpentine, I smiled “I don’t think I’ve ever seen an actual salamander,” Twilight held out a nervous hoof toward Scarlet, who sniffed it, then nuzzled it quickly, clambering up my chest and hanging on my empty shoulder, nuzzling into me again as Twilight magicked a quill and paper out of nowhere, writing something down, and then teleporting it elsewhere “I wonder how the princess will react to having such an interesting creature allied with another” Maud hummed -=-=- When we made it to canterlot, entering the throne room, having been allowed entry beforehand, I took notice of the newer alicorn from last week stood beside the princesses “I heard that we’ve a new species being introduced into Equestria,” Celestia glanced toward Scarlet, then back to me “is this true, Tesla?” “Perhaps,” I shrugged “Is that a salamander,” Luna blinked “They’ve not been seen for countless millennia!” “So Scarlet here’s a borderline legend then?” I chuckled “It would appear so” the new alicorn smiled, I glanced toward her, she flinched, I rolled my eyes, turning my attention back to Celestia “Where did you find her?” Celestia smiled “I got her as an egg from a friend” I bit my lip “Interesting” she cats a moment’s glance toward the mare beside her, then looked back toward me “I’d like to introduce you to your past self’s daughter-” I turned and left, my friends and family quickly following me as did the alicorn that was beside Celestia “Father,” she exclaimed “I’m not related to you in any way, shape or form, and I’ve no reason to be, or want to be as such” I scoffed “But you…” she had tears in her eyes, I shrugged, walking on toward the main hall, once there, I found Crystal alongside Ilona “What’s with the lizard?” Crystal smirked “This is Scarlet,” I smiled “She’s somewhat cute” she nodded “Where’s Rana?” “Most likely down at the beach” I sighed “Hello, Dad” Ilona smiled “Hello, Ilo” I simpered again as Twilight and her friends trotted toward us “Tesla,” Rainbow Dash hovered before me “I… I…” she grumbled “why is this so hard to say!?” “Take your time, Rainbow” I smiled “I love you!” she blurted out, quickly covering her mouth “Why now?” I frowned “Well, she can’t tell you if you’re tearing across Equestria now, can she?” Crystal laughed “I love all my friends, especially my family, so I can reciprocate the feelings anyone has for me” I glimmered “ “What about me?” Applejack smirked, stepping forward “Ah’ve no doubt that Twilight mentioned mah actions when Tesla went AWOL, and mah words” she winked “I may’ve heard something on the matter,” I lightly scratched Kiary’s horns “I’ll have to think about it though” “Do what ya’ll feel is necessary, Pardner, Ah won’t force ya tah do somethin’ ya don’t want tah do, isn’t that what you do?” “Tesla” Blaze prodded my side, standing on her hind legs “you know about the theory that your magic, like Natsu’s, goes up everytime you fight,” she winked “why don’t we see if there’s a way to prove that?” “Your magic level increases every time you use it?” Twilight blinked “Think of it as a muscle,” I smiled “the more it’s used, the stronger it gets” “Makes sense” she shrugged “So how strong was it when you started using it?” “Meager, if even that” I exhaled sharply “And yet you’ve probably enough power which equals Celestia!” Rainbow Dash laughed, Twilight and Applejack glared at her “That’d be an exaggeration” I tutted “I may’ve beaten a god slayer, but that doesn’t mean I have equal power to that of which their would-be tutors possess” “There’re god-slayers?” “And there’s also devil slayers and demon slayers, though the only ones I can think of are the nine demons of Tartarus” I hummed “How much power do you need for that sort of magic, your magic?” Pepper smiled “Depends on the element of magic and the size and type of dragon you want dead” I spoke rather morbidly, Shining Armour trotted beside me friends “I’ve a proposition straight from the princesses” Shining Armour smiled, albeit weakly “She’d like you to show a few of the guard what you can do without weapons or magic” “Not a wise choice” Blaze tutted “ “She knows how strong you are, and yet she insists on this event taking place” Blaze tutted as she stood with my friends, family, and Scarlet, on the edge of the arena as Flash Sentry stood opposite me “Her majesty wishes to test your eon friend” Shining Armour smirked “If you say so” I scoffed as the orange Pegasus before me lunged forward, I struck my arm out, hitting him square between the eyes, sending him sprawling, when he got onto his feet, he fell, puking, collapsing onto his side, his eyes half-lidded, a trio of ponies carried him away, as Shining Armour walked onto the arena floor “Last time we fought you had to concentrate,” the guard captain grinned “shall we repeat past events or have I gotten too good for you?” I darted forward before he could react, performing a karate chop to the back of his neck, knocking him to the ground, unconscious =-=-=-= “That was hardly any challenge” I clicked my neck “That’s because half o’ the guard that ya’ll fought were hospitalized!” Applejack laughed “I told her it was pointless” Shining Armour shook his head “it appears she’s got an agenda for you, Sir Tesla" “So this is the borderline legendary hero everypony’s talking about,” A white mare with a lavender mane and tail with white highlights giggled, standing beside a cobalt blue stallion with a dark phthalo blue mane and tail, both of them unicorns “I’m Twilight Velvet,” she held out a hoof, which I shook “And I’m Night Light” the stallion smiled, also shaking hand-and-hoof with me “Mom, Dad?” Twilight gasped “We came to see the event, but also to see how you’re doing, our dear Shooting Star” Twilight Velvet simpered “Isn’t that what you called Luna?” Blaze smirked “That it is” I nodded “And what do you propose to do, should a crisis arise all of a sudden?” Celestia teleported beside me alongside Cadance, Luna and the being that’d been called my daughter “I’ll do what I can, believe me, but even I can’t save an entire world or country from a threat that prove itself to be impossible to fight” I shrugged “You’re a little arrogant, but not enough to the point where you believe that you can fight and expect to win, no matter what or who it might be against”, that is good” she smiled “Everyone has flaws, be it on strength, knowledge or otherwise,” I raised an eyebrow, setting my hand alight, reaching toward Scarlet, who inhaled the flames with apparent glee, licking my hand as the last of the flames vanished down her throat, nuzzling into me “Just one thing you ought to know, princess” “And what’s that?” Luna raised an eyebrow “Never tell em how to do my job” -=-=- “Well that went rather well, or so I’d say” Blaze blinked “I think my legs are about to give” I staggered a little, collapsing onto the grass by the lake, my friends, family and Scarlet crowding me as I changed to eon form, lying on the ground, noticing a crystal-clear gemstone, identical to the one from Rarity’s hat, merely lying on the grass, I quickly ate it “It’s nice out here” Velvet pecked my cheek, quickly followed by Littlepip “Relaxing also” “So it is” I nodded, placing my head against the lush, green grass “Equestria truly is a land of beauty” “Quite so” Kiary hummed “sometimes I wonder what it’d be like if I hadn’t of met you, brother” “Best not think about it, Kiary,” I smiled “you don’t know what might happen if you do, sister” “Thank you, Rick” she let out a soft giggle “Crystagia always said you were the night of her life” “Since you’re a knight of Luna, and both Nyx and Celestia, you’re like this world’s equivalent of Takanuva!” Blaze laughed “Almost” I smiled “I just need the powers of actual dark magic, not just dark fire, and to not be driven insane by it, cliché as that might be” “I wouldn’t be so certain, you have a little magic given to you by the solar goddess herself, I think that should be enough to counter any dark thoughts that come to mind” she shrugged “Perhaps, but who’s to say, has there ever been a recorded being on Equis that uses both pure light and dark elements of magic, or is it just a fleeting dream?” “You paraphrased Igneel?” she guffawed “That I did” I grinned, Ilona lying beside me, placing her form against mine, nuzzling into me as Scarlet lay atop my neck “I didn’t expect to find you here, Tesla” a strikingly familiar Pegasus wearing a green jacket and cloche with a compass rose cutie mark smiled, her magenta eyes beaming at me, her greyscale rainbow mane and tail shimmering in the sunlight as she lay beside me on her front, letting out a yawn “So, what’re you up to?” she winked “Just relaxing,” I clicked my neck “you?” “It appears we have something in common,” she gave a suggestive grin “I’m here for the rest of the day to lay back, and relax, right before I release the books tomorrow” “I thought you did” I tilted my head “Those were limited edition copies, the first books to be; shall we say; ‘Beta-tested’?” she raised an eyebrow “The actual copies have yet to be published, you’ve given your cyan friend quite the artefacts, so to speak, Tesla” “I’m just here to wind down from the events of late” I sighed, trying not to think of the newly ‘repaired’ forest “I must say that the being of harmony that Celestia told me about was interesting” she smiled “I might add her to my next book, if she’ll allow me” “I’d be honoured,” Harmony teleported beside me “I’ve heard of your borderline legendary stories, Miss Doo, I would gladly allow you to add me to one of your novels” “Tomorrow it is then, when I get to work on my next story; and my next adventure” Daring Doo gleamed, Harmony teleported away, she turned her attention to me “so I hear you have quite the singing voice, perhaps I should add that to your list of abilities as one of my characters?” “Make of me what you will, just don’t make me too much of a hero,” I laughed “Thor knows I don’t need that kind of attention” “Or maybe you do,” Blaze shrugged “maybe it’d change people’s minds about you if the foals find out first, and then their parents read it, and soon everyone’s reading it, and then they think of you as their lord and saviour once more” “See, that’s what I mean,” I frowned “I’m not a lord, nor saviour or a king or a prince, I’m me, simple and true, me, that is all I am, and all I wish to be, indefinitely” “Not even a little better?” she smirked, Scarlet belched a tiny flame “I just wish to remain the way I am, if there were any changes I want to make, it’s to stop being so…” “Chaotic?” she suggested with a slight shrug “Basically,” I nodded “I’m sure Harmony can fix that,” she smiled “Maybe” “Aren’t you going to give me a test song?” Daring Doo raised an eyebrow “Pardon,” I blinked “I wish to bear witness your singing capabilities for myself, Rick” she flashed her eyebrows at me -=- After the song, -=- “That was incredible,” she stared at me “and you did it in perfect unison with your friends also,” she went on, her expression turning from one of shock-and-awe to one of mirth “I now see why you were accepted into the Royal Canterlot Orchestra, Rick” she scooted closer to me, shuffling, little by little, raising her rear half into the air, stretching her wings, laying one over me as she lay back down again, I blinked at the sudden gesture, turning back to face her, she placed her lips against mine as my head turned, winking as we separated “What’re you doing?” I stared at her “Do you believe in love at first sight, Rick?” she purred with a sly grin “What’re you getting at?” I frowned, lightly; I know my limits with (potential) celebrities “I love you, my fair Eon” she smirked; I blinked “do I have to spell it out for you?” I shrugged “ever since Twilight and her friends led one another, and you, to my now-former home, I’ve been captivated by your somewhat elegant form, your pitch-black and Snow-white scales and perfect topaz-like eyes, and that’s just your physical being” she practically swooned “you’ve also got magic unlike anything I’ve ever seen or heard of that’s borderline starswirl-level, and you can soar like the greatest of eagles!” she shuddered in apparent ecstasy, fervently licking her lips, grinning at me with somewhat-malicious intent, leaping at me, rolling me onto my back as she lay atop my chest, drawing her tongue in a long, wet, line up my aerodynamic form “Make love to me, Rick” she almost commanded “I’ll make it worth your while, believe me I will” “Are you sure you don’t want to talk about this?” I attempted to move my arms, but she pinned them with her forearms, shaking her head at me “I feel I’ve done enough talking for one day, Rick,” she sighed with lust lacing her voice in a thick sludge “now, how's about I tame that inner dragon that I've heard is hidden within you? chapter XIII; anon“I thought we agreed that you came here yesterday to relax?” Blaze smirked as I found myself at the lake once again on the following day “Well, since it was interrupted yesterday I thought we might as well try again,” I shrugged “besides, I’ve got all the time in the world, almost literally” “So you have, now would you put that away?” she gestured to the portrait/flag I was making “it’s demeaning, even for you, brother” “Shan’t” I grinned, finishing the image, which was that of Celestia, folding it up and placing it in my inventory, just as Rainbow Dash glided toward me, landing by my side “We need your help, ponyville’s under attack!” The cyan mare blurted out, quickly taking to the sky and soaring toward the town When we got to the town, there was a mass of ponies being carried toward the hospital, some being laid out on stretchers that were placed outside the large red-and-white building, IV drips, heart monitors, blood packs; almost every medical instrument imaginable was etched into the somewhat morbid sight before laid before me “What happened?” I bit my lip as Shining Armour galloped toward me “Manticore attack, we’ve no idea why, or how, it just happened,” he frowned “Where were you?” “Bet lucky that Rainbow Dash found me at all,” I snapped, he quickly nodded “where’s the manticore?” “The beast lies dead on the edge of the Everfree forest,” he sighed “we’ve never seen behaviour like this from that forest, not ever” “And the injured, what of them?” Blaze stood on her hind legs “The worst are a pair of foals, a colt and a filly,” he averted my gaze “the colt has a missing I, a severely damaged leg, and a few other minor injuries, roughly an eighth of the town is being treated, there’re nurses and doctors from all f Equestria coming to our aid, pun not intended” “I believe I might have something to aid your cause” I smiled, crouching down as I set my rucksack in front of me, revealing a series of large, corked, glass vials with a scarlet liquid in them “hand these out, dose by dose, to the most injured” “What are they?” he undid one of the corks, blinking as he took in the fruity scent of the healing potion “Healing potions, I’ve also got a few for magic and stamina also, should you need them” “I shan’t ask you where you got them, merely thank you for your generosity” he bowed quickly, levitating the vials over to a group of nurses and/or doctors “Will they work on ponies?” Blaze whispered “I can only hope so,” I sighed “a single dose of those potions should, assuming they work, fully heal the one who’s using them” I noticed Twilight and her friends carrying Applejack toward me “Howdy Pardner” Applejack laughed softly “Don’t suppose ya’ll got one o’ them potions you’ve given Shining Armour would ya” she fell on her side as she tried to walk toward me “Poison,” Twilight nodded “this should work” I handed her a small cube-shaped, crimson vial with a thin neck and a cork, she quickly downed the reddish liquid, dropping the vial as she stood upright, hopping from hoof-to-hoof, a wide grin spread across her face “Thanks Stretch, Ah owe ya one!” she laughed -=-=- About a month later, most of the ponies, those of whom had been injured in the strange attack by the manticore, were relieved of their hospitalized status, the colt and filly I’d heard from Shining Armour however, were not so lucky, still lying unconscious in their hospital beds “You’re a hero, Daddy,” Snowdrop glimmered “you’re my hero!” “I’m me, nothing more, nothing less” I shook my head “But you saved an eighth of the town!” she rebuked “do you not feel the slightest bit of positivity from what you’ve done?” “Her-o, Her-o, Her-o,” I turned around, what seemed to be the entirety of ponyville, save the two still in hospital, were chanting and cheering, whilst others whistled, all of whom stomped their hooves as they chanted “We’re just lucky you had those potions on your being at the time” Kiary simpered “There’s not a thing such as luck, only skill, convenience, and coincidence, or lack thereof” I raised an eyebrow “So be it” she nodded as the princesses appeared via teleportation alongside Twilight, her friends, Spike, and the other alicorn “I do believe my brother’s got something to show you, Princess Celestia” Blaze smirked as I retrieved the folded-up ‘image’ from my inventory, handing it to her “This…” Celestia stared at the portrait, having unfolded it “how long did it take you to make this, Tesla?” “About a week” I shrugged “Made one for each of you actually, princesses” I handed out the portraits to each of the princesses “This’s incredible” Cadance gleamed “The artwork is magnificent, almost godlike!” Luan exclaimed “tell us, Sir Rick, how doth thee make such works?” “I practice” I shrugged “take that how you will, Lady Luna, I will take no offense to any words you may wish to speak that come to mind” “Charmed” she giggled “Thou truly hath a way with words, Sir Rick” “How can we, as a country, repay you for your help during last month’s sub-level crisis?” Celestia smiled “Do what you feel is necessary” I shrugged =-=-= As I walked toward Sweet Apple acres alongside my friends family and Twilight and her friends, minus Applejack, with spike following quickly behind I noticed a billboard sign with an image of Applejack beside Applebloom standing beside her, the latter of whom appeared in her apparent anthro form, -Applejack standing as what looked like a anthro form, with a crimson bandana shirt that kept her ‘assets’ in place, a brown jacket and emerald eyes, a brown short skirt and earthy brown boots that went as he as wellingtons also, winking at the viewer-, with large bold red letters that read out ‘best sister in Equestria for rent; 350 bits a week, “Borderline prostitution; me thinks,” Blaze burst into a guffaw of laughter “Remind you of anything?” I stared at her; she rolled a paw, as if to suggest something, I blinked, nodding “She may be good, but she’s no Ellie Goulding” I winked “Not sure if creepy or not…” she shuddered “Says the one who practically had her way with me like a sex-addled rabbit on Viagra” I raised an eyebrow “Touché” she grumbled “So what’re we going to do about that sign?” she nodded toward the billboard “That depends on who’s complaining,” I tilted my head ever so slightly, she smirked “she’s right behind me isn’t she?” the only reply I received was a what felt like a finger running down my spine, I shuddered greatly, collapsing to my knees, and then flat on my face “Damnit” “So stretch, how do ya’ll like the sign and the offer involved?” Applejack laughed “It’s interesting, I must say” I turned onto my back, Scarlet Kiary and Snowdrop stood beside me “but I’ve already got a sister, besides, Nakama translates to ‘friends close than family’” “Ah was hoping ya’ll would say that” she beamed “before I could react she’d tied me up and started dragging me toward the farm, pushing as much of my weight downward as I could, she stopped, turning back to face me “Ya’ll are a heavy one Sugarcube” she chuckled “I’m using non-violent resistance” I shrugged “Would ya rather we did it here and now?” she raised an eyebrow “I came here to see how things were, not to be gelded” I laughed “Who said Ah was gonna do anythin’ of the sort?” I blinked “Ah’m joking!” she started dragging me again, harder this time “Ah love ya Tesla, and Ah’m not letting ya’ll go until I get that out o’ mah system, got it?” she glanced toward me with a sultry grin, I nodded After she’d pushed me upstairs and locked the door behind her as she entered the room, she removed her Stetson first, placing it on the bedside table, removing the string from her hair, letting it fall freely, throwing her jacket over the Stetson, quickly removing her boots, placing them next to the table opposite the bed, undoing her belt and throwing it aside, grinning at me as she lowered her skirt, revealing her slightly moist snatch, undoing her bandana shirt, discarding it beside her, then undoing the rope that bound my arms and ankles “So, how do ya want us tah start?” she purred, removing my jacket and shirt first, piling them neatly beside me, standing me upright, undoing my lower attire, removing my boots and trousers without incident, I bit my lip as she almost instantly slid my boxers down around my ankles “Sweet Luna,” she gasped as my fully erect member shot upward, pre dripping from the end “Ah know it was big, but not this big, ya’ll got yerself a fine set o’ jewels there Sugarcube” she nickered, running her tongue along the base of my shaft, I shuddered as she pressed her lips around the head, twirling her tongue around it, pulling away for a second, staring up at me “Ya’ll like this pardner?” she gleamed, I slowly nodded “Well it’s about tah get better she pulled me over to the bed, swung me around, planting me down on the bed with my back against the duvet, slamming hers hips against mine, my cock hilting her insides, she gasped, exhaling sharply, beginning to bounce up and down atop my crotch, pinning my arms down with her hands as I tried to move them “We’ll have none of that now, pardner, ya’ll just let me do all the work, ya hear?” she grinned -=-=-=- I sat beside Applejack on the bed in her room, draping a wing around her, pecking her cheek as she leant into me on the day after “Ah don’t know about ya’ll Sugarcube, but Ah’ve had tha time of mah life with ya today” she nickered, her form unchanged “Wassup, lovebirds,” Blaze marched into the room -=- “Did you have to barge in like that?” I hummed, glancing toward Blaze as we sat beside and/or nearby my friends and family, alongside Twilight and her friends, Spike included, as we took the train to the Equestria games, a pair of gryphons, both female, by my guess sat on the opposite side of the train to me, one was white with black eye-shadow/eyeliner, the others was black and white with dark grey eyeliner and silver claws, the former with silvery eyes, the latter, with chocolaty brown, and both, were staring at me curiously “Did she have to tie you up and drag you to the farmhouse?” Blaze glanced toward Applejack “Alright, Ah guess Ah got carried away,” Applejack sighed “question is what’re you gonna do about them gryphons that’ve been eyeing ya’ll up like caramel on a candy apple?” she nodded toward the gryphons, who looked away, whistling to themselves as I cast a moments glance toward them, stopping and returning to staring at me once I looked back “Looks like they’re a might interested in ya Pardner” As the train pulled into the station and the passengers disembarked, myself and the others included, the gryphons following us out also “So, were and we, and why are we here?” Kiary simpered as a light snow began to fall, Scarlet shivered, quickly devouring the flames around my hand as I held up a blazing fist, sucking them in like a figurative vacuum cleaner, giving a tiny belch after she devoured them “Were here to see Shining Armour training the crystal ponies for the Equestria games” Twilight smiled, leading us through the bustling crystalline city that I’d been told was the crystal empire “and you’re not allowed to eat anything, even if it is made of gemstone” she grinned “The thought had crossed my mind, Twilight, but I think I can refrain myself from chewing my way through a building or two,” I flashed her a wicked grin “maybe” “Twilight,” Cadance chirped as we entered the castle “I’m so glad you could make it” it was then that Cadance and her lavender friend decided to do what I’d thought at the time to be the strangest thing I’d seen thus far on Equis “Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake, clap your hooves and do a little shake!” Cadance and Twilight chanted in unison, skipping from one hoof to the other, covering their eyes and then revealing them again and then turning and raising their flanks into the air, lightly shaking them, giggling hysterically as they turned back to face one-another “This is normal?” I glanced toward Applejack, whose form remained unchanged from the events in the farmhouse “Just fer these two, Sugarcube” Applejack smiled “How odd” the black, white and silver gryphon giggled, turning her attention to me, holding out a claw “I’m Natalya, this is my friend, Irma” I shook their claws/hands “We’ve been looking for you for a while, Tesla” “You know of me then,” I smiled “by legends and stories or news and placements of events?” “Both” Irma smirked “We’ve heard of both your physical and magical prowess as well as your abilities and characteristics, Grandoa told our king much about you, Tesla” “We’re interested in seeing what you can do for ourselves” Natalya smiled “in whatever context that may be taken, dragon slayer” she licked her lips rather fervently, I quickly turned my attention to Cadance “What about the games?” Blaze grinned “They’re not for another year, and I need twilight and her friends to make sure that the games inspector gets a warm welcome” Cadance nickered “You can count on us princess,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed “I’m sure I can” she gave a soft laugh, turning her attention toward me “Now, I trust that I can leave you to your own devises without worry of you sinking your teeth into any buildings?” she raised an eyebrow “Why would I eat someone’s house?” I chortled “not only is it rude, it’s an invasion of privacy and unsanitary, and it’s almost impossible” “Tesla, you’ve got the magic of a dragon, and the possible attitude to match, and you’ve most likely got the appetite of one as well” Blaze gleamed “That’s not entirely true,” I mumbled “you talk as if I can’t control what I do,” she raised an eyebrow “Ok, so one time I go berserk, that’s all”, she stared at me, flatly, before breaking into a wicked leer “You’re right, you can control everything you do” she laughed “although you can’t control who ends up dragging you down the road and having their way with you for three days straight!” “Alright, you tell me what I was supposed to do, oh-so wise sister of mine” I frowned “Well, let’s see you could, oh, I don’t know” she tilted her head, rolling her eyes “At least attempt to fight back, you’re not going to get very far if you do nothing but let it happen to you, brother, especially if the case should arise that it ends up with the wrong person…” she trailed off, gaping at me “Don’t tell me you do chivalry!” she gasped, I raised an eyebrow in return “oh, you cheesy bastard” “This is like a type of gag,” Snowdrop chimed “Here’s the setup” “Well, well, looks like ya learn somethin new every day” Applejack laughed “Why didn’t ya’ll just burn the rope with yer magic, sugarcube?” everyone stared at me, Cadance blinked, as did Irma and Natalya “And here’s the gag” she smiled “Where’s the fun in that?” I shrugged “Bitches be crazy” Blaze shuddered “That they be” I nodded “Tesla, you just admitted you were into BDSM” Twilight quickly covered her mouth with a hoof “No, I said that there’d be no challenge in making it easy for an escape, not my sexual preferences” I facepalmed “If you say so” she gave a smug grin as Cadance teleported in a large scroll, when she unrolling it, it went from the ceiling to the floor “Ten quid says that half of this is filler; and that my brother could type the rest on his laptop in the correct formatting” Blaze tutted “Twenty,” I grinned “How can you say such a thing,” Cadance gasped “this goes back to the founding of the Equestria games!” she exclaimed “To say such things is blasphemy, treason even!” Mithryl’s gems shone for a brief moment, before fading slightly as she stood atop my sister’s back “It may be treason, but what would you do, should Tesla to put himself between you, your guards and Blaze, you’re powerless to stop such an act, from the energy levels I’m picking from your atmosphere, you’d need to be at least tenfold the power you have now to even so much as lay a scratch on the eon boy” “Who’s ever heard of a princess who can’t defend her subjects?” Blackjack chuckled “It’s like Metru Nui all over again” I rolled my eyes, turning and walking with my friends, family, Irma and Natalya out of the castle -=- “You need to stop watching those movies on YouTube, brother” Blaze laughed once we reached ponyville via train, the conductor insisted that since I was technically royalty, I could go for free, I insisted otherwise “So I do” I sighed, Irma and Natalya blinked, crouching down by the lake, bringing my laptop out of my rucksack, opening Microsoft Word ©, beginning to type away on the bet that Blaze said I could ‘easily manage’ “How can you say such a thing to the princess?” not even six hours had passed and I was in the editing procedure as Twilight and her friends stood beside me, I cast a moments glance at them, returning to my work “I dare because someone has to, Twilight Sparkle” I hummed, inhaling via my nostrils, and then exhaling through my mouth “You don’t have to be rude about it” Rarity huffed “Leave, now” I frowned, clenching my fists “What’re you gonna do?” Rainbow dash slammed her hooves together “You know full-bloody-well what I can do, so I’d suggest stopping before that’s aimed anywhere” I gritted my teeth “I thought you acted in chivalry,” Twilight raised an eyebrow “And I’m supposed to do that whilst barely refraining myself from going AWOL, how, exactly?” I spat, she “I ask this for your safety, please, leave now” she nodded “Come on girls” she bit her lip as they turned and left, I quickly saved and closed the six-hour long document, closing my laptop, sliding it back into my rucksack “What was that about?” Littlepip blinked “I don’t want to talk about it,” I sighed “although it might as well be told,” I went one “whilst wandering the wastes, I gained companions just as close to me as you, and then I did just as I did when I left Lulania, I went berserk, took down several dozen raiders alongside a hundred slavers, Blaze had to tell me what happened, just as before,” I bit my lip “I woke up in a nearby abandoned hospital with mechanical limbs and a few synthetic organs and muscles, including my heart” I vowed to myself that I’d never harm another friend, ever” “What he says is True, Calamity and Xenith were penultimate members of our little gang of heroes, until something just ticked inside of Tesla, and he went completely uncontrollable” “You happy hearing that?” I turned to face the area beside me, Twilight and her friends were still there, with the princesses, save Luna “That’s why you asked us to leave-?” “I don’t want to hear anything from you, Rarity” I cut the alabaster unicorn off “Tesla, calm down,” Blaze frowned “you going mental again isn’t going to help anyone, Ok?” I sighed “good, now I don’t care if the Talon mercs labelled you as a mini-god or whatever they called you, you’re my brother, and if you go AWOL like that again, we’re all going to have problems, Ok?” “Laughing and singing one moment, borderline sociopathic the next, is it a form of schizophrenia, or can a pony actually survive being torn in two directions so severely?” Blackjack stared at me “It’s ironic, really,” Twilight began with a smile “you have so many friends, family, and loved ones, but when the idea or thought arises that you might harm, or bring harm to one of them, you turn borderline insane,” she simpered “please, help us to help you by letting us know and understand what you’ve been through, Rick” I collapsed onto my back, staring up at the sapphire sky, Scarlet curling up on my chest, staring at me with apparent curiosity “So it is,” I clicked my neck “and that’s not counting what else happened in the wastes” “Why, what happened?” Celestia blinked “I found a crusader mainframe, one with ponies in cryo-stasus,” I bit my lip, again “they were diseased, suffering, something had to be done to try and help them” “No…” Twilight slowly shook her head “please tell us you didn’t!” “I placed their consciousness onto a data bank and/or drive of sorts, and then planted that drive into the ‘SPP,’ where their spirits now reside, in peace; free of all illness and affliction” I exhaled sharply “may the gods show mercy for my actions” “That’s a good thing,” Applejack smiled, sitting beside me “if ya managed tah save them, ya’ll are a hero” “I had to kill them in the process,” I frowned “their bodies are breaking down as we speak, their minds, souls, spirits and hearts are immortal, however” “If they’re safe though, then that’s a good thing” she patted my head as I sat upright “ya saved them, Pardner, there ain’t any other way o’ saying it” “I prefer the term ‘paragon’ myself” Blaze shrugged, I stood upright, Scarlet now back on my shoulder, slinging my rucksack over my shoulders as I put it on “I believe I’ve a bone to pick with you, Tesla” the familiar figure of Ahuizotl burst from the treeline of the Everfree forest “Really,” I blinked turning to face Blaze “have I met him before?” my sister shook her head “You’re the one who dared to defy me when I was to battle Miss Doo” the alienating being known as Ahuizotl snarled “What do you want, freak?” Blaze snapped “Well aren’t we the pot calling the kettle black?” he raised an eyebrow “Ah yes, now I remember, you threatened Daring, then I sent your sorry ass flying through the treeline!” I laughed “Quite,” he rolled his eyes “now, I’m assuming you have this, ‘Sacred Star’ you mentioned, I’d like to see it, if you may” he held out the hand on the end of his tail “Sacred Star,” Twilight stared “what star?” “You’re not getting Azura’s Star” I growled “And the ‘herald of the dawn’ title you mentioned, I suppose I’m not getting that either?” Ahuizotl folded his arms “You mean this?” I unsheathed the Dawnbreaker “What magnificent craftsmanship” he eyed the daedric artefact like it was a piece of candy “where did you get this little gem?” “Somewhere I know you can’t go,” I beamed “Skyrim” “Indeed” he grinned “I’ll get those gems one way or another, believe you me human” he stormed off “Tesla, what is Azura’s star?” Twilight stood beside me alongside Applejack, I crouched down, placing my rucksack in front of me, unzipping it, retrieving the daedric artefact in question, and handing it to her “It’s beautiful!” she exclaimed, turning it like a wheel with her magic, then rotating it sideways, flipping it over the reveal the other side “Don’t break it,” I chuckled “I assume you can take care of it?” “You’re letting me have it?” she gasped “thank you,” she glimmered “oh, the amounts of notes and research I could get with this… this… artefact!” “It’s not like I need it” I shrugged “keep it if you want” she pecked me on the cheek, galloping toward the library at full throttle with the star held delicately in a magenta aura -=-=- “So, Christmas, got any ideas on what to do?” Blaze yawned “I think Rarity’s already made plans,” I nodded toward Twilight and her friends as they walked toward me, all six of them in anthro forms dressed in red and white Christmas costumes “Now the only problem you have is the castle not having a chimney” she grinned “Who said I was going to be at the castle?” I laughed “Ah take it ya’ll like the costumes Rarity made fer us?” I raised an eyebrow “Ah’ll take that as a yes” she pecked my cheek “We got a sleigh an’ everything ready for you and Crystal to pull as well” “You’re not fitting me with any type of reigns, Jackie, period” I sighed, her face went a beetroot shade of red “Celestia’s hosting a play in the theatre at canterlot tonight” Twilight smiled, eyeing me up and down “Clockwise again?” “That it is,” I nodded “shall we be going then?” -=- As we walked through the castle, once the play had ended, and into the main hall, I found myself alienated “They re-enacted ‘A Christmas carol’?” Blaze blinked “But if they’re going to have someone who acts as the ghost of Christmas yet to come, because in one version he looks like the grim reaper,” I cleared my throat “at least have him sound the part” I spoke in a rather husky tone, as if I the lord of the dead was using me as his vessel “Have I mentioned how freaky it is when you do that?” She gave a deadpan stare “Not recently, why?” I chuckled “That’s a mighty dark tone ya’ll took there pardner” Applejack guffawed “I reckon I could do better” I shrugged “Ah know ya can” she winked “How about a rodeo before we turn in for the evening?” “Why not both,” Blaze smirked, which resulted in my being dragged by both Rainbow Dash and Applejack to the nearest spare bedroom -=-=- “Mornin’ pardner” Applejack yawned, walking with me to the dining hall “Where’s Rainbow Dash?” Twilight blinked sitting around the table our friends and family whilst breakfast was being served “She’s still tuckered out from yesterday” Applejack laughed “How do you do it, brother?” Blaze grinned with a sly smirk “If I knew that, I’d of told you by now” I smiled “Well somepony needs to wake her up to let her know that her invitation to the Wonderbolts is arriving today” “The who now?” Blaze did a spit-take, bursting into laughter “The Wonderbolts,” she raised an eyebrow at Blaze, glancing toward me “They’re an elite squad of Pegasus ponies who perform aerial acrobatics and demonstrations, they perform at Cloudsdale every now and then, they also attend the Grand Galloping Gala, usually” “So they’re like the ‘Red Arrows’ then, only not as good, yes?” Blaze laughed “How so?” Celestia nickered “The events are staged, all of them, if there’s a race; it’ll most likely be deliberate who wins,” I sighed “I went to a Bournemouth Air show when I was around fourteen, they had the ‘Red Arrows,’ and a few other means of aerial locomotion, including a few Harrier jets” “Oh, and perhaps you’d like to prove that you can do better?” Rainbow Dash appeared at the double doors, grinning from ear to ear “If I went at full speed, not caring about my passengers, I could get from here to Ponyville in the space of about five or ten minutes” I smirked “Is that with or without you breaking the sound barrier?” Blaze tilted her head in an act of curiosity “Without” I shrugged -=-=- “So where’re we going?” I sighed, flying alongside Rainbow Dash, Angel and Crystal, with my friends and family upon our backs, Blackjack flying alongside us also, Blaze having to take the balloon with Twilight and her friends all but Applejack of which were in their normal/pony forms “To the academy of course,” Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes as we arrived at a runway, various ponies, all Pegasi doing some sort of flying or training exercise “Looks more like a pathetic excuse for a boot camp,” Blaze bounded up beside me alongside Twilight and her friends as Crystal, Angel and my own passengers disembarked “Is this seriously the best they can do?” “Tesla, I didn’t expect to see you here!” the familiar figure of Spitfire jogged toward us, beaming “I’m assuming you’re here to see how the new recruits can do?” “Somewhat” I winked, reverting to human form, Scarlet and Kiary stood/perched on either shoulder as Snowdrop lay atop my head, tucked cosily between my horns “I see we’ve a new recruit as well” she glanced toward Rainbow Dash, who saluted her “get to the barracks on the double!” the cyan Pegasus rocketed toward a large fortress-like building far in front of us -=- About an hour passed before the new recruits/cadets formed a line along the runway “Well look at what we got here” Spitfire spoke in a strict tone, I stifled laughter at the thought of a pony trying to imitate an actual drill sergeant as she walked up and down the line in front of them “Yes ma’am!” the line of ponies chanted in unison “So you lot think you got what it takes to be an elite flyer, huh?” she raised an eyebrow “£yes ma’am” they chanted again “Well let me be perfectly clear,” her tone was calm as a summer’s breeze, before turning to what she deemed threatening “you don’t!” she snapped, prodding a pale lavender Pegasus with an insistent hoof “if you had what it took to be an elite flyer you’d already be a Wonderbolt!” “I’m sorry how is this meant to be at all threatening?” Blaze bust a gut laughing before I did, I quickly joined her “Like, compared to an actual drill instructor, your nothing!” “Can you name anyone better?” Spitfire frowned “Colonel Ackerson” Blaze and I grinned “Five minutes is all he needs to have you broken and battered, curling up; crying like a little schoolgirl” “Touché” Spitfire slowly nodded “I can certainly try my best though, thanks Tesla” “Call me Rick, my friends and family do” I chuckled “As she attempted to bend the new cadets to their weakest points, some of them in tears, other shaking with apparent fear, there was only Rainbow Dash and one other left to be ‘lectured’ as it were “What’s your name, Private?” Spitfire snapped at the opal Pegasus with a golden mane and tail “Lightning Dust Ma’am” the Pegasus smirked “Think you’re hot stuff then, huh?” Spitfire scowled “Try me Ma’am” she grinned “Oh, this one’s got balls, I like that” Blaze laughed maniacally “Just for that, everypony do fifty circuits, now!” Spitfire blew her whistle “I’ll see you in ten minutes” Lightning Dust winked toward me, taking off around the circuit, taking first place, right in front of Rainbow Dash, who easily caught up with her, I was too busy laughing until my sides hurt with Blaze and the two other eons who’d joined me on the way to the ‘academy’ “What’s so funny?” Twilight blinked as she stood beside Spitfire “I could list at least five people who do a better job than golden Glory over there” Angel chortled “Gunnery Sergeant Hartman being one, I presume?” I laughed “Quite” her laughter steadily died down “Alright, how could you do better, to be intimidating I mean,” Spitfire raised an eyebrow “ “Two words,” I grinned, scales appearing on my face, arms and hands “dragon’s apparition” I inhaled, letting out an almost deafening roar, a large dragon appearing above me, eventually fading as I stopped “Sweet Celestia, now if only I could do that,” she beamed “it’d get them working at a much faster rate, where do I get it?” “I don’t think a pony could become a dragon slayer, not a true dragon slayer anyhow” Blaze shrugged “That’s what it’s called?” Spitfire blinked “where’d you get it?” “Crystagia, the gem dragon empress” I gleamed “You got dragon slayer magic, from a dragon?” she tilted her head “how does that make sense?” “There was a war between dragons and mages, some dragons sided with the humans, but some humans did the opposite, siding with the dragons, using the magic given to them by said dragons to put an end to all dragons, thus the term ‘dragon slayer’ was created” I explained “at least that’s what Crystagia told me” “That’s what she said” Blaze smirked “Quite so” I nodded When the cadets finally landed after being scared borderline-shitless, Rainbow Dash and Lightning Dust Trotted toward me, the former had a smug grin plastered on her face the other, a look of pure amazement “What was that!?” Lightning Dust screamed “Metsuryū no Maho” Blaze laughed “Guardian angel, Daddy,” Snowdrop patted the top of my head, “please?” “Might as well,” I nodded, she smiled, Taking Scarlet with her as she and Kiary landed beside Crystal, bursting into whitish golden flames, completely enveloped in them “Metsuryū Ogi, Shiranui Gata; Gurren Hōō Ken,” I roared again, launching myself into the air like a blazing spear, filtering the flames to my hands and feet, performing a forward flip, slashing down with my heels and fists “Kagizume to, Yokugeki,” I grinned, performing another flip, “and finally,” I growled, creating an earthy brown fireball in one hand, and a brilliant golden one in the other, slamming them together, Hoseki Ryū no Koen!” “How long did it take you to think of that?” Crystal gave an insane grin when I landed beside her and the others “Not too long,” I shrugged “ “Uh, Tesla” Rainbow Dash pointed toward the sky, I blinked, looking skyward, quickly noticing the circular ‘wave’ of prismatic energy tearing through the air above us “Ya’ll just performed yer own ‘Sonic Rainboom’” Applejack whistled “Did ya’ll mean to do that pardner?” “Not exactly” I blinked, staring up at the on-going wave of energy “We told you that eons could break the sound barrier” Blaze laughed “I don’t think that’s it,” Twilight’s gaze altered between me and the energy soaring above us “I think you’ve just used enough magical energy to create a type of sonic rainboom, but without breaking the sound barrier, how that’s possible, I’ll have to ask Princess Celestia” “Suishō Hasu, Kōryu no Shugo Tenshi” I glimmered “Crystal lotus; gem dragon’s Guardian angel” Snowdrop gleamed, perching herself atop my head, Scarlet and Kiary returning to their places upon my shoulders, Celestia, Faust, Cadance, and the alicorn that’d been labelled as my daughter immediately appeared via teleportation before me, staring at the wave of energy in the sky, and then back down toward me “I felt a sudden disturbance via a type of magical output, so I came to investigate” Celestia raised an eyebrow “what did you do this time, Rick?” “Crystal lotus; Gem Dragon’s Guardian Angel,” I bit my lip “I’m just wondering how on earth I managed to conjure up an earthy brown flame, if only for a moment” “You’re an eon, you’re magical aura will change colour depending on the one you feel most connected to” she smiled “So who’s that then?” Crystal smirked at me with a sly grin “You said it was an earthy brown, yes?” Blaze beamed; I nodded; she grinned, shoving me toward Applejack, who wrapped her arms around my neck, placing her lips on mine, pecking my cheek as she parted “Ah’m flattered ya’ll feel that way about me pardner,” Applejack winked “care tah give me a lift home?” I nodded, changing to eon form, she giggled, climbing onto my back, just below my neck, Littlepip Velvet Remedy and Pepper leaping into place behind her “May the lady of Earth ride the dragon” I grinned borderline maniacally “we’ll see you next week, Dashie!” I waved as I took off, Scarlet now on Blackjacks head, and Kiary, her back, flying alongside me as I glided toward ponyville, Blaze, Twilight and her friends, Save Rainbow Dash, taking the balloon back to the large town “So, Ah’m a lady of Earth now?” Applejack traced a light finger along the side of my neck “Don’t distract the driver” I smirked, lightly holding onto her legs “Ah’m just asking a simple question” she laughed “I see you as my Nakama; the same can be said for Twilight and her friends” I smiled, again “personally, I’m honoured to have met you, Applejack, you’re a level-headed, type, that of which contrasts my insanity perfectly” “Are ya’ll sayin’ that opposites attract?” she beamed at me with a smug look plastered upon her face “I’m merely stating that I love you, Lady of the Earth” my cheeks turned a deep crimson “It’s really us that should be honoured ta meet ya, Rick, not tha other way around” she nickered “think ya’ll can go a bit faster?” “Why, is this speed not satisfactory?” I smiled “Alright, just a bit lower though” she gulped audibly, I nodded, lowering down toward the ground only for a squadron of gryphons to shoot up from the treeline, all armed with either crossbows or spears “What have we got here?” a gryphon with navy blue and whitish-golden feathers folded his arms, hovering right before me “Just passing through” Applejack patted my neck “That’s an interesting mount you have there” he grinned at me “is it sentient?” “Why wouldn’t I be?” I laughed “So, you’re an eon,” he frowned “we’ve heard much of your kind from our king, more on that later though, you give us the girl, and we let you leave alive, I sped off at full throttle past him, flying between two gryphons armed with crossbows, getting wings peppered with bolts, screaming as I plummeted, barely managing to fly in a straight line “Which way to ponyville?” I grimaced “Keep goin’ straight!” she pointed ahead of me, and so I flew on, using only the most evasive of manoeuvres to avoid being skewered -=- When Ponyville finally came into my sights, I went as fast as I could, my underside sliding against the ground as I crash-landed, Applejack and the others climbing/clambering to the ground, just barely managing to get back up into a hovering position, Twilight and her friends quickly galloping toward us “Tesla, are you-!?” Twilight cut herself off, staring at the bolts stuck in my wings “I can’t feel my wings” I mumbled, falling back to the ground, my vision fading to black -=-=-=- When I awoke, I bolted upright, my wings stinging as I did so Looking back toward said wings, I saw that they were in bandages, tucked against my back “Well that’s a bummer” I mumbled “Awake are we?” I looked to the side of me, Celestia, Twilight, her friends, save Applejack, my friends and family were stood near the side of the bed alongside a large gryphon with earthy brown feathers and a scarred beak “I’m here, not to start a fight with you, Tesla” the gryphon raised an eyebrow “merely to apologize for last week’s inexcusable actions” “Apology accepted” I grinned “Explain” he smirked “You can do what you want to me, but lay a finger on my friends, and we’re going to have a few problems” I gleamed “Nurse Redheart said you could remove your bandages when you awoke, Twilight gleamed” “Fair do’s” I smiled, removing the bandages restraining my wings, stretching them as the strands of fabric fell to the bedside -=- As The gryphon, who I’d been told was the king, also known as Blackbeak, flew off toward the horizon, I stretching my wings again, now no longer bound by the white walls of the hospital “Ah’m glad ya’ll are alright, Rick” Applejack, her form still unchanged from the incident on the farm, placed her hand in mine, pecking my cheek “Wouldn’t want one o’ mah Nakama to go down that easily” “Try flying,” Snowdrop perched herself atop my head, I nodded, hovering above ground, using only the top set of wings, then the middle, then the lower set, landing with a soft *thud* on the lush grass-laden earth ion which Ponyville was built “And Daddy,” I glanced toward her as she gazed at me with an apparent sense of utter bliss “it’s good to have you back” “Thank you, my little Snowflake” I smiled, Crystal Angel, and Ilona gliding down toward me “So I heard you got ambushed” Crystal raised an eyebrow “The king may’ve come here to apologize, and I may’ve accepted said apology, but I’d like to see them try again” I grinned “Nonetheless, you got yourself injured, and because of that, I’m going to have to keep an eye on you, Rick” she folded her arms, sharply exhaling “I also heard that you found a way to break the sound barrier, somewhat” “It’s not that big of a deal” I waved a dismissive hand “It’s a very big deal,” Twilight exclaimed “it’s got to be the biggest magical event since Starswirl’s passing, probably even more so!” “And I know someone who ate the flames of a god slayer, and then used them against said god slayer” I shrugged “You have god slayers?” Celestia looked a little worried, whether it was for herself or her sister, I knew not which “Zancrow; the flame god slayer, Orga; the lightning god slayer, and finally Chelia; the sky god slayer” I raised an eyebrow “Says the one who can access ‘Modo Raien Ryū’” Blaze laughed “So can Natsu, just anger him and see what a true dragon slayer can do” I smirked “What do you mean when you say what a ‘true’ dragon slayer can do?” “it is only the first generation dragon slayers that’re considered to be true dragon slayers, second or third generation mages aren’t worthy of such a title, apparently” I rolled my eyes “Personally, I can’t see the difference; you’re a damn good mage and/or dragon slayer either way” Blaze spat “you’re the son of the Hōseki ryū kōgō, the Gem Dragon Empress, you’ve a marefriend, dare I say the word, you’ve a home in canterlot, or down with said marefriend if you two so wish, you’ve also got family here, personally, I wouldn’t worry about titles, brother” Blaze grinned “Thank ya kindly, Blaze,” Applejack tipped her ha in somewhat apparent respect “Meh, you’ve got my blessing, should you need it” Blaze beamed, staring at me with a wicked grin plastered on her face that went from ear to ear “But Tesla’s already married to me” Crystal blinked “surely he can’t…?” “I’m not entirely sure what the rules on such things are, but I see no wrong in going through with it” Rarity winked at me “Tesla can be wed to as many as he wants,” Celestia smiled “there is a rather disproportionate ratio of mares to stallions in Equestria after all”, as soon as she finished speaking, it was then that a large crowd formed in less than a blink of an eye, all mares “Oh, fuckberries,” I groaned “How’s that chivalry o’ yers gonna work now pardner?” Applejack lightly punched me on the shoulder “I’ll think of something,” I bit my lip, changing to eon form, my friends taking their usual places upon my back, Applejack climbing into the same place as before as I soared toward the lake, turning invisible on the way, landing by the crystal clear water, Applejack and the others climbing off, the former of which sat by my side as I lay by the body of water “Ya’ll didn’t tell me you could turn invisible,” Applejack laughed “Ah’ll have tah remember that tha next time ya’ll are running fer yer life from tha local heat wave” “Aren’t you bothered by it?” I tilted my head “Ah’ve got a different period to the others, twilight and Rainbow Dash also,” she nickered “why, worried Ah’ll rape ya in yer sleep?” “Well, taking your strength and my refusal to hit females into account, yes, yes I am” I bit my lip, again “Ah wouldn’t do anything ya’ll don’t want me tah do” she scratched the part behind my ears; I found myself leaning into the scratch, almost purring as I did so “What’s this, found a weak point have Ah?” she smiled, pinching the tip of my ear, I yelped, quite literally, shuddering as she massaged it between her finger and thumb “I wonder if anyone’s going to be jealous that you got to me before they did,” I hummed “Probably,” she sighed “Ah’ve had quite a few suitors mahself, turns out they were only after me for mah ‘Element Of Harmony’ status,” she placed a hand on my back “But Ah doubt you’d do that, yer too dedicated to yer friends tah do such a thing, right , Pardner?” she glanced down toward me, I lifted my head, staring at her right in her beautiful emerald eyes “I would never do anything to intentionally harm, or bring harm to, my friends, family, loved ones, and Nakama, that includes you, Lady of the Earth, Knight’s honour” “Thank you, Rick, really, Ya’ll have no idea how much Ah’ve wanted to hear ya say that,” she pecked my cheek, suddenly leaping on me, rolling me onto my back as she sat on my chest, I rolled her off me, she took me with her, causing the two of us to roll into the lake “Looks like Ah’ve gotten a little damp” she chuckled, removing her attire, discarding it at aside on the bank beside the lake, walking into the lake until the water was up to her chest, pulling me with her “how about a rodeo Sugarcube?” “There they are!” I heard someone yell from behind me, shortly followed by a stampede, I quickly turned invisible once again “Applejack, why are you, y’know?” Lyra stood at the front of the mob of mares “Ah’m taking a swim, can’t Ah have a little privacy?” Applejack frowned, floating so the water came up to her neck “And why’re Tesla’s friends and family with you?” Roseluck stood beside Lyra “Tesla trusts them tah be independent, ya’ll can’t keep babying them for their whole lives now can ya?” “I don’t believe you” Lyra’s horn flared a bright primrose colour; and all of a sudden I was up to my neck in lukewarm water in human form “So there you are, Tesla” Roseluck purred “we’ve got a few things we’d like to discuss” “Can’t it wait?” I quickly covered my mouth with both hands “Not really” Lyra grinned “What is it?” I grumbled “The mares of ponyville have been, shall we say, discussing with one-another, about you,” she winked “we’d like to join your herd, Tesla” “All of you?” I blinked, she nodded “Sorry, I can’t look after that many ponies, I think I’ll stick to the scarce few that I’ve now” “We’ll be back, should you wish to change your mind, human” Roseluck flashed her eyebrows at me as they marched off “Well that was anticlimactic” I released a breath I hadn’t realised I was holding “Take ‘em off Pardner” Applejack placed a hand on my shoulder, I blinked; she rolled her eyes, carefully yet quickly removing my jacket and shirt, followed by everything else I had on me, discarding it at the bank, placing them beside her clothes, leaping at me,, forcing me onto my back on the bank, planting her lips on my own, tracing her finger in a circle on my chest, tracing it down my stomach… -=-=- “Holy shit…” I mumbled as I lay beside Applejack in my eon form, my length slowly sliding back into its sheath “that’d be illegal, in an actual rodeo, me-thinks” thankfully, if anyone were to witness our conversation, Applejack had re-dressed herself “Ya’ll didn’t seem tah be complaining, legal or not” she smirked “I’m not paid to complain, Lady of the Earth” she winked, her form changing to that of a human, one with fair skin and about a foot taller than before, wearing earthy brown jeans and the same open-front brown leather jacket, complete with the same bandana bra/shirt, and the Stetson hat to finish the picture “Which one do ya’ll prefer?” she changed to between her human and anthro forms, her smile a sincere, and somewhat cute one “The first form’s cuter, but the other one’s got more beauty to it, so I’d say that they’re even” I shrugged “Then what’d happen if Ah were tah do this?” she raised an eyebrow, undoing the string that kept her hair bound, letting it fall freely as she sat beside me “Then it’d prove what I just said,” I stared at her “and here I thought you were beautiful before” “Thanks Sugarcube” she smiled, pecking my cheek =-=-=-= “Lady of the Earth” I bowed quickly having just beaten what took two princesses to defeat, the entity known as king Sombra “Ya don’t have tah call me that Y'know” she smiled “I find it works better than just ‘Applejack,’ no offense” I bit my lip “Call me Jackie” her cheeks turned a rosy, pink tint “Ah find it uncomfortable to be called a lady” “As you wish, Jackie” I nodded “I thought you said it took both you and Princess Luna all your power to defeat him and seal him in ice?” Twilight glanced toward Celestia, who nodded “It would appear that Tesla’s power is immeasurable,” Celestia smiled “that of which cannot be rivalled be neither my sisters power, or my own” “And it only grows larger and larger each time he fights” Blaze smirked “That’s impossible!” Twilight snapped “Celestia and Luna are the most powerful ponies on Equis” “Not forgetting Faust are we?” Kiary simpered “Second most powerful, she corrected herself “Second most powerful ponies, I’m not a pony, remember,” I sighed, changing to eon form, Applejack climbed unto my back “and since when did this become a battle for power?” “That was a rather anticlimactic battle” Blaze hummed “shall we do lunch?” my stomach let out an unearthly growl “I’ll take that as a yes =-=-=-= When we got back to ponyville, I noticed a familiar brown unicorn with a golden mane and tail with a green cardigan, staring at the pony-turned anthro passenger sat upon my back “Holy Celestia…” he breathed, drooling “Sorry pardner, Ah’m already spoken for” Applejack patted my lightly on the side of my neck, seeing as Snowdrop had once again perched herself between my ears “What’ll it take” his gaze turned toward me “More than what you’ve got; believe me” I glimmered “my friends, family and Nakama are my religion, so to speak, may the Daedra have mercy on those of whom try to either harm them or take them away, for mercy shall not be mine that day” he quickly galloped away “Cryptic” Blaze laughed “You know as much as I do, Blaze” I gleamed “So I do” she chortled “Where do you get these forms anyway,” I blinked, glancing back toward the pony/human upon my back as she changed to her human form “not that I’m complaining” “From yer laptop thingy,” Applejack smirked “ya’ll have some interesting stuff on there, pardner” “It’s not really my responsibility for what you find on it” I shrugged “So it isn’t” Celestia giggled “but it’s humorous nonetheless” “You do know that’s an invasion of privacy?” Blaze smirked “not that Tesla’s complaining” “So then, if he’s not complaining, where’s the problem?” Rainbow Dash gave a sly grin “Touché” she nodded “So, I heard you had an interesting time at the lake?” Twilight raised an eyebrow “We sure-sugar did” Applejack laughed “So how did that go?” she smirked “Their bonding is their business, not ours, Twilight, honestly” Rarity shook her head “Did you have to make a double reference when you fought back then?” Blaze grinned “I felt that it might work, so I used it” “And you quoted the new Daring Doo book” Rainbow Dash hovered beside me “Actually, I said it when I first met Ahuizotl, Daring Doo has merely integrated it into her stories” I shrugged, again “Ah wonder if Ah could, under circumstances, use magic the way you do, Rick” Applejack patted my back, I reverted to human form as she clambered to the floor “I think nine’s enough” I chuckled “Nine?” Twilight blinked “Natsu, Wendy, Gajeel, Cobra, Laxus, Sting, Rogue, Blaze and I” I nodded “I wonder what an earth dragon slayer would be like” Blaze folded her paws “Well, fire’s more of an offensive magic, whereas iron is defensive, and sky is supportive,” I explained “so it’d mostly be defence” “And how would one become a dragon slayer?” Snowdrop smiled “One of three ways,” I began “you can either be taught by a dragon, or have a dragon lacrima implanted into you, or both” “And you had both?” Celestia grimaced “I won’t lie by saying it wasn’t painful” I shuddered “imagine your entire magic network being dissolved and then rebuilt again on a molecular level, repeatedly” “Hey, no pain no gain,” Blaze gave a sly smirk “quite literally as well!” “An’ that’s why ya’ll don’t want me to use magic?” Applejack smiled, draping her arms around me, placing her head on my shoulder “Thank ya’ll, Rick, but Ah know that Ah can handle it, pardner” “If that’s truly what you want, then I won’t stop you, I can only warn you about what you’ll have to go through” I pecked her cheek -=-=- “So, you wish to learn dragon slayer magic?” Crystagia stared down toward Applejack with an expression of curiosity “If it’s alright with you, your majesty” Applejack bit her lip, her form changed, now in her anthro form “What generation would you like to be,” she gave a faint smile “first, second, or third?” “Third,” Applejack spoke boldly, and with a firm tone in her voice “So it shall be,” Crystagia’s eyes shone like snow-white suns as a crystal generated from apparently nowhere “And your element of choice, little one?” “Whatever should suit me best,” Applejack gleamed, glancing toward me, I shrugged as she took the crystal, which seemingly morphed into her skin, a spark flashed between the gemstone and her chest, and then she collapsed “Will she be alright, mother?” I caught Applejack before she hit the ground “She has much change to go through, my son,” Crystagia cooed her DNA itself will be altered to match her new abilities, she will become, what the ponies call, a Pegasus” “What element will she be?” Snowdrop tilted her head, resting upon my own “That is for her mind to decide, not my words” the dragon smiled “never in an eon have I seen someone so determined, other than you, to learn such power, Rick” I felt something lightly pressing against my hand, removing it, a pair of honey-white wings spread forth from her back, having pierced through her jacket “She’s ascended, just as Tesla has” Celestia smiled =-= A week passed without any sort of movement from Applejack, and I’d long since moved her to one of the spare bedrooms in the castle Knowing it was only a certain amount of time until her awakening, I placed my rucksack beside me, sifting through the contents, finding my laptop fairly easily, typing away at the rewrite of the ‘Equestria games’ scroll that Cadance had shown us in the Crystal Empire “What’re ya doin there, pardner?” my gaze darted toward the bed, Applejack was sat upright, smiling at me “You know the comically long sheet Cadance showed us at the Crystal Empire?” she nodded, “I’m rewriting it, the only problem is I don’t have a printer, which means I can’t show Celestia, Cadance or Luna” “Ah’m sure ya’ll could ask them” she nickered, pecking my cheek “Ah love ya Tesla, but don’t let ya think that Ah’ve grown any softer!” “Of course not, my little Jackie” I smiled “Mah little Ricky” “Her little what now,” I turned my gaze toward the doorway, Twilight, her friends, Spike included, the princesses and Shining Armour stood there, eyebrows raised as Crystal, angel and Ilona flew into the room “Didn’t know you took pet names Tesla?” Blaze stood beside me “So long as I don’t mind, I haven’t got a problem with it” I shrugged “Alright, my ickle Human” she gleamed, I raised an eyebrow “you’re right, that failed” “The things I put up with that emanate from you, sister” I shook my head “At least I’m not calling you a crazy hobo” she smirked “Touché” I nodded “Ya’ll are insane” Applejack laughed “You made your lady laugh, there’s one achievement for this week, right brother?” she grinned “That’s eight times now, I do believe” Snowdrop chimed from atop my head “Nine actually, my little Snowflake” I rolled my eyes “My little Human” she giggled “My little snow angel” I smiled “Touché” she nickered “my little guardian angel” “This could technically go on forever, thou I’m sure you the two of you will each need your own dictionary to do so” Crystal aww’d “Don’t give us ideas” Snowdrop and I smirked “So, about mah new abilities…” Applejack smiled “How do Ah use ‘em?” “I’m sure Crystagia and I can improvise something” I smiled, again -=-=(+)=-=- It took about two months, but Applejacks magic came along brilliantly As we glided walked to Sweet Apple Acres, Twilight and our friends by our side, Snowdrop atop my head, and Applejack stood in her original pony form atop my back “AJ,” Applebloom bounded toward us Applejack hopped from my back to the floor as I lowered myself to the ground “Yer an alicorn!” “So Ah am, bloom, so Ah am” Applejack smiled, draping an arm around her younger sister, followed by a wing “How in the hay…? The red pony known as Big Mac stared at Applejack, and then toward me, I shrugged “well, ain’t that great,” he sighed, noticing the circular crystal embedded in his sister’s chest that glowed with a soft blue aura, walking back toward the farmhouse, coming back around five minutes later with an elderly bright green mare with a whitening mane and tail with orangey eyes and polka-dot orange scarf “Well now Dear, Ah heard ya’ll have become a goddess” The aged mare spoke with a calm considerate tone, turning her attention to me “Ah’ve yet tah thank ya for all ya’ll have done fer us, Applejack’s told me much about you, young‘un” “Just doing my job” I smiled, casting a glance toward the stallion stood beside her “If Applejack says ya’ll are alright, then Ah don’t mind in the slightest” he smiled, which I found rather disturbing “Thanks, I guess” I blinked, raising an eyebrow -=- “So, what’re you doing?” I stood beside Applejack, my friends, family and Sweetie Belle, Kiary, Scarlet, and Snowdrop propped in their usual places upon my head and shoulders “Sapphire Shores’ Equestria wide tour begins in Canterlot next week,” Rarity stressed “If I am to manage such a feat of work, I’ll need to have it done by the day after tomorrow at the latest” she exhaled sharply “Could I ask a favour of you, Rarity?” Sweetie Belle glanced between me and Rarity “I suppose so, it depends on what it is” Rarity smiled “Then you can help me with the show for tomorrow night?” the dressmaker’s little sister squee’d “Sweetie Belle, I’m behind schedule as it is,” Rarity sighed “I don’t know if I can” “I understand” the alabaster filly sighed, moping off “Then again, I suppose I could manage it, if I had a few other ponies working with me” she rolled her eyes, Sweetie Belle leapt at her “Thank you; you’re the best sister ever!” Sweetie Belle chimed “I can argue with that” I smiled “Ooh rah!” Blaze laughed “Wasn’t referring to you, Blaze” I grumbled “Oh?” she raised an eyebrow “then who do you mean?” “Who else?” I shrugged “Ah yes, the human” she slowly nodded “Sorry to hear about that” “Not your fault” I sighed, “I’ll see you later, Rarity” I turned and vacated the boutique, Sweetie belle clambered up onto my shoulder, I stopped as she pecked my cheek, climbing back down, continuing to walk into the town plaza “How did she die?” Applejack quickly bit her lip, covering her mouth with a hoof “Negligence” I frowned “and I was powerless to do anything about it, may she eternally rest in peace” “Who’re we talking about?” Rainbow Dash glided down toward me “Nobody important” I shrugged “Horseapples,” Applejack smirked, changing to her anthro form, placing a hand on my shoulder “anypony who’s important to ya is important tah me, right Pardner?” “Fair do’s” I smiled “How goes the magic training?” “It’s coming along fairly well enough” she conjured a bright emerald-green flame in her hand “But Ah don’t care about that, Ah care about you, Rick, and Ah’ve told mah family that Ah want tah move in with ya, if that’s Ok with you” she winked “Do what you will, I won’t stop you” I smiled -=-=- As I stood in Alphamon form on the hill near the castle in Canterlot, wielding the Ouryuken blade, I lifted it high on the air, turning it so that it was pointing downward, planting it into the earth, reverting to human form, Scarlet Snowdrop and Kiary landing/clambering into their usual positions as I walked away, my friends and family walking beside me “You’re just gonna leave it there?” Blaze tilted her head, I raised an eyebrow “oh, I see, best leave it be then” “Are you well?” Celestia trotted beside Luna and Cadance “In suppose it can’t get any better” I smiled “That’s great” she glimmered “I’ve been talking with your daughter, the one of which you seem to be ignorant towards, her name’s Starry Skies, and she’d like to apologize for whatever it is she’s done” she sidestepped, revealing the alicorn in question, who slowly made her way toward me “Hello, Father,” Starry Skies gave a weak smile, holding out a hoof, I jerked forward, draping my wings and arms around her “I’ve missed you, father, ever since you vanished an eon ago, I’ve been wandering and waiting for your inevitable return” “Yeah, inevitable” I Blaze glanced toward Celestia “no need to remind us of that particular fact, Sky” “And you are?” Starry skies blinked, staring at Blaze “Blaze, Tesla’s oh-so adorable adoptive sister” she winked “What are you?” Starry skies tilted her head “A Typhlosion” Blaze smirked “I’ve been all across Equestria, and not once have I seen such a strange being” she hummed “I’ve been with Tesla throughout his travels all across the universe, and I’ve only seen a talking pony once before” Blaze shrugged “So I guess we’re even” -=- Once Starry Skies had joined us on the way back to Ponyville, Applejack galloped toward me, leaping atop my back as I hovered in the town square in eon form, changing to anthro form, sitting upon the area between my neck and back “Where have ya’ll been, sugarcube?” Applejack smiled “Canterlot, I had some things to deal with” I bit my lip “I apologize for not telling you beforehand” “That’s alright, so long as ya’ll are safe” she simpered as a rather pungent scent made its way into my nostrils, I quickly shook my head, but that only made it worse “What’s that stench?” Blaze shuddered “You smell it as well then?” I grimaced “Kind of hard not to” she rolled her eyes “But I think it’s coming from her” she pointed toward a creamy-yellowish mare with a two-toned blue mane and tail, all other ponies who might, or not, have been present quickly dashed into their homes, locking the doors behind them “It’s always the same…” the mare mumbled, tears in her eyes, glancing toward me, leaping about a foot in the air, revealing a large set of ‘assets’ around her crotch, quivering in fear as she ever-so slowly made her way toward me “Hello..?” she whimpered “Good morning,” I smiled she flinched “Is there a good place we could talk,” she borderline-whispered, I nodded “alone?” my friends and family quickly dismounted as I reverted to human form, Applejack standing beside me “You changed,” she quickly blinked “but that’s not important, I need you to take me somewhere, and quickly!” I crouched down, allowing her to climb onto my back, with her hooves wrapped around my neck Once she’d guided me to a specific, and rather remote, region of ponyville that was well-hidden from the rest of town, she fetched a bucket from nearby, placing it just under her sizeable breasts “I need you to milk me” she blushed profusely, her face turning a beetroot colour, I shrugged, crouching down and doing so without much thought to my actions, each squeeze brought a elongated moan of bliss as she shuddered with each torrent When I was done, the bucket had overflowed twice over “Thank you…” she muttered, “I’m sorry for the possible pain you must’ve been in” I bit my lip, again “Oh no, it’s not a problem, really” she waves a dismissive hoof “I’m not normally this reckless, shunned as I may be for being so… different, from other ponies” “I’ve been there” I hummed “so what do you do?” I sat beside her “I owned a now-abandoned dairy in Trottingham called the Milky Way, like my name” she suddenly gasped “Oh my gosh, I didn’t even tell you my name before that. My name is Milky Way, What’s yours?” “Tesla, or Rick, whichever you prefer” I held out a hand, which she shook rather daintily “Huh, that’s not the name I would have guessed, but it’s a nice name,” Milky Way smiled “So, what brings you here?” “I wasn’t bough here by choice, per se, but by prophecy” I winked “I can tell you later if you’d like” “So, you’re a supposed mythical hero who’s going to change everypony’s lives in Equestria?” she laughed “I can tell already that you’re the better type of person, err, pony,” I chuckled “would you like to tag along with me, Milky Way?” “I’ve not got many friends, but I’d love to, Rick” she giggled “Why?” you ask. “You seem nice. It’s because you’re a serial killer, isn’t it?” I grinned, she laughed “No, it’s because of…well…look at me.” She was obviously referring to her ‘mounds’ “These aren’t natural; I guess that scared a lot of ponies off,” She looks at you. “You think I’m strange too, don’t you?” “No, not at all; you seem like a perfectly normal pony, aside from them” I glanced down for a second “But, it doesn’t bother me, Miss Way,” I went on “if anything, they make you unique, in a way” “You’re just saying that to be nice” she winked “I’m being who I am” I smirked, you can come out now, Blaze” the bushed behind us rustled as my friends, family, Blaze also included, appeared from the hedge-line behind me as I glanced in said direction “You were watching us?” Milky Way started to fret” “Kind of, we wanted to see where you’d go with your privacy” Blaze shrugged “That’s rude” I frowned “Can’t blame me for being who I am, just call me curious George” she flashed her eyebrows at me -=- “So, did ya’ll have tah take so long?” Applejack smirked “Forgive the delay Jackie” I quickly bowed, Milky Way now clung unto my back “And who’s this?” she raised an eyebrow “I’m Milky Way,” the newly acclaimed milkmare waved a nervous hoof “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Jackie” “Call me Applejack” she glanced toward me, then back toward Milky Way “But…” Milky Way blinked, glancing toward me as she placed her head upon my shoulder, then back toward Applejack “I don’t understand…?” “Rick an’ I are lovers” Applejack winked at me “but he’s herding, so it don’t really matter tah me who he chooses, so long as he tells me before-hoof” “The, perhaps I could…” Milky Way stammered, gulping audibly as her face once again turned beetroot “What’s going on?” Milky Way literally leapt into the air, I quickly turned, flew up and caught her mid-ascent “Did ya have tah do that Rainbow?” Applejack frowned at the cyan Pegasus mare who laughed till her sides no doubt hurt, before staring at Milky Way “So, who’s the new mare in town?” Rainbow Dash blinked “I’m Milky Way” Rainbow Dash took one look at Milky Way’s ‘private area,’ then burst out laughing “What’s so funny?” I growled, she immediately stopped, stifling laughter as I landed, placing the milkmare back on the ground as carefully as I could, to which, she climbed back onto me back, placing her head upon my shoulder “It’s just that a mare with ‘assets’ like those is, can Ah say, rare, to put it frankly” Applejack smiled “I heard there was a new pony in town,” Pinkie Pie seemingly invented earth-pony-teleportation just to appear before us, glancing toward milky way and making a loud, elongated gasp, before galloping off toward the library “Now ya‘ll are in fer it” Applejack laughed “I don’t get it?” Milky Way blinked “She’s basically going to throw you a supposedly named ‘surprise party’” I rolled my eyes “Not a surprise anymore, brother” Blaze laughed as Starry Skies appeared via teleportation =-= When we made it to the library, the door creaked open slightly with the breeze, the inside of the treehouse was pitch-black, I edged my way in alongside Starry skies, Applejack and the others Suddenly, the lights flicked on and practically the whole of ponyville appeared at once, cheering out loud; “Surprise,” what seemed to be the entirety of the town’s populace gleamed, Milky Way apparently choosing now of all times to have a heart-attack as Pinkie Pie bounded around us in a circle “Were you, surprised, were ya, were ya, were ya?” she glimmered, Milky Way nodded “That’s good, it means I’m still as good as ever!” “That’s great” Milky Way fainted, I quickly caught her before she could fall “It’d appear that the guest of honour has stage fright, of sorts” Rarity hummed as she, Twilight, and Fluttershy trotted toward me “You can take her to the spare bedroom” Twilight led the way up the stairs, I quickly followed, laying the milkmare down on the bed in the after-mentioned room “I wonder where she got those” Rarity glanced toward Milky Way’s ‘assets’ “she’s not a normal pony, that’s for sure” “Neither is Snowdrop” I glanced toward the filly laying atop my head “I’m not?” Snowdrop looked hurt “You’re my little snowflake; that alone makes you different” I smiled “And what, about me?” Applejack stood beside me in her human form, pecking my cheek “You’re my little Jackie; that alone should be enough” I bit my lip for the third time in two hours “So it is,” she giggled, reverting to her anthro form, Snowdrop quickly vacated both herself and my goggles from my head, placing them back over Applejack’s Stetson as she planted it upon my skull “Cowboys and clockwise, now there’s a duo for the ages” Blaze rolled her eyes “Didn’t know you were into fashion, dear sister” I laughed “There’s a lot you don’t know about me because you’ve never asked” she tutted “And I never ask because I respect your privacy, Blaze” I smirked “if only you could do the same” -=-=- “Why’re we here again?” Blaze stretched her back, standing on all fours as we stood outside the ponyville spa “I thought Tesla could use the relaxation” Rarity giggled “So you say, but I’ve an idea that I know where this is going” she shrugged as we walked into the spa “Good morning sir,” earth two ponies, one pink with a blue mane and tail, the other , blue, with a pink mane and tail, bowed as they trotted toward us I’m Aloe” the pink mare winked “And I’m Lotus, the blue spa-pony flashed her eyebrows at me “How may we serve you, milord?” “Just browsing” I glanced toward Blaze, who gave a sly/smug grin in my direction “Well, any friend of Rarity’s is a friend of ours” she nickered cutely “would you like the normal, or the V.I.P?” “I don’t mind,” I shrugged “Right this way then” Aloe smiled, guiding me to a ‘back room’ “you’ll need to remove your clothes for this sir” she blushed, I rolled my eyes, removing all but my shorts, she gestured to a bed, which I lay on my back as she bought two others on either side of it “Please lay your wings at your sides, sir” I did, she stood on her hind legs, smiling at me “So, what is this, just five minutes or- oh, god…!” I moaned as she lightly kneaded the joints in my wings, moving along the edges of the feathered appendages, smiling again, she moved to my other wings as Lotus started on my other wings After what felt like eternity, the spa-ponies relented, standing beside me “Please turn onto your back, sir” Lotus winked, I smiled, rolling onto my back “Oh, it appears our customer quite enjoyed the wing massage” Aloe nodded toward the evident bulge in my boxers “Well, sister, we do say that pleasing the customers is our top priority” Lotus turned to face me, making a series of quick glances toward my nether regions “What would you have us do now, Milord?” “Your spa, you do what you want, my little Lotus” she leapt at me, standing above me with her hooves pinning my legs and hands, pressing her lips against mine “I’ll have to go all the way then won’t I?” she grinned =-=-= As I staggered out of the spa, Twilight, her friends, alongside my friends and family and Blaze, walked with me to the plaza “I think that went rather well” Blaze glimmered toward me with a sly smirk “Speak for yourself” I grinned, Snowdrop, Scarlet, and Kiary aboard their usual places, Milky Way stood beside me opposite Blaze “Says the one who looks as though he has trouble standing upright” Twilight laughed “And I feel as though I’ve just lost half a tonne” I rolled my eyes “Also, you smell” Blaze gagged, I lifted my collar, inhaling via my nostrils, I smelt of a mixture of berries and fruits “As if I didn’t have enough problems already” I mumbled “I know, right,” she chortled “now you’re gonna have a mountain of ponies after you” “Cliché” Snowdrop yawned “Isn’t it just?” Blaze sighed “Well at least it can’t get any weirder” Snowdrop, Kiary, and Scarlet quickly clambered onto my neck as I changed to eon form “Ok, I take it back, it got weirder” I grumbled, standing by my friends and family as Vinyl stood at a set of turntables in an what appeared to be a human form, with similar shades to the ones she usually had, a white shirt, jacket and shorts, along with purple laced trainers and leggings with a pair of stylised headphones “Nothing we’re not used to, right brother?” Blaze rolled her eyes “Quite” I simpered “Thought her music’s not bad, I have heard better” I reached into the pocket of my clockwise jacket, wearing the earphones, turning the IPod on to the ‘Fairy Tail Theme,’ walking with Blaze and the others to the lake, sitting above the water, using my wings to hover as I used purple flare to collect spheres of water, throwing them about the air above me, catching and twisting them into various shapes and sizes, creating a second pair of arms of fire, doubling the amount of concentration needed to mould the water into the way I wanted it, closing my eyes as I imagined the water flowing as a fluidic/metallic substance, before slamming the four spheres into one above me, letting it fall into the lake, inhaling, then exhaling as I repeated the process When I finished, I unplugged my earphones, turning my IPod off, looking toward the bank, Twilights friends were stood there with Celestia, staring at me, eyebrows raised “Training concentration, I do believe” Blaze sighed “How is the water not evaporating?” Twilight blinked as I glided toward her and the others “Purple flare” I smiled, walking back to ponyville, where vinyl was still blasting her music via comically large subwoofers, making the tables that were laden with snacks and refreshments and other party-based foodstuffs quake “Someone’s cranked up the bass, I see” Blaze simpered “So,” Celestia smiled “what’s this I hear about you getting a V.I.P spa?” It’s not what you think, believe me” Blaze shuddered, glancing toward me “can you feel your prunes yet, brother?” I shook my head “Not your average massage then?” Celestia giggled “ “Clearly” she laughed “Clockwise, because the usual spartan and/or UNSC uniform is just plain tacky” “Though the rest of their military isn’t” I raised an eyebrow “UNSC, and/or any other planet Earth-based military translates to, mess with democracy and we’ll smack you hard enough that your ancestors will feel it, Semper Fi” “Now that we’re back, what do you propose we do?” she let out a stifled yawn =-=-= When I awoke, it was in eon form, with Vinyl and Octavia either side of me and Rainbow Dash lying upon my stomach/chest area, and with Black Beetle arched over my neck “Well this is fun” I mumbled, carefully removing the changeling from my neck, placing the cyan Pegasus on the ground also “What happened?” I sat by the lake, staring out over the crystal clear body of water by my family and Blackjack, seeing as Velvet Remedy and Littlepip still asleep elsewhere “You got drunk, most of ponyville ended up riding you enough to make a rapidash on Viagra jealous” Blaze laughed “Also, you smell of… actually, I don’t want to know what that is” “That’s easily solved” I dove into the water, shaking myself about, before returning to the lake “That’s better” she sighed as we made our way back to ponyville, the citizens now beginning to awaken, steadily making their way to their homes “That was quite the party, Rick” Twilight giggled “What’d I do this time?” “You sang, whilst drunk,” Blaze sighed “Again” “And then collapsed, at which point Rainbow Dash thought you’d make a nice bed” Twilight nickered “And to whom did I sing, Lady of Magic?” I blinked “Damnit” “You sang to us, quite nicely too” she chimed =-=-= As we, and by ‘we,’ I mean Blaze, Snowdrop Scarlet, my friends, and I, alongside Twilight and her friends, Spike and Celestia included, sat by the lake once again, Crystagia landed before us, causing the earth itself to rumble “I have heard of you victory over the dark king known as ‘Sombra’” Crystagia smiled “congratulations are in order, but first, I must give unto you the gift that ember wields, as she has gone abroad to the dragon lands to be with Grandoa “A second element,” Blaze blinked “Not quite” the legendary dragon gave a soft laugh “the power over all elements, slightly at first, but progressive, and, given the right training, almost perfect” “I don’t understand” I blinked “how can a single being have power over every element” “With great amounts of discipline and training, my dear son” she smiled “Crystalline dragons, -that of which I am the sole surviving member-, have a naturally untapped magic energy source that gives them access to eventual mastery over multiple elements, and, if you use it right, two or three or more at once,” she continued “if you are to fight powerful enemies such as the anomaly, I expect you do use the correct polarity and level of magic” “That’s like a mega-hybrid!” Blaze laughed “Indeed, but, the transformation of Rick’s magical ‘vessel’ let’s call it, shall be most painful” she hummed, glancing toward me “are you ready?” I nodded “then I shall bequeath these powers to you, my son” a crystal appeared before her, seemingly fading into view, I touched it Suddenly, the gem ‘fused’ with me, and I collapsed to the floor, screaming out in pain, clawing at the earth as I writhed in agony “Try to focus on what you’re fighting for, Rick, that should hopefully be enough to spur you on” Crystagia cooed as my eyes felt like they were blazing with the heart and heat of a sun gone nova The pain lasted for what felt like hours, before I fell limp, lying on my back on the grass “Tesla,” Blaze nudged my side, “Hey, encore, encore!” her nudges became gentle shoves “come on Telsa, you’ve been through worse than this right?” clicked my neck, blinking, pulling myself upright, shaking my head “You had to do that, of all references?” I laughed “There is one thing I should point out” Crystagia ever-so lightly nudged my back with a knuckle “those skills of elements other than you had from the start, will be more effective against you, you’re weaker to all but fire” she continued “how you use your newfound powers, however, is up to you” “More than two elements,” Twilight gasped “how is such a thing possible?” she glanced toward Celestia “It’s happened once before, and only once, but we do not speak of it” Celestia frowned “there was one such human who attained such power from another dragon, but he fell astray, using his powers for chaos and treachery rather than good and harmony” “You remember it like it was yesterday, that is good” “How is a mad-pony with powers like yours a good thing?” Twilight frowned also “Those who forget history, are always condemned to repeat it” Element of magic” I sat, cross-legged, moulding a ball of fire between my hands “Once again you speak with wisdom that betrays your chronological age” Celestia smiled “Let’s just hope you don’t get too overpowered” Blaze patted my back with a grin “He’s got the power of what could surmount to a dragon-god within his very being and soul, I think he’s powerful enough as is” Blackjack guffawed “I am not a god,” Crystagia smiled “and neither is Tesla, we merely have the powers that may be considered equal to that of a god” “Being god means true immortality, being god means having to bear the burden of knowing and watching your friends die whilst you’re powerless to do anything about it, god means having to live with it, eternally, and thus is why I neither wish, nor claim, to be a god” “It’s merely a burden we have to bear” Celestia stared at the ground with a sullen look upon her face “I do not feel sorry for you out of pity, but respect, I can only imagine a small glimmer of what you’ve been through” I flinched “What secondary element do I start with?” I glanced up toward the dragon towering above me “Whatever element you’re most comfortable with, Gemstone salamander” Crystagia gleamed “Dark-fire’s cliché as is, lightning-flame’s already been used by another “Tsuchi-Hono,” Blaze smirked “Teslakana, the one and only Earthblaze dragon slayer” “Sounds too awkward” I hummed “What about Spiral energy?” Snowdrop chimed as she once again perched herself atop my head “It’s a type of energy, that’s for certain, but I don’t think it counts as an element,” I clicked my tongue “I had to transfer part of my magical energy into spiral energy in order to even use it, that being said, I can use Gurren Lagann without the after-mentioned transfer, so it’s not out of the realm of possibilities, My little snowflake” “I love you Daddy” she cooed “And I you, my little snowdrop” I smiled “If you ever need me to help with your training, just use what you have, Rick” Crystagia smiled, taking to the skies, soaring overhead and eventually out of sight “She’s referring to the Ryū kyoku, isn’t she?” Blaze rolled her eyes “So it would seem, Dear Sister” I smiled -=0=- At the end of the following week, I, my friends and family walked with Applejack, Applebloom, Granny Smith and Big Mac down a path that I didn’t know existed I opened my mouth to say something, when a pony in crutches hobbled past us, followed by a small crowd of ponies that seemed to have one sort of ailment or another “Where in the hay are they goin’?” Applejack blinked “Well, we might as well find out” I shrugged, walking with her and the others, following the crowd “What in tarnation?” she blinked at the sight of a large circus tent with all sorts of decorations “Looks like someone’s compensating for something” Blaze laughed as we made our way toward the tent When we got into the tent, there was a wheeled musical instrument of sorts, the crank of which was turned in a dark green aura as two ponies, both a creamy yellow with red-and-white manes began to sing As they finished their song, they stopped dead in their tracks, staring at me in apparent surprise, then toward Blaze, and finally, toward Blackjack “What do we have here Flam, two anomalies and a cyber-pony?” the one on the right gave a snarky grin “It’d appear so, Flim,” the other unicorn smirked “have you come to bear witness to our remedies that’re capable of anything?” “So am I,” I deadpanned “I can do anything because I believe in my capabilities, and those of my friends and family, can you say the same, little ponies?” I frowned “besides, you’re cure-all tonic’s just a mixture of apples and other fruits” I gestured toward a table at the far side of the tent that had an assortment of fruits and a juicer of sorts with empty vials with labels on them, I turned to face the crowd behind me “If you want your ailments or illnesses to vacate your being, so to speak, go to the hospital, and the believe in what they can do, believe in their capabilities, just as I do, if we are to lower ourselves to something as low as a lie in the form of simple fruit juice then our minds and hearts will never progress, if you are to be well again, all I ask is that you believe!” I gleamed -=- After receiving several rounds of applaud and cheering from the crowd, I left with my friends and family in tow “Honestly, they spread lies through an as-of-yet unknown liquid, who do they think they’re fooling” Blackjack scowled “I’ve cards that’re worth more than they are” I spat “You still have them on you?” Velvet Remedy blinked, I nodded toward a deck-case I had attached t my belt “Oh,” she smiled “I see they’ve survived the radiation of the wastes then?” “Good thing too,” Blaze patted my back “wouldn’t want them to decay now, would we?” As I sat, leant against a tree in the park with my friends and family, I took out my deck from the case that was strapped to my belt “So, what’ve you got?” Blaze seemingly pulled a small metal tin from nowhere “Shall we play?” “Seems like a good way to pass the time” I shrugged, sitting opposite her as we set our decks on the ground before us As we played game after game, I noticed of Twilight stood nearby, clearly having been there for a while “And finally, I use my Hieratic dragon of Asar to attack, ending the game” I smiled “Looks like it’s seven all” Blaze shook paws/hands with me “I’ll get you next time, brother” “What’re you doing?” Twilight trotted up to my side, staring at the cards we had played, levitating one to get a closer look at it “It’s a game” Blaze smirked “a rather addictive one, regardless of how complicated it is” “It looks complicated” she giggled “how long have you been playing?” “In general, or since you watched us?” I grinned; her cheeks turned a rosy pink tint “In general” she nickered “Since I was eight-ish” I shrugged “ “What about that one” she gazed at the ‘Junk Synchron’ “what’s a ‘tuner’?” “It means that if it were to be used, or to tune, as it were, another, non-tuner monster, I could synchro summon” I placed the hieratic dragon of Nebthet and junk synchron in play to the graveyard, placing a third, more powerful card, into play, she picked the two discarded monsters with her magic, then look between them and the new card; Stardust Dragon; carefully “So a three-star card and a five-star would make an eight star card?” she blinked “Precisely” I nodded “or you could use four level two’s, or two level four’s, or a level six and a level two, or a level seven and a level one card, the stars mean the cards level” “And what about these, she placed the two cards back onto the graveyard pile, replacing them in her grip with the two cards I had face down below the stardust dragon, “Those’re spell cards, used to either empower your monsters that you have in play, or to help you in general “And this one?” she picked up a third card, glancing between it and the other two “It’s a trap card, they’re used to either help you by defending your cards from being sent to the graveyard pile, or to stop you opponent from doing what would otherwise lead to victory “What’s this then?” she placed the three cards back onto the field, picking up my deck “That’s the deck, when the game starts, you take five cards from the top, and when your turn starts, you take an extra, also from the top in what’s called your ‘draw phase’” “And what happens after that/” she tilted, placing my deck back on the ground “The ‘Standby phase,’ which isn’t important unless a card effect(s) mentions it,” I smiled “then comes the main phase one, where you can summon or set, monsters, spells, and traps, setting a card means playing it face down, like so” I flipped stardust dragon face-down, she nodded, I smiled, continued the lecture “then comes the battle phase, now, if I are the first to start a game, you cannot attack, but your opponent can, when it comes to their turn, monsters in defence position like so,” I flipped stardust dragon face-up, side facing toward me and Blaze “if a monster attacks a defending monster, the opponents life points don’t reduce, unless a card effect says otherwise, but if an attacking monster beats another, the loser’s life points get reduced by the difference” “I think I understand,” Twilight mumbled “what happens if the cards when they’re ‘destroyed’?” “They get sent to the discard pile,” I simpered “or as it‘s known by many, if not all, the graveyard pile” “Why do spells and traps go to the graveyard?” she blinked “It’s just how the game works I suppose” I shrugged “Never fully understood it myself, but I suppose they’ve to go somewhere once they’re either used or destroyed” “Seems fair enough,” she gave a faint smile, “could you teach me how to play?” =-=-= “That’s four games,” Blaze smirked “I told you that it’s addictive” “Could I perhaps keep the deck?” Twilight bit her lip “Sure,” I smiled, pecking her cheek, she leant into me, sitting beside me “My little Stardust Dragon” she giggled “My little Endymion” I smiled, draping a wing around her, placing my cards into the case -=-=- As I was sat under the shade of a tree in the park days later, I felt a nudge “Happy birthday” Blaze pulled a face-down card from behind her, no doubt from her own inventory, handing it to me “Thanks blaze, I flipped it over as she gave a smug grin Hieratic sun dragon overlord of Heliopolis Rank: 8 Attribute: Light ATK: 3000 DEF: 2400 “Where on earth did you get this?” I blinked “A game shop down the road from where we used to live” she winked “Whatcha got there TK?” Rainbow Dash landed beside me “Just a part of a card game from where I’m from” I smiled “That’s kinda cool, for a card” she looked the card over “Why’s it shiny?” “It means it’s rarer than others” I reached inside my rucksack pulling out my laptop, opening it, “Apparently we have internet here” Blaze observed the tiny plug-like symbol on the bottom of my screen “Let’s see how much this’s worth” I smiled, accessing said internet, using the obvious search engine, typing in the card’s code into said search engine: GAOV-EN048 “Forty-five quid,” Blaze whistled “and I got it out of a pack of nine for three-fifty-seven each per-pack” “That’s quite a bit of money just for a card,” Rainbow Dash stared at the screen “what’ll you do with it, since there’s only one in the whole of Equis, it’s almost legendary!” “Then I’ll guard it with everything I have to” I laughed “sounds crazy, to guard something so basic as a card with my life, but since Blaze gave it to me, I think I can work with it” “I’d keep it in the treasury if I were you, that way, if it’s ever removed, the princess will know about it as soon as it happens” she grinned “That’s a good option, but I’d rather keep it on me, that way I’ll know if it goes missing, or gets stolen” “Or you could give it to me,” she gleamed, I stared at her “what, I’m the element of loyalty, I look out for my friends, isn’t that what you do?” “If a little more severely” Blaze chortled, patting my back “Tesla put away the SS-45” “Fine…” I mumbled, placing the firearm I’d just reached for back into my rucksack “You ruin my fun, sister” “No, I’m just making sure you don’t go AWOL and blow someone’s head off” she rolled her eyes “Alright, touché” I tilted my head “So, what’d you get for your birthday?” Rainbow Dash “I’ve got all I need” I placed the new card into my pocket “besides, I’m glad to see at least two people remembered” “Happy birthday Tesla” Blackjack and my other friends and family beamed “Well, I suppose one of Pinkie Pie’s Parties is in order” Blaze sighed “that mare has no self-control whatsoever” “Did someone mention party?” Pinkie Pie chose now of all times to appear out of nowhere “It’s the Rick-meister’s birthday” Blaze patted my neck, Pinkie Pie practically teleported away, running at literal breakneck speeds toward the town “See, what’d I, tell ya, no self-control” Blaze laughed “That’s because it’s Pinkie Pie we’re talking about here, she’s gonna do what she feels she’s gonna need to do to make others smile” Rainbow Dash laughed as a grey Pegasus with a yellow mane and tail landed before me, placing a small pile of letters by my side, pecking my cheek and flying off “Looks like Derpy’s got a thing for you” Rainbow Dash smirked “She the local mailmare?” I smiled as Snowdrop climbed atop my head, Scarlet and Kiary clambering onto my shoulders “She’s the best mailmare we have, if a little clumsy, that’s how she got the name ‘Derpy’ her real name’s Ditzy Doo” “Cute” Blaze nodded As I walked through ponyville, I once again encountered the silver mare with the golden mane and tail, who hovered up to me, placing her hooves on my shoulder, placing her lips against mine “Why can’t you kiss me like that?” I heard a mare in the background snap toward the stallion beside her “Somepony’s gonna score” another pony whistled “That’s a lucky mare…” a third pony sighed “And adorable to boot!” a fourth pony gleamed “So this is how many ponies you’ve been in a relationship with?” Black Beetle deadpanned “I don’t mind” Derpy giggled, handing me a muffin, pecking my cheek again, and flying into the nearby confectionery “Not very subtle, but I suppose love is what it is” I grinned “What, she your little silver angel or something?” Kiary smirked “Just wait for her to knock you out via blunt instrument to the noggin,. Followed of course, by a course of super-happy-fun-times, not that you be complaining about any of it the following morning, right?” Blaze guffawed “Right- Damnit!” I frowned “And the cat’s outta the bag!” she laughed -=-=- “Why did we do this again?” Blaze handed me a hammer and chisel, having worked with me to carve a sentence into the outside walls of the castle next to the front gates/doors that read ‘follow either your heart or your ruler, one will lead to borderline-tyranny, the other, to freedom’ “I thought it’d be fun” I returned the hammer and chisel to my inventory, walking into the castle “So what’re we doing today then,” she smiled “you already posted the ‘Calling All OC’s’ blog on a certain few websites, a bold move, might I add?” “I’m just waiting to see how many people sign up for it” Kiary smirked “As am I” Littlepip simpered “I just hope it doesn’t cause a rift in space-time to tear all across Equestria and the chariot of thunder blazes through at the speed of light” “What in the actual hell are the chances of that happening?” Blaze laughed “You’d be surprised, sister” I cautioned “Would I now?” she knocked on the door to the throne room once we made it through the castle “Enter” we entered the throne room, my friends and family walking beside me as we did so “Tesla,” Celestia smiled “I’ve a quest for you to do, if you can call it that” her smile vanished as quickly as it appeared “I am yours to command, Lady of the sun” I bowed “I may have to reward you for that when you get back” she gave a faint grin “Save it for later, just tell me where to go and what I need to do, princess” I smiled “Indeed” she quickly nodded “I’ve gotten word that a rebellion is occurring in Africa somewhere, seeing where I’m going with this?” “You want me to stop it?” “Not quite, I want you to find common ground between the two sides, even the playing field, as it were” she tilted a hoof “By your word” I quickly bowed again “if I may ask, how, do I get there, princess?” “I’ve arranged a ship and a regiment of the finest guard in Equestria” “That’s what she said,” Blaze laughed, I shot her a glare, “sorry” “How long do you expect this to take?” Velvet Remedy smiled “A week, maybe two” Celestia frowned lightly “I must ask that you remain here, as I doubt Tesla will wish to see you harmed, My little ponies, and dragon” she glanced toward Kiary, who saluted her, Scarlet blinked, climbing onto Kiary’s head as the small dragon glided to the ground, Snowdrop pecked one of my horns, climbing down to the ground “I request that I go with Rick,” Blaze stood on her hind legs “someone’s got to make sure he doesn’t mess up, after all” “Agreed” Celestia giggled “Come on then Rick-y bow, let’s go” she chortled, marching out of the throne room, I sprinted after her =-=-=-= When I came back, not a month later, it was being carried by Blaze, barely awake, let alone conscious as Blaze jogged through the castle on all-fours, bursting into the throne room “Tesla,” Celestia, and Luna “Are you alright?” Celestia changed to her anthro form, having galloped up to Blaze’s side, carefully picking me up, laying me on the floor “I’m fine” I smiled, gently placing a grazed hand on her cheek, “No,” she shook her head, tears in her eyes “you’re not,” “No, really, I’m fine” I let my arm drop to the ground, pulling myself upright, albeit, with great effort “I just need to rest a little “Tesla, you’re bleeding” she frowned, removing my upper sections of clothing; that of which had a series of holes where I’d been cut with a sharp object and/or weapon, my stomach and jest had large bruises here and there “And what of the guard I sent with you?” she eyed me up and down with a look of nothing short of horror “Murdered by the natives” Blaze darkly informed “We… I can’t believe it,” Luna, apparently correcting herself, “what of you, how did you get out alive?” “I told them that Equestria doesn’t want any more to do with it, to which they agreed, after doing this to me” I gestured to my injuries “How could you let them do this to you?” Celestia had tears cascading down her cheeks “Because they’re not worth the trouble of killing” I mumbled, her horn glowed with a pulsating primrose aura as a bucket of water and sponge appeared alongside a roll of bandage and tape, as well as a pair of scissors, she carried the items in her magic as I sat cross-legged on the ground, dipping the sponge into the water and placing it against my wounds, I bit my lip “I know it might sting, but it’ll be alright soon” she cooed in a lullaby voice, massaging the cuts with the dampened sponge, washing them clean, placing the bathroom utensil back in the bucket, the water of which was a mild scarlet, applying the bandages as I raised my arms, cutting a bit of tape from the roll, using it to stick the end of the bandage down, lowering them again once she patted my shoulder, sitting beside me “Have I told you that I love you recently?” I smiled “Not to my memory, Rick” she giggled, pecking my cheek For the split instant that her eyes were shut and her lips pressed against my cheek, my eyes averted to her plump breasts, my gaze quickly returning to that of hers as she parted, Blaze of course, seemed to notice this “Here’s a thought,” Blaze gave me the most wicked/evil grin I’ve ever seen her give anyone “marshmallow bazookas” “What’s a bazooka?” Luna blinked “A type of weapon, it’s a type of rocket launcher, supposedly” I explained “It’s also one of many slang terms for someone’s cleavage, Blaze gave my head a hard nudge, forcing it down into Celestia’s chest “Well, brother, any result?” I glanced toward Celestia, who merely raised an eyebrow “How can you think such a thing Blaze?” I corrected my axial position, sitting upright again “it’s crude, to say the least” “Says the one who chanced a glance” she smirked “Not saying that I was, but just in case, what’re you doing looking at me in the first place?” “Because I’m your sister, and I care about you, hell, I’ll even go as far to say that I love you, as a family member” she grinned “Lucky” I rolled my eyes, blinking, she beamed from ear to ear with a sly smirk as a hand landed on shoulder “So, you’re interested in my form are you?” Celestia almost purred, I edged my gaze toward her, she giggled, pecking me on the lips “well, I’ve always been curious about something myself, with your eon form, to be exact” “It’s a decent foot long, if that’s what you’re asking” Blaze deadpanned “Oh,” Celestia glanced toward Blaze, then back toward me, leaning in, whispering, “then let’s see how many inches I can take” “My bet’s on eight and a half” Blaze smirked “Damn your Vulcan hearing” I cursed “I know, right?” she grinned “Someone’s been paying a little too much attention to Skykain’s internet profiles” “So we have,” Celestia draped an arm and a wing around me “Come, I do believe you need your rest, my dear knight” she pecked my cheek again “We didn’t get these forms from your laptop, we got them from you, and the other humans who remained behind after the war” she went on “it is the following from, that I’ve gotten from your laptop,” she finished, her body glowing a bright, blinding light, which gradually faded, revealing a human figure with Celestia’s hair colour, a golden breastplate wearing a vest with sleeves that covered her arms, arms and hands, also with angelic robes and boots which covered the bottom end of tights that went to just above her knees , with a sun-shaped brooch connected at the hip that kept it all in place, beside the breastplate, and a ‘sash’ of sorts that went around her waist trailing behind her like a multi-coloured tail, the item of which the same colour as her hair, with twin golden bracelets on her wrists with an amethyst in the centre of the breastplate, and a crown atop her head, the rose quartz necklace that hung around her neck completed the picture “Holy shit” Blaze burst into a chortle, cackling with laughter “Pun intended?” Kiary laughed “No, but it’d help” she guffawed “But that would mean that…” Blaze glanced toward Celestia, then toward me “You guys fucked, didn’t you?” she gave a smug grin “Probably” I sighed “It’s a possibility” Celestia stifled a rather cute giggle as I was knocked flat on my face, lying on my front as an unknown being lay atop my back “I see Cadance found her way to you then?” Blaze smirked, again “So I have” Cadance giggled, standing beside me as I got back to sitting cross-legged on the floor “you’ve returned, albeit injured, would you like help with that, Sir Rick?” she draped her hooves around my neck, planting small kisses around my neck, then on my cheek, draping her wings around me “I’ll be fine” I smiled, steadily getting to my feet as she released her grip on me “If you say so” she winked, my upper sections of clothing returning to me in a flash of golden light “Thanks Cellsy” I chuckled, helping her get to her feet as she reverted to her anthro form “You’re welcome, Rick” she smiled “I do believe the title is ‘Taiyō fujin’” “Which translates to what exactly?” Luna blinked “Lady of the sun, assuming Google translate (™©) hasn’t buggered itself over again” Kiary smirked “Indeed” Blaze gave me a wicked leer “Uncle!” I was hit/tackled by another being, this one around a third of the size “Hello, Grace” I smiled, draping my wings around her as she sat in my lap “Why do you have horns?” she tilted her head, giving me the cutest look I estimated that she could muster “are you part dragon, or unicorn?” “I’m part dragon, not unicorn, I don’t have a horn like they do, unless we’re talking about the one down south, and unless you’re my girlfriend, you’re not getting any ‘magic’ from it” I winked “I don’t get it?” she blinked as everyone’s jaws dropped through the floor “Tell you when you’re older” I stroked her mane “Ok,” she giggled, defying what I thought about her not being able to get any cuter “I love you, Daddy” “I can’t be your daddy,” I bit my lip “I’m sorry, Grace, truly” “But can I still call you Daddy?” she glimmered, defying my thoughts once again “You may, if you so wish” I nodded, she stared at me “Oh what the heck?” I rolled my eyes, draping my wings and arms around her, embracing her “let’s go fabled daughter of mine” I stood upright, she clambered onto my shoulder, nuzzling into me as I walked with Blaze toward the entrance of the throne room “I’ll see you later, Sunflower, Tsuki, Cadance” I glanced to each of them in turn, “Snowdrop and the others are in Ponyville waiting your return,” Celestia simpered, I nodded vacating the chamber, Blaze in quick pursuit “What’ll you do, should they find your brand?” Blaze tilted her head as we arrived at the entrance to the castle “We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it, sister” I shook my head “And Celestia?” she gleamed “Kanojo ga watashi no chīsai himawarida” I stated boldly “She’s your little sunflower, eh?” she smirked, again, I nodded, placing Gracy Gloom atop my head, carefully situating her between my horns, which pointed backward in a slight curve, and were a pale grey in colour, changing to eon form, Blaze leaping atop my back as I soared toward Ponyville “Well we’ll see where that takes us then, won’t we?” -=- “Tesla, you’re back!” Twilight gasped alongside her friends, minus fluttershy as she opened the door to the library “That we are” Blaze cleared her throat, standing beside me on all fours, Gracy Gloom now laying atop her back as she stood on all fours “It’s nice to see you too, Blaze” Twilight nickered “Daddy,” Snowdrop hug-tackled me, forcing me back a few steps as she clung onto me with all her might “Hello Snowdrop, I missed you” “I missed you too Daddy,” she gleamed, tears in her eyes as she climbed atop my head “Welcome back brother” Kiary perched herself upon my shoulder “how’d it go, the trip I mean?” “It went as well as it could, I suppose,” I sighed “Just another day in the life of a knight of the sun and moon, me-thinks” “Hakumei Ryu Kishi” Snowdrop glimmered “I see someone’s been busy at the laptop” I chuckled “You don’t mind, do you daddy?” she gave me her best puppy-dog eyes “Just so long as you stay away from all the nasty stuff” I stroked her mane, Pinkie Pie whizzed passed me in the form of a speeding pinkish blur “Party animal,” I raised an eyebrow “Twilight shrugged “No surprise, not that I’m complaining,” I smiled “people like her break the dull, everyday monotony, who knows what the world would be like without them?” At the ‘party’ I raised my arm, forming a Giga-drill, transferring my magical energy into spiral energy, amplifying the size and power of the drill, soaring into the sky with the drill spinning at light-speed “Giga…Drill...Break-!” I was mid-flight when the drill shattered like glass into countless shards of energy and metal, sending me back-side-first into the ground as it rained steel down upon me, my vision cut to black on impact with the cool, hard, earth -=-=-=- When I awoke, I was more or less covered in bandages Looking to the side of the bed, I saw my friends and family alongside Twilight and her friends+ “Are you Ok Daddy?” Snowdrop sniffled “I suppose I’ll have to spend a month in here now, eh?” I grinned, she frowned “Sorry…” “What happened to you?” Twilight stared at me “Africa happened, unless you mean the huge explosion, which would, or could be, chalked down to my lack of rest “And what, of that?” Rarity pointed a hoof toward my shoulder, which bore a tattoo-like brand in the form of twin cross fangs “I’d rather not talk about it” I mumbled “They’re anti magic regalia and equipment reduced Tesla’s magic to absolute zero,” Blaze sighed “even the ‘Giga-Drill-Break’ didn’t do much” “You lost, whilst using that!?” Twilight gaped “It’s a forward-thrusting attack, so to speak, so any interference from the sides or back is completely possible” I shrugged “Then use more than one!” Blaze face-pawed “If I knew how to do that we wouldn’t be in this mess” I grumbled “Just do it!” she tutted “kick all logic and reason to the curb and do the impossible!” she grinned, placing a basket filled with all sorts of gems on the table beside me “Where’d you get them?” I nodded toward the basket “The diamond dogs,” she exhaled sharply “they said they’d do anything for you so long as you didn’t drive them to extinction” “Where’re my clothes, might I ask?” I deadpanned, pulling myself upright “They got shredded by the shards of the drill that were raining from the sky” Blaze frowned “we’re just lucky nobody’s seriously hurt, brother” “Alright, where’s my rucksack?” I sighed, Twilight’s horn shined with a magenta glow as my rucksack appeared on the bed beside me “I think you’ll find a new set of attire in there whilst you reach for your clockwise, tesla” Rarity smiled “I commissioned myself to do it, in a select choice colours of dark and/or navy blue with white trimming, gold with black trimming and earthen brown with gold trimming, depending on your preferences, however” “I owe you one, or three” I smiled, reaching into the bag, pulling out my usual clockwise gear, the others left, giving me the privacy I needed to quickly don the attire, removing the bandages as I did so “Tesla, you’re wings…” Velvet Remedy nodded to the area behind me Glancing behind me, I saw that my wings had been bent somewhat, and restoring them would be painful to almost no end “Snowdrop,” I glanced toward the icy-blue filly, who smiled “I need you to fix my wings, can you do that?” “I can try, Daddy” she nuzzled into me taking a careful hold of one wing, quickly snapping it into place I flinched, biting down on my lip, drawing blood in the process as she did it for the other wings “Thank you, Snowdrop” I patted her lightly on her back, wiping the blood away with a sleeve “I owe you one also, Watashi no chīsana sunō” I tried generating a flame around my hands, only managing the one, reaching out with purple flare, barely managing to carry the basket of gems to my side as Snowdrop perched herself on my head, as per usual “Just knowing you is a good a debt as any, Father” she gleamed from ear to ear with a shine akin to that of the sun “What have they been feeding you, and what have they done with my little snowflake?” I laughed “I’m your daughter as you are my Father, Tesla” she winked “I don’t know about you or Blaze, but I like to think that I’ve grown in the past month,” she beamed “the doctor said you could remove your bandages when you awoke, seeing as you’re mostly healed, but you’d have to wait until you’re energy’s back to full capacity before you can go anywhere” “That’d be easier than you think, Snowdrop” I grinned “for a normal dragon, eating crystals would restore energy, whereas I’m a gem dragon slayer, they restore both physical and magical energy, twice as much as a normal drake!” I quickly devoured the basket of gems, my energy levels skyrocketing as I swallowed the last of them, Snowdrop retreated to a safe distance as I was suddenly set ablaze, scales appearing on my face, arms and hands “Let us go, Nakama” I smirked, marching with my friends and family past Twilight and her friends out of the hospital “Tesla, are you sure you should be-!?” Twilight stopped herself as a large dragon appeared above me, almost holographic in appearance, letting out a rather unearthly powerhouse roar as it appeared “Ryū-ryoku yūsen” I gave a smug grin “Eigo Hoseki Ryu… I smiled, inhaling sharply, turning my head to face the sky “Hokou!” I exhaled an enormous torrent of whitish-golden flames, whistling as I lowered my gaze to the few ponies gathered behind me, who bowed “You needn’t bow, for I have no inferiors” I sighed “I have Nakama, family, and loved ones, and that’s all I’ll ever need” the audience in question smiled, some winking as they dispersed “You really have a way with words, do you not, brother?” Kiary smirked, perching herself atop my shoulder, Gracy Gloom doing the same on my opposite shoulder and Snowdrop lacing herself back to her usual perch atop my head “I might do,” I shrugged “it is not my place to question another’s presence on Equis, as each sentient being has their rights and responsibilities, personally I’m just hoping the next few days go by without a ‘Kill La Kill’ reference” “Because of the new attire you got from Rarity,” Littlepip smiled that’s a bit farfetched, dontcha think, Tesla?” “Well then, don’t say I told you so, should it actually happen” I shrugged “Who d‘ya think would be able to do it, if it should ever happen?” Blaze patted my back standing on her hind legs “Senketsu, or the anime in general?” I tilted my head “Senketsu” she smirked “I’m not going to answer that” I folded my arms “I’m sure they’ve already seen it anyway” Velvet Remedy grinned, as if psychic “Who’s ‘they’?” Blaze glimmered Velvet Remedy raised an eyebrow, she stared at me “oh Tesla, you sly dog!” “I don’t get it?” Twilight blinked “I’ll tell you later” I shuddered a scroll appeared in a flash of smoke before me, I quickly unrolled it, the letter within contained details of a celebration/festival of sorts that happened every year the middle of the year, the rest was a mixture of greetings and farewells of each of the princesses “Well ain’t that convenient?” Blaze grinned “it’s as if they know what we’re talking about from miles away” “Convenient indeed” I stretched my wings -=-=- On the aptly named, ‘Summer Sun Celebration,’ Celestia glided into the sky, ‘raising the sun’ as she did so, her horn glowing a bright primrose aura as the enormous fireball was lifted high above us, bowing once she landed, trotting toward me, my friends and family in their now-usual places on and around me as I stood before her “I hear that you think I’d look good imitating a certain character?” Celestia smirked, changing to anthro form, her now-changed-form glowing slightly as a rather skimpy outfit appeared on her, quickly changing back to her usual regalia/lingerie before anyone noticed, winking at me, it took all that I had to stop myself from fainting “Not bad” Blaze slowly nodded, patting my back, I quickly glanced toward her, she nodded toward Celestia “Ditto” I bit my lip, “There’s more where that came from, my little Dragon slayer” Celestia stepped forward, pecked me on the lips, winking as she stepped back “Meet me in the castle tonight, Rick, you won’t regret it Shmoopie” and with that she teleported away “What’s a Shmoopie?” Rainbow Dash hovered beside me, grinning from ear to ear “It’s an endearing term a mare might give to a stallion if he were their coltfriend, I believe” Twilight smiled “Blaze,” I sighed “Yes brother?” the Typhlosion stood at my side laughed, I lightly hit her on the head “That’s for being an arse yesterday” I smirked “Does the little fire hazard have a death wish?” Blaze chortled with a wicked leer “Fire hazard,” I guffawed “Coming from you that’s rich!” “Got a problem, human?” she smirked “Not at all, why would I wish anything negative to come of my sister?” I tilted my head slightly “So, how’d you snag the princess then?” Rainbow Dash gleamed rather slyly “Rainbow Dash,” Rarity snapped “how can you be so uncouth?” she shook her head “the two of them are obviously in love so deep that it burns like Celestia’s sun, who are we to question such a topic?” “Alright, I’m sorry” Rainbow Dash held up her hooves defensively “though I’m still curious” she glanced toward me “History” I shrugged “I don’t get it?” she tilted her head, blinking as she gave me a perplexed expression “Ask her about it; you might get what you want, maybe more, maybe less, who’s going to question the wisdom of the eternal rulers of around just over half the planet?” “Then we’ll go with ya to tha castle tonight” Applejack smiled “Not like Ah’ve got anything else tah do this evening” =-=-=-= When we got to the castle, all was quiet; the guards saluted us as we entered “Rick, we art, glad thou could make it” Luna smiled as we entered the throne room “Where’s Princess Celestia,” Twilight smiled as we made our way toward the lunar goddess “We’ve a few questions for her, nothing personal of course” “Of course you have, my little ponies” everyone present looked back toward the door, Lulania was stood there; I clenched my fists, to which Blaze placed an arm across my stomach, shaking her head “Not here” Blaze tutted “I come only to offer my apologies to you, Tesla” Lulania bit her lip “I am a being of chivalry; I suggest that you leave, before I change my mind” I growled “I do not fear your wrath, Rick, merely, I worry for it, for I do not wish for a re-enactment of last time’s events” she gave a forlorn expression “please, be one with me, as you once were before, Rick” “Get out” I snarled “Very well,” she nodded, teleporting away, only to be replaced by Celestia “I had to make sure you were still faithful, Tesla” Celestia frowned, her expression turning from a frown to a smile as she glanced toward Twilight “you have questions Twilight, then we shall retire to somewhere more… private, come” before I could reply, she’d teleported herself alongside us and Luna to her bedchambers “What happened, an eon ago I mean?” Twilight blinked as Crystal and Angel appeared by my side by an undisclosed means of travel, teleportation, most likely “As we have already explained,” Luna smiled “there were humans on Equis one-billion years past, they sought the power of the gods, and in doing so mutated themselves into eons, the species of which, Crystal, Angel and Tesla are members of,” she went “ on “they did this to give themselves a chance, for thou see there was a terrific war raging right outside the castle doors, one that would place the universe in grave jeopardy, were we to lose, that’s where thine demi-human forms come from, Element of Magic,” she continued further “we asked to gain the abilities of humans, so our DNA was fused with those very few who asked to volunteer for the great project known as ‘Operation: EON,’” she glanced toward me “when thou use that form, Rick, thou doth wield the powers of all of those of whom were valiant to thy bitter end, gallant to the end of their days, so to speak, who sacrificed themselves for their home and their families,” she smiled “we shall hand it to thine sister to continue, Element of Nature” Twilight raised a hoof “Yes, my faithful student?” Celestia simpered “Who was this war against?” Twilight tilted her head “We do not speak his name” the princesses frowned, Luna in particular “the war that was waged against that one being scarred the planet, eternally” “Does that make Daddy a demi-god?” Gracy Gloom giggled “Not quite, but you’re not that far off, my little pony” Celestia winked “And what of me, or, my old self, what role did they play in the war?” I sat beside Blackjack, Littlepip and Velvet Remedy on the bed “You were the one who created the project, and led then continued to lead the humans and eons of old to an almost certain victory, cleansing Equis of the vile shadows of the ancient one” Celestia gleamed “You’re a hero, in this life and the last” “Gladiator reference intended?” Blaze laughed “No, why?” she blinked “Just checking” Blaze patted my leg “Do you wish for this to go public, Tesla?” “It’d be a bit late for anyone to do such a thing, and besides, I think it’s better to forget the war, but not those who fought in it” I shook my head “I think this needs to stay between us, and no one else” “Thou art as wise as thou were an eon ago,” Luna glimmered “Perhaps the old Tesla we knew is returning to Equis, reborn anew?” “Perhaps” I tilted a hand “I may be able to do something no other eon can, as I was created, transformed into one, rather than born as one” “So your powers and abilities were separated from you on rebirth,” Celestia frowned “that means that there’s a possibility of another being, one who can do what you could, only to a more extreme level” ”There’re two of them now?” Crystal stared at me, wide-eyed “god give everyone strength” “Coming from you” I rolled my eyes “What did you mean when you said ‘mutated’?” Angel gave me a worried glance “You were created through a fusion of both magic and science, that of which Starswirl pales in comparison to” Celestia raised an eyebrow “Created in a magic-y science-y test tube, how’s that work for ya?” Blaze smirked at me “Doesn’t surprise me really, I mean, you’d have to be to be as insane as me” I chuckled “Amen” Crystal hummed “my insane eon husband” “Two hundred years and you two haven’t been officially married” Angel tutted, folding her arms as she shook her head “Seriously,” Rainbow Dash laughed, Rarity shot her a glare “sorry” “Then we can host it in the castle,” Celestia nodded “if you two are to be wedded; then we shall make the preparations at once, it’s the least we can do for an eon-old legend” “Let’s hope this one doesn’t end in changelings” I exhaled sharply, turning to Black Beetle “no offense” “None taken,” Black Beetle shrugged “our majesty was a fool to think that she could win with that little stunt, I may be taken and executed for treason for saying this, but I’d much rather be with you, Rick, things are much more interesting for a human in Equestria, and an eon, and a dragon slayer, all moulded into a single being, I find it intriguing, to find that such a thing exists” “Indeed” Crystal pecked my cheek “Shall we be getting prepared for the event, Tesla, or are you still unsure because of your new Nakama here on Equis?” Blackjack moved over as Celestia sat beside me in her stead, draping a wing and an arm around me, now in her anthro form “I’ve a question I’d like to ask first” I bit my lip “What is it?” Celestia smiled “Who was with me during the creation of the eons?” “I was, as were Luna and Faust” she nickered “where are you going with this, Rick?” -=-=- “Ready?” Crystal smirked, pushing me toward the double doors; I marched through, barely managing to stop myself from falling as I walked up the aisle, wearing a navy blue suit I’d long-since-almost-forgotten As the priest said all that is said at a wedding, Celestia in her human form holding a bouquet of roses, she glanced toward me “And where did you get that?” Celestia eyed me up and down, her voice barely audible “Inventory” I quietly winked “Do you, Princess Celestia Dawnbreaker, take Rick Hawkins to be your lawfully wedded husband, in both sickness and health, till death, do you part?” the priest-pony smiled toward Celestia “I do” Celestia smiled “Do you, Rick Hawkins, take Princess Celestia Dawnbreaker, to be your lawfully wedded wife, in both sickness and health, till death, do you part?” “I do” I smirked “Then by the power invested in me, I pronounce you colt and mare, you may kiss the bride” Celestia through the bouquet into the audience, draping her arms around my neck as she pressed her lips against mine, gradually parting, the audience burst into cheering and stomping their hooves in applaud “Perhaps you’d like to grave us with a photo?” a small group of ponies with cameras crowded us as we left the castle “Not a problem” before Celestia could reply I picked her up off her feet, holding her in my arms, she quickly draped her arm around my neck as I held her up, pecking my cheek “What was that?” Celestia stared at me as I set her back on the ground “That, my dear, was me having a bit of fun,” I smiled “you might want to be careful about that from here on” “So I will” she raised an eyebrow, her white dress with diamonds embedded in it gleaming in the sunlight =-=-= When all were gone, save for Twilight her friends and my friends and family, who were in the castle, I stood with Celestia in the gardens, taking her hand in my, placing my hand on her side as we slowly danced “I could get used to this” Celestia smiled “So could you, just you, me and the stars above us with the radiant moon acting as an ambient nightlight, Cellsy” (that’s her name from here on!) “Oh, and to be with you through it all, my love” she shuddered “I tremble in ecstasy at the thought” “Am I interrupting something?” I turned, there was a second Celestia eyebrow raised in curiosity, I turned back, Celestia was no longer there, replaced by a changeling with vivid green eyes "Shit" Chapter XIV; events“Who are you?” the new Celestia frowned “Cellsy?” I tilted my head “Who, are, you?” she spat, glaring at me “You know me, I’m Tesla, Rick Hawkins, don’t you remember, you were with me during the creation of the eons” I gulped, audibly “You cannot be him, and how do you know of such a thing?” she snapped, I changed to eon form “Lies” her horn flared a bright primrose as I was sent flying into the tree behind me, collapsing flat on my face as she trotted toward me, stopping mere feet from me “Alright, if you won’t listen to me, there’s only one thing I can do, Celestia” I got into a kneeling position after reverting to human form “And what would that be, human?” she growled “I surrender” I bowed, placing my hands on the ground beside me, arching my arms outwards in the process “The rick I would know would never give up, even against impossible odds” she scoffed the changeling sat beside me “Or maybe I don’t want to hit a loved one” I shrugged “Tesla…?” she gasped quickly shaking her head “No, it can’t be, he disappeared ages ago, and we’ve yet to find him “That was an eon ago; I’ve been reborn as another human,” I clenched my fists, if you do not believe me ask someone else, but know that I will not fight you over such an argument” “Sweet merciful Faust!” she almost screamed, her horn flaring again as I was lifted to my feet, gently placed on the ground “I offer a thousand apologies for hitting you, Tesla” “Call me Rick” I smiled as she draped a wing around me, pecking my cheek “Then I shall, Rick, how long have I been gone?” “A little over an eon” The changeling smirked “Unless you can transfer the feelings and memories of that other form of yours, keep your trap shut” I snapped “That I will” she nodded, her horn glowing a bright green colour, as Celestia’s shone in a brilliant primrose aura “Tesla- Rick I…” Celestia’s sudden smile faltered as she teleported away “So, who are you?” I turned to face the changeling beside me “Shattered Glass, at your service, your majesty” the bug-pony bowed “So be it” I changed to eon form, flying towar4d the castle in the forest as fast as I could go =-= “Rick, what’re you doing up at this time of night?” Nyx blinked as I entered the throne room, reverting to human form, walking toward her, quickly bowing “Can’t sleep” I mumbled “Allow me to help with that” she cooed, removing her armour, teleporting it away, her horn beginning to glow with a bold blue aura, my vision faded, she caught me as I fell, carrying me elsewhere -=- When I awoke, I bolted upright, only to be tackled by a familiar pair of pegasi “Daddy,” Gracy Gloom and Snowdrop chimed “We missed you!” “And I you my little grace and Snowflake” I smiled, draping my wings around the pair of ponies as an unfamiliar changeling the size of chrysalis with a navy blue mane and tail, both with holes in them as her legs had holes of the same size and circumference, the being in question also had a pair of cobalt eyes with a purple saddle like structure on her back connecting her wings “I apologize for my subject’s appalling behaviour, Tesla” the changeling purred “name your request, and it shall be carried out to the letter, milord” she bowed “Who are you?” “Queen Metamorphia, ruler of one of the sub-hives of the changeling horde” she hissed with apparent ‘satisfaction’ “You needn’t bow to me, your majesty” I smiled “You call me by the phrase ‘your majesty,’ I think you’ve hot it the other way around” she chortled “you’ve been under a sleep spell for the past week, I shouldn’t tell you this yet, but you, due to Chrysalis somewhat ‘divine intervention,’ are the ruler of the changeling horde, we’ve successfully integrated into Equestria as a colony, thanks to your saving Captain Black Beetle,” she continued “we have yet to thank you for that, My king, and so I offer myself as thanks for your consideration and coronation of your new title as our lord and saviour, Emperor Tesla” “So what, you’re my servant and/or maid now?” I tilted my head “Nay, I’m your slave, if you so wish, but I can be considered a servant, yes” she licked her lips with her snake-like tongue “Ok, either I’m dreaming, or I’m going insane” I blinked “From what I can tell, or have been told, you’re already insane as it is” she laughed “Touché,” I slowly nodded “Where’re the others?” “They’re in the city the natives call Canterlot, where you saved Black Beetle from a pain beyond comprehension” “Boredom,” I hummed “Slipping into insanity” she frowned, the frown of which then quickly morphed into a glimmer “but more of that at another time, now, however, we- no, you, need to go to Celestia, she’s been worried sick about you, milord” -=- And so we went, my friend, Blaze and Kiary quickly catching up with us at the main hall of the castle, clambering onto my back just before I flew in eon form beside Metamorphia and Blackjack toward Canterlot Once we landed at the mountain city, ‘my family and friends landing beside me-, I reverted to human form “Rick?” Celestia stared at me as I entered the throne room, my friends, family and Metamorphia stood beside me; launching herself at me, changing to anthro form mid-lunge “Oh thank Faust you’re alright” she draped her arms around my neck “Celestia,” I blinked “Hush now, Rick we’ve a bit of catching up to do” she giggled, eventually releasing me from her grip “Metamorphia tells me that I’ve been given a new title, is it true?” I tilted my head ever-so slightly, Snowdrop once again stationed between my horns, and Kiary and Gracy Gloom perched on either shoulder “I have insisted that you be a knight to the changelings, but they seem to have insisted otherwise, to make a king of you, Rick” she nickered “Next thing you’ll be telling us is that Faust mutated the eons and humans of old into changelings” Blaze laughed “I did” I turned, Faust was stood beside Twilight, her friends, and Spike “Well then, it appears as though the history lesson’s only continued further” Blaze tutted “So it does” I nodded, walking with my friends and Blaze passed Faust and the others, marching to the train station, the conductor saluting me as I boarded the train =-=-= When I entered the castle in the Crystal Empire, I wandered aimlessly through the many corridors of the complex crystalline structure soon finding what seemed to be a storage room with an oval-shaped mirror with a pale lavender frame “Should we,” Blaze smirked “we know where it goes, after all” “Might as well” I walked into the mirror, it’s surface rippling like lake that’d had something thrown into it, Blaze and the others quickly following, my vision fading to black When I awoke, Blaze and the others were stood around me, Blackjacks mechanical exoskeleton now replaced by pristine snow-white fur, her wings now that of a normal pony’s, as were her eyes, formerly a glowing orange, now a deep crimson shade of red “Where are we?” Littlepip shook her head “Canterlot high, the bane of every brony’s existence” I grumbled “Good one,” Blaze laughed “maybe the base-breaker known as Flash Sentry, or brad, is still here?” “Are those, ponies?” a group of five humans -who barely resembled Twilight’s friends-, slowly approached Actual talking ponies, the Applejack Lookalike blinked “That we are” Velvet Remedy held out a hoof Introductions were swiftly made with little-to-no difficulty “If it isn’t Rainbow Crash!” a human with blazing, waist-length yellow and red hair with teal eyes, a purple shirt with a red and yellow sun split by a horizontal wavy line through the middle, black jacket, orange skirt with a purple and yellow stripe down either side, and black boots that went up to just below her knees “And what have we here, a winged, horned human, you’re a freak!” she snapped “And you’ve nothing better to do with your life that bullying, I can tell here you’re going in life, young lady” I smirked “Nobody stands up to Sunset Shimmer!” Fluttershy gasped “Too busy or too nervous?” I winked “What was that?” Sunset Shimmer glared icy daggers at me “Yeah, I bet you’re so-called friends or lackeys are the same as you, a group of feral beasts locked in iron cages lashing out at a world they barely know because they’re too scared to actually try anything decent for a change,” I sighed “I have a few pieces of advice for you, little girl, get your education as best you can, get out get a job, get a boyfriend or whatever you want, and get a life, because you certainly get one by aggravating me”, she ran as fast as she could into the nearby building “How the heck did you do that?” Rainbow Dash stared at me “Bullies rule in fear and jealousy, take that away and you disarm them, learnt it rather quickly myself” I chuckled “ “Can we still use magic though,” Littlepip’s horn flared a deep green colour as she teleported onto my back, wrapping her arms around my neck as a tall, ‘Celestia’ lookalike marched out of the school, striding toward us alongside Sunset Shimmer “Sunset Shimmer tells me you’ve been bullying her?” the lookalike frowned “Yes, but only in defence of myself and my friends” I shrugged “Explain” she folded her arms, so I did “Interesting, it appears as though we’ve a new student to our school, I believe I can make the arrangements to adjust your sudden appearance..?” she raised an eyebrow “Tesla, or Teslakana, or just Rick, if you’d prefer” I held out a hand, she quickly shook it “So be it, Tesla, I do believe you’re due for a science lesson, first door on the right, second floor, just take the stairs to the left” she smiled “Thank you..?” “Principal Celestia” she chuckled ==-== The lessons passed soon enough; and when the school day ended, albeit curiously, I was stood in the ‘playground,’ by the statue, placing my hand in the block that made up its base, my hand phased through as the rippling effect reoccurred, I quickly pulled my hand back, turning around, what appeared to be the whole school’s students that’d attended where stood there, standing there, staring at me in apparent curiosity “Is it a demon?” one of the students blinked “Can’t be, it’s got the wrong wings, and there’re four too many wings” a second human corrected the first “Maybe it’s a fallen angel” a third mumbled “Dragon slayer” I shook my head, summoning a flame around either hand “It’s got to be a hidden apparatus creating that fake-fire!” a fourth human frowned I quickly rolled up my sleeves, turning my arms to show that nothing was hidden “I’ll be damned” he whistled “It’s actual magic!” Rainbow Dash and the four others burst forth to the front of the crowd “Don’t be ridiculous Rainbow, how could he possibly summon a flame from thin air?” “She’s right you know?” I smiled “Magic don’t exist, everyone knows that” she scoffed “Maybe not in this world, but from the ones I’ve been to it does,” I frowned “And Ah suppose that’d explain the ponies that’ve been following you all day long, especially that thing” she gestured toward Blaze, who let out an intimidating growl “And for our final act, Snowdrop, if you will” I gestured toward the statue, the flames around my hands dissipating at once as she leapt through it, followed, of course, by the others, “I bid thee, adieu, good sirs and ladies” I leapt through the statue-portal, a feint of dizziness taking over me as I blacked out again When I came round, I bolted upright, only to flinch in pain, which gradually eased “That was weird” I mumbled “Tell me about it” Blackjack glanced to her wings “Didn’t know you did theoretical physics, whatever that is” she laughed as I steadily got to my feet, walking with her and the others through the castle “I watched a lot of science documentaries on my laptop” I shrugged as we entered the throne room, Twilight and her friends alongside Spike and the princesses immediately marched toward us “Where have you been?” Twilight frowned “That would be telling” Blaze winked -=- “Are you Ok?” Celestia glanced toward me as she teleported us to canterlot “First I find that humans were mutated into eons, then further mutated into changelings, how do you think I feel?” I snapped “Though it would explain our ability to change forms” Black Beetle hummed “Touché” I raised an eyebrow “Princess Celestia!” a golden yellow unicorn mare with a blazing yellow and red mane ad tail with a red/yellow sun split down the middle in a wavy line burst through the door, galloping to the solar goddesses side, gaping at me in terror “What is it my faithful student?” Celestia draped a wing around the unicorn, glancing out the window; I noticed it was the dead of night “I had a nightmare,” the pony, Sunset Shimmer-lookalike shuddered “About a demon with horns, wings and a fiery magic from the deepest pits of tartarus itself “Pepper’s harmless” I gestured to the succubus stood beside me “It wasn’t her” she stammered “I only use my magic when and where I need to,” I blinked “that sounded better in my head” “And besides, Crystagia’s a dragon, not a demon from hell, right brother?” Blaze smirked “Exactly” I nodded “Besides, a nightmare every now and then is what reminds people that they’re living” “Explain” Sunset Shimmer blurted out, quickly biting her lip to silence herself “I like to sleep,” I began “I like to sleep because I like to dream; dreaming reminds me that I’m still alive” “Morbid, but otherwise factual to an extent” Luna hummed, glancing toward Blackjack “I see that Blackjack has her body returned to normal, what manner of magic was used to trigger such a transformation, may I ask?” Celestia raised an eyebrow “An unknown source of energy, to be frank,” I shrugged “One with powers that far outdo my own” “And where exactly was this?” she tilted her head slightly -==- “You found this, how?” Celestia glanced between me and mirror “Aimless wandering” I clicked my neck “Besides, the magic resonance in the air was making my stomach turn” “I remember this” Twilight placed a hoof against the mirrors surface “back when Sunset Shimmer used the crown to get revenge on Princess Celestia” “She used to be a big meanie!” Pinkie Pie’s expression was a half-frown, half-pout type of look “but then she learned the magic of friendship and what it could do and ever since she’s been one of the nicest ponies I know” “Meanie’s and bullies never usually learn unless you stand up to ‘em,” Blaze tutted “I fail to see how a few miniature horses could manage such a thing” “Makes you wonder what Hasbro does in its sleep” I chuckled “Wouldn’t go there brother, you might accidentally cause someone to be rendered catatonic!” she laughed “That’s because the Americans are all weak-willed simple, one-track-minded Neanderthals, who think they can solve everything through war and violence and think they can do what they want, E.G Nagasaki and Hiroshima “And to the one 'artist' who said that he lived in the USA and it was a free country; if you should ever stumble across my being again, I just wanted you to know that I sincerely apologize for born-and-raised in an at-least-half-decent country known as England, where we can solve our differences through options other than that of violence or war, thank you; FYI USA is a continent, not a country, technically speaking” I chortled “Informally declaring war again?” Blaze sighed “As the many denizens of the internet would say,” I rolled my eyes “come at me bro” “That there’s a risky business,” she guffawed “you sure you can take on their military” “They see anything that challenges their somewhat anti-social way of life as terrorism, I’ll be perfectly fine so long as they don’t start pissing themselves wondering what we’re going to do” I laughed “Just be careful” she face-pawed “I know how you get when something irks you like that, Tesla” “Don’t worry,” I patted her head, standing on her hind legs she stood around half a foot shorter than me “I’ll be fine” “Says you” she rebuked “Oh, shut up” I shook my head, rolling my eyes, changing to eon form, my ears twitching as I did so “I do believe we’ve somewhere to be?” “Magical radar playing up again,” she blinked, I nodded, she leapt on my back, followed by the others, save Blackjack, who galloped beside me as I raced through the castle =-==-= I burst through the door to the throne room of the everfree castle, Nyx was lying on her side her eyes flittered open as I approached, my figurative passengers landing beside me as I reverted to human form “Nyx..!” I placed a gentle hand on her stomach “Are you Ok?” “I’m…” she slurred, letting out a moan, her eyes rolling into the back of head as something extruded from her lower area, shuddering as it left her body “Is that…?” Blaze gasped “Our foal” Nyx murmured, craning her neck, her eyes falling onto the little pony, magically picking it up, magicking up a thick, warm blanket, wrapping it around the foal, handing it to me “’tis a mare” she nickered “what’ll her name be, my love?” “Winter Bell” I smiled “So it shall be,” she smiled “you’re friend, the aptly named ‘Winter,’ left, saying she had to ‘tend to the isles’’’ “That’s Winter” I gave a soft laugh, the filly in my arms staring up at me with a small smile, her deep, gunmetal grey coat, mild indigo and black two-toned mane shimmering in the moonlight, the deep/mild cobalt gemstone in her chest shaped like a twelve-pointed star shining with a soft glow “A real crystal pony” Blaze simpered, I shot her a glare “sorry” “Apology accepted, Blaze” Nyx exhaled sharply “Please don’t tell me there’s another one coming” she chuckled “No, I am merely exhausted,” Nyx sighed “even for an alicorn, foal-birth is a difficult procedure” “Are you my little Winter Bell?” I smiled, nuzzling my nose against the foal in my arms’ Winter Bell gave a giggle, as I replaced my nose with a light finger, she batted at it with her hooves “Yes, yes you are,” Winter Belle began to laugh as I tickled her chest, suddenly exhaling a small ball of fire “That was unexpected” I blinked “Bro, that’s creepy” Blaze shuddered “I’m just having some quality time with me new daughter, what’s wrong with that?” I tutted, turning my attention back to the foal in my arms “Who’s a little Winter Bell, you,” I smiled, continuing to tickled her chest, “yes you are, you’re my little Winter Belle,” I chuckled “Tesla, what the hell are you doing?” Blaze stared at me “Bonding” I smiled, sitting beside Nyx, draping my wings around Winter Belle,, pulling a feather from my wing, handing it to the filly, draping my wings around her as she held onto the feather, “Am I interrupting something?” I turned; Celestia was stood there, a small smile upon her face “Not at all” “I see we finally proof of your choosing to herd or not” Celestia smiled, standing before me, glancing between me and Winter Bell “she’s adorable, what’s her name?” “Winter Bell” I smiled “Cute, truly, I wouldn’t think that night-” I shot her a look “Nyx, would be able to produce such a beauty” “Am I not still a tiny, ever-so little part of your sister, Celestia?” Nyx smirked “I’ve always been there, creeping around her subconscious’ depths, lurking in the back of her mind, it may be different, but I am still a part of her as she is me” “As much as I’d like to say otherwise I’m afraid there’s nothing I can do about it” Celestia frowned “You can be there for her, be by her side when she needs it most; do what you can for her” “Since when did you become a psychiatrist?” Blaze raised an eyebrow “Just because I failed once doesn’t mean it has to happen to someone else” I winked “Well spoken, Rick” Nyx sat beside me, leaning against me “If you choose to go, I will not stop you, I shall take care of Winter Bell in your stead, my love” “I can’t accept that” I frowned “Why not?” she blinked “Because we birthed her together, so we should raise her together, as a family” I grinned “Usually stallions forget about they’re foals, and move onto other mares, why are you doing otherwise?” she blinked “I’m not a pony” I smirked, she draped a wing around me, pecking my cheek “I would be honoured to be in your herd, Milord” she bit her lip “Just call me Rick,” I simpered “Let’s not go by titles or commendations, just names, Ok?” “That I will, Rick” she nickered -=-=- Eight years had passed, and, somehow, be it luck of the gods (AKA Meridia and/or Azura), or otherwise, Winter Bell remained our little secret said secret was now lying on my back as I gently glided through the everfree forest, Snowdrop upon my head, Scarlet on Blackjacks head, Gracy Gloom rested upon my neck, and the others, Nyx included, walking with me toward Ponyville “Five quid says they’ll react negatively toward Nyx” Blaze smirked “Two-thousand says otherwise,” I frowned “They welcomed her once, they can do so again” “Is that…?” one pony blinked, every pony who I could see stopped, turned to face us, eyes wide in shock-and-awe “It’s Nyx!” a second cheered “Somepony get Pinkie Pie, we’ve a reason to celebrate!” with a great flash of light and there was an entire party suddenly set up in the middle of town, with banners streamers and balloons set up across various buildings “All this is, just for me?” Nyx held a hoof to her breastplate “You’re the Lady of the moon, you deserve at least some credit for your work, Nyx” I pecked her cheek “You’re too kind” her cheeks flushed a deep, almost beetroot shade of red “I’m yours as you are mine” I winked “Are you hiding something?” I turned; Twilight and her friends were stood there, minus Rarity and Spike, who were busy at the table were a large glass bowl of punch was set up, Spike had a wing draped around the alabaster mare, having grown around three feet in the years gone by “Why would I do that,” I blinked “you’re my Nakama, closer than family, I have nothing to hide from you, Element of Magic” “The pony on your back proves otherwise,” she raised an eyebrow “who is she?” “Winter Bell” Blaze grinned, the after-mentioned pony on my back stood up, bowing to Twilight had her friends “She’s got your mannerisms, that’s fer sure” Applejack laughed “And she’s got his crystalline chest-piece, as well as his wings” Twilight stared at me “You didn’t…” “She’s our little Gem” Nyx nuzzled into me “You betrayed Princess Celestia?” whispered loudly “I’m a part of his herd” she snapped “When did this happen?” Twilight frowned “When we first met, I do believe, I felt my heart set itself aflame with a somewhat seemingly passionate love for my dear Rick,” Nyx smiled “it only escalated from there, once I admitted my love for him, he returned my feelings wholeheartedly, and with great reciprocation, and now, as you can plainly see, we’ve had a foal” “And you didn’t think of telling Princess Celestia?” Twilight gawked at me “She was the first to know, having apparently followed me to Nyx” I bit my lip “When did that happen?” she looked half-appalled, half-gobsmacked “Around eight years ago” I shrugged; it was then that I noticed that everyone was staring at me, and the music had stopped “What?” she blared “And Princess Celestia didn’t tell us because why!?” “You threatened her with the elements, once, I cannot allow the possibility of a second attempt” my eyes narrowed “And I offer you every apology I can for it,” Twilight flinched, her cheeks turning a mild shade of pink, tears forming in her eyes “Twilight,” I blinked “you’re…” “I love you Damnit” she snarled “didn’t I already say it once?” she went on “if I have to tear Equestria apart to get you to see that then so be it, that’s what I’ll do, I just want you to notice me for who I am, not my title or status, but me as a pony, is it that hard?!” “No, but-” “Then why?” she screamed “why is it so hard to get your attention for once?” she continued “why can’t I seem to do anything for you, Tesla, I’ve been wondering where you’ve been and what you were up to for the past several years, and it turns out that you’ve got a foal for Faust’s sake, what am I supposed to do?” “You could’ve asked,” I suggested “As Crystal once stated, and as I will now state, it’s an open relationship, if you want to join, be my guest” “But just what am I supposed to do?” she cried “Talk to Celestia about it, then come back to me” I smiled, she teleported away, it took several minutes to pass before the party picked itself up again, the atmosphere being thick enough to be cut with a spoon, figuratively “You’ve only just worked it out?” Blaze shot an odd glance “I’m a dumbass” I sighed, lowering myself to the ground, Winter Bell climbing to the ground as I reverted to human form “Yes, yes you are” she folded her arms “now what’re you going to do, should Celestia choose to visit?” “We’ll do what’s necessary, hopefully without much heart-rending, if any at all” I hummed “Speaking off unspoken couples, how’re Spike and Rarity?” “They’re Gettin along fine pardner, it’s Twi Ah'm worried about” Applejack raised an eyebrow “I can only do so much for a single being, let alone a country, but, however, I feel like this shan’t be a problem for more than a day, if not a week” “And how’re you supposed to do that?” Rainbow Dash frowned “I’m going to do something I didn’t think I’d have to do for a long time” I inhaled, and then exhaled “No,” Blaze gasped “surely you couldn’t mean…!” “I do,” I sighed, nodding “Time for the secret weapon, Winter Bell, stay here with Nyx, I’ll be back soon” “Ok Daddy” Winter Bell saluted me -as she’d done for the past three years- as I walked with my friends and family toward the library “Twilight, are you Ok?” I knocked on the door as I entered the library “Go away!” Twilight’s voice came from upstairs; I quickly ascended the stairs, knocking on the door “I said go away!” “I can’t do that until I know you’re Ok” I shook my head “Let’s just talk, I’m sure we can solve the issue eventually “Ok, but just don’t come in-!” she stopped herself as I opened the door, revealing a room that was -save for the floor, bed and window-, neatly covered in images of what appeared to be both my human and eon forms, on the bed there was a plushie of the latter, stitched right to the finest detail “I told you not to come in!” she bellowed “I’ve been a fool” I stared at her, walking into the room, crouching down, sitting cross-legged before her as she glared at me “All this time, and I never noticed what you were trying to tell me,” I quickly pulled her in for a hug, draping both my wings and arms around her tightly, she wrapped her arms around me, placing her head on my shoulder, tears streaming down her muzzle from her bloodshot magenta eyes “Tesla,” she sniffled “I’m sorry” “You’ve done nothing that warrants such an apology, so please, say no more, Lady of Magic” I smiled “I always did find you somewhat attractive, for a human” she giggled as we let one-another go” “You offer me your apologies, which I decline as I see no need for you to ask them, Miss Sparkle, but in turn, I offer you my heart, or what’s left of it that I can share with you” I glimmered, she lunged forward, pressing her lips against mine, placing her hooves down on my shoulders with enough force to knock me onto my back, gradually parting, staring straight at me, her gaze powerful enough that it felt as though my soul itself had been covered by a warm, fiery blanket of sorts “I accept your offer, Rick” she giggled “How cheesy can you get?” I glanced toward the door, my friends and family were stood there; Blaze looked like she was gagging, her gaze shifted toward the bed, then around the rest of the room “What in the actual fuck!?” she burst out laughing “You don’t mind if she laughs at us?” Twilight glanced between me and Blaze “Let us have our hearts and love, and let her have her fun and games” I shrugged “Indeed” she nickered, placing a hoof either side of my head, placing her lips on mine, our tongues briefly danced together before she parted again “I’m never letting you go” she purred “Have I told you how much I love you recently?” I gleamed “You may have” Twilight smiled “are all the stallions on your world like you? If they are, we're keeping all of this a secret because there will be fillies lining up for a chance at this” “I’m one of a kind, Babe” I chuckled “Good, because I want you all for myself” she smirked “Good to hear, because I don’t want to end up sharing you with another stallion” I grinned “What do you mean?” she blinked “I mean I don't want another pony putting his hooves on my filly. You're mine and I'm keeping you all to myself. Ain't there no other pony taking your place” I draped a wing around her, followed by a gentle arm “You make me so happy sometimes” Twilight whimpered, tears in her eyes as her voice almost cracked “Easy” I cooed, letting her rest on my lap “you needn’t cry, Ok?” “I know” she giggled “I love you Rick” “And I you, my little gleaming star” I pecked her cheek, stroking her mane, as she unceremoniously rolled onto the floor, landing on her side “Carry me to heaven…” she mumbled as I gently slung her onto my back, smiling as she wrapped her hooves around my neck “As you wish, fair maiden” I chuckled, again, carrying her out of the library, my friends and family quickly following “How did it go?” Rarity stood beside Spike and the others before me as I left the library, I smiled as Twilight perched her head on my shoulder “Ah’ll be darned, ya‘ll did it in a day” Applejack whistled “so are ya some kind o’ mare whisperer or somethin’?” “Who’s ever heard of something so strange?” I laughed; Blaze patted my arm, grinning as she stood on her hind legs “We have no, brother” Blaze smirked “Blaze, shut up, we don’t need to know” I snapped “Oh but we do” Rarity insisted “ We simply must hear of what it is that you said or did to change our dear Twilight’s mind so easily!” “Nothing I’m telling you, Diamond” I winked “I rest my case” Blaze laughed “So, that’s how ya‘ll did it” Applejack grinned “Not exactly” I mumbled “Yes it was,” Blaze smirked “they were some of the cheesiest lines I’ve ever heard in my life!” she laughed “Where’d you get them from?” “Im not sure how to answer that,” I blinked “I mostly just think of what might help, given the situation” “So you do” Twilight giggled, climbing down to the ground -=-=- As I entered the library, I saw Twilight, in a human form of sorts., holding tightly onto the plushie of me “I didn’t think you’d be able to bring that thing out of your room” I laughed, she spun round, staring at me, she placed a hand over her chest “You nearly gave me a heart attack!” she scorned “I can only offer my apologies, lady of magic” I quickly bowed “And your heart,” she winked “Spike’s out gem hunting with Rarity, so he won’t be back for a few hours” she sighed “he’s practically moved in with her these days, I can’t seem to be able to do anything to help him” “We can only hope,” I shrugged “where wisdom and valour surely fail, all that remains is faith, and it can overcome all” “Where’re the others?” she grinned “Blaze is with Snowdrop, Blackjack and Scarlet are with Littlepip and Remedy, and Winter Bell’s with Nyx and Kiary’s with me” I gestured to the growing dragon beside me “Well, we could play a game, just to pass the time?” Twilight winked “What kind of game did you have in mind?” I smiled, she beamed -=- “How long were we at it?” I panted for breath “Long enough stud” Twilight nickered, sitting next to me on the sofa, there was a knock at the door, and Spike and Rarity entered “Morning Spike” I nodded “You mean afternoon right?” he grinned “I could hear you two all the way on the other end of Ponyville” “Honestly darling, you really do need to control yourself,” Rarity sighed “as much as we know that you care about Twilight, you can get a bit overzealous” “We may’ve been a bid loud,” I smirked “But I love her all the same” “And I you, my little eon” Twilight pecked my cheek “My little gleaming star” I pecked the tip of her horn -=-=- After about a week, I sat back in the sofa in the library, Twilight lying across said sofa, her head in my lap, a small, golden ring visible on her horn, and a silvery one on my ring finger “Oh how I’ve longed for this day” Twilight whispered, Spike and I shared a glance, I shrugged, he shrugged back, walking upstairs “Just you and me, together, until the end of our days” “By your word, Maho no Fujin” I nodded “What’s that mean?” she gave a soft laugh “It means ‘Lady of Magic’” I smiled “And you’re my little Hakumei Ryū Kishi” she winked, blinking sitting upright next to me “Rick, I’m ready” “For what?” I tilted my head “When we mated, to put it bluntly, you never put your, and this is putting it crudely, ding-a-ling into my fairy-cake, I’m still a virgin, technically, and thus, I’m ready” she explained with a sly grin =-==-= “Well that was interesting” I shuddered “You did well, my little eon” Twilight pecked my cheek “I’ve never felt so happy in my life, even when my parents enrolled me into Celestia’s school for gifted unicorns!” “I do what I can when I can, Lady Twilight” I smiled -=- As my friends, family and I, alongside Twilight, made our way to Lulania’s cavern, I opened the door to said cavern Lulania was stood at the opposite end “Do you wish to talk, Rick?” Lulania spoke calmly “I wish to apologize for how cruel I’ve been toward you” I hummed “ “I accept your apology; not only because of who I am, but also because of the love we shared once, and can do so again” she smiled “By your word, Tōku-ken Fujin” “Lady of the distant stars” she nodded “a fitting title for me, thank you; my love” “Wait, if you two were together, and Celestia, Faust, and Luna are your offspring, so to speak, why are there no recorded legends of either of you?” Blaze raised a paw “There are a few, in the archives,” Lulania smiled “just say the word, and I shall let Celestia know that Equis is ready for the truth” “And what, of Nyx?” Snowdrop lay atop my head “She was, at one point, the being ponies refer to as Nightmare Moon,” Lulania began “back when she was the princess of the night and pure, controlled, darkness, back when Celestia was a tyrant, ruling over Equestria with an iron fist, or, your case, hoof,” she went on “there was little anyone could do to stop her, so we devised a pan, the ponies of old, with the human-turned eons, created the elements of harmony, those of which found themselves compatible with six especially chosen eons, who proceeded to use the elements of harmony against Celestia, who put up her most powerful shielding spells” “What happened then?” Kiary stared at Lulania “The shield broke,” Lulania shrugged “the effects of the elements were deflected toward Nyx, who teleported herself to the moon in order to escape, and then Celestia locked her there for a millennia, when the spell faded, Nyx’s mind was awash with thoughts of unbridled, unadulterated rage and revenge, it’s only now that the Nyx of old, the good Nyx, has returned” “So, Nightmare Moon, is all just a lie?” Twilight blinked “That is true, Element of magic, and it pains me to say that your princess Celestia is a liar and a fraud, it is Tesla who should be ruler, not her” Lulania frowned “were it not for the Tesla of olds’ reluctance, he would still be king, as he had every right to claim the title, even now, it’s not too late” “I’m usually chivalrous, but I think we’re about to make an exception” I cracked my knuckles/claws =-=-= I burst into the throne room, my friends, family and Twilight’s friends and family marching beside me, Nyx and Winter Bell included along with Lulania, glowering at Celestia “I see you two have made up, that’s nice” Celestia, apparently oblivious to my ire, smiled “Yeah, it’s nice to know that one of my friends was locked on the moon for a whole thousand years” I scowled “You’ve no proof of that” she frowned “The elements of harmony exist, don’t they?” I spat “and I’m assuming the tree of harmony was made out of hundreds of soul dews also?” “That it was, my love” Lulania nodded “So, what was it that made you lie for a millennia about Nyx for the past thousand years?” I snapped “Mommy was locked on the moon for a thousand years?” Winter Bell hasped “I’ve no idea how else to say it, so I won’t bother trying to sugar-coat it, nor will I attempt to lie about it, my little rising star” I nodded “I was young and reckless!” Celestia blurted out “Bullshit, you’re a billion years old” I snarled “Is this true?” Luna gasped at her sister “Stay out of this” Celestia growled “We see,” she teleported, appearing next to me “Then you may take care of the moon and stars for us, if you so wish, we shall remain by Rick’s side, eternally” “And, technically, Nyx’s your half-sister” I glanced toward Luna, who stared at me, her gaze shifting around to face the mother of my second daughter “It’s true, I’m a part of you as you are me, Princess Luna,” Nyx smiled “I shall forever serve you and Rick till th end of Equis, come tartarus or high water” “You won’t get away with this, guards, remove this vermin from my sight!” Celestia yelled, the guards didn’t budge an inch, only glancing toward her, then smiling at me, winking “It’d appear as though I just did” I smirked “Step down from the throne, and this will all be over, unless you still have that pride of yours intact” “I’m not going anywhere” she growled “Well then, it’d appear we’re at an impasse” I frowned “Get out of my castle” she snapped “‘Your’ castle,” I tutted “you only got it because the old ‘me’ was reluctant and handed it to someone he thought he could trust, clearly we were mistaken, Celestia” “What would be your first order of business, my king?” Lulania smiled “You could be my queen, Lulania, and Luna and Nyx remain as the diarchs of the night, and let gravity move the sun on its own Nyotei” I winked “Empress?” she blinked, I nodded “you’re too kind, my king” -=- “So if Nyx was sent to the moon, then who’s Luna?” Blaze blinked, I glanced towards Luna, who tilted her head at me “My little shooting star, that’s what” I smiled “We are pleased to hear that you love us as you do Nyx, Sir Rick” Luna draped a wing around me “I’ve no reason to feel otherwise, you and all the others who live in Equestria were lied to for on-thousand years, Lulu, loving you is the least I can do” I smiled as we sat on the hill beside canterlot “I’m scared Daddy,” Winter Bell sat in my lap, clinging onto me “What is it, my little winter gem?” “That Celestia’s going to lock me on the moon if she finds me” she began to cry, tears flowing freely down her muzzle “I won’t let that happen” I frowned, “I’m a dragon slayer, and I never allow harm to come to my friends, let alone my family, or Nakama, I also know a dragon slayer who ate the flames of a god” “He did?” she gasped, staring at me “He did, he combined them with his own, creating a dragon god’s brilliant flame, using the combined flames to beat the god slayer, who, after being on the other end of the attack, was vanquished, once and for all” “That’s amazing!” she gaped “Magic” I winked “you yourself have those powers, that of a dragon slayer, you just need to choose an element, Winter Bell” “What element should I choose?” she blinked “Whatever element you feel is best suited to you” I smiled “I’ve been wondering for a while,” she tilted her head, perching herself between my horns, lightly tapping them “you have horns, why is that?” “I’m one third dragon, one third eon, the rest is human” I smiled, stroking her mane, pecking her forehead “You’re part dragon, and yet you’re a dragon slayer, how does that work?” she giggled “I had a gemstone known as a dragon lacrima planted in my being when I gained the abilities of a dragon slayer, that’s just one of the choices I made as a human being, Winter,” I sighed “and now you must make a choice also, do you wish for defensive, offensive, or supportive spells to go with your magic, and what element do you wish to choose?” “Both offensive and defensive spells,” she gleamed “what elements are there?” “There’s probably an unlimited number,” I shrugged “ close your eyes and hold out your hoof” she did, holding her hoof out in front of her, facing away from me, closing her eyes “now imagine that there’s a massive amount of energy welling up inside of you, and try and focus it into that hoof” she nodded, a blackish-indigo flame appeared bursting into life around her hoof “Steady now, try to get it to a level you feel you can manage without exhausting yourself,” she nodded again, the flame shrunk a little “now open your eyes” she did just that, opening her eyes, then gasping at the sight of the dark fireball “What element is that?” Winter Bell gaped “Shadow-flame,” I whistled “Kage-en no Metsuryū” “What element are you?” she turned to face me “Crystal-based fire” I winked “How does that work?” she blinked “I got my dragon slayer magic from a crystalline dragon, one who passed on her abilities to me,” I smiled “Just like you’re teaching me now?” she giggled “Basically,” I nodded “although yours is a special case, whereas you’re being taught by a being who’s only dragon in part, and you have a different element, although it’s still fire-based” “Who’s the original fir dragon slayer?” she simpered “That’d be Natsu Dragneel,” I beamed “his fire is matched only by his personality, and his love for his Nakama, just try not to annoy him” “Why not?” she blinked “If there’s one thing I’ve learnt in the guild, it’s to never annoy a dragon slayer, Laxus and Natsu in particular” “Laxus,” she tilted her head, the fireball still ever-present around her hoof “who’s that?” “The lightning dragon slayer, and since lightning travels at the speed of one-thousandth of a second and the air around a lightning bolt burns at forty-five-thousand degrees Fahrenheit, I’d say he’s one of the stronger dragon slayers alongside Natsu, Gajeel and I” “And me also” Blaze smirked, standing beside me “And you as well,” I sighed “can’t go without the inferno dragon slayer now, can we?” “I’m certain Ilo’s flame didn’t last that long, Sir Rick” Luna gestured toward the flame that enveloped Winter’s hoof “Could it be that she got thy immeasurable magic level also?” “Is there something wrong, Princess Luna?” Winter Bell “Not at all, thine little pony, it’s just occurred that Ilo’s flames didn’t last as long when she first used her magic” “Just another mystery of the universe, I suppose” Blaze grinned =-=-= There was an almighty thundering *BOOM* as an explosion racked through ponyville as I stood on the edge with my friends family and Twilight and her friends, spike When the dust cleared, everyone present gasped “What, who, where, why, and how,” I blinked “Someone’s managed to teleport your entire home into Equestria” Blaze whistled “Let’s hope it includes the overly-large basement” I bit my lip, walking toward the garage door “That’s your house, it’s like a mansion!” Twilight gaped, Spike and their friends walking with me as I slipped the key to the garage out of my pocket, opening it “Let’s just be glad I got it at all” I smiled as the door lifted, revealing a large object hidden by an even larger sheet of tarpaulin, pulling it away, revealing a pristine silver Mercedes “The Toyota Celica, seventh generation too, am I correct, brother?” “That is correct I flicked the light switch for the garage lights which flashed on, “What is it?” Twilight blinked as I opened the door leaning in and unlocking the hood from the dashboard, returning to the others “It’s a means of locomotion humans use, called a car,” Blaze glimmered “it’s like a train but it can go on any flat surface, for a limited amount of time, depending on the amount of fuel in the tank” “How’d you get the house though?” Rainbow Dash prodded the hood of the Merc “I was left this In my grandparents will on the day I turned eighteen, what they didn’t tell me was the basement’s contents “Why what’s down there?” Twilight asked me excitedly “Allow me to show you something else first” I smiled, lifting the hood of the Toyota, propping it up with the stand that most if not all cars had/have “That looks complicated” Twilight whistled “Did any of the humans in the other world have something like this?” Rarity glanced toward the lavender mare beside me “Just the one, but it was black, and somewhat different” I closed the hood of the car, locking it again, opening the hatch that led to the basement, Blaze and the others following me down as I flicked the switch next to the doorway, revealing a collection of automobiles “And your grandparents just left them for you?” Rarity stared at me “That they did” I walked over to the first vehicle, a Mercedes ‘C220-2013’ the key to each vehicle hung on the loop which also hung on a hook screwed into the wall “How much is all of this worth?” Twilight’s gaze darted from one car to the next “This here alone is worth between twenty-six-point-five and thirty-five grand on its own” I unlocked the Merc, patting the hood lightly “How much,” she gasped “but altogether, that’d be around two million, wouldn’t it?” “Let’s see,” I walked over to a vehicle covered in a large sheet of cloth, ripping it away, revealing a matte-black vehicle “looks like my grandparents manage to win the euro-millions” I laughed “That’s a Bugatti Veyron super-sport,” Blaze exclaimed “that on its own is worth one-point-seven million!” she turned to Twilight “your boyfriend didn’t have anything like that, did he?” “He wasn’t -and still isn’t-, my boyfriend” Twilight scowled “If ya say so” she chortled “though it wasn’t the question I asked it’ll do” “So how in tha hay did ya’ll grandparents end up with all this money?” Applejack nickered “I’d have to commune with the dead to get that answer” I hummed “Ah’m sorry” she tipped her hat in what I assumed was respect “Don’t be” I sighed “it’s not your fault, Jackie” “How fast can this thing go?” Rainbow Dash sat on the bonnet of the Veyron, “Fast enough” I smirked “Four-hundred-and-forty kilometres per hour, I do believe” Blaze grinned “Not as fast as me though!” Rainbow Dash beamed “Has anyone actually measured her speed?” Blaze nodded toward the cyan Pegasus “I don’t think we can, whatever measurement we use ends up breaking “How primitive” she quipped, rolling her eyes “Blaze” I snapped “Sorry” she held up her paws defensively as an alarm went off upstairs Rushing upstairs, Blaze and the others following me, I found Celestia, Shining Armour and Flash Sentry “Feel free to make yourselves at home” I rolled my eyes, turning the alarm to the Celica off “What is this, thing?” Celestia gestured to the road-wise locomotive “That is a car, humans use it to get from point-A, to point-B, now, would you mind ringing the doorbell the next time you wish to enter my property?” I facepalmed “‘Your’ property?” she raised an eyebrow “This is Tesla’s house, though how it got here is beyond even me” Blaze growled “That’s not possible,” Celestia frowned “you can take an entire building from one world and place it in another without sever repercussions!” “Looks like someone already did” Kiary smiled “I’ll be having a word with Lulania about this” Celestia scowled “Actually Celestia, I was the one who transported Tesla’s home here” Faust appeared beside the solar goddess “Why?” Celestia glowered “He needs a place to stay, does he not?” Faust simpered “he deserves his own place here on Equis, just as much as anypony else does” “Be that as it may, have you not heard of what transpired not even last week?” she scowled at me “I have, and I must say that it’s a good thing that it happened, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to do what I have yet to do,” Faust exhaled sharply “Celestia, as queen of Equestria, I hereby strip you of your title, indefinitely” “I understand” Celestia teleported her jewellery away, turning to face me, I shrugged, she teleported away, followed shortly by Shining Armour as he held onto the Pegasus at his side “I’ll see you later, milord” Faust winked, teleporting away As we entered the lounge, Twilight’s gaze shifted toward the large flat-screen Television “What’s that?” she blinked, pointing toward the source of most humans’ entertainment “It’s a television,” I smiled “That’s what you watch programmes on?” she blinked, I nodded “how does it work?” I gestured toward the remote “Interesting” she slowly nodded As we walked upstairs I heard moaning coming from one of the bedrooms, glancing around me, I noticed that Littlepip wasn’t present; I rushed toward the room, knocking on the door “Who is it?” Littlepip’s voice echoed from behind the door “Rick” I smiled, opening the door, Littlepip was sat on the double bed which was positioned against the far wall of the room; her moist hoof slightly staining the duvet covers as she placed it down on the bed “Sorry” her cheeks flushed a bright, pink tint “I was going to have to wash the sheets sooner or later anyway” I shrugged, sitting beside her “besides, if you want to do something like that, all you need do is ask” “Really,” she blinked “you don’t mind?” “Why would I, I’ve my home returned to me, my friends, family, and loved ones by my side, what more could I ask for?” I smiled again “besides, nothing’s stopped you before, has it my Littlepip?” “I love you Rick” she cooed, leaning into me, pecking my cheek “And I always will” “So, what, pray tell, happens next?” Luna smirked -=--=- “She had to ask, didn’t she?” Blaze laughed “That she did” I sighed, tracing a line across the bonnet of the Merc with a finger, a thick layer of dust forming on my fingertip as I lifted it “Looks like you’ve a lot of work to do, cleaning up these cars” she folded her paws “That I have, but I’ve also got my subjects to worry about also,” I tilted my head “now I wonder what’s in here” I opened the nearby door that lead away from the garage, revealing a room filled with tonnes of cardboard boxes “A storage room, big whoop” Blaze waved a dismissive paw “Is it though?” I hummed “nothing is as it appears to be, no matter how small or precise the change may be” Opening one of the boxes, I saw that it was filled with packs of cards “Ok, my grandparents were apparently both impossibly rich and awesome” I blinked, turning toward Blaze “I don’t suppose you want me to open these, Blaze shrugged I sighed; lifting the box, carrying out to the porch, doing the same with the others, which took about an hour, if not two “Whatcha got there pardner?” Applejack blinked, trotting toward me “Rainbow and Twilight have been lookin’ for ya’ll ya know?” “Trust me, this is worth it” Blaze smirked, tearing open one of the boxes, without thumbs, somehow “A couple-dozen packs o’ cards?” Applejack blinked at the contents of the box “A few thousand more like” Blaze laughed as Twilight galloped toward me, Rainbow Dash gliding toward me simultaneously “So, what’s the buzz?” “I passed the wonderbolts entrance exam,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed “Now I’ve got the chance to get into one of their shows if they need a substitute!” “One can only hope that it gets better from here on,” I smiled “congratulations” “It was bound to happen eventually, they need someone with my talent in there to show off!” she grinned “And what news have you to bring me, Twilight?” I gleamed “I was just wondering where you were, you’re either usually in canterlot or wandering about” Twilight giggled, glancing toward the boxes “what’s in them?” “Just something I bought out of the storeroom in the basement, I sat, cross-legged, opening one f the packs, reaching in for the nine cards stored within; looking at beach of them in turn through them “Pyrorex,” Blaze blinked “isn’t that worth a lot?” “Fetch my rucksack” she did, returning with it momentarily, I switched it on, typing the card number into the search engine Pyrorex the elemental lord LVL: 8 ATK: 2800 DEF: 2200 CBLZ-EN040 £24.98 “Twenty-five of your currency, and just for a card,” Twilight blinked “is that a good thing?” “It shows that it’s rare, so there’s one thing” Blaze patted my back, passing me another pack Sifting through the contents of the second pack, I found another rarity, of sorts, typing the code into the laptop “An earthbound immortal,” Blaze blinked Earthbound immortal Uru LVL: 10 ATK: 3000 DEF: 3000 SOVR-EN025 £20.42 “Another lucky pull” Blaze whistled “Alongside the elemental lord and Helios, that’s eighty-five quid total” “Helios?” she grinned “An abbreviation of the card you gave me on January, remember?” “We missed you birthday?” Twilight gasped “You didn’t” I smiled, tipping a box on its side, emptying it, placing the cards that were currently out into it, the rarer ones stayed in my pocket “And ya’ll collect these cards fer what reason?” Applejack nickered “Fun mostly” I shrugged, opening a third pack as Blaze handed it to me, opening one on her own, the two of us sat by the pile of packs of cards “like how some people collect rare items, this is sort of the same thing, but with a card game, strange as it sounds” she laughed “I got a Volcanic queen” Blaze handed it to me Volcanic Queen LVL: 6 ATK: 2500 DEF: 1200 LODT-EN005 £0.05 “That’s not a lot” she hummed “I still like it though” she shrugged, glancing toward me “what’d you get, brother?” Arcana Force EX- The dark ruler LVL: 10 ATK: 4000 DEF: 4000 SP13-EN043 £0.98 “Not a lot either, but at least it’s got decent stats” she titled her head, the two of us opening another pack each “Is this all you’re going to do all day?” Rainbow Dash laughed “Basically” I nodded, Blaze grinned “I got an archfiend empress” Blaze passed me the card Archfiend Empress LVL: 8 ATK: 2900 DEF: 2100 STBL-EN000 £2.98 “Not bad,” she slowly nodded “whatcha get?” Gandora the dragon of destruction LVL: 8 ATK: 0 DEF: 0 SP13-EN041 £0.98 “Gandora huh, sounds like the name of an ancient wizard” “Grandoa, Gandora, I think kazuki takahashi knows a little more than what he’s letting on” I chuckled “Seems awfully convenient” she hummed “what if he’s a changeling?” “Like that’d ever happen” I laughed “Touché, but there’s always a possibility” she shrugged “Don’t you have a country to run?” “I hereby surrender my title as king to Faust” I sighed “I didn’t sign up for this, Blaze, honestly” “Who crapped in your cornflakes?” she chortled “I don’t eat cereal?” I raised an eyebrow “What about a daisy sandwich?” Twilight sat beside me “Humans can’t digest plants that well, so it’d make me somewhat ill” I bit my lip “Pancakes-” Blaze’s nose suddenly twitched, she passed me the pack she was holding “someone’s using your cooker” “There’s nobody in there Blaze, at least, there shouldn’t be” I frowned, placing the packs back in the box, Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Twilight following me into the house, and from there into the kitchen “What the fuck?” those were my exact words upon finding Luna in her anthro form wearing an apron over her usual lingerie stood by the oven making pancakes “We thought thou would like breakfast, and that thou were still asleep” Luna giggled “I would say this is an invasion of private property, though I don’t think Tesla’s in the mood to care right now” Blaze laughed, glancing toward me “look at you, not even a couple of years here and you have a sub-par mini-mansion and a maid of sorts to keep you company alongside you family, Twilight and the others” “Dear Blaze we are not…” Luna trailed off, staring into the distance, as if pondering something, before sighing “very well,. We shall act as a housemaid, if only to see what it’s like, Lady Blaze,” she glanced toward me “milord” she bowed quickly “I’ll be outside” I mumbled, wandering outside, Blaze by my side alongside Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Twilight “Are you insane?” I whispered loudly, leaning toward Blaze “were we on earth I’d hug the crap out of you” “So, what’s different?” Blaze shrugged “She’s a bloody princess, lady of the stars,” I frowned “you can’t simply take advantage of her like that” “I’m not going to be doing anything of the sort, she’s your maid, not mine” “Blaze whispered “You cannot do this to me” I snarled “I just did,” she glanced toward Twilight Rainbow Dash and Applejack, who were busy trying to hide their laughter, Rainbow Dash of whom, failed miserably, she pointed toward the doorway, I turned, Luna was stood there in a French maid outfit with a plate stacked high with pancakes in one hand, and a bottle of syrup in the other “Breakfast is ready, milord” Luna winked “Fuck me…” I mumbled as she giggled as I followed her into the kitchen placing the plate down on the table, handing me a knife and fork “Enjoy, Sir Rick” she nickered “That I will” I smiled -=- “So what did you mean when you said that you’d hug me?” Blaze smirked “Blaze, you know I’m a dumbass, let’s just let it go, Ok?” I sighed, having placed the empty packs in the bin; and the cards in neat piles in the box “Nope, I’m not shutting up until you explain what you said” she folded her arms, I did, she pursed her lips, slowly nodding “fair enough, if it’s a thing you humans frequent then who am I to argue?” “What’re we talking about?” Celestia teleported before me as I sat with Blaze on the front porch “Blaze has somehow managed to persuade your sister into being a maid, of sorts” I flinched “I see” she raised an eyebrow toward Blaze, who shrugged, she glanced back toward me “and you’ve had no say in the matter?” Blaze stared at me, a sly grin plastered upon her face that stretched from ear to ear “Where are you going with this?” I inched backward against the door “I’m just asking” she shrugged, her horn glowing in a bright primrose aura “Look, I don’t mind, I just don’t want it to be awkward, which is kind of hard considering it’s my own sister who started it” I raised my hands defensively “You’re being honest,” she smiled, the smile of which turned to a grin “and I suppose you’d like me to join her?” “Not at all, I mean maybe, but, what would I need anyone else to do that I can do myself?” “I can save you a lot of work, for one thing” she flashed her eyebrows at me “No thank you, she gave me the best puppy-dog eyes she could muster “fine, but that should be illegal for someone as beautiful as you” “Need I change into anything?” she purred “I’ve got one doing that as it is, so I don’t think so” I sighed “I’d rather not know, but I’ve a feeling I’m going to find out anyway” she sighed “Has Bluebelle shat out the stone I ‘handed’ her?” I grinned “It would appear as though her stomach acids dissolved it, melding with it in its liquid state,” Celestia raised an eyebrow “Daddy,” an icy Blue Pegasus filled my vision as Snowdrop hug-tackled me, clinging onto me “I missed you Daddy!” “And I you Snowy, and I you” “Daddy,” another Pegasus tackled me alongside an alicorn foal “We missed you,” Gracy Gloom and Winter Bell clung onto me as Snowdrop perched herself on the back of my head Winter Bell and Gracy Gloom hanging/perching on my shoulders “I know, I’ve heard such from my little Snowflake, my little saving grace and Winter Bell” I simpered “I love you Daddy” Snowdrop pecked one of my horns “I love you too Snowdrop”, I stroked her mane “No, I love, love, you, if that makes sense” a hush went over the immediate vicinity “I may love you, but it’s as family, and besides, I don’t screw my relatives” I rolled my eyes “Indeed” Celestia raised both eyebrows, I tilted my head “You do realise I’m uploading the events of what happens to me here onto my laptop, right?” I smirked “I’m aware” she grinned “That’s an invasion of privacy” I frowned “Not that you mind, right brother,” Blaze laughed “I mean, you didn’t seem to care the last time” “That was somewhat different” I grumbled “Tesla, there’s a humanoid pony in your house acting as a maid, of all things, what’s more is she didn’t even ring the doorbell, she just teleported in, most likely” “Touché, but you’re the one who talked her into it” I patted her head “So I am, but I’ve a feeling it’s gonna save you a bit of work” she glimmered, I glared at her “Look, just see how it goes, and if you don’t like wit, well, ask her to leave” “And if I don’t feel as though I have it in me to do such a thing?” I mumbled “You’re serious?” I gave her the flattest stare I could muster “Holy hell, Tesla, my dear brother, I didn’t realise you could be so introverted!” “Call it what you want you’re doing it, not me” I frowned “And now you’re being somewhat stubborn,” she raised an eyebrow, folding her arms “Why doesn’t that surprise me?” “What’re those boxes for?” Celestia gestured toward the pyramid structure that was built from the filled boxes beside the door “Just a few things I got from the storage room of the basement,” I shrugged “What’s in them?” she smiled “Cards” I deadpanned “Planning a massive party are we?” she smirked “Not that type of card” I mumbled “So I see” she opened one of the boxes, levitating a pack from the box “how many of these are there?” “Fuck all if I know” I shrugged again “Language, Sir Rick” I glanced behind me, Luna was sat behind me, now no longer wearing neither the outfit nor the apron as she gently placing her hands on my shoulders, massaging them “It is unbefitting of a lord to use such foul language when the matter at hoof needn’t call for it” -=-=-=- Come nightmare night I was walking through ponyville, wearing robes, a pitch-black cape and a skull underneath the hood, the skull of which had the horns of a ram, but the fangs of a Smilodon, and to finish the set of attire I’d gotten a scythe, having asked Nyx if she had one, the robes were made by rarity, and enchanted to give of a certain aura and to make it seem as though I was actually hovering, and had the body of the grim reaper himself, I hadn’t explained what they were for to anyone other than Blaze and Snowdrop There was many-a-pony who avoided me, staring at me in fear as I walked through the town “I didn’t think it possible to scare anyone this much” Blaze hummed, walking by my family, “Nay, the mortal hath every right to fear thine impending demise” I spoke in a guttural tone, trying to sound as close to the grim reaper as I could “Keep at it, bud” she laughed, Kiary perched herself on my shoulder, her scales having been magically dyed a precisely selected blackish-grey with red lining, her eyes magically changed so they appeared to be white fireballs “That we shall, young mortal” Kiary spoke in dark, malevolent tone that I hadn’t thought possible for a dragon her age, not yet anyhow, she glanced toward me “Did I get that right?” I nodded “So what’re you going as?” Rainbow Dash hovered down to me on a thundercloud, dressed in a purple/grey uniform with indigo goggles with golden lenses “Who is acting, knave?” I growled in the same deathly tone, pun intended “It’s a little obvious it’s you, Tesla” she laughed “just remove the freaky hood and talk to me normally” “As you wish” I grumbled, revealing the bleached skull underneath my hood, upon seeing it, she gasped, flying away as fast as she could, taking the cloud with her, I replaced the hood back over my head “Nice work Charon” Snowdrop nickered, I slowly nodded “And who might though be?” Luna stood before me “Lulu” I smiled “Sir Rick?” she blinked I raised an arm, gesturing for her to lower the volume “Where did thou get our scythe?” “I asked Nyx for it” I shrugged “So thou hath” she nickered “And what of thy arm?” “Magic” I gave her a thumbs-up “this’ll be our little secret, my little shooting star” “But what are thou dressed as?” she tilted her head “The human personification of death” I grinned “if ponies fear death then they’ll no longer fear the dark” “Thy assistance is noted” her cheeks turned a rosy pink tint “Come, let us find something to do in tonight’s most joyous occasion” “I’d be honoured” I returned to using my guttural tone, moving alongside Luna, approaching a stage where Rarity stood alongside a pony I didn’t recognize “Ah, Princess Luna,” Rarity bowed graciously, rising to her feet “Have you come to join the costume contest?” “We shall judge, if though wouldst allow it, but only if Sir Rick competes” Luna covered my back with a wing “That’s Tesla under there!?” Rarity gasped “Hello” I gave a small wave “I suppose we could make a few changes for tonight’s event, but I must insist that you wear something different next year” she sighed “Will do” I nodded, walking to the backstage When it was my turn, I seemingly glided onto the stage, wielding the scythe, holding onto it as tight as I could “So what are you?” the male judge asked, smiling up at me “Death,” I hissed, slowly pulling myself to my full height, “And thy time has come, stallion” “W-what?” I started slowly walking toward him. “Thou hast liveth for far too long. I am here to drag thee down to the dark pits of hell where thou belong” “You’re… a very good actor-“ “Who is acting, knave?” I growled, halting my movement, my head tilted slightly, as though confused “Do thou think thee still be living? Nay, thou art dead,” I restarted walking to where the three judges stood, the stallion began backing away “run not, There is no escaping thy fate,” my hand lifted to my hood, gradually pulling it back as I said, “Look into my eyes and know only darkness!” with the hood fully back, the skull I had on was visible for all to see “Thy, time, has, come,” I slowly announced, drawing closer with each word. Finally I stood before him, glaring down with empty eye sockets; he stood, as if transfixed, as I lifted the scythe up with both hands Without a word, I brought it straight down, and it stopped right in front of his face, held in a dark blue aura “That is far more than necessary” Luna rolled her eyes as I lifted the scythe to my side, pulling my hood back up, nodding, walking to the backstage area “I think I just gave someone a heart attack” I chuckled “Too harsh, Bro, too harsh” Blaze shook her head “Was it,” I tilted my head again, this time ever-so slightly “mind you, I promised Rarity I’d wear something else next year, and I will” As they began to announce the winners I let out a stifled yawn “Does the master of demise now yawn, Sir Rick?” I spun around, Celestia was stood there eyebrows raised “I thought it’d make for a few laughs” I pouted “The winner of the winner for the scariest foal is Scootaloo” Rarity exclaimed as Scootaloo walked through the curtain to the stage wearing a cute wolf costume “What do you ponies define as scary again?” I grinned “She’s a foal, Rick, don’t be too surprised” Celestia lightly frowned “Touché” I nodded “The winner of the cutest costume is Nurse Redheart” Rarity announced as Scootaloo reappeared through the curtain, and Redheart walked passed her wearing a nurse outfit “Not going there and Blaze knows why” I shuddered “Yes, yes I do” Blaze laughed “Explain” she smirked “The winner for the scariest costume, so to speak, is Charon” “I’ll let Blaze explain” Rarity seemingly facepalmed as I walked out, walking back in momentarily, medal in hand “Who’s Charon?” Celestia blinked “In Greek mythology, Charon is the ferryman of the dead, for a price, he may carry the souls of the dearly departed across the river Styx and Acheron” I explained “Seems rather befitting foe someone of your current visage” she smiled “So I hear that you humans have a thing for certain females in certain outfits?” “Some do, some find it disgusting, others want nothing to do with it either way,” I tilted a skeletal hand “And what’s your opinion on the matter?” she raised an eyebrow “I’m half and half, I suppose, I don’t mind it, so long as it doesn’t get taken to an extreme” “What would you class as extreme?” Luna teleported beside the solar goddess “Why’re you asking?” I tilted my head the other way “Why’re thou humans so odd?” she glimmered “Touché Lulu, touché” I sighed “Thou didn’t answer our question” she grinned “And I’ve a feeling I’ll regret it if I do” I rolled my eyes, again “We won’t be too harsh on thee, we think” she gave a rather dark giggle “No whips and gags, right Rick-o?” Blaze chortled, I turned around, Twilight and her friends, save Fluttershy were stood there, staring at me in apparent horror, save Rarity “Hi there” I smiled raising a hand giving them a small wave, Chapter XV; Home“I can’t believe we caught you wearing that” Twilight frowned “I wondered what you were going to do with those clothes, now we know” “I’d like to point out that at least I wasn’t going around looking like a twenty-foot-tall demon from the pits of hell” I bit my lip “I suppose so” she slowly nodded “I promised Rarity that I wasn’t going to wear it again, and I don’t plan on breaking any promises that I make, least of all with you, my little gleaming star” I smirked, sitting on the front porch “My little eon,” she pecked my cheek, sitting beside me “what’s in the boxes?” “Take a look” I handed her a pack of cards from the box next to me” “How many of these are there?” she blinked “Tonnes, almost literally too” Blaze sighed “Where did you find these?” Twilight opened a pack, handing me the cards stored within “Storage room in the basement” I smiled, looking through the cards, placing them in my pocket “What’s the strongest card in the game?” she tilted her head “Number Ci-one-thousand, with an attack and defence of one-hundred-thousand “How’re you supposed to beat that?” she blinked, I bought out my deck, picking out a certain card “Mini-guts’ effect;” I smiled “By sacrificing one monster on my side of the field, I can select an opponent’s monster and lower its attack to zero, then, if it’s destroyed, they take its original attack points as damage, which is easy considering what my deck can do in one turn” “Right, the ‘hieratic’ monsters can easily swarm the field, so by tributing one to weaken an opponent’s monster, you can then attack with a second” Blaze explained “So, are we going to open any of these?” Blaze nodded toward the boxes “If I get bored enough” I shrugged “Which will probably be sooner rather than later, am I right?” she gave a wicked grin “What’re you getting at?” I tilted my head “I’ve seen what you do when you think nobody’s looking mister,” she beamed rather smugly “glancing at Twilight’s flanks everytime you see her, and Luna’s and Celestia’s too” “I do not!” I snapped “Denying it already Tesla, I thought better of you” she laughe1d “You’ve no proof” I chided “I’ve a very good memory, brother, you forget who I am, need I remind you?” she smirked “Shutting up” I quickly sealed my lips “Good boy” she patted my head, passing me a card from one of the packs “‘Stardust dragon,’” I blinked “Blaze I’ve already got one of these” “I know, I just thought that since you’ve got ‘Shooting Star Dragon,’ you could use it as a secondary booster for your deck” -=- “Are thou well, Sir Rick?” Luna smiled “Is this what you meant by ‘no whips and gags’?” Celestia stifled a laugh; Luna was once again wearing the outfit “Sort of” I mumbled “And what do you think of her?” Celestia turned toward me “”Well, she’s great to be around, and she’s an amazing pony.” “I overheard your thoughts on the night I found you two together, when she kissed you, you felt the same about her didn't you?" “Wait, you knew I was there the whole time?” I asked in confusion “I did. Everything you did; everything you said and thought; I knew it all, Apart from the noises this morning," Celestia smirked “So why did you act like you didn't know?” "To find out the truth from you, a little test, it seems, as I was aiming to see if you'd try and lie about why you were there in the first place, But you didn't, you were truthful and I thank you for that, Rick" “So, you heard my thoughts...even when I was thinking about her?” I bit my lip “Every single one of them” she nodded “I… I felt attached to her when we were talking on that night, I felt an instant connection when we talked about our lives, how similar they were, and because of that, I felt I could relate to her, she’s my Nakama, as are you, Princess, never lose sight of that, although I suppose spending some personal time with her in her hour of need made me realise how well I thought of her, I just...I feel that this friendship has been made because I took advantage of her when she was vulnerable...” I clenched my fists “But you didn't, what matters, is that in her worst hour, you cheered her up and helped her feel better, that's an amazing friend if I ever knew one, I know you feel strongly about her, especially when she kissed you, Tell me, when she kissed you, you thought she was more beautiful, correct?" "Without question" I softly said. "And when you woke up next to her this morning and she made you comfortable, did it look like she felt the same way about you?" “I suppose” I shrugged “No ‘suppose’ about it; I know my sister so well; how she spoke when she was with you, how she acted during breakfast, how she was always staring at you, She feels strongly about you as well, I'm sure of it” “She does?” I blinked “Of course, don't you believe in love at first sight?” she laughed “I don't know, I've never really experienced it” Celestia put her hoof on my shoulder and leant down towards my ear; “You have now, my dear Eon” she quietly giggled, I quickly darted outside, I won’t repeat my string of language-most-foul “Is there a problem, brother?” Blaze smirked “Not at all” I collapsed onto my back, smiling as I stared into a pair of magenta eyes, those of which belonged to a cyan Pegasus “Something wrong, Dashie?” “I was just wondering what you’re doing today, since I’ve got the week off” Rainbow Dash smiled “Not very subtle” Blaze muttered “What’s going on here?” Upon hearing the sudden intrusion, I suddenly bolted upright, coming into contact with the cyan Pegasus, who draped her arms around my neck, placing her lips on mine, gradually parting, I collapsed again “Was that necessary?” Blaze turned to the newcomer, an eon of red and white scales with golden eyes “Anything for my little Ricky-boy-o” Crystal laughed, I steadily got to me, walking over to the garage, opening it “So, your old house teleported here, how?” she blinked “Fuck all if I know” I mumbled “I guess we now know what your grandparents had in the garage” Crystal whistled “They even had it in my favourite colour, too” the Toyota Celica, I had conveniently/apparently forgotten to mention, was a deep crimson shade of red, I unlocked the doors, opening it Snowdrop quickly climbed inside “We could modify it so it has your chest symbol on the bonnet” I suggested, my family having walked with me to the garage “It’s got a letter inside,” Snowdrop exclaimed, handing me a letter she’d found in the glove box Opening the envelope, I unfolded the letter, which read: To our dear Crystal and Rick Hawkins If you ever receive the letter, we’d like you to know that we love you as the family that you are, you mean the world, and everything in it, to us, all that, and more, which is why, behind the seat, you’ll find a few items I kept safe for you from my days in the war, I won’t ruin the surprise, but I’d imagine each of them to be worth a small fortune, the car, however, I’d like you to share, as I’m sure Crystal would like it. She always did seem to be the responsible type of girl, make sure you take care of her like you did us, and vice-versa, now though, I’m afraid I’ll have to leave you, with our best wishes and regards for the future, and I’d like to once again remind you, that no matter who you might meet or what you might do, that we shall always love you, even if we’re worlds apart, farewell both of you, and may this letter find you well Yours sincerely, Harold and Sharon Hawkins Forever you’re loving grandparents When I finished reading the letter, I turned to Crystal, who was biting her lip in an attempt to stop herself from crying, I handed the letter back to Snowdrop, draping my wings and arms around the red and white eon with eyes of gold “Let it out, Crystal, trust me, you’ll feel better for it later” I smiled as she started crying, tears cascading down her face like small waterfalls “I miss them,” she sniffled “I didn’t even know them that well and I miss them, what do I do?” “You remember them” I pecked her on the lips “you do what you can in honour of both them and their memory, to live as they would’ve wanted you to, happily, together with me” “And live, I shall” she gave a weak smile, wiping away her tears “Thank you, Rick, I don’t know where I’d be without you, my love” she glanced toward the car as I let her go “so, when do we get to drive it?” “I’m not sure there’s anywhere we can” I tilted my head as Twilight, having noticed me, trotted toward us, sat by my side “You’re grandparents took part in a war?” Rainbow Dash stared at me “World war Two, to be exact,” Blaze folded her arms “What did he do in the war?” Snowdrop perched herself on the back of my head “He used to be a fighter pilot; and one of the best in his squadron, one of the best in the war,” I smiled at the thought “took down some fifty to a hundred enemy flyers within the first two years of the war, and he didn’t just stop there” “Sounds like an alright kinda pony; or; person” Rainbow Dash patted my back “Guess being awesome runs in the family, right Rick-o?” “I suppose” I mumbled, letting out an exponentially elongated sigh “Let’s see what they gave you then, err, us” Crystal giggled, I nodded, opening the car, retrieving a foot-long, three-foot-wide, black box, which worked in the same way as a suitcase, with a four digit code, the case in question was a matte black colour “What’s the code?” she blinked, I rolled my eyes, changing the code to ‘1996’, the case clicked open “your birth-year, interesting, if a little obvious” she chuckled, as I pulled out a folded-up world-war-II pilot’s uniform complete with hat and goggles “That’s his uniform?” Twilight glanced toward the clothing, and then toward me, I nodded “Might need rarity to make a few repairs” I smiled, setting the uniform down on the roof of the Celica, bringing out from the case, a firearm “What the heck is that?” Rainbow Dash stared at me “It’s what’s known as a revolver, looks like he wasn’t just satisfied with using bombs” Blaze tutted “That there’s a common infantry sidearm, the Webley Mk-VI” “And what’s this?” Crystal pulled a card from the case, wiping the dust away with a fragile claw “That, most likely, is his licence,” I smiled, she handed it to me, I quickly pocketed it “What’s this?” Snowdrop handed me a key-ring with a single, brass key attached to the stainless steel loop “That’s a key-ring,” I smiled “That’d mean that there’s still something else hidden somewhere in the house, or in one of those boxes outside” Crystal hummed “And so the somewhat small quest continues” I simpered “So it does” she sniggered -=- Searching for the ‘mystery box,’ as Snowdrop labelled it, was more than a bit annoying, it wasn’t in any of the boxes, it wasn’t under any of the beds, neither was it in any cupboards in said bedrooms, nor was it in the basement “What about in the lounge?” Blaze suggested “Might as well” I shrugged, walking into the lounge, where cupboard stood low above the floor with shelves set above it, all in ornately carved mahogany “Perhaps it’s in there” Snowdrop pecked one of my horns Opening the cupboard, I found three large lockboxes “Bingo” I grinned as the brass key slid into the lock, lifting the box out of the cupboard, I set it down on the neatly carved teak table, Opening the box revealed several sets of jewellery, two golden rings, bracelets and rings, each with a variety of gems in them on one shelf, which I set on one side, the next revealed a pair of keys, one was silver, the other, a solid gold, I lifted the shelf, placing it to the other side of the lockbox, revealing the final layer, which had a pair of dog-tags with my granddads name etched into them “I wonder how much you could make out of these” Blaze stared at the rings “I’m not selling them” I lightly frowned “I was just wondering” she held up her paws defensively, I rolled my eyes, moving back to the cupboard “What’re you doing?” Rick?” I turned around; Celestia was stood there, in her human form, a small smile appearing upon her features “Snowdrop found a letter, which then led to the discovery of a brass key which then led to a house-wide search which finally led to us discovering these, I lifted one box to the table, with Blaze lifting the other as I opened the first, trying and failing with the key of gold,, trying again with the key of silver “What, on, earth?” Crystal stared at Celestia “I’m sure you’ve already met Celestia, Crystal” I smirked “How in the actual fuck has she done that?” Crystal laughed “Laptop” I grumbled “That much is evident” she rolled her eyes at me as I turned to face the box’s contents= “‘How…?’” is all I could say as I was too busy trying to face the cats of what I was looking at “That’s, a soul dew!” Crystal gasped “There’s a note to go with it” Snowdrop pointed her hoof at the floor of the box, in which, like she exclaimed, there was indeed, a note, I placed the dully glowing sphere back into the box after taking the note out, reading it aloud: Rick, we found this on our vacation in new Zealand, we don’t know exactly what it is, but we’d like you to have it, as we know we can rely on you to take care of everything that we ask of you, that being said, I ask that you keep it on you at all times, for who knows, it may bring you good luck, or it might not, that’s for you to find out Lots of love, Harold and Sharon Hawkins XOXOX “They found a Soul dew whilst in the middle of New Zealand,” Crystal blinked “How?” “That’s just another mystery that I think needs to go unsolved” I bit my lip, placing the soul dew atop the note, locking the box “What’s the other one got in it?” Crystal peered over my shoulder as I opened the third and final lockbox with the key of gold, revealing a second soul dew, also with a note placed under it, this soul dew, however, was a pitch black colour with a deep, crimson ‘mist’ appearing every now and then in certain parts “Another one, how is this possible?” Crystal gaped; I picked up the note sliding it out from underneath the pulsating orb, it read as follows: Dear Son, your mother and I found this when we found you as an infant, we don’t know whose son you actually are, but I pray that we did just as good a job as they might’ve, wherever they are Your mother’s passing was, difficult, to overcome, but I managed, somehow, to take care of the both of us, I know you may not believe it and you may throw away this letter as soon as you get it, let alone start reading it, but I want you to know that I love you, just as much as your mother would’ve it’s times like this that I look back and regret all that I’ve done to you that may be considered wrong by even the kindest of people, so wherever you go, whatever you do, or whomever you might meet, I want you to know that we both love you, even from beyond the grave if need be, I’ll bet with anyone on any amount of money that your mother would be proud as your real mother would be if she could see you now Stay safe, lots of love, Adrian Hawkins XOXOX When I finished reading the letter, I collapsed, tears streaming down my face “I can’t believe it…” Crystal stared at me “Nor can I” Celestia glanced between me and the soul dew “Tesla, you’re…?” Twilight stepped forward; I wiped away my tears as I pulled myself upright “I was never truly reborn, merely reverted, stripped of my power, as it were” I frowned “So, you’re a billion years old, literally and physically?” Crystal blinked “I’ve no clue” “That is correct” the soul dew began to glow with a bright light, hovering before me “Rick, I’m the old ‘you’ from one billion years ago, you’re the new ‘me’ living in the present, let’s skip the pleasantries, shall we?” the soul dew’s angle shifted “I see we’ve another eon, as well as Celestia in a new form, interesting, state your name, young eon” “Crystal,” Crystal frowned “Didn’t know the old ‘me’ could be such an asshole” I quipped, only for the soul dew to ‘face’ back toward me, firing a small dart of black energy at me, I flinched as it hit my stomach “Next time you’ll think twice before commenting, eon boy” the gemstone snapped, “tell me, what year are we in?” “Twenty-one-ninety-two-ish” I shrugged “why?” “That is irrelevant to your concerns, little one” the blackish-crimson stone scoffed “now, onto more pressing matters…” “You’re right, the old ‘you’ is an asshole” Blaze laughed “Good thing I’ve changed then” I smirked “Did we just insult you?” Crystal stared at me, blinking “I’m not the one affected by petty comments; it’s the gemstone that’s the one with a serious attitude problem” I rolled my eyes, the sphere fired another dart, I flinched again “I believe that pain and discipline go hand-in-hand,” the soul dew huffed “how many blasts will it take to get you to learn?” “Can anyone else see what’s happened here?” ii stifled a laugh “What’s happened?” Rainbow Dash and Twilight blinked in unison “It’d appear that my personality was halved, and I got the good half, whilst the rest remained in the soul dew “That is correct, but for now, I believe you need to be disciplined” the glowing orb hovering above the table hummed “how do you propose we do that, Rick-y boy?” “I’d hate to see you in a bad mood” I mumbled “Indeed,” it seemingly nodded “now, discipline,” it continued “how do you propose we perfect it upon your being?” I opened my mouth to speak “and before you mention your scars, those are from the war, not your parents, I only replaced them so it’d not cause you to be rendered catatonic, young eon” “Although rather dark, I can accept that, I mean, if I end up brain-dead before the age of two, who’s going to look after you lot?” I glanced toward Celestia, laughing “You’re demented” Crystal and the soul dew sighed together “Aren’t I just, but that’s what separates me from you, I turned to face the soul dew, “I’m not like you, I’m not some stuck-up sadistic dictator who thinks he can do what he wants and get away with it,” I snarled “for every action in the universe, there is an according reaction and consequence, didn’t anyone teach you that, scum?” “Good, now you’re getting there” the soul dew laughed “I’ll be in here, should you need me, young eon” and with that, the light faded from the crystalline orb, and it slowly lowered back into the box, which automatically closed and locked itself, as if by magic (pun intended, assuming there’s one to be made) “Tesla,” Crystal inched forward, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder, I spun around, draping my wings and arms around her, holding her close to me as she did the same, having changed to her anthro form, draping her angel-like wings around me “I’m so sorry” she whispered, barely audible “You’ve no reason to be” I shook my head, pecking her on the lips “I love you Crystal, you’re my little gem, one of the only two in existence in fact” “Who’s the second?” she grinned, I nodded toward Winter Bell “Fair do’s” “There are, or have been, ponies who’ve been observing this house, curious as to where it came from” Celestia smiled “what do you propose to do about it?” “Curious how, exactly,” I tilted my head slightly “They wish to see what it’s like inside” she sighed “Will you grant them that request, Rick?” “And have possibly millions of pounds worth be damaged or stolen?” I laughed “I’ve got priceless artefacts in the castle in canterlot” she shrugged “You’ve got an army of guards to serve you as and when you please,” I shrugged “I’ve got none of that” “You’ve got a dragon” Kiary perched herself on her shoulder “What in the actual hell,” Crystal stared at Kiary “I thought those dyes and spells would’ve worn off by now” Kiary shrugged “That doesn’t explain why you look like a death-wyvern” she laughed “It was for Nightmare Night” Kiary smirked “And you haven’t tried dousing yourself with a little water?” Crystal blinked “…” Kiary opened her mouth to start speaking, but then closed it again “Damn you” “I know, I’m the best aren’t I?” she chortled “One of the best anyway” I raised an eyebrow as Kiary wandered upstairs “You flatter me” Celestia winked “Would thou likest us to help with anything, Sir Rick?” Luna appeared, in her outfit, with a duster in-hand “Tesla…” Crystal grumbled “It was Blaze who suggested it!” I quickly rebuked, her gaze turned toward the Typhlosion now lying along the sofa, who shrugged “I thought Tesla could use the extra help with the house” Blaze smirked “And that involved having the lunar goddess being reduced to a mere housemaid?” I raised both eyebrows “I don’t see you arguing!” she gave a smug grin, Crystal turned her gaze back toward me “You want me to argue?” I spat “how about the fact that it removes any shred of dignity and decency she had, no offense, Tsuki” “None taken, Master” “You pay her to say that?” Crystal gave a sly grin “I don’t pay her anything” I bit my lip “Makes it all the sweeter would ya say, brother?” “Oh, fuck you, Blaze,” I shook my head “though I think you already did anyways” “When did this happen?” Crystal folded her arms “When she evolved” I shrugged “And you didn’t tell me that because why?” she raised an eyebrow “Wouldn’t want you going mental about it” I hummed “I’m not going to” she sighed, “Honestly, Rick, I wonder how you get into these situations” “That makes the three of us” Blaze laughed “I know, right?” I laughed -=--=- The following day, and I was sat on the sofa reading the letter from my dad, my family and friends elsewhere, save Snowdrop and Littlepip “It hurts, doesn’t it?” Littlepip placed a fragile hoof on my side “More than I can bear” I clenched my fists, she’d read the letter, and had subsequently been reduced to tears “Just don’t let it be all you think about, my love” she pecked my cheek “How can I not, my scars weren’t from my family, but from an age old war fought an eon ago, put that with the fact that Celestia controlled my love-life throughout my time on earth for her own selfish gain, what am I to do?” “Be grateful that you’re here, with us” she nuzzled into me “We love you Tesla, and we know that you love us just as much, if not more, so what if you’re old life wasn’t that good, here you are, surrounded by new family and friends in a new world, why not make something of it?” “I need to be somewhere” I stood up, Snowdrop perching herself on the back of my head, Littlepip walking with me to the front porch, smiling as I locked the door, changing to eon form, Climbing onto my back as I took off for Canterlot -=- As I entered the throne room, I saw Faust sat on the throne, and Cadance sat beside her “Rick, such a pleasure to see you again” Faust smiled, I rolled my eyes “Is there something bothering you, young eon?” “I found a letter in my home,” I began, she nodded “from my dad,” I went on” she nodded again” it says that I’m not their son, and that they found me with a soul dew,” she hummed, slowly nodding “so I’ve a question I’d like to ask of you, your majesty” “You wish to know who you parents are?” she raised an eyebrow, I nodded “I’m sorry, but I alone cannot answer that, not until I am with Luna, Celestia and the others, namely Stella, or as she likes to be called, firefly, the concord flame, Iridia, or as her preferred name, Iris, and Galaxia,” she sighed “but, I ‘m afraid I can’t simply just ask for a summons with all of them simultaneously, that might give certain ponies the wrong idea” “I understand” I quickly bowed “Is there anything else I can help you with?” she smiled “No, your majesty, that is all I had to ask” I shook my head “I’ll see you later” “The elements of creation are to be summoned then?” Cadance giggled as I turned and left, stopping momentarily “If Tesla so wishes, which I’ve no doubt that he does” Faust cooed, I nodded, walking out of the throne room -=- “The elements of creation, are to be summoned?” Luna blinked on the following week, quickly changing to her pony form, the outfit she apparently insisted on wearing now gone, replaced by her normal royal regalia “Let us make haste for Canterlot at once!” On the return trip, I glanced behind me, my friends and family upon my back, Snowdrop once again atop my head as I flew beside Blackjack and Luna; Celestia soared up from the ground, perfectly matching my speed “Show-off” I rolled my eyes, Celestia winked As we entered the throne room -having knocked first and then been allowed entrance-, my friends and family walking beside me as Celestia and Luna appeared via teleportation beside Faust and Cadance, who were stood beside a white alicorn with a flowing cyan mane and tail, a pink Pegasus with a mild lavender mane and tail, a second white alicorn with a golden mane and tail wearing a pale green cape “This is the element of nature you spoke of in your summons?” The pink Pegasus eyed me up and down, Faust nodded, “looks like an ordinary typical human to me, your majesty” “Ah, that’s where you’re wrong” Faust nickered, the Pegasus shot her a rather perplexed look, Faust nodded “Show them Tesla, might as well have a little fun while we’re here, after all” I nodded, lowering Snowdrop to the ground, stepping forward, bursting into flames “So he can set himself alight, what’s the big deal?” the Pegasus rolled her eyes, I exhaled a small fireball, spreading my wings, she stared at me “You have wings?” she gawked at me, I lowered my head “and horns also, what are you?” “I’m a human, an eon, and a dragon slayer,” I chuckled “which is a little ironic considering I’m one third dragon” “A dragon, who’s also a Dragon slayer,” she blinked, I nodded “Well I’ll be damned if that isn’t irony at its best” “I know, right?” I laughed “So, you wish to know where you’re parents are?” The white alicorn with the cyan mane and tail smiled “I’m Galaxia, and these are Firefly and Iris,” she gestured to the alicorn and Pegasus that stood beside her, respectively “The concord flame, as Faust told me” I bowed “You needn’t bow; we’re all elements, are we not?” Faust simpered “We’re not” Blackjack raised a hoof “we’re Rick’s Nakama” “Nakama,” Firefly stifled a laugh “It means a friend who’s closer than family, one who you’d do anything to protect,” I explained “In all of my years, I’ve never heard of such a concept” Iris smiled “you’re name is rick, correct?” I nodded “I can see already that you hold a heart greater than anyone present, you just need to unlock its full potential, we can help with that, if you so wish,” she winked “tell me, have you activated your element of nature yet?” “Not yet, as I’m sure of how to do so” I hummed “That’s not true,” Blaze patted my back “when you went rampant, somewhat, you unleashed a wave of sub-par cataclysmic energy, that’s what destroyed the everfree forest” “You destroyed the everfree?” Firefly raised an eyebrow “Harmony repaired it” I bit my lip “He awakened harmony?” she glanced toward Celestia, who nodded “A fool’s errand; assuming it was deliberate, which, knowing the typical human, it was,” she frowned “was it?” “Why would I deliberately do something that would no doubt lead to the disrupting of the universe, or at least Equis?” Iris whispered something to Galaxia, who nodded “Well spoken, I can now acknowledge you as a sub-par element of nature, somehow” “she nickered “We too, acknowledge your abilities, even if we’ve yet to see them in combat” Galaxia smiled alongside Iris “And that moves us onto the next topic at hoof, or in your case, hand” Firefly leapt forward, getting into a battle ready position “Fight me” she growled, launching herself at me, knocking me to the floor, I gave her the flattest stare I could muster “didn’t you hear me?” she frowned, “I asked you to fight me” she hit me square in the face, I didn’t even twitch, she tutted hitting me again in the chest as the flames around me dissipated “Why won’t you hit back?” she yelled, picking me up and throwing me into one of the pillars in the room “Tesla is a being of chivalry” Blaze smirked “he doesn’t hit females” “Weak!” Firefly spat as I fell to the floor, turning me over, only to be tackled in the side by a familiar icy-blue Pegasus “You leave Daddy alone,” Snowdrop scowled as I stood upright “mercy isn’t a sign of weakness, but of wisdom, Daddy taught me that first-hoof!” “Alright, how about I take you out first?” she spat, I lunged at her, knocking her on her back, Dawnbreaker drawn and paced against her neck as I held her down “You even so much as lay a fraction of a hoof on my daughter and this room will become a bloodbath” I growled, my eyes, I had later been told, had become slits “I thought you didn’t hit females,” Firefly gulped audibly “I can make an exception for my little snowflake, especially for ponies like you, Firefly” I snarled “you can piss me about all you want, I’ll either shrug or laugh it off, you mess with my family, and it won’t matter who or what you are, so may the gods have mercy, for mercy shan’t be mine that day” I stood upright, sheathing the Dawnbreaker, turning and walking back toward my family, crouching “Are you alright, Snowy?” I smiled “All-the-better, knowing you’re Ok, Daddy” Snowdrop perched herself on the back of my head “She didn’t hit you too much, did she?” “She acts like a bitch and hits like one also, just like the ex-wife” I laughed, vacating the room with my friends and family in tow -==- “Did you know that somewhere in America there’s a pub with a large cardboard sign outside it that says ‘we serve beer as cold as your ex-girlfriend’s heart’?” Blaze smiled “So, it’s like magma then?” I smirked “I see what you did there, brother” she laughed “but what’s with you teaching Snowdrop cheesy Bionicle quotes, not that I’m complaining?” “Sometimes, courage means not knowing when to take a life but when to spare one” Snowdrop pecked my horn “And now J.R.R Tolkien movie quotes also, what the hell Tesla?” she chortled “Just proving that we can be the cheesiest beings on Equis” I shrugged “Prove it” she folded her arms, giving me a smug grin “If I had to choose between loving you and breathing, I’d use the last of my breath to declare how much I love you” I tutted “Touché” she glimmered “So what’re we going to do about finding your parents?” “Well for one, I wouldn’t know where to start, and second, chances are good they’re already dead, save for what a scarce few immortals might know of them” I sighed “Once again, touché” she slowly nodded “Like win that episode when Applejack said that ‘if you believe amazing things can happen’” “Hasn’t Gainax studios been doing that since nineteen-eighty-four?” I tilted my head “So they have” she smirked, waiting outside our house with my friends and family as I retrieved my rucksack from the lounge, setting it down by the door on the porch, reaching into it, pulled out a large, heavy, silver blade with a creamy-yellow glowing patters running down the middle, propping it beside the bag up against the wall “Where in the hell did you get that?” she gaped “An appropriate use of the word ‘hell’,’ dear sister” I grinned “You went to that dimension, of all places!?” she stared at me “I’m sorry for making you worry, sister” I patted her gently on the head, she quickly nuzzled my hand as I removed it “You’re here now, and that’s what’s important, though Crystal might disagree, although she’d still love you all the same, Brother” she almost giggled, giving a light chuckled as she smiled “May we be together, even if worlds apart” I held out a fist “Our bond will strengthen us regardless” she clenched her paw, lightly bumping it against my fist “And I thought I could be somewhat ‘cheesy’” I laughed “It was rather a team effort than two individual projects, brother” she smiled “So it was, Blaze, so it was” I simpered “Where’d you go to get such a fine blade?” Velvet Remedy tapped the large weapon lightly, resulting in what sounded like a minute-long chorus of angels “All that matters is that I have it, the Daybreaker, ten thousand times stronger than the Daybreaker, and two million times more resilient, at the very least” I sighed, sitting on the ‘garden’ outside the house “To think that such a weapon could be forged,” Blaze shook her head “I guess even angels need to defend themselves, or in this case, dragons and eons” “Tesla, you’re…?” Littlepip stared at me as I placed a gentle fingertip on the intricate patter within the circular part of the hilt of the Daybreaker, my wings immediately becoming a pearly silver colour “I am that of which cannot be, and therefore, eventually shall be no longer” I riddled as a thunderous roar echoed from the forest as a large bear appeared, this one, unlike the first, was a smaller variant, with a six pointed star upon its head, and it’s colouration that of a bold/cobalt blue sort “You wish to challenge us?” I stood upright; taking flight lunged toward the beast, fists blazing Then the unexpected happened; The star upon the Ursa’s head flashed a bright white glow for an instant, I stopped, mid-flight, looking down at myself, my arms had been reverted to their mechanical forms, “Is that your best shot?” I scoffed, only to be sent crashing down to the ground, one of the mechanical arms literally shattering into hundreds of shards of metal as I came into contact with the grass-laden earth “Tesla,” Blaze slammed the Daybreaker into the ground next to me “Kick its ass” I cast a moment’s glance toward her, nodding, grabbing the blade, soaring toward the enormous entity, bringing it high above my head “Metsuryū Ogi Kai, Hoseki Ryū Jin ken!” I roared bringing the blade down, releasing an unbelievable wave of golden white pulsating fire toward the creature, splitting it in half, skidding to a halt as I landed “That was amazing” I heard one pony gasp “And he did it so effortlessly!” a second pony whistled “And with one arm, and also in a single swing, no less!” a third added “Never underestimate a dragon slayer” Blaze glimmered, my family and friends standing beside me as I went back to the garden situated in front of the house at which by rucksack was rested against the wall, slamming the blade into the ground “Tesla, are you Ok?” Blackjack glanced toward my sleeve, which I shook as it continued to produce broken parts “I’m in sub-par satisfactory condition,” I shrugged “this is only temporary, I hope” I laughed “wouldn’t want one of the only eons on Equis to go partially unarmed against whatever comes next, would we?” “Quite so” Celestia smiled as she appeared beside Luna, Faust, and Firefly, her horn glowing as my arms were both repaired and restored to their human forms “Y’know, I’m beginning to see a similarity or two between you and Asura, other than the mechanical arms” “I’m not a demi-god,” I chortled “close to it perhaps, but not so, I would require the strength of an army of eons to earn that title, sister” “No,” she shook her head “your compassion and solicitude for your Nakama, your friends, family and loved ones, it leaves you somewhat vulnerable, angry, enraged, you need to learn to supress that, find another way to win when there’s a life on the line, per se, don’t die like he did” “You insist that I do nothing?” I frowned “I will do what’s necessary to protect Snowdrop and the others, violence or otherwise, and when I make a threat concerning my family, I intend to follow through, unless my self-control gets in the way” “Case in point” she sighed “you’re a loose cannon Rick, learn to supress that fiery hatred for those who’d bring your family harm, morph it into something else if you can, just don’t end up hurting yourself doing it” “…” I remained silent for an instant before saying; “No promises” “That’s good enough for me” she rolled her eyes at me “you’re insane, you know that?” “I thought we established that not a century ago?” I smirked “So we did” she pumped a paw against my fist as I held it out “Besides, Asura or ‘Ashura’s,’ are meant to have six arms and three heads, not one” I smiled “That depends; can you imagine him with three heads?” she gave me a ‘are you serious?’ look “Touché” I quickly nodded “Where did you get that?” Celestia glanced toward the Daybreaker “A place where angels soar and demons fear to tread” I winked “You may have it if you so wish, a gift, and a token of my service as my being your knight, and Nyx’s” “I’ve a feeling you’d need it more than me, so whilst I appreciate the thought, you may keep it, Sir Rick” she smiled “All’s fair in love and war, I suppose” I sighed “You cheesy little bastard,” Blaze guffawed “I know, sometimes I even scare myself” I gave her a shit-eating grin “Because you know you’re a tad awkward when you’re strength lies not in your physical prowess, but rather, in your heart” “Just stop already,” she groaned “before I have an aneurysm” “Only for, you, Blaze,” I grinned “only for you” I began scratching the vents on the back of her neck, she flinched, suddenly exhaling a short stream of fire “Not bad, a little bitter, if a tad spicy” I grinned as I inhaled the flames, devouring them “You…” Firefly stared at me ate fire?” “Don’t be too impressed” I laughed “I can also eat gemstones, like an ordinary dragon of Equis” “Please don’t do that, Rick” Blaze hummed “I won’t do anything my friends don’t want me to do” I smiled “Tesla,” Blaze sat beside me, nuzzling into me “you said once that you’d ‘do it for her,’ how do you feel about that now?” “A little different, I’ll fight for those who I care about, be they eon, pony, or otherwise” I draped a wing around her “Rick, draping your wing around somepony means you’re ready to mate with them” Celestia raised an eyebrow “Ready this time, are we?” Blaze smirked “I’m using it instead of an arm” I shrugged again “Fair-do’s, brother” she smiled, lying on the ground with her head in my lap “What’re you doing?” I tilted my head “Just relaxing” she winked “That’d mean that-” she grinned, sitting in my lap, pressing her lips against mine, glimmering as she parted “Your idea of ‘relaxing’ is insane” I frowned “So are you” she shrugged “So I guess the talon’s on the other claw” “Touché” I mumbled as she patted my head, curling up in my lap -=- As I wandered around the house, I peered under the double bed that was placed against the wall in my bedroom, pulling out a rather old guitar, sitting on the bed, playing the strings a few times, attempting to tune it correctly “Where’d ya find that?” Blaze smiled as she entered the room “Under the bed, probably didn’t think of it whilst searching for the lockboxes because it wasn’t as important at the time” I shrugged “it’s even signed on the back” “Signed, by who exactly?” she blinked, a little out-of-character, I flipped the guitar over, revealing a signature by a certain musician “Bryan Adams” I smiled “Making it priceless, almost” she glimmered “at least nowadays anyway, that thing’s worth a fortune” “The most expensive guitar is signed by Bryan Adams and nine other guitarists, it sold at an auction in Qatar for around two-point-seven-million dollars” I shrugged “Daily Telegraph?” she smirked “Quite so” I nodded As I walked with Blaze onto the ‘front lawn,’ assuming it could be called that, I spotted a silvery Pegasus with a blonde mane and tail sat there “Hiya Rick,” the Pegasus known as Derpy exclaimed smiling, waving toward me, I smiled back “Hello Derpy” I ruffled her mane a bit, she giggle, hovering beside me, nuzzling into me, handing me a box with a few letters tied to it via elastic band, pecking my cheek, winking at me as she flew away “She’s cute” Blaze smiled “right up your alleyway, so to speak, eh brother?” “Perhaps,” I nodded sideways “Now I just need her address and a way to dip into my bank account without being noticed or sounding too awkward” “I can help you with that,” someone from above me yelled as a pair of magenta eyes filled my vision “Good morning, Rainbow Dash” I smirked “Ponyville’s local spy, are we?” before she could retort I continued “I must say, you’re not very good at it” “I wasn’t spying, I was napping” she gestured up to the cloud above me “So, you said you could help Rick” Blaze Simpered “I’ve been around Derpy’s place a few times, so I can take you there, but that’s assuming she’s even there later on” Rainbow Dash grinned “I told you she had a thing for you, Rick-o” “So you did” I smiled again =-= “Are you sure about this, chances are good she’ll lock the door, trapping you in there for about a week” Rainbow Dash lightly punched my arm “If it’s with a friend, I don’t see the problem” I shrugged, knocking on Derpy’s Apartment door, which was opened shortly afterward by the familiar silver Pegasus “Tesla, I…” Derpy blinked “I wasn’t expecting visitors, come on in” she stood to one side, I entered the room, she closed the door behind me, locking it, just as Rainbow Dash said she would “What rings you to see little old me?” Derpy sat beside me on the sofa “I just wanted to see how you were” I smiled “And I’m glad” she cooed “you’re all my little muffin talks about, and all I think about,” she simpered, tears welling in her eyes “Dinky’s always wondering when you’ll come to see us, even for the briefest of moments,” she leant into me “Tell me, Tesla-” “Rick” I stroked her mane “Huh?” she blinked “Call me Rick” I pecked her cheek “Looks like somepony’s making it to second base” she purred, Dinky shouldn’t be back for the next three hours, she’s at school you see” she rolled onto my front, her head resting on my chest as she stared up at me “What’re you doing?” I tilted my head “Making myself comfortable Hon” she pecked me on the lips “I love you, Rick, do you love me?” “I love all of my friends, especially ponies like you, Derpy” I smiled This of course, may, or may not have, been the wrong thing to say, because as soon as I finished speaking, pecking her on the forehead afterward, she slid down my body, sitting between my legs, pulling my trousers and boxers down to my ankles, climbing back up slightly, trailing a thin line of saliva along the base of my shaft, taking it into her mouth, all the way to the hilt, quickly pumping her head up and down as she sealed her lips around it, smiling up at me as she sucked me off, gleefully devouring whatever trace amounts of pre made it out of the head of my manhood, her tongue rubbing along the base of my cock, I pulled her away, slouching down to a more even level, setting her crotch around my neck so she was facing downward, she once again took my length into her maw, as I slipped my tongue into her folds, she moaned as I twirled and danced my oral muscle around her depths, causing her to quickly orgasm, her folds clenching around my tongue as the fluid flowed between my teeth “You’re amazing, my love” Derpy cooed, sitting in my lap “Anything for you, my little silver cupcake” I smiled, she clambered onto my stomach, lining herself up with my member, slamming down on it, flinching slightly as a ever-so slight amount of blood trickled down from her entrance “Are you Ok, Derpy?” I bit my lip “I’ll be fine, just…” she paused for a moment, exhaling sharply “just keep going” “If you say so, silver” I gave a weak smile as I began to buck my hips in sync with her thrusts, hilting her each time she bought herself down on me, lightly taking hold of her flanks as she bounded up and down, releasing wave after wave of seed into her she almost wailed as I climaxed, her folds once again clamping down on me as she collapsed onto my chest -=- “That was amazing…” Derpy sighed, my lower attire back up where it belonged “Truly” I smiled, as a key turned the lock on the door “Dinky,” Derpy gleamed as a silvery lavender unicorn filly with a blonde-ish mane and tail appeared at the door, the two of them sharing a hug as Dinky leapt toward her mother “How’ve you been?” “Diamond Tiara kept bullying the me and the crusaders again because we don’t have our cutie marks yet” Dinky nuzzled into her mother “Have you talked to Cheerilee about it?” Derpy draped a wing around her daughter “More than once, and she says she’ll talk to Diamond Tiara’s parents about it, but she never does, because she keeps on bullying us,” she glanced toward me “Daddy!” she charged at me, I gasped for breath as she collided with my midsection “You get bullied at school, how come?” I stroked her mane “We don’t have cutie marks, so Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon constantly picks on us for it, they’re the worst!” “And bullies never learn, which is why you need to stand up to them,” I smiled “show them that you’re not going to be messed with any longer, non-violently of course, and they should leave you alone, plus, there’s at least four of you and two of them, if you band together as a group, you’d be able to do anything” I pecked her on the tip of her horn “And if that doesn’t work?” she squee’d, gleaming at me in sheer glee “Then you get to bring in your secret weapon” I winked “Which is?” she giggled “Me” I winked “I’ll try” she nodded “Just do what you can, without resorting to violence; I don’t want anyone to get into trouble because of this” I set her on the seat beside me, petting her lightly on the head “Now then, Derpy, I’ll see you later” I walked to the door “and thanks for the muffins, silver” -=-=- “So, how’d it go?” Blaze smirked, lying beside me as I sat cross-legged on the front lawn, again “Quite well, I’d say,” I smiled, staring into the sky “And I don’t think Diamond Tiara will be a problem for at least a year” “Who’s that?” she laughed “Just a bully” I chuckled “Ah, so I see” she nodded “Take care of them, have you?” “Not just yet, Blaze, not just yet” I shook my head “Tell the would-be victim to stand up to this ‘Diamond Tiara,’ did we?” “What else can I do,” I shrugged “I asked Dinky not to resort to violence, as I don’t want Derpy to be blamed for it” “Wise,” she nodded again “and if all else fails?” “Then I get involved” I frowned “And what would you do, ask the teacher, assuming this is a school-based event, that her parents be bought to the school?” “It’s the least I can do” I clicked my neck “So be it,” she sighed =-=-= As the days progressed, I got no word of any events at the school, until on one morning not half a month later, Derpy appeared, as she always did, handing me a small pile of letters, staring at the ground “Are you Ok, Silver?” “It’s Diamond Tiara, they hit my little muffin” Derpy began to weep, clinging onto me, I draped my wings around her, holding her close “Then that means that it’s my turn I stroked her mane “don’t worry, this’ll work out fine, trust me” “I’d trust you with my life if I thought it’d make a change” she pecked my cheek -==- As we -Blaze, Dinky, Derpy and I-, made it to the school, there were two ponies, one was a grey earth pony with a silver mane and tail styled into a braid wearing pale blue glasses and a sterling silver spoon for a cutie mark, the other a pink unicorn with a lavender and white two-toned mane and tail with a tiara for a cutie mark “Get ‘em daddy” Dinky mumbled perched upon my head “That things your daddy?” the unicorn spat “no wonder you’re so weak, it’s a freak!” “And you’re a pathetic bully,” I set Dinky down by my side, stepping forward “and bullies never learn, unless they’re stood up to” “Is there a problem?” a magenta pone with a pink mane and tail with three smiling daisies for a cutie mark blinked, trotting toward us “Diamond Tiara’s being a bully again!” Dinky frowned “What do I keep telling you about doing this, Diamond Tiara?” the pony groaned “We’re not doing anything!” Diamond Tiara gasped “how dare you?” “How dare she?” I boomed “how dare you lie about being what you are, a stuck-up, good-for-nothing pile of festering trash?” I growled “If I hear so much as a whisper of you laying so much as a fraction of a hoof on my daughter again; I will personally see to it that you spend the rest of your miserable life in the worst type of hell I can bring, dragon’s honour” she ran away, tears streaming down her muzzle as she sprinted toward the school, the silver filly quickly followed her “I believe that shall we all I need to do, my little muffin” I crouched down, draping a wing around the silvery lavender filly beside me, who clung onto me with all her might “Harsh brother, harsh” Blaze whistled -==-==- “Tesla,” Twilight galloped toward me, holding a letter within a magenta magic aura “I’ve got a letter from Cheerilee, she says she wants to meet you this afternoon, any idea why?” she blinked, passing me the letter, I quickly read it, handing it back to her “It’s best you don’t know” I mumbled “But you only go there at that time of day if you’ve done something to upset one of the students,” she tilted her head “What’ve you done, Rick” “I did what I felt was necessary,” I spat “I’ve said it countless times before, and I’ll say it again now, you can do what you want to me, but mess with my family, and we’re going to have a problem” “What, did, you do?” she frowned, putting emphasis on each and every word “I did what most teachers that I know of fail to do, I saw the problem, and I acted how I felt was according to the problem, thus, solving it” I scoffed “albeit, temporarily” ==--=--== As I walked toward the school, Snowdrop perched upon the back of my head, and Blaze and my friends walking beside, Winter Bell, Gracy Gloom and I, I was met outside the building with a familiar pony “Oh, it’s you” Filthy Rich scowled as we entered one of the classrooms “Weren’t happy with tormenting me, were you?” “Please, let’s be civil here” Cheerilee held up her hooves defensively “I’ll be civil when Filth here decides to teach hell-spawn some manners” I snarled “She is as perfect as the day she was born, how dare you question that!” Filthy Rich scowled “I dare because you’re obviously blind,” I snapped “if you’re daughter’s so perfect, then why is she not in Celestia’s school for gifted unicorns instead of here, surely you have the money, as your name suggests, yes?” he slowly nodded “well then what’re you waiting for?” “She’s not old enough” he sighed “if she were any older, I would take her without hesitation, believe me I would “Winter, show him what you can do” I smiled as Winter Bell hovered above one of the tables, both front hooves blazing as she exhaled a small stream of fire “She’s a demon” he snarled “She’s a dragon slayer, and judging by your reaction, you’re no better than the insults you give” “Pardon,” he frowned “She’s using dragon slayer magic, an ancient form of spells given to humans by the dragons of old, you might want to ask Crystagia about it, if we feel that you’re eyes are worthy to bask in her presence” “I can buy anything you can think of,” he scoffed “don’t make me laugh!” “No, you can’t” I smirked, changing to eon form, tapping my chest symbol “I have Crystagia’s heart within me, it’s the only one in the universe, a priceless artefact, no matter how you put it, and it, being a part of me, belongs to Celestia, as I am her knight and lord in less-than shining armour” “So I can’t” he whistled “how much do you want for it?” “I’m not selling my heart; I only give it to those of whom I love dearly” I snorted “Well then, what do you propose?” he raised an eyebrow “Should you choose to tell Diamond Tiara to leave Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Dinky alone, and I’ll leave you be, both of you” “And if she continues anyway, regardless of my actions?” he smirked “I’m sure I’ve already done enough to last a few eons of damage” I grinned “I needn’t do more, me-thinks” “You’ve a deal” he held out a hoof, I shook it ==-== “That went rather well, Daddy” Snowdrop giggled “So it did, Snowy, so it did” I smiled “What happened?” Celestia raised an eyebrow “Filthy Rich self-acclaimed that he could by everything, I proved him wrong” I tapped my chest-symbol “What did you say to him?” Twilight tilted her head “Snowdrop,” I simpered “You said, and I quote;” she cleared her throat ‘“I have Crystagia’s heart within me, it’s the only one in the universe, a priceless artefact, no matter how you put it, and it, being a part of me, belongs to Celestia, as I am her knight and lord in less-than shining armour’” she squee’d after finishing “Your heart belongs...” Celestia stared at me “to me?” she blinked “you flatter me, truly, to think that you’d bequeath such a gift unto me is…” she bit her lip “it’s unbelievable, truly” “Were it possible for me to survive, I’d tear it out of my chest and hand it to you, but alas, even if I were to survive such an act, I’d be rendered powerless in the world of magic” “When I asked you to prove how cheesy you could be, I didn’t mean over the course of a year” Blaze grumbled “Lighten up, torch,” I laughed “I mean, it can’t get much worse, right?” “Don’t say that, you know the cliché well enough not to” she stuck her tongue out at me “Ah didn’t think ya’ll could get any kinder than ya have thus far” Applejack whistled “Looks like ya’ll have proven us both wrong, pardner” “So I have” I rolled my eyes, Celestia changed to her anthro form, draping her arms and wings around me “I’m glad you came to Equis, my little eon” she pecked my cheek “And I’m glad I got the chance to know you, Celestia” I smiled, taking a few steps back, bowing on one knee “I’m yours to command, your majesty” “Quite the charmer” she giggled, her horn glowing as she set me back on my feet via magic “Ah yes, the silver Pegasus known to many as Derpy hooves, I must congratulate you on managing to help her” Discord popped into view beside me “You so much as make eye contact with her, and I’ll skin you alive, and then laminate your skeleton and place it out in the gardens as a nice trophy, clear?” I grabbed his hand, just as he was about to place it upon my shoulder “You wouldn’t dare,” he began “I’m the lord of chaos; I’m needed on Equis, lest things fall into disharmony” “Otherwise known as chaos” I raised an eyebrow, glaring at him “if you wish to prove that I won’t do what I say that I ill, you’re free to go ahead and try” he popped out of view “Why do we let him live again?” Blaze sighed “He breaks the monotony” Celestia nickered “You’ve already got me to do that” I smiled “You helped tha local mailmare, how so?” Applejack simpered “Dinky was being bullied, so I helped solve the matter” I shrugged “child’s play, pun not intended” “Although I will say that I think you went overkill in the process” Blaze rolled her eyes “Me, overkill on such a sensitive matter, Blaze my dear you forget who I am” I laughed “If you say so” she slowly nodded, suddenly, a golden ticket appeared before me, landing in my grasp “For this year’s Grand Galloping Gala” Celestia smiled “I trust that you’ll attend?” “Not this time, I apologize,” I shook my head “I’ve got personal matters to attend to” “As you say” she nodded =--=--= “You’re giving this to me,” Derpy gasped as I handed her the ticket to the gala “but who’ll take care of Dinky?” she glanced toward me, I winked “I knew I could count on you, I’ll plan for the evening’s dinner, unless you’ve got your own money and plan on treating her to something?” she giggled “We shall see” I slowly nodded “Daddy’s going to be with me for a whole night,” Dinky gasped “yes, yes, yes, yes; yes!” she bounded up and down in absolute glee “You’ll behave for us, won’t you, my little muffin?” Derpy draped a wing around the unicorn filly “You bet I will,” she exclaimed “I’ll be on my best-est behaviour for Daddy, mommy, you don’t need to worry” “You’ll take care of her, won’t you?” Derpy tilted her head “Come hell or high water, on my title as Celestia’s knight and lord, no harm shall come to her” I bowed quickly “Thank you, my love” she cooed (--=--) “You’re doing what now?” Blaze stared at me, giving me the best ‘are you fucking kidding me?’ look she could muster “It’d be nice for her to relax and enjoy herself, if only this once” I smiled “and I offered to take care of Dinky for her, and I promised on my title that she’ll be fine, so there’s no need to worry” “So you have,” she sighed “changing the subject, I’ve noticed a rather interesting clock shop nearby, wanna check it out?” “Sure” I smiled, standing upright, slipping my rucksack on, changing toe eon form, Gracy Gloom leaping onto my back simultaneously with Winter Bell, gliding alongside Blaze as she bounded toward the shop “Good morning Rick” a brown unicorn mare with a flowing chocolate brown mane and tail smiled as I entered the shop, a clock on one of the shelves clicked, and all of a sudden, we were surrounded by an ocean of almost mystical tones as the store came to life, some clocks displayed both light as well as sound, others portrayed actual moving ponies decorated onto their surfaces, gradually, the sound died down again, I was left speechless “If you think that’s good, you should come again when the hour strikes, I promise you that you won’t regret it” she winked “I see you know who we are,” I reverted to human form, my passengers landing safely on the floor of the shop as I did so, walking to the mare; bowing “but might I ask for your name, fair maiden?” “I see you’re quite the charmer, Rick” she giggled “I’m Autumn Heart, I run Stems and Gears” “Quite the nice shop you’ve got here, Autumn Heart” I smiled “Thank you, milord” she nickered “But, if I may ask, what brings Celestia’s lord and knight down to see little old me?” “I was informed, shall we say, by Blaze,” I smiled “Would you like to make a purchase, milord?” she smiled “I’d like something for the mantle, something that’s elegant, and yet somewhat sturdy also” I hummed “I believe I may have something for you,” she winked “please, wait here” she walked into a back room, returning a few moments later with a cuboid-shaped, tower-like clock with roman numerals for the numbers, and what looked like a identical tiny rapiers for the minute and second hands, and a miniscule broadsword for the hour hand, with twin gargoyles on the front corners of the timepiece, the clock itself was a crimson work of art with golden pillars and frames with a silver frame for the clock itself, the frame around the clock built like an archway, small circular patters indented into the archway itself, each one with the depiction of a type of animal, the patters above the archway were almost indescribable, per se, the background was a deep, blood-red crimson with chandelier-like patterns of pearly white and gold “How much do you want for it?” I tilted my head “Fifty bits” Autumn Heart winked again, “And I get to join your herd” she giggled “that’s all I ask, milord” I set by rucksack down bedside me, reaching into one of th side pockets, pulling out a medium-sized pouch -each coin in said pouch was apparently worth a hundred bits-, handing it to her “You’re charming as well as generous, I’ll have to remember that” she purred, walking around the back of the counter, placing the clock into a box, the clock having been wrapped in an unknown material, sealing it with tape “Have a good day now, sweetie” she waved as I walked out of the shop with Blaze and the others -=- As I got home, I undid the tape with a knife I found in the kitchen, fragilely unwrapping the material from the clock, carefully placing it on the mantle, setting it to the correct time “That’s quite the clock for fifty bits” Blaze whistled “although I assume that love is priceless, isn’t it, brother?” “That it is, Blaze,” I nodded “Love is only worth the time spent searching for it” “Those awfully cheesy lines of yours are really beginning to tick me off” she grinned “But you’ve got to hand it to me, that I make a good joke” I laughed “Damn you” she growled “I know, right?” I beamed “So how much did you give her anyway?” she raised an eyebrow as we walked back outside “Around a few grand” I shrugged “How much do you have on you now?” she grinned, again “Not a damn coin,” I gleamed “There rest of it’s in Canterlot, in the treasury” “You’re generous, somewhat charitable and charming” she laughed “No wonder she likes you, brother” =-=-= That night, I bolted upright, changing to eon form, making my way into the plaza, going quietly as not to disturb the others, my ears pulling me toward an alleyway, fluttershy stood there opposite four stallions dressed in black coats and hats, I quickly reverted to human from, changing from there to Alphamon “Whaddya think we should do with dis one?” The fourth stallion asked. The first stallion laughed; “We’re gonna give her the special treatment.” He replied evilly. “Special… t…treatment, that doesn’t really sound so…” “You must be feeling tense; why don’t you stay here and relax with us?” The third stallion asked. “Thanks, but I really should be getting home… my animal friends wouldn’t like it if I’m late…” “C’mon, I’m sure they won’t mind!” All four stallions began to close in on Fluttershy. She ducked down on the ground while making small whimpering noises. Three of the stallions began to feel up and down her back. “P…please don’t do that…you’re making me very uncomfortable…” Ignoring her plea, one of the stallions took off her saddlebag, and threw it aside. Fluttershy gasped. “Please, I need that!” “Not anymore, you don’t. You ain’t goin’ nowhere.” “Let me go! I need to get home to my animal friends!” Fluttershy began to struggle with the stallions; she jerked her body around while kicking her hooves, trying to free herself from the attackers’ grasp, but while doing so; she accidentally kicked the first stallion right in the jaw The stallion reeled back, and put a hoof up to his face After a few seconds, he pulled his hoof away slowly, upon seeing blood, he snarled angrily, and somewhat demonically “Alright boys, get her, Do whatever you want to her!” He ordered, as he said this, he pulled a knife out from his coat “What do you think you’re doing?” in a flash, I was right behind the quartet, cracking my knuckles “Who da hell d’ya think you are?” the first stallion spat “Call me Alpha” I growled, giving the pony a roundhouse kick to the jaw, sending him sprawling, in an instant the pony with the knife bought the makeshift weapon down on my leg, the blade snapped clean in half “If you wish to see her majesties sun, I would advise that you leave immediately” I clicked my neck, the pony, now disarmed, dropped the broken knife, and galloped as fast as he could out of the alleyway, edging past me as he went, the other two carried their fallen ally out also “Are you alright, my little butterfly?” I crouched down to the yellow Pegasus’ level, she gave a weak nod, slowly climbing to her hooves, only to collapse, flinching in quite visible pain, there were numerous bruises scattered across her wings and body Gently, I picked her up in my arms, holding her as I stood upright “Just tell me where to go and I’ll get you home, safely” I winked, she gave a slight smile and a nod, her cheeks turning a bright pink as I carried her away from the scene of the would-be crime, guiding me to her cottage on the edge of town, I set her down on the bed one she was inside, reverting to human form “I’ll see you tomorrow, my little butterfly” I winked again, pecking her forehead, before I left As I walked home, I noticed the front door was open, marching into the house, I found muddy hoof-prints around the doormat, walking upstairs, I found a familiar unicorn tucked into my bed “Oh, the list of cliché’s I can think of now” I mumbled, grinning like an idiot “right, Autumn Heart?” the brown unicorn rolled over in her sleep, messing up the sheets slightly -=-=- When morning came, I pulled myself up to my feet, having slept, sat against the wall outside “Good morning Tesla” Blaze stifled a laugh “have you seen our newest tenant?” “I have, and if she’s not got a home for herself,” I began with a shrug “then she’s more than welcome to stay, we’ve got enough beds after all, besides, you sleep on the couch” “That I do” she nodded with a sly smirk “Really,” I turned to face the front doorway Autumn Heart was stood there, staring at me in glee “I can stay?” “You don’t have a bedroom in the upstairs of your shop?” I blinked, she shook her head “in that case, welcome to the family” she lunged at me, knocking me to the ground as she lavished me with kisses, planting a big one dead-centre on my lips, gripping onto me with all her might “I’ll make it worth your while, milord, just you wait” she winked, climbing from my chest to the grass-laden earth, walking back into the house “Now she’s most likely going to expect to be paying rent whilst living with me?” I sighed, sitting upright “Uh, Brother” Blaze pointed behind me, I turned, Twilight and her friends, minus Pinkie Pie, were stood there, grinning at me with a bunch of sly smirks “Mornin’” “Fluttershy tells us you played the hero last night” Twilight glimmered “How do you know it wasn’t just a dream?” I raised an eyebrow “Ah’m the element of honesty, Ah can tell when somepony’s tellin’ tha truth” Applejack beamed “What happened?” Blaze grinned “Fluttershy here says that Tesla saved her from would be criminals,” Twilight winked at me “In Alphamon form” “Cheesy much, brother,” Blaze cackled with laughter “it’s like a bad comedy sketch, straight out of a Monty Python movie!” “At least I’m not like Ichiya from the Blue Pegasus guild” “Touché” she shuddered almost uncontrollably “Honestly, I think you ponies are beginning to rub off on me” I laughed “No, you’ve been kinder than you’re being now long before you came here,” Blaze’s eyes narrowed as she gave a smug grin “you’re just too afraid to show it” “Fear and embarrassment are two different things, Blaze” I frowned “True,” she nodded “but don’t forget that one of the two can lead to the other, just as you taught me, brother” “God Damnit” I sighed “well, were you there when I was at the castle a couple of days ago?” “You mean after we solved the issue with Dinky?” I nodded “I don’t think I was, why?” “Well, remember when Filthy Rich said he could buy anything, and I proved him wrong,” she nodded again as I changed to eon form “I said that it, alongside myself, belonged to Celestia, as I am her knight and lord in not-so shining armour” “Yes, yes, we all know that” she waved a dismissive paw” “What you don’t know is that I said I’d tear it out and hand it to her if I could” “That’s both disgusting and rather charming” she raised an eyebrow “How would you intend to do such a thing anyway?” “Get me a handful of large gems and I’ll show you” I grinned “Alright then” she pulled a basket of sizeable gems out of basically nowhere and behind her at the same time “You’re not going to try and stop me?” she shook her head, grinning maniacally toward me, I shrugged, taking one of the gems into my mouth, crunching down on it as I stabbed myself in the chest with a claw, rending my crystalline heart/chest symbol (they’re the same thing) out, eating as many gems as I could within the shortest amount of time, watching in what almost became awe as my heart regenerated “Success!” she gleamed as I held the delta-arrow/prism in my hand “You just ripped your own heart out!” Twilight puked, as did Rarity Fluttershy fainted, Applejack looked somewhat disturbed “When is aid I’d do it if I could, I meant it” I smirked “That doesn’t mean you should do it in public,” she shuddered “Please, whatever you do, don’t give it to Celestia, I dread to think what she’d say if you showed her what you’ve done…” “That’s fair enough” I smiled “oh and if you want to take a look around the inside,” I pointed a thumb toward my house “beware the wandering pony” she grinned, as did Applejack “Rick, what’ve you done?” she beamed, I reverted to human form,, placing the heart-gem into my inventory, wagging a finger at her “That’s for me to know and you to find out” “Really, you have a house-guest now, Dear Rick?” Rarity giggled nervously “It’s not Luna this time is it?” I raised a finger, opening my mouth to speak, instead opting to lower my arm, stand upright, and walk into the house Blaze and the others following me “I’m telling you I’ve been allowed to live here” Autumn Heart was currently arguing with Luna, who was, once again, in the same outfit as before “Whilst we find that Sir Rick is a charitable person, we find it somewhat hard to believe that he would let a stranger into his house” Luna sighed, clearly tired of the debate “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you, I don’t have a home to live in, so Tesla’s let me stay here,” she turned around, facing me “Rick, tell her that I’m allowed here now” “Just so long as you don’t damage, steal or break anything, you may stay as long as you wish” I quickly bowed “By thy own words, milord” Luna smiled “You’ve quite the eye on ya sugarcube” Applejack nudged my leg with a hoof “So how’s this start then ya’ll an’ her?” “Blaze suggested a certain clock shop, what she didn’t mention was the beauty that ran the after-mentioned shop” “Oh stop it” Autumn Heart’s cheeks became a bright red colour as she glanced away from me momentarily “I’m serious,” I exclaimed “if Blaze had found you any sooner, I can only dream to think where we’d be now” I blinked “did I just say that?” “Yes, yes you did” Blaze chortled “Looks like the thing that eons go through that Crystal mentioned is still in effect,” I stared at Twilight “you know; the ‘cycle’ thing?” I slowly nodded “You’re still being affected by that?” Blaze stared at me, I shrugged “So it would seem” I mumbled “But Crystal said that the longest time that anyone’s ever been affected by it is a decade, you’ve been acting like it for the past twenty-two years!” she stifled a laugh at the end “I think coming here and meeting your new Nakama has locked you into a permanent state of it, brother” “So, what happened next, after ya’ll two met?” Applejack nodded toward Autumn Heart once again nudging my leg “I asked for a clock that looked somewhat elegant and wouldn’t break easily, she gave me one, which is now on the mantle-piece, I asked her how much she wanted for it and what was her reply?” I glanced toward the brown unicorn mare who was stood beside Luna “I requested fifty bits and an invitation into your herd, Lord Rick” Autumn Heart smiled “And how much did you give her?” Twilight smirked “A couple of thousand bits, all in one-hundred bits per-coin” Autumn Heart gleefully marched up to me, took my hand in her magic which was a light chocolate brown-coloured aura, taking me upstairs, sitting me down on the bed, sitting in my lap, placing her hooves on either shoulder, connecting her lips with mine “I’m ready when you are, lord of Gemstones” she purred Chapter XVI; Family (maybe part 1/?)“So, what’s happened in your household recently, Rick?” Celestia smiled as we sat in her chambers opposite a table “Not much” I shrugged “Please, enlighten me” she winked “Well, I may or may not have gotten a new house-guest” I bit my lip, she sipped her tea “Oh?” she raised an eyebrow “and how’ve you done that, my dear eon?” “Blaze mentioned a clock shop, to which I visited said shop,” I sighed “the mare who ran said shop offered me a clock for fifty bits, also asking me for an invitation in my herd” “And that brings us to now?” she giggled, in nodded “Perhaps a new roommate will do you good, Rick” she nickered, finishing her tea “How much did you give her anyway?” “A couple of thousand” I chuckled “Charitable and generous, you really are an extraordinary being, whether you choose to deny or not is up to you, Rick” she smiled “May I ask you something? Sir Knight?” I nodded “what would be the first thing you’d do if I suddenly went missing, or changed personality, all within the blink of an eye?” “If you changed personality, I’d start missing the Princess Celestia that I fell in love with,” I grinned “and if you went missing, I’d ask Luna to join me in a planet-wide search for you, you know that a knight is and always will be loyal to their princess and/or kingdom, Cellsy” “And what if I were to be transported to another dimension, or be taken off-Equis?” she raised an eyebrow “Well then,” I sighed “I’d just have to make the impossible possible, however that might be done, with whatever means might, or might not, be necessary,” I went on “come hell or high water, I’d scour to the ends of time, space and the entire universe to find you, Lady of the sun” “Rick…” she stared at me, placing her tea down on the table “You’ve no idea how much those words mean to me” she teleported beside me, draping both her arms and wings around me, embracing me, nuzzling into me as she did so “Oh, that reminds me,” I glimmered, bringing the heart-gem out from my inventory, handing it to her “What’s this,” she blinked, staring at the gem in her hand as it gave off a small prismatic aura “Well, you know how I said I’d tear my heart out and hand it to you if I could?” she cast a moment’s glance toward me, and then back toward the gem “I found a way to do just that, your majesty” “But what about your body?” she stared at me in horror, I changed to eon form, tapping the new chest symbol, which was in the shape of her cutie mark, that of the sun, tapping it lightly “I’ll admit it’s both an original gift, as well as the strangest one I’ve ever received from anypony” she raised an eyebrow “what do I do with it?” “Keep it, if you want” I carefully, albeit nervously, placed a hand on her cheek -0=+=0- So I had to dress like a whorse just to get your attention?:” Shining Armour was currently being berated by his new ‘marefriend;’ a white unicorn mare with a two-toned ‘electric blue’ mane and tail wearing a purple cape and a pair of aviator goggles around her neck “Honestly captain, you’re a pain in the flank sometimes” she sighed, currently sat beside me, my friends and family in the dining hall “Insert ‘Kill-La-Kill’ reference here” I laughed Blaze choked on the muffin she was eating “though I think we already have” “Did you have to do that?” Blaze chortled “The option was there, so I took it” I shrugged the mare stared at me with a look of confusion that was as deep as the Mariana trench “you don’t want to know” “So what’s this about having to dress like a... y’know?” I simpered, weakly “Shining Armour and I’ve been attracted to one-another for a number of years, and not once has he paid me any affection!” the mare spat “That’s not true,” Shining Armour scowled “Really Shining Armour, really,” she snarled “list one time you’ve actually paid attention to my needs and desires, one bucking time!” “I’ll give you ten seconds to apologize for that, before I demote you; or worse” he glared daggers at her “People who use threats and violence to solve their own ideals are trash, those who do so against females are worse than trash,” I growled “and from the so-called ‘Captain of the guard’ no less “And what makes you so much better?” he snapped “One, I’m a brigadier, and two, I didn’t get where I am by making empty threats and gestures, I got to my current rank by doing what needed to be done, be it by following my orders or my heart” I smirked “Brigadier, what’s that?” The mare blinked, holding out a hoof “I’m Pole Star, Your majesty” “Well, put it one way, I’d like to see shiny over there skulk about whilst wearing armour that weighs roughly half a metric tonne” I grinned, which turned to a light frown “And technically speaking, I broke first-contact protocols when I came here, assuming I’m lucky they’ll just demote me, or if not, court martial me” “So you broke the rules?” Shining Armour raised an eyebrow “Some of them, but so far I’ve withheld all sensitive intel that I can, as there isn’t much I can share without ONI and/or UNSC officials handing my rear to me on a silver platter” (4PM ARC-V) “ONI?” he blinked “Classified” I winked -=- As we stood in the front gardens, there was an enormous thundering that shook the sky, followed by what sounded like all of reality being torn clean in half, that of which was followed by a great, if not gigantic, gunmetal-coloured, horizontal pillar-like structure falling out of the sky, heading toward the area due north of canterlot “Mayday, Mayday!” a calm, yet somewhat panicked voice sounded from the pillar “this is the Captain of the UNSC Infinity” the voice continued “we're encountering an unknown gamma radiation-related gravimetric disturbance; we are without power and are on a collision course with an unidentified forerunner planet!” it finished “Please tell me there’re no major settlements due north of here” I turned to Celestia, who weakly shook her head “What was that?” Twilight shuddered “The culmination of human achievement” Blaze grinned, glancing toward me “we best get moving toward that ship, the sooner we get there, the sooner we can get the area in lockdown, so to speak” “Agreed,” I nodded, changing to eon form, Snowdrop taking her place upon my head once more, as she always did, Gracy Gloom lying along my neck, Winter Belle sat on my upper back whilst Blaze carefully situated herself on the lower back -=-=- When we got to the Infinity, I smiled, reverting to human form, Blaze landing on the ground as Gracy Gloom and Winter Bell clung onto my shoulders as I marched with my sister to the nearest form of entry “This is Sierra Sigma-three-fifty-nine, please respond,” I bit my lip, the door opened and a slender, female Spartan with snow-white armour, minus the helmet, stepped forward, aiming an assault rifle at me, I raised my arms, “Long time no see, Spartan” she nodded, lowering her firearm, glancing toward Blaze “I see your little sister’s grown a little” she smirked “That she has” I smiled as a team of around five Spartans with pale grey armour slowly made their way into the outside, setting up a perimeter walking back to an as-of-yet unknown piece of equipment which was being worked on by a Spartan-III with full scout-variant armour “Garret, that you,” I blinked, the Spartan glanced up at me, tilted his head “Nice to see you alive and well also, Rick-o” he nodded, turning back to the piece of machinery “Garret, I’m reading an extra friendly signal down there, everything Ok?” the voice from before, when the ship was in free-fall echoed from the gadget “Sir you’re not gonna believe this, Rick’s back” Garret laughed, pressing a button on the touch-screen device that was currently being ‘tweaked’ “Please repeat, did you say that Sigma-three-fifty-nine is with us?” it responded “Affirmative sir,” Garret nodded and he’s with what would appear to be natives of this world” “Are they hostile?” the gadget gave a monotonous hum “They’re ponies” he chuckled “Come again, did you say ponies?” another voice -this one a tad more serious-, mumbled “It’d appear so Lord Hood, sir” Garret nodded “Have Sierra come to the bridge, and bring the aliens with him” the newer voice sighed “Rick, if you can hear this, I want you here on the double, is that clear?” “Crystal, sir” I nodded =-=-= As we entered the Bridge the Spartan from before, alongside Garret and Blaze walking beside me as we walked into the room in question “And here I thought things couldn’t get any more interesting” a man in his summer-autumn years raised an eyebrow he was wearing snow-white navy uniform with a cap to match it, the left side of his chest was riddled with medals “it’s god to have you back, General” “General,” I blinked “why, or when did you promote me, not that I’m complaining sir” I saluted Lord Hood “After you left, a few representatives from both the UNSC and ONI had a few words with us,” a second man, this one wearing an olive green and blackish-brown uniform with a pauldron on one shoulder with dark brown hair, black boots, the three stripes on his shoulders showing that he was at the rank of captain “turns out that you, somewhat posthumously got enough recommendations to be promoted to Brigadier General, sir” he smiled -=-=- “So, you’re telling me that this world’s untouched by the covenant remnant, and that there’re sentient ‘ponies’ upon its surface, such as those of which are upon your head and shoulders, General?” Lord Hood smiled “As well as two in particular with the ability to raise the sun and moon respectively” I nodded “Sir, welcome to Equis” “And I trust you enjoyed your stay, General Hawkins” Garret laughed again “Besides the gamma-radiation-related gravimetric disturbance you encountered, which is no-doubt related to the existence of magic on Equis, it’s basically identical to Earth” I shrugged “And what of your new appendages, sir?” he nodded toward my horns “Magic” I rolled my eyes “seems to be the way to solve everything around here” just then, Celestia teleported into the room, standing beside me, draping a wing around me, and at that moment, everyone in the room took a large step backward “I’d like you to meet Princess Celestia, co-ruler of Equestria, and monarch of the sun” I “What is this place?” Celestia glanced around the room, all eyes were on her “You’re on board th UNSC Infinity,” Lord Hood glanced toward me, I shrugged, he sighed “I also trust that you’ve not told them any sensitive material, Spartan?” “Not a damn thing, other than my identity, where necessary, sir” I saluted “At ease” I nodded, lowering my arm “And you are?” Celestia raised an eyebrow, eyeing up and down Lord Hood “Lord Hood,” he held out a hand, she shook it, albeit, somewhat reluctantly “Welcome aboard, Princess, he turned to face me “Sierra, you’re dismissed” “There is another thing I’d like to add,” I bit my lip” “What is it General?” he raised the other eyebrow “We kind of met the creator of the universe itself, or so she claims” Blaze hummed “Can you locate her, sir?” the Captain blinked “No need” Lulania appeared via teleportation standing beside me opposite Celestia “And with that I shall take my leave, if you’ll allow me, sir” I smiled# “You’re dismissed” Lord Hood nodded -=- “That was interesting, general” Garret walked beside me as we walked to the unofficial ‘entrance’ of the Infinity “That’s not even the weirdest thing that’s happened here” I winked “But why can’t we enter, we just want to see our friend!” The sound of Rainbow Dash’s voice rang through the corridor, we turned around a corner, Twilight and her friends were stood alongside Cadance and Shining Armour “I’ve told you once, I’ll say it again, unauthorized civilians aren’t allowed near UNSC material” the marine sighed “Maybe we should just wait” Twilight sighed “Assuming that’s allowed?” the marine shrugged, the one stood on the opposite side of the entrance nodded as I walked toward the group “At ease marine,” I rolled my eyes “Yes sir” he saluted, quickly lowering his arm “Never gonna get used to that promotion are you?” Garret chortled “Like you can talk, colonel” I smirked “I can talk, sir, “ I could tell her was grinning like an idiot behind his helmet “you’re the third highest ranking soldier in the UNSC, people are gonna start looking at you like a role model sooner or later” “Third,” Twilight gasped “congratulations Rick” “So, how high up the military food chain are you now?” Shining armour inquired “Brigadier, General, though I sense I’m going to be labelled as ‘General’ from here on in” I sighed What felt like an hour passed, before Celestia and Lulania teleported into view before us “Is there any news Princess?” Twilight smiled “The humans, the UNSC in particular,” Celestia glanced toward me for a moment “wish to build a settlement here; I’ve given them a suitable area on which to start building” “Anything else,” Rainbow Dash landed beside me, nudging my leg with a hoof “It would appear that they’ve to record Equis’ history, apparently marking it a ‘Priority one,’” Celestia turned to me “do you know what that means, General?” she smiled “It means that it’s a top priority; and that the UNSC will defend this planet with everything they can give” I winked “We’re defending ponies now, sir?” Garret tilted his head “not that I’m complaining, or anything, it’s just that I’d like to know when the fighting starts, if that’s alright with you, sir” “I do believe that you’ll scarcely find any here, Colonel,” I smirked “rather, quite the opposite” “I’ll be on the bridge if you need me” he sighed, walking back unto the infinity” “Was that a machine?” Twilight blinked one Garret was out of earshot “Nay,” I laughed “that was a Spartan, clad in armour, of course” “How many ships like this are there?” Celestia glanced toward the hull of the Infinity “Not many, I can’t say much else, what with most of it being classified” I shrugged “So where’s your armour?” Twilight eyed me up and down, as if imagining the sight of me in Spartan-III Mk V (VI) armour “Well for one thing, we’re on a mostly friendly planet, so I won’t need it, and for another thing, it hinders my abilities, and thirdly, it’d need to be modified” I pointed to my horns, then expanding my middle and lower set(s) of wings “that’d take roughly year to get here, give or take one or two months” “I wonder what that’d look like” Rarity hummed “Not that interesting to some,” I shrugged, again “so long as it keeps you protected and alive, I don’t think whoever’s got said armour shouldn’t really complain” “What’s it made of?” Celestia smiled “Not sure if classified or not” “Your commander, Lord Hood was his name?” I nodded “has given me clearance to most, if not all classified material, in exchange for everything he wishes to know about Equis” she raised an eyebrow “Seems fair enough” I smiled, back “the armour itself has multiple layers, first comes the helmet next comes the titanium-alloy outer shell, followed by the titanium nanocomposite bodysuit, which is then followed by the hydrostatic gel layer, then the reactive metal-liquid crystal layer, followed by the magnetic weapon holder strips, the energy shields the pressure seals, the automatic bio-foam injectors, the fusion reactor, force multiplier circuits, reactive circuits th power supply control unit, and then the Bios, which varies on which design of armour the user is wearing” I finished the somewhat sub-par lecture “That’s rather complicated” she nickered “Its twenty-sixth century technology, each Spartan costs as much as a small starship” I winked, again “I just need you to promise, that no matter how advanced Equis might get, that you won’t attempt to make your own” “Might I ask why?” she raised an eyebrow “If one country and/or kingdom sees another backing up its military force, they may mistake that act as a declaration of war,” I bit my lip “believe me Cellsy, I’ve seen it happen on many an event” I went on” and I think war’s the last thing you want” “Thank you, Rick” she smiled again “we’re in your debt once again, General” “Just doing my job, almost literally” I laughed “You’re lucky,” Shining Armour grinned 2all we get is our skin, fur and steel-plate armour” “Just use what you can to make the best of a bad situation” I tilted my head ever-so slightly “I should also mention that, due to negotiations with Lord Hood, that our forces have somewhat intertwined” Celestia simpered “You mean…?” he blinked “We’re a part of the UNSC, and they’re also a part of our royal guard” Celestia nodded “If that means what I think it does; then I can’t accept,” I sighed “I’m a leader of the UNSC military, not the royal guard, besides, I’d rather lead my brothers and sisters in arms, if that makes sense” I glanced toward Shining Armour “no offense, captain” “I wouldn’t ask you to do something you’re not Ok with, General” Celestia pecked my cheek, the two marines present at the entrance to the warship awed at me “Uh, sir?” one of the marines gulped audibly “I know already” I raised an eyebrow “Just checking, sir” he smirked “No need soldier,” I shook my head -=-=- As we glided toward Ponyville -the Infinity now in geosynchronous orbit in the skies above ponyville-, landing outside on the front lawn, it didn’t take long for me notice what seemed to be an army of vines spreading from the forest, quickly wrapping themselves around everything in sight as they grew, more tentacle like vines bursting forth from the ground Snowdrop, Winter Bell and Gracy Gloom quickly hid behind me “I’ve seen enough weird shit to know where this’s going” I grumbled, Celestia having teleported herself and those of Twilight’s friends who couldn’t make the aerial trip to the town “Discord…” Celestia spat as the draconequus appeared before us “I’ve heard of sowing the seeds of destruction, but this is ridiculous!” everyone stared at me “plants, seed, eh?” Discord burst into laughter “But seriously now,” I turned to the others “if this is starting in the forest, then where’s Nyx?” “Right here” Nyx appeared, also via teleportation, right before me, the vines now crawling across the earth toward her, only for her to quickly move behind me, the vines diverted away, instead opting for other targets “So, they’re attracted to magic, yet they don’t like me,” I blinked “I’m guessing this has something to do with the elements?” I glared icy daggers toward Discord “You’re wise for your age, eon boy,” the ‘lord of Chaos’ raised an eyebrow “I find that to be most interesting” I quickly fired a ‘purple flare’ arm behind me, wielding the Daybreaker, aiming at the chimera “What’re you doing?” he held up his hands defensively “I figured since you’re the cause of all this chaos, we get to the root of the problem” I grinned “All jokes aside” he chortled “how do you propose to do that?” “Double medium” I grinned, aiming the Daybreaker with one hand, pointing it toward Discord quickly drawing the Dawnbreaker with the other, placing them side-by-side “Dragon soul!” Suddenly a burst of energy erupted from both swords as they melded into one, with a handle, hilt and parts of the edge of the blade covered in what looked like divine gold-steel the rest of it being made of energy, the three symbols on either side of the bottom of the blade resembling Celestia’s cutie mark, a short thin delta arrow, and the symbol of an eon’s head and to ‘top it all off,’ so to speak; the blade itself measured in at around seven feet “Kami no shinken; Shinsei danzoku!” I roared (Divine God’s Sword Nova-Breaker!) “That’s incredible,” Celestia and Nyx awed at me as I raised the blade above my head, holding it with both hands As I started concentrating, the blade released an incredibly great echo that rang like the thunder of the angels releasing a sub-par cataclysmic wave as it did so At once, the vines began to disintegrate, the damage they’d done also began to reverse and repair itself, the holes in which the extra vines appeared from began to close and seal themselves, and a great tower of rainbow coloured light exploded forth from the canopy of the forest as I bought the blade down to my side “Looks like this is getting more interesting by the day, ta-ta for now, Rick-o” Discord guffawed, fading from view as the new blade reverted into its separate parts Dropping the blades, I collapsed flat on my face, my vision fading to black, again =-=+-+=-= When I awoke, I blinked, staring at the lavender-coloured ceiling of a somewhat familiar room “That was incredible Daddy” Snowdrop nuzzled into me as I slowly sat upright, she was quickly followed by Winter Bell and Gracy Gloom “Quite so” Blaze smirked as she stood by me, the princesses and Faust standing by her “How did you know what to do to trigger your element again?” Celestia smiled “I did what?” I blinked, again “Cellsy says that by forming a ‘double medium,’ as you called it, you triggered your element, focusing into a more focused form of offense” Blaze raised an eyebrow, folding her arms “I’ve no idea” I tilted my head “I just did what came natural” “Perhaps therein lies our answer, thou just did what was natural to thee, hence, nature” “Luna nickered “Perhaps thou would like to try another time, when thy magic levels aren’t quite so... depleted” “Maybe” I shrugged, she gave a soft laugh, magicking up a basket of various-sized gems, passing it to me, I quickly ate the gems in said basket, cleanly, but quickly, my magic levels feeling somewhat restored, I sat on the edge of the bed, Winter Belle climbing into place between my horns, Gracy Gloom and Snowdrop perching themselves on my shoulders, Snowdrop nuzzling into me, pecking my cheek “Rick,” Celestia began “Whilst you were unconscious, Blaze asked me about how your wings grew through use of magic, and I admit, that I myself; was curious about the matter,” she bit her lip “And,” I gave a slight smile “on the connection between your middle pair of wings and your back lies, a fault, so to speak” she exhaled sharply “it defies all explanation, even our best magical scientists can’t work out as to how or why it’s there, let alone how it got there,” she pursed her lips into a thin line “can you think of anything that might’ve caused it?” “Thinking about it, I did use alchemy to bring Faust back, something like that would require a price, it’s one of the most basic rules of alchemy, the law of equivalent exchanged, if you want something, then you have to sacrifice something of equal value” I raised an eyebrow, tilting my head “You used what?” she gasped, everyone, minus Blaze, and my three daughters, stared at me in apparent horror “Alchemy’s been forbidden ever since you, the old you, left us, so to speak, ever since then, alchemy has been outlawed across Equis, to think that you’d use it to bring mother back is…” Celestia frowned, tears clouding her eyes, “I understand,” I stared at the floor, “Do you?” she scowled “it’s because of alchemy that you were lost to us, and it us because of alchemy that Faust’s back!” she scolded me “do you not see the cruel irony in that, Rick?” “I was lost to you, through means of alchemy,” I gawked at her, tears now streaming down her muzzle “Most likely a modified ‘portal of truth,’ or so they’re called,” Blaze hummed “that’s the only way I can think of that you’d lose your powers and abilities of your old self, alongside your old memories, and all traded for another life, but there’s no way you’d do something that selfish, surely not!” “I’m just wondering what materials you’d need to make an inter-dimensional portal from alchemy” I clicked my tongue “It was powered by your element, Rick” Celestia glared daggers at me “you were taken from us, forced by a being whose power is almost insurmountable, and then, forced to trigger your element, also by that being, and then you were sent through the portal to Earth, or so I was told” she spat “Rick, ain’t your power ‘near-insurmountable’?” Blaze unfolded her arms, I blinked “I did that?” I quickly glanced toward Celestia, who merely raised an eyebrow “I’d never…!” I trailed off “when do you want me to leave?” Celestia tilted her head, her glare turning to expression of horror “I never asked you to leave, Rick, I was simply stating the events of when alchemy was last used!” “So you say, but I can see it in your eyes, I’d hate to be cliché, but I can tell” I sighed “Rick wait-!” she blurted out, but I’d already changed to eon form -Blaze leapt upon my back as Gracy Gloom leapt in front of her, Winter Bell moving down to my neck as Snowdrop took her trademark position upon my head-, flying out of the room as fast as I could go without putting my passengers at risk, first through and out of the castle, and then toward Ponyville, reverting to human form when I got to the front lawn of ‘our’ ‘house’ -=- As I sat outside with my family, it started raining, nothing serious, just a light “You’ll get a cold if you stay out like this” Rainbow Dash hovered before me, I glanced toward her, then looked back down, raising a wing above my head, also raising the three on my left over Snowdrop and Winter Belle, and them raised the other two on my right for Gracy Gloom “Thank you Daddy,” the three ponies beside me chorused I unison “You’re welcome, my little Snowflake, you also, my little Saving Grace and Winter Bell” “So how come you’re out here in the rain when everypony else is inside, save applejack, who’s currently waiting for you down at Sweet Apple Acres?” Rainbow Dash blinked, landing in front of me “I don’t want to talk about it” I grumbled “You can tell me anything, I’m the element of loyalty after all!” she placed a hoof against her chest “How far does that go?” I tilted my head “I can keep a secret, even if ponies were to continuously ask, I’ll guard it with my life” she smirked “I’m a traitor” she blinked “Celestia says that I can’t use alchemy because apparently I was selfish and used said alchemy to transport myself from here to Earth, and in trade for a new life, I lost my eon form, powers and abilities” I deadpanned, she stared at me “That can’t be true,” she ground her teeth “you’re the complete, total opposite of selfish!” she boomed “you help any and everypony you meet, and Autumn Heart’s proof of that, Rick!” I glanced to each of my family in turn “You’d best get inside, little ones, I don’t want you falling ill” I smiled to each of my daughters “See, that alone is proof that what she says is false!” Rainbow Dash blared, but only fell on deaf ears Instead of replying, I turned to face Blaze “Blaze, can you do me an enormous favour?” I bit my lip “Take care of the little ones?” she sighed, I nodded “you’re a fool for doing this, but a noble fool, so to speak,” she nodded “I’ll guard them with my life, just as you would, no doubt, Brother” I smiled somewhat graciously, standing upright, slinging my rucksack over my shoulders, slipping it on, sheathing the Dawnbreaker, which was stood beside the Daybreaker against the wall, wielding the latter of the two, beginning to walk toward the forest, Rainbow Dash glided in front of me “What’re you doing?” she scowled “Leaving, now move” I frowned, she shook her head “I refuse to let you do this to yourself, Rick” I quickly backhanded her, sending her sprawling, continuing the trek into and through the forest +-=(-)=-+ As days passed, and gradually shifted into weeks, the trek through Equestria continued, on more than one occasion I had to evade capture by the royal guard, and almost twice I had someone following me from their village in hopes of joining me on my less-than exciting ‘adventure’ As I entered the next village I heard a trio of ponies talking “Did you hear,” the first, a Pegasus mare with a black mane and tail, a snow-white coat, chocolate brown eyes, and a ring of stars surrounding a cloud for a cutie mark leaned toward her companions “there’s a mysterious, bipedal creature that’s supposedly part dragon roaming Equestria, nopony knows who it is, let alone what it is, just that it quickly leaves after arriving at a nearby town or village” “Is that it?” the second, a unicorn mare with a brown mane and tail with a black coat with a crossed hammer-and-chisel in front of a horseshoe pointed toward me her deep sapphire eyes glistening in the sunlight “I think it is, he certainly looks part dragon, what with the horns and wings and all” the third, an earth pony mare with a pale, rust-orange coat and a crimson mane and tail with emerald eyes and a crossed knife and fork in front of a plate for a cutie mark gasped, I ran as fast as I could, they quickly followed, dragging the Daybreaker along the ground behind me as I went “This isn’t what I signed up for when I joined the UNSC” I sighed, only to be pulled to a stand-still, turning I saw that the unicorn had gotten a hold of the end of the blade with her magic, a fine golden aura surrounded the tip of the greatsword “I’m Sugar spice,” the earth pony purred as she came uncomfortably close to me “and these are my friends, Aqua and Mina,” she gestured to the Pegasus, then toward the unicorn, whose magic was currently holding me still “they aren’t our actual names of course, it’s just what everypony calls us” “We’d like to ask you a few questions” Mina added “where do you come from, who, or what, are you, the basics” “I’m from another world entirely,” I gave a faint smile, the three mares shared a glance each, grinning maniacally before turning back to face me “and as for who or what I am, I’m Rick, a human, an eon, and a dragon slayer,” I bowed, letting go of the Daybreaker “Like from the legends?” Aqua gasped “that’s amazing, how old are you?” “Technically, I’m a billion years old, but I’m still only around two centuries old” I smiled “So, a bit of an antique then,” Mina nickered “Sister,” Aqua and Sugar Spice gasped “Sorry” Mina’s cheeks became that of a rosy pink tint “I don’t mind, it’s actually not bad compared to what I’ve been called in the past” I sighed “So, what to do with you” the glow around Mina’s horn faded as she leapt forward, knocking me on my back, fervently licking her lips as her friends came to either side of me, knocking me out with the flat of the Daybreaker, my vision instantly cut to black -=- When I awoke, I bolted upright, only to be pushed back down by Sugar Spice’s hoof “We played a little game, my sister s and I, we decided to call it, who gets to be your slaver first, Mina came close, but only second best,” she lulled into my ear “make me wail, big boy” Within an instant, she was on me, quickly removing my lower pieces of clothing, throwing them to one side, I sat upright, but she pushed my back, not hard enough to force me onto my back, just hard enough to stop me “Not so fast, first you have to tell me what to do,” she eyed her prize like a piece of candy “or would you rather me take care of it, human?” I shrugged “so be it, though I should warn you, I’m good at what I do, eon” Instantly, she took my gradually-hardening member into her mouth, the subsequent sensation was overwhelming, I instantly stared pouring pre-cum from the tip of my member, only for Sugar Spice to quickly devour it, placing a fragile hoof against the tip as she pulled her head away “I warned you” she glimmered, taking its head into her maw, pressing her lips down on it, twirling her tongue around the head, slowly bobbing her head up and down as she smiled up at me I, albeit reluctantly, placed a gentle hand on her head, she gave a muffled giggle, wrapping a hoof around each leg to keep us in place as she went faster, gradually picking up speed, hilting herself each and every time, her tongue now running along my cock’s base I came, flooding her oral passage with seed, pulling away once it stopped, she gasped as she swallowed the lot “Now onto round two, Sugarbear…” she purred rather elegantly… -=-=- When I could walk again, I went to thank the three mares for their ‘hospitality’, only to find that they’d vanished, I shrugged, slipping my rucksack on, having thankfully gotten dressed, changed to eon form, and fled the town =-=-= I’d now been gone a whole month, and still no success on capturing me was to be found in the royal guard’s list of accomplishments, on the downside, my rucksack seemed to be somewhat heavier as I carried it with me through Equestria, finding various ruins in various locations, each one hiding some sort of antique as I ventured in and out of each and every one One even had a teal/dark-cerulean coloured war-axe hidden in it, I quickly sheathed it “Well this is a total bust” I grumbled as a blockade of Guard stood before me, quickly changing to eon form, gliding back the way I came, slowly arcing round as to return to my original path, going as fast as I dared, eventually outrunning/flying them not stopping until they were nought but a speck in the background, reverting to human form, continuing the walk, only to be transported via teleportation to a familiar ‘chamber’ of sorts “Rick?” Celestia bit her lip, I turned; Twilight and her friends were stood there, minus Pinkie Pie “And here I was getting used to the outside atmosphere, I rolled my eyes “Where’s your weapon?” she tilted her head “In my inventory, with any hope” I unslung my rucksack,, placing it on the floor, opening it, only for three familiar ponies to burst out “How in the-!?” “We found out that your bag has infinite space, so we held onto one another whilst remaining hidden within” Mina smirked “And my weapon?” I frowned, she levitated out the Daybreaker, it hadn’t a single scratch on it, be it blade, handle or hilt, not a blemish was to be found on the greatsword “I’m not even going to ask as to what you were thinking in the first place” “Well, we thought that since you’d be wandering the kingdom, we thought of a way to accompany you, our little human,” Aqua purred, I raised an eyebrow “why, is there a problem?” I pointed toward Celestia, the three of them turned as one instantly bowing at the sight of the solar goddess “Friends of yours, Rick,” Celestia sighed “I’m just as confused as you are” I shrugged “Where are you three from?” Celestia raised an eyebrow “Trottingham, your majesty” Mina quivered behind me, Aqua clung onto my back, her head placed on my shoulder, her eyes beginning to water “As I thought,” she laughed “prostitutes,” she smirked at me “only in trottingham do you get such acts of impurity” “You what?” I blinked, glancing to each of the mares in turn “It’s frowned upon by some, but I think they’d like an item of yours from your inventory as payment, Rick” Celestia nickered “Nah,” Mina smiled as the three stood beside me “the fun we’re blessed with on that day’s payment enough, right girls?” Aqua and Sugar nodded with gusto “Fuck my life…” I mumbled “We may not know about your life, but we can sort you out, if you so wish, Rick” Aqua glimmered with definite intent “Personally I think the name suits you,” Mina giggled “it’s cute yet bold, like you” she glanced toward me, teleporting onto my back, pecking my cheek, teleporting back to the floor, I was subsequently tackled to the floor by a large object “Hello, sister” I smiled once I managed to get back to my feet “I head everything” Blaze chortled “I doubt you can makes things worse for yourself, Brother” “Oh, I can, believe me I can” I grinned “Say it” she smirked “Nah, I can barely walk as it is, not counting the weight I’ve had to carry” I glanced toward the three mares beside me, who smiles were like a trio of angel’s “That’s your fault for leaving in the first place,” she laughed “just say it!” “Fine,” I sighed, rolling my eyes, glancing back toward the trio of ponies stood next to me “I am no thief, unless you find yourself wanting a heart stolen” I bit my lip, they glanced toward one another, then leapt at me, with a great flash of light, the four of us were in a separate room, alone… =-=-= As I re-entered the throne room, I was quickly followed by Sugar Spice, Mina and Aqua Celestia raised an eyebrow “Have fun, did you?” Celestia sighed “It was heavenly” Sugar Spice cooed “beyond what most others have tried and failed to do” “So, bonus points for that then” Mina and Aqua spoke in unison, giggling like schoolgirls who’ve just found out their best friend’s ‘secret crush’ “Celestia,” the solar goddess glanced toward me “I just wanted to apologize, for everything, I know I may not be able to make up to you for it, but I’ll do my best, as your knight and lord in not-so shining armour, Cellsy,” she held a hoof to her mouth “you’re my little Sunflower, remember I do what I can for my Nakama, especially you, Lady of the Sun” “Rick, I also wish to apologize, for being hateful toward you last we met” she gave a faint smile “There is one other thing I’d like to add,” I turned to face the three ponies behind me “I’ve got a somewhat sizeable amount of spare cash in the treasury, feel free to help yourself to it from time to time” “Are you kidding?” Sugar Spice gaped at me, I smiled, shaking my head, she leapt at me, causing me to stagger as she wrapped her hooves around my neck, pressing her lips against mine, sliding her tongue in, the two oral muscles intertwining as they met I carefully placed my hands on either side of her head, gently keeping them in place as we kissed, my fingers running through her crimson mane, gradually parting, she clambered back down to the floor, poking my crotch with a gentle hoof as she went “I’ll see you later, maybe alone, maybe with the others,” she winked “Farewell Rick” and with that they left “I see what you did there” Celestia smiled, standing beside me “Is that how humans kiss?” “Depending on the human, maybe” I shrugged “Would you offer me a chance to see what it’s like, my dear human?” she changed to her human form, twirling on her toes so that she was stood in front of me, batting here eyelashes at me, closing the distance between us, placing her lips on mine, our tongues intertwining, as she draped her arms over my shoulders, gently wrapping them around my neck, I smiled internally, fragilely placing my hands on the sides of her head, once again, gradually parting “Interesting” she smiled “just to let you know trick, you owe me, six times over” “I’ll do what I can” I quickly bowed -=- “Daddy,” Snowdrop, Gracy Gloom and Winter Bell charged at me, nuzzling into me as I collapsed onto the ground “We knew that you’d have to return,” Snowdrop chimed “we just knew you had to!” “And here I am” I pecked her forehead, she blinked, pecking me on the lips, winking at me as I draped my wings around the three of them “What was it like?” Winter Bell chorused “It was interesting enough” I smiled but the three ponies in particular only cement the theory that when you’re single, all you see are couples, and when you finally do get married all you see are hookers” “What’s a hooker?” Gracy Gloom blinked “I’ll tell you when you’re older” I winked “Ok Daddy” she giggled, nuzzling into me, she and Snowdrop perching themselves on my shoulders as Winter Bell lay positioned between my horns “We missed you Daddy,” Snowdrop chimed, I glanced toward her, pecking her cheek, she quickly pecked me on the lips “I missed you too, my little ponies,” I chucked Suddenly, she twitched, gliding down to the ground, biting her lip as a musky stench made it into my nostrils, I quickly shook my head, covering the lower half of my face with a hand “Are you alright?” I crouched down, Gracy Gloom and Winter Bell “Daddy,” she groaned “She’s in heat” Celestia teleported into view beside me “She’s clearly pining for you, Rick,” she hummed “what will you do?” “What can I do?” I draped my wings around Snowdrop “You can tend to her needs, other than that, I don’t know” “I’m only doing this once” I grumbled, gently lifting Snowdrop carrying her to my room… -=-=- “Thank you, Daddy” Snowdrop giggled, panting for breath “If you need help with that again, all you need do is ask, but I’ll only go so far, my little Snowflake” I sighed, she perched herself on the back of my head, for the day’s attire, I’d chosen one of the clockwise sets of clothing that Rarity had made me “Alright, what’s on today’s agenda?” I yawned “How about we go to Twilight’s?” Gracy Gloom nickered, sitting on my shoulder, Winter Bell climbing onto the other -=- “You bought a what?” Blaze burst into laughter as Twilight’s friends stood before the lavender mare herself “It’s a clop-bot,” Rarity sighed used amongst mares and stallions alike who feel, ‘pent-up,’ so to speak” “So it’s like a [pony-shaped dildo?” Blaze laughed “Essentially” she gave a slow nod “And you bought this for how much, exactly?” “Two-hundred bits” Twilight’s face was a deep crimson with embarrassment “Oddly, this isn’t the strangest thing that one of my friends has done” I folded my arms, she blinked, there was this one time one of the teachers from one of my colleges nearly walked into a sex shop, I wouldn’t worry about it” “‘Nearly,’ walked into a sex shop?” she grinned “How does one manage such a thing?” “How the heck should I know, for starters I only heard about it from one of my friends” I shrugged “Aren’t we getting off topic?” “You started it, Rick-o” she smirked “Actually, you did, for if you hadn’t have bought this, ‘thing,’” I gestured toward the biomechanical entity stood beside her, which was currently non-functioning at the moment “then we wouldn’t be in this mess” “Are you saying this is my fault?” she frowned “Not at all, Sparky,” I shook my head “we all do stupid things or make silly mistakes, no matter how big or small” “For example,” she glimmered “You saw me tear my own heart out, remember?” I raised an eyebrow “Touché” she sighed in apparent defeat “You could at least try the damn thing before sending it back, buyer’s remorse and all” Blaze quipped “Buyer’s Remorse?” she raised an eyebrow in return “Buyer's remorse is the sense of regret after having made a purchase. It is frequently associated with the purchase of an expensive item such as a car or house, E.G that thing” I nodded toward the machine “Yo spike!” I shouted Yeah,” the dragon appeared at the top of the stairs, now nearly as big as me “You mind sending a letter to Celestia for me, just ask her to visit for a moment” I grinned, he nodded, dis appearing back upstairs again “Don’t get him involved in this!” Twilight snapped “Why’ he’s old enough, is he not?” Blaze chortled “and you did catch him balls-deep in Rarity “It was you that caused that upset, or need we remind you?” She scowled “Actually if it weren’t for his emotions -or the existence of the heart in general-, we wouldn’t be having this conversation” I rebuked “I hear that I’ve been requested in Ponyville?” Celestia smiled, teleporting into view beside myself and Blaze, glancing toward me, winking, and then turning to face Twilight “Oh, Twilight,” she giggled almost heavenly “I thought you were with Tesla, after all, you never stop mentioning him in your weekly letters” “How long has this been going on?” I stared at the lavender mare “Ten years” Twilight bit her lip “Well ain’t that perfect” I yawned?” “Autumn Heart been working you till you can hardly walk again?” Blaze smirked at me; I nodded “you need to relax more” “I’m not going to that spa again if that’s what you’re thinking” Celestia stared at me “don’t even think about it” “You, of all ponies, went to a spa?” Celestia giggled “I blame Rarity” Snowdrop Winter Bell and Gracy Gloom chorused in unison “Thanks girls” I smiled “We love you Daddy” they chimed together “And I you, my little ponies” I chuckled -==-=-==- “First I leave, then run into a certain trio of mares, then I get teleported back to Canterlot, somehow, only to find that they’ve acted as stowaways in my rucksack, and then I find that Twilight’s bought what’s essentially a sex-machine “Next thing they’ll be telling us that Scootaloo’s adopted” Blaze mumbled “Speaking of which, I haven’t seen them around lately, have you?” she glanced toward me, I shook my head “I’ll laugh if this works,” I snorted, walking into the ponyville orphanage “Greetings Sir Rick, I’m Tender Heart, how may I help you?” a bright green unicorn mare with a darker mane and tail and a love-heart surrounded by stars for a cutie mark smiled at me “Was there, at any point, a foal named Scootaloo here?” I bit my lip “There was at one point, but that was quite a while back,” she nodded “why?” “It’s personal” I lightly frowned “Fluttershy was quite insistent that Scootaloo be here for her toddler years, until we felt she was old enough to venture out on her own” Tender Heart sighed “is there something wrong, milord?” “Not at all, I only wish to know of her history here, if any” I smiled, albeit, weakly “That is all I require, good day, Ms Heart” I quickly bowed, walking back out of the building, my family in tow “So, what do we do now?” Blaze mumbled “I’ve not the slightest idea, Blaze, not even the foggiest” I slowly shook my head “Well, we could start at the farm,” she suggested, I nodded, Snowdrop perching herself on my head as I changed to eon form, Gracy Gloom landing on my neck, and Winter Belle upon my upper-back, Blaze bounded toward the farm alongside me as we ventured toward Sweet Apple Acres “Or we could continue to read that book we found in the archives,” Snowdrop chimed, I blinked “whilst you were away, we travelled to the archives with Autumn Heart, there, we found a book about your kind, the eons, I mean” “Well then, I’ll have to thank her for it, thank you as well, my little Snowflake, Winter Bell and Saving Grace” “We love you Daddy” Gracy Gloom, Snowdrop and Winter Bell sang together with the chorus of the angels “And I you, my little ponies” I smiled -=- “Come one, come all!” an azure/pale blue unicorn -with a flowing silvery blue mane and tail with a wand that ended in a pentagram inside the arc of a crescent moon for a cutie mark wearing a purple cape and wizards hat-, cheered excitedly, her magenta eyes scanning the crowd as the came toward her stage, Blaze, dashed off toward the house, returning moments later with one of the boxes “What’re you doing?” Twilight asked as Blaze and I pulled out a number of packs, each, opening them, merging them into two separate decks, shuffling them “Just a card game” I shrugged, Blaze and I drawing five cards each “ladies first” “Such a charmer” Blaze sighed somewhat dreamily as she winked, drawing a sixth card…. Within minutes, the crowd had turned their attention away from the show-mare, instead opting tow watch our little game “And that’s checkmate” I glimmered “Gotta admit, playing with cards you’ve never used is interesting” Blaze nodded, packing the cards back into the box, I quickly followed suit “What was that?” the pale blue mare stood upon the stage glared at me “Just a little game” I smirked, standing upright as Blaze carefully took the box back to the house, my family and friends standing beside Twilight and the others “So you’ve a few new tricks” I grinned, bursting into both a swirling fireball/inferno and a series of thunderbolts “you’re not the only one, Trixie!” “Modo Raien Ryū” Snowdrop cheered “Although I should probably mention, the dragon slayer spells that I use are all battle-based, save but a trio of magicka, little pony” I glimmered, letting out a powerhouse roar, my magic apparently transforming into a rather solid -albeit massive-, extra set pair of whitish-golden wings that spread around the crowd, leaving them in a rather warm shade, only for them to start shrinking as I inhaled a fusion of fames and thunderbolts, disappearing entirely as I exhaled an enormous stream of the two elements into the sky, the thundering great *BOOM* that resonated from the blast was, to say the least, extensive When the torrent of fire and lightning faded, I panted for breath, everyone present was staring at me as I staggered, glancing behind me, Twilight, her friends and Celestia were staring at me, awe-struck, so it would seem “Still got it” I staggered a little more “Lightning flame dragon roar,” Snowdrop chimed, sitting beside me as I collapsed flat on my rear “congratulations, Daddy,” she curled up in my lap, staring up at me “your wings are glowing by the way” she giggled “So that’s what that tingling is” I hummed “Now I can see why the wiki says that the spell you’ve just used is has the potential to kill someone” Blaze whistled “Tesla!” a familiar yellow pony with a scarlet mane and tail with a pink bow in her mane charged toward me alongside an alabaster unicorn with a pink mane and tail and a mild rust-orange Pegasus with a magenta mane “We heard that you’d returned” Sweetie Belle exclaimed as the three of them -after Snowdrop leapt from my lap to the ground beside Blaze-, leapt toward me, knocking the wind from my lungs as the trio impacted with my midsection and chest “Scootaloo,” the Pegasus grinned as the three of them sat before me “do you, perhaps, have a family?” she blinked “I know Sweetie Belle and Applebloom are sisters to honesty and generosity, but I don’t think I’ve heard anyone mention you” she bit her lip, tears clouding her eyes as she shook her head, I cast a moment’s glance toward Fluttershy rolled my eyes, tutted, and faced forward again “Darling, how would you know any different, may we ask?” Rarity raised an eyebrow “Internet” I winked “I won’t elaborate” “You visited the orphanage, didn’t you?” “What can I say, I’m learning new things every day, and as for why,” I sighed “I was curious, and I was bored, don’t judge me” “And what did you find?” she glanced to each of the element bearers in turn “I think you’d best go there yourself, Lady of the Sun” I inhaled, followed by a sharp exhale “it does not bode well to ask question that another does not wish to answer” “And where’re you going to be?” she raised an eyebrow “Out, so to speak, I smell gems” I gave a toothy grin “You can smell gems and eat them?” Twilight blinked “how does that work?” “It’s something that comes with the magic of a dragon,” I smiled, standing upright “Scootaloo, I’ll see you later, Bloom, Belle, stay with your friend, she may need you in a little while, now more than ever” they nodded, comforting the Pegasus beside them -=- As we made our way into the fields near the everfree forest, my nostrils flared, sensing multiple sets of gems all at once “Down the hatch,” I exclaimed, devouring the first pile of gems, moving onto the second “Just don’t eat them too quickly; we don’t want you getting indigestion now, do we?” Blaze laughed “How can I not, after all, when I sued the ‘lightning flame dragon roar,’ my magic levels were almost depleted to absolute naught!” I guffawed Soon, most of the gems had been devoured; my magical capabilities now back at optimum levels, I left for Ponyville, my family venturing alongside me =-=-= “So, what villains from the infamous MLP ‘series,’ have we yet to beat?” Blaze simpered as we entered the town’s borders “Nyx, but, although on the wiki and every other world and the internet states that she’s a villain, I refuse to so much as lay a finger on her in any negative way, be it violent or otherwise” I snapped “Good grief you really are into the thing you humans call chivalry aren’t you?” she smirked; I shot her a glare, “sorry…” “The only, quote-en-quote ‘villains’ I can think of that I’ve yet to defeat are non-combat based, most likely, shame to, I was getting used to the use of my flame-based-magic” I sighed, again as a mild/pale orange Pegasus landed on my head, tears streaming down her muzzle “Hello, Dad” Scootaloo sniffled “Hello, Scootaloo” I held her in my arms “I think the answer is obvious, but would you like to stay with me?” she nodded “Thank you, Dad” she sobbed, clinging onto me, her tears staining my jacket “Nobody should have to go through what you have Scoots, nobody,” I frowned “and yet we are cursed with this life full of dissonance and detest that we can easily lose sight of who we are, or what we’re fighting for, or who we’re living for,” I continued “however, I must ask that you cry no longer, save your tears for when you truly need them, my little comet, you’re part of the family now, that means that we look out for one-another, Ok?” “Ok Dad…” she mumbled as I carried her to the front lawn, gently setting her down, opening the front door, she glanced toward me; I smiled, gesturing for her to enter “This place is amazing!” Scootaloo stared around the lounge with an apparent sense of wonder “Have we, perhaps, a visitor in our humble abode?” Autumn Heart giggled, standing beside me “Is she my mom now?” Scootaloo pointed a hoof toward th unicorn stood at my side “Rick, what have you done?” Autumn Heart stared at me “I found out about her, and she’s a friend of my Nakama, so she’s my Nakama, thus, I decided to help her” I smiled “If that’s the case” she sighed, turning to Scootaloo “yes, I am your mom, from here on anyway” she glanced toward me “and what might her name be?” “Scootaloo” I smiled, there came a knocking on the front door “I’ll get that, you two stay here” they nodded When I opened the front door, I saw a dark brown Pegasus stallion with a dark grey mane and tail, glaring at me “And how may I help you, good sir?” I quickly bowed “I’d like my daughter back, human” the stallion spat “And I’d like the first two centuries of my life back in a way that suit everyone, my family and friends included, but that doesn’t mean that it’ll happen, I stepped outside, locking the front door behind me “Who do you think you are?” he bellowed, by now, every single pony who was present in the vicinity had stopped, staring at the events taking place “Coming from you, the supposed father who left her and her mother to die all those years ago” I snapped “You’ve no proof!” he snarled “I’d say the orphanage’s secretary isn’t that much of a liar, you on the other hand, or in your case, hoof, are” I scowled “you want her back, you’re going to have to go through me, literally if need be” “So be it!” he blared, standing on his hind legs, pulling an arm back, firing it forward, I sidestepped, he staggered forward, I backhanded him in the neck, sending him sprawling “I’m waiting” I tutted as he gasped for breath, staggering once he got on all-fours “Just be quiet!” he yelled “Make me, kiddo” I held back an arm as the lower half, the fist and sleeve included, became a shining charcoal black, swinging an underarm punch, delivering a lethal uppercut to his jaw, sending him flying “Class dismissed” I smiled, my arm returning to its original colour, I opened the door, walking inside “What was that?” Autumn Heart glanced toward me as she sat beside Scootaloo on the sofa “Rioters” I rolled my eyes, she blinked “Fluttershy, knowing she couldn’t take care of a foal at her current age, albeit, all those years ago, took Scootaloo to the orphanage when she was an infant, and then they let her out when they felt she was old enough” “And that was Fluttershy’s ex-marefriend?” Autumn Heart stared at me, glancing toward Scootaloo, who was staring at the floor with a rather upset expression spread across her features, I nodded “that’s completely ludicrous, I understand the whole part where she couldn’t look after Scootaloo on her own, but having the stallion just abandon her in the first place is completely bucking selfish!” there was another, quieter series of knocks at the door “that can’t be him, can it?” she looked worried “If it is, I want you to get into the safest place upstairs you can think of, Blaze” I turned to the Typhlosion, who saluted me “if it comes down to it, I want you to guard these two with your life, clear?” “Crystal clear, Brigadier General Hawkins, sir” she nodded As I opened the front door, there were four mares stood there, Twilight Rainbow Dash Rarity and Applejack, to be precise “Is there a problem?” I clicked my neck “Why’d you send that pony flying,” Twilight frowned “and; just as importantly, how did you do it without magic?” “Classified” I winked “As for why,” I sighed “ “He threatened my Nakama, my family, and you know how I get when that happens, Lady of Magic” I bit my lip “carry out what sentence you will, I will accept all charges without hesitation, if it means I’ll be able to see my little Snowflake smile again” “Rick…” she stared at me I gulped, audibly, she giggled “although there will be questions and rumours floating around for a while, I’m sure we can forget about it eventually, if only for you, Rick” “Looks like I owe you one, Sparky” I smiled, only for Celestia to appear via teleportation beside Twilight and her three friends “I’ve sensed somewhat of a disturbance here,” Celestia raised an eyebrow “what’re you up to, Rick?” “Defending my Nakama, lady of the sun” I quickly bowed “as we should know by now that it’s as natural to me as a heartbeat, or an intake of air when breathing” “Who is it this time?” I raised an eyebrow, her horn flared for a brief moment as it tapped against my head “I see, I’ll have the guards notified immediately,” she slowly nodded “and as for you, my dear knight-“ “I accept any and all charges placed upon my being, I will gladly put my safety, life and freedom on the line for another being, specifically one of my Nakama, family, or friend’s, Princess” I bowed “do with me what you will, and I’ll go with it, if only to see Snowdrop’s smile again…” “You’re too overly-dramatic she laughed “I was going to say well done, I’d hate to think what could’ve happened, had he gotten his hooves near your new family member Sir Rick,” she giggled “though, I will commend your bravery and sacrifice that you’d have made for your loved ones, it’s indeed admirable” she smiled, vanishing with a quickly flash of light All of a sudden, I felt as though the world had shifted somewhat, and that an immeasurably heavy weight had been lifted from my shoulders “Really, dear, how do you get yourself into these situations?” Rarity gave a faint smile “Even if I knew, it probably wouldn’t probably stop these events from happening” I shrugged “and for that, I’m grateful, Arigato, mina!” “You’re welcome” Twilight laughed “That was neighponese” Rainbow Dash blinked “On Earth, we call it Japanese” I shrugged “just another similarity, I suppose” =-=-= As I was taking a mid/late-evening stroll, my family, sans Blaze, in their beds and fast asleep I smelt something burning, rushing toward the source of the smell, I found a clubhouse that was built next to a tree, surrounded by fire, with a large boulder blocking the entrance along, and with two familiar ponies stood between it and me “What do you think you’re doing!?” I bellowed, they spun around, quickly sprinting away, cackling with laughter as they went, I ground my teeth, both arms becoming a shining black charcoal colour as I bought them together, clasping my fingers as I bought my hands high above my head, smashing the augmented arms down on the boulder, shattering it, shifting aside the rubble, tearing the door of the clubhouse away as I pulled my shirt over the lower half of my face, gathering the three occupants, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Applebloom, quickly carrying the earth pony and Pegasus in question under my arms as Blaze carried the unicorn of the trio, gently setting them down on the ground at a safe distance as the small wooden building exploded, lowering my shirt again “Blaze, get Twilight, or her friends, whoever’s closest” I frowned, Blaze nodded, bounding into the distance Within minutes, the familiar figures of both Applejack and Big Mac charged toward me “Blaze told us what happened” Applejack scowled, the rage that boiled within her quite apparent “where’s Blaze?” “She’s gone to get the others,” I turned, walking toward the burning treehouse “What in heck, are ya’ll doin?” she gaped “Ending the fire” I glared, inhaling a copious amount of air, taking the fire with it, turning and walking back to the farmpony duo “that’s bitter, even for a fire” I hummed “more importantly, we need to get these three to hospital” “Agreed” Big Mac nodded as Applejack lifted her younger sister over and onto her back, walking with me as I carried the other two over my shoulders “Rick, your sister’s informed me about what…. Happened….” Rarity gasped at the sight of the three of us carrying the unconscious ponies, I crouched down, allowing her to take her sibling onto her being, the four of us marching into the hospital “Hello, how may I help… you…?” the pony at the desk stared at me when as we entered the hospital “However you can, just make sure they survive” I frowned, she nodded “Follow me” she gulped, audibly, I nodded, Rarity, Applejack Big Mac and I followed her into a room with three beds side by side, I set Scootaloo down on one Rarity lay Sweetie Belle down on the second, and Big Mac and Applejack set Applebloom down on the third the four of us standing back with looks of disgust as six ponies marched through the doorway, connecting heart-monitors and IV-drips to the three mares “What happened, exactly?” a snow-white earth pony with a lilac mane and tail, the former of which was styled into a bun, and a cutie mark which resembled a red cross with hearts in the corners pointing inward, blinked, glancing to each of us in turn, I quickly explained “You smashed through a giant boulder?” she stared at me “I think we’ve got more urgent matters at hoof” I clenched my fists “Sweet mother of Faust,” Rarity gasped “somepony tried to kill my sister…” “And ours too,” Applejack glared “as well as Scootaloo, who’d of thought that a pair of fillies could do such a thing!?” “I wouldn’t worry about it” I gave a maniacal grin “How can we not worry about it?” she blared, I held up a hand, she stopped “You forget, I can travel through reality itself, if I find them I can instantly take them to the deepest reaches of hell I can find” I smirked “Ah’m not complaining” she quickly grinned “Nor am I, but I will say it’s a little harsh for a pair of fillies “Who just tried to torch your sister?” I raised an eyebrow “Very well then...” she sighed, right at that moment, Twilight, Rainbow Dash and Celestia marched into the room “I’d like to know what happened here at once, if you’d be so kind, my little eon” Celestia frowned, I tapped my head, she nodded, tapping her horn against my head as it flared a vivid primrose colour “Though I’m curious as to when and how you got such a unique ability as that, I won’t question it, not when there’re lives at stake” she slowly nodded, turning to the nurses and doctors currently examining the three mares “how’re they coming along “I can’t say just yet,” the snow-white nurse it her lip “whilst it’s not too severe, there are some serious injuries; they may be out of it for a week, at the least” she glanced toward me, I gave her the flattest stare I could, staring back toward Celestia “I’m sorry to say this, but they’re going to need to stay here for the time being” “Just promise me- no, just promise us that you’ll do what you can,” I frowned “Thor known I need another heart-rending moment within the same three-hundred years” she blinked, but then quickly nodded “That’s what we’re paid and trained to do, milord” she gave a faint smiled “Who could do such a thing!?” Rainbow Dash growled “I feel your anger, Rainbow Dash, but there isn’t much we can do” Twilight bit her lip, glancing toward me as I let out a stifled yawn “Come to think of it, I don’t think you’ve been sleeping much, Brother” “I’m not paid or trained to sleep, Blaze” I raised an eyebrow “So you aren’t but it wouldn’t hurt to get a little, shuteye, would it?” she folded her arms “At this specific point in time,” I frowned, again “priorities, dear sister, or are you now blind to the obvious, of that of which is right before us?” “Touché” she slowly nodded -=-=- Two weeks passed, and not a sign of any of the three mares’ awakening revealed itself, until one day… “…Daddy?” Scootaloo began to cry as she awoke, I gently held her hoof within my hand as she slowly sat upright “Don’t worry, Daddy’s here,” I pecked her forehead as the nurse from before marched into the room “She’s awake?” the pony blinked “thank Celestia for that…” Then it was my dear sister’s turn to awaken, stretching with an elongated yawn, blinking, staring at Scootaloo, then toward me “Get the others?” she sighed, I nodded, she saluted me bounding out of the room, and out of the hospital “I’ve yet to ask you what that thing even is” The nurse giggled nervously “That’s Blaze, she’s my sister, although not by blood, I saved her from poachers when she was a little smaller than Scootaloo here” I explained “I suppose that’s fair enough, sir” she smiled “Call me Rick, mostly everyone else does” I simpered “That I shall” she nickered, examining Scootaloo as any doctor or nurse would “I’m happy to say that she’s Ok, but she’ll need to spend at least another two days in here, Rick” she winked at me Not ten minutes later and Twilight marched into the room alongside her friends, minus Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy, quickly followed by Blaze, Snowdrop, Gracy Gloom, and Winter Bell, the latter three of which perched themselves on my head and shoulders respectively “Have you even so much as left this room?” Twilight raised an eyebrow as the three fillies currently using me as a unique piece of furniture nuzzled into me ‘accordingly’ “I guess not” “Applebloom,” Applejack rushed to her sister side, as did Rarity, respectively “What happened?” Applebloom and Sweetie Belle slowly pulled themselves upright “You were caught in a fire, but Rick Saved ya’ll” Applejack winked at me “I’m just doing what comes natural” I smiled “Ya do realise that ya’ll are a hero now, pardner?” Applejack grinned “As if that were new to my brother,” Blaze chortled “But I believe we have more important matters to attend to” -=- Another week past, and finally, the crusaders were freed from the confines of the hospital, only for Pinkie Pie to instantaneously morph the entire town, including its populace, into a village wide party “Pinkie Pie, they just got out of the hospital, I don’t think they need to be scared witless any time soon” I frowned “Oh, lighten up Ricky-o” Pinkie Pie laughed “they’re alive, that’s what matters, isn’t it?” “I’m not even going to bother arguing with you” I walked with ‘Scootaloo by my side; and the other three upon my being-, toward the house, the mild orange Pegasus curling up in my lap as I sat, cross-legged on the porch “Rick?” Black Beetle, sat by my side, placing a gentle hoof on my side “I know how you feel, when you feel as though you nearly lost everything you’ve lived for, I’m sorry” “You’ve no need to be, Blackie” I pecked her cheek, apparently, a changeling’s cheeks turn a neon green when they blush, Scootaloo quickly sat beside me, opposite the changeling “Come ‘ere” gave a soft laugh, picking the changeling up, setting her in my lap, draping my wings around her, she bit her lip lightly, then draped her arms around me, biting down on my lip as they met “Why’d you do that?” “When a changeling bites the lip of a loved one, it means that they accept that being as a mate,” Black Beetle’s cheeks flushed a vivid green “who do you want me to be, milord?” “Just be you,” I smiled be who you’ve always been, Blackie, I wouldn’t ask any more of you” “But…” she stammered “in this form, I’m ugly, I’m repulsive I’m-!” “You’re you,” I winked, “everything has beauty; it’s just that not everyone sees it” “I love you, Rick” she purred, dragging me into the house via magic, all the way into the bedroom, Snowdrop Gracy Gloom and Winter Bell galloping into the lounge as I was promptly -albeit carefully-, dropped onto the bed “Now then, where do we start?” Chapter XVII; Dragon gods“What’re you doing in here?” I blinked, I stood alone in the Canterlot dungeons, my family and friends were currently conversing with the princesses elsewhere in the castle, before me, hanging by a pair of chains attached to the corners of the ceiling, was Chrysalis, in a more-than-slightly ‘curvaceous’ anthro form “I’m offering myself to you, milord,” Chrysalis gave a weak smile, “take me, your majesty…” I stepped forward, closing the cell door behind me, making my way toward the changeling queen, glancing toward the corners of the ceiling where the chains connected, I noticed a rail system allowing the chained ‘prisoner’ to be moved back and forth, I knelt before her, my legs at an almost-perfect ninety degree angle as I took one of her erect nipples between my lips, grasping the other between a finger and thumb Chrysalis let out a gasp as I began to assault her mammaries, removing my hand from her breast, lowering it down to her entrance, diving into her folds, sucking on her teat as, she let out a moan as I thrusted my middle and ring fingers in-and-out of her depths, groaning as I used my other hand to remove my lower sections of clothing, throwing them aside as I removed myself from, her body “You really know your way around a ruler,” Chrysalis purred “Not quite,” I smirked “you’ve the form similar to that of a human, meaning that the anatomy’s basically identical” “So I see, shall we continue?” she giggled, I nodded “Placed your arms around me” she blinked, but did so anyway as I ripped the chains from the ceiling, she stood, barefoot on the cold stone floor “Thank you, Rick” she wrapped her tongue around mine, quickly removing my shirt, it was then that I noticed the collar and leash hanging down her back “just for that,” her horn flared up, and a single bed appeared via teleportation Gently, she sat me down on the edge kneeling before me, coiling her tongue around my cock from the tip all the way down to the base, also gently running it along my balls, taking my manhood into her mouth, bobbing her head up and down, smiling up at me as she lightly squeezed her tongue’s grip on my crown jewels, I shuddered, she grinned, placing her hand on mine, moving it onto her head, giving a muffle giggle, pressing her lips down on my member “Oh... that’s… keep going” I mumbled, she smirked, pulling away for a moment “Don’t mind if I do, my king” she winked, retaking my meat-and-two-veg back into her tongue’s grip, sliding it along my length, pressing her lips down on the head, I convulsed, pulling her head down, hilting her maw as I came into her, Chrysalis gagged as I filled her with ‘juice’ so to speak, pulling away once I finished, greedily gulping down the whole lot, exhaling sharply “Sweet, and yet somewhat bitter also, you’ve got a good taste to you, milord” she smiled, placing a coiling her fingers around my dick, fragilely beginning to stroke it “What shall you do to me next, your majesty?” I quickly lifted her up, placed her on the bed, turned her onto her front and dived into her depths with my tongue (Not sure if pun-material or not?) “Oh, sweet, merciful, Faust!” she screamed “Yes, make me your slave, make me beg for release!” she howled as my tongue, twisted, twirled, and danced within the soft, almost plush walls of her cunny, grabbing a hold of my head with both hands as she came, I quickly swallowed the fluids that burst from her nether region, pulling away once she let go, changing to eon form, my erection standing out somewhat proudly “Go on, have your resolution” she cooed as I prodded my eonhood against her entrance, sliding it in, surprisingly managing to hilt her, slowly beginning to thrust in and out of her tight cunt Eventually, I as moving as a blur, repeatedly slamming my cock against her cervix, a loud, long moan escaping the changeling queen every time I hilted her, sliding almost all the way out, and then diving back in as I went, a burning sensation rushing through my balls quickly working its way through the sperm tract and out through the end of my length, painting her inner walls white, Chrysalis let out a scream as I climaxed reverting to human form once it stopped, bucking my hips in and out of her until then, Chrysalis let out a scream as I climaxed “I love you, my little eon” Chrysalis panted for breath “And I you, my little Chrissie” I pecked her cheek as I collapsed on top of her “Ready for round three?” she glimmered =-=-=-= “So, what’s the buzz?” I clapped my hands together, standing beside my friends and family, Chrysalis included, Twilight and her friends stood between myself and the princesses “You were at it for two days straight,” Celestia raised an eyebrow “it’s a miracle that my sister and I got any sleep” “How’d ya‘ll manage something like that?” Applejack blinked “Well,” I began “Chrissie here consumes my love as we make it, so to speak, and I’m trained to go for possibly days on-end without food anyway” I shrugged “By who, exactly,” Celestia frowned “UNSC” I tilted my head ever-so slightly, Black Beetle having perched herself on the back of my skull “it’s all just a part of the training, I suppose” “So, who’s the one screaming through all that then?” Blaze folded her arms; Chrysalis’ face flushed a bright green “How’d you do it?” I raised an eyebrow, “Fair do’s” “Darling, whilst I understand that you and Chrysalis love one-another,” Rarity gagged “I must ask, do you have to make that much racket?” Rarity’s face flushed a deep scarlet colour “What’s the matter Rarity, you sound jealous” Rainbow Dash laughed “Rainbow Dash, a lady is never jealous,” Rarity scoffed “I’m mere requesting to know the reason behind the racket that’s been plaguing the castle for the past forty-eight hours” “So you say Diamond,” I winked, she fainted “Guess she was jealous after all,” Blackjack smirked “Quite so” I hummed -=-=- “Rick, my I ask you a question, I promise that it’s not a personal one” Celestia sat beside me in her chambers, turning to face me, tapping her fore-hooves together, the metal shoes clinking slightly as they met, her face flushed a bright pink as she ‘spawned’ a hopeful look in her eye, glancing toward me “do you believe, that I, am cute?” the aura around her changed from a regal one to a loving, yet timid one as she arced her wings around her “You’re adorable” I suddenly felt rather light-headed as I placed a fragile hand on her wing, lightly massaging it “Thank you, Rick” she collapsed onto me, forcing me on my back “Anything for my little Sunflower” I pecked her cheek; she stared at me, breaking into a wicked smirk as she removed her lingerie, discarding it randomly “Anything, Rick; are you positive?” Celestia smiled, sitting on my chest “if that’s the case, I want you to make me feel as Chrysalis did, and for twice as long,” I raised my arms, nudging her forward by the her ass “cheeky” -=- “Where were you?” Blaze frowned, folding her arms “Cellsy asked me for a visit so I did” I grinned “You were in there for four days” she deadpanned “I said I’d do anything,” I rebuked “can’t blame me for her taking that literally” I went on “not that I’m saying she can’t she’s the princess and lady of the sun, she can b who and what she wants and do what she wants, I won’t stop her” I finished with a shrug “Uh, Rick?” she nodded behind me, turning around, I saw Celestia -still in her anthro form-, staring at me with a look of shock-and-awe “Good morning Princess, how-?” Celestia marched up to me, grabbed the sides of my head and pressed her lips against mine, forcing her tongue through the gap in my lips, draping her arms around my neck, gradually parting, pecking my cheek as she did so “how are you, Lady of the Sun?” “I’m in somewhat of a good mood,” Celestia winked |”you wouldn’t happen to know why, would you, my dear knight?” “I wouldn’t know, as it is not my place to question that of which belongs to a goddess” I quickly bowed “You really are into this whole chivalry thing aren’t you?” she giggled, I shrugged “I would follow you into the depths of hell if need be” I boldly declared “That would imply that I wish to go to such a place” she nickered, I nodded “Well, you are gifted with being the most beautiful pony in Equestria” “What about you’re other Nakama?” Blaze raised an eyebrow “Well that leaves me at an impasse, as I do not wish to offend either they, nor Celestia,” I tilted my head “I understand how you feel, somewhat,” Celestia smiled as a trio of beings climbed their way onto my head and shoulders and a fourth, a mild orange Pegasus with a magenta mane and tail stood beside me “although it looks like you’ve got company, my dear knight “We love you Daddy” Snowdrop, Scootaloo Winter Belle and Gracy Gloom chimed “And I you, my little Winter Bell, Snowflake, comet and Saving Grace” I smiled =-=-= “So, what’s your current reply on Spitfire’s training of the wonderbolts?” Blaze smiled as we sat on the front lawn beside my other family members as Rainbow Dash hovered above us, lying on a cloud she’d bought down “I’ve only a few words to say, really” I sighed, “Franklin Mendez” “Oh,” she blinked “you mean the legendary UNSC-NCO, who’s been involved in training every single Spartan-II-and-III?” “That’s the one,” I nodded “he along with James Ackerson are some of the best examples of leadership, of course the list wouldn’t be complete without either Lord Hood, Admiral Preston Jeremiah Cole, or Colonel Akono Menteith of the fifty-third armoured division” I clicked my neck “and don’t even get me started on Captain Jacob Keyes” “The UNSC lost one of its best on that day” Blaze hummed “Indeed it did” I slowly nodded That night, I hung an artificial skeleton, about the same size as me to a coat hanger that I’d borrowed, the skeleton however, is classified (that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it!) I hung the coat hanger on Luna’s bedroom door with a note saying ‘you did this to me!’ knocking on the door, and quickly flying away, i glanced around the corner, nothing, the door didn’t even budge “Nice try…” a demonic voice echoed from behind me, I glanced behind me, and to this day; I still remain confused as to how I can still scream like a little girl “If thou art going to prank somepony, at least learn to hide thy presence” Luna smirked toward me at the dinner table “That was you?” Blaze and Celestia blinked, stifling laughter “I didn’t know humans could reach such levels of audacity,” Discord laughed “Perhaps I could teach you to learn to hide yourself better, Ricky-o” “Really,” I raised an eyebrow, inhaling, and then exhaling, entering a meditative state as I changed to eon form, turning invisible “That’s a new one” Discord “I can’t detect your presence” I grinned, flying out of the room, soaring toward Luna’s bedchambers, going the long way round through the window, taking the first thing I saw, which was an indigo book with a creamy white crescent moon on it, quickly placing it in my inventory flying back out the window, soaring toward Ponyville, where my family was sat on the front lawn Turning visible again, I reverted to human form, grinning like an idiot “Good morning Daddy” Snowdrop, Scootaloo Winter Bell and Gracy Gloom chimed in unison placed themselves upon my being, Scootaloo lay in my arms, the four nuzzling into me, Snowdrop pecking one of my horns “We love you daddy” they chorused “And I you, my little ponies” I smiled, Autumn Heart trotted out onto the doorstep as she opened the front doo “Good morning, my love” Autumn Heart cooed “Kon'nichiwa, Autumn Heart,” I quickly bowed, walking with my family into the lounge, sitting beside Autumn Heart on the sofa, taking the book out of my inventory, , quickly cutting through the lock with the Dawnbreaker, opening it -=- “Did you hear, Rick?” Twilight sat beside me on the sofa on the following week (I’d read through the diary, and to be frank, I wasn’t amused) “Princess Luna’s Diary was stolen!” “And who’re they accusing of that crime?” I tilted my head “They don’t know who did it,” Twilight hummed “all they know is that Luna went in to write down the day’s events only to find it missing, do you know what happened?” “Other than the fact where I tried to prank her and she made me squeal like a little girl, no” she stared at me, then burst into a fit of laughter, that of which gradually died down “I’m sorry, it’s just that I find the thought of you doing such a thing to be, well…” “Hilarious?” I suggested “Impossible!” she chortled, that too, eventually died down “so you don’t know anything about it” “I’m a knight, and a dragon slayer, not a petty thief, Twilight Sparkle,” I smirked “I’m hurt that you would think such a thing, do you not love me?” I blinked “Shit, I just said that, didn’t I?” “Yep” she giggled “Ok Rick, you’re innocent, but I’d hate to think if you were,” she nickered “can you imagine the amount of trouble you’d be in?” “Not really” I raised an eyebrow, changing to eon form, my family, Autumn Heart included, leapt onto my back “See you in Canterlot, Sparky!” and with that I took to the sky =-= When I got to Canterlot, specifically, the castle, I was pinned against the wall by an enraged Luna, who was levitating a spear at my neck, glowering with a look of unadulterated rage at me “Where is it!?” Luna boomed “Where’s what?” I blinked “Thine diary,” she growled “Kill me if you must, but I don’t have what it is that you seek, Lady of the Moon,” I squished myself against the wall as the spear came a little closer “Then where do thou propose that it might be found, Sir Rick?” she scowled “I’ve no idea, I’m a knight, not some petty thief, least of all to you princess!” “If thou confess, we may spare thee an endless torment, young eon” she suddenly smirked “That’d imply that I have it,” I gulped audibly, the spear made contact with my neck, only touching the scales “are you sure it hasn’t fallen down the back, or it’s in one of the drawers?” “We shall look again, but if we don’t find it, we’re going to have a few words” she glared icy daggers at me, teleporting along with the spear “Holy fudge...” I collapsed onto the ground “Daddy,” my family gasped in perfect unison, rushing to my side, leaping onto my back as I, wearily, hovered above the floor, making my way to the throne room “Have you perhaps heard of my sister’s missing item?” Celestia frowned “I’m a knight, not a thief,” I sighed “do with me what you must; just see to it that my family don’t get involved” “And, in all curiosity, what would the punishment be, should my brother have it on his being?” Blaze patted my back “Redaction of his title, for at least a few months” Celestia’s eyes narrowed “maybe, but, should Luna choose to be merciful or should Rick choose to hand it over now, I could lower the sentence” Blaze nodded I turned invisible, gliding toward Luna’s bedroom, placing the diary by the door, soaring toward the gardens =< “So, I guess this means that you’re an Ex-knight now, huh Tesla?” Blaze sighed “And that was a human prank, no?” “It was, I only wanted to cause a bit of chaos, humorous, controlled, chaos, is that too much to ask?” I felt my wings tingling, glancing back toward them, I noticed them turn several shades darker “And it’d seem your wings change depending on your status on Equis, Brother” Blaze shook her head, I felt something prod my shoulder, I glanced behind me, only to be sent sprawling by an armoured hoof, as I steadily got to my feet, the princess of the night changed to her anthro form, hitting me around the back of the head -causing me to lean forward-, followed by a knee to the stomach, and then a stamp to the side of the head, sending me toward the nearby tree, marching toward me, grabbing me by the arm and puling me back to my feet I glanced toward her, holding out an arm, signalling for her to stop, she quickly broke it, I let out a short scream as she did so, performing a roundhouse kick to my back, smacking me into the ground; I turned, backpedalling somewhat into the tree behind me “Hath thou any last words before we condemn you to Tartarus for two-millennia?” Luna clicked her knuckles as she walked toward me “Just a few” I spat blood into the ground beside me, she raised an eyebrow “Luna, I’m sorry, I did what was wrong, and for that, you may do what you will with me,” I gave the faintest of smiles, unsheathing the Dawnbreaker, holding it out to her “if you’re really going to do it, use this, it’s the least I can do for you, Tsuki no Fujin,” I glanced toward my family, who, sans Blaze, were staring at me with a look of utter horror “Snowdrop, run”, my family, Blaze and =Autumn Heart included, ran as fast as they could into the castle “How Gallant” she tutted, raising the enchanted blade above her head, pointing it toward me, beginning its descent, aiming it at my chest “Luna!?” someone nearby bellowed “what in sweet merciful Faust do you think you’re doing!?” Celestia teleported into view beside her sister, Luna lowered the Dawnbreaker “We were putting an end to Sir Rick’s so-called ‘prank’” Luna glowered at me “And that involves beating him until he can no longer stand, Luna?” Celestia glared toward Luna “He said that if we were really going to do so, he’d give us his weapon to use, and so, we did” the lunar alicorn shrugged “Over a prank?” she raised an eyebrow, I edge my way upward, only for Luna to stab the part of the tree above me with the somewhat ‘holy’ blade, I sat back down, holding my broken limb, my back beginning to ache alongside my stomach “He read our diary!” the princess of the night snapped “And I’m sure he can keep it a secret, can you not?” Celestia glanced toward me, I quickly nodded; her sister glared at me for a moment, planting the ebony blade further into the tree, teleporting away “That was a bit foolish, do you not think, Rick?” Celestia sighed as I pulled myself upright, my arm hanging loosely by my side as we walked toward-and-into the castle “As for your punishment, perhaps this will teach you not to go into matters that don’t concern you?” I cast a moment’s glance toward her, facing forward again as we opened the door to the dining hall, which was slightly ajar “Ladies first” I gestured toward the door, sidestepping, as to allow her entrance “Thank you, my dear eon” she teleported away, I glanced toward the top of the door, where a line of buckets had been carefully placed “This should be easy enough to get around” I mumbled, walking toward a nearby door, which, I found it, when opened, led to a storage room Calculating where the dining hall would be my arm turned jet black as I bought it behind me, slamming my now-‘armoured’ fist into the wall, firing Gatling-like punches, breaking through the wall, and into the dining hall “Such a prank like that, shall not work on a being such as me,” I grinned, my arm returning to its normal colour “who the heck d’ya think I am?” “Would you mind explaining why you broke through the wall?” Celestia raised an eyebrow “Well for one, the room needs another door, IMO, and secondly, I’m in no mood for pranks” I shrugged “And you couldn’t have just fallen for the prank?” she looked somewhat hurt as Snowdrop, Gracy Gloom, Winter Belle and Scootaloo perched themselves on my head and shoulders/stood by my side “Snowdrop, marriage wise, what have I done within the past year or two, maybe three,” Snowdrop looked a little fearful “don’t worry I won’t let anyone hurt you, my little Snowflake” “Well you did ask for a divorce, Daddy” Snowdrop audibly swallowed “You did what!?” Celestia boomed “Checkmate” I grinned, tuning and walking through the storage room and into the corridor, Autumn Heart, Blaze, and Scootaloo walking beside me as I changed to eon form, leaping unto my back as I bought a certain form out of my inventory, nailing it to Celestia’s bedchamber door on the way out of the castle “So, I’m guessing your title as ‘knight’ was short lived?” Blaze sighed “That it was” I slowly nodded standing on the balcony “I’d rather be a Spartan anyway, more action on the field of a mostly unknown planet then on the fields of Equis “Reference intended?” she smirked “Nay, but ii will commend you for thinking of it” I smiled “Rick?” I turned; Celestia was there, tears streaming down her face “What could’ve happened that was so bad between us that you asked for a divorce?” Celestia bit her lip “You wrote in that book that Crystagia’s a cold-blooded murderer” I growled “Plus, you did kinda let Luna beat him to a pulp” Blaze spat “and have you even begun to talk with her about it?” “I have, and she has something she’d like to say” Celestia glanced toward Blaze as Luna stepped forward from behind her “Sir Rick,” Luna quickly bowed “we wish to apologize for our inexcusable actions, we-!” “Staged” Blaze tutted “We beg thy pardon?” Luna snapped “You can tell that the apology’s been staged” Blaze snarled “if you’re going to do something, at least do it properly, Luna” -=-=-=- As we -my family, friends and I sat on the porch, alongside Twilight-, I felt the earth shudder as an enormous beam of light pierced the heavens to the right of the house, the resulting building that appeared from within when the energy faded was somewhat gigantic “That’s…” Twilight gasped “The Fairy Tail Guild” Blaze declared as a human sprang forth from the entrance, he had pink spiky hair a black, single-sleeved waistcoat -a wristband clearly on his other arm-, black open-toed sandals a checkered scarf and a pair of white, knee-length trousers “Natsu,” Blaze stared at the human “Who’re you?” The human known as Natsu stared toward Blaze in a rather confused manner, glanced toward me, and promptly burst into a fit of laughter “What’s going on out here?” a long, red-haired young lady wearing silver torso armour that also protected her arms wearing a royal blue skirt with black boots that acted as leggings that went up to the are below her knees, the armour had a heart Kruz pattern with the fairy Tail guild emblem behind it, both on the chest area “Tesla,” I nodded, she glanced toward me head, where Snowdrop was perched on th back of my skull “Why is there an equine atop your head?” she facepalmed “Well, this country’s inhabited by both them and dragons and other creatures, so why not?” I shrugged “Hang on,” Natsu’s laughing was cut to an abrupt halt,” there are dragons here?” “There are, yes, chances are Igneel’s here also” I nodded “What’s Natsu gotten himself worked up over now, I can hear him from inside the guild hall” a young man with blackish-indigo hair wearing a snow-white jacket with cyan trimming stepped forward from inside the building, we was also wearing a magenta/cerise-coloured shirt with very dark green trousers and black boots, a small pendant in the form of a silver sword with a stone in it hung around his neck “What in the…?” he stared at me, glancing toward my head breaking into a wicked grin “If you’re going to ask what I think you are; Grey, welcome to Equestria” I sighed “That’s what this place is called?” he laughed “it’s no wonder if it’s filled with miniature horses” “Ponies” Twilight corrected him, Grey stared at her, glancing toward me “Is this some kind of a trick, or did she just talk?” Grey pointed an accusing finger toward Twilight as he stared at me “This’s isn’t a trick, although she can use magic, real magic” I smirked “You’re telling me that ponies in this world can talk and use magic?” Natsu whistled “That’s awesome!” “I’m guessing there’re pegasi here also?” the red-haired lady in armour raised an eyebrow “There are earth ponies, whose magic comes in form of their strength, there are pegasi whose magic comes in their unique flying abilities, and then there are the unicorns or alicorns, who can use magic and/or fly also” I explained “I think this should make for an interesting story for Master Makarov” she smiled, taking my hand in hers pulling e into the building, Twilight her friends, alongside my friends and family, quickly followed suit alongside Natsu and Grey, letting go of me as a few heads turned their gaze toward me “Everyone, Tesla’s back” she declared, placing an armoured hand on my shoulder “Welcome back!” more or less everyone in the room which was nearly filled with people-, cheered “Welcome back Tesla” a young lady with a cerise dress and long, snow-white hair smiled “The guild master’s been wondering what happened within the last few minutes, so you might have to explain a few things” “That shan’t be a problem” I smiled, she glanced toward my head “And who might you be?” the wizard known as Mirajane giggled “I’m Snowdrop” Snowdrop held out a hook, Mirajane shook it, everyone in the room, sans Erza, was staring at me “Did that pony just… talk?” one wizard blinked “Sounded like it,” another slowly nodded “can’t tell if it’s a type of Celestia spirit or not…” “Nah, Lucy’s got all of ‘em, we’d know if it was!” a third argued “Oh yeah,” the second wizard snapped his fingers “so what’s that thing then?” “She’s a pony, as are we” Twilight cleared her throat, all eyes were now on her “And who’re you exactly?” Natsu prodded her horn “Twilight Sparkle” she frowned, I heard several people in the room burst into laughter, Grey included, and another dozen or so stifle laughter “So, we’re in a land of equine creatures are we?” a -and for lack of a better word-, tiny, elderly man with white hair and moustache walked toward me “Have you found Crystagia yet, young dragon slayer?” “I have,” I nodded “she comes to visit every now and then, on her own terms of course” “That’s good to hear,” he gave a slight smile “now then, where are we exactly?” “On the outskirts of Ponyville, in the kingdom of Equestria, on the Planet of Equis” Twilight boldly declared “We’re not on Earthland?” Natsu stared at me “how long have you been here?” “Around twenty-four or so years” I shrugged “So, who do we speak to about negotiations then?” the man known as Guildmaster Makarov smiled “That’d be either Luna or Celestia” I smiled “Oh, the puns” Grey glimmered with a sly smirk “That’s what I thought, it’s just as well my brother didn’t voice said thoughts” Blaze laughed “Blaze?” he stared at the Typhlosion stood beside me “Yep” she grinned “I’ve changed; as if by magic” “So it would seem” Makarov gave a slow nod “May I ask who you are?” Twilight held out a hoof, Makarov shook it “Makarov Dreyar, Guildmaster for the Fairy Tail guild” Makarov Dreyar shook her hoof “But you’re so small,” Twilight exclaimed, I raised an eyebrow, “what?” “You’re half the height of an average human and yet your magic level exceeds that of a normal guild wizard’s level of magic; how would you explain that, I mean other than your affinity to the art?” I folded my arms, Natsu frowned “I said ‘average,’ we all know that Fairy Tail was the best guild in Fiore, don’t we” he grinned “So what’s this Celestia going to do should we say the wrong thing, it’s not like she can drop the sun on us or something is it?” the fire dragon slayer smirked “Well, seeing as she’s the one who raises and lowers it at least once a day, every day, I’d say so” I nodded “She does what?” Grey awed at me “She and her sister raised and lower both the sun and moon respectively” I tilted my head ever-so slightly “It appears we’re in need of a little of your guidance young dragon slayer” Makarov hummed “I’ll do what I can, sir” I nodded “So this was the cause of the magical disruption in the area” everyone turned to face the new arrivals as a brown-eyed girl -with an age around fifteen ‘or so I’d guessed-‘ with long, flowing royal blue hair, wearing a yellow and blue striped dress with shoes of the same colour as her hair, and wing like attachments just above her ankles- stood beside me, placing her hands above my arm the area between her hands and my arm glowed with a bright green ‘mist’ Celestia and Luna were stood there “You’re hurt” The girl smiled up at me “Thanks Wendy” I smiled “So, how old are you now?” Natsu glanced between me and the solar and lunar alicorns stood before me “Around Three-hundred-and-twenty-three-ish” I smiled “Well at least you’re the record holder for the oldest member,” he smirked “And you’re the most short tempered, Natsu” I raised an eyebrow “Says the one with horns” he grinned “Magic, I ain’t gotta explain squat, so to speak” I beamed as Wendy lower her arms, glancing down to the healed limb, flexing it a few times “‘Natsu,’ as in ‘Natsu Dragneel,’” Celestia glanced toward me, and then toward my fellow dragon slayer “How does she know me?” “I basically said that you beat a god slayer, which you kind of did” I winked “And I trust that you did so without revealing any sensitive information?” Erza gave a light frown “I only said that he beat a god slayer, I didn’t say when or where” I smiled “Good enough” she nodded “So, what is this… castle?” Luna gestured to the building “This is the Fairy Tail Guild” Natsu grinned “Quite a remarkable structure, to be sure” she smiled, glancing toward me, her smile faltered “Then I’m to assume that you’re Celestia and Luna?” Makarov smiled “I am Princess Celestia Dawnbreaker, and this is my sister, Princess Luna” Celestia glanced toward me, then toward Makarov, gesturing to her sister, who gave a small wave “Isn’t that the name of your weapon?” Grey glanced toward me also “One of them, but there’s always a bigger fish, per se” I smirked “You got another one?” Natsu blinked, I nodded “Cool!” “So, what brings the two strongest beings on Equis down to visit a few mere wizards?” i tilted my head “We felt a, for lack of a better term, disturbance, in the magical output around this particular area, so we came to investigate” Luna bit her lip “And here you are,” I clicked my tongue “what can we do for you?” “We were curious” she gave a faint smile, oh the argument I could’ve stirred up right there and then, but, wisely enough, I chose not to “So this is a guild hall, it’s a little… big, don’t thou think?” “It needs to be, with the amount of wizards we have, the question is, where do they go now that they’re here instead of home?” I exhaled sharply “I believe I can take care of that,” Celestia smiled “I can cover all charges or the train to and from Canterlot, and offer them one of the free guest rooms” “This is coming out of my bank account isn’t it?” I smirked “Not at all” she raised an eyebrow “Canterlot,” Grey stifled a laugh “where’s that?” “By the castle in the Mountain city near here” I gave him the flattest stare I could -=-=- Once ‘introductions’ and negotiations were made; I stood in front of the guild hall beside Natsu and Wendy, Twilight and her friends stood before me “So, this is Natsu, the one you said beat a ‘God Slayer’? Rainbow Dash eyed the dragon slayer from head to foot “he doesn’t look so tough” “You’d be surprised” I gleamed “Who’s the girl?” she glanced toward Wendy, who hid behind me, using my wings as cover “I’m Wendy” Wendy murmured “She’s like Fluttershy” Twilight observed “Fluttershy’s not a sky dragon slayer” I deadpanned “She’s a what!?” the element bearers gasped in perfect unison “How can such a fragile young lady use such barbaric magic?” Rarity scowled “it’s unbelievable” “Grandeeney’s not a barbarian!” Wendy snapped, standing beside me “And neither is Igneel” Natsu frowned “You said you found Crystagia, how is she?” Wendy smiled; as a snow-white bipedal cat deep-blue eyes stood beside her “She’s as she’s always been, perfect” I smiled “Nice to see you Carla” “A pleasure, as always, Tesla” the cat smiled “Talking cats, whatever next?” Twilight blinked as the element bearers stared toward Carla with a look of borderline-horror “I think you’ll find; dear equine; that we can fly, just as your blue friend can” Carla smirked, a pair of shining wings sprouting from her back “I guess anything’s possible in a new world” Twilight raised an eyebrow “That it is” I smiled “So, how many times have you activated ‘Dagon Force’ whilst you were gone?” Natsu grinned at me “At least twice” I shrugged “These ponies drive you insane do they?” he smirked “Somewhat,” I sighed “No offense Snowdrop” “None taken Daddy” “She just called you…” Natsu trailed off, bursting into laughter as he ran into the guild hall “He beat a god slayer?” Rainbow Dash laughed “Let the kid have his fun” I waved a dismissive hand “It’s like you said, they can say what they want to you, but if they so much as lay a fraction of a hoof on your Nakama then they’re done for, right Daddy?” Snowdrop nuzzled into me “What on Earthland?” I glanced behind me; Grey was stood beside Erza and Natsu, grinning like an idiot, as was the fire dragon slayer beside him “Did I just hear her call you ‘Daddy’?” he smirked “You might’ve” I shrugged slightly “Depends, are you stupid?” “Coming from a pyro like you that’s saying a lot,” he exclaimed “you got enough balls to back that up, he turned his body to an angle placing a clenched fist on an upward facing palm to his side, a cyan magic circle appearing in front of his hands as he did so “More than you ice boy,” I smirked, both fists blazing “Knock it off, the pair of you” Erza frowned I quickly nodded, dissipating the fires around my hands, Wendy lightly prodded my chest, causing my to flinch slightly “You’re hurt?” Wendy raised her hands to my chest, creating the same bright green mist/aura as before “Is that healing magic?” Twilight blinked, Wendy nodded “So she’s not all bad then, eh Rarity?” Blaze smirked “Alright, I apologize for my rudeness…?” “Wendy,” the sky dragon slayer smiled “it’s Ok though, Tesla says that an insult only becomes a problem if you make it into one, and that it’s also something grey and Natsu should learn “Score,” Blaze cheered “I know, right?” I raised an eyebrow “I need to do what now?” Natsu gave a smug grin “Learn to lighten up” I shrugged, Wendy lowered her arms “Says you,” Blaze laughed “Is there a problem, Blaze?” I raised an eyebrow “Not at all, although you are being a little hypocritical” she smirked “Whatever, you say, fire hazard” I grinned “Is there a problem, stretch?” she simpered, glancing toward the trio of wizards, who, sans Erza, were grinning at me like complete utter morons “So how does the average Fairy Tail wizard use magic anyway?” Twilight tilted her head “I didn’t see any items or appendages in which magic could be channelled through “There’re two types of magic, ‘holder type,’ which is channelled through an item, like a wand or a staff for example, and then there’s ‘caster type’ magic, also known as ‘ability type’ which means that the wizard in question uses magic that flows through their being,” I explained “Like dragon slayer magic?” she smiled “That’s technically both ‘caster type,’ as well as Lost Magic’” I corrected her “So, unicorns would be caster type wizards then?” she nickered “If you were to count your horn as an item, you’d be a holder type, if you were to think of it as a part of you, you’d be a caster type wizard, so it works either way” I shrugged, yet again “You’ve been on the internet again, haven’t you?” Blaze guffawed with laughter “Bite me” I chuckled “What about pegasi and Earth ponies; and what of their innate magic?” Twilight magicked up a stack of paper and a quill, setting the first sheet of paper onto a clipboard “If it’s a part of who or what they are, no offense to anyone, then it’s caster type, technically speaking “If you were to give an earth pony or a Pegasus a spellbook with either a wand or a staff, it could be possible that they could become a wizard, perhaps even another Starswirl maybe, who’s to say?” “Starswirl, who’s that?” Erza blinked “Apparently, he was the greatest mage on Equis” I bit my lip “I wouldn’t know much, you’d have to ask Twilight or Celestia about it” “Starswirl the Bearded is the most important conjurer of the pre-classical era” Twilight “Alteration beats conjuration” Blaze almost snapped “How so?” Twilight frowned “Starswirl could summon a celestial dragon if he saw fit” “And if you get enough alteration-based wizards, or one that’s skilled enough, they can use their strongest form of telekinesis to snap it in half, figuratively” “Impossible” she scoffed “the celestial dragons are familiars that’re on Celestia’s Level, maybe her and Luna combine even!” “You haven’t met Gildarts have you?” I chortled “with a flick of the wrist, and he’s able to tear down an entire building,” I laughed “and it also works on magic, so say Starswirl were to summon a spirit-based familiar, he’d reduce tit to ash with a single movement of his arm” “You’re over-exaggerating, Brother” Blaze sighed “Am I?” I raised the other eyebrow “he beat Natsu fairly easily, and that was without even moving, technically” “Alright, how can one being have such power then?” Twilight frowned “You’re asking me that question?” I burst into laughter “do you not see the irony, Sparky?” “I only let Gildarts win” Natsu pouted as he folded his arms “I was kinda there, Salamander, you tried to beat him, he shrunk you down to size, then essentially toyed with you before flaring his powers to immeasurable amounts, and then you were reduced to a mumbling wreck crying your eyes out” I shook my head “Say what now?” Grey turned to Natsu, bursting into laughter Dear is not; evil it’s what shows you your weakness, once you know your weakness you can become stronger kinder and gentler,” I sighed “did Gildarts not teach you that, Pyro?” “One more word, Tesla, see what happens” Natsu cracked his knuckles, my back gave a loud *snap* “Merde” I cursed, collapsing onto my arse “And that’s what happens when you piss off an immortal co-ruler of the country” Blaze folded her arms “Ain’t it just?” I mumbled as Wendy sat behind me placing her hands above my back, I bit my lip as I felt the misplaced disk start to slip back in, gradually making its re-entry, the green aura returning once again “What’d you do that’d warrant a slipped disk?” Wendy blinked “Just a prank war gone somewhat horribly wrong” I tilted a hand “Involving a certain book?” Blaze patted my head as the green mist that’d formed between my back and Wendy’s hands intensified somewhat, the slipped disk snapped back in I tasted iron as I flinched “I still find it hard to believe that you screamed like that, brother” “Blaze, shut up” I frowned “Make me” she winked “There that should do it” Wendy lowered her hands “Thanks, Sky” I simpered “You’re welcome, Rick” she smiled “So, what was that about another word?” I turned to face Natsu “Given your state I think you should at least wait a few hours for the healing magic to take effect, if you don’t mind” Wendy smiled “If you say so” I sighed “A battle between dragon slayers, not again…” Blaze sighed “What do you mean, ‘again’?” Twilight “Laxus went AWOL and decided to basically take an entire city hostage because things weren’t going the way he wanted them to” I rolled my eyes “it took Gajeel and Natsu combined efforts to stop him, after all, lightning is stronger than fire” “Says who?” Natsu frowned “It’s common science” I sighed, again “Lightning moves at around one-thousandth of a second, and the atmosphere of a lightning bolt burst at around forty-five-thousand degrees Fahrenheit, on average, were you to get struck by it enough times, -which is not very many-, you’d die” I explained “Laxus uses lightning?” Twilight sat beside me, opposite Wendy “Not quite,” I winked “he’s the local lightning dragon slayer, just don’t tick him off” “And he almost beat Natsu also,” Blaze nodded “almost” “Only because I wasn’t using ‘Dragon Force’” Natsu rebuked “Even then you’d of probably only been on sub-par equal levels with him” I shrugged, again “How many dragon slayers does this guild have!?” Twilight exclaimed “Just the five” I said, smiling “Aye, Gajeel, the iron dragon slayer” “Alongside you, Wendy Laxus and Natsu, right?” Twilight glanced toward me; I nodded “How many dragon slayers are there in the universe?” “Possibly an endless number of them scattered across various planets, galaxies and star systems” I hummed “who knows, maybe there’s a dragon god slayer out there?” “Didn’t Celestia say that the dragons of old were on level with gods?” Blaze patted my back, albeit, lightly “That she did,” I nodded again “what’s your point?” “Wouldn’t that make them dragon gods, if only through a technicality?” she tilted her head “including Crystagia?” “Go on” I rolled a hand “What if, all the dragons on Earthland are from Equis?” she beamed like the sun “That’d mean that we’re dragon god slayers” Wendy glanced toward my sister, then toward me, lightly taking hold of my right wings, draping them around herself “Sky dragon-god slayer, Lightning dragon-god slayer, Fire dragon-god slayer, Iron dragon-god slayer, and Gemstone dragon-god slayer” Blaze raised an eyebrow “An interesting theory, dear sister,” I smiled “but there’s only one way to find out, really, is there not?” “Aye we’ve to go to Canterlot” she nodded, glancing toward Wendy who was currently, very lightly, massaging my wings “what on earth is she doing?” “Just applying a type of therapy to Rick’s wings” Wendy smiled “I did it for Grandeeney once, I thought it might come useful one day, so I kept knowledge of how to do it exactly” the pressure she was placing on my wings, if any was to be felt, disappeared as she let go, staring on the other side -=-=- On the way to Canterlot, my family, Blaze included, had taken the train to Canterlot with my friends, Grey, Natsu and Erza, also included, Wendy sat upon my back as I flew, in eon form, toward Canterlot “Look what we’ve got here,” a greyish-brown Pegasus with a pale creamy-coloured mane and tail -alongside a mild silver Pegasus with a dark grey mane and tail and an orange Pegasus with a brown mane and tail-, exclaimed “time tah take him down a peg!” “Wendy, lock your legs under my wings and wrap your arms around my neck” I glanced back to the nervous dragon slayer, she nodded, leaning forward, placing her legs under my wings and wrapping her arms tightly around my neck, as soon as she was in place, I did a one-eighty turn and soared back to ponyville, stopped, and turned back again, going as fast as I could as I soared toward the mountain city of Canterlot “Hold on!” I cried out, she nodded as I noticed the trio of pegasi slowly returning, an all but invisible barrier beginning to form around me, which, surprisingly enough, broke, and I missiled forward as an explosion of energy erupted from behind me, said energy was a mixture of whitish-gold and azure silver Gradually managing to stop I landed outside the castle within the gardens, setting myself under the shade of a tree Wendy slowly sat upright placing her hands on her head “Troia” she whispered to the winds “Are you Ok?” I glanced back to the young girl, who nodded “That was incredible, thank you Rick” she gleamed, draping her arms around my neck, embracing me “That was a sonic rainboom” I sighed “I’m glad you didn’t fall off, Lady of the Skies” I glided through the castle entrance, quickly finding the throne room Once Twilight and the others arrived, we entered the throne room “Sir Rick” Luna slowly nodded, I ignored her, lowering myself to the ground, thus, allowing Wendy to climb down, she staggered a bit, but easily righted herself “How’d you get here so fast?” Rainbow Dash blinked, sitting on my back “Sonic Rainboom” I grinned “We told you that an eon could break the sound barrier” Blaze grinned “We trust that thou art here for a good reason?” Luna sighed “Rick, we’re sorry about earlier, can thou forgive us?” “I’ve no need to” I rolled my shoulders; then clicked them “but yes, we are here for a good reason” “Go on,” Celestia raised an eyebrow “You said that the dragons of Old Equis were gods in their own right, yes?” I tilted my head, she slowly nodded “Blaze had a theory that a few of the dragons, if not several of the ones from here on Equis went to Earthland, and if so, would that make us dragon-god slayers, not to sound arrogant?” “That is something you’ll have to find out for yourselves” Celestia gave a flat stare “though I must ask, how is it that you healed so quickly?” “Magic” I nodded toward Wendy “And you bought her along because..?” she hummed “She’s a sky dragon slayer, she’s as much right to know Natsu and I do” I scowled “Very well” she sighed “I figured that you wouldn’t leave without good enough reason, so I’ll tell you,” she smiled “the dragons of the pre-classical era were a godlike sort, not to be contended with unless by a certain unicorn,” Blaze snorted “Starswirl was the only one who could go hoof-to –claw with these beasts,” I glowered at her “so when he passed on, we had nopony to stop their imminent rampage, so, a truce was made, we, alongside Faust, sent them to various worlds, and eventually they spread themselves across the universe, It may be possible that Crystagia found a loophole, or has the ability you do to travel and possibly even transcend reality, I’ve no honest idea, but if the dragons you know as your tutors and/or foster parents were sent there from Equis, then yes, you are, by a technicality, dragon-god slayers, or so you say” she lectured “How long ago was this?” Erza raised an eyebrow “It has been an eon since the age of the Dragon Empire came to a close” Luna gave a weak smile “Truly it is a time of peace” “But at what cost?” Blaze frowned “The dragons of old are gone, and now there are none left to tell others of their legends, f their power, fame and above all else, magnificence, save a few, save us,” she went on “it is a time of peace, but without a few decent dragons too keep the ones we have now inn check, it’d only be a matter of time before they too, pass on, and a wars starts, I’m not declaring it myself, I’m merely stating a theory of what could happen around a few generations down the line, what happens then?” “How can you think of such things?” Luna stared at Blaze and I “I hate to say it, but my sister’s got a pointy, in a few hundred years, or maybe a few thousand, they’re going to be dragons to prideful and/or stupid to do the right thing and descends themselves ad another species into chaos, maybe even a living hell” I shrugged “And thou would know this because how?” she frowned “I’m part dragon, even more so considering I’m an eon” I smirked “Demi-dragon-demi-god,” Blaze laughed “how in the heck does that happen?” “Genetics” I snapped my fingers, reverting to human form “And speaking of which, that’s another question that’s been going unanswered for too damn long” “Thou wish to know of thy parents, or thy origins?” Luna raised an unamused eyebrow “Both preferably” I turned and walked out of the room “And don’t even think about asking Faust or Firefly!” she exclaimed “I’m an eon, not a knight or a thief, certainly not a liar” I glanced toward her, tutting “Thou art a fiend” she scoffed “Says the talking pony” I turned to face her “And thou, an eon, a being without reason to be here, dares argue with us?” she snapped; I clenched my fists “last we checked thou had done the unthinkable, thou art a liar, thou art a thief, thou art a most wicked thing of creation” I snapped, I inhaled and screamed at the top of my lungs; “At least I’m not the one who’s born out of a fucking test tube!” I blared “one thousand years ago, when Nyx, the real princess of the night, ruled against Celestia, she found six beings, ones capable of using the elements against her, but she had the cowardice to try and save herself rather than her country, and when they fired the blast from the elements toward her, she used her last line of defence to deflect it toward Nyx, who teleported herself unto the moon to save herself, only to be locked up there for a thousand years!” I boomed “Can you imagine her fear for her loved ones, for her Nakama, and then she returned, only to find her so-called sister had been spouting utter lies and slander about her, and then she herself was fired upon by the elements!” I blared “she was betrayed Luna, by her own subjects, by the descendants of her family; how would you feel if that happened to you, Luna?” I snarled “is it any bloody wonder, ponies and the inhabitants of Equis alike fear, hate, or distrust you, you’re a bloody freak, and coming from me that’s saying a lot!” I continued even further, turning my gaze to her sister “and Celestia, who in the fucking hell do you think you are, she was your sister for Thor’s sake!” “Tesla, that’s enough!” Blaze snapped, I blinked, turning to face her; everyone was staring at me, Wendy, my family, sans herself of course, and Fluttershy were either crying or close to it at least, I looked down at my hands, turning them over, noticing the scales that were quite visible upon them as well as my arms and wrists, I glanced toward Luna, who was lying on the floor, now nothing more than a nervous, blubbering wreck, tears cascading down her face “Overkill” Natsu simply stated, and it wasn’t a complete lie, either “The tongue has no bones, and yet, it can deal more damage than an entire fleet” I bit my lip “I take it you think Nyx would do a better job than we would?” Celestia raised an eyebrow “If you weren’t such a tyrant she’d be at her rightful place!” I snapped, blinking, gulping audibly “Rick, is that how you truly feel?” I turned; Nyx was stood there, staring at me in apparent shock-and-awe “It‘s how it should be, for you’re the real princess of the night, Tsuki No Fujin” I smiled “I’m both honoured and flattered that you think that, Rick” tears clouded her eyes, I blinked, my scales disappeared with a flash of light as she pecked my cheek, teleporting out of view “Snowdrop…” I crouched down to her, she inched forward, flinching as I placed a fragile hoof on her mane, leaping forward; clinging onto me with al her might “I’m sorry, all of you, truly, if I can make it up to you, I will”, I changed to eon form, Snowdrop leapt unto my head, and Winter Bell, Gracy Gloom and Scootaloo glided onto my back “So, you use your other form for a means of transport?” Celestia smirked “Not quite,” I inhaled, as a lavender sphere appeared before my mouth, turning my head toward one of the windows, firing a large pinkish beam that instantly melted the glass, quickly closing my mouth, ending the blast “Luster Purge, a unique ability only used by eons, just thought I’d let you know, Celestia” I spat “You have a means to do just about everything don’t you brother?” Blaze laughed as Wendy patted my side, I glanced toward her “I forgive you” the sky dragon slayer scratched me under the chin, I promptly collapsed to the floor “Teslakana, goes claw to fang with dragon emperor, gets downed by a thirteen year old “Sixteen” Wendy winked at me as I gradually made my ascent, hovering back up off the floor, pecking my cheek “Well this is certainly interesting” Erza chuckled “Yeah, who’d of thought that Wendy’s got a crush on lizard-features over there” Grey whistled “Are you not a tad short for a sixteen year old?” Celestia raised an eyebrow, it was true, whilst most people her age were around five to six feet tall; she was a mere four feet eight inches tall “I’m fine,” Wendy smiled this is how I’ve always been, after all” she sighed “though why’d you do it?” “Do what?” she blinked “Lock your sister on the moon,” Wendy tilted her head “It was a terrible act, even I admit to that,” Celestia exhaled sharply “and it’s one that I came to quickly regret,” Luna stood upright, shaking on her hooves a little, avoiding all eye contact with me, Celestia draped a wing around her sister “if I could make amends to all that I’ve done, I would, believe me, if it were in my power to do so, I would follow through without hesitation, no matter the risk” “And, in an alternate, possibly parallel world, you probably have” I gave a weak smile “Why do your moods swing so carelessly?” she titled her head “It’s just another mystery that remains unsolved” I rolled my eyes -=-=- “So Rick, what kind of relationships do you have with these equines?” Erza smiled “Ponies” Snowdrop corrected her “And Tesla’s my Daddy” “He’s what?” Grey and Natsu both turned to me as i hovered, with Wendy once again on my back “Ours too” Gracy Gloom chimed alongside Scootaloo and Winter Bell, the three wizards stared at me in apparent horror “Believe me it’s not the way you think it is” I held “Except for Winter Bell” Blaze smirked “You did it with a pony?” Grey laughed “At least I acknowledge their existence, you and Juvia could learn from that, ice-boy” I snapped “Listen, I don’t have any feelings for her Ok, she’s been like that since we met whilst fighting against the element-four” he frowned “Should I perhaps tell her that?” I grinned “that you don’t care what happens to her, she’s a great mage you know, Grey Fullbuster, you could work with her to create the greatest unison raid anyone’s ever seen, and yet you admonish her, even I can see that much” “And what would you have me do dragon-boy?” he scowled “Bugger if I know, it’s not my relationship problem” I laughed, glancing toward the entrance to the Fairy Tail Guild, where a woman with long, pale blue hair stood wearing a Russian-style hat, which had a lightly coloured butterfly clip attached to it with a fur-coat and knee-high boots with a black skirt also “Speaking of which,” I gestured toward her, bowing as I did so “Fine, but if this doesn’t work, I’ll see if I can get you two together, sound fair?” he grinned “I’d say you’re insane, but you’ve a deal” I nodded, lowering myself to the ground, to which, Wendy climbed from my back to the ground, allowing me to revert to human form as she jogged inside the guild hall, followed by Natsu and Erza, who nodded toward me as they walked into the building, Grey and I approached Juvia, who’s cheeks turned a bright scarlet as Grey walked toward her “Juvia” I smiled, she nodded “Grey’s got something he’d like to say to you she blinked, turning to the ice-make wizard “You have?” Juvia gasped “I’ve been meaning to apologize for ignoring how you feel about me for all this time” Grey bit his lip “And,” I rolled a hand “I…. I’d like to start to build a relationship with you… Juvia” he stammered she draped her arms around his neck and planted her lips on his “I’d love to be with you, my dear Grey” she gleamed, turning to face me “And you, Rick, thank you” she pecked my cheek “how can I repay you?” “Thy gratitude is far more than enough, lady of the sea” I bowed quickly, turning and walking away, raising a hand above my head, with the index finger and thumb making an ‘L’ shape “Mission successful, Brother” Blaze chortled “Never knew you could play that sort of role” “What sort of role?” Twilight smiled “Juvia, a wizard in the Fairy Tail Guild, has feelings for Grey; another Fairy Tail wizard, and he’s been oblivious to her every attempt to start a relationship with him, so I told him about it, she was a little more than excited to hear the fact that he wanted to start a relationship” I explained “Aww, you played love doctor!” she squee’d “Don’t get used to it” I stared at her flatly “I won’t,” she giggled “Although it would be a nice change, my little Eon” -=-=- As I flew home, I felt my ears twitch, pulling my to the castle in the everfree, Blaze quickly followed me Once there, I was forcibly tugged head-first into the throne room, where an immeasurably powerful pitch-black vortex, which was brimming over with raw energy which was followed by everything in sight turning to nothing, then returning as normal, the stones with the symbols that’d been hovering in a circle around the vortex now reduced to shards “Who…?” I awed at the pitch-black alicorn who was stood in place of the vortex, instead of having normal fur and a starry mane, she had a starry coat with a normal mane and tail, both of which were a deep indigo colour “I am the one ponies refer to as Nightmare Moon, I am the true terror of the night, the real dominion of the darkness,” the being hissed, with primal-looking markings on her face, legs, body and teal/silver armour “And who might you be, strange creature?” she raised an eyebrow, her cerulean eyes locking with mine “I’m Rick, and eon, a human, and a dragon slayer” I smiled, reverting to human form “It’s been ages since I heard of a human,” she slowly made her way toward me “and if you’re as strong as they are, or, were, I’ve only one thing I can do” she bowed “What’re you doing?” I blinked “I surrender myself to you” Nightmare Moon “use me as you will, Rick, have at me even, her horn flared a rich sapphire colour as she teleported us into the bedchambers of the previous rulers of the castle “Please, sit Sir Rick” she bit her lip, changing to an interesting form, minus her armour, which faded into the wind I blinked, sitting on the bed as she knelt before me, taking hold of my trousers and boxers my the waistline, pulling them down to my ankles, using her magic to remove my footwear, followed shortly by my other sections of clothing “What would you have me do, milord?” Nightmare Moon traced a light finger along the base of my shaft I flinched “Do what you want” I smiled, she blinked “Are you sure?” she gasped, I shrugged, she quickly took my member into her mouth, beginning to rapidly bob her head up and down as her tongue trailed along the base of my cock, she stared up at me as I gently place my hand on her head, she removed herself form my dick, lowering her sights as she took my testes into her maw, pressing her lips down on them “You sure know what you’re doing Moony,” I chuckled, pinching the tip of her horn with a finger and thumb, massaging it, she shuddered as she coiled her snake-like tongue around my balls, shuddering as I heard liquid meet carpet Nightmare Moon had climaxed “Thank you master” she pecked the tip of my manhood, before returning to my balls, taking them back into her being, moving one of her hands to my shaft, massaging it, also It didn’t take long for a fiery sensation to start welling up within my nether region Quickly, I pulled her away from my crown jewels, changing to eon form she gave a slight nod, placing her hands below her chin as her horn glowed a cobalt aura, my eonhood also being encased in an aura of th same colour, I shuddered as I fired bolts of seminal fluids into and around her mouth and face, which she quickly wiped away, taking the tip of my member into her maw, gagging as the rest came surging out, she pulled away, barely managing to wolf it down “What else would you have me do, master Rick?” Nightmare Moon’s cheeks turned a light magenta colour, I patted the area of the bed beside me, she smiled, lying on her back on the bed, she stared at me with a dreamy look, I dove into the depths between her legs with my tongue, dancing and twirling around her insides, she screamed as she climaxed again, twice in an instant “Dear sweet merciful Faust, please don’t be so harsh, master” she panted for breath, I smiled, swallowing her juices, placing my tongue against her clit, she shuddered, climaxing again, and once again I swallowed what she gave me “Master, please, I beg you, please stop” she bit her lip, again, I nodded, prodding my still-erect eonhood against her entrance, slowly sliding it into her folds, until of course, I was stopped by a barrier of sorts “Go ahead master,” Nightmare Moon placed a hand on my dick, pulling me in a little further “I want you to be my first and only” I slammed myself in, she let out a shriek as the barrier broke, I leaned forward, placing my lips against hers, our tongues dancing in her maw, as I sped up, thrusting in and out of her as fast as I could, resulting in a series of long moans that emanated from the alicorn-turned demi-human below me -=- “Yes, master, faster, harder!” Nightmare Moon groaned as I moved as a blur, pumping in and out of her, climaxing with each thrust, eventually pulling out once I’d stopped “And with this, Master Rick, I give you my innocence; and my heart, what else would you do with me that you may wish, I’m free to do, as you command, master” “Turn over” I bit my lip “As you command” she nodded turning onto her back “Kneel” I flinched, she pulled her legs under her, kneeling, I placed my cock against her pucker, sliding the head in, slamming the rest in, she screamed, moaning as I began to thrust in and out of her tight little tailhole, hilting the lunar goddess each and every time, taking a hold of her flanks… =-=-=-= “That was…” Nightmare Moon gasped as she lay beside me, the two of us now under the duvet, with our wings draped around one-another “that was amazing, thank you, master” “Ahem?” I glanced toward the door; Blaze was stood there, a smug grin on her face as she closed the doors behind her “What do you want Blaze,” I sighed “I was going to ask you when you’re going to return home, but I can see you’re busy, so I’ll come back tomorrow” Blaze saluted me, closing the door as she left -=--=- As I flew into ponyville the following morning, Nightmare Moon atop my back in her anthro form -her armour apparently having changed with her form earlier in the morning-, I clicked my neck “So, this is Ponyville,” Nightmare Moon hummed “it’s been a while since I was here last” “That may be, but if you’re going to fit in, I think you’re going to need a new name, Lady of the stars” I tilted my head “Like what master?” “And you’re going to stop calling me that in public,” I sighed “just call me Rick” “That I will, Rick,” she nodded “just call me ‘Blackie,’ Rick” she giggled as we flew toward the library “Hello, Rick, who’s your… friend..?” Twilight’s smile faded as she noticed Nightmare Moon “I’ll write a letter to Celestia” she rushed toward a dresser which had a sheet of paper and a quill-and-inkwell “Wait, before you do,” she turned to face me, Nightmare Moon stood beside me, reverting to her pony form “Blackie means you no harm, she’s here as an ally, not an enemy” “Be that as it may, the princesses must still be informed!” she insisted “As you say, Twilight” I smiled, within several minutes of her ascending the staircase, Both Princess Luna and Princess Celestia stood before Nightmare Moon and I “Nightmare Moon,” Celestia frowned “Is here as an ally, not a threat” I stood between the three alicorns “Tread lightly Rick, she’s the reason we have Nightmare Night, and of course, the Summer Sun Celebration” she glanced between myself and the alicorn of the stars stood behind me “If she meant harm, I would’ve returned here to let Twilight know of her being on Equis, post-haste” I raised an eyebrow “But what’ll happen, should she meet Nyx?” Twilight stepped forward “Who knows?” I shrugged, only for a trio of beings to land upon my being “We missed you Daddy” Snowdrop, Gracy Gloom Scootaloo and Winter Bell chorused in unison as they situated themselves upon my head neck and back “And I you, my little ponies” I glanced up toward Snowdrop, and then back toward the other three -=-=- “Nightmare Moon, Right?” Nyx glanced toward me; then toward ‘Blackie,’ I nodded, standing in the plaza near to the house with my friends and family “What’s going on?” Natsu walked toward me beside Erza and Grey, Wendy also, glancing toward the twin alicorns Just then, there was a flash of light, and Nyx and Nightmare moon were reduced to mere twin, pitch-black spheres of energy, the two of which spun around one-another as they ascended, I placed my goggles over my eyes as they collided, creating an almost blinding light, and then there was darkness on a level of which would require for neither the sun or the moon to exist, followed by a second burst of light and a new being emerged, with both moons and stars in her royal blue mane and tail, and with a pair of magenta eyes with a rich, indigo coat “A fusion of the gods,” Blaze whistled as I lowered my goggles around my neck “or so it’d seem” “That it would, Blaze” the alicorn spoke with a calming, motherly tone, not unlike that of the princesses “So, is she Nightmare or Nyx fan-fiction reference unintended” Blaze tilted her head “Call me what Rick did when I met him” the being gave a warm smile “‘Nyx’” Chapter XVIII; art, and events (also, Luna)“So, where were you for the second half of the day before yesterday” Natsu grinned, standing beside Erza, Grey, and Wendy “Out,” I shrugged “why do you ask?” “Curiosity” he smirked “What exactly where you doing anyways?” “What do you mean?” “We heard screams emanating from the forest; so we were worried someone might be hurt” he raised an eyebrow “That wasn’t you?” “I do not scream like a raving mad troll having a period” I frowned, he burst into laughter “So you don’t” he chortled “So, if it wasn’t you, who was it?” ”Who’s to say,” I shrugged “Maybe your new pony friend, marefriend, whatever the term is” he gave a sly grin “What makes you say that?” I raised an eyebrow “The fact that you were ‘out’ as you say, and that you didn’t return until yesterday morning,” he glimmered “and the fact that she seems awfully attached to you, Tesla, one might even think it a little suspicious” “That depends on what you want to hear” I tilted my head “I just want to know what you two were doing at that time” he smiled It was then that Nyx trotted toward me, standing beside me “Hello Rick,” Nyx smiled, pecking my cheek, draping a wing around me “Seriously, you two are… together?” Natsu blinked “Is there a problem?” I hummed “Not at all, I just find it a little odd for a human to be with an equine” he gleamed As I was about to retort, an ethereal glow from behind me stopped me Glancing toward the light, just as it faded, I saw Celestia in her Anthro form, wearing the same dress as before “Seriously, this is the same Celestia?” Natsu stared at me; I nodded “How can she do such a thing?” “Genetics,” I began “you see, Pyro, one-billion years ago, humans used to exist here on Equis alongside the current species that inhabit this world, and since they’re compatible, the offspring -be it pony or otherwise-, gains both a human and ‘Anthro’ form, so to speak” “So, you’re telling us that humans did the ‘you-know-what- with miniature horses an eon ago?” Grey stifled a guffaw “Essentially,” I nodded “What’s with the huge sword?” Natsu nodded toward the Daybreaker, which was impaled into the ground beside me “That’s the Daybreaker” I smirked “Split an Ursa in half it did” “An Ursa, like the constellation,” Wendy blinked “Not quite,” Celestia smiled “an ursa is a real, living breather creature, the smallest being about the size of the average house, the largest being the seize of the castle in Canterlot, the smaller variants are known as Ursa Minor’s the larger type is the Ursa Major” she explained, glancing toward me “how did you lose your arm anyways?” “Ursa’s can use magic, apparently” I gave a sharp exhale “the same spell you use to revert my being to what it is, only limited to limbs, or so it’d seem” “And then you were sent crashing into the ground, weren’t you, Brother” “I’m not a god, Blaze, nor do I claim to be that of which would make me godlike,” I shook my head “god means I cannot die, god means that I live forever, god means having to watch everyone I’ve ever cared about grow, live, and die within a geographical heartbeat, god means having to live with that and all the other repercussions that come with the title, and that’s something I don’t want to have to put up with, be it now or in a millennium” “I never said you were, I was commenting on how strong the Ursa was” she held up her paws defensively “They’re at least the size of a building, how strong do you want them to be?” I folded my arms As if to answer her, a thundering roar could be heard as, yet again, an Ursa tore through the treeline, unlike the previous encounters, however, this one was between the smaller size of a Minor, and the gigantic size of a Major “That’s an Ursa?” Erza eyed the creature up and down as it glared at each of us, the eight-pointed star atop its crown shining with an emerald light as it’s teal fur gave an ‘ominous’ type of aura “Think we should let lizard-features handle it?” Grey smirked at me I rolled my eyes, unsheathing the Dawnbreaker, dropping it as I made my way toward the ferocious constellation-turned-animal, giving a slight smile toward the beast Lowering itself to the ground, the Ursa placed its nose within mere inches of my being, sniffing, as if inspecting me, then opening its mouth and licked me across the face, gently nuzzling into me I raised an arm, placing a gentle hand on its snout, massaging the bridge of its nose “Could this perhaps be another side to a creature of the Everfree forest that we’ve yet to witness?” Celestia stared at me “Perhaps, I glanced toward her, turning back to the Ursa “What is it that you’re here for, Ursa?” the bear responded with a series of growls “Being in a relationship with a pony is one thing, but an oversized bear, really?” Natsu laughed, The Ursa in question turned its head toward Natsu, giving off a pattern, of sorts, of growls and bark-like noises “It seems that she thinks the same of all beings like you, Natsu” I chuckled “How did you translate that?” Erza blinked “you understand animals now, Rick?” “It’s his element of nature taking effect” Celestia smiled “Having chosen an option other than fighting, Tesla’s seemingly found a way to use his hidden abilities, that of nature and understanding those who thrive alongside it” the Ursa gave a series of grumbles and barks, seemingly smiling toward Celestia “It would appear that she acknowledges your answer, and you’re being here” I bit my lip “That’s interesting enough” she nickered, the Ursa replied with another ‘selection’ of grunts and growls, nuzzling into me, before standing up and walking back into the forest …That did not just happen” Grey burst into a fit of laughter, I, on the other hand, shuddered, as a newfound power coursed through me “Well that’s new,” I generated a flame in one hand, and around the other, a collection of rocks orbited my palm “earth dragon slayer, maybe?” “Earth and fire, I told you it would happen!” Blaze chortled “I told you it would, go on; I dare you to say otherwise!” “Actually it was me who thought of it, you just expanded on the idea, or was it Snowdrop?” I raised an eyebrow “You actually beat me in an argument!” she cheered mockingly “need I award you with a medal, brother?” “Say what you will, see if I care” I shrugged, the rocks and flames surrounding my hands fading from view “So, that’s two elements, three if you count fire” she hummed “I wonder what the next one will be?” “Who knows?” I clicked my neck, standing beside Nyx and Celestia ==---== As I awoke the following morning, I looked around the room with a sense of warmth, so to speak “Good morning, my little Shmoopie” Celestia sat by me, draping a wing around me pecking my cheek “Good morning, to you as well, my little Sunflower” I smiled -=- As I sat in the gardens of the castle, under the shade of a tree with my eyes closed, I felt footsteps, followed by a kick to the stomach Snapping my eyelids open, I saw a crimson teenage dragon with golden underbelly scales and wings, stood by him was a short, fat, dark brown dragon with gunmetal horns and a cerise dragon with lavender underbelly scales and golden ‘hair,’ a white dragon with light pink wings and underbelly scales alongside a grey dragon with pale green underbelly scales and wings “What do you want?” I steadily got to my feet, my daughters standing behind me, using me as a shield “You took me by surprise last we met, freak,” the crimson dragon snapped “it shan’t happen again “Fine, you lot, me, in the arena, in about, let’s say, twenty minutes?” I smirked, turning to my sister “Blaze, be a dear and get Celestia and the others, Twilight and her friend included as well as spike” “Will do” Blaze nodded, skirting around the three dragons =-= Twenty minutes later, the dragon, his friends and I were stood in the arena with Twilight, her friends –minus Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy, my friends and family watching alongside the princesses, Nyx, Grey, Natsu, and Erza There was a slight silence as the dragon and his friends charged toward me, lashing out with kicks, punches, and even bites I didn’t even budge, as their fangs shattered against my form as it turned a jet black for an instant, the bones inside their hands cracking on impact Giving me death-glares, the quintet of dragons leapt back “Are we done already?” I tilted my head “shame” I bought an arm above my head behind me, bringing it down as it turned a shining charcoal-colour, the stone floor of the arena shattered on contact with the now-armoured fist, the dragons standing opposite me falling a few feet, before collapsing onto their stomachs and/or backsides “Checkmate” -=-=- “What was that,” Twilight boomed at me “how did you defend against all those attacks, how are you not bleeding, and more importantly, how in Equestria did you manage to destroy the arena with a single hit!?” “Magic, of sorts” I grinned as I was being examined by a nurse in the local hospital “And how does that work,” she snapped “I’ve never seen a type of spell that does that for a pony! “Probably because it’s not from Equis,” I sighed “and secondly, I lied, it’s not magic, it’s willpower put into a solid form, per se” “So anypony can use it?” she relented, or at least, her scowl did “If they had enough willpower, and were properly trained, then most likely, yes” I nodded “Could you teach me?” she sat beside me on the bed “You’re in perfect condition, you’re free to go” the nurse winked at me as I stood upright, Twilight and the others walking with me to the castle “I don’t know, Twi, I really don’t know” I sighed -=-=- “You two argue like a married couple y’know that?” Natsu grinned at Twilight and I as we sat beside one another at the dining hall “Should we?” Twilight giggled “Nah; let them find out for themselves” I laughed “Find what out?” he blinked; Grey smirked as Erza smiled “I don’t get it?” “They’re married, Natsu, how more obvious do you want it to be?” Grey gave a smug grin “You what,” the flame dragon slayer stared at me, glancing toward Twilight, who perched herself on the back of my head “When did this happen?” I could tell he was trying to stop himself from bursting into a fit of laughter “Between now and ten years ago” Twilight and I glanced at one another with a smile “Well then, congratulations are in order, I think” Grey laughed “Oh fuck you Grey” I mumbled “mind you, if I did, I don’t think your girlfriend would be too impressed with me, would she?” blaze exploded into a torrent of laughter “Would you like some ice for that burn?” “At least Juvia’s human” he smirked “And Twilight here’s more decent than most humans I know, not counting my family or the Fairy Tail Guild” I grinned “How long have you been stuck here again?” he smirked “Firstly, I’ve been living here for around twenty three years,” I snapped secondly, I could’ve left at any time I wanted, but I chose otherwise, because I give a damn about people other than myself, that’s someone other than myself,” I growled “I guess your heart’s as cold as your magic, Grey, I think you need to chill, pun intended” “Daddy…?” Snowdrop placed a nervous hoof on my side; I blinked, glancing toward her, quickly shaking my head as Twilight returned to her place beside me, replaced moments later by the icy blue filly “Her name’s ‘Snowdrop;’ and you have a go at me for being cold?” Grey scowled at me “Her name might suggest an icy nature, but at least the same can’t be said for her heart” I smiled “ “What’d you say?” he glared icy daggers at me, pun intended (again), pacing a clenched fist against a flattened palm beside him as he stood upright, a cyan-coloured magic circle appearing before his hands “You think your puny icicles can do much against a dragon god’s flame, boy?” I grinned “Enough!” Celestia boomed, I glanced toward her, nodded, then continued with my meal “You take orders from a pony now?” Grey glowered at me his posture unchanged “I listen to her, and do as she requests, not because I’m her slave, but because I respect her for being who she is;” I swallowed the grape I was eating “that’s another thing I think you need to learn; respect,” I continued “learning about someone and accepting and respecting them for who they are, isn’t that what a friend does, Frey Fullbuster?” “What’d you know?” he stared at me with unbridled, unadulterated rage “Apparently, a damn sight more than you, icy-boy” I scoffed “Knock it off, the both of you,” Erza snapped, I nodded somewhat graciously toward her “you’re acting like children!” “He started it” Grey huffed “Case in point” I mumbled, lightly bumping a clenched gist with one of Blaze’s paws as she gave a smug grin “Looks like someone needs a few lessons in friendship” Twilight rolled her eyes “Don’t bother,” I sighed “many a brave adventurer and/or wizard have tried that subject, Sparkles, none have succeeded” “Really, why?” she blinked, glancing toward Grey, then toward me “I don’t know, I’ve never cared much to ask” I shrugged “You want to take this outside?” Grey glowered at me, again “You truly believe that violence is going to achieve anything?” I tilted my head ever-so slightly “Besides, you saw what he did to those dragons, and who’s to say he can’t do more?” Natsu grinned “Back off Natsu, this isn’t any of your business” Grey spat “Clearly the phrase ‘you mess with my Nakama, you mess with me’ dictates otherwise” I hummed “How strange” he stormed off, and out of the room “Shouldn’t we at least try to help him?” Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow “Let him be,” Erza frowned “he’ll be fine in a few hours, or a couple of days” “So, what’s his story, his past I mean?” Twilight raised an eyebrow as we sat in a private ‘guestroom’ “His village and family were torn apart by a demon” Erza frowned again, this time toward me “and so he sought out a way to become stronger and thus found Ur” “What’s ‘Ur’?” Cadance tilted her head “It’s not what, but who,” I bit my lip “she was, for a time, his mentor, alongside his fellow student, Lyon, until he thought that her teachings were pointless, and so he sought out the demon, attempting to fight it, only to toyed with, until Ur arrived, Lyon attempted the ‘Iced Shell’ spell on Deliora, but was quickly stopped by Ur, as she didn’t want her student to waste his life he’d yet to live, so she cast it herself” “What does the spell do?” Twilight blinked “It’s a thick tomb of ice that seals its target away, for eternity,” I mumbled “the only drawback is, you die, as the caster’s body, becomes the iced shell itself, and their will becomes what stops the ice from melting” “That’s…” Twilight stared at me “that’s unbelievable!” “It goes further than that,” I sighed “Ur said that the western countries had wizards far more superior in magic than she was, so he went west, and that’s how he wound up in the Guild” “What sort of magic did she use?” she leant into me “Ice-make magic,” I explained “Ur’s was so great that some considered her capable of being one of the ten wizard saints; one of the ten strongest wizards in the entire world of magic, and I can respect that” “Who’re the saints?” she blinked “They’re the strongest wizards we have,” I smiled “Makarov Dreyar’s one of them, as are Jura and Warrod, Jura’s the fifth strongest, Warrod’s the fourth strongest, Jellal used to be the seventh strongest, Jose used to be the third weakest, they, however, were removed” “What about the others?” she nuzzled into me “I don’t know about them yet,” I simpered, “other than the fact that the four strongest members have been described as being so powerful they shouldn’t be considered human” “And Ur was thought to be capable of joining them?” Celestia smiled, I nodded “she must’ve been strong, both in heart and in magical ability to be given such a title” “Human…” Twilight muttered “Hm?” I glanced toward her “What would it be like, for a dragon slayer to be one of the saints?” she glanced toward me “I wouldn’t be surprised if it were true” I draped a wing around her “Seriously, just how many ponies are you stuck with anyway?” Natsu blinked, I turned to Celestia, who smiled, winking at me “Do changelings; beings that can be whatever or whoever they want, count?” I flinched “I should think so” Erza laughed “Then around ten” I declared “And that’s acceptable here in pony-land?” he chortled “Due to the male-to-female ratio, apparently” I shuddered “So, who’s the strongest in the guild then?” Twilight cooed “That’d either be Laxus, Mirajane, Erza, Gildarts, or Makarov, I know not which” I hummed “You regard me as one of the strongest?” Erza blinked “You, Laxus, Gildarts, and Mirajane are all S-class, that in itself says more than enough” I smiled “Charmed she quickly turned away from me, standing upright “I’ll see you at the guild hall, maybe” and with that she left the room “I see what you did there, you slick son of a bitch” Blaze smirked “I didn’t do anything,” I frowned “Are you implying that I’m….” I shuddered “Is it that hard to accept?” she playfully pouted at me “the so-called ‘Wizard in Armour,’ matched with the gemstone dragon slayer, who’d of thought it?” “I’m telling you I’m not trying anything!” I rebuked “So you say, brother, so you say?” “Never seen Erza act like that before” Natsu blinked “you sure you’re not using some type of charm?” “I don’t meddle with trinkets, Natsu, I use what I see as ‘proper magic’” I smirked “And besides , so what if we’ve only seen one side to her so far, I think there’s a lesson here;” I beamed “don’t ever judge someone, you don’t know their story or what’s really going on” “Wise words, young eon” Luna smiled =-+(-)+-= As I glided down to ponyville, lowering myself to the ground upon arrival, allowing my passengers to climb/leap to the ground Reverting to human form I was tackled to the ground my an earthy brown mare “Rick!” Autumn Heart exclaimed, clinging onto me as I sat upright “Are you Ok?” “All the better for seeing you, my love” she walked with me as we made our way toward-and-into our home, sitting beside me on the couch, Snowdrop once again perched upon the back of my head “So Dear, how was your trip to Canterlot?” she pecked my cheek “It wasn’t too bad” I shrugged “How’s business at the shop?” “It’s fairly decent, sold a few clocks, as well and a few other timepieces of sorts, she bought out a bag of bits “this is yours, I believe?” “Keep it” I smiled “you need it more than I do” “How much do you have?” she blinked “Around two million” I whispered “That’s enough to last several lifetimes!” she gasped “I trust that it’s with the princesses?” I nodded “A wise move,” she smiled “and Rick,” I glanced toward her “it’s good to have you back” -=-=- As I walked out onto the front porch on the next day, I was greeted by the sight of Natsu standing beside an oddity “Why, the hell, are you nude?” I quickly shut my eyes “She can’t Requip her armour,” Natsu stifled a laugh, Erza hit him around the back of the head “You haven’t done anything out of the ordinary have you?” I bit my lip “Not to my knowledge, no” Erza hummed “I did take a walk through the nearby forest, just to explore though” “you didn’t happen to walk through any blue flowers did you?” I shuddered “Now that you mention it, I did come across a type of plant that had pale blue flowers, why?” she placed a hand on my shoulder “It’s called poison joke, Blaze laughed as she stood beside me “it’ll play what it seems to think as a joke to anyone who touches it, so seeing as you use magic to change your armour, the poison joke has seemingly reversed it” I quickly returned to the lounge, picking up my clockwise jacket, handing it to Erza, who took it, sealing it’s front, I opened one eye, then the other “Thanks Rick” Erza smiled “Now, how do we cure this apparent ‘joke’?” “You’d have to ask Twilight,” I sighed, walking with her to the library, knocking on the door “Why’s she naked, save your jacket of course?” Twilight gave a smug grin toward me as she opened the door “She uses Requip magic to change her armour, stumbled upon poison joke, and now everytime she tries to do so, she ends up, y’know” I rolled my eyes “I see,” she giggled “I’ll get the bath running then” “A bath, that’s the cure?” Erza and I shared a glance, smirking toward Twilight “Yep, just an ordinary bubble-bath” Twilight blinked “is there a problem, or am I going to have to put you both in there at once?” “I’d like to think that I have standards, Twilight” I laughed “That’d be fine” “What?” I blinked, glancing toward Erza who merely smirked at me “I think you should go to the lake then, the bathroom’s not big enough for the two of you” Twilight nickered, walking upstairs as we walked into the library, returning a few minutes later with her saddlebags, leading us to the lake, Erza dragging me by the hand as we went As Erza removed the jacket –my jacket, I quickly closed my eyes as she entered the lake “What’s the matter, you don’t mind seeing others in the nude, so why her?” Twilight placed her hoof in my hand “It’s different for humans, what with public indecency and all” “No one’s going to judge you, Dragon slayer” Erza gave a light chuckle “Don’t worry” “If you say so,” I slowly opened my eyes, taking in every part of her almost lustrous form Suddenly, I was shoved into the lake by an unknown force, changing to eon form, I turned to face said force, which came in the form of Rainbow Dash, Erza floated up to her neck in the water “What in the hay is going on here?” Rainbow Dash laughed “Erza uses ‘Requip’ magic to alter between sets of armour, and since she walked through poison joke, it’s no longer working” Twilight explained “Likely story” the cyan Pegasus smirked at me “Rick’s not a liar” Erza frowned as Twilight levitated a bottle of murky green liquid over to her, Erza quickly applied it to her skin, diving underwater for a moment, surfacing again “Requip,” Erza declared once she stood on the bank, her body flashed a bright primrose aura as her trademark silver armour and royal blue skirt “Happy now, Rainbow?” I frowned, changing to my eon form “Quite,” she gave a sheepish smirk “Sorry for earlier” I smiled, changing to eon form as Littlepip galloped toward us levitating a box all the while “Hey Littlepip, what’s in the box?” I smiled “It seems that I came at the perfect time to give you this, Rick,” she smiled with apparent glee, opening the box, tipping it on its side “these are for you, she declared, holding up what looked like… “Are those… reigns?” Twilight blinked, whereas Rainbow Dash burst into a roaring fit of laughter, with a brief flash of light, littlepip had them attached to me and was holding the handles as she sat on my back “I said that I wasn’t going to wear anything like this, on any occasion” I frowned, glancing back to her, she telekinetically reached into her saddlebags, lighting out what looked like a soul dew, only filled with what appeared to be sweets of various sorts “I repeat, I’m not wearing this, ever, Ok?” she replaced the sweets with what looked like a latias plushie “And I’m certainly not going to ask how you got that” “It was in your rucksack,” she placed the item in question back into her saddlebags, closing them, “now; shall we get a move along?” she lashed the reigns, I barely moved “or should I get Celestia to see what you look like, wearing this?” I quickly moved to the area beside Twilight, leaping from my back to the ground, only to be replaced by Erza, who patted my head, lightly stroking the area around my chin, I, involuntarily, let out a slight coo “Didn’t know that would happen,” Erza blinked taking the end of one of my ears between an armoured finger and thumb, lightly massaging it, I shuddered, she stopped, scratching the area between my ears, which I leant into, shuddering again as I did so, “Quite the sensitive being, aren’t you Tesla?” she smiled, gently patting my head, I cooed “Uh, Erza” Twilight pointed toward the area below me, Erza climbed down, investigating “Well, that’s new” the wizard in armour patted my side “you really are a sensitive being, aren’t you?” I glanced at the space beneath me; my member was stood out at full length, leaking pre-cum “I’m so sorry-!” Erza placed a finger to my mouth, hindering any further protests, her form flashing a the same golden aura as before, this time, instead of armour, she was completely nude, save a set of lingerie, forcible turning me on my back, shoving me to the ground, “You needn’t worry, Dragon slayer,” Erza smirked, removing what little clothing she had, lining herself up with my dick, sliding my length into her entrance, taking round half of it in before she stopped, starting to bound up and down “now you just lie back and let me take care of everything Ok?” she leaned forward, placing her lips on mine… [)=+-+=(] “So, what happened?” Natsu grinned barely managing to retain his laughter as I hovered before him, Erza still on my back, wearing her trademark attire, and the reigns still attached “Wouldn’t you like to know” I frowned, glancing to the grey mare beside me “can we please remove these reigns now?” Littlepip’s horn flared a mild green aura as the reigns appeared beside her “Thank you” “Seriously though, what happened?” Natsu smirked, glancing toward the wizard in armour “I know that you’ve been thinking about Ricky-o here ever since you two parted ways, but I’m curious as to see what you’ve gotten up to” “How on Earthland,” Erza blinked as she and I shared a glance “It’s blatantly obvious when you’re thinking about him,” Natsu laughed, “because your face turns the same colour as your hair, a perfect scarlet colour!” I stared at my current passenger, her face, just like Natsu said, had turned a scarlet shade of red “That’s not true!” Erza snapped “I don’t mind,” I smiled toward her “it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve been thought of in that manner of speaking, Erza” she gawked at me, blinking, climbing down to the ground, draping a pair of armoured libs around me, embracing me, pecking my cheek “First Grey and Juvia, and now you and Erza,” Natsu howled with laughter, “Who’s next?” “You and Lisanna, perhaps,” I shrugged “no offense of course” “I suppose it could work” he blinked, quickly shaking his head “But you have to start it!” “She’s your girlfriend, and it’s your relationship not mine” I tutted “Sorry” “Fine” he grumbled, making his way toward the guild hall “That’s two relationships you’ve started,” Erza hummed “by the way, when I left the castle, I heard what you said as I made my way out, thank you, Rick” she patted my side with an armoured hand “It’s the least I can do for a fellow wizard; and guild-mate” I nodded, reverting to human form, Snowdrop quickly perching herself atop the back of my head, Kiary perching herself on one shoulder, and Winter Bell on the other “So I hear you’ve been up to rather interesting business” I spun around, Cadance was stood there “Been doing my job for me, have you?” Cadance winked “Just doing what I can” I smiled “Indeed, though I should let you know of the events taking place at Rainbow Falls in two days…” -=-===-=- Not two days later and Twilight and her friends, alongside my friends, family Erza and I were aboard the train headed for ‘Rainbow Falls’ “Yes, Best day ever!” Pinkie Pie squee’d we're all going to the Rainbow Falls Traders Exchange!” she gasped “and we’re not just going; we're accompanying a princess on official royal duty!” she started to leap up and down on the spot “Please, it's not that big of a deal,” Twilight sighed “there always has to be a princess at the exchange,” she walked alongside us as we marched toward the exchange; last year was Princess Cadance, this year it's me, it's just a formality, I'm sure none of the other ponies will even notice I'm here” as soon as she said that, a huge crowd of ponies sprang forth from the vendors and merchant stalls “Wow, look over there, a princess!” one pony gasped “Oh, this is amazing!” another cheered “Ah could be wrong, but I think they might've noticed” Applejack nickered “And look, Sir Rick’s with her!” a third pony gawked, pointing toward me with a rather shaky hoof “So, this is basically a merchant’s trade?” I tilted my head, gazing down at the lavender mare “It’s where ponies from all over Equestria come to trade what they have, a princess is required to oversee the trades after all a trade is only possible when both ponies agree and get what they want” Twilight explained with a nod As spike walked by he stumbled over a pebble, falling onto his front, dropping the comic he was carrying which flew toward a conveniently placed puddle of mud, only to be stopped by a ring of pebbles “Did I do that?” I blinked, an arm held out as I, bought my hand toward me, the comic hovered toward Spike, carried by the small stones, spike caught the book as I lowered my hand “Thanks Rick, without this mint-condition comic, I wouldn’t have been able to get another, you have to have one to get one, after all” Spike smiled “It seems that your new element is that of earth as well as stone, brother” Blaze hummed “Well, I guess you could say that it, rocks!” I grinned; she face-pawed, Erza stifled a laugh as Twilight let out a giggle A little later on in the day, I was sat on the edge of the market the Dawnbreaker and the Daybreaker planted into the ground beside me, and my family sat in a circle around me, the group, us included was situated around a book stall, that of which was being run by none other than Twilight herself “So what’re you doing then?” Rainbow Dash “Just helping Twilight oversee the events, is suppose” I shrugged “And you had to bring them with you?” Twilight nodded toward the swords that were impaled into the ground next to me “I’m just here to supervise,” I held my hands up somewhat defensively “what about you Rainbow?” “There's a pony here who's got a signed first edition of Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Statue, and I'm gonna get it! I've been able to get first editions of all of the Daring Do books, except this one! Nopony's ever put together a whole set, and I'm gonna be the first! If it hasn't been traded yet... It's the only one in all of Equestria!” Rainbow Dash both exclaimed and explained at once “So it’s priceless then?” I blinked “normally, if I were to have something that’s the only one like it in the entire country and/or planet, I’d keep it locked away at home” “But if said pony didn’t want it?” she gestured toward the nearby stall, which was being supervised by a golden-yellow pony with a fiery golden mane with the same outfit as Daring Doo herself, said pony waved over to me with a wink “The you’d better hurry up, if it’s the only one in the kingdom, I think you’d better get a move along” I smiled “or even better, Blaze, have you got any gems?” “Sure do!” Blaze almost/borderline-chimed, handing me a basket gems of various sizes, I took one into my mouth, and, to Erza’s apparent surprised, crunched down into it as I tore my crystalline heart out, eating as mangy gems as I could within the shortest amount of time, shuddering as the heart regenerated “How is it that you’re able to do that?” Erza shuddered “Magic” I grinned, carrying the heart/chest symbol over to the Daring Doo ‘collector’ “What’s that you’ve got there?” the mare blinked “whatever it is it’s brilliant, it’d go well with my collection of gems!” “It’s a sacred gem, found only at my home, the Lunar Isles and only there are only three in existence” I smirked “I’ll trade it for this Daring Doo and ‘Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Statue’ book” she held up the book “Deal,” I shook her hoof, trading them gem for the book, gliding toward the others “I believe this belongs to you?” I handed the cyan Pegasus mare the book, Rainbow Dash grabbed it out from my hands “You traded your heart for a book?” Erza blinked “Secondary heart, technically speaking” I glimmered “And there’re only three in existence” “Who’s got the other one?” she blinked “Celestia” I smiled “You gave the princess your heart?” she chuckled “When I said that I’d tear it out and hand it to her if I could, I wasn’t joking” I laughed “Indeed” Twilight hummed with a somewhat disturbed expression plastered on her face as she began to set the books on the stall “Hi!” Twilight gleamed as a snow-white filly with a pale/icy-blue mane and tail with lavender eyes reached behind her, pulling out a photograph of Twilight, also passing her a pen Twilight sighed, signing the photo with a look of slight agitation -=-=- “So, what’re you going to do, other than supervise?” Blaze patted my back, my response was to bring out a certain set of items, what of which were used in flag-making “Seriously?” “I might as well do something whilst I’m here,” I shrugged, quickly getting to work on the first flag When it was completed, I looked up there was a grey Pegasus filly with a golden mane and tail with a snapped quill “You want me to trade all my books for a broken pen? Alright, fine, you got yourself a-” she was about to bump her hoof with the Pegasus’s only for a pink party pony to stop her “Stop, what’re you doing!?” Pinkie Pie gasped “I was trying to get rid of all the books I don't need anymore” Twilight grumbled “For that?” Pinkie Pie blinked “Do you reaaaaally want that?” “Well, not really, but I'm running out of library space, so-” “Ohmygosh, ohmygosh, ohmygosh!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed “I can't believe that almost happened, But luckily, it didn't happen, thanks to me!” “I don’t see a problem with it, Pinkie,” I began “if Twilight says that she doesn’t need the books, that’s her choice to make, and besides, by doing so -and for a filly, nonetheless, she’ll be passing on the gift of knowledge” I glanced toward the silver filly, who stared at me with an apparent sense of wonder “I trust you’re going to read these when you get home, little one?” I smiled the filly gave a somewhat gracious nod, bowing to me momentarily “then there isn’t a problem that I can see” “If you say so” Pinkie hung her head in disappointment as Twilight bumped hooves with the filly “I don’t think you can carry these by yourself, so they’ll have to remain here until you want to leave, Ok?” Twilight smiled, the filly nodded, skipping of into the other parts of the market “What’s that you’ve got there?” she turned to face me, I smirked, laying the flag out across the ground “It’s a picture of my friends and the princesses?” she blinked “And you, Firefly, Galaxia, Nyx, and Faust” I pointed to her and the other alicorns in the picture “It’s amazing!” she gleamed “And it’s for sale” I smiled “I don’t think anypony here has any actual amount of money on them” she hummed as I hovered with a pair of safety pins, pinning it over the sign of her stall “That’s an amazing piece of work,” on pony exclaimed as a small crowd was eventually drawn to the image “And probably hoof-made too!” another whistled “I don’t think I’ve seen anything like it on Equis!” a third cheered “I don’t think anyone in Equestria has made such fine art!” a fourth pony declared “What do you want it for?” a fifth pony -a ‘shiny’ unicorn with a cyan coat and a white mane and tail, inquired “I’m just showing what I can do in terms of art, as if I sell it, there’s going to be one pony who’s going to brag about it to no end, and at least several others who used to be said pony’s friends, and that’s what I don’t want” “Fair enough” a sixth pony smiled as the crowd slowly dispersed “I thought you said it was for sale?” Twilight whispered “Sorry, let me rephrase my previous statement into what I meant to say;” I muttered “I’m giving it to Celestia as an apology, and as a gift” “That’s awfully sweet of you” I turned to face the now parted crowd; Celestia was present, and slowly making her way toward me “Princess Celestia,” Twilight exclaimed with glee “what’re you doing here, if I may ask?” “I find myself drawn to the event,” Celestia smiled, glancing toward my ‘artwork’ “How long does it take you to make one of these?” “Anything up to a week, depending on who wants one and when” I bowed quickly “Interesting,” she smiled “Would you be interested in doing a piece of artwork form Equestria's history?” “I’ll do what I can” I nodded “Thank you, and your apology is accepted, on one condition” she raised an eyebrow “Say the word, Lady of the Sun, and I shall follow the order to the exact letter, your majesty” I bowed “Try to control yourself” she nickered, magically removing the pins, folding the portrait that was hung on the banner, teleporting it away “I’ll do what I can, Princess Celestia” I nodded “Then I’ll see you at Canterlot, rick, she pecked my cheek, winking as she teleported out of view =-=+(=)+=-= Two months passed, and I’d both borrowed and returned books to and from the library that were based upon key points of Equestria’s history “I believe that should do it” I smiled as I finished the last image, that of which portrayed a freeze-gram of the battle of Stalliongrad, the previous image held a similar freeze-frame type of image, only depicting the fall of Prance, and another depicted the origin of Hearth’s Warming Eve, whilst a fourth portrayed the German blitz, though it wasn’t Germany so much as Germaney, I’d also done a fifth -that of which showed Celestia raising the sun in all their divine glory, among others “Hello Rick, I didn’t expect for you to be here” Twilight walked into the library, allowing me entrance into the literal treehouse “I’ve a request that I’d like to inquire” I smiled, placing the folded up ‘flags’ on the table “You’ve made visual representations of key points of Equestria’s history?” she giggled, I nodded “I’d better ask for Celestia then” “No need, my faithful student” I turned, Celestia was there, smiling as she lifted each of the portraits, carefully unfolding them “Rick, these are amazing, how long did it take you do make them? Celestia stared at each one as she lined them up on the wall “Not long, I bit my lip as she unfolded the fifth, lining it up with the rest “That’s…” she glanced between me and the image in question, the one of which depicted her raising the sun “Thank you,” she changed to her anthro form,, draping her arms around me “Anything for a friend,” I smiled “Is that all I am to you?” she gave a somewhat playful pout, tilting her head “You’re my little sunflower, Cellsy,” I smiled, “you are the guardian, bearer and lady of the sun, that of which cannot, and shall not, be replaced, no matter the circumstance-!”I was cut off by a sudden use of teleportation, one that temporarily blurred my vision When I could see properly again I glanced behind her Luna, Cadance, Nyx and Faust were stood between Celestia and the thrones, quickly making their way toward us, standing beside Celestia, the solar alicorn in question magicked up a series of pins, hanging the portraits I’d made, save her one, on the walls “Those are truly amazing works of art,” Cadance hummed, inspecting each one “could I commission you for one?” Celestia unfolded her one, revealing it to the others “That’s remarkable!” she exclaimed “and you make these by hoof, err hand?” “I do” I nodded “what do you want yours to be a picture of, you, friends, family loved ones?” “I don’t know,” she giggled “surprise me” “I’ll certainly try,” I simpered “has Celestia shown you the last one I made?” “You made another?” Nyx blinked, Celestia smiled, teleporting the picture I made at the exchange into view, unfolding it before them “We believe that that is nothing short of tremendous!” Luna exclaimed with apparent joy/gusto/merriment “Just think of what you want yours to be and I’ll make it as quickly as I can, ladies of the heart, sun moon and stars, and also that of life” I glanced to each of them in turn -=-=-=- Another month passed, and the portraits for the princesses were finally finished “Ah, Rick,” Cadance nickered as Twilight and Spike stood in the throne room alongside Celestia, Luna, Faust, and Nyx “are they ready yet?” I held out the folded up ‘thread-work’ she took it in each one in her magic, where as she took half, Celestia, took the other half “What is this?” Cadance blinked, turning her image, which depicted a stardust dragon “You said to surprise you, so I did” I bit my lip “We are most grateful for thy work, Sir Rick,” Luna smiled “we believe a payment of sorts is in order” “Nonsense, I refuse to accept payment for my work, especially to you five” I frowned “We insist otherwise,” she grinned, I took a mildly sizeable step backward “escape shan’t be an option, human” her horn glowed as the door slammed shut, just as Twilight left “Right, because you can either seal the exits or teleport,” I rolled my eye “crap, should’ve thought about that before I entered the room” “Are you saying you’re afraid of us?” Celestia blinked “Not at all,” I gulped, audibly “I do not fear you, I respect you for both who you are and what you have to put up with, Cellsy”, why would I fear those of whom that I love?” “Indeed,” Faust smiled “But what will you do now?” she smirked “you’ve no chances of escape without breaking something, and, being an entity of chivalry, you won’t harm us, so, what’ll you do?” “Alteration magic” I grinned, sitting cross-legged, lightly bumping my fists together, palms facing downward, just above my lap, closing my eyes and thinking of Snowdrop, After the initial sense of nausea passed, I opened my eyes, upon opening them, I found myself in the library, with my family sat in the main room/lounge “Daddy,” Snowdrop exclaimed, leaping forth and clinging onto me, pecking one of my horns as she climbed onto the back of my head “How’d you get there so fast?” Spike blinked “Not even Twilight herself can fly that fast” “Firstly, I’ve performed my own variant of a ‘sonic rainboom,’” I grinned “secondly, Celestia and Luna sealed the exits, but not the throne room itself” “You teleported?” he stared at me, both wide-eyed and slack-jawed “Its basic alteration magic,” I smirked “never miss the chance to pick up a decent spell book when you see one” “Rick?” I turned my gaze toward the doorway; Twilight was standing there with a look of pure, unadulterated confusion “How’d you get here so fast?” Twilight blinked I didn’t see you leave, nor did I notice you flying down here whilst looking through the train window “Magic” I winked “She sealed the exits, not the room itself” “You teleported,” she awed at me “’tis basic-level alteration magic where I’ve been” I shrugged “It could take a pony anything up to several years to master that type of spell, and you did it in one go, how!?” she marched up to me, sitting beside me on the sofa “I read,” I gleamed, unslinging my rucksack from my back, setting it on the table, reaching into it, pulling out a series of books, setting them on the table beside the rucksack, closing the rucksack “What’re those?” Twilight held one the books in her magic “Spellbooks, mostly combat-based,” I hummed “I’ll think about it, but if I do get a chance to learn the new spells, will you take the books back, Celestia knows the library’s already borderline-overflowing as is” she gestured around the room, which had small piles of books and scrolls littered around the walls “It just means that you’re getting your job done, Twilight Sparkle” I smiled “But it’s getting to the point where I have to work well into the night, as well as far beyond my sleeping hours, and it’s causing me to fall behind schedule!” she complained “Have you tried talking to her about it, maybe compromise a solution between too much and too little work?” I raised an eyebrow, “it’s either that you’re overworking, or that she’s giving you too much, if that’s the case, just put in a polite request to ask if she can find a slower pace” “Work a t a slower pace?” she frowned “You know, work at a pace that’ll both fit you, Celestia, and your busy schedule, if you can’t find one, well the, I’m only trying to help” I flashed a grin “You’re a genius, you know that,” she laughed, working toward a calendar that hung by a nail on a nearby wall by the dresser “here I was getting frustrated about my overly-busy schedule, and then you magically appear and come up with an easy solution, where have you been all my life” she quickly covered her mouth with a hoof “Probably on another world, searching for a new home,” I smirked “and I’ve found one, what’s even better is that you’re here in it as well” she dropped her quill, suddenly stopping halfway through writing a letter, leaping at me, clinging onto me, , Spike picked the quill and paper, finishing the letter, rolling it up and exhaled emerald-green flame, the ashes of the after-mentioned letter flew out the window, heading toward Canterlot Within the space of around five minutes, Celestia appeared in room, via teleportation “I believe you’ve something to ask of em, my faithful student?” Celestia smiled at me, glancing toward Twilight, whose eyes snapped open Twilight turned in my lap, giving off a weak smile “I was perhaps wondering if I could work at a slightly slower pace, Princess” Twilight bit her lip “If by that you mean to slow down the speed of which send your books for studying, then by all means” Celestia smiled -=-=- “I’m telling you,” I frowned “Yasuharu Takanashi, who composes the ‘Fairy Tail’ soundtrack, Neil Davidge, Michael Salvatori and Martin O’Donnell, the three of whom compose the Halo series and ‘Halo 4’ soundtracks respectively, eat Daniel Ingram for breakfast and defecate William Anderson” (Yes this is my IRL opinion) “That’s a bit harsh, dontcha think, brother?” Blaze laughed “I’m not just being harsh, I’m stating it outright” I grinned as I flew toward “Daniel Ingram and William Anderson, to my knowledge, have no actual creditable music history, and the MLP series isn’t much to go on, whereas the others have around since the mid nineteen-ninety’s worth of work, and have been up to their ears in the musical art since then” “But you have to remember, it’s a little kid’s show, it’s not going to have that same heavier, almost-metallic feel to it” she rolled her eyes “It doesn’t need to for example, have you heard of ‘The Corrs’ song known as ‘Rebel Heart,’ sister?” I smiled as we landed in Canterlot, my family, sans Snowdrop, disembarking, safely landing on the floor of the castle -=- “So, what’s this about you using alchemy again?” Crystal frowned as we entered the throne room “Apparently, the ‘old me,’ used alchemy to send himself to earth, trading his memories powers and abilities for a second chance at life, thus, I was ‘born’ if you could use the word” I explained “though my body may be a couple of hundred years old, in spirit, I’m a billion years old already” “So you didn’t break any of the rules of science, or at least, the old you, anyway?” Blaze raised an eyebrow “If you were to say that life has an equal sentimental value as the memories and knowledge that you gain whilst living; then no, I didn’t break any rules” I smiled “But you were separated from me,” Celestia gave a light frown “And that, I have come to regret, if anything” I clenched my fists, taking the newly made set of images from my inventory, holding them out, she took them in her magic, teleporting them elsewhere “Alchemy in itself, like any form of power, has both a good and bad side, if misused, it can tear a whole country apart, almost literally, but if used properly, and in a controlled environment, it can do amazing things, just like magic” I explained “but unlike magic however, there are rules, the most basic of which is the law of Equivalent exchange, also known as the Equilibrium constant” “I outlawed it for a reason, Rick, don’t make me go into this” she frowned “All I’m trying to say is that it’s not the alchemy itself, but the person who utilizes it; I’m not trying to bring back an eon-old argument, Cellsy” I growled “you think I’d want to argue with you, of all my friends, you’re a solar goddess, Celestia, is it now outlawed to treat you like one?” I scowled “Rick, I’m sorry, I was just trying to avoid a conflict with you” Celestia teleported right before me You asked me once what it’d be like if you were to one day disappear, now let me ask you a similar question,” I spat “say I went on a rampage, and the only way to stop me was to end my life, what would you do?” “I…” she stammered “I’d do what’s necessary” “Wrong answer” I shook my head, turning and walking with my family and Crystal out of the throne room “What was the right answer?” Crystal blinked “Try with all your heart and might to bring me back to the realm of the living” I rolled my eyes “put your very soul into every action and word, kick reason to the curb and do the impossible!” “It’s what any anime fan should know; or at least, anyone who knows my brother” Blaze guffawed “So it would seem” Crystal hummed as we made our way to the dining hall “are you really alright with Sun-butt acting like that?” “She can do what she wants,” I shrugged “she’s a princess and the guardian and/or herald as-well-as-lady of the sun” “You still think that, after what she said?” Blaze stared at me, I raised an eyebrow “right, sarcasm, sorry!” “It’s alright, not the worst thing to happen is it?” I smiled as we stood before the double doors that led to the dining hall “I wonder if they’ve fixed that wall yet” Snowdrop giggled “What wall?” Crystal rolled her eyes, as if she could tell that what was going to be said was going to be somewhat negative “Luna tried to use the old ‘bucket-of-water-atop-the-ajar-door’ trick on Rick, so he went into the room next to the dining hall, the rest is obvious” “Shall we see if they’re still there?” Crystal gave a soft laugh “I’ve a better idea” I smirked, placing my hands together -as if clapping, or praying, then placing them on the double doors, which changed to sliding doors, the walls also altering as bright blue lightning danced around the surrounding area “Alchemy, I assume?” she grinned “Quite so,” I opened the door, holding it open, I gestured for her to enter “ladies first?” “You’re a gem” she laughed as she and the rest of my family entered the dining hall “And who left this mess here I wonder?” she tutted at the sight of a large puddle of water and several scattered buckets “someone really out to be ashamed of themselves, honestly” “Some people need to have a priority shift, me-thinks” I hummed “I know right,” she chortled, “some people have absolutely no sense of either direction or decency” Celestia glared icy daggers at me as she appeared at the doorway “What did I say about using alchemy?” she snapped “And what did I say about it not being the art in itself, but rather, the artist?” I rebuked “and you’d do what’s necessary, really?” I scoffed “do I no longer matter to any of your little ponies Celestia, have you grown tired of using me as a figurative pawn in your little ‘chess game of the gods,’ so to speak, you’d do what’s necessary, or rather, what is easy, rather than what is right,” I snarled “You’d choose the easy option, to merely remove me from existence and your and everyone else’s lives, just think about someone else for a change would you, thin about how many ponies’ hearts would be broken, not to sound arrogant, but you’re just being selfish” I lectured “It’d be impossible to get you back, the only way you’d still be alive is through your memories!” Celestia yelled at the top of her lungs, tears streaming down her muzzle “Blaze, what did I just say not ten minutes ago?” I sighed “‘Kick reason to the curb and do the impossible’?” Blaze tilted her head as she blinked “Thank you, sister” I smiled “So what would you have me do?” Celestia frowned “Do what you can, with the others by your side as you bring me back, or at least try to” I grumbled, turning to blaze, do you not find it ironic, sister, we have a land of magical, flying talking horses who can reform a self-acclaimed ‘God of chaos,’ but they can’t help one single dragon slayer should he descend into somewhat similar chaos?” “Aye, that’d be most ironic” Blaze nodded “What do you want from me?” the solar goddess’s voice almost cracked “If one person isn’t cared about and/or for/of, why should he do the same back?” I tilted my head “Because that’s not what friendship is” she inhaled, and then exhaled, I raised an eyebrow “What?” I sighed “look, if you don’t want me to use it unless absolutely necessary, then all you need to do is say” I smiled, faintly “Then that is how it shall be” she gave a weak smile “now can we change the door back?” “Nah, I reckon it’s lighter now then it was before” I I grinned “Finer, but just this once,” she giggled “I don’t want you using it unless somepony asks, or you absolutely have to” “By your word, Lady of the sun” I smiled “And I’m also going to forgive you for stealing Luna’s diary” she raised an eyebrow “Seriously,” Crystal gave an unamused stare toward me “Prank war gone horribly wrong” I shrugged “I ended up with a fractured arm, several cracked ribs, a somewhat slipped disk” “Brother, she was about ready to kill you” Blaze frowned “therein lies the stopping point, me-thinks” “Touché” I nodded -=-=- After a couple of days-worth of preparation, I’d set up another prank, having duct-taped an air horn to the wall in which Luna’s bedroom door was attached, quickly turning invisible and flying off The resulting scream mixed with the siren was somewhat confusing “What on Earthland was that?” Natsu blinked alongside Erza “Air horn, most likely” I laughed, I turned around, only to get an armoured hoof to the face -=- “I’m starting to believe that Luna doesn’t have a sense of humour” Blaze stifled a laugh “Shut up” I grumbled “That depends on what one would class as ‘humour’” Luna frowned “Human humour” Blaze raised an eyebrow, Luna blinked “I trust that you’ve learned a valuable lesson from this?” Celestia sighed “That depends on what one would class as ‘valuable’” I grinned “Rick, I highly advise not doing that again” Blaze was obviously attempting to hold in what seemed to be quite a lot of laughter, I grinned ()=[-]=() “Seriously, you’ve done what now?” Blaze cackled with laughter as I glanced around the room; there was nobody there, save me, my friends and family “I set up a pressure system so that when she steps on the two water bottles just before the bedroom door, she’ll get soaked” I smirked as we made our way through the castle, toward the throne room Upon opening the door, I found a rather bemused, and rather wet, Luna stood beside a somewhat unimpressed Celestia “Here’s the next set of artworks” I held out a set of folded up handmade portraits “How appropriate,” Luna snarled “we were just thinking of a punishment fit for your crime” “How is a prank a form of crime?” Blaze blinked “A prank,” Luna’s eye twitched “thou calls a bathtub’s worth of water falling on one’s self upon entering a ‘prank’?” “Which arm do you want?” I held my arms out by my sides, “We do not wish bodily harm upon thee, Rick,” she frowned “we merely wish to teach thee not to do it again” “And what if discord were to pull a prank on you?” I tilted my head ever-so slightly “He’s the lord of chaos, such actions are necessary for him to exist” she raised an eyebrow “thou wish to cause chaos, like he?” “You call it chaos, we call it fun” Blaze mumbled, Luna’s horn flared, I darted between the two as three spears appeared beside her, each composed of a pitch black magic energy “Turn it off or I break it off” I glowered, the spears faded from view, disintegrating into thin air although the glow around her horn didn’t fade Suddenly, I collapsed to my knees, my body convulsed as blood started leaking from my eyes and nostrils, as I held my head in agony “Daddy,” Snowdrop cried out, Celestia glanced toward her sister, and then gasped at Luna’s twisted grin “Luna!” Celestia boomed, I puked blood as the glow around Luna’s horn flashed out of existence “What do you think you’re doing?” she blared as I fell flat on my face, my vision fading to black as Snowdrop leapt to my side, clinging onto me alongside Scootaloo, Winter Bell, and Gracy Gloom [)+=-=+(] My vision blurred, I leant over the edge of the bed I was situated and puked into a conveniently placed bucket, wearily wiping my mouth as I stared at the wall, slowly sitting upright, feeling my chest and stomach, breathing slowly, yet heavily “I’m sorry but he’s not yet awake, you’ll have to come back another time” I heard somepony (someone?) outside the room gibe an elongated sigh “Above all else he’s not physically stable, his insides could fall apart at any moment” upon hearing that, I lay back down on the bed, biting my lip “We’re still working on a spell and/or potion to restore him back to normal, so please, bear with us” I glanced to the seat beside the bed; Autumn Heart was sat there leaning against the mattress, sound asleep “Rick?” Autumn Heart gasped as I started to lightly stroke her flowing chocolate brown mane “Hey,” I smiled “But the doctors said you wouldn’t be awake for another week!” she gaped “Apparently my organs could fall apart at any moment” I hummed “Oh they’re just saying that” she giggled “what they’ve done is nothing short of an amazing miracle at work” “What’d they do to me?” I blinked “They said that they were going to infuse your physiology with that of a rubber tree,” she gulped audibly “how’re you feeling, my love?” “Like shit, to put it frankly” I mumbled “They said you’d feel somewhat nauseous when you awoke” she had tears clouding her eyes “oh god I was so worried about you!” she broke into a sob, gently holding onto me as I slowly sat upright “How long was I out?” I pecked the tip of her horn “Two years” she wept as a pony with a uniform walked into the room “Sir Rick, we weren’t expecting you to be awake so soon” the nurse, Redheart, as I remembered her from Nightmare Night “you should be about ready to be leave in about a week’s time, milord” she winked -=-=- That week didn’t pass as fast as I’d of liked it to, and I didn’t get a single visitor, sans Redheart, who only came into the room to either see how I was or to flirt ‘which, according to her body language, undetectable As I walked free from the hospital, I was tackled by four familiar ponies “Daddy,” Snowdrop, Gracy Gloom, Scootaloo and Winter Bell cheered, clinging onto me “ “We missed you Daddy!” Snowdrop cried as she clung onto my front, tears streaming down her muzzle “we thought that you’d…!” she gasped, I draped my wings around her “Easy Snowdrop, I’m Ok, albeit eventually” I gave a faint smile “Two years!” she screamed “two years we were waiting for you to heal, those two years didn’t go by quick enough for us” she climbed onto the back of my head, whereas Winter Belle and Gracy Gloom clambered onto my shoulders -=-=- “Rick!” Celestia all-but gasped alongside Twilight and her friends as we entered the throne room, Autumn Heart and Blaze standing with Scootaloo upon Blaze’s back “Rick,” Luna teleported in front of me, Snowdrop, Winter Belle, and Gracy Gloom –quickly as they could, climbed back down to the ground, where they, alongside Scootaloo, huddled behind me “We do not mean any harm to come to thee, little ones” Luna glanced toward Snowdrop, who let out a frightened ‘eep’ “That’s what you said to me, then you threatened my sister, then you hospitalized me” I growled “We did not mean to cause any harm, we do not know what came over us” she hung her head “I’m starting to think that the eons creating the elements of harmony was a bad idea” I mumbled “But without them, we’d be without someone to watch over the stars” Twilight frowned “I can think of at least two people” I smirked “Nyx and Lulania, and that’s not counting the Roman, Greek, and Norse gods of course” “We see,” Luna bit her lip “then we shall serve under thy rule until thou sees fit to deem otherwise” her form changed to that of a smaller one, with pale blue coat and a flowing, royal blue mane and tail as she bowed “I never said you were useless, Luna,” I sighed, stroking her mane “Nonetheless, we feel it is our responsibility to see to it for thou to be reward as compensation for our actions” she frowned “You teach her this sort of thing?” I glanced toward Celestia, who shook her head in response “So be it” =-=-= Once we’d entered our house, Luna sat in my lap as I sat on the bed, Autumn Heart sitting beside me “So how far does this ‘responsibility’ go?” I raised an eyebrow “We feel as though we owe you thine life, so we shall serve you until the end of our days” Luna hung her head, glancing up at me “would you like us to begin?” “If you feel as though you’re ready” I smiled Chapter XIX; Prototype“Hey Twilight, what’s that you’re reading?” I smiled as she allowed me entrance to the library “It’s a book I fund in the archives, Jigsaw’s helping me solve the code on the cover!” she nodded to the unicorn with a light silver coat and a golden mane and tail with three separate jigsaw pieces as a cutie mark, one piece was green, the second was yellow, and the third was red, who waved toward me as I entered with Blaze and the others “It’s just a sun, even though the rays from said sun are irregular” I shrugged at the image on the front of the book they were inspecting “But they’re not irregular, they’re deliberate, it’s a code, she levitated a notepad toward me, showing the phrase ‘Elemental Lord’ “If that’s a code, then it’s encrypted for a reason, you’re out of your league, Lady of Magic” I scoffed “Why?” she frowned “An elemental lord is on level with a demi-god, each one with a separate, unique element “How do you know that?” Jigsaw blurted out “I won’t elaborate, not because I’m stingy, but because I don’t want my friends risking their lives over this ordeal,” I glanced toward Spike, who was now starting to grow wings “Can you write a lesson to the Celestia?” Spike nodded, saluting me, rushing over to the dresser, writing a quick letter, then burning it, watching as its ashes soared through the window “I hear that you require my assistance, Sir Rick?” Celestia smiled as she appeared via teleportation “Twilight and Jigsaw have decrypted a message from one of the books in the archives,” Celestia’s expression turned almost grim as she turned to face the two ponies “Is this true, Twilight?” Celestia raised an eyebrow, Twilight handed her the notepad; she quickly read it, passing it to Jigsaw, who took it with a crestfallen look upon her face “Whilst I’m not angry with you for finding this out I’m both disappointed and impressed that you managed to translate the code” Celestia glanced toward me, I shrugged “Rick, do you know anything of the elemental lords?” “A little,” I tilted a hand “whilst they’re mostly solitary deities, they only come together to either wage battle or to meet in conference, at least to my knowledge, each section of a world that I visited had tribes led by a lord of a respective element, Vulcanus had the lord of fire, Iconox, the lord of ice, Tajun, the lord of water, and so on,” I explained “though to go in search of one is suicide, without a good enough reason, they’ll either toy with you until you plead for mercy, send you on a quest to get something they want in trade for your life, or they’ll just kill you, but if they were to wage war on one another, this world would be torn apart from the core itself, and as such, it would be ill advised to venture out to wherever they are, unless you had at least a dragon slayer or two to go with you” “You’re not actually considering upon going there, are you?” Celestia blinked “You know what this means?” Twilight cast a nervous glance toward Jigsaw “You mean after we get all this information about those two words, you still want more?” Jigsaw stared at the lavender mare “It’s not the words; it's my addiction to knowing all the answers,” Twilight frowned means we’re going to have to find out what the suns reveal. It means—“ “Oh, please take me with you!” Jigsaw pleased “please, please, please!” she went on “I know all about the Badlands! I mean, I've read all about them. I've been on two student digs and not to mention that I’ve studied-!” Twilight held a hoof to the unicorn’s mouth, I could easily tell that she was trying to work out how to say it best without causing too much of a letdown “I think it’d be best -and this is assuming we’re allowed to take the trip, that we take a few wizards from the guild with us” Blaze hummed “It’s your call Princess,” I gave a faint smile toward the solar alicorn “Alright, but I’m going with you” Celestia sighed “But if we so much as see one of those beings, and we’re coming straight back, Ok?” Twilight nodded, as did Jigsaw, the silver mare was giddily leaping from hoof to hoof “Should we send for the others?” I tilted my head “No, it’ll just be us, the wizards who wish to go with us, and you,” Celestia shook her head ~=~=~ In the end, I only managed to get Erza, Wendy Natsu and Grey to tag along for the adventure, and when Celestia had teleported us to the wastelands, I blinked, “This is where we were meant to be going?” Natsu blinked “Looks like someone really trashed the place Grey deadpanned “All the more reason to be on the lookout for what we’re here for” I hummed “And what is it we’re here for?” Erza glanced toward me “An Elemental Lord, something that’s on level with Cellsy here, they keep the world in check without anyone realising it” “And we’re looking for them because why?” Natsu grumbled “Sparky over there decrypted a code from an ancient tome of sorts,” I shrugged “So, where’re these ruins again?” Blaze turned toward the lavender mare in question “They should be somewhere a couple of days south of here” Twilight glanced toward each of us in turn, contrary to Celestia’s words, the rest of twilight my friends had joined us along with Shining Armour, and of course, a caravan of guards with a months-worth of supplies for at least twice the amount of people present “Might as well get going then” Natsu sighed, walking into the desert, we quickly followed -=- So what were you doing for the past two years?” Natsu glanced toward me as we trudged through the soft, warm golden desert sands of the wastelands “Playing dead” I laughed “Really, how so?” he blinked “You’d be surprised what being told that someone’s insides could fall apart at any moment will do for a person” I smirked “Holy shit” he stared at me “I know,” I sighed “technically speaking I shouldn’t be alive” “And the surgery’s the reason why you’re shirt’s been cut down the middle?” he raised an eyebrow, I looked down “First time I’ve noticed that, aren’t I a moron?” I grinned “Aren’t we all at some point?” Blaze laughed “Touché” I rolled my eyes, raising a hand above my eyes, staring into the distance “either I’m going nuts, or I’m seeing water” “Then water, we waiting for?” Snowdrop giggled “That was both awful and somewhat awesome simultaneously, well played Snowy” I smiled “Thanks Daddy” she nickered “But in all seriousness, water attracts wildlife, and they attract predators, we’d best tread lightly” I frowned “When did you become the survival expert?” Natsu laughed “It’s not just survival; it’s common sense; it’s nature” I blinked “Damnit” “Element of nature pun,” Blaze grinned “Quite so” I mumbled “So, what happened between you and the brown unicorn yesterday?” the flame dragon slayer gave me a rather sly grin “Her name, is Autumn Heart, I suggest you remember that” I growled “Alright,” he held up his hands somewhat defensively “aren’t you a little touchy?” “No, I just care about my friends family and loved ones” I rolled my eyes “Same difference really,” he shrugged “Whatev’s” I shook my head as we continued to make our way toward the oasis, any mirage would’ve normally faded at this distance “We’ll set up camp here” Twilight smiled “And what makes you the leader?” Natsu grinned “She decrypted the code, and she also found out about the elemental lords, that makes her the leader on this expedition” I flashed sly smirk ])()(] As we set up camp, there was a low, rumbling that occurred, the earth shuddered as the sands shifted somewhat Suddenly just at that moment, a massive pitch-black scorpion exploded into view underground shining armour and the rest of the guards leapt into battle positions between us and it “Well ain’t that original?” I stopped eating the meat I’d saved for the trip “I wonder what it tastes like” Grey smirked as he ‘activated’ his ice-make magic “How can you think about food when we’re under attack?” Twilight awed at him “I have to admit, I am kinda hungry” Natsu’s fists became ignited with twin, deep, crimson flames, the scorpion gave off what sounded like sniffing noises, lowering itself down to me as I stepped forward, throwing out the meat, which it instantly devoured “So, definitely carnivorous then” I hummed, bringing out another piece of the meat from the ‘icebox,’ throwing it, the scorpion wolfed it down within around half a minute, lowering its claws and stinger Carefully, I climbed onto its back, patting its tough, chitinous skin “This is, by far, the strangest thing you’ve ever done” Blaze laughed, the scorpion in question gave off a series of clicking noises “It seems that the arthropod in question would agree with you, sister” I chuckled “I don’t think I’ve ever heard of or seen this type of scorpion before” Twilight edged toward the beast, the scorpion, now apparently an ally, gave off another series of clicks “It would seem that she’s not surprised that a pony hasn’t heard of her kind before,” another ‘pattern’ of clicks “as they are solitary hunters who only live in the deserts of the wastelands” I translated “Ceres” I smiled, gently patting the scorpion’s back “named after the roman goddess of earth and plants” Ceres gave a short-yet-happy quartet of clicks “Wolves and bears are one thing, but a giant scorpion?” Twilight giggled “It’s in my nature, pun not intended” I smirked “So what do we do with her?” Celestia tilted her head “Ceres might be able to guide us to where we’re going,” Twilight smiled “with luck she might even be able to fend off attackers” Ceres clicked “She says she’s only in her teenage years, and as such, won’t be able to do much” I translated, glancing down toward the arthropod “that’s where we come in, Ceres, you take us where we need to go, and we defend you from anything that might mean you harm, Ok?” Ceres clicked her mandibles again “you’re welcome” “Ever the generous one, aren’t we brother?” Blaze tutted “I do believe you and your guards may stand down, Shiny” I smiled, Shining Armour grumbled incoherently, nodding toward his subordinates, who gradually lowered their weapons -=-=- The next day, we headed out, venturing further into the desert, and closer toward the ruins that were said to be out here, according to the book, anyway “So, how is it that you’re able to understand what it says” Shining Armour glanced up to me as I sat on Ceres’s back, nodding toward the scorpion herself “I’m an element of nature, it’s in my being to understand and translate animals, apparently” I shrugged “What else can you do?” he smiled “Quite a lot” I grinned as we came across a large gorge, that of which prevented us from going any further “Well isn’t this another cliché?” Blaze sighed, glancing to our right “and there’s the figurative bridge” Just a little to our right was a narrow stone archway, I wondered if Ceres could make it across without falling to her death “Fuck that” I laughed, sending my arms out to my sides, causing them to stretch, bringing them down and wrapping them around the scorpion, taking to the sky, gradually making my way across the chasm “How in Equestria did you do that?” Twilight blared once my arms were back to their normal length, and Celestia had teleported her and the others across “Autumn Heart said that they infused my physiology with that of a rubber tree” I grinned “long story” “I’m not even going to ask” she went a pale shade of green “I wouldn’t advise it anyway” I smirked as Ceres started to shiver “don’t worry, that won’t happen again, Ok Ceres?” the scorpion gave a frightened click, gradually beginning to start making her way alongside the others as we continued our journey, it was then that I heard a low, metallic growl We stopped in our tracks as a half-metal, half organic wolf leapt from under the sands, followed by another, then another, then another Eventually, we were surrounded by the beasts “Down” It was a simple word, but spoken with a tone of mixed wisdom, disappointment, and curiosity, and when spoken, the biomechanical wolves lowered themselves into lying positions, glaring icy daggers at us as a new being, that the size of a pony, with a mild-ish grey coloured coat and a set of topaz-coloured eyes with a long beard, wearing a uniquely patterned, multi-toned blue wizards hat and cape, wielding a crooked, aged walking stick, he looked as if he needed it to stay upright “Starswirl, but you’re…?” Twilight gasped “Dead,” the pony hissed “close to it perhaps, but I have learnt the ways of the desert’s hunters, and as such, they listen to me “But you’re thousands of years old!” she gawked at the elderly equine “Am I, or is it you who are simply too young to understand the riddle of the great beings?” he snapped “So lost in the chaos of war was I, and left behind, bent and broken, when the fighting moved on, and here I have been ever since,” he ended with a shrug Needless to say, it was too much for Twilight to take in “You've been living in these mountains with these... these... things?” I gestured to one of the wolves Starswirl gave me an icy glare “You are of mankind, so you wouldn’t know of the exsidian wolves, one of the Great Being’s more… efficient, creations…” “Great beings, like Angonce?” I blinked “So you do know, a little” he scoffed “I trust that you would not come all the way out here without good reason, human, state your business” “We’re looking for a set of ruins, with information on the Elemental lords” the wolves shared a rather hostile growl “You would be wise to turn back, but I can see the fire in your friends eyes, so I know you will pay no heed to my warnings, little one” the olden pony sighed “I have seen countless adventurers that seek the same treasure, the same knowledge that you all do, none come back alive” “That’s why we’re going to be the first!” Blaze declared “I do not know who, or what, you are” Starswirl eyed Blaze up and down “ but I shall give you the same advice, turn back now, or risk destruction at the hands of the gods” “Kind of ironic considering Celestia’s with us, pony” I tutted “You would be wise to keep your wit as sharp as your tongue, whelp” he snarled “Wait, gods, wh9ich ones do you mean?” Blaze tilted her head “You wouldn’t know of Ares and Kratos, neither Athena nor Zeus?” he huffed “I’m not surprised” “Those are Greek gods, are you suggesting that they exist?” she stared at him, he gave a slow nod “I have witnessed them shape this world into what it is now, and I have seen their capacity for destruction, which is why I ask you to turn back now, you’ve still a full life to live, don’t waste it on a few legends” “Legends would imply that they’re a myth, you know otherwise, do you not?” I raised an eyebrow, there was silence as the sands shifted a little with the wind “It was ages long past when I discovered Equestria,” he began “I came in search of aid, and the princesses gave it, and, in trade for their hospitality, I gave them knowledge, I cast spells, wrote new magicka the likes of which they’d never heard of or seen before, and in doing so, I made a name for myself, as a few notable unicorns can tell you, no doubt” he sighed “when I found out about the elemental lords, I was both shocked and overcome with curiosity, as to what power and wisdom the deities withheld, and so, I sought them out, just as you’re doing now,” he frowned “Only, I’ve seen what they can do, and in trade for my life, they gave me my objective, protect their sanctuary however I deem necessary, and so, I cannot allow you to progress” “But what do the gods have to do with it?” Blaze momentarily raised a paw, lowering it again “They created the Elemental Lords, moulded their being and power into tangible forms, gave them their own objectives, as they later gave me mine,” he grumbled “if you seek the ruins, then I will accompany you, but if you seek the Elemental lords, I’m afraid I cannot allow you to go any further” “We’re on a quest for knowledge, not an audience with the almighty ones” I smiled, he hummed, gave a short, sharp click with his tongue -the wolves instantly stood back up, their gunmetal steelworks and tan fur clashing like fire and ice “Then I shall accompany you, too long has it been since I last saw those ruins” he gave a weary smile -=- As we continued our trek through the desert, I noticed twilight glancing suspiciously between Blaze and I “Is there a problem, Twilight?” Blaze smirked “You know something, don’t you?” Twilight frowned “If we tell you anything it might risk you and Jigsaw becoming somewhat more curious, and that would lead to another expedition, one that we cannot take” I shrugged, Starswirl, nod sat behind me on Ceres’ back gave a curt nod “So, how long have you been out here Starswirl?” Celestia gave the old unicorn a stern glance “I’ve been out here for around an eon now,” Starswirl grunted “as I said, in trade of my life, and immortality, the Elemental Lords had me become their ‘herald,’ so to speak” the wolves glanced toward one another as they formed a convoy around us, as if curious about their apparent ‘master’ “I wonder what the school for gifted unicorns will think now that they know you’re alive” I hummed “Think what they will, I am simply required to guard the Elemental lords, nothing more, and nothing less” he snapped, his frown gradually relented “I see you managed to tame a Desert Empress Scorpion, young human?” “Is that what Ceres is?” I patted the arthropods back, Ceres gave a series of clicks “I see; it’s what they called your kind when they first encountered one of you” I slowly nodded “how old are you anyways?” another series of clicks “so, you’re as old as me then, that’s interesting” “That’s impossible” Starswirl scoffed a human can’t live to be as old as one of these scorpions, its common knowledge!” “Unless that human so happens to be an eon” I changed to eon form, quickly changing back “I had heard of your kind, and the war you waged, fortunately for me, I was safe within the countless sands of the desert you see before you” “A coward may run and live to see another, but a true hero will live on in the memories and hearts of those who he saves, eternally” I sighed “You are wise,” he mumbled “Arrogant, but wise, somewhat” “I get that a lot” I smirked “So, you know the Elemental Lords, what about the Toa?”” “The great beings were generous enough to lend us a few, yes” he nodded “it’d appear you know of their work, tell me, what, do you know of the Glatorian?” “They’re sub-par level Toa without the mask abilities or elemental powers,” I shrugged “Quite right,” he nodded if we’re lucky we might see one or two where we’re going” -=-=- The next day, we made it to the ruins, surprisingly enough, a few mechanical beings were examining the entrance, which was pulsating with a faint cyan glow “We’re here” Starswirl patted Ceres’ back, steadily making his way to the ground as the scorpion lowered herself onto the warm sands “What on Bara Magna?” one of the beings stared at me and then at the others as I glided down in front of Ceres landing before the group of mechanical entities “This is Equis,” Twilight blinked “What’s Bara magna?” “It’s the name of the planet!” the metallic being burst into laughter he had a long dark green claw-like helmet, with arms and legs of th same colour, with light green armour and claws “I’m Tarduk, but you can just call me TK, everyone else does” , everyone present, minus the newcomer, stared at me “Call me Rick” I held out a hand, he -fragilely enough, shook it “it’d appear that we’ve stumbled through a rift that takes whoever walks through it, and sends them through an interplanetary portal of sorts” “Correct” Starswirl nodded “I see you’re a fast learner, young Rick” “So, what’re you here for?” Tarduk chuckled, nervously eyeing Ceres’ who gave a series of clicks “We’re here in search of knowledge to do with the elemental lords, or at least, we were” I tilted my head “What are you?” Tarduk blinked “you don’t look like any Agori or Glatorian that I’ve ever seen, you’re completely…” “Organic?” I suggested “Yeah, that” he laughed “I’m a human, an eon, and a dragon slayer, you?” I smiled “I’m an Agori villager, I’m here with my friends, or in this case, companions, seeking this,” he held out a piece of metal, pointing to what looked like a red star I took the metallic shard, looked at both sides, then handed it back to him “You seek the star?” Starswirl raised an eyebrow “If that’s what it is,” Tarduk nodded “we were brought here by curiosity, at least, I was, Crotesious and Kirbold were just curious enough to join, I suppose” “And your reason for being out here?” I smiled “This piece of metal is the reason we’re here another being, this one armoured in a crimson, metallic substance walked over to us “Crotesious” “Rick” I smiled, shaking his hand as he held it out “And the door?” I nodded toward the large doorway that gleamed with a bright blue ‘aura’ of sorts that looked to be a compound of wrought iron and stone “We don’t know, it’s not of any material we’ve heard of before” he shrugged I walked over to the door, closely examining the circular patterns that were etched into its surface, that of which were o the end of what looked like stems, or branches maybe even, more symbols appeared in what appeared to be the backbone of the ‘structure,’ each pattern had words etched into it in what appeared to be Latin and a larger circle appeared at the top of the structure “This isn’t exactly your average gateway,” I turned to face Tarduk, Crotesious and the others “What is it?” Tarduk blinked “It’s an alchemy gate, this should be on the inside of someone’s mind, but instead, it’s here out in the middle of nowhere” “So, you are familiar with the art of Alchemy,” Starswirl hummed “go ahead, see what it does” “Alrighty then” I grinned, clapping my hands together, slamming them against the gate, which practically disintegrated; slowly fading from view, revealing a large mechanical being with indescribable looks and form, his neon green almost eyes glaring at me, he stood at least twice my height, maybe more, the intricately crafted staff he held resonated authority and power “You are not as you appear to be, little one” the being gave a smile “And you’re a sub-par level deity” I smiled, changing to eon form, my family quickly leaping atop my back, Snowdrop once again laying atop my head “State your name,” he declared “or at least your title” “Rick, Dragon slayer” he stared at me, then burst out laughing “I’m Artahka, but it’d appear that you already know that, Rick” he smirked “Who’s Artahka?” Blaze blinked “Have you not read, sister?” I blinked “he’s the being who’s able to create basically anything he wants, where and when he wants it” “He’s like Faust then?” Celestia raised an eyebrow at the large being “Basically” I shrugged “Rick, I trust that an eon of your calibre shouldn’t have to travel with a large convoy such as this to discover the ruins of Old Equis?” Artahka grinned “It was Twilight who found knowledge of the elemental lords, she’s the one who dragged us out here” Blaze laughed, Twilight edged forward, bowing once she was at the front of the crowd “Indeed, I have managed to convince Faust to hide the knowledge well,” the lesser being smiled “she has many forms, as does Lulania, both are considered great beings, but by different names then the ones you might know of, little ones” “So, we came all this way, just to find out we didn’t have to come out all this way?” Blaze snapped rather impatiently “I don’t think that’s what he means; Blaze,” I cast a moment’s glance toward her, the n faced back toward Artahka “is there any further knowledge of either the lords or the great beings here?” “There is quite a surmountable wealth of knowledge here; but it depends on if you’re worthy or not” Artahka sat cross-legged before us, placing the staff across his lap “You wanna fight?” Natsu steppe beside me, fists blazing, I raised an arm to his chest area, stopping him “You can’t fight the Lord of creation, and all that exists here; he’d kill you in an instant,” I frowned, turning my gaze from the being before me, to Natsu, and then back “True courage isn’t knowing when to take a life, but when to spare one” “You pass” he smiled, raising an arm, allowing me to fly through the gap, Celestia teleported herself, Twilight, her and my own friends beside us alongside Jigsaw and Blaze “Why would Faust hide all this from us?” Twilight frowned as we made our way through what seemed to be the castle “To stop you; or anyone else, from risking their lives for something that might not be considered worth it” I sighed “Well,” Applejack grumbled “Had didn’t expect to be drawn this far out of Equestria” “This isn’t even Equis anymore” I chuckled “Where are we then?” Celestia glanced toward me as a large set of double doors came into view “I’ve no idea” I sighed, pushing the double doors open once we were close enough “Well, this is quite the surprise” a rather amused metallic being with quite the obvious breastplate stood before us, sanding at around nine-and-a-half feet tall, the doors slammed shut behind us as a swarm of large mechanical spider-like beings crawled along webbing that hung across the walls and ceilings “And this is why they kept it a secret” I mumbled “Indeed it is, Rick” the tall slender female being spoke “How do you know me, and what’re you doing here?” I snarled “You are our king, are you not?” her form flashed a sickly green colour before revealing itself to be that of a familiar changeling, the mechanical, spider-like beings that surrounded us did the same, revealing themselves to be changelings “Holy shit” I whistled as the changelings bowed before me, as did Metamorphia “I take it that you’re surprised to see us here?” Metamorphia smirked “Just a tad bit, yes” I grinned “Well then, welcome to our hive” she nickered somewhat eerily “Ok, you turning out to be a mechanical being, like that of your subjects, I can handle, what I don’t get is that Starswirl mentioned gods, Athena Ares and Kratos, what have they to do with this world, or Equis?” “They are the great beings, and the many sons and daughters of Lulania, any god you have on Earth, chances are they’re the descendants of the creator of the Universe, Artahka out there’s her son” The changeling queen grinned “And since that Faust’s the offspring of you and Lulania…” Blaze turned to face me “you’re the father of a series of gods” “I can’t catch a break can I?” I grunted “ “Looks like you are a god after all, Daddy” Snowdrop giggled “So it would appear,” I grumbled “glancing toward Metamorphia “have you any records of the beings that existed here?” “I’ve got tonnes, my hive and I never need them, we’ve always wondered when a unique scholar would come along and take them of our hooves” “Twilight’s no scholar, but she’s one of the best ponies I know for the job” I gleamed “Really,” Twilight glanced toward me, her face a deep maroon colour from the way she was blushing “The only other people I can think to hand it to are the princesses, Faust and Lulania themselves, or Starswirl” I shrugged -=-=- When we got back outside -the records of who, and what exactly lived in the area now in my inventory, we began to head back “Are we heading back now?” Natsu blinked, I nodded “All this way, just for that?” I didn’t think I could explain to him what’d happened to us in the past few years and who I’d done lord-knows-what with without his brain becoming mush, so I merely shrugged -=-=-=-=- Once we got back to ponyville, via teleportation, Ceres now living in the deserts near ‘Dodge Junction,’ I set the age-old records down on the table in the lounge of the library, Starswirl had insisted on staying behind, as had Tarduk, Kirbold, and Crotesious Blowing the dust from one of the books, i quickly noticed that the title wasn’t written in English, but matoran “It’s a mix and match load of symbols” Twilight blinked “Is it though?” I raised an eyebrow “to you it’s a mesh of symbols, to me it says ‘Riddle of the Great Beings; Volume-I” “You can read that?” she stared at me “Internet” I smirked “That’d mean that you’re the only one who can translate it” Celestia raised an eyebrow “Or I could give you this,” I unslung my rucksack, pulling out a small, worn book, handing it To Twilight “that should help, Sparkles” “This looks like a series of research notes” she smiled as she opened the book “There’s a translator in the back, somewhere” I winked “How long have you had that?” Celestia frowned “A few decades” I bit my lip “And you never bothered to tell us?” “You never asked,” I raised an eyebrow “had you have done so, I would’ve gladly provided what was necessary, I think- no, I know you’ve got a lot of questions, and also know that I cannot answer them all, you’re probably better off asking who we now know as Great Beings” “What exactly is a ‘Great Being’?” her eyes narrowed slightly “Basically, it’s their worlds version of a god, or god, they helped shape their universe,” I explained “that so-called ‘portal’ we went through, it wasn’t just between planets, it was an inter-dimensional masterpiece, if we had a few expert scientists sent there do discover what exactly caused it, we may find out a bit more about what went on all those ages ago,” I gave a faint smile “Whilst I am curious as to take a chance to see what lies beyond, I shan’t take the risk of having my subjects murdered by the desert beasts” she sighed “if we had another like you, we may be able to send a few groups out there, but no farther than the portal, wherever it may be” “By your word, Lady of the Sun” I nodded, quickly bowing “You do realise she’s your granddaughter right?” Blaze smirked “I’d like to think otherwise, though she’s still family” I grinned “I wish I could beat my younger self with a lead pipe, I really do, but then, if I hadn’t of met ‘Lulania,’ I wouldn’t have met you, which means that Equestria would be either non-existent, or leaderless” I tilted my head “A dilemma of the gods, if ever there was one” she gave me a smug grin “I’m not a god, Blaze” I snapped “How do we know that the crystalline heart you have isn’t going to keep you alive for all of time,” she frowned “how do we know that you’re powers aren’t going to become omnipotent to the pointy where you ascend and become a god, or that you’re a young one, if one at all?” “And…” I began with a snarl, trailing of, my glare turning to a look of worriment “I suppose there’s nothing I can do if I already am one, is there?” “Nay, but you can mature and become greater than even I” Celestia draped her wings around me -=-=- As I walked home Blaze, Scootaloo, Snowdrop, Winter Bell, and Gracy Gloom walking beside me, Autumn Heart lunged at me, knocking me on my backside “Where were you?” Autumn Heart’s eyes were clouded by tears yet unshed “I’ll explain once we’re inside” I winked, she nodded with a light giggle walking with me and the others into the house, I locked the front door once we were in Once we were situated in the lounge, I explained everything that’d happened “You met Starswirl!?” she gaped at me, I placed a finger over my lips “Not so loud, none of this is to be told to anypony, understand?” she nodded “I’ll not tell a soul, your majesty,” she pecked my cheek “now; I believe it’s time you got some well-earned rest after that trip?” (>>><<<) The next day, with my family on my back, I flew to Canterlot, finding a familiar being stood in the castle’s gardens “Hello, your majesty” Chrysalis smiled as I landed, my family landing on the ground as I reverted to human form “You wouldn’t happen to know about any ruins in the wastelands, would you?” I raised an eyebrow “You found my sister’s hive then?” she gave a sweet smile (for a changeling anyway), I nodded “What I am about to say, is not to be repeated to a soul, clear?” she frowned, my family and I shared a simultaneous nod “good,” she simpered “now let me tell you, how I came to be Chrysalis walked over to the bas relief of Celestia and gazed at it for a moment. "I remember seeing this when I was little. The ponies here were afraid of her then." I bit my lip to hold in the flood of questions that immediately leaped into my mind. I had the distinct feeling that Chrysalis wasn't one to be pushed into anything. If she had been here when the city was inhabited, that meant she was old; and that meant she was experienced and dangerous “Twilight’s dear mentor,” Chrysalis looked back over her shoulder at me, “was feared and hated like the beast she was, I was as beautiful as her, once, would you believe it?” I blinked “At that time, the city was one of the jewels of the world, the unicorns created such grand artwork, sculpture, poetry, and music that they were renowned for it,” she sighed “however, what made them rich was the trade, magic-made material and items flowed out, and food and gold flowed in, caravans came with treasures from beyond the seas to trade, a guild master could command a cart full of emeralds for a single, perfect amulet!” she was almost in hysterics “It was-” there was a sudden hitch in her voice, “-paradise…” “I was born to a noble family, Rick; I was born as a pony, if you were to believe such a thing” “You were born from two other ponies?” I tilted my head, she gave a curt nod “Yes, perfectly normal, but not average; for you see, I was exceptional; gifted, as it were, even among the most powerful magicians of the city, I suppose you might understand what that was like?" I gave a cautious nod “But I was also a great beauty. I was athletic, poised, graceful -admired and desired by the ponies around me, though I suppose you already know what that’s like” she gave a warm smile, if only for a moment “I began to create my own unique spells when I was still quite young;” she explained art and adornment was my specialty, I made living jewelry, makeup, and clothing, amulets that created illusory costumes for masked balls, and ones that hid flaws for the vain and less perfect than I was” “And then, I created my masterpiece!” she gave a wild grin “a spell that would change not just a pony's appearance, but their very substance itself, there would be no more ugliness, no flaws, the richest city in the world would have citizens to match its beauty!” she went on to explain "Can you guess what happened then your majesty?” she frowned “I'll give you hint: A young, magical prodigy creates an amazing new spell for the benefit of all the ponies around her—and perhaps a bit of fame; and then she directly touches the great source of magic that flows through the universe -its very life blood even-, and molds it in a new way, never before known to pony kind!” she gave a wicked leer “take a guess she’s your princess after all!” "Yes, yes! Late to the party, Twilight Sparkle, but at least you've finally arrived!" "What—how..." “Ah, very good questions, indeed,” Chrysalis smiled at me again and her gaze held a hint of madness, “But first, I'd like to ask one of my own” “Go ahead” I bit my lip "What did the ponies of this place hate above all else?" “Non-unicorns,” I hadn't put much thought into my answer “Mudstompers and featherbrains?” she blinked “Oh, no, the unicorns just despised them as lesser beings—felt pity for them, even!" Chrysalis backed away toward the statue of Celestia and continued “No, what they hated more than anything else; was her!” She whirled and slammed a hoof into the neck of the stone image of Celestia “She dared to preach equality of the tribes, and even worse, she was the very living symbol of that equality! In her own body, she polluted and debased the superior blood of the unicorns with that of earth pony and Pegasus; she was an abomination!" I could see the chain of events running forward; I understood what Chrysalis had gone through upon her ascension, Instead of being welcomed and guided by a beloved mentor, and celebrated by her friends and family... “Oh, no…” Autumn Heart gasped “Oh, yes! When I was transported to that place—that celestial realm—she was there to greet me; the great enemy of my tribe!” Chrysalis snarled with a great loathing in her voice “I had no idea what was happening to me and, of course I wouldn't listen to her, but that didn't stop my ascension” “When I reappeared in the city I was the living image of the thing most feared and hated by everypony I'd ever known, if they hadn't been so stunned by shock and horror, they might have killed me before I got away” she gave a weak sigh “fortunately, my own great spell came to my aid and I hid among them until—until..." She trailed off and her neck bent. Her lank mane slid down across her face and she stood silently “You may not believe this, but I'm sorry, That shouldn't have happened to anyone, especially you of all beings!” She lifted her head to look at me, and there was quite a bit more than a hint of madness in her gaze; “Oh, but the best is yet to come!" She slowly walked forward as she spoke, “Such a being as yourself may not understand, but I had my choice of the stallions of the city, and the one I claimed was magnificent!” she chimed “He was the first son of the highest of families, and we were to be married but we couldn't wait, you see?” she stared at me dreamily “he was so handsome and I was so beautiful, and we were so perfect together!” “I… I don't understand…” I stammered “We didn't wait; we shared our love—and on the day I ascended, I was already with foal." I didn't know what was coming next, but I knew it wasn't going to be good. “I went to him. I knew he would understand. He loved me” “His hatred was as great as his love; he could have fled, he could have shouted for help, but he was a brave fool, he tried to hold me tried to pin me with his magic, even though he knew how strong I was—or had been," Chrysalis turned her steps back toward the statue of Celestia and glared at it as if were her long-ago lover, “as an alicorn, I was even stronger, he fought but I broke free; He tried to—to—and I—“ She lunged forward and slammed her horn into the carving, just behind Celestia's shoulder, where her heart would be Then her head fell away, her horn scraping out of the divot she'd made in the stone. She stood silently, swaying slightly and making an eerie keening noise that I desperately hoped I would never hear again “How did you…?” Autumn =Heart shuddered; Chrysalis shook herself like and old, sick mule, trying to shrug off a biting fly “How did I… what, Survive, Oh no, that was simple!” the changeling queen laughed like a mad-mare “I fled the city and took refuge in the abandoned gem mines to the West, with my magic, it was easy, I planned to stay there, stealing what I needed until my foal was born and old enough to travel, and then I would go north to where the other alicorns lived—Celestia and Luna—they must be the true superior race, if that was what I had become!” she tamped her hoof into the earth “If I was evil, I would revel in it!” She began to chuckle “A few months later, something began to… affect me; I didn't know what it was at the time, I thought that it might be some of the natural effects of pregnancy; my joints ached and my skin burned; I was so sleepy, nearly all of the time,” she growled “then one day I fell unconscious and didn't awake for a long, long time” “I didn't figure out what had changed me for a long while after that. All I knew was that, when I awoke, I was the amazing creature that you see standing in front of you now!” “But you did find out why it happened, didn't you?” I asked, trying to ignore the acidic tone of her words “Oh yes, I did." Chrysalis smiled “You see, the great magicians of the city had perfected a spell, or perhaps it was a device—I never knew exactly what it was—something, at any rate, that made trading and most labor unnecessary. It could be operated by anypony, simply by wishing. Anything they wanted, delivered in an instant” "But;" she continued; “there was one little trick that they needed to operate the spell; any pony who wanted to partake of the wondrous cornucopia, had to be very good at visualizing what they wanted—believing in it. Making it live in their minds was a necessity, and so all the citizens were trained in that skill; making thoughts into reality, what a wonder!” “There was just one little problem,” Chrysalis continued. “Whoever built the thing was sloppy; it didn't just take in a pony's thoughts when they wished for something—it did it all the time! And it leaked. Do you see now?” I merely shook my head “No; of course not; let me spell it out for you," she said, condescendingly. "Just before this amazing device began to operate, the city was shocked by my ascension. They were horrified by the murder of one of their most honored citizens by the monster that I had become;” she spat “an alicorn? An abomination, rather; a monster, a parasite, an impostor among them! That is what they all thought of me, Rick; that is what they all believed!" I stared at her with a looked of unadulterated horror "Oh, my," Chrysalis glimmered, "I do believe you're beginning to get the picture, your majesty they did this to m;. I became what I am because of them; when I awoke and crawled out of the chrysalis I had been wrapped in, I nearly went mad” “But I was left with three things from my past life," she went on. "The magic of my greatest spell was now innate in me. I could change my form with only a thought. And my only regret—that became part of me, too. My lost love -the desire for that love-, it had become a hunger; the one that I have never been able to satisfy” “That's only two…” I stammered “Oh, yes—mustn't forget the most important thing!" She leaned in close and gave me an vicious grin "The over-joyous occasion of birth!" “Birth,” I bit my lip until I tasted iron “your foal…?” “Foal?” she snarled Nay; my spawn—hundreds and hundreds of them! All like me—all with my power and my hunger!” “You're the reason they died out, aren't you, you and your descendants infiltrated, invadedm devoured them even!” Chrysalis laughed musically, “"Oh, no, no! Well, not exactly, anyway; no, we just took their love, we took every last drop; and when it was gone, what do you suppose happened to a town full of powerful, arrogant unicorns that hadn’t a single whit of love left in their souls?” "Without love, there can be no friendship, no compassion, and no mercy…" Autumn Heart mumbled “Indeed, it only took them a few days to destroy each other; I didn't kill them, my little pony; they did it to themselves!” -=-=- As my family and I marched into the throne room, Faust was stood by the thrones, casting a moment’s glance toward me -and giving me a light nod as she continued to converse with Celestia “I understand, what you think you saw,” Faust frowned toward her daughter “but I cannot allow such ideas to exist, Celestia “Think?” Celestia barked “we travelled through a portal, Rick was there with us, as where three of the wizards from the guild!” “So that may be the case, I just can’t allow this to be spread into the public “Wouldn’t dream of it” I scoffed “after all, Artahka spoke as if he knew me, or at least, a bit about me, you wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you, Faust, if that is your name?” The burgundy-haired stared at the two of us for a short while before sighing; “Very well, Rick, if you truly wish to know, we created you, Artahka created you, for you see, it was from our ideas that you were born, Artahka, alongside myself and a few others, created you as you were all those ages ago, though were different, you behaved differently to what we anticipated, you adapted a little better than what we’d planned for, you evolved faster than we’d imagined, you became who you are now, though somewhat less selfless and caring,” she went on “if you were to try, you’d probably be able to see yourself as you were back then, the prototype for all sentient beings” “Then came Takua, the first matoran, though neither one of you would remember it, the two of you made history across the matoran universe and Equis alike, forever friends, even if not even in memory” Faust sighed “and then Celestia had to go and fall in love with you; I believe that she can tell you the rest” “And what, of my element of nature?” I glowered at her “All a part of your old self I’m afraid,” she shrugged “as is your nickname ‘Tesla,’ I believe” “So all this time, you all knew?” I glanced toward Celestia, who avoided my gaze “I’m sorry to say,” She bit her lip “though your parents, on Equis, they’re names have been etched into a scarce number of history books, one of which exists in the ponyville library, you’ll know which one it is when you find it, Young eon” “How will I become what I was when I was created, or was I born human, or an eon?” I frowned “You were born like any being in the matoran universe, Teslakana” she slowly shook her head “if all you want to do is change between the two forms, all you need do is believe” I stormed out of the room -=-=- When we got back to ponyville, I stood on the front lawn, closing my eyes, concentrating, whilst also thinking about what my actual form may be, I felt somewhat nauseous as a wave of energy overtook me momentarily “Daddy,” Snowdrop gasped, I opened my eyes Looking down at myself, I gasped, I was around more or less the same height as I was as a human, only biomechanical with crimson armour with black trimming replacing where my legs and torso would be, looking at either I noticed the same colour armour with a similar trimming, also the same colour “What am I?” my voice was almost ‘kiddish’ sounding like that of a teenager “Rick?” I faced forward; Twilight was stood there, staring at me “I’m afraid so, Twilight” I blinked, not yet used to the new voice “What happened to you?” she edged toward me, I crouched down to her level, bowing on one knee, almost “I’ve just found out from Faust, our resident Canterlot Great Being, that I was created, not born; Lady of Magic” if I had a lip I would’ve started chewing it “But how,” she blinked “you can’t just create life out of nothing, even in organic life!” “She, Artahka, and a few others actions’ state otherwise” I frowned “Even Celestia knows about it, apparently” “But that’s preposterous!” she blared “It’s what’s happened I placed a fragile hand on her head, gently stroking her mane “I’ll get the others, we can get passed this!” she cried out, teleporting away -=-=- “Howdy Twi,” Applejack smiled as she and the others -Autumn Heart included, entered the library “Who’s the robot?” “I prefer the term ‘biomechanical entity, if you please” I raised an eyebrow “Rick?” she all-but screamed “Yep” I gave a slight nod “or as Faust calls me, prototype, or Teslakana” “What happened?” Rarity awed at me, I quickly explained the events of the past two-five hours “That’s horrendous!” she gasped “It’s apparently who I am” I sat on the sofa, which creaked under my weight, Autumn Heart charged at me, clinging onto me “How can they do this to you?” the earthy-brown unicorn sobbed “how can they do this to somepony, and then expect everything to be Ok!?” she continued with a wail “I love you Rick, I don’t care who you might be, or what you might do, or what you might be called or look like on the outside, it doesn’t change the pony I fell in love with on the inside!” I concentrated, barely managing to revert to my human form, panting for breath when it finally happened “I wasn’t made an eon, as the other humans of the ‘ye-olde’ Equis were, or so it’d seem,” I gave a short hum “but I’m glad to be a part of their kind, through-and-through, maybe I’ll go back and meet Artahka again someday” “Ya’ll get cheesier by the day, dontcha pardner?” Applejack laughed “I am what I am, though I think that’s a bit out of context” I smirked, glancing toward my back, my wings were still there, fortunately “What are ya, is the question that Ah think should be asked, no offense” she gave a light frown “Human, Eon, dragon slayer, biomechanical entity, what else is there?” Blaze gave a smug grin “Quite so” -=-=- “Come one, come all!” a feminine voice called out from inside a circus wagon as a stage unfolded from its sides, and the same pale-blue unicorn with the same wizard’s hat and cape marched out onto the stage “Again? Really, Trixie?” Twilight groaned “Let the show-mare have her fun,” I grinned “because compared to a Fairy Tail Wizard, she’s nothing!” “I doubt your puny group of friends could comprehend what I’m capable of” Trixie spat, her eyes shone a deep crimson as I noticed a brooch that had the head of a unicorn with the wings of a Pegasus “So, you’ve a few new spells,” I scoffed “it’s not the spells that make the wizard, it’s the spellcasters themselves, and besides, even if I were wrong, each of the Fairy Tail wizards have and/or has at least ten unique spells, each” “And what of you?” she snapped “Other than your so-called -Dragon-Slayer’ magic, you’ve nothing more to show us” “Said the pony to the prototype,” I smirked, stretching my wings and concentrating as a great aura of almost-mystical light overwhelmed my being, blinding me When I could see again, i was hovering above the ground “How, when, what…?” Trixie gasped, looking down at myself, I stared in awe at my new form, that of which belonged to ‘Stardust Dragon’ “I trust you think you can mimic my ability?” I smirked “Stardust Dragon,” Blaze whistled “so, out there in the universe, they exist, somewhere” she eyed me up and down, Trixie ran away as fast as she could, the brooch that hung around her neck fell to the ground “Rick…?” Twilight stammered, I turned to face her and the others, landing on the ground “I’m still me, on the inside, remember?” I placed a claw to where my heart would be “How did you…?” she stared at me “I’d had the DNA of almost every sentient creature in the universe implanted in me upon creation, it’s just a part of who I am, I’m afraid” “You…!” she awed at me, I clenched my fists, focusing on changing back, but try as I might, it didn’t seem to be possible “And now I can’t change back, ever the clichéd one, aren’t I?” I gave a weak smile; she glared at me “Sorry…” “Well, I’m guess that changing like that takes up magic energy, and thus, it needs to be restored” Blaze stated, matter-of-factly =-=-= After raiding the nearby fields opposite part of the Everfree forest of gems, I returned to Ponyville, now reverted to my regular human form, changing to eon form, my daughter and Blaze leaping upon my =back/neck/head, albeit, reluctantly before I took off for Canterlot “So, you’re like a demigod then?” Blaze smirked as we entered the throne room, Twilight walking alongside us “Basically,” my ears perked up “wonder if that means I have the same abilities as ‘you-know-who’” I gave a smug grin “Do you want Equis to come to its knees, or flat on its face for that matter?” she smirked “Touché” I slowly nodded “Speaking of your being,” she blinked, glancing toward Celestia, who had a worried plastered upon her features as she stood beside Faust “how strong is he compared to you lot anyway?” “Tesla was made- no,” she sighed shaking her head “Rick was born to be stronger than most alicorns, but not as powerful as an actual god” “So, you’re not gods?” Snowdrop blinked “That is correct, little pony” Celestia gave a slight nod as Snowdrop and the others landed on the floor “Brother, if I may inquire, why‘re there now blackish markings on your neck?” Blaze stifled a laugh “What?” I blinked, lightly examining around my neck, not feeling anything different “I don’t feel anything different…” “And yet there’re twin markings running down your neck” she observed, I looked down my form, pulling the collar of my shirt, quickly letting it go “Just like Asura, might I add?” “Do you retain your knighthood, Daddy?” Gracy Gloom landed atop my head “Why be, a knight when you can be a demigod?” Blaze laughed “Although I will agree with you on one point, sister, I don’t think you meant to sound so arrogant” I chuckled “Indeed,” she gave a curt nod “one mustn’t let their arrogance get the best of them, lest they be bested in other ways, such as combat in the centre of war” “Quite so, but there’s still a question I’ve yet to ask, Cellsy” I glanced toward the solar alicorn, who blinked “do my travelling capabilities expand to all of reality or just to planets or time periods that have magic?” “It’s a bit of both, whilst it’s inter-dimensional, it’s limited to magic” Celestia smiled “where do you plan on going?” “You needn’t worry, I shan’t be travelling anywhere for quite a while, Lady of the Sun” I winked as the doors opened behind us, revealing a rather flustered alicorn of love alongside Twilight her friends, Erza, Natsu, Wendy, and Crystal “Rick!” Cadance gasped upon seeing me “are you alright?” “I’m fine, for now anyways” I gave a weak smile “Your emotions say otherwise,” she raised an eyebrow “Yeah well, having your organs turned to liquid shit by an alicorn; and then finding out you were born in an eon-old test tube will do that for a guy” Blaze snapped “You what,” Twilight exclaimed rather loudly her friends, sans Fluttershy, who fainted, whereas Wendy stared at me in quite apparent horror “Surprise,” I mumbled “you defend your family from one potential threat, and look what happens” “Who could do such a thing?” Wendy was on the verge of tears “I thought you were forced down from your title, princess” Blaze frowned toward Celestia “Thankfully, and rather fortunately, I have managed to persuade Faust to let me rule as I once did” Celestia smiled “If that involves the same tyranny, then I’ll have no other choice but to ask otherwise of Faust” I frowned also “I thought you could say she could drop the sun on you?” Natsu tilted his head “That’s the point,” I smiled, he blinked “let’s pretend, if only for a moment, that my crystalline heart acts the same way as a mantra reactor, which would mean it’d change any energy attack directed toward me into energy for me to use, assuming the sun here has as much magic stored into it as Equis itself “You’d be invincible!” Snowdrop chimed “Almost,” I gave a sideways nod “So you’re a living weapon then” Erza stared at me “I refuse to believe that!” Crystal snarled “I refuse, point-blank to refuse to believe that my beloved was created by the so-called ‘gods’ to be a means to an endgame!” “Rick’s not a weapon,” Celestia began “he was a project to see how a compound of all sentience in the universe would work if it were put into a single being, he’s the first actual life-form to exist on either Artahka’s world, or ours, a forerunner, so to speak, if you will” “So I’m just some pet project?” I growled “I’m just some little experiment you and your companions thought of an eon ago, out of either spite or fun, is that how it is?” “I don’t know how else to say it” she bit her lip “Looks like I owe Luna quite the ironic apology” I laughed “You’re taking this better than we expected you to” Faust raised an eyebrow “I may be an animal in part, but I do not have the personality of one” I spat, her horn glowed a mild magenta colour as my wings began to fade away “A true demigod needn’t have wings to fly” she smiled as the last parts of my wings vanished, only to return mere moments later “Looks like they’ll not go so easily,” I grinned “after all, they’ve become a part of who I am” “Even so, are you not curious as to your sister’s origins?” she smirked “What,” I snapped “Your sister says that her parents were killed by poachers, when in fact, that was another member of her species that suffered that fate,” Faust deadpanned “we created her, just like we did with you, that is why she is able to use magic, or so I’ve been told” “How old am I then?” Blaze looked gobsmacked “You are just as old as Rick, only you were frozen in time by a freezing spell, and sent to where rick was at the time of thawing,” she spoke haughtily “I remember the figurative ‘blueprints’ for your being rather well, Blaze” “I…” Blaze mumbled, collapsing onto her front “Blaze,” I rushed over to the fallen family member, turning her onto her back “Are you Ok?” I placed a gentle hand upon her head, her body shone with a bright white light as it shrank down to a familiar form “Blaze,” Snowdrop stepped forward to the Typhlosion-turned-Quilava, who clung onto me with all her might “I’m alright” Blaze stammered as I held her in my arms, sitting cross-legged as she stared up at me with clouded eyes “I’ve got my big brother to take care of me, after all” she gave me the weakest of smiles “Well this is a shocker,” I draped my wings around my shrunken sister “though it does explain your immortality, sister” “You still consider her family, even after what the two of you’ve been through?” Cadance all-but gasped “We’re family, through-and-through, no amount of bullshit science experiments is gonna change that” Blaze grinned, clambering unto my head, pecking one of my horns, I smiled, steadily getting to my feet “You two truly are amazing” Celestia smiled “We’re Nakama” Blaze and I gleamed in unison “everyone knows that Tesla’s the mage and/or knight as well as hero, and I’m the joker” “Sounds about right” I rolled my eyes, the doors to the throne room once again burst open, revealing a deep/rich blue dragon with white underbelly scales, wings and horns Said dragon collapsed to its knees “Help us…” Chapter XX; Royalty“What’s the matter?” Celestia teleported beside me as the Dragon staggered, steadily getting to her feet “We were under attack, and we need to take our kingdom back” the dragon attempted to catch her breath “The Kingdom, or just the city,” Blaze raised an eyebrow “The Heart of the Dragon Empire” she shook her head, glancing toward Celestia “Will you help us?” “I’ll send the best Canterlot has to offer to your immediate aid” Celestia nodded “and I’m Sure rick will also wish to help…?” “Sapphire” Sapphire tilted her head “who’s Rick?” “That’d be me” I smiled “You don’t look like much of a threat” Sapphire raised an eyebrow as a great rumbling could be heard from outside “that’ll be the general” she grinned Once outside, I quickly took note of the thirty-fifty foot dragon lying across the gardens “Crystagia” I nodded “Son” she smiled “I trust that you’ve heard of the attack and the war going on?” “War,” I blinked “when did this start?” “It’s been a time-bomb waiting to go off, I’m afraid” she sighed “will you help us, Dragon slayer?” “I will” I nodded “You’re a dragon slayer?” Sapphire stared at me; I winked, setting both fists alight “So I see, let’s get going then” =-=-= As we approached the dragon city, which was apparently built into the crater of a dormant volcano, I heard the sound of clashing blades “You lot behave, Ok?” I glanced back to my family as we rode on Crystagia’s back, several chariots carrying Celestia’s and Luna’s guard flying alongside us and the princesses themselves as well as Faust “Ok, Daddy” they gave out smiles that resembled that of angels “Alrighty then” I turned, falling backwards from atop Crystagia, inhaling copious amounts of air, corking my thumb, biting down to the bone, exhaling into my arm, taking the air from one arm through my torso and into the other, using another of my abilities to change my arm into that of a giant drill, or in this case, a titanic drill, bringing it down into the city’s occupants “What are you?” one dragon out of a horde -armed to the teeth with swords, armour, fangs, claws and other means of weaponry, snapped, I looked down at myself, I’d shrunk considerably “I’m just here to end the war” I snarled “Yeah, and I’m Grandoa’s long lost uncle!” he laughed “Who’s attacking who here?” I clicked my neck “We’re defending our home from the gryphons” he scoffed “and I’d suppose you’re on their side” “No, I came here thanks to Crystagia” I pointed toward the sky “So you did,” he nodded “you must be the outsider Grandoa spoke of then, the one of whom he taught the dragonsong?” “That’d be me” I grinned my body exploding to its normal size/dimensions “Well, you did just save us a job,” he gave a slow nod “fine, I’ll have someone notify Grandoa of our new ally” -=- As the chariots landed in the now cleared-put section of the city, the princesses, Faust included, trotted toward me “How did you do that?” Celestia raised an eyebrow “I’m rubber, what else do you want me to do?” I smiled “So you are,” she sighed, turning to Sapphire “is there any safe place for Crystagia to land and drop off a few civilians?” “The citadel maybe, but I’m not sure for how long” Sapphire shrugged “then again, with Rick here on our side with that much power, we may’ve already won” “The emperor approaches!” a gryphon hovering above us yelled, and was instantly shot down by dragonflame Raising an arm, the flames stopped and the familiar Gryphon from a few years past glided toward us, bowing before us, every weapon in the vicinity was aimed toward him in an instant “I have come to negotiate a truce” the Gryphon emperor gave an audible gulp “A truce,” Sapphire screamed “you attacked us first, why should we listen to you!?” “Because I also offer my crown and title in surrender to your empire” he avoided her gaze “‘I’ll let Grandoa know of your negotiation’” Sapphire flew toward the ‘citadel’ “So, you ally yourself with the dragons now?” The Gryphon emperor scoffed as he eyed me up and down “I ally myself with the dragons because, in part, I am one, I gestured toward my horns “Traitor” he snapped “Oh, I don’t remember needing to ask for your permission, pecker-head” I snarled “What’d you call me?” he spread his wings, as if to intimidate me, I mimicked him “I don’t think I need repeat myself, featherbrain” I tutted “Freak” he huffed “At least I’ve the balls to admit it “Tesla,” a thunderous voice from behind me echoed throughout the city Turning around I saw Grandoa stood beside Crystagia “Have you come to negotiate, little one?” Grandoa glanced from me to the Gryphon emperor “I was, but after meeting your pet here, I think I’ll take you down myself” the gryphon growled “Tesla” Crystagia cooed “you have the chance to show what you can do, end this war, and the emperor along with it, or Equestria may be next” “I may be prideful, but I am no fool” Grandoa laughed “I will not attack, let alone wage war, on an ally’s homeland, even if it were to cost me my life,” he smiled “go on Tesla, end it” I spun around on my heel, both arms turning a ‘shining’ charcoal-black in colour as I clasped my fingers together, smashing my joined hands into the gryphons head, sending him flying, everyone present heard his neck break as he soared out of the city “Rick, you’ve no idea what you’ve just done!” Celestia boomed “The gryphon’s war is no longer with my draconic allies, but with me” I shrugged “if they so wish to follow through, let them, but I don’t think I’ll be alone, will I, Grandoa?” I turned back to face the ancient dragon, who beamed “Correct, little one, I shan’t let harm come to my allies, and if it’s war they want, then we shall wipe them off the face of Equis!” Grandoa declared “Teslakana, I do believe we owe you a great deal of gratitude for your help, whilst my soldiers, generals, knights and squires shall rid the country of the rest of the bird-beaks , you and I shall undergo what no outside has gone through before, at least, not in recorded history” “You don’t mean…!” Sapphire gasped “but he’s just a kid!” “I’m around three centuries old” I deadpanned, eyebrow raised “Touché” she smiled -+=(><)=+- As Grandoa, Crystagia, the princesses, Faust and I marched toward and through the citadel, I was lead with the others to what looked like a forge of sorts “Remove your shirt” Crystagia gave a weak smile, I shrugged, removing my upper attire as Grandoa took what looked like a large branding iron, before I could reply; he’d pressed it against my back, when he removed it, there was a dragon-head shaped brand there “This is all there is to the ritual, whilst those outside the city -or even this very building, for that matter, may believe that there is more to it, there isn’t all that much, other than all the work that needs to be done to add you to the history records” Grandoa smiled “You branded him!?” Celestia screamed “I fail to see how your cutie marks are any different, other than the painless magical procedure, and who’s to say that someone who’s got one wanted to do something else, but couldn’t due to that colourful little image on their rear?” I folded my arms after putting my shirt back on “At least then you don’t look like a slave!” she rebuked “Technically you are, and to fate itself, no less!” I laughed “I’ll see you at Canterlot” and with that I exited the citadel, flying toward wherever I may be needed -=-=-=- When I got back to the citadel, I got a few flirty looks from some of the dragons in the city Ignoring them I made my way to the ‘throne room,’ where Grandoa and Crystagia were stood “Celestia has taken your family back to Canterlot, Rick,” Crystagia hummed “would you like to return also?” “I’d just like to know why I’m getting eyed up like the world’s largest gem” I shrugged “Ah yes,” Grandoa chuckled “with your new title, and with the victory over the gryphons, you’re going to have quite the large amount of suitors, Sir Teslakana of Equis” “If that’s what it is, then I shall take my leave” I bowed, changing to eon form, flying out of the citadel, and away from the city “What do you think he’s like?” I heard someone from beside me whisper as I made my way over a village, ponies below stopping to glance up toward me as I flew overhead Glancing beside me, I saw three dragons, one, a bright, vivid green dragon with golden underbelly scales wings and horns, an indigo one with cyan under belly scales wings and horns, and a scarlet one with golden underbelly scales, wings and horns, all three shared a glance, before staring at me, wide grins on their faces, I took off as fast as I could -=- “I can’t believe you, Rick,” Celestia frowned “honestly, you’re merely asked to do something and you just go ahead and do it?” “All I can do is offer my apologies and my title here in Equestria” I bit my lip “what do you want to happen, the gryphons to try and finish of the dragons, possibly give up and come here instead?” “Then we’d attempt to work out a negotiation,” she raised an eyebrow “And what happens, should actions be necessary, and words become inadequate?” I scoffed “that’s the thing with you ponies, you talk too much” “And what’d you do?” she scowled “If they want war, I’ll give them war, if not, then I’ll try to negotiate” “You’re impossible” Celestia shook her head “I’m also your creation,” I smirked “you did infuse the DNA of an individual from every sentient species into a single being, remember?” “Bitches be crazy” Blaze smirked from atop my head “Alright, what do you want me to do?” Celestia let out a frustrated sigh “Get someone who knows what they’re doing on that throne” I winked, turning to leave, stopping when I got to the door, glancing back toward the solar alicorn “oh and by the way, I quit” I vacated the throne room “You quit!?” Twilight blared “how can you do such a thing?” “I just did” I raised an eyebrow “Why?” she glared icy daggers at me “I’ve better things to do,” I shrugged “like looking after my family for one thing, and taking care of the house for another” “How can you say that!?” she bellowed “Because I honestly don’t care anymore” I huffed “if she wants to try and wrap someone around her finger, so to speak, she’s going to have to try harder than what she’s currently doing, Sparky” “Get out” she growled “How can I ‘get out;’ you’re the one who visited me, and besides, we’re sat outside whose house again?” I grinned, she stormed off “Daddy,” four familiar fillies lunged forth, leaping toward me, clinging onto me “We missed you Daddy” Snowdrop chorused alongside Scootaloo, Winter Bell and Gracy Gloom “And I you, my little ponies, and I you” I draped my wings around the four of them “So, what happened with the dragons then?” Natsu smirked currently sat opposite me, Erza, my friends and family around the dining table in the hall in Canterlot, just as he said that, the three dragons from before silently made their way toward me “I’m Garnet” the Indigo dragon smiled “I’m Opal the scarlet dragon glimmered “And we’re at your service, Lord Rick” the three bowed “Can I call you Emerald?” I smiled toward the vivid green dragon “You can call me whatever you so desire my little Sugardrake” Emerald winked, Natsu spat out his drink, staring at me in apparent horror “What in the actual fuck?” he awed at me “Heck if I know, I didn’t plan on it actually happening,” I shrugged “and by the way, say it; don’t spray it” I smiled, turning back to face the three fem-dragons “and girls, you needn’t refer to me by any form of title, just rick will suffice” Emerald fainted, Garnet pecked me on the cheek, and opal knelt to care for her fallen ally “Three centuries of age, still got it” Blaze laughed “Blaze, shut up” I frowned “Make me, Sugardrake” she winked, no re-evolved to her Typhlosion state as she sat beside me “And before you say anything, remember what Faust said, I’m not your sister, technically” “What do you mean, three centuries?” Natsu blinked “Well, a few ages back, there was this one person who worked at a local shop that brother apparently found attractive, I needn’t go on” Blaze grinned “You lied to me” Celestia frowned “Says the one who’s been orchestrating my life since I was sixteen” I laughed “I only wanted us to be together,” she rebuked, a look of half-hurt, half-disappointment upon her muzzle “And now that we are, you have a go at me for everything I do” I shrugged “what else do you want from me Princess?” “You two argue like a married couple” Natsu gave a smug grin “We’re not, believe me” I rolled my eyes, Celestia flinched “So, what’d you do to gain the three stowaways this time?” Blaze smirked “Show off?” “No, if I were to show off, it’d look like this” I concentrated, hovering above my seat, my form morphing into that of the Stardust Dragon with a great flash of light; Garnet and Opal both fainted “Like a human synchro summon” Blaze hummed “Quite so” I nodded -=--=- Once my magic energy levels had been restored via gemstones, and I’d reverted to my human form, I stood on the front lawn, alone with my family, Emerald, Opal, and Garnet, placing a uniquely crafted gravestone onto the ground; Blaze sombrely passed me a hammer and chisel, and I started to carve/etch words into the stone base, glancing behind me half when I was half-done Twilight and her friends were stood there, minus Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy “Rick, are you Ok?” Twilight placed a gentle hoof on my side; I shrugged it off, continuing my work “What’re you doing?” she glanced toward the gravestone, the base was like that of one of the statues in the Canterlot sculpture gardens, only more of a cube than a cylinder, and the statue itself was that of my eon from, with a young girl riding on my back “Who’s Kate?” “My sister” I bit my lip, finishing the carving process, the words on the base read as followed; In loving memory of Kate Hawkins; beloved daughter, and the world’s best sister, may you forever soar through heavens on the back of an eon, or with the wings of angels, you shan’t be forgotten, though you’ll be missed by many I love you 13/5/2004-??/??/2025 “Rick that’s…” she stared at me “I never knew you had a sister, other than Blaze” “I first mentioned her when Sweetie Belle said that Rarity’s the ‘best sister ever,’ I rebuked, saying that I could argue with what she said” I clenched my fists, dropping the hammer and chisel “How did she… die?” Applejack gasped, standing beside Rarity and Rainbow Dash opposite Twilight “Negligence” my voice cracked somewhat “That’s… that’s horrible” Twilight stammered “Quite so” Blaze hummed “so, what’ll you do about the princesses, Faust and their magic resulting in our creation?” “What can we do,” I shrugged “even if we were to hate them for it, I think the pros outweigh the cons” “How so,” she blinked “We’re alive, are we not, and personally, I’d rather live my life how I see fit, not by the hands of fate or anything of the sort” I smiled “And that’s why you quit?” she tilted her head “Indeed it is, dear sister” I nodded “Ya‘ll did what?” Applejack awed at me “Well, I figured; why work for Celestia whilst protecting Equis, when I can do it for everyone in the kingdom, royalty included?” I smiled “So, you’re a mercenary” Twilight giggled “Mercenaries work for money; I do it because I want to, and because someone has to, other than the royal guard” I smirked “And besides; I’m fairly certain that living in itself costs enough as is” “Actually, the economy we have makes it so that living is both fair and cheap” Twilight nickered “Speaking of money” Blaze cracked a wicked grin “It’s horrifically ironic that I’m not paid enough to put up with this sort of thing” I sighed “I wonder where the orchestra got that two-million bits anyways?” she blinked, tilting her head once again “My guess, the princesses” I grumbled “but it it’s neither sender nor the recipient that matters, it’s what we do with it” “And what do you propose to do with it?” she raised an eyebrow “What should I do with it then, I don’t need most of it” I shrugged, turning to face the others “besides, it’s not like we have a bank here or anything” “And I’ve been saying that we need one for ages!” Twilight exclaimed “Indeed; the daily trips my brother makes to Canterlot and back every week have become somewhat irritating” Blaze nodded “So, what’ll you do now, Sugardrake?” Emerald nuzzled into me, sitting beside me, Garnet sat opposite her as Opal placed her head upon my own as she sat behind me “Looks like you’ve got more attention, just like before, right sugarcube?” Applejack laughed “I’ve heard the dragons can be highly protective of their mates, you might want to be careful, Rick” Twilight smirked “I don’t think they’re that possessive,” I rolled my eyes “besides, emerald’s got to be the cutest one here, Opal’s the boldest, and Garnets the most beautiful, for a trio of dragons anyway” “That name,” Emerald swooned, collapsing into my lap, I facepalmed, gently scratching under her chin, and around her horn-area, Garnet nuzzled into me “Honestly, What are we going to do with you sister?” Garnet sighed -=-=- “So,” Crystal began with a smile “how’ve you been Ricky-o?” “Meh” I tilted a hand “I suppose it can’t really get any better, supposedly, anyway” “Have you heard,” Rarity smiled “About what,” Crystal and I shared a confused glance “The new mare,” she gestured toward a familiar creamy yellow mare with a wavy two-tone blue mane and tail with a milk bottle set between a pair of angels’ wings for a cutie mark “She’s been here for a while now, I’m sure,” I raised an eyebrow, turning to face the milkmare “Hey Nova” I cheered, the mare instantly turned to face me, gleaming like the sun, charging toward me, leaping toward me, knocking me on my back “You know her?” Rarity blinked “She’s my little nova” I smiled, sitting upright, Milky Way sat beside me, leaning into me, pecking my cheek “How long have you been in Ponyville..?” Rarity held out a hoof “I’m Milky Way, and I’ve been here for around two-and-a-bit years now” Milky Way shook her hoof “You’ve met our wayward eon before then?” Twilight giggled “I have, he helped me with a personal matter” Milky Way’s cheeks turned a deep shade of crimson “What do you…?” Twilight glanced downward, noticing the mare’s ‘assets’ “Ah, now I see” “How did you get those?” Rarity attempted with all her might not to look toward the mammaries situated around Milky Way’s nether’s, failing miserably “I was born with them; and subsequently, I didn’t live with my parents for very long” Milky Way’s head drooped “So we’re both outcasts then, in a way, anyhow” I draped a wing around her “What do you mean?” she blinked “You’ve got them, that of which makes you somewhat socially awkward, no offense, and I’m the forerunner to every sentient life form that exists” I began to gently stroke her mane “That’s a good thing, isn’t it?” she tilted her head slightly “Not if you want to live a normal life it isn’t” I sighed “Touché” she hummed “we’ll live like outcasts together then, life may be short in itself, but at least we’ll have each other” “That we will, my little Nova” I smiled, she leant in, placing her lips on mine, parting, then lunging forward, tightly wrapping her arms around my neck, diving her tongue into my mouth, the two oral muscles dancing together as they met, gradually parting again “Let us go,” she grinned, dragging me through the front door into the house, up the stairs and into the bedroom, locking the door behind us as she sat me on the bed, fumbling with her hooves, eventually managing to pull down both my trousers and underpants simultaneously, taking my currently-limp member into her mouth keeping herself hilted on it as it grew, finally pulling away once it reached full erection, running her tongue along the base of the shaft, taking it back into her maw, bobbing her head up and down, smiling up at me as I placed a gentle hand on her mane, stroking it, running her tongue along the base once more, occasionally twirling it around the head, pressing her lips down on it all the while, pulling away, climbing onto the bed, laying on her back “Have at me, my little eon” Milky Way giggled/purred, I smirked, placing my cock between her ‘assets’ pressing her breasts together “Naughty,” she giggled as I started to gently buck my hips, changing to eon form, sliding my dick between her cleavage, giving a sly grin as she stared at my length “That’s bigger than any stallion’s that I’ve heard of” she gave a soft smile “please be gentle” “As you wish” I nodded, reverting to human form, removing my manhood from her mammaries, diving into her depths with my tongue “Ah!” she gasped, convulsing as she came, I swallowed the juices as they came, moving my head from her entrance to one of her tits, pressing my lips down on the nipple, tweaking the other between a finger and thumb, she gasped, giving deep moans of pleasure at each movement that either one of my appendages made Slowly, I pulled my head and hand away from her lower body, changing to eon form, lining my cock with her cunny “Do it…” =-=-= “Where were you?” Natsu grinned “Home” I deadpanned, Milky way on my back alongside Scootaloo and Gracy Gloom, Winter Bell was perched along my neck,, whereas Snowdrop; as per usual; was laying atop my head “You were in there for forty-eight hours” the flame dragon slayer raised a somewhat suspicious eyebrow “I slept in” I lied “That’s not like you,” he tilted his head, glancing toward Milky Way “Who’s the cutie?” “One, she’s Milky Way, and two, you say that as if you’re interested in a relationship with an equine” I smirked “…It was one time, Ok?” he frowned, blinked, and then quickly covered his mouth with a hand “Care to tell us what happened, Natsu?” I glimmered “Her name’s Lyra, for some reason she’s fascinated by humans” he grumbled “can’t think why” “What about Lisanna?” I blinked “She’s…” he sighed “she’s apparently Ok with it” “Apparently,” I tilted my head ever-so slightly “So, how was she?” “What’re you two on about?” I turned around; Grey was stood at the entrance to the guild hall “Natsu’s got himself a marefriend” I smirked “You what,” the ice-make wizard glanced toward Natsu, promptly burst out laughing,. Storming into the guild hall “Now what,” Natsu grumbled “Now they’re going to think he’s gone loopy and shrug his apparent ‘joke’ of for the rumour that it could be” “And what of Milky Way,” he raised the other eyebrow, nodding toward the milkmare atop my back “What about her?” I gave a light frown “She your latest conquest,” he beamed “You can talk,” I laughed “of all the ones you could get, you got the one with the human-fetish, although I shouldn’t complain, she’ll be pretty easy, no offense, Nova” I glanced toward the mare atop my back “None taken” Milky Way giggled “We’re just friends, there’s no need to go mental over it” Natsu rolled his eyes “That’s what everyone says” I grinned -=- “So,” Crystal began “when exactly did you say that the Canterlot castle was going to be torn down and built anew?” “Back when I was practically elected as king” I smirked “Yeah, well, it’s just happened” she bit her lip “Luna told Faust, who then went ahead with it, magically recreating the whole thing in an instant” “She did what?” Twilight gasped “Well, I did ask for it to happen, I would’ve at least thought that she would’ve told Celestia beforehand” I laughed =-= “If you think about it,” Blaze began “if the princesses, Faust and the others are elements of creation alongside the Great Beings and Artahka, wouldn’t that mean that they know about Mata Nui?” “We know about him, and the island named after him” Celestia smiled, standing beside Faust, Shining Armour Flash Sentry, Luna and Cadance “Then you know about the ‘Brotherhood of Makuta,’ the ‘Dark Hunters,’ and the Order of Mata Nui’?” “We do, and we know about your actions in said universe” Faust smiled “not just with Artahka and Metamorphia, but your past actions, also” “Hey, if you want a monster, I’ll give you one” I smirked “How does one define a monster, in this case?” Blaze blinked “How, indeed,” I grinned, focusing on my shape-shifting abilities, changing into something new, and, obviously, untested “What is that!?” Shining Armour and Flash Sentry screamed, I blinked, looking down at myself “I do believe that the citizens of Rapture referred to them as ‘Big Daddies’” Blaze smirked “Meet Subject: Gamma” “This thing on?” I coughed in a somewhat guttural tone “Daddy,” Snowdrop gasped, climbing up the drill rather carefully, perching herself on my opposite shoulder “Are you Ok?” she placed a gentle hoof on the iron helmet that made up what seemed to be the entirety of my head, I gave a slow nod, my frame/structure now a crouched one being one of the ‘Bouncer’ class Big Daddies will do that for a human-turned-abomination “Looks like the perfect costume for Nightmare Night, wouldn’t thou say, Tia?” Luna giggled “I would, were it not for the fact that it might scare my little ponies witless” Celestia frowned “You obviously haven’t witnessed or heard of the Songbird then” I laughed as I gradually reverted to human form, Snowdrop clambered onto the back of my head, pecking one of my horns “Well, there goes my magical energy for the next hour,” I collapsed to my knees , kneeling on the floor “You scare me…” Flash Sentry fainted, whereas Shining Armour puked “I shan’t be using that form again then, Princesses” I gave a weak smile “Lord knows I need to break time and space just to repair my magic energy reserves, again” “Remember the last time you did that, Brother?” Blaze smirked “How was I to know what’d happen?” I raised an eyebrow “Rick, you bought back the dead,” she exclaimed “That’s both, time, space as well as reality” I blinked “And it’s probably your element of nature at work again, just like with snowdrop;” she smiled “If you try hard enough, and you can do anything, literally” “And assuming she comes here?” I grumbled “Well, Littlepip’s presence didn’t tear a hole in the fabric of reality itself, so I doubt that her being here would be any different” she shrugged “Ricky-o,” an unknown entity exclaimed, Snowdrop barely managed to get out of the way in time as I was knocked to the floor, the entity of which, when I glanced toward said entity, was revealed to be Chilly Pepper “How’ve ya been Rick?” Chilly Pepper giggled, standing beside me, pecking my cheek as I sat back upright “As good as I can be around Equestria I suppose” I shrugged “That’s always good to hear” she winked “So, what’s new in your life then, what discoveries have you made…?” -=-=- That night, I bolted upright, marching into the room with my family in as I heard a muffled screaming, marching toward my daughters’ room, the door was open, I stepped into the doorway, Snowdrop and the others were gagged, and the intruder was none other than Fluttershy’s ex-coltfriend, who had his equipment on show “Now you just be a good quartet of fillies and do as I say, yes?” he snarled, one karate-chop to the back of the head, and he was out like a light, quickly thrown out the front door, which was then locked behind me as I re-entered the house, sprinting upstairs into the fillies’ room, undoing their gags, draping my wings around my family as they clung onto me, tears streaming down their muzzles “It’s Ok; it’s ok,” I cooed, gently stroking each of their manes I looked up; Blaze was stood at the door, eyebrow raised “You know Fluttershy’s Ex-coltfriend?” I frowned; Blaze nodded “he’s just tried the unthinkable” “Rape?” she stared at me, I nodded again “Should I lock him in the storage room?” “If you would” I grinned =-=-= The following morning, Celestia and a few of her guards, Shining Armour included, came down on a pair of golden chariots, landing on the front lawn “So what’s this I hear of a recent attempt at rape?” Celestia frowned toward the stallion in question “I don’t know what you’re on about princess” he laughed, I sighed, reaching into my rucksack, sliding out an M6G sidearm, pressing it against the side of his temple “Lying to the princess, really,” I spat “Do it again, and we’ll see how far what little brains you have left fly out of your thick skull, be warned, I’m in a rather trigger-happy mood this morning, and I’d rather the lady of the sun not see such unnecessary gore and violence” “Alright, I did it!” he blurted out “that’s all I did though, I’ll admit that much?” “I wouldn’t agree with that, normally if such an event were to occur, I’d have been awake at the first whimper from any one of them, so what’d you do?” I growled “Anaesthetic” he mumbled “So, you have wife, foals, any family to speak of?” I snarled “I’ve a wife and foal, why?” he stammered Maybe I should get payback then?” I smirked “I have twelve rounds in this thing, how many is it going to take you to not do it again?” I grinned rather maniacally “Alright, I’ll not do it again!” he shrieked “I do believe he’s all yours princess, shackled and everything” I stepped back, Celestia raised an eyebrow as Shining Armour and the others hauled the stallion into the carriage “Did you have to do that?” Celestia frowned “Psychological warfare,” I shrugged “I’ll do what’s necessary to protect my family” “So you would” she hummed, teleporting away as the chariots took off for Canterlot (\_/) As I glided through the town, my family on my back, I noticed Rarity stood with Twilight and her friends, conversing as they stood beside a lavender and gold ‘wagon’ with a trio diamonds on either side in a scalene triangle pattern, with the diamonds in question on the sides in the centre of what looked like a glowing ring-shaped sun, the back ground of the inside of which was a bright lavender colour the golden frame was encrusted with gemstones of varying sorts, the bottom of which had pink drapes “What’s going on?” I glanced around the area, all across ponyville there were market stalls being set up around town “It’s the Foal and Filly Fair” Rarity chimed “Looks a little smaller than the rainbow falls during the exchange” I raised an eyebrow “It is somewhat similar yes,” she hummed “but I can’t help but feel as though it’s missing something” “How can it be,” Spike’s cheeks turned a pinkish-lilac colour as he turned his head, placing his hands behind his back as he tilted his foot somewhat “you’re the one making it” “And you can’t be any more obvious?” I stifled a laugh, he glared at me, I smirked, fists blazing, he took a large step backward as the fames around my claws dissipated “Well, you are my favourite dragon” Rarity cooed, nuzzling into Spike’s leg somewhat merrily, he gave a smug grin toward me, I shrugged “I could do better” I tilted a claw, my family safely landing on the ground as I reverted to human form, Snowdrop handing me the latest sets of artwork as she glided up to eye-level with me “Thank you, Snowdrop” I smiled “You’re welcome Daddy” she giggled as I handed Rarity the set of artworks “These are amazing,” Twilight and Rarity exclaimed as they unfolded the first two in the series of seven “You can keep them if you want” I bowed quickly “I’m thinking on how to do another, even greater one later this morning, I’ll see you later” “What do you think you’re doing?” Spike placed a hand on my shoulder as I turned to walk away “You want to start something in the middle of town, in front of possible four-thousand-and-six-plus ponies?” I frowned; he flinched, lowering his hand back by his side as I rolled my eyes, walking back to the house, sitting on the front lawn, getting ready for the next piece of artwork “Harsh, much,” Blaze sighed “It’s as if he’s asking for it, and, judging by last night’s activities, you’re no longer in the mood for it” she eyed up the M45 propped against the house right beside the door which was sat next the M6 Grindell /Galilean-nonlinear rifle “Indeed” I hummed, beginning my work on the new ‘project,’ making gradual progress as the minutes turned to hours, eventually finishing it The artwork in question was around three-to-four times larger than the usual work, and around five times more spectacular, but then again, that was my opinion “What’s that meant to be?” Blaze gawked at the art, giving an occasional blink “It’s Twilight, her friends, the princesses, Crystal, Angel and I, along with my family,” I pointed to each of the characters in turn “So it is” she nodded “Who’s this one going to?” “Rarity of course” I grumbled, standing upright, folding the artwork as I did so, walking toward the boutique, opening the door, only to come face-to-fabric with an absolute dump “What the hell?” Blaze blinked as we entered the boutique “Oh, I've never been better! This book you've given me is amazing! Why, I, I, I, I've been up all night just creating and creating and creating and creating! I've completed my fall line for the next fifteen seasons!” Rarity exclaimed “Wow!” Spike breathed “But then I started thinking, ‘why stop there,’ Oh, Spike, I've always thought this town of ours could use a few beautifying upgrades, and with this book, I can make that happen with such ease!” the alabaster mare gave a wicked leer “You will support me in this endeavour by letting me keep the book just a little longer?” she winked “Of course I will!” he beamed “I disagree, if being dishonest is going to let her keep the book, then honesty would be the best policy right now, for Rarity’s safety “besides, if it’s the book that’s doing this, then it should be sent back to wherever it came from, lest someone be corrupted” I frowned, taking the book from Rarity, turning and walking out of the boutique, carrying both it and the new portrait straight to the library, Spike sprinting after me alongside Blaze “Twilight, are you here?” I glanced about the library; the lavender mare in question appeared at the top of the stairs, making her way down to me “What is it Rick?” Twilight smiled, I handed her the book; she flipped it over, flitting through the pages “where’d you get this?” “You’d have to ask your local winged lizard” I shrugged “It’s been playing Rarity’s mind like a flute, apparently, inspiration manifestation, as it were” “I’d better write to the princess about it then,” she sighed, magicking up a quill and sheet of paper, writing a quick note, teleporting it elsewhere Moments later, the solar alicorn herself was present in the library’s lounge as Spike forced his way past me “I do believe you’ve a little explaining to do, Spike” Celestia smiled, Twilight passed her the book, the lady of the sun skimmed through it, quickly reading each page, closing it with a frown “Where did you get this?” “The castle of the alicorn sisters,” Spike stammered “I had hoped that nopony would be tempted to take heed to this witchcraft,” Celestia exhaled “And from the looks of things, it’s been driving Rarity loopy” I rolled my eyes, again “It’s creation magic; passed down from the eons of old” she began “a billion years ago, the eons attempted to put their magicka into words the result was the book you see before you” “I do believe there’s a phrase for this that needs to be said” “Blaze stood beside me “The ‘You’re dabbling with magic beyond your comprehension,’ sentence?” I raised an eyebrow, she nodded “And what do you plan to do?” Celestia smiled, again “Destroy the book; it’s the only thing we can do to make sure that nobody gets their mind turned to liquid shit”” Blaze declared “Pardon our language” I groaned “Of course,” she giggled, levitating the book toward me, I took it, walking unto the hill behind the library, holding it to one side, standing opposite Blaze, who exhaled her trademark golden flames over it, disintegrating it to little more than ash, walking back into the library alongside my sister “I believe there’s a lesson to be learnt here” Celestia nickered “Be honest with your friends when they’re doing something you don’t think is right?” I tilted my head “Quite so” she raised an eyebrow with a smirk “And you did -around five minutes ago, say that honesty was best policy” Blaze grinned, Twilight stared at me “What?” I blinked “do your parents not teach you these things?” she slowly shook her head “Three-nil,” Blaze laughed “you’re a demigod, dragon slayer, eon, and a wise-ass, that’s a new one” “Who’s the wise-ass?” I raised an eyebrow “Alright, I’ll admit that one, but you get the others” she smirked “I’ve just noticed something;” Twilight placed a hoof to her chin “the magic energy radiating from your being is somewhat denser, has something happened?” “Not at all” I glimmered “That’s obviously a lie” Spike scoffed “Oh, I’m obvious?” I grinned; “coming from the Romeo-wannabe I think that’s saying something” “There it is again” Twilight’s horn shone with a bright magenta aura “Celestia,” I nodded toward Twilight “Are you sure?” the solar goddess bit her lip, I nodded, yet again, she sighed, quickly explaining last night’s events “Sweet mother of faust,” Twilight gasped “Rick, I’m sorry to hear that”! “Not your fault,” I shrugged “I’m sorry” Spike mumbled, I rolled my eyes for a third time that day, turned round, and walked out, noticing Rainbow Dash wave toward me as I stormed toward the house, ignoring her and moving on, sitting on the front porch “Hey” Autumn Heart sat beside me “I heard about what happened last night, I’m sorry for what happened” “It’s as I said to Twilight, it’s not your fault” I draped a wing around her, Plaze patted my arm, I glanced toward her “I’ve just got an idea…” =-=-=-= This better work” I grumbled, hovering beside my friends, family, Autumn Heart included, Twilight, her friends, minus Fluttershy, the princesses, and Faust, Spike also included, on the hill behind the library “Why wouldn’t it, you can turn into the original Stardust Dragon just fine” Blaze shrugged “Touché” I sighed, oaring into the sky, my form glowing with a bright azure flame, my eyes shining like suns as I flew higher and higher “Burning desires and blazing stars, both of which leave a trail of the divine, come forth, evolution of light, Shooting Quasar Dragon!” I roared, my from transforming with an explosion of light “Did it work?” I blinked, lowering myself to the ground “I’ll say!” Blaze chortled as I looked down at my claws “I take it the smaller variant is because of the massive size of the dragon, and so my element, or abilities have shrunken it, as not to exhaust my magic energy levels” I tilted my head “You had to recite the subtitles from the episode?” she grinned “I felt as though it’d help” I folded my arms “So you did, Rick, so you did” she slowly shook her head “Never hath we seen such a strange dragon,” Luna hummed “Quite so,” Cadance giggled “it is indeed an oddity” “I’m still sentient you know?” I raised an eyebrow “Well yes, that’s how we made thee” Luna smiled, I frowned, focusing once again on my shape-shifting powers, my form changing t that of Alphamon with a flash of light “Well, I’m glad that worked” I clicked my neck, changing to my eon form, or so I thought at the time “Uh, Brother, “Blaze pointed toward my chest “What-?” I looked down at myself; I was still in Alphamon form, but with the shape of my eon form, minus the cape “Alright, I’ll try again,” I focused once again, my body fully reverting to my eon form, and then to my human form “I have to admit that was, interesting…”Blaze hummed “Part Alphamon, part eon form,” I raised an eyebrow “I’ll have to remember that one” “So, your Alphamon, eon, and human forms don’t use up any magic energy in morphing from one to the next?” Twilight raised an eyebrow “Unless they do, bu the change in my magic levels is minute to the point where I don’t notice anything,” I blinked “Twilight; I think you may be onto something” “Just how much magic does your changeling-esque ability take away anyways?” Blaze blinked “I guess I’ve never thought about it” I shrugged… -=- “We’ll start by measuring your magic level” Twilight smiled, connecting my horns to what looked like a beacon of sorts which was shaped like a curvaceous rook chess piece with a lavender orb hovering above it “All you have to do is fire an attack, and it’ll measure your magic level “If you say so”, I smirked “Eigo Hoseki Ryū no,” I grinned inhaling Hokou!” I roared, exhaling a vast torrent fire into the sky “That’s…” Autumn Heart gaped at the eight-digit number hovering above the orb “Thirty-two-million, Three-hundred and eighty-nine-thousand, two-hundred and ninety-one magicka” Twilight gasped “That’s nothing,” I snorted “I’m guessing the average Great Being’s level is around a billion?” I glanced toward Celestia “Closer to a trillion, actually” Celestia smiled, I smiled, triggering dragon force, releasing the same torrent of flames toward the sky, the number above the now pulsating lavender orb both literally and figuratively tripled “Fifty-five-million,” Twilight loudly exclaimed “Looks like the theory of ‘Dragon Force’ doubling the user’s physical and magical prowess has been proven” Blaze whistled “What’s the average pony’s level?” Kiary smirked from atop my shoulder as she perched herself upon it “Around a hundred,” Celestia smiled, casting a moment’s glance toward Twilight “Twilight’s is around ten times that” “But if the elements of nature were said to be stronger than an actual alicorn?” Blaze blinked “She said average alicorn, they could be weaker, they could be stronger, most likely the latter” I smiled “that being said…” =-= As we stood in the arena, I removed my upper attire, discarding it into my inventory “This should be fun” I gave a smug grin, focusing once more as my wings retracted into my back, replaced by twin pairs of my arms bursting from the shoulders, the four new appendages looking completely metallic “The flames in the right hands, and the flames in the left,” I grinned, summoning large fireballs around each hand “put the six together, and this is what you get, slamming them together with their opposites, merging them into one, gigantic fireball, concentrating even further, I noticed the blazing sphere shrinking, down to the size of a tennis ball “Crystal Dragon’ God’s Ultimate Inferno!” “How in Equestria,” Twilight shrieked “Magic” I grinned, my arms seemingly disintegrating as my wings quickly replaced them m, exploding forth from my back, still holding the small, highly-reactive, fireball “Six brilliant flames rolled into one…” Blaze whistled “Moeru Rasengan, much?” “I know, right?” I laughed “So, twice you’ve claimed that you’re unlike Asura, and yet you utilize the same abilities?” she smirked, the fireball in my hands slowly dissipating as she spoke “I could’ve had that one pony’s insides decorated along the walls of my house” I raised an eyebrow “Touché” she shuddered “Had whose insides?” Rainbow Dash blinked as I replaced my shirt and clockwise jacket, Snowdrop perching herself upon the back of my head, as per the usual, and Winter Bell and Gracy Gloom perched themselves unto my shoulders, also, as per the usual, Blaze quickly explained the events of the recent night-time “Oh…” “You’d have done that, of all things?” the Typhlosion now stood beside me placed a gentle paw on my shoulder “Give me an instrument with a sharp edge, and you’d be surprised at what I can do for my family” I frowned “Somewhat sick, somewhat reassuring” she laughed -=-=-=- As I walked alongside Blaze, Snowdrop and the others, entering the castle’s gardens, I held out the latest set of artworks, which Celestia levitated them toward her, hanging them in mid-air , parting them top either side of herself and Luna “These are rather interesting works,” Celestia smiled, changing to her anthro form alongside Luna as they made their way toward me, carrying them with her “you wouldn’t have been inspired by the events most-recent, would you?” “I might’ve been” I smirked, glancing toward the portrait of Snowdrop sat upon Ceres’ back “How can one be as kind as you are?” she stood before me “Rick could ask you the same thing, just as Sylgja asked us” Blaze gave a sly grin “Sylgja,” Luna raised an eyebrow “Look, I was at Shor’s Stone they had an infestation in the mines, which I promptly cleared out, and one thing led to another” I mumbled “So I see” Celestia nickered, teleporting us, Twilight having joined me on the tip to canterlot alongside Applejack, Rarity and Rainbow Dash, for me to fall down a small, deep hole “Tia, we asked for thou to remove thine cannon!” Luna blared “It’s not a problem” I smiled, my arms turning a shining charcoal-black as I made indents in the walls of the ‘cannon,’ using said indents as footholds, climbing up to ground level, my arms colour, returning to normal once I was out, grabbing the sides of the cannon’s end, tensing my muscles, ripping it out, of the floor, sending it flying through one of the windows “How the hay did you manage that?” Rainbow Dash gawked at me “Demigod, remember?” Blaze beamed “True as it may be, I shan’t use my title as an excuse for anything, Blaze” I frowned “Speaking of,” she cracked a wide grin “how exactly do you excuse breaking several windows by means of cannon-throwing?” “I’m just trying to make sure that nobody ends up with a broken bone, or two, or more” I shrugged “You’re fired” she grinned “Since when do you call the shots around here, Blaze?” I laughed “That was awful, brother, truly, a pun of sheer dread” she shuddered “You started it” I gave a sly smirk “Says he who rips cannons from castle floors” she chortled “Touché, but only so others don’t get injured from the fall” I rolled my eyes “Always thinking about others, even in the most critical and awkward of situations” Blaze smirked “that’ll come back and bit you in the arse sooner or later, brother” “I told Littlepip, and now I’ll tell you,” I sighed “I failed once, and I have no intention of doing so again” “Touché” she gave a curt nod “But, technically you didn’t fail, ergo,” she pointed a somewhat accusing paw toward Celestia “Wait,” she blinked “if you and Lulania, or whatever her name is, had Faust, who then had Celestia and Nyx, and they created you, doesn’t that mean that, by the transitive property, you’re the reason for your own existence?” “Now that’s interesting” I whistled, glancing around the room “I must say I think what she did with the castle is somewhat, intriguing” “And somehow, I don’t think you throwing armaments through windows is going to help, Brother” Blaze laughed “Touché…” -=-=- The following night, I was awoken by a strange noise, oh that bumbling cliché… As I slowly made my way through the house, I noticed the kitchen door ajar, with the light turned on, wielding an actual lightsaber, I peered into the room, quickly sheathing the light blade on sight of Snowdrop making herself a glass of water “What time is it?” Snowdrop blinked as she turned to face me “Two in the morning” I gave a weak smile “Ok Daddy” she giggled, hovering/gliding/flying back to her room, turning the light off as she left -0=0- Seeing as I spent the rest of the night sat on the base of the stairs, it was no surprise that Snowdrop glided down said stairs, landing on the back of my head “Good morning Daddy” Snowdrop smiled, nuzzling into the top of my head “Good morning Snowy” I simpered “What’re we going to do today Daddy?” She giggled, pecking one of my horns “The usual” I smiled, changing to eon form as Scootaloo, Winter Bell, and Gracy Gloom landed on my back and neck respectively as they glided down the stairs -=- After the occupants of the house –myself included, had had a ‘hearty’ breakfast, I headed with my family to canterlot “I think you need a new set of attire, darling” Rarity gave a weak smile as she and I walked through ponyville “So I do” I chuckled as she opened the door to a strange, white building that was almost cylindrical in shape with a deep, purple, pointed-dome roof, gesturing for me to enter “Have you any designs in mind, Rick?” she smiled, handing me a quill, inkpot and paper,, the paper of which I set down on the ‘podium’ -assuming one would be able to call it that, quickly jotting down a design not unlike Minato Namizake’s cape/cloak, but with various other items of clothing instead of the usual regalia, and with upward-pointing spikes running along the bottom of the cloak rather than crimson flames, with two sets of twin rubies studded in either side of the collar “That’s rather…” Rarity trailed off “exotic, I’ll certainly do my best, now if you’ll only step over here” she guided me to a cylindrical stand, tapping it with a hoof “Wouldn’t mind at all” I smiled again “Now could you please remove your clothes?” she smiled back I did so, albeit, reluctantly, removing all but my shorts “How much do I owe you?” I tilted my head as she levitated a measuring tape around me, quickly taking my dimensions “Not a bit,” Rarity chimed “I refuse to charge my friends anything, should they request for one of my works” she added with a gracious smile, placing the measuring tape on a nearby table” you can move now” “And I insist otherwise, on the payment I mean” I grinned quickly redressing myself “Oh alright then, seeing as it’s you, Tsuko” she giggled “come back by next weeks’ end, and I’ll have ten sets all ready for you” “You’re a master at your craft Rare’s” I winked, vacating the boutique, noticing a flush of red on the seamstress’s cheeks as I left After scouring the area around the everfree forest, I found several piles of gems hidden under small piles of dirt, buried there Placing said gems into my rucksack, I walked back to ponyville -=- At next weeks’ end, I ventured toward the boutique, only to find Twilight and her friends conversing with the alabaster unicorn mare at the front door “Ah Rick, you’re here” Rarity smiled, leading the six of us into the boutique “That I am” I smiled as she rolled out a set of clothes hangers on a steel frame “Now, our deal?” she nickered, I poured the gems from my rucksack out onto a nearby table “Fair enough…” she blinked, levitating one of the sets of clothing toward me, gesturing toward a changing room, which I entered, carrying the clothes with me, quickly changing into the new set of attire, applying the leather straps to the arms of the cloak, also changing to the matte-black, open-toed sandals after placing the new trousers, wearing the shirt under the cloak, as per the obvious “You look, stunning!” Rarity exclaimed with apparent glee as I stepped forward from the changing room “That’s amazing,” Twilight gasped, eyeing me up and down, glancing toward Rarity, then toward me again “how long did it take you to do this?” “Just over a week and a half,” Rarity smiled “Really Twilight, you doubt my capabilities?” “Not at all, it’s just that I’ve never seen works such as this” Twilight gestured toward me “That’s because I’m the only human in Equestria, to my knowledge” I rolled my eyes “Of course, how silly of me” she gave a light giggle, her cheeks turning a mild pink tinge Just at that moment Celestia appeared via teleportation “Yo” I gave a small wave, she sat on her haunches “And just where did you get that, Rick?” she raised an eyebrow “Rarity made it for me, with the right payment of course” I glanced toward Rarity, whose cheeks were a bright scarlet colour “Well then, I may need your talent sometime at the gala, Rarity”, the alabaster unicorn in question; fainted “So, Princess, what brings you down here in such a hurry?” I smiled, yet “Why on Thor’s golden Asgard do you look like Minato Namizake?” Blaze laughed “That’s unintentional” I grinned “So you say” she gave a slow, curt nod “Shut it, fire-hazard” I tutted “Says the humanoid dragon” she folded her arms “Pyro” “Lizard-features” “Overgrown ferret” “Lanky” “Torch” -=- “So, what happens now?” Blaze tilted her head “Question of my life, if ever there was one” I laughed as we ventured through the Everfree forest, into the castle, through the corridors and into the library “What’re we looking for?” Twilight blinked “Something that should’ve been shown to the public” my ears twitched, pulling me toward a certain book Pulling the book from the shelf, a slightly rusted key fell from the gap between the pages and the spine, I quickly took it, fists now blazing; the flames of which being absorbed by the key, which began to pull back toward the throne room, once there, my vision instantly cut to black =-=-= When my vision blurred, I bolted upright, only to be held down by a gentle hoof, that of which belonged to a bright; vivid green unicorn mare with a cobalt mane, tail and white butterfly wings “Easy there, friend” the pony smiled “Where am I?” I blinked “You’re in Flutter valley,” the winged unicorn giggled “I’m Radiance, who might you be?” “Rick” I held out a hand, which she gingerly shook as the door to the wooden hut we were in opened, revealing my family, who bounded toward me, clinging onto me, clambering unto my back, neck and head respectively +-+ As we -my family, friends, Twilight, her friends and Spike, stood beside Radiance as well as the princesses and Faust “It’s all true then” I chuckled nervously “the changelings, Queen Rosedust, Discord’s reign; all of it, including the princess’ betrayal of the queen” “What betrayal?” Twilight blinked “I see she hasn’t told you anything” I rolled my eyes “the flutterponies, or changelings, as they’re now called, were a peaceful race, living in a place called ‘flutter valley’ until Celestia and Luna came along, Discord chasing after them, basically selling them out to remake the elements” “’tis a LIE,” Luna yelled “if we hadn’t of come, Discord would still be ruling Equestria!” “And what of the changelings’ sake,” I growled “Rosedust had a kingdom, countless ponies that trusted her to save them! When she came to you for help, you and Celestia left them! Abandoned them! And worse, you rejected them and left them to rot in the wasteland that used to be their home! They were ponies, too; where was your love then!?” “You know of her majesty?” Radiance gasped as a large crowd of unicorns, all mares with butterfly wings of varying colours surrounded us “I’ve heard legends” I gave a slow nod “about how the flutter ponies were mutated, changed into what they are on Equis, but that can’t be right if what chrysalis told me is true” At that moment, a large, alabaster unicorn with a flowing ruby mane and tail with sapphire eyes wearing a crown of mistletoe upon her head, and a pair of primrose-golden butterfly wings upon her back “I am Rosedust, queen of Flutter Valley, state your business and intentions at once” the newcomer snapped “Rick, Ex-knight of Equestria, human, eon, and dragon slayer,” I bowed “and these are my friends and family” “So you say” she gave a faint smile “So, what’s a human doing, here of all places?” “We came through a portal of sorts, guided to said portal by a key from an old tome,” I explained “you’ve heard of my kind before?” “Last time I saw one of you was back at around two-hundred-million years past” she laughed “Welcome to the valley, Sir Rick” “So, is this another country, or another world?” Twilight held a nervous hoof above the rest of her “It is both, and neither,” Rosedust smiled “I’m sure your human friend can figure it out, little one” “It’s an alternate reality” I stared at the winged unicorn stood before me “Not the first one I’ve been to, but an interesting one nonetheless” “That it is, Sir Rick” she glimmered “we’re pocketed away here from the rest of Equis, and from the Lord of Chaos that is Discord” “He’s been taken care of, and shall be again, I can assure you, your majesty” I smiled in return “Thank you, Sir Rick” she giggled “Just ‘Rick’ will suffice, Queen Rosedust” I rolled my eyes “I’ll do as you say if you can call me Rosedust” she winked “That I will, Rosedust” I grinned “Come, I have yet to give you a proper welcome according to a being of you and your friends” she smiled, hovering, in mid-air, taking off toward a castle on a nearby hill, I quickly flew after her “Is this the human you told me about, mother?” a creamy-white unicorn with a deep indigo mane and tail with snow-white butterfly wings nickered as she eyed me up and down, now in eon form, my friends and family standing beside me “It is, my dear Tulia” Rosedust, ‘Tulia’ ‘squee’d’ charging toward me, clinging onto me as she tackled me to the floor, dragging me via magic into one of the spare bedrooms… -=- “Not even here for two hours, and you’ve already gone and been bedded with an apparently beautiful mare” Blaze smirked “I don’t see anyone else complaining” Rosedust smiled “I’d say you’re a natural,” Tulia giggled, pecking my cheek “Not sure how to reply to that” I past her a sideways glance “Just go with it, isn’t that how you usually work, brother?” Blaze gave a sly grin “Not really…” I muttered “Can I go back to Equis, with you by my side?” Tulia nuzzled into me “I don’t see why not” I bit my lip “I shall allow it, but you must promise to keep her safe, stud” Rosedust gave a light frown “What?” I blinked “Oh don’t play dumb with me, human, I could hear you from all the way down the hall” she smirked, teleporting the two of us back to the bedroom as her horn flashed a brilliant snow-white colour… =-= “Twice within three hours?” Blaze chortled “Three times actually” Tulia pecked my cheek “Is there some way to open a portal between worlds, Cellsy?” I gave a faint smile “There is, but it’ll require some of your magic to keep it stable” Celestia grinned -=-=- After using several gem dragons’ roar’s too keep the portal stable, we –my friends, Twilight her friends, the princesses Faust and Tulia- ventured through “Where are we now?” Tulia blinked “The castle in the Everfree” I smiled, leading the group alongside my family friends and Blaze toward Ponyville “This is Ponyville?” she tilted her head, I, alongside Blaze and Co; had given a quick briefing on the equestrian landmarks and the history of what’d happened in the past millennia, Nyx’s exile included “Pinkie, don’t you have a party you could be throwing?” I smirked toward the Pinkie Pie, who blinked, then gleamed from ear to ear, and then sped off in a pinkish lightning-like blur “Where’d she go?” Tulia stared at me “You’ll see” I winked “Is that an alicorn?” one pony stopped and stared alongside what seemed to be the whole towns’ citizens “Can’t be, it doesn’t have the right wings” another blinked “But what is she then?” a third eyed Tulia from hoof-to-horn-tip “I’m Princess Tulia, co-ruler of Flutter Valley alongside Queen Rosedust” Tulia bowed with a gracious smile in that instant, all who stood before us dropped to the floor in bowing toward the flutterpony =-=-= “Rick!” a familiar brown unicorn with a flowing chocolate brown mane and tail charged toward me, knocking me to the ground, again “Hello to you also, Autumn Heart,” I chuckled as she clung onto me, sitting upright, stroking her mane “I missed you, Rick” she nuzzled into me, pecking her lips on mine “You’re herding?” Tulia gave me a sly smirk “Somewhat” I tilted a hand, Littlepip and Velvet Remedy sat either side of me, leaning into me “What’s going on here?” I turned; Natsu and Erza were stood, staring at me “You, her, she, they…” Natsu pointed at me, then Autumn Heart, and then toward Littlepip and Velvet Remedy “Don’t, say, anything” I growled “Speaking of which, how’s Lyra?” “Pyro,” a minty-green unicorn with a mane and tail of the same colour with white highlights leapt toward the fire dragon slayer “How are ya Natsu?” Lyra giggled “I’m fine” Natsu grumbled, glowering at me “Hiya Ricky-o,” Lyra clambered down to the floor “How ‘bout a three way?” she pointed toward Natsu, who fainted with a pale green expression of horror plastered upon his face, I gave her my best ‘are you serious!?’ look, a cute giggle was her only response “Did you have to do that?” I grunted “Why not,” she nickered “You ponies are insane; and coming from me, that’s saying something” I laughed “Indeed,” Celestia smiled “You should’ve seen what we found in the library” Blaze gave a smug grin toward Twilight “What’d you find?” Erza smirked “Why don’t you ask lavender here?” I gestured with a wing toward the bookish mare with a sly smirk “Why me,” Twilight had a look of horror struck upon her muzzle “It’s your house, you room, and your doll, not mine” “You keep a doll? Of Rick..?” Celestia blinked, staring down toward the librarian “Yes…” Twilight cowered low on the ground “And you don’t mind?” she glanced toward me “Not really,” I shrugged “Sparky’s gonna do what Sparky’s gonna do” “So I see” she nickered “Next thing you’ll be telling us is that Twilight rode lightning “I did” Twilight gave a nervous smile “Laxus would be proud; you’ve possibly broken the sound barrier in the form of a thunderbolt travelling at one-thousandth of a second travelling faster than sound” I glimmered, draping my wings around the lavender mare “Though I must ask, how are you still in one piece, much less not, Y’know, somewhat toasted?” “Magic” she giggled “She mastered heaven’s gate,” Celestia simpered “a spell I and Luna long thought impossible” “Insert Gurren Lagann quote here” Blaze glanced toward me, I nodded “Quite so” I grinned “So this is the town aptly named ‘Ponyville’?” I turned, there was a young man in his mid-twenties with golden-yellow hair, deep crimson trousers, a black t-shirt with a grey fur coat so dark it was almost black, finishing rthe portrait of a man were the twin black boots and brown eyes, I bolted to my feet as Snowdrop landed upon my head “Laxus,” I nodded “Pyro” he gave a faint nod in return, glancing toward the fallen dragon slayer “What’s the salamander doing in broad daylight?” “How does one explain that he’s in a relationship with a pony?” I gulped audibly “And,” he raised an eyebrow “Said pony,” I gestured toward Lyra “has asked the impossible of him, or so it’d appear” “If that’s what happened” he rolled his eyes “So, you’re the lightning dragon slayer?” Twilight “I am, and what has the local Pyro told you?” he glanced toward me, then toward Twilight “That you almost beat Natsu and Gajeel..?” Twilight stammered “True, but that was several years ago” Laxus sighed “Not to mention that you beat the whole of what Ivan called his so-called ‘elite’ within the space of a minute-and-a-half” I gleamed “Ricky-o,” a familiar silver Pegasus mare with a mane and tail of gold soared toward me, knocking the wind out of me, clinging onto me “I missed you Rick, so has Dinky, she’s been talking about you non-stop, and about how you stopped her being bullied!” “I’m sorry I didn’t get to show up to take care of her at the gala, what with my organs being instantaneously melted and all” “You what,” she gasped, tears beginning to cloud her eyes as I sat cross-legged, “My insides were -and this is putting it bluntly, turned to liquid shit” I deadpanned “How’re you still Ok?” she cried as Luna teleported away alongside Cadance and Faust “My physiology and DNA was fused with that of a rubber tree, to put it briefly” I stroked her mane “Is that why you were gone for two years?” she sobbed “I’m afraid so Derpy, I’m afraid so” I stated somewhat sombrely, letting her cry to her heart’s content her tears soaking my new jacket/cloak -=-=- “I have come, for the princes, and trash such as the likes of you shan’t get in my way” “WHAT!?” Rainbow screamed with anger. “You understand now? That crushing feeling when everything you love has been stolen away from you by forces you can’t control. The only way you can understand why I do what I do is feel it yourself. This feeling right here, this is why Celestia must pay!” “You… What did Celestia do to you to make you hate her so much?” “Celestia… She… She killed my little brother!” Everyone gasped. The filly had a tear coming from her eye. “You don’t know Celestia like I do. She is a heartless monster who rules over this land with an iron hoof. She is just biding her time until I am gone. Once I am out of the picture, you’ll be nothing but slaves to her. She doesn’t care about anyone but herself and that is why I must destroy her. Once I do, Equestria will finally be liberated and everypony can control their own life…” “You have it all wrong…” I frowned, the filly stared at me curiously “Celestia may have made a few mistakes but she is different now; she understands she made a mistake and now she has to live with it for the rest of her life knowing all the pain she caused. She wants nothing but to keep her ponies safe” “How would you know?” “I know because she told me all about you… Midnight Rose…” “Midnight Rose?” Rainbow asked “Nice to hear that tyrant still remembers my name” she spat “Yes, I am in fact Midnight Rose, the same one who attempted to liberate Equestria all those years before!” Midnight Rose glowered toward Celestia as Twilight, her friends, my friends and family, Spike, the princesses Faust, and Lulania stood in the throne room “You mean destroy it!” I yelled “What you consider destroy, I consider liberate; you know I am not the only one who wants Celestia gone right, while many ponies seem very fond of her, in truth they are scared of her power and would never openly admit to despising her guts. It’s not just her selfish behavior all those years ago; there are many things she has done” she “Then explain to me…” I sighed “For starters, she doesn’t even have the guts to protect her own ponies; she sits back in Canterlot while she lets her little ‘Harmony Squad’ do all the dirty work for her. What do you think she does during all your battles?” “You’re the reason she can’t fight, because of you, she is too scared to fight” I scowled “You say that she doesn’t deserve to rule Equestria, well now you have her thinking it too; she doesn’t believe she has the power to protect anypony anymore and she is afraid that fighting will one day turn her into a monster like Discord” “She is already a monster; once the deed is done, there is no going back” Midnight Rose snarled “she must atone for her crimes; for she may have defeated me all those years ago but now I am stronger than ever!” Midnight arched her back and roared into the sky The very ground beneath her shook with the full force of her power as a dark aura surrounded her and I could swear I saw her eyes flash red for a moment “Now that my true identity has been revealed, I don’t have to hold back anymore, even though this mortal body is unable to control my full power, this should be more than enough to destroy you; and now I want you to see just what you and the Princess are in for; Human!” “Say another word about Cellsy, I dare you” I spat, unleashing energy to the point where I felt I was going supernova, the ground shook with a grade nine-on-the-Richter-scale earthquake as the walls and windows cracked “You’re going to harm a filly?” Blaze glanced toward me with a look of worriment plastered across her features “No mere filly could cause the earth to shake and the heavens to split apart like that, Blaze” I glared icy daggers at the ‘filly’ “However,” my blazing aura of raging crimson flames dissipated with a slight breeze “violence will get us nowhere, sister,” “So what should we do?” she blinked, I winked “Oh,” she blinked again “oh….” “You hate Celestia, right, for what she did to your brother, yes?” I bit my lip “What of it?” Midnight Rose chided “You think that getting your revenge on the six gods of Equis is going to help you with your goals, I call it childish, a fool’s errand, I want to know what exactly happened between you two all those years ago, and why you’re on somewhat of a rampage to get what you want, if you so wish to end a life, you can start with me, if you feel as though you’ve got the balls” “You dare question me!?” she bellowed “No, I’m testing your capabilities, Rose” I smiled, holding my arms out at either side “Have at me, Midnight” all of a sudden I felt a cold sensation wrack through my body as the filly’s body collapsed to the floor “Now we have your warrior, Celestia, what’ll you do now?” Midnight Rose spoke through me, turning to face the princesses, drawing the Dawnbreaker, holding it against her/my throat “take a single step and he dies!” “Rick, why do this?” Celestia’s eyes were clouded with tears which slowly began to fall down her muzzle “Shows how much he cares for you, doesn’t it?” Midnight Rose growled “Go on then, show how much of a god you think you are, if you’ve got the testicular fortitude” Blaze snarled “I’ll do it!” she barked “Go ahead, see if I care” Blaze shrugged There was awkward silence as everyone in the room stared at Blaze in sheer horror “It’s true…” Midnight began to cry, dropping the Dawnbreaker, collapsing to our/her knees “I’ve never hurt anypony in my life!” there was another cold sensation wracking through my body as Midnight’s spirit left my body, hovering as a pony-shaped aura before me “That stung a little” I groaned, clicking my shoulders, neck, and back “Human,” the spirit of Midnight Rose cooed “I have one request before I leave, as you have proven that I’m incapable of murder; and anything of the sort” “What is it?” “Put me to rest, would you?” she smiled “I’d be honoured” I nodded, drawing the Daybreaker, pointing it forward alongside the Dawnbreaker “Dragon soul!” Suddenly a burst of energy erupted from both swords as they melded into one, with a handle, hilt and parts of the edge of the blade covered in what looked like divine gold-steel the rest of it being made of energy, the three symbols on either side of the bottom of the blade resembling Celestia’s cutie mark, a short thin delta arrow, and the symbol of an eon’s head and to ‘top it all off,’ so to speak; the blade itself measured in at around seven feet “Kami no shinken; Shinsei danzoku!” I roared (Divine God’s Sword Nova-Breaker!) “Thank you, Human” Midnight cooed once more as she faded into energy, said energy was seemingly absorbed by the Nova-breaker “Amazing,” Faust breathed in unison with Cadance and Lulania, and just at that moment a beam of angelic light burst forth from the tip of the blade, creating a tunnel through the ceilings, floors and roof-tiles above us, and, as the beam faded, the Nova-breaker split back to its fusion material parts “Well that was anticlimactic” Blaze frowned “I know, right?” I rolled my eyes “and to think we just got this castle rebuilt…” “Didst, thou hath to sacrifice thyself for us?” Luna gave a faint smile “Would you rather I let you fall victim to a would be psychopath, Luna?” I frowned “We can do more than take care of ourselves, Sir Rick” “‘Sir’ Rick,” I raised an eyebrow “I’m no longer a knight, you and Cellsy saw to that”, I turned, sheathing both the Daybreaker and the Dawnbreaker, changing to eon form, my family quickly leaping unto my head, neck and back respectively “My scales may be black, but that needn’t mean that my heart is as well<” I went on, glancing toward the lunar alicorn “can you say the same?” And with that I left, Blaze strolling alongside me as I vacated the castle -=- As I warped through time and space, my family going with myself and Blaze, I landed/hovered in place upon a wide stage with a just-as-wide table set upon said stage “Where are we?” Blaze shuddered “My guess, Bronycon” I grumbled “Who are you?” A human dressed as Celestia stared at me alongside a Luna cosplayer “Rick?” I rolled a claw, my family, sans Snowdrop, leaping to the floor of the stage as I reverted to human form “It’s him” someone from the crowd gasped “He’s got the horns, wings and appearance, but does he have the powers?” a second human hummed, I quickly lit-up-and dissipated a flame around my hands “so he does” “It’s the Eon of Equis!” a third cheered What followed was a series of Q-and-A sessions, photographs and autograph signings “We’ve got a little something we’d like to give you, for your dedication” A red-haired woman with deep, rich sapphire eyes smiled as a team of three people carried a ten-by-six portrait of my human and eon form, split straight down the middle, with Snowdrop atop my head, with Kiary on one shoulder and Winter Bell hovering beside me opposite Scootaloo and beside Gracy Gloom, the portrait in question was framed with mahogany with a Plexiglas cover, it was also signed by each of the main cast of the MLP series, what finished the picture itself was Celestia hovering in one corner with the sun in the absolute corner, and Luna in the other with the moon, and Faust in the centre with a sun placed behind a crescent moon, the words, ‘Harmony~And~Nature’ was placed between the wooden frame and Faust “Thank you,” I bit my lip, ‘pursing’ them inward “thank you all for this, really” “We’d do anything for our little Eon of Equis” a golden-blonde haired woman wearing jeans, sandals, and a red vest smiled, pecking my cheek “Thank you Tara” I smiled “You’re quite welcome, Rick, or is it Teslakana?” she giggled “I’ll see you next year, probably” I chuckled “oh, but before I go,” I handed her the doll that Twilight kept in her room, that of which was in the shape of my eon form “Thank you” she cooed “See you later” I changed to eon form, my family retaking their palces upon my back and neck as I held onto the portrait, warping back to Ponyville =-= “Where have you been?” Twilight glared icily toward me, glancing toward the portrait “Nowhere important” I winked “Where did you get that?” she snapped, pointing an accusing hoof toward the portrait “Nowhere important” I reiterated “Is that all you’re going to say when I ask you a question?” she grumbled somewhat agitatedly “No” I smirked “Good” she frowned “How long have I been gone?” I rolled my eyes “A whole week” she glowered frigidly toward me “Time seems to travel faster here than it does on earth-” Blaze quickly silenced herself “You went back to earth!?” Twilight bellowed “I don’t need to be looked after like an infant, Sparkles, get used to it” I scoffed “Celestia’s been going mental recently after your disappearance!” she shrieked “I wondered why she said that your magic signature left Equestria!” “I said I quit, I kind of meant it” I sighed “How can you be so cruel?” she scowled “Because I’m human, oh wait, I’m not, I’m just some freak who got manipulated into coming back here so that Celestia could get what she wanted from me, and after creating me with the DNA of an individual of almost every sentient creature in the universe no less!” I lectured “are you happy that I am the way I am, because I’m not the one to blame for my existence!” I continued “with the way things are going around here, I’d rather be back at earth, with my proper family, it may just be my dad, but I suppose I could live with that, and Snowdrop and the others too” “And what, of Crystagia?” she stared at me with a look of apparent fear “I think she’d be happy enough knowing that I’m safe, be it here or on Earth” I growled, she shook her head, sprinting toward the library “And here I thought you humans couldn’t get any weirder” Blaze laughed “I’m wondering where to hang this” I nodded toward the portrait “How about in the bedroom, I’m sure the ceiling’s high enough, and that anything that might be in the way can be removed” “Agreed, but maybe later" I shrugged “Looks perfect, Brother” Blaze smiled “So it does” I simpered “So, what’re we going to do about sunbutt?” Blaze sat beside me on the front lawn “I couldn’t honestly care less” I glanced toward my sister “Is that true?” I turned; Celestia was stood there beside Twilight “I said it once, I’m not saying it again” I exhaled sharply “Twilight tells me that you went to earth, did you?” Celestia looked mortified “What I do is none of your business,” I snapped “I care about you, why can’t you see that?” she flinched “You’re not my mother, nor my creator,” I tutted “You’re a shell of what you were, Cellsy, I suggest you revert to how you were before you wound up in this state” “I was your lover once, I can be again,” she lay on the grass before me “do you wish to restart our relationship, Rick?” “Snowdrop, what did I say not ten minutes ago?” I grunted “Twilight asked you how you could be so cruel; to which you said, and I quote; ‘Because I’m human, oh wait, I’m not, I’m just some freak who got manipulated into coming back here so that Celestia could get what she wanted from me, and after creating me with the DNA of an individual of almost every sentient creature in the universe no less!” I lectured “are you happy that I am the way I am, because I’m not the one to blame for my existence!” I continued “with the way things are going around here, I’d rather be back at earth, with my proper family, it may just be my dad, but I suppose I could live with that, and Snowdrop and the others too’” “You’re not my son” Chapter XXI; Alternate Equis...“So, are we ready for the Equestria games?” Shining Armour yelled into a microphone in the centre of the stadium in the Crystal Empire “Are we ready to light the torch?” he turned to Spike “Ha, who needs a torch?” I laughed, fists blazing as I hovered below the crystalline chalice, inhaling, and then exhaling a narrow stream of crimson flames into the bowl of the cup, lighting the double helical ‘spires’ that bent in opposing directions at either side of the chalice, and the ornate carved structure that started from the centre-on-upward, leaping through the flames, changing to Alphamon form as I came into contact with the blood-red fire -=- “Sabotaging the games, eh Brother?” Blaze chortled as we made it back to Canterlot after the games’ passing “Maybe” I winked “If they wanted someone to light the torch, they could’ve easily asked either me or Natsu, I mean, yes, I may be a pain in the arse, and yes, I may be unpredictable, but at least we’re reliable when people need us” “Prove it” Twilight half-smirked, half-frowned “I sorted out that mess in Africa, didn’t I?” I tilted my head ever-so slightly “Don’t remind me…” she mumbled “putting that aside, what else have you done?” “You’d have to ask my superiors, I don’t want to risk letting slip of the tongue, and allowing classified material to be brought to the public” “Fair enough,” she leapt unto my back, draping her arms around my neck “My stallion” “After all that I’ve done, you’d still take me over anyone else?” I glanced back at her with a relatively shocked expression “It’s not what you do, it’s who you are,” she giggled, “Isn’t that what you taught us, Rick?” “So it is, Sparkles, so it is,” I sighed “Ricky-o,” a nearby mare exclaimed with glee, Twilight glanced backward, then leapt down to the ground Turning around, I was promptly knocked to the ground by Autumn Heart “Where have you been?” Autumn Heart lavished my face and neck with small, ye affectionate, kisses “I’m sorry Autumn Heart, what with the Equestria games and all” I bit my lip “Then I forgive you,” she nickered with a cute giggle “but where, were you the week before?” “Earth, but only for a little while, I’m sorry for not telling you, my little tinker” I GAVE A SLY SMIRK “My little Ricky-o” she winked =-= As we entered the throne room, I was met by the icy glare of Celestia, along with the faint smiles of Faust, Luna and Cadance “Sensing a dense atmosphere in here Daddy” Snowdrop glided unto my head “How could you?” Celestia snarled “It’s called freedom; you’d be surprised what we humans had to do for it a few hundred years back,” I quipped “And whilst we’re at it insert comment about how humans having rights and freedom of both actions and speech wouldn’t mean a damn thing on Equis” “You’re acting like a child” she scoffed “Coming from th one who ruined my early life just to get me back?” I boomed “I think you’re being a little hypocritical, Princess” “One-nil to Daddy” Snowdrop chimed “Thank you Snowy” I smiled “You’re welcome Daddy” she squee’d as she smiled with a gracious glimmer “I would reply to that, but all I’d get is a comment on how I’m corrupting you, my dear little Snowflake” I snorted, Celestia’s horn began to glow, AND Snowdrop hovered above me “turn it off or I break it off, or are you also going to attempt to take my life, just I’m different, or because you don’t like me, I can handle both, Celestia, so go ahead, do your worst” “I’m seeing something here,” Snowdrop chimed once again as Luna levitated her carefully to the ground via a dark/neon cobalt magic aura, the Pegasus in question then retook her place upon my head “This is like when Twilight and her friends met Zecora, they hated and feared her because she wasn’t like them, and thus, avoided her, now, are you going to do the same, Princess Celestia, or are you going to grow up and do as Daddy once advised you to do, get over it and move on?” “One-nil Snowdrop” I laughed “Thank you Daddy” Snowdrop giggled “You’re welcome, my little Snowflake” I winked up toward her “Getting your rear figuratively handed to you via an abomination, and a filly,” I blinked “speaking of, how old are you Snowdrop?” “I don’t age,” Snowdrop’s tone became somewhat sad, and monotonous “I can become smarter, stronger, and faster, and even better than most, but I won’t age, I’m sorry Daddy” “It’s Alright, I know you can do it, Snowdrop, I have faith in your ability to persevere” I winked again “How was I to know that you’d turn out like this?” Celestia glowered somewhat murderously toward Snowdrop and I “You should’ve thought about that before you made me,” I hummed “although if you hadn’t I would never have met my friends and family, and I wouldn’t be a part of an awesome guild and have friends like Natsu, Erza Grey and the others, so I guess thanks are in order” “Clearly” she raised an eyebrow “when’re you going to apologize?” “For doing what I feel is right, or for being in ‘your’ kingdom?” I raised an eyebrow in return “For ruining the games” she snapped “Where’s the Cellsy I actually liked gone then?” I frowned “And on that note, I surrender my full title as Knight of Equis to you, Cellsy” “And I hereby remove it forthwith” she tutted “Now, what’re we going to do with you?” “Use me as you will, I only request that my friends and family be left out of it” “Dramatic as ever” she stood up from her throne “when you mentioned the six gods of Equis, were you-? “Referring to you alicorns?” I cut her off “Yes, yes I was” I grinned “I also apologize for the interruption “And as always, thou speakest with thy own heart rather than thy mind” Luna smirked “Can’t change who I am” I shrugged “So we can’t but we can help you, all you need do is ask” Celestia trotted toward me, changing to her anthro form, complete with the full set of attire/dress that went with it, draping her arms around me, embracing me “Can’t… breathe…!” I gasped for air as she let me go, panting for breath, collapsing to my knees as she let out a light giggle, sitting beside me “Sorry” she passed me a warm smile, her voice sweeter than sugared honey, draping a wing around me “How can one such as yourself be so kind?” I hummed “I could ask you the same thing” she raised the other eyebrow “Touché, Sunflower, touché” I slowly nodded -=- “What happened to my horn it’s gone all floppy!?” Twilight chided as Rainbow Dash landed upside-down, somewhat entangled in one of the ladders in the library ladder after breaking through the front door “Zecora’s cursed us!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed “So it’d seem” Rarity hummed, her mane and tail now ‘shaggy,’ covering her face “This isn’t the usual ‘bad luck’ sort of event” “It’s not a curse!” Twilight argued “You’re right, I’d say this is more of a hex” I glanced toward Applejack, who was now the size of a thumb, standing on my shoulder “it’s too benign or jovial to be an actual curse” “I’d have to agree,” Rarity sighed “though if it’s a hex or a curse; then there must be some way to remove it “Then what’re we waiting for?” Rainbow Dash declared boldly “we go to Zecora’s and force her to get rid of these curses!” “Applebloom, I can’t help but notice you look, normal….”I glanced toward the golden filly with the scarlet mane and tail with the lilac bow “So do you, Ah guess?” she giggled “You have the cure for poison joke, do you not, Sparkles?” I raised an eyebrow “What’re you getting at?” Twilight blinked “I’m suggesting that you look where you place your hooves next time you go through the forest” I smirked -=- “So why don’t you use magic at the farm?” I glanced toward Applejack after their ‘curses’ had been lifted, returning them to normal, still sat in the library, now reading one of the spellbooks I’d gotten from the somewhat magical land of Skyrim “We at Sweet Apple acres have been doing things the Earth pony way for generations now; we’ve not used a bit of magic mumbo-jumbo since it was founded alongside Ponyville” Applejack grinned “Mumbo-Jumbo,” I frowned “being a mage; and that of the ‘Fairy-Tail’ Guild no less, I could take offense to that” “Humans an’ ponies are different, let’s leave it at that” she smiled “You don’t use the slightest bit, even though you’re a dragon slayer, whereas humans and mages of Fiore use it with-and-for pretty much everything” I grinned “Whereas you have brawn, we have all else” “Are ya calling me thick?” she growled “Not at all, Jackie, not at all” I shook my head, albeit, slowly “Another spellbook I assume?” Twilight sat beside me on the couch “Correct, Twilight Sparkle” I smiled “This one in particular teaches the reader about transmutation” “Transmutation,” she blinked “Turning lead or iron into gold, basically” “It‘s alchemy then?” she nickered “It’s a bit of both, really, Cellsy’s gonna kill me for it though” I laughed -=-=- “Firefly” I nodded toward the pink Pegasus, who gave a curt nod in return, landing in the castle after gliding through the entrance “Human” she gave a light frown as she nodded, landing beside Iris, Galaxia, Faust, the princesses and Daring Doo as I stood with my friends and family, Autumn heart, Twilight, her friends and Spike included “I’m here as per Celestia’s request, apparently our local archaeologist has found something somewhat magnificent” As we were led by Celestia into an area underneath the castle, I was confronted by a large, shining grey cube levitating on one of its corners, kept in suspension between twin runic symbols on the floor and ceiling “What is it?” Twilight stepped forward “We don’t know as of yet” Daring Doo tutted “I’ve delved into the deepest crevice, fought through the densest jungle, climbed atop the highest mountain, and never in my career have I seen anything like this” Stepping beside Twilight, I held out an arm, lighting the hand on the end of said arm, the cube let out a blood-curdling groan, its colour becoming a glimmering crimson as it expanded slightly tilting itself upright, the flames surrounding my hand quickly flickering out “So, it absorbs magic,” I hummed “and in doing so, it seems to grow, I wonder how far that goes” “If that’s the case, we’d best not continue an extended use of said magic, right Brother/” Blaze grinned “I think I’ve seen this before,” I laughed “this is one of those things, where, if you give it too much energy, it more-or-less destroys the world” “And you’re certain of that?” Iris raised an eyebrow alongside Firefly and Galaxia “It’s a possibility” I shrugged “In that case, I’ll assign guards to this entity, whatever it is,” Faust hummed “Best be pegasi or Earth pony, wouldn’t want this thing going AWOL and wrecking the castle any more than I have” I gave a smug grin “unless…” “Unless what?” Luna gave a faint smile “What if it’s not an ‘end-of-the-world’ device,” I raised an eyebrow “what if it’s a container for something?” “Like an egg?” Celestia blinked “That’s possibility number two” I gave another shrug “And if it’s an AI of sorts?” Blaze patted my side with a gentle paw “And that’s possibility-two, variation-one” I tilted my head ever-so slightly “An AI, as in an artificial Intelligence,” Twilight’s stare shifted between the cube and I “It’s an enigma, that’s for certain, I gave a slight nod “I wonder what the Xeno-archaeologists from the UNSC would think of it” I rolled my eyes “I say we crack it open, assuming it is an egg” Blaze stepped forth, I blocked her with an extended arm, she frowned at me “what’re you doing?” “If we attack it, it might retaliate,” I began, “for all we know, it could be extracting the magic it took from me, and multiplying it an infinite amount of times over, feeding itself off of that one little flame I made,” I went on “or it could be simply waiting for more energy, in which case, I’ve no clue as to what to do” I sighed “You really are a deep thinker when you want to be, aren’t you?” she laughed “”What about overloading it?” “We don’t know how much energy it can take, so that’s not really an option” I mumbled “Well, we can’t exactly sit here and do nothing” she frowned “There isn’t much we can do” I bit my lip “So, we’ve a potentially alien cube whose origins are unknown, and we also know that it can absorb energy, but for what?” Firefly hissed impatiently “An egg, an AI, or a doomsday device, I know not which” I clenched my fists “To hay with this” she snapped, lunging forward striking the cube with an armoured hoof, said armour shattered, and the cube released a bright orange wave of energy that ripped through Firefly, sending her flying in the opposite direction “Looks like your ‘AI’ theory needs a little tinkering,” Blaze pursed her lips inwardly “that being said, it knows how to defend itself, so it’s obviously sentient, somehow” “That was fire energy” Celestia glanced toward me as Faust and Iris tended to their fallen comrade “it used your attack to hurt Firefly, how?” “Well, it acted as a ‘delayed’ mirror, so to speak,” I raised the other eyebrow “it uses energy from one attack, and then repels it toward, or against, the second, it’s the ultimate weapon, seeing as it seems to be undamaged, and Firefly’s armour broke” “What’re you doing?” Cadance gaped as I stepped forward slowly raising my arm “didn’t you see what happened to Firefly!?” “I’m not, trying to destroy it, let alone anything of the sort, Cadance” I gently placed my hand against the cubes’ surface, said cube let out a hum, as if glad that I meant it no harm “You didn’t mean it harm, so it didn’t attack” Blaze whistled “so it is sentient, after all” I clenched my teeth “are you Ok,” I quickly let go of the cube “what happened?” “It went through my memories…” I staggered back a little “Which ones?” she stared at me “All of them” I rapidly shook my head “Kinky” she chortled, I shot her a glower “Sorry…” “Why did it go through your memories?” now it was Celestia’s turn to step forward “Probably searching for something, who knows?” I hummed, again “What if it’s trying to tell us something?” Littlepip suggested “That’s possibility three, My Littlepip” I carefully placed my hand on the cubes course surface again, a wave of images pierced my frontal lobe as I tensed my muscles “Ok, that’s a definite” “What’d you see?” Velvet Remedy tilted her head; I gave a quick summary of the ‘images’ “Huh, odd” Twilight blinked “So, we were right about it being alien” Faust let out a short hum “What do we do?” she glanced toward Celestia, then toward me “Keep it under surveillance, for now, right now; I’ve other things to do” I grunted “Don’t go…” I turned to face the cube, which, by now, was slowly changing shape, first came the face, and then the head, neck, body legs and tail, complete with a metallic mane and wings The cube had turned into a metallic, albeit winged, Applebloom “Don’t leave me, Rick” the cube-turned pony/enigma hovered between the runes on the floor and ceiling Launching a fiery dart toward the runes, the Applebloom lookalike landed with a light Clink on the stone floor “What are you?” I crouched down to the metal filly “I‘m what’s known as an ‘enigma,’ we’re one of the lesser-known species in existence,” the metallic pony smiled with an almost-robotic, feminine tone “And I know all about all you, Rick, all that you are and ever will be, and all that you’ve done, and ever will do, say, and think, I can tell you anything about yourself, even if you don’t even know it yet” “Sounds cliché” Blaze grinned “Shouldn’t we know by now that not everything is set in stone, or in this case, metal?” “Don’t you recognize me?” the Enigma tilted its/her head “it’s me, Applebloom” “You’re a machine” I replied somewhat curtly “I can be whoever you want me to be,” she purred “even Sylgja-!” said Enigma was then sent flying across the room at around fifty-KMH “Touchy” Blaze backed away slowly “No shit” I snapped, fists blazing “Who was Sylgja?” Twilight blinked “It doesn’t matter” I avoided her gaze “It does if you give that bad a reaction” she frowned, albeit, lightly, very lightly “Put it one way, I refuse to allow anyone to end up dead because of my recklessness” I tasted iron as chewed my lip “Then I won’t question it any further, and I’m sorry for your loss” she placed a fragile hoof on my leg -=-=- “So how long does it take for you to master one of those spellbooks you have?” Twilight hovered beside me, pecking my cheek “Not very long,” I smiled ”but you have to realize something about magic; it’s not simply cast and forget,” “most magicka takes great concentration until you've practiced the spell enough to truly master it, but, as I’m sure that you’re ware; concentration, it also wears down on your strength, as you’ll never see any mage in particular battle with purely spells, and because the energy they drain is deceptive, you only realize how much you've used after you’ve stopped casting” “You’ve been listening to the old man again haven’t you?” Blaze grinned “If you mean Guildmaster Makarov, then yes, yes I have” I beamed “age tends to make one wise as well as powerful” “Any proof of that?” she smirked “Fairy Law” I grinned “Touché” she gave a slow nod “What’s ‘Fairy Law’?” Twilight blinked “It’s one of the most legendary spells in existence,” I began “the ability to render enemies -and only who the user’s heart sees as an enemy, to mere dust just by thinking about it” “Not sure if classified or not” Blaze hummed “Eh, if the Guildmaster wishes for it not to be spread about the public, who am I to question him?” I shrugged -=-=- “So,” the centaur-demon growled, he who’d just burst/rampaged through the castle to get to us in the throne room “Which one of you vermin is ‘Sir Rick’?” “I accept your surrender” I nodded… -=- “Finale, brother,” Blaze smirked. “Eigō Hōseki Ryū,” I nodded, inhaling sharply, exhaling a vast torrent of both flames and thunderbolts toward Tirek “Hōkō!” the almost-unceasing amount of magical energy sent the deformed quadruped flying back through the doorway. “Clean up on aisle five!” she guffawed “but did you have to quote Thor?” “I felt that it’d lessen the density in the atmosphere” I shrugged. “Speaking of which, why don’t we go to Asgard?” she smirked. =-= “Well that was interesting,” I laughed as we landed back in Ponyville. “To say such would be an understatement” Luna hummed. “Ricky-o,” a brown unicorn mare with a darker, flowing mane and tail knocked me to the ground. “Hello Autumn Heart,” I smiled, pecking her cheek. “I missed you, Rick” she pecked my cheek in return. “And I you, my little Autumn Heart,” I said with a smile. “-=-“ “Why hello my good friends,” Discord cheered as he appeared before us, us being Nat’s Erza, Lyra, Twilight, our friends, Spike,, the princesses, Lulania, Faust and Crystal alongside my family, Blaze also included. “You’re not good, nor are you a friend of mine, Discord” I snarled. “Then perhaps you’d like to play a little game with me…? “Princess Celestia, these are the intruders, as you requested,” The new Equis’ variant of Shining Armour declared with a snarl as we, my friends, family and I, Twilight, her friends, Spike, Emerald Opal and Garnet entered the throne room after him, the princesses, Faust and Lulania included alongside Nyx. “How is this possible?” the new Equis’ Celestia stared at each of us with a gasp. I stepped forward “I can warp through reality, and since our variant of Equis fell to Discord, pun not intended, we had no other choice to but to seek out another, with your permission Princess, we’d like to settle down here, we promise not to cause any more trouble than what may or may not be necessary.” “That seems fair enough, although your abilities seem to be somewhat questionable,” she frowned. “You’d have to ask Crystagia,” I bit my lip. “You know the gem dragon goddess?” the new Equis’ variant of Cadance eyed me from head to foot. “Are you familiar with dragon slayer magic?” I tilted my head ever-so slightly, Snowdrop having perched herself there, she shook her head, “I take it that’s another thing I’m going to have to explain…” “Hundreds of years ago, there was a great war between humans and dragons, a few of the dragons sided with the humans, granting them their magic, but then, a group of humans rose up against dragons on both sides, killing them, thus was coined the term ‘Dragon Slayer’ magic,” I explained. “And you can use this magic?” Celestia gave me a rather flat stare, I sighed with a roll of my eyes, fists blazing in twin radiant, whitish-golden fireballs, “So you can, but what of your friends?” “They are like me, without a place to call home, if you’d allow us, we’d gladly settle down, depending on what’s available, of course,” I gave a faint smile, the flames around my hands dissipating. “I’ll see what I can do…?” she raised the other eyebrow. “Rick” I smiled. “Come to the arena, I’ll inform Luna of what you can do….” “Are you sure about this Princess?” Shining Armour glanced toward Celestia as she and the others stood in the crowds alongside the new Equis variants of Twilight and her friends , Celestia nodded, whereas Cellsy winked at me, I grinned, giving her a light wave. “I’ll be here to step in should anything unusual happen,” Celestia smiled with a nod. “Then I ask that you come at me with you’re all, Sir Rick!” Shining Armour gave a short laugh, charging toward me head-on, I stopped him, grabbing him by the shoulders “What rank did they say you were again?” I grinned, throwing him back, watching him slide across the smooth, stone surface of the arena floor “Captain, why?” he tilted his head “Captain, and yet you make the rookie mistake of charging in before assessing what I can do, if this were war, you’d have yer head on a pike already,” I tutted, scales appearing upon my arms, wrists and hands as I burst into flames, “En Guarde, Captain.” “What is that?” Celestia glanced toward Cellsy, who let out a small giggle. “Dragon force;” Cellsy nickered, “the ultimate final form of dragon slayer magic, only three are known to use nit within Rick’s guild; Fairy Tail; and all three have exceptional magic abilities, I think your captain’s about to be barbequed.” “So you create flames, but I bet I can extinguish them!” Shining Armour charged forward again. “Eigo Hoseki Ryū Jin…!” I dodged his advance, quickly taking to the sky, inhaling copious amounts of air, and then exhaling a vast torrent of whitish golden flames down to the arena floor “Hokou!” As the smoke died down, Shining Armour lay, motionless; suddenly coughing, staggering to his hooves. “That was…!” Celestia once again turned toward Cellsy, who merely grinned. “Congratulations Rick,” Celestia winked at me, I grinned “He… you... how…?” she gasped. “Is this over or what?” I called out, she suddenly turned to face me with a look that combined, curiosity and borderline-horror “I wouldn’t continue this if I were you, Shiny-pants here might end up killing himself.” =-= “You’re not scientifically possible..!” the new Equis variant of Twilight stared at me in horror. “Neither are talking ponies on my world, but here you are anyways, Twilight Sparkle,” I raised an eyebrow in amusement as we sat in the dining hall during lunch. “You fly, you breathe fire, and, I have no doubt in my mind that you can eat gemstones also, why is that?” she frowned. “Ironically, I’m part dragon,” I gestured to my horns, she paled. “So you are,” she shuddered “is there anything else that your ‘part’? “Let’s see, human, dragon, eon, demigod, crazy sonuvabitch, nope, I think that’s about it,” I laughed. “You’re a what?” she boomed. -=-=- “Where did you say we were going again?” Blaze mumbled. “Just somewhere I can pay my respects to a few fallen heroes, that is all,” I clenched my fists as we walked “Here we are,” I frowned as we reached the side of the castle in the Everfree forest, clapping my hands together as my current passengers clambered to the ground, slamming my hands onto the ground as cyan lighting stormed across the grass-laden earth, and a large statue arose from the ground, depicting a small alicorn filly, a larger, armoured stallion, and a unicorn mare, amongst a couple of others, a another unicorn, who stood beside the filly, and another stallion, this one wearing a special type of saddle with twin rifles attached, said stallion was flying above the others with a watchful eye, smiling down at me, a Pegasus flying beside the first, smiling down at me, and the final one, of a wolf, barking at an unseen opponent with unrestrained ferocity in its eyes. “Rest in peace my friends…” I mumbled, placing my rucksack on the ground, retrieving a series of shotguns, pistols, rifles and other types of weaponry from the bag, placing them in a pattern at the base of the statue, placing a series of faintly glowing orbs in the gaps between the weapons and grenades “May the divine one watch over you in heaven…” As I sat before the assorted weapons and the like, staring at each of the ponies in the statue, I brought out a hammer and chisel, etching the words; ‘may these’ ponies’ souls never be strayed from the light of the divine sun, let each of their names go down in the annals of legend, forever heroes, forever legends, forever friends, and forever missed…’ placing the tools back in my inventory afterwards collapsing onto my back. “Our friends from the wastes, minus Littlepip,” the Typhlosion gave a light hum, “a tribute of sorts, am I to assume?” “Correct, Blaze,” I slowly nodded, “‘tis a tribute to heroes fallen, or at least, those who are non-existent in this world, nor the last.” -=- When I got back, I was met with a flying tackle from Snowdrop. “Where’ve you been Daddy?” Snowdrop perched herself atop my head. “Just a quick trip Snowy, nothing too serious, next time I’ll tell you before-hoof, Ok?” I winked toward the icy-blue filly. “Ok, Daddy, I love you!” she exclaimed. “And I you Snowdrop, and I you,” I smiled. “Come one come all!” a voice echoed from within a nearby stage wagon that was set between us and the town hall, “come to bear witness to the Great and Powerful Trixie!” a pale blue-cobalt unicorn with a stereotypical wizards had and cape with stars scattered on both burst forth from within the wagon as it unfolded doing so by means of smoke effects. Before long there was a large crowd of ponies, both Twilight’s and both sets of the bearers of harmony included alongside both Spike’s, stood before the azure blue mare, who continued to show off what I assumed she thought wa talent “Haven’t we already done this once?” Blaze grunted with an indignant sigh and roll of her eyes, “There’s nothing wrong with talent, is there?” the new Equis’ Twilight glanced toward me. “Nothin’ at all, ‘Cept when yer showin’ it off like a filly with fancy new ribbons,” the new Applejack frowned at Trixie. “Yeah, who needs a pony like her showing off, especially when you got me around being more awesome than the rest of us?” the ‘new’ Rainbow Dash chimed with a wide grin. “That depends, are you the son of the Gem Dragon Goddess?” Blaze gestured toward me. “He’s the, what now?” Applejack stared at me, I smirked. “Adoptive son of Crystagia, since I don’t know who my real parents are,” I shrugged. “Well, well, it appears we have some neighsayers in the audience,” Trixie snarled. “I got a friend who’d easily show you how outclassed you really are, but he’s dealing with Discord at the moment, so it’ll have to wait,” I tutted. “I hereby declare a challenge, anything you Ponyvillians can do, I can do better!” she laughed with a mad cackle. I Dunno, can you slay a dragon?” I gave a sly grin, her smirk faltered. “Say what…?” she blinked “Can you say you’ve slain a dragon?” I raised an eyebrow, folding my arms with a smug grin “I’ve done far greater things than you’ll ever dream!” she retorted with a wicked scowl. “Really, you’ve beaten a flame-god slayer..?” I ‘mock-applauded’ with Blaze, the two of us sharing a whistle and a laugh, “Congratulations.” “Whatever you can do, I can do better!” she reiterated with an icy glare. “Alright, watch me,” I changed to my Alphamon form, “now you do the same.” “How did you even…?” she awed at me. “Not so ‘Great and Powerful’ then?” I turned and left, reverting to my human form, Snowdrop still perched atop my head and Blaze still by my side as I walked toward the castle in the Everfree, Velvet Remedy, Blackjack Littlepip walking with us alongside Scootaloo as Gracy Gloom and Winter Bell perched themselves on my shoulders. “So, this is where you went” Blackjack gave me a sombre stare as we arrived at the statue, “Cellsy’s gonna kill you if she finds out that you used alchemy again Y’know?” “I can handle a few meagre death-threats, especially those from a loved one,” I smiled. “Can you?” Velvet Remedy nodded behind me, I turned, both sets of the element bearers were there, staring at the statue, and then toward me; both in awe; I quickly turned back. “Rick?” Twilight stood beside me, glancing between myself, and the statue, “who are they?” I pointed to each of the names that were etched into the base of the statue “Calamity, Steelhooves, Delta, Forest Rain, Homage, and epsilon…” she turned back to face me “these are your friends, Rick?” “I don’t want to talk about it…” I bit my lip. “Don’t tell me they, she turned again, staring at each of the statuettes, then back to me, “they, died…?” I gave a forlorn nod. “When did this happen?” Applejack tilted her head. “I don’t want to talk about it.” “Talking might help,” Twilight pecked my cheek as I sat before the statue, my friends and family sat with me. “Rick?” Littlepip “Mmhm?” I glanced toward the silver mare, who levitated an item from her saddlebags; that of which resembled a Pipbuck. “Whilst we were on the old Equis I found this in my former home,” she bit her lip, “it’s nice to have you back, Rick,” she placed the Pipbuck onto her left foreleg. “You too, my Littlepip,” I pecked her horn-tip, resulting in a few sparks. “Careful, last time you did that she nearly split you clean in half with a burst of unparalleled magic,” Blaze grinned. “I got better,” I frowned.” “And the next time you challenged a magical entity you got your insides turned to liquid shit.” “Again, I got better, and I’m now technically made of rubber,” I smirked. “You’re made of rubber?” The new Twilight stared at me somewhat vehemently. “They had to infuse my being and physiology with that of a rubber tree just to keep me together,” I raised an eyebrow. “What’d you do?” she said, glaringly. “Defend my family from a tyrant?” I offered. “Close enough” Blackjack laughed. =-=-= “Nice to see my house made it through the portal,” I sighed, “if nothing, it’ll give me a place to relax.” “As did the guild,” Blaze pointed to the large, castle-like structure nearby, “I hope everyone’s Ok…” “And the portrait you had out front is also there,” she beamed, gesturing to the large image that i’d received not a year prior. “Speaking of art…” I said with a smile, sitting by the front door, setting my rucksack beside me all the while, retrieving the art-related items from within, beginning to create a new project/ continuing with an old, unfinished work “I never got to finish it.” “So you didn’t,” she laughed. -=- “Cellsy?” I glanced about the throne room as I was allowed entry, Celesta, Cellsy and both sets of alicorns were stood around the throne at the end of the room “I am, what is it that you need, Sir Rick?” Cellsy smiled, I smiled back, retrieving the latest artworks, placing them on the floor beside me, turned, and walked out into the gardens, mny family walking beside me, Snowdrop once again perched atop my head. “Shall we?” Snowdrop chimed, I nodded “When I see your smile Tears roll down my face I can't replace And now that I'm strong I have figured out How this world turns cold and it breaks through my soul And I know I'll find deep inside me I can be the one,” I chorused, gesturing for the pony atop my skull to continue. “I will never let you fall (let you fall) I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all (through it all) Even if saving you sends me to heaven,” Snowdrop sang with the voice of an angel, with Winter Bell performing the background vocals. “It‘s okay, it's okay; it's okay… Seasons are changing And waves are crashing And stars are falling all for us Days grow longer and nights grow shorter I can show you I'll be the one,” I cooed, gesturing toward Blaze, who nodded, singing with gusto “I will never let you fall (let you fall) I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all (through it all) Even if saving you sends me to heaven,” Gracy Gloom and Snowdrop sang, Winter Bell once again performing the background vocals “Cuz you're my, you're my, my, my true love, my whole heart Please don't throw that away Cuz I'm here for you Please don't walk away and Please tell me you'll stay woah, stay woah,” Scootaloo gleamed as she sang. “Use me as you will pull my strings just for a thrill And I know I'll be okay though my skies are turning grey,” Blaze continued. “I will never let you fall I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all Even if saving you sends me to heaven I will never let you fall I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all Even if saving you sends me to heaven” we sang together, finishing the song with smiles on our faces, and warmth in our hearts. I turned around at the sound of hooves being clapped; the princesses were there, smiling with apparent amusement. “Didn’t know you were an artist and a singer, Rick” Celestia raised an eyebrow. “I’m an eon of a select few talents; let’s leave it at that, Princess,” I smirked. “You’re also artificially created, so I hear,” she gave a faint grin. “Yep, made from the DNA from an individual of almost every sentient species in the universe,” I gleamed. “And you’re not bothered by that?” she blinked. I shook my head; “Not really,” I flashed a wicked leer, “I’ve no reason to be bothered by what’s been done, not one billion years past, and I’ve certainly no right to be angry at my mother for bringing me into this world.” “And who is the mother of whom thou speakest?” Luna, the new Luna, gave a light giggle, I pointed toward Cellsy with a flat stare “Ok….” “You see me as your mother, even though we have no actual relation?” Cellsy gasped, tears in her eyes and a look of guilt spread across he features. “You bought me into the universe, and that alone, in my view of things, makes you my mother, Cellsy.” “I love you son,” she stepped forward, draping her arms and wings around me. “I love you too, mom,” I mimicked her, draping my arms and wings around her. =-= “Spike, for the last time there’re no such things as zombie-ponies!” the ‘new’ Twilight growled. “There are; but you ponies in the wastes referred to them as ‘Ghouls,’ rather than Zombie-Ponies, Twilight Sparkle,” I laughed. “And how would you know that?” she snapped as she, her friends, and the other set of the element bearers stared at me with a mixture of confusion and suspicion. I frowned; “I can, quite literally, fly through reality, I’ve seen in three hundred years more than you ponies will see in a millennium, period.” “Like what?” she asked, glaringly. “The fall of Equestria for one thing, and it’s rebirth for another,” I sighed, “it’s not something I wish to converse to others, ponies in particular, about a potential apocalypse, so, if there are any Ghouls, you stay behind me, got it?” “Ok…” she gave a slow nod as I changed to my ‘Spartan-Armour’ form, picking up the M34-SS firearm from where it leant against the outside wall of the house, placing the Spartan Laser on the magnetic clamps on the back of my armour. “Good, now, where were we going?” I nodded in return. “You’re really not taking any chances with this ghoul business are you Rick?” the other Twilight trotted beside me as we walked through the forest “I failed once, and I don’t plan on doing so again, Twilight Sparkle,” I frowned behind the ‘Scout’ variant helmet. “What do you mean, ‘you failed’?” she glanced toward me as we ventured through the foliage. “What do you think?” I rolled my eyes agitatedly, “why do you think I made that statue?” “You failed…?” she gasped, “Rick, I…” I she shook her head “Save it for when I care,” I stormed off with a growl. “It appears to be a statue, but I wonder if I can’t change that, the new Equis’ replica of Discord hovered between the statue and I, turning to face me as I approached… “Touch it and I’ll blow your fucking head off, chimera, your kind has no place in my home, now, would you kindly make like a banana, and piss off!?” I bellowed, he quickly vanished, a look of unrestrained horror struck upon his mismatched face. “Now that that’s dealt with,” I sighed, again, removing my helmet, placing it by the scattered weapons, grenades, and memory orbs, leaning the shotgun against the base of the statue, sitting before the statue, glancing to each of the characters that’d been crafted there. “Epsilon, Forest Rain, I’m sorry,” I bit my lip, “I let you down, I failed you when you needed me most, and because of that…” I stammered. “I wish I could go back, to right what I did wrong, but I can’t, as that would most likely cause the universe to cave in on itself… so, I leave you with a final goodbye, and a final apology, my little Rain, and you also, my little Epsilon…” ()=)(-)(=() I stood in the arena, the populace made of both Ponyvillians and Canterlot citizens watched me as Discord entered the arena with a mild display of fireworks “Are we ready?” Discord smirked as I promptly burst into flames, scales once again appearing on my face, arms, wrists and hands, sparks of thunderbolts dancing across the veil of flames that enveloped me “Modo Raien Ryū…!” I boomed, using my legs as pumps to accelerate my blood-flow, “Gia Sekando!” “Go get ‘em Daddy!” Snowdrop exclaimed from her place in the crowd beside my friends and family. I disappeared for a split second, appearing right below the self-proclaimed ‘Chaos God,’ delivering a hard uppercut, sending him flying upwardly… “Metsuryū Ogi, Shiranui Gata, Guren Hōō ken,” I bellowed, striking Discord in the stomach, both fists were blazing with a whitish-golden flame that was encased in a veil of primrose-shaded thunderbolts “Yokugeki!” I roared, performing an impossibly fast and agile forward flip, bringing my heel down unto his skull “Kagizume! I then went on to create larger fireballs that encompassed both my wrists and hands, slamming them together against the serpentine creature “Ryū Jin no Koen!” “Suishō Hasu Hoseki Ryū Shugo Tenshi!” Snowdrop, Scootaloo, Winter Bell and Gracy Gloom cheered with me in perfect unison as Discord came crashing down unto the cold, hard stone floor, leaving a reasonably sized crater in his wake… “If anyone needs a slight case with pest removal, feel free to let me know, I’ll either be in Canterlot, Ponyville or the surrounding area, if not, just send me a letter,” I bowed to each side of the crowd in turn, ”Class dismissed.” “You beat Discord…” Celestia stared at me, awestruck, wide-eyed and slack-jawed. “Yeah, because banishing your problems for a millennia, only for them to eventually return solves nothing, No offense Mother,” I bit my lip, glancing toward Cellsy. “None taken, Rick,” Cellsy gave a light giggle. “What, would you propose, Rick?” Celestia gave a light frown. “I’ve no right to do such a thing, Princess, I’m not f this world, nor am I in any rightful position to do so in the first place,” I quickly bowed. “Quite the charmer; is he not?” the new Luna glanced toward Cellsy, eyebrow raised. “He’s my son;” Cellsy laughed “he’s every bit as pure as I may be, maybe even more-so.” “That remains to be seen,” Blaze chuckled; I quickly shot her an icy glare, “sorry…” “Thought so,” I grinned. “But you have to admit it,” she grinned “you, being pure, after all that we’ve gone through?” “I’ll admit the concept is a tad farfetched, but I don’t doubt the wisdom of the eternal ruler of just over half of our home-world, Blaze,” I raised an eyebrow. “Even after your trials, you remain, how is it that you do it?” “You do everything you can to make up for it, knowing that you’ll never succeed in getting rid of the guilt. You devote yourself to spending every second trying to do better despite the fact that it’ll never be enough. And you pray with every single good act you do that somehow, when your life is over, that you came close to making up for the wrong you did,” I avoided Celestia’s gaze. “Perseverance…” Blaze mumbled as I turned and left; my family and friends walking with me alongside Blaze. “Oh, and Celestia,” I glanced toward the solar goddess, with an icy glare, “I made a nice little statue in tribute to my friends in the forest, should your serpentine friend come within two-hundred yards of it, there won’t be enough of him left to fill a shot glass let alone a tin of beans, are we quite clear?” she gave a light nod “Good.” “You quoted me?” Blackjack laughed. “So I did,” I smiled with a roll of my eyes as we made our way down the corridor, “after all, perseverance is your virtue, as Sacrifice is Littlepip’s.” “That it is,” Littlepip gleamed. “And what’s yours?” the alabaster alicorn glanced toward me with a wide, warm smile. “I don’t know,” I mumbled, “Faith maybe?” “That’s one possibility,” she nickered, “I’d have to put an estimate on purity, or innocence.” “That’d be P.S, not me,” I clenched my fists. “Ah yes, the little undead filly in the space suit,” she snorted, “Did she find her mother?” “I hope so; Thor only knows what could’ve happened to her,” I bit my lip. “Hey, whilst we’re here do you want to play game of cards?” “What’d you have in mind?” I smiled as I brought a deck of traditional playing cards from my inventory. “How about Blackjack..?” she winked, “the actual game of course….” “But of course, wouldn’t want to attempt to take advantage of a sensible mare like that,” I laughed as we sat opposite one-other beside the wall of the corridor, also bringing out a crate of whiskey -==- “So that’s what three-two?” Blackjack laughed with a rather slurred tone in her voice “I think you’ve had enough,” I rolled my eyes. “Have I Rick, have I?” she winked again, flirtatiously this time, “or is it you who can’t stand my beauty?” “Says the one who’s been through a dozen six-packs, I gestured to the pile of whiskey bottles that was slowly making its way up the wall of the corridor, “I’ve barely had any.” “You don’ know what yer missin” she waved a dismissive hoof’ “when you get to be my age, you forget about those things…” “I’m around three-centuries older than you,” I raised an eyebrow. “Are ya?” she tilted her head “you look as thou yer twenty’” her speech slurred even further as she down another bottle, giving a loud belch, followed by a light giggle “Better out than in.” “So it is,” I sighed, “you still playing?” “Nah, I’m game for now” she grumbled, dropping her cards to the floor, staring at me with a pair of scarlet eyes “Buck me but you’re alright…!” she leapt at me, knocking me on my back, immediately planting her lips against mine, quickly forcing her tongue between my teeth, grinning at me as she parted, dragging me by the hand with the use of her magic, my arm being pulled in a mild orange glow. “Rick?” I glanced downward; Cellsy was there alongside Blaze and Celestia, eyebrows raised “Don’t ask,” I shrugged as Blackjack pulled me into an empty bedroom, locking the door with her magic after she laid me down on the bed, quickly leaping onto the bed after me, climbing along my body, placing her front hooves either side of my head “Now, isn’t this the part you rut me senseless, after all, I’m a bad pony, Rick-o?” she gave a somewhat sadistic grin. “Not at all,” “Huh?” she blinked, “what do you mean ‘not at all’ isn’t this the part where the royal knight beds the princess?” “I’ll not take advantage of an intoxicated woman, Blackjack, least of all one of my marefriends,” I argued back with a frown. “Would you rather me do it, that way you’ll still have your so-called purity?” she batted her eyelids at me, I shrugged, “suit yourself…” =-==-= “Note to self; never play games with Blackjack” I mumbled, now stood with my family and friends in the centre of ponyville “May I have your attention please!?” Twilight echoed from atop a small bridge, everypony present stopped and turned toward her, eyebrows raised in confusion, “it has come to my attention that a large dragon has taken root in a nearby mountain, and its snoring is causing the smoke you see above you to spread all over Equestria.” “This should be fun,” I snorted as both sets of the element bearers and I trekked up toward the dragon’s lair alongside the alicorns from both worlds. “There’s no way in Equestria that you can slay a dragon…!” the new Rainbow Dash frowned at me “it’s not possible!” “Try telling that to Discord…” Blaze laughed. “So, does everypony know the plan?” Twilight, the new Twilight, turned to each of us in turn, wincing as she glanced toward me, I raised an eyebrow in return, everyone present nodded. And so, she went forth, only to return a few moments later, covered in soot, and with a rather agitated expression “Didn’t work huh?” Blackjack smirked. “To hay with this!” the new Rainbow Dash soared into the cave, kicking the dragon in the jaw, only for it to send her reeling with a hard jab, knocking both sets of the element bearers to the ground. “And that’s not a very good idea, for the dragon could go on a rampage and attack the nearest defenceless village,” I explained. “And I suppose you’ve got a better idea!?” she blared as she rose to her hooves alongside the others, aren’t you supposed to be a dragon slayer or something?” “I shan’t take a life, save for when I need to, Rainbow” I spat, “and besides, I thought you ponies were against violence, or are you just that stuck-up and arrogant?” I marched forth, into the mouth of the cave. “Must I do everything myself?” I used my legs as pumps, just as I did before, my body heating up to the point where my sweat evaporated. “What in tarnation?” the new Applejack stared at me alongside her friends and Celestia. “Gia Sekando,” I grinned, bursting forth with energy found anew, firing Gatling –like punches toward the dragon, sending it sliding across the floor, several hundred tonnes worth of gems falling to the floor until the dragon came to the far end of its cave. Eventually, the wall began to crack, and the large reptile flew through the newly made hole in the wall, falling all the way down the mountain. “That was a pain…” I mumbled, falling flat on my rear in the middle of the now-separated pile of gems the steaming effect wearing off alongside the technique, picking up a nearby ruby, devouring it within seconds. “SO, you can eat gems,” Celestia spoke with a rather concerned tone, I turned, facing her and the others “What was that ability you jus used?” “Oh, that,” I began, swallowing the remains of the ruby “that was ‘Gear Second,’ or at least that’s what I call it,” she gave a slow nod “I use my legs as pumps, as to hasten the flow of blood around my body, thus, enhancing the amount of oxygen to my muscles and to certain parts of my body, the smoke, or steam, as some people refer to it as, is my body getting hot enough that my sweat evaporates. “That’s impossible!” The new Twilight gasped, staring at me in unadulterated awe/horror. “I’m rubber, remember?” I stretched my arm, extending it to her; she gave it a light shake with her hoof before shuddering as I retracted it. “So, this is now your hoard then?” Celestia raised an eyebrow. “I may be part dragon, but said part isn’t large enough for me to be a selfish tyrant, no offense to any of the dragon gods or kings,” I laughed. ‘The new’ Pinkie Pie gasped; “I didn’t get to throw you a ‘Welcome-to-Ponyville’ party!” “It can wait can’t it?” I raised an eyebrow, “we’ve all the time in the world to…!” suddenly, the scenery changed to the inside of the library, where what seemed to be everyone in ponyville smiled at me “get back… well, we’ve two centuries, so there’s something.” “Two centuries to what?” she blinked. “Now that would be ruining the surprise, Pinkie Pie,” I grinned. “I love surprises, especially the one we had planned for you Ricky-o!” she laughed with a light giggle. “Then you’re going to have an absolute blast with the next one,” I chortled. “Cupcake?” she offered me a heavily-laced cake, the top of which wasn’t visible with the amount of icing “You got any muffins?” she quickly swapped the tray of cupcakes for one crowded with muffins, I carefully took one, “Thanks pinks.” “No problem-o Ricky-o!” she nickered, I rolled my eyes with a smile. “So, what d’ya think, were you surprised, where ya, where ya, where ya?” “Mildly,” I titled my head after finishing the muffin. “Rats, I’ll have to put more flare into the next one,,” she grumbled with a light frown. “And risk giving someone a heart attack, let alone an aneurysm?” I blinked “I think there’s a fine line between surprising someone and putting them in hospital, Pinkie “Hmm, good point, unless…” she pulled on a rope, that of which appeared from nowhere, revealing in a jack-in-a-box, which also appeared from nowhere, which burst open, revealing a whole series of banners one of my artworks hung from each one “Where did you get those?” I gave a light frown in return. “Oh, are they yours’ I just found them in the castle and thought that nopony wanted them,” she giggled; I turned and left, marching toward the forest, fuming to myself as I went. After I’d calmed down -and that wasn’t including the destruction of a few species of animals native to the forest, giant astral bears included- I found myself by the statue of my friends… “You finally settle down into a new home, and what happens? The local part animal decides to steal them and then use them as her own source of entertainment!” I boomed at the top of my lungs, blinking, was I really just that loud? Awesome,” “Almost priceless artworks, now most likely in ruin,, no matter, I can always create replicas from near-perfect memory…” -=-=- After what felt like mere minutes, the first portrait was complete, it was a picture of Earth, complete with the sun, moon and stars around it, and little grey dots representing the craters. “Onto the next one…” I mumbled. -=-=- After a week or two, I’d finished what I hoped to be perfect replicas of my previous works, every single one of them in almost-spotless condition, minus the odd speck of dust, be it here or there… The artworks in question were stood in a folded pile before me “Where were you?” Blaze frowned, arms folded as I carried the portraits into Ponyville. “Out by the statue,” I gave a faint grin, “I replaced the old artworks with new ones.” “So you have, but what if the Pink Party Pony of Ponyville should happen to sneak a peek at one of them?” she raised an eyebrow. “Frankly, I’m not in the mood for such antics, which is why I’m delivering these to the sun goddess herself.” “Or you could keep them in the house, I mean, it’s not like she’s going to rob you of anything, I doubt she’s that stupid,” the Typhlosion snorted. “That remains to be seen…” As I sat on the front lawn, I felt something soft land atop my head… “Hello Daddy,” Snowdrop chimed. “Hello Snowy,” I smiled “How’ve you been?” “The same as usual,” she giggled “were you by the statue?” I nodded, “I told everypony not to panic, but they wouldn’t listen to me…” “Nopony ever listens to foals nowadays…” I laughed, “I’d listen to you, whether my life depended on it or not remains to be otherwise irrelevant.” “I love you Daddy…” she gave a light hum. “I love you too Snowy; and I always will,” I gently picked her up from my head, setting her in my lap, draping my wings around her, as if shielding her. “Your feathers are tickly,” she nickered with a cute giggle. “Oh? Then what’d happen if I did this?” I ruffled my wings, causing my feathers to shake uncontrollably. “Stop it, that’s enough,” she laughed, tears streaming down her muzzle as she writhing in glee in my lap, “Alright, that’s enough, please?” I stopped, “thank you…” It was then that I noticed that everyone present was staring at me, slack-jawed. “Just taking care of my little Snowdrop,” I smiled, “look me in the eyes and say you wouldn’t do all that you could to look after your little next of kin.” All I got as a reply was a dozen sighs of relief, a few waves, a couple-dozen smiles, and even a wink or two… “I love you Daddy,” Snowdrop nuzzled into me. “And I you, Snowy, and I you,” I pecked her forehead. =-= “So… just because she’s different, all of a sudden she’s labelled as evil?” I frowned as the new Equis’ variants of the element bearers and Spike, alongside my family and I stood in the darkness of the dimly-lit Sugarcube corner, the only light available to us coming from that of Celestia’s sun. “That ain’t what Ah meant,” Applejack took a step backward. “I do believe the people at the TV-tropes page would call this ‘Fantastic, racism,’” Blaze spat, “Shows what you think of us, doesn’t it?” “I think I’ll move to Canterlot, the ponies may be a load of stuck-up moron’s but at least they keep it to themselves,” I turned and left, my family and Blaze quickly following me as I changed to eon form, Snowdrop perching herself once again upon my head, Scootaloo and Gracy Gloom upon my back, and Winter Bell upon my neck respectively. Blaze; make sure the door’s locked, and after that, make sure no one goes near the statue, guard it with your life if you have to.” “Will do; Brigadier General Hawkins Sir!” Blaze saluted me, as I took to the sky, heading for canterlot “Rick, what brings you here?” Celestia raised an eyebrow; I levitated the portraits toward her via Purple flare, having reverted to my human form “Didn’t you give us these?” “Somepony decided it’d be fun to break the laws of physics and steal them,” I shrugged, “And so here they are again, Princess.” “Why would one of my little ponies, Pinkie Pie in general, want to steal from you?” she frowned. “You tell me, you were there when she used them at the party,” I blinked “by the way, have you heard the latest craze that’s sweeping through the nearby town?” she shook her head, “just because there’s a zebra in town, everyone runs with their tails between their legs and locks themselves in their houses, just because she’s that little bit different.” “I’ll have a word with them about that then, thank you for reporting it, Sir Rick,” she smiled. “I’m not a knight, nor a lord, a prince, or a saviour,” I frowned “and with that I bid thee adieu.” -=(+)=- When I got back, the front door to my house was locked, I rushed to the statue, Blaze was stood, alert, and vigilant “Sir,” Blaze saluted me. “At ease Sergeant,” I laughed. “As you say,” she laughed. “I trust that nobody’s come near it?” I nodded toward the statue. “Not a soul Sir, save a Zebra, Zecora I think her name was, rather nice too, shame the ponies seemed to shun her for being who she was…” “You needn’t refer to me as I would be in the UNSC; Blaze, just ‘Rick’ will suffice” I smirked. “But it’s so much fun!” she chortled. “Touché, Sergeant” I grinned. “-=-” “Princess Celestia!” Twilight instantly bowed alongside her friends, and for that matter, every other pony in sight “Rise,” there was no emotion in Celestia’s voice as she approached the lavender mare, Twilight gradually rose to her usual height, staring the princess in the eyes “I’ve caught word of a bit of negative activity happening between you and a certain Zebra, is this true?” “But, how did…?” Celestia nodded toward me somewhat discreetly, “Oh…” “Now, what exactly has been going on between you and this Zebra…?” =-= “You told Celestia on us?” Rainbow Dash growled as we stood in the throne room, alongside both sets of element bearers, my friends, family and the alicorns. “I don’t see what the big deal is, you see a bully, or are bullied in school, what do you do, that might be the sensible option?” I popped my knuckles. “Tell the teacher?” Twilight held up a hoof. “Good…” I chimed, “So, what makes this so different, disregarding the fact that this isn’t in a school, and the fact that Zecora’s a zebra?” “Not much?” she stammered. “Good at least to see somepony’s got brains around here” Blaze replied snarkily. “Blaze, be nice.” “Yes sir” she quickly silenced herself with a grin. “‘Sir’...?” Applejack frowned, I sighed, changing to my Spartan form, tilting my head “Oh…” “There’s still no way you’re better than Shining Armour!” Rainbow Dash spat. “I’ve already proven otherwise once, I needn’t do so again, Rainbow” I grinned “Prove it!” “Alright, try lifting me” I held my arms by my sides. “Easy!” she laughed, hooking her arms under my own, attempting to lift me from the ground, with quite visible effort, eventually conceding and returning to her original place beside Twilight and the others “How heavy is that armour?” Twilight eyed me from head to foot “One-thousand pounds, on average, costs the same as a small starship; and I’d advise against trying to make your own, due to its complexity, Twilight Sparkle,” I nodded. “It’s a hunk of scrap,” Rainbow Dash tutted. “Titanium-alloy counts as scrap now, Rainbow?” I blinked “try hitting me, hard as you can.” “If you say so” she scowled, rearing back an arm, hitting me square in the chest-area, quickly regretting her actions, falling to the floor, clutching her hoof as she writhed in agony. “How many sets of this peculiar armour do you have?” Celestia raised an eyebrow “Around one-hundred thousand, all augmented for war, both mentally and psychologically, Princess,” I quickly bowed, “They called us super-soldiers for a reason…” “There’re how many of you?” Twilight stared at me. “I don’t think I need repeat myself, Twilight,” I frowned, “in this, I’m more-or-less bulletproof, to a certain extent, of course,” I continued with a sly grin, unseen by all but myself, “would you rather we do a little field test, assuming you ponies have anything better than the ye olde average bow and arrow?” “We’ve a few crossbows with diamond tipped bolts?” Celestia raised an eyebrow. “Case in point…” I rolled my eyes. “Would you rather we fire hyper lethal bolts of magic at you?” she frowned. “You can try, I mean, this armour can survive anything up to a nuclear explosion, and then some,” I slowly shook my head, walking from the throne room to the arena, my friends and family walking with me from the great chamber -reverting to my regular human form-, to the arena. “So, we’re just waiting for the year to end, then what?” Blackjack smiled. “Then our home, the guild, and the statue and all its surrounding content go back with us,” I frowned, “Discord’s game will last not any longer than that Cellsy saw to it that it was the highest he’d set the proverbial timer…” “I did what now?” Discord appeared before me. I launched myself toward the demigod, delivering punch after punch, fists blazing with angry, crimson flames that burnt away his fur and skin as I fired a barrage of jabs all along his serpentine form, leaping into the air, creating twin, massive pitch-black fireballs, slamming them together against the chaos god. I grinned somewhat sadistically as he screamed in agony, teleporting away. It was then that I noticed my eyes were stinging, and my vision had gone a little blurry. “Daddy..!” Snowdrop cried out, I blinked my vision returning to normal as the stinging also stopped, I turned, rushing to her, crouching to her level, she clung onto me, knocking me onto my rear end. “I’m sorry Snowdrop;” I draped my wings around her and the other members of my family as they surrounded me “Truly, if I could’ve seen that coming, I’d have held back, really.” “I know Daddy, I’m just scared of what Princesses will do to you now,” she cried, the teras that cascaded down her face soaking my shirt. “Rick…?” I looked up, Celestia, Cellsy and the others were there; each pony donned a rather worried expression. “I didn’t…” I trailed off, “I’ll take whatever punishment you may choose, Princess….” “What happened?” Cellsy marched right up to me, sitting by my side, draping a regal wing around me. “I got angry… I mumbled. “At who..?” “Discord,” “Why?” “Because I don’t want him interfering in what doesn’t belong to him.” “You summoned black flames, how?” Celestia frowned, “I’ve not seen or felt magic this sinister since Sombra’s being frozen in the ice due north of the Crystal Empire..!” “Do with me what you will, just save the talk.” “We’re going to have to either exile you, or extract the dark magic from you, manually,” she bit her lip. “You’ll do no such thing!” Cellsy bellowed at the top of her lungs, “you so much as lay a hoof on my son and I’ll see to it that you won’t see the light of day ever again!” I tried summoning a flame, eventually succeeding in summoning the usual whitish golden fireball.” “Seeing as your son’s magic seems to have reverted to normal, I suppose I can let this one event slide, but I’ll be keeping an ey on him from now on,” Celestia scowled at me “You won’t need to, I can take care of him myself,” she growled “See to it that you do.” -=-=- “How..?” Cellsy glared at my icily once we were alone, “How could you let your emotions get the best of you like that?” “I…” “I don’t want excuses Rick, I want the truth,” she snapped, interrupting me “Whether it be who you are, or something else, I want to know, and I need to know now!” “You know me, I see someone being like him around my friends and I get a mild tendency to go overboard…” I bit my lip, she glowered, “I’m sorry, that’s all I can say,” I clenched my fists… “You poor fool,” she slowly edged toward me, suddenly draping her arms and legs around me, pecking my cheek “I should’ve known it’d happen eventually, your anger and pure emotions driving you to your own discovery and use of dark magic…” ()+-+() After having the dark magic (painfully) extracted from me, I staggered out of the throne room, falling flat on my face within a few feet of the entrance to the castle. “Here,” Blackjack levitated a pile of gems to my side, “I saved them when we were in the wastes, just fort you, Ricky-o.” -=- “So, King Sombra’s returned?” Blaze raised an eyebrow as we disembarked the train. “To put it bluntly,” Celestia frowned at me. “And I’m guessing that we need an ancient artefact known simply as the Crystal Heart’ to put an end to his tyranny?” she raised an eyebrow “Same thing happened to us, Spike and Twilight found the heart, I held the oncoming darkness at bay, to put it simply, child’s-play.” “I assure you this won’t be easy, eon” she scowled… That’s what she said,” I snorted, unsheathing the day breaker and Daybreaker, placing them beside one-another combined energies of the two blades resonated from one-another as they merged. “Kami no shinken; Shinsei danzoku!” I boomed (Divine God’s Sword Nova-Breaker!) “Got any other slurs or slights you’d like to send my way, Celestia..? I tutted with a curt nod, “Nova breaker…!” Snowdrop chimed, perching herself atop my head once again, Celestia awing at me as we marched to the Crystal Empire “And this is where the Heart’s supposed to go?” Celestia nodded with a light frown. I de-fused the Nova-Breaker, sheathing the two blades that it was composed of, changing to eon form “Blaze, Gems I rolled a claw toward the Typhlosion that stood beside me “Are you sure about this?” she handed me a basket of gems. “Have you got any better ideas, other than searching for the Crystal Heart?” I frowned, she quickly shook her head as I bit down on one of the gems, tearing my crystalline heart out, , eating as many gems as I could as it began to regenerate, channelling a small amount of my magic energy into the gemstone, placing it between the tower-like structure that stood beneath the main tower in the city. The effects were immediate, as a shining Aura burst forth from the now spinning crystalline artefact as it pulsated with light and energy both found anew, the immediate area turning form a dull, lifeless grey to a shining, azure-silvery colour, the dark cerulean blues turning cyan, alongside every other shade of colour in the city that shone like the sun. “You… how…?” Celestia stared at me in apparent horror. “You’re city isn’t the only entity with a crystalline heart,” I grinned, tapping my chest symbol. “You tore your own heart out!?” Twilight screamed. “You don’t have to yell…” I mumbled. “I think yelling would be somewhat appropriate, considering your actions just now, Rick,” Celestia raised an eyebrow. “-=-=-“ “Alright you sonuvabitch, bring it on,” I growled from atop the tower in the crystal empire as an enormous black shadow threatened to destroy the shield that my heart had placed over the city, leaping forth, charging toward the demonic apparition retrieving a small, spherical gem from my pocket, devouring it in an instant. “Star Dragon Seraph,” I boomed, my two upper sets of wings fusing into one as a golden set of somewhat archaic armour appeared around me, completing the picture was the combined form of the Duskfall and Dawnbreaker. That battle itself only lasted mere minutes, and in the end, Sombra lay on the frozen earth, shattered into a billion shards of his former self. “I told them I could do it…” I collapsed, the armour disintegrating as I fell from the sky, the Starblazer reverting back unto the Dawnbreaker and Duskfall as I plummeted to the ground, only to be caught by four familiar foals. “We’ve got you Daddy,” Snowdrop chimed as she, Gracy Gloom, Scootaloo and Winter Belle lifted me to safety. “Thank you, my little Snow Angel,” I smiled as they set me down atop the balcony on the tower. “We know you’d do the same for us, we’re fall family, right Daddy?” she giggled. “You’re more than family, you’re my Nakama, Snowdrop, Gracy Gloom, Winter Bell and Scootaloo,” I smiled, pecking each of them on the forehead, “And no amount of dark magic or tyranny is going to change that.” “We love you Daddy,” the four of them chimed in perfect unison, landing on my head, neck and back respectively as I changed to eon form, collapsing to the floor. “And I you, my little angels,” I smiled. Glancing behind me, dragging myself into a turn, I saw Celestia and the others stood there, wide-eyed and slack-jawed, save Cellsy and the older set of Twilight and her friends. “I said I could do it, Celestia.” “So you did, and I’m sorry for ever doubting you, Rick.” “No harm no foul,” I glimmered, “Besides, I sued more magic energy than what I hoped to use…” Chapter XXII Magic, music and other mysteries....As I ventured into the castle in the forest, I entered the throne, only to come fact-to-face with a sort-of-familiar lunar goddess “Have you come to bask in the gloriousness of Nightmare Moon?” the mare cackled insanely. I exploded into a molten fireball of rage, the walls, windows and ceiling exploded, shattering and instantaneously melting as I let out an unearthly roar, initiating ‘Gear Second,’ charging toward the mare, firing Gatling-like punches as fast and hard as I could, fists blazing, the fire becoming pure liquid and dripping to the floor, resulting in a light hiss as the stone floor melted, creating twin large spheres of magma and slamming them against the Nightmare, “Eigo Hoseki Ryū..!” I bellowed as the mare went flying into the air, seemingly unconscious as she fell down to the ground “Suishō hasu Guren Yōgan Ryū Ken!” I boomed, firing more jabs toward the pitch-black entity, sending her flying, resulting in a crater as she soared toward the remains of the far wall, letting out another inhuman roar as the entire castle exploded in an almighty wave of almost godlike magic energy. “That one’s for Puppysmiles, Bitch” I snarled, inhaling copiously, and then exhaling a vast torrent of both fire and magma toward the fallen demigod. I blinked, looking around the remains of the castle “What was I doing again?” I tilted my head, “Fuck if I care…” I turned and left, walking back toward Ponyville as I started whistling a familiar tune. “Where have you been..?” Celestia boomed, her voice laced with venom. “Out, though I can’t remember why for the life of me….” I blinked. “And there just so happened to be an explosion in the centre of the Everfree forest at the time?” she frowned, eyes narrowed, “I find it to be rather suspicious, she nodded behind me. I glanced toward the throne room door, where Nightmare Moon stood, quickly teleporting, now standing beside Celestia. “Nightmare Moon tells me of your newfound power, that of magma, how do you plead?” she scowled. “I’m a fire-based wizard, not magma, and besides, it’s not possible in any way, shape or form for fire to liquefy, at least, not to my knowledge,” I bit my lip. “She states that you turned into a killing machine, unceasingly attempting to end her life, how does that sound?” Celestia snapped. “I don’t take a life unless I feel like I have to, Celestia, I assure you, if I want someone dead, I’ll bloody well do it properly.” “So you admit to doing it then?” she spa. “I never said that I did it, implications disregarded of course,” I rolled my eyes, “Besides, if I did do such a thing, I’d at least remember it, wouldn’t I?” “So you would,” she sighed, “but I cannot let this event slide, I’ll be having words with your mother about this, Rick.” “=-=” “So, how’d it go?” Blaze stood opposite me as I exited the throne room. “Apparently Nightmare Moon is a new Citizen of Equestria; and that I’m to be ranted at by mother,” I sighed. “You want to get something to eat?” she smiled, weakly as we began to walk, my family quickly joining me. “I’m not hungry,” I shook my head, “besides, all my money’s back on the other world, and I can’t wait to get back,” I snorted, “who knows, I might be a certain somepony a nice present.” “A muffin?” she blinked, I shook my head, “your heart?” I shook my head again, “then I’ve no idea…” I quickly glanced around the area, then toward each of my family, “I was thinking of a nice bouquet…” “Are you alright?” she stared at me in horror, “you, buy flowers for someone,? I call bullshit!” I gave her the flattest stare I could imagine. “You’re actually serious!?” she burst into laughter, quickly stopping herself with a snicker, “SO, who’s the lucky mare?” “That’s none of your concern, Blaze.” “It is if it involves my family,” she frowned, I winked, “Touché…” “This is really goodbye…?” the new Twilight blinked as she stood beside her friends and her home-world’s variants of the princesses “I’m afraid so,” I gave a forlorn nod as a sense of nausea overcame me -=- “So, here we are…” Blaze mumbled, glancing around the immediate area, “Irt’;s nice to see that nothing’s changed, much…” I hurried to where my house would’ve been, sighing with relief as I found it standing where it’d always been, quickly turning and sprinting into the forest, eventually finding the statue I’d made, complete with the array of weapons scattered around its base. “Thank Christ…” I breathed another sigh of relief, clapping my hands together, slamming them down upon the ground as cyan lightning stormed across the ground and a pinkish filly wearing a yellow ‘space ‘suit with a blue streak in her mane appeared with the other characters that stood there alongside a purple unicorn mare with an orange mane, both smiling down at me Quickly bringing out my hammer and chisel I etched the word ‘Puppysmiles’ and ‘Rainy Days’ into the base of the new parts of the statue, respectively, placing the tools back into my inventory afterwards… “Rick..?” I didn’t bother turning to see who it was, simply choosing to stare into the eyes of the character known as Puppysmiles, “Are you alright?” “I’ll be fine,” I half-lied “Are you sure?” Twilight appeared beside me, staring at the newest addition to the statue. “Puppysmiles, “she read aloud, glancing toward me “She didn’t…?” “She’s dead,” I hissed, “and I wasn’t there to save her, like I should have been.” “But, can’t you bring her back?” her gaze shifted between myself and the statues “There’d be no honour in bringing back the dead, besides, she’s with her mother now,” I nodded toward Rainy Days. “So she is…” she muttered, glancing toward me again, “why don’t we see if Pinkie Pie can cheer you up?” “I’m not in the mood for games,” I frowned. “I know you feel down, but moping isn’t going to help anypony” she giggled. “Down..?” I snapped, she flinched “I’m not down, I’m annoyed beyond recognition, Twilight Sparkle, those ponies,” I gestured toward the statue, “died, because of my incompetence, do you have any idea what that feels like?” I glowered icily toward the lavender mare, “just go…” Twilight turned, galloping as fast as she could toward Ponyville. “The five virtues of the wasteland,” I mumbled once she’d left, “Perseverance, Sacrifice, hope, innocence, and compassion,” I growled “Where on god’s green earth did I go wrong?” Changing to eon form, I retrieved a pen and sheet of paper from my inventory, writing down a quick note, leaving it by the state under one of the plasma rifles; soaring toward the nearby gorge, reverting to human form, stepping closer to the edge. “Daddy..!” I was knocked off my feet and dangerously close to the edge by an icy-blue filly. “What’re you doing here Snowdrop?” I blinked at the little filly, who snarled, rearing back a hoof and striking me across the face. “Don’t you dare die on me; you promised me that you wouldn’t, remember!?” she shrieked, panting for breath afterward, hitting me again across the face. “I remember, I promised that I’d not die on you, and that I’d always be there for you, my little Snow Angel” I pecked her forehead, she frowned, standing beside me as I sat there on the edge, perching herself upon my head, pecking one of my horns as she always used to. “Then please, don’t do it again,” she whimpered, I steadily got to my feet gliding back home, sitting on the front lawn. “I won’t Snowdrop, you can count on it this time,” I set her down in my lap, draping my wings around her. “We love you Daddy…!” Snowdrop clung onto me as Gracy Gloom, Scootaloo, and Winter Bell, launched themselves at me, nuzzling into me, “And I you my little Winter Bell, Saving Grace and rising Star, and I you,” I pecked each of them on the forehead, noticing a light pump on Snowdrop’s head. “Are you Ok, Snowy?” Oh, this…” she pulled back her mane, revealing a short, pointed horn, “it’s nothing special…” “You’re an alicorn” I whispered “that makes you my little snow princess.” “And you’re my little eon” she giggled, pecking me on the nose with a cute little smile. “Rick..!” Autumn Heart tackled me to the ground, lavishing my face with small kisses, “oh I missed you so much! Where were you?” “Out,” I winked, “nowhere special…” “Everywhere you go is special, that’s another reason I love you so much,” she pecked my cheek, “So, how many worlds have you and Blaze been to before you came here?” “A few, one even has basic-level magic in it, although they require magical stones that they constantly refer to mas ’Runes,’” I rolled my eyes, “It’s a wonder I’m not being poked and prodded with ever examination and/or translator spell they have in their arsenal, although that would be a waste of time.” “They must’ve thought of you as odd then?” she giggled. “Not half,” I laughed. “So, what type of spells did they have?” she leant into me, placing her head on my shoulder. “Well, there’re the basic elemental spells that range from a basic fire strike to a water surge, the status-type spells like stunning an opponent or lowering their strength and attack power, and then there’re the lunar Spells… I glanced toward her with a grin. “Lunar spells,” she blinked, “what’re they?” “I don’t really know, didn’t get a chance to take a good look at any of them,” I shrugged, “Well, it doesn’t really matter, so long as you’re Ok then I’m happy,” she nickered, walking back into the house “I’m gonna take a shower,” I gave a slow nod as she winked flirtatiously at me, “and you’re gonna join me, big boy…” “Ok….” I mumbled, standing upright and walking into the house, closing the door behind me as Snowdrop and the others raced into the lounge… After the impromptu ‘shower,’ Autumn Heart dragged me by means of magic into the bedroom, sitting me down on the edge of the bed, after locking the door, placing her hooves on my legs as she took my quickly-hardening member into her maw, sliding her tongue along the base, pulling away for a moment to slide her tongue around the head, before pressing her lips down in it. I shuddered as she slowly began to slide her head back and forth, smiling up at me as pre leaked from the tip of my cock, flowing down her throat as she guzzled it with gusto, beginning to pick up the pace, sliding her tongue along the base of my shaft “Oh… god…” I mumbled, quickly taking hold of her horn as I climaxed, holding her head in place, causing her to gag slightly at the amount of seed filling her oral passage, letting her go after the flow stopped “Like that big boy?” she smiled as she all-but devoured the cum I’d so-graciously donated, turning and lowering her front half to the floor “Come get me tiger!” “Pun intended?” I laughed. “Only you…” she giggled as I crawled, forward, kneeling behind her, lining our crown jewel’s up, sliding my dick into her cunny, taking hold of her clock-shaped cutie marks as I began to ‘plunder her plot,’ so to speak… “Ah yes, harder…!” she gasped as I began to thrust into her sex,, our hips colliding as I repeatedly hilted her, causing her to give a sharp inhale each and every time, “Faster… make me your little whorse!” she begged, I snorted, pounding my dick into her tight little cunt, “Yes, buck me…!” As I felt her inside’s warm up slightly, I started tracing little circles along her cutie marks, she screamed, climaxing, her juices coating my manhood as I continued to pile-drive her “Oh, Sweet Merciful Faust, Yes!” she all-but bellowed, as I came, flooding her insides, our fluids mixing as one as her innards were whitewashed with sperm. “Holy shit…” I mumbled, collapsing back against the bed as I pulled out… “So, what’re we going for, a filly or a colt?” Autumn Heart giggled, turning as she fell; landing on my abdominal area with a sigh of relief, “personally I’m hoping for a colt, so he can be as charming and wonderful as you, my love…” “And I’m hoping for a filly, so she can be as beautiful and caring as you, my little tinker,” I pecked her on the forehead. “OK, so we want a filly then…” she nuzzled into me, but what’ll we call her?” she gave another, lighter, giggle. “I don’t know, it’d depend on what type of pony she is, that way, we can get a name to suit her respective type.” “I‘m rather liking ‘Honey Heart’ if it’s an earth pony,” she smiled, pecking my cheek as she lay along my stomach and chest. “Ok, but what If it’s a Pegasus or a unicorn?” “Charmer for a Pegasus, Zephyr for a unicorn,” she smiled… -=-=- “So, where’s the human torch?” I raised an eyebrow as my family, Autumn Heart, Blaze and I stood at the entrance to the Fairy Tail guild hall “Some pony named Lyra demanded that he go with her and dragged him off someplace else,” Grey raised an eyebrow, “Why?” “Just curious,” I smirked, “I see, so Lyra’s gotten her hooves on him, did she say what she was going to do with our wayward salamander?” “She mentioned something along the lines of ‘Love and Tolerance,’ whatever that meant,” he shrugged. “Help me….”I turned, Natsu was flat on his face, staring up at me as Lyra landed on his back with a wide grin “Found you again Natsu, say, you’re awfully good at this aren’t ya?” Lyra giggled, “Now, we’re going to go back to the apartment and I’m gonna love and tolerate the HAY outta you!” “Someone get a camera…” I laughed; someone quickly arrived with a camera, taking a photo of the spectacle, placing it on the bulletin board for all to see. “Why…?” Natsu mumbled, pouting up at me, quickly being dragged away from the guild hall. “Happy Birthday Natsu..!” I called out, Lyra stopped, turning to the human in her primrose magical aura, gasping as she did so… “It’s your birthday, well then, I’ll have to be doubly careful this time around won’t I?” and with that she vanished taking Natsu with her via teleportation. “It’s not really his birthday is it?” Autumn Heart chortled. “I don’t think so,” I shook my head with a light chuckle. “Strange people in this town…”Grey mumbled, I gestured toward Snowdrop and the others “Save for a few, of course…” I grinned. “So, when she says ‘Love and tolerate,’ you don’t that she means… Y’know…?” he rolled a hand with a sly grin. “Probably,” I nodded, “That remind me I’ll have to ask Celestia about building an extension to the house at some point soon.” “Really, why…?” he blinked, I nodded toward Autumn Heart with a wink; “I don’t know whether to feel somewhat disturbed or to congratulate you on that…” “I can take both with little-to-no trouble, so it’s not really a problem,” I shrugged. -=- “Is there something I can do for you, Rick, Autumn Heart?” Cellsy smiled as we quickly bowed in the throne room. “There is a minor problem we have, Princess,” Autumn Heart’s cheeks turned almost beetroot coloured, turning a rosy shade of red ; “We’re thinking of having a foal, but I don’t think the house is large enough, we were wondering if it would be possible to build an extension of sorts?” “And the foals name, before we go any further?” Cellsy gave an unruly smirk in my direction. “Honey Heart if she’s an earth pony, Zephyr if it’s a unicorn, and charmer if she’s a Pegasus,” I bit my lip.” “Quite thoughtful names, Rick,” she smiled again, “would you like the extension to be another floor, or another series of ground-level rooms?” “Ground level,” Autumn Heart and I smiled together. “I take it this is going to critically wound my bank account, or what’s left of it?” I sighed. “Not at all; any and all purchases you make within the next two years that’re to do with you or your family are hereby to be redirected to the royal Canterlot treasury,” Cellsy giggled,” have fun you two…!” (-)+=+(-) “So, what’ll we do first?” Autumn Heart smiled as the building process was complete, and the bills had all but been sent to Cellsy herself, the construction itself had taken more or less half a year, seeing as Autumn Heart insisted on having more room for the foal/foals to play… “Paint, then carpeting, then the furniture, that way it’ll make sense,” I smiled, pecking her forehead. “What’re you two doing?” I turned; Natsu and Erza were stood beside Grey “Decorating the newly constructed parts of the house,” Autumn Heart smiled, nuzzling into me, glancing toward me once the contact faded from feeling, “so, what colours did you have in mind?” “What are you, having a foal or something?” Natsu laughed, everyone stared at him, “you owe me by the way.” “How so..? I smirked “Lyra had me locked in there for three whole weeks, and I still can’t feel my legs,” he frowned “and you didn’t answer my question, Rick.” “So what if we are?” I shrugged, “I don’t see your little marefriend complaining.” “So, you’re having a foal?” Erza aww’d, it was a little weird, to say the least, “what’s her name?” “It’s pending, dependent on what type of pony she is,” I smiled. “So about that paint…” -=- “The first room’s been done,” I smiled, Autumn Heart smiled, glancing about the room that’d been freshly painted a vibrant lavender colour, and the ceiling had been coated with a whitewash-coloured paint. “It’s lovely, Rick” she smiled, gesturing for me to follow her, I did so, walking with her into a room the walls of which had been painted with a pinkish-scarlet colour, and the ceiling was a mild-pale-ish cyan colour. “I’d say this is better,” I smiled, pecking her cheek. “Shall we?” she gestured to the new set of rooms, I grinned. “Done,” I smiled, having applied a coat of golden yellow paint to the walls and a second coat of orange, walking into the room Autumn Heat was painting, the walls were a burgundy colour, and the ceiling was an odd shade of brown, “neat.” “Thank you, Rick,” she giggled, finishing the ceiling with a smile, climbing down the stepladder to the bare, wooden floor “Just that last room to do now… =-= “That wasn’t so hard, was it?” the lovely brown unicorn smiled as we finished applying the carpet. “Not at all, Autumn Heart, not at all,” I winked. “So, what should we do for the furniture?” she hummed. “That’d depend on who sells what, and for what price, my little Tinker,” I smiled. “Or, we could ask the construction ponies if they do furniture?” she suggested with a light shrug. As it turned out, they did, and we soon had a menagerie of antique-styled furniture in our inventory, and I was currently placing the first sofa into place near the fireplace “A little to the left, but not too –off-centre” she held a hoof to her chin, I nodded following her instructions, “perfect,” she smiled with a gracious nod “now onto the next piece…” Once all the furniture was in a place where we both felt would be best suited for a foal, we sat in the newly placed couch, nuzzling together as Snowdrop sat between us, and Winter Bell, Scootaloo and Gracy Gloom joined us also, sharing a family hg, arms and wings both involved in keeping us as one, if only for a moment. “Hey Rick where, are you, what the hell…?” Blaze gasped at the sight of the bonding moment, “Rick, why the hell is your house now bigger?” “I asked- no, we asked Cellsy for an extension to the house, and she agreed to fund it,” I smiled. “You aren’t planning for anything are you?” she narrowed her eyes. “We’re going for a little filly, her name will depend on what type of pony I birth,” Autumn Heart gave me a serene smile. “Honey Heart if she’s an earth pony, Wind Charmer if she’s a Pegasus; and Golden Zephyr if she’s a unicorn,” I gave a sagely nod. “And you want me to be the wet nurse?” she smiled with a forlorn sigh. “What’s a ‘Wet nurse’?” Autumn Heart blinked. A ‘wet nurse’ is a woman who breast feeds and cares for another's child,” I gave a faint smile, “Blaze is offering to be our babysitter, me-thinks.” “Only for you, Brother, and to you also, Autumn Heart,” Blaze made a quick bow, a slight smile spread across her face. “I’d be honoured, Blaze,” Autumn Heart gave the widest grin I’d seen a single pony muster, ‘twas almost extraordinary… -=-=- Several years past, and Honey Heart, as Autumn Heart had once again insisted, had grown to be quite the handful of an alicorn foal… “Can’t catch me Daddy..!” Honey Heart giggled with unbridled glee as she whizzed round the room, I sighed, hovering up to her level, placing a fragile finger upon her side. “Tag,” I grinned, she darted around my arm, lightly placing a gentle hoof on my nose; “Tag-back!” she laughed. “Drat,” I cursed as she rocketed upstairs, closing one of the doors behind her. “Is she doing the ‘Tag!’ thing again?” Blaze smirked; I nodded, “what she needs is somewhere to place all that energy.” “And where might we find such an item?” I raised an eyebrow. “How the heck should I know, I’m just the local foal-sitter, apparently,” she laughed. “And you’re doing a wonderful job, Blaze,” Autumn Heart sang as she headed upstairs “You didn’t find me~!” Honey Heart smiled in a sing-song tone as she glided toward me as I sat on the couch beside the fireplace. “Alright, you win,” I smiled, holding out a lightly clenched fist, which she bumped with a playful hoof “That means I get a treat right?” she giggled “One sweet and cookie of your choice, as per the usual,” I smiled “I trust you know where to find them?” she nodded, quickly darting off into the kitchen with a wide beam spread across her muzzle… -=-=- “She’s an alicorn?” Cellsy blinked as we entered the throne room, Honey Heart’s black coat and golden yellow mane and tail with orangey highlights running through both gleamed in the sunlight filtering through the windows. “She’s our little Honey Heart” Autumn Heart nickered with a smile, bowing alongside me. “Who’re you?” Honey Heart giggled with a tilt of her head. “I’m Princess Celestia, or, as you father seems to call me, Cellsy,” Celestia held out a hoof, Honey shook it with a wide grin and a giggle, quickly bowing. “Princess Celestia!” Twilight and her friends burst through the door, quickly stopping in their tracks as they caught sight of the new foal, “who’s she?” the lavender mare raised an eyebrow in my direction. “Honey, why don’t you introduce yourself?” Autumn Heart nickered, Honey Heart marched toward Twilight, head held high. “I’m Honey Heart, who’re you?” Honey held out a hoof, Twilight shook it with a small smile upon her muzzle. “My name is Twilight Sparkle, and these’re my friends,” Twilight gestured to each of the ponies who stood beside her in turn; “Applejack,” “Howdy there,” “Rarity,” “I must say you do look rather befitting of your title, Miss Honey Heart,” “Pinkie Pie,” “I can’t wait to throw you a party!” “Rainbow Dash,” “You’re an alicorn, huh, one day you might be as awesome as me!” “And Fluttershy,” “Oh, you’re adorable…” “Thank you Fluttershy,” Honey Heart bowed. “She’s certainly got your mannerisms, Rick” Cellsy giggled. “So she has” I rolled my eyes with a slight/sheepish grin. “I trust that this is what you’ve been hiding from us for the past nine years?” Twilight smirked. “You say that like it’s not a surprise, Twilight Sparkle,” I laughed. “So, are you heading back now or are you staying for lunch?” Cellsy gave a light giggle. “Can we please stay, Daddy?” Honey Heart gave me her best puppy-dog-eyes impression. “You know that I can’t say no to a face like that,” I pecked her on the forehead, “oh, and a word of advice, if Cadance finds us on the way down there, watch out.” “Okie Dokie” she giggled, walking with me and the others to the dining hall. “Ricky-o..!” Cadance cheered as she came galloping toward us at speed, skidding to a halt right before us. “Hello, Cadance” I raised an eyebrow. “Guess what I just caught news of?” she gleamed from ear to ear with a wide grin. “I’ve no idea,” I rolled my eyes indignantly. “I just so happen to hear from Aunty Celestia that you’ve a new foal in the family- where, is she?” “I told her to be careful around you, because I knew that you’d be anxious to meet her,” I side stepped, Honey Heart quickly darted behind me. “Come on out little one, I won’t harm you, I promise…” Cadance cutely cooed as she crouched down to Honey Heart’s level. “You promise?” Honey Heart edged forward from behind me. “I’m Cadance, what’s your name?” the alicorn of love held out a hoof. “I’m Honey Heart,” she fragilely shook Cadance’s hoof, clinging onto me afterward. “That’s a lovely name, how about we take our time getting to lunch, Honey Heart?” the filly in question quickly clambered up the back of my leg, using my wings as a set of steps as she climbed atop my head, quickly shaking her head, “Oh, Ok; well have fun anyway.” “Now that she’s met you she’s going to be less invasive, so to speak, so you should be fine from here on,” I smiled “Ok, Daddy,” Honey Heart giggled, pecking one of my horns with a smile. “-=-“ “Word is that there’s a new filly around, is this true?” Shining Armour smiled as we sat around the dining table. “Honey,” I nodded toward the filly; that of whom, gleamed, standing on the table, giving a quick bow. “I’m Honey Heart, and it’s nice to meet you all,” Honey Heart, smiled, sitting back down beside me, a few-dozen ‘aww’s’ filled the room, Honey Heart blushed. “She’s certainly got your mannerisms, Rick,” Cadance giggled, “Maybe I could-?” “Hooves away from my hubby, Princess Cadance,” Autumn Heart snapped, several ponies, Cellsy, Twilight and her friends alongside Shining Armour included, spat out their drinks, flooding the table in cold, frothy liquids “We beg thy pardon?” Luna raised an eyebrow toward me, then toward Autumn Heart, “did we hear thee correctly in thy stating about thy… marriage..?” “Yeah, we’re married now, and I’d not gave it any other way,” Autumn Heart pecked my cheek “Mommy says it’s rude to spit, especially at the table,” Honey Heart gave a cute frown. “Please forgive us for being so surprised, Honey Heart,” Cellsy gave a faint smile. “Alright…” she rolled her eyes... When we got back to Ponyville, Honey Heart let out a stifled yawn. “Looks like somepony’s tired” I gave a soft laugh. “Just a bit Daddy,” the filly resting upon my head giggled as I gently tucked her into bed, pecking her on the forehead. “Daddy,” Honey Heart held onto my hand as I sat on the edge of her bed, “can you sing me a lullaby?” “Ok, Honey,” I smiled, gently clearing my throat; “When I see your smile Tears roll down my face I can't replace And now that I'm strong I have figured out How this world turns cold and it breaks through my soul And I know I'll find deep inside me I can be the one I will never let you fall (let you fall) I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all (through it all) Even if saving you sends me to heaven It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. Seasons are changing And waves are crashing And stars are falling all for us Days grow longer and nights grow shorter I can show you I'll be the one I will never let you fall (let you fall) I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all (through it all) Even if saving you sends me to heaven Cuz you're my, you're my, my, my true love, my whole heart Please don't throw that away Cuz I'm here for you Please don't walk away and Please tell me you'll stay woah, stay woah Use me as you will Pull my strings just for a thrill And I know I'll be okay Though my skies are turning grey I will never let you fall I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all Even if saving you sends me to heaven I will never let you fall I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all Even if saving you sends me to heaven..” I sang as softly as I could, Honey Heart, by now of course, was fast asleep, giving a cute snore every other moment, I tip-toed as quietly as I could to the door, silently losing it behind me as I left. “That was amazing,” Autumn Heart gave a serene and/or sincere smile “So are you” I whispered “Thanks dear” she cooed. -=- The next morning, I was awoken by a light shaking; Opening my eyes, I saw Honey Heart, with a wide grin spread across my face, levitating a small plate of muffins over to me as Autumn Heart yawned herself wake, glancing toward the little filly. “I bought you breakfast,” Honey Heart giggled/squee’d. “Where’d you get these?” Autumn Heart blinked. “I took a small walk to Sugarcube corner, they gave me a free plate of muffins, which I put in the kitchen for later, and I’m giving these to you now,” Honey Heart explained with a sheepish grin. “Works for me,” she gave a slow nod, yawning again, covering her mouth with a hoof as she did so, quickly eating one of the muffins.” “What time is it?” I mumbled, glancing toward the clock as I sat upright “Eight-thirty, guess I slept in a little…” “I love you Daddy, you too Mommy,” Honey Heart placed the small plate of muffins down on the bedside table, climbing into bed with us, lying snug between us. “And we love you too, Honey, with all our hearts, and perhaps more,” I smiled “You’ll always be our Honey Heart, don’t let anypony tell you differently, Ok?” “Okie Dokie,” she giggled, nuzzling into comfort between myself and Autumn Heart. “Did she make it back Ok?” Blaze appeared at the door, sighing with relief at the sight of the filly who was currently humming with glee “Thank Arceus…” “I take it you escorted her to Sugarcube Corner?” I smiled. “I walked on four legs, she used me as a type of ‘mount,’ so to speak,” Blaze mumbled “I’m just glad that she’s back Ok.” “And we can’t thank you enough for it, Blaze,” I simpered. “I just thought that, if it were my pups, you’d do the same,” she bit her lip. “And once again, we thank you for your kind and considerate actions, Blaze” Autumn Heart smiled. “Good morning Rick,” Twilight smiled as she opened the door to the library “Would you care to enter?” she sidestepped, allowing us entry to the literal treehouse, Rainbow Dash and the others were already inside. “So, Honey Heart,” Twilight gave a light giggle, Honey Heart glanced toward her with a quick/light hum, “what books do you like?” “I like the scientific ones, the ones that tell you lots of stuff, something more knowledgeable for me please,” Autumn Heart glimmered, everyone -save myself, and Autumn Heart’s - jaws slammed to the floor as they sated at her –wide eyed and slack-jawed “Another egghead…” Rainbow Dash mumbled. “And she’s still awesome, so to speak,” Autumn Heart gleamed. “Being an egghead isn’t awesome, it’s about showing off how much greater you are than everypony else!” Rainbow Dash rebuked. “You seem to have forgotten who the two demigods are in this conversation, Rainbow,” I smirked. “But that still doesn’t make her as awesome as me!” she countered. “And what’d be the case if it were ‘awesome’ of a different variety,” I frowned, “just as there are mane shades of colour in the universe there’re just as many combinations of traits and personalities also, it’s something you might want to think about when you’re not being so self-centred, arrogant and cocky, Rainbow Dash.” “I’d no idea you could be so poetic,” Autumn Heart giggled. “Only for you, my love,” I winked toward her. “How sappy can you get?” she frowned. “It’s called a relationship, Pegasus, I do believe, and this is my guestimate, that you’ve never been in one?” I scowled. “How would you know?” she snarled. “Well, I know I wouldn’t want someone like you if you’re being like you are now, mind you, humanly speaking, who would..?” I tutted with a curt nod, glancing toward Honey Heart who was staring at me in awe, the wide grin upon her face visible for all to see… “Now, which book would you like, Honey Heart?” I smiled. “Anything but Daring Doo,” she gagged slightly at the mention of the book series. “That’s my Heart,” I laughed. “So, any of these take your interest, Honey Heart?” Twilight placed a small pile of books in front of the filly, who took a quick look at each, before selecting one on astronomy “you want that one?” Honey Heart nodded “Ok, I’ll need it back in three months though.” “Okie Dokie,” Honey Heart giggled, handing the book to me, smiling as she bowed, turned and left, Autumn Heart and I quickly followed her, “thank you for the book,” she smiled as she exited the library. “Where do you want to go next?” I smiled. “Somewhere quiet…” Honey Heart chimed, clambering unto the top of my head, directing me home, guiding me to her room, once there, she sat on her, taking the book from me within a silvery magical aura, her horn glowing in an aura of the same colour. “Can you stay here Daddy?” she held onto my hand with a gentle hoof as I sat on the edge of the bed, lying down the middle of it. “I’ll stay as long as you want me to, Honey,” I beamed. “I love you Daddy,” she smiled up toward me. “I love you to, Honey Heart, and I always will, now let’s see what you got,, shall we?” I used my hand to wipe away the dust from the cover of the book. “‘Astral Magicka,’” I read aloud “I’m not sure this is right for a pony your age…” “Please~?” she pleaded, forming her puppy-dog-eyes impression. “Fine, but just this once, Ok…?” “Thank you Daddy!” she chorused with glee, flipping the book open with gusto… =-=-= After the three months had ended, I’d noticed that Honey Heart had finished the boo within two, and had revised the spells contained within for the last of the three, hopping with glee as we walked back to the library, her friends once again present in the main lounge. “How are you Honey Heart?” Twilight smiled as we entered the library, Honey Heart handed her the book; “Are you sure this is the same book?” she blinked. “Same book, I just wiped the dust from its cover,” I explained. “Please tell me you’re joking…” she mumbled, both Honey and I shook our heads. “What is this ‘Astral Magicka anyways’?” Rainbow Dash studied the cover of the book, in which there appeared to be a ring, with smaller rings inside it, and dozens upon dozens of stars scattered between each ring, “it doesn’t look all that special to me.” “It’s what Luna uses to move the moon and stars every night,” Twilight bit her lip, glancing between the book and Honey Heart. “But that’s impossible, she’s but a filly!” Rarity argued. “She’s a demigod,” I raised an eyebrow. “Touché” she gave a slow nod and a low hum. -=-=- “Is there something that thou wish to speak to us about?” Luna raised an eyebrow alongside Cellsy and Cadance. “Can I?” Honey Heart glanced toward Autumn Heart and I, we both nodded; she grinned with absolute, unrestrained glee; “Open gate of the dragon Draco Minor!” she declared with gusto, nothing happened, her horn was blazing with a silvery glow, shining with radiance equal to only the sun itself. “We fail to see the point of-!” Luna was interrupted by a moderately-sized dragon made of stars and space-dust bursting through the stained-glass windows to the right of me, said dragon turned to Honey Heart, holding out a clenched claw; Honey Heart bumped it with a gentle hoof. “That’s impossible!” Celestia stared at Honey Heart with quite apparent horror, “I made it so that that book was hidden to all but myself and Luna; how is it that your daughter has managed to scale its contents with such ease?” “It was in the library, with a thick layer of dust covering the front of it,” I raised an eyebrow, “not that hard to find actually, though I will give credit for hiding it in plain sight, even if it is a little clichéd.” “Rick, do you not realise the severity of the situation that Honey Heart has placed herself in?” she frowned, “she could be bullied, and then have to use her only form of defence as a last resort, and then ponies would find out that anypony with enough magical energy in them, or enough potential, could use the exact same Magicka!” “And you’re going to start talking like that without giving it even the slightest bit of a chance?” I snapped, “The exact same rules apply to my dragon slayer magic, yet you don’t see Crystagia wanting to end my life because of it though, do you?” “She was a coward at the best of times, and little more than a fool at the worst,” she snorted. “And commenting makes you oh-so much better, because how?” I growled “you were right, I’m not your son, and if you’re going to be like you are, I’ve no want and/or need to be as such.” I scowled, “and the next time you insult my only parent, I gut you like a fish.” “Close, gate of the dragon..!” Honey Heart chimed and the dragon faded from view, the stars it was composed of flying back out through the windows into the sky “Nicely done, my little Heart,” I clapped my hands together in applaud. “Thank you Daddy, at least somepony appreciates my work,” Honey Heart frowned toward Celestia, “I don’t like you anymore Princess.” “I know that feeling, Honey,” I laughed as we turned and left, “I know that feeling…” “Thou knowest nothing…” Luna spat, her voice dripping with both malice and venom. “And now the royal Canterlot Monster’s having a row at me, and coming from me that‘s saying something,” I snarled, glancing back toward the trio, “but you know what, at least I have the nuts to admit what I’ve done in the past is wrong, and get over it.” I stopped again, “and by the way, I did beat the living tar into Nightmare moon on that other world, have fun contemplating what you’re going to do about that for the next half-hour or so~” I waved as we exited the room. “How was your trip, Dear?” Autumn Heart smiled as we arrived home. “Eventful, but I daren’t speak of it now, my love,” I winked cautiously; she nodded, sidestepping, allowing my daughter and me entry, closing the door after us. “So, what happened?” she sat down on the couch opposite to Honey Heart and I. “Celestia, more-or-less, has just threatened, to take Honey Heart away from us, just because of the spells she’s learnt from a certain book in the library.” I deadpanned. “No…!” she gasped, I shrugged, “how can she do such a thing, isn’t a princess supposed to care for her subjects?” “That’s the irony of I,” I hummed with a curt nod, “but if push comes to shove, I’ve a few new spells of my own to use, just as a last resort, and only as such.” “New spells?” she blinked. “I can use magma as well as fire in my magic reserves now…” I raised an eyebrow; her eyes turned the size of dinner plates, her pupils and the like turning to mere pinpricks. The following morning there was a knock at the door; “Who is it?” I knocked on the door in return. “It’s Twilight,” Twilight’s voice, echoed from behind the door, albeit reluctantly. “And you’re alone?” I growled; bursting into flames. “No, Celestia’s here with me,” she seemingly bit her lip, I sighed, opening the door… Cellsy was indeed there, stood beside Luna and Twilight “There a problem, princess?” I faintly smiled. “You lied to me,” Cellsy frowned “you said you didn’t harm Nightmare Moon, dark as she may have been.” “And I’ve also attained the powers of a magma dragon slayer, what’s your point?” I spat. “We’d like to request a little time with thy daughter, if only for a moment,” Luna bit her lip. “And I suppose in an alternate universe that you might think that I’d just let you walk away with her, unscathed?” I laughed, “Not bloody likely!” “We only wish to talk to her” Cellsy gave a forlorn sigh. “And I’d like the first twenty years of my life to go the way I wanted it to, you don’t see that happening though, do you?” I snarled. “I only wish to discuss the consequences of her having learnt the spells that she has, Rick, why’re you making this so hard?” she gave me a worried look. “Because I don’t feel like I can trust you with anything, let alone my daughter of all things,” I chided, slamming the door in her face, locking it behind me, breathing a sigh of ‘relief,’ before walking into the lounge, where Autumn Heart and Honey Heart were waiting for me, staring at me in apparent fear. “Is everything alright?” Autumn Heart winced. “I don’t know,” I frowned, lightly, “all this could’ve been avoided, had Twilight not judged a book by its cover like she did with Zecora.” “A shame too,” Blaze sighed “so what do we do?” “We protect her with everything we have,” I frowned. “I understand” Autumn Heart gave a forlorn nod “I’ll do what I can-!” “I’ll not risk another being risk her life for family, I’ll do it,” I shook my head. “If you say so, but be careful, Ok?” she pecked my cheek with a small smile. “I’ll be fine,” I smiled… -=-=- “Where do you think this leads Honey?” I smiled, standing beside Twilight, her friends, Autumn Heart, Honey Heart and the rest of my family in front of a staircase that actually appeared to have neither an end, nor a bottom. “I don’t know, Daddy,” Honey Heart giggled, perching herself on my head, “but we’re going to find out anyway!” “And so we are,” I smiled, heading down the stairwell, fists blazing as I sued them as makeshift torches as we ventured into the depths… “I am the Rune Guardian,” a medium-sized golem composed of stone and secret magical arts stepped forward at the opposite end of the room we ended up in at the base of the stairwell, toward each of the corners of the room stood a large statue, two of which looked like wizards, one of a Valkyrie-like warrior-woman, and the forth, of a paladin-type warrior; “Have you come to join the Wizard's tower, young apprentices?” the golem tapped the base of its staff against the dull, grey stone floor as the others stood/hovered beside me. “Wizard's tower..?” Twilight blinked, “I’ve read all the history books in Equestria and not once is there any mention of a Wizard’s Tower!” “Then perhaps not all of your books have been justified, or printed correctly,” the Rune Guardian shrugged. ”Let’s assume we’re here to learn magic, what then?” I raised an eyebrow. “Then I have a test for those who wish to do so, a simple, five-question quiz of sorts,” the Guardian apparently smiled, without a mouth it was hard to tell. “Then what?” I tilted my head ever-so slightly. “Then I shall put you into one of the four groups in which all wizards are placed into, and then I shall allow you entrance to the basement of the tower “Then I’m up first then” I stepped forward “Then we shall begin with relative ease,” the rune anomaly hummed with apparent content “the first question; You are behind in your studies due to illness, and a test is coming up. Your place at the tower is safe, but if you fail you will lose some respect. Another apprentice offers you an opportunity to cheat, what do you do?” “Don’t cheat; as it’d be wrong and I wouldn’t learn anything,” I replied with a smile. “Interesting” the Guardian gave a slow nod, “the second question. An elderly wizard - the last practitioner of a unique branch of magic - dies. Her diary might contain details about her unique magic, but her will, states that the diary should be destroyed on her death, what do you do?” “Copy out what appear to be the most crucial parts of the book for future reference, but then destroy the book later,” I blinked. “Good, now, the third Question,” the Rune being tapped its staff once again on the floor “A rival wizard is spreading lies about you and has made you the laughing stock of a nearby village. They believe you are of low intelligence and poor moral character, and throw vegetables at you when you visit. What do you do?” “Attempt a friendly compromise, but challenge the wizard to a duel before the village if nothing non-combat-related seems to work,” I frowned. “Nearly there, the fourth question;” The Rune Guardian gave a low hum; "You have become a senior wizard and are asked to take on an apprentice. The boy is talented but undisciplined and does not apply himself out his areas of interest. What is your approach?" “Either attempt to teach him magic that’s related to his weakness, to give him a balance learning curriculum, or two show patience and kindness so he has a safe place to learn “Good almost there, the fifth question;” the ancient being tapped its staff once again “senior wizard asks you to take part in a ritual that will greatly benefit the tower. Before the ritual starts, you discover that he learned part of it from a demon. The ritual appears safe, but demons are expert liars, what is your response?" “Stop the ritual, as it is never wise to trust a demon, and it could be unsafe in a way that most wouldn’t be able to detect,” I raised an unamused eyebrow “Welcome, Blue Wizard,” the guardian raised its free hand, an orb of alabaster/snow-white energy hiding its hand from view as a pendant appeared around my neck,” you may proceed…” After everyone had passed the ‘Test,’ and received their respective pendants, we ventured through the doorway behind the Rune Guardian, marching down a spiral staircase toward another doorway. As we passed through the doorway, Twilight’s jaw fell to the floor, “What is all this?” Twilight gasped her eyes darting from one part of the cavernous room to the next. The room itself, like the one before, was quadrilateral in shape, and there was a raised platform in the shape of a ‘+’ in the centre of the room, that of which we were stood on, with countless bookshelves filled with tomes, scrolls and the like, and in the centre, there was an intricate pattern carved into the ground, a large ring with around two-hundred other rings surrounding it, each with a different symbol engraved into the floor, the main, centre ring had a pattern I was familiar with, a crescent moon in front of a circular sun, and hovering in circles around the beams were what appeared to be a small colony of wisps. “If I had to guess, it’s the ruins of an ancient, wondrous civilisation,” I gave a faint smile. “This is incredible…!” Autumn Heart gaped, staring at the contents of the room. “And to think this has remained mostly untouched for countless moons…” I whistled. “It’s unbelievable!” Rarity swooned, almost. “I wonder how old all of this is,” Littlepip hummed. “If Cellsy and Luna kept this place all ‘hush-hush,’ so to speak, there’s probably a good reason for it,” Honey Heart giggled, “Right Daddy?” “Correct, little one, and if she’s kept this quite for this long, I wonder what other dark secrets we’ll find down here whilst we’re at it,” I frowned. “What’s that?” Autumn Heart pointed to a nearby skeleton, dressed in ancient roes and wielding a just-as-ancient staff. “A Mage of the ‘Wizard’s Tower’ perhaps..?” Blackjack shrugged. “Most likely,” I nodded, “But it’s a human skeleton, so it’s at least a billion years old…” “How long has this place been kept a secret?” Velvet Remedy gave a wicked glare. “Longer than I’d have liked it to, apparently,” I frowned, walking to the skeleton, rifling through the pockets of the robes, finding a dusty old tome alongside a selection of small circular stones with symbols on them, the symbols appeared to represent the four elements. “A journal maybe..?” Autumn Heart blinked, but what’re the stones for?” “It’s the basics of magic; they’re runes, used in spell-casting, Autumn Heart,” I smiled, “the skeleton is that of a mage of old, but what was he doing here with these entities?” I gestured toward the wisps with a free wing. “Studying them maybe?” Twilight stood beside me “Perhaps,” I shrugged, opening the book, it read; Rats! Cant’ believe I got stuck down here on sentry duty, these damn wisps are nothing but trouble, and are the sole spawn of the lord of chaos himself! Sometimes I wish what it’s like in Celestia’s hooves, I really do, but I cannot dawdle on such thoughts, as I have a job to do, protecting Equestria from the dangers of this tower, and the wisps themselves, if need be… If anyone finds this, and this is assuming anything should go wrong, I want whoever is reading this to tell Lily that I’ll be home as soon as I can, and tell Rick that daddy’s coming home soon If you yourself, Rick, are reading this, I want you to know that I’m sorry. I’m sorry for being the father I could’ve been, I’m sorry for not being there for you when I could’ve been, and I’m sorry that I probably won’t make it this time, and make sure you take care of Lily, Ok? I love you, son… Que Sera… “That can’t be you, he’s referring to; can it?” Autumn Heart stared at me. “It could be, I am an eon old after all,” I slowly closed the journal, placing it into my inventory, picking up the staff after also placing the runes into the same inventory, standing between my friends, family and the wisps “someone has to tell Celestia about this, and I’ve to stay here to watch over these little monstrosities.” “Rick, I…” Twilight stammered. “Go!” I boomed, glancing toward the lavender mare with an icy glare, she quickly nodded, leading her friends back up the staircase with a gallop/sprint. “Rick…?” Autumn Hearts stood beside me, placing a fragile hoof on my leg, I glanced toward her; a worried expression plastered across my face “Are you alright?” “Don’t worry,” I crouched down, allowing Honey Heart to clamber safely to the ground, “as soon as I’m done here, we’ll all go home.” “But I don’t want to wait for you at home,” she snapped, “I want to know that we’re together at home, safe.” “And we will be, just give ait a little time, Autumn Heart,” I gave a faint smile. “I don’t want to wait, Rick, I want us to be a family, away from here!” she argued glaringly, “I don’t think your father would want you to be wasting your life on something like this, he’d want you to be having fun with your friends and family, so please,” she continued with a sigh, “come home…” “I was hoping to keep this place a secret,” Cellsy appeared beside me, standing opposite Autumn Heart and Honey Heart, “I suppose I’m to give you an explanation, Rick?” “I’m guess that Equestria was built upon the ruins of Gielinor?” I scowled. “That is correct, the realm you humans called Gielinor has been razed to the ground and built upon by ponykind,” she gave a slow, curt nod, “Is, this your resolve then to stay here whilst the world changes around you?” “Half arsed trash like you doesn’t have the right to talk about resolve,” I spat. “You didn’t answer my question,” she frowned. “I’ll be here as long as I need to be.” “So you’re going to waste your life waiting for something that might not even happen?” she snorted. “I shall do just as my father did before me; protect Equestria,” I fumed. “I can do that on my own, Rick,” she raised an eyebrow, “Victory is secured, not from the throne, but from the front lines,” I rebuked. “Then what of your family?” she chided, “they need your care as well, Eon.” “Alright, but I’ll still have a look around, see if I can’t find anything interesting in here,” I sighed with a roll of my eyes. “That is acceptable,” she nodded, teleporting away. -=-=- After taking only the most readable books, tomes and scrolls into my inventory, I headed back into the castle above, reading the journal as I went, Autumn Heart and the others quickly following me “So, after all this time, you finally found your legacy?” Blaze gave a forlorn hum, “I’m sorry” “Don’t be, it wasn’t your fault, and it never will be,” I sighed, flipping to the back of the book, discovering a type of map scratched into the hard leather of the rear cover. Following the map to the appropriate destination, I came across a seemingly abandoned house, with broken windows, a battered front door, and a few missing roof tiles “Hello?” I knocked on the door; a sudden breeze caused it to swing open, revealing a mess of a landing. “Is anypony here?” Autumn Heart called out; the only response we received was a deafening silence, “Mom?” I bit my lip, taking a step forward, feeling something soft beneath me. Glancing to the floor, I noticed a book, bound in leather, with a thick layer of dust covering it “No…” my eyes became wide with unparalleled fear for the worst “please, god no…! “I’m sorry…” Blaze reiterated. “Don’t be” I gave an audible gulp, tears threatening to burst from their ducts as I picked the book from the floor, wiping the dust from the front cover with a light finger, revealing a photo that’d been glued to the front… The picture was somewhat faded, but it was clear who was in it, two people, one, a young man with fair skin, black hair, sapphire eyes and Wizard's robes, complete with a staff, standing beside a young lady with long, flowing dark brown hair and emerald eyes, and in the centre, there was an eon, hovering between the two of them, a smile appeared on all three of their faces, the eon itself had black and white scales and golden eyes, just as I did, but lacked the crystalline chest symbol, instead, he/I had the same triangular pattern every other eon had, but he smiled nonetheless… I collapsed, falling to the floor as I let my emotions flow, crying without holding anything back, tears cascading like miniature waterfalls down my face as I lay there, holding the book close to me. “Rick…” Autumn Heart levitated me, sitting me against the outer wall, nuzzling into me alongside Littlepip, the two mares draping their arms around me, I fainted. ()=+-+=() When I next awoke, my vision blurred; “Hey,” Autumn Heart nuzzled into me as I slowly sat upright, draping my wings around her and Honey Heart as the filly launched herself toward me, clinging onto me with all her might. Just at that moment, Twilight, her friends and the princesses walked into the room. “What happened?” I mumbled, glancing over to the bedside table, where the same book lay, I quickly looked away. “You were rendered catatonic,” Cellsy bit her lip, “something not even I expected from you, Rick.” “I…” I blinked, quickly shaking my head, “What about the tower?” “That depends on what you want to be done with it, Rick” she raised both eyebrows, “do you wish for it to be made public, or to keep it a secret?” “I’ll keep it as it is, don’t want the whole country in a nation-wide panic over a few wisps, do we?” I rolled my eyes “Those wisps are an eon-old descendant of the parasprite, but rather than eating physical objects, they devour magic,” Cellsy began to explain, “the only reason you’re still conscious is because they haven’t worked out your magical anatomy yet, you’re an anomaly to them, your father however, was not so lucky…” “I understand…” I muttered, “He died trying to keep the rest of Equestria safe, we owe him that much at least…” “And what, of the tower’s contents?” she gave a short, light, hum. “Keep them as the rest of the tower is, I don’t want anyone dabbling in what isn’t their business in the first place,” I gave a light frown. “We missed you Daddy, “Snowdrop, Winter Bell, Scootaloo Gracy Gloom and Honey Heart chimed as they clung onto me. “And I you, my little family, and I you,” I draped a wing around each of them with a small smile. “Now, what do you plan to do next..?” =-= “Are you sure this is wise?” Cadance chewed her lip as we entered the Wizard's Tower’s basement. “I’ve got to, who else’s going to do this?” I growled as I stood before the colony of wisp, bursting into flames, the flames quickly liquefying into magma, the superheated liquid dripping to the ground with a light hiss as it made contact with the floor. “Eigo Hoseki Yōgan Ryū…!” I bellowed, inhaling copious amounts of air “Hokou!” I exhaled a vast torrent of magma straight toward the colony of wisps, all but obliterating them as the magic infused magma melded with the beam of magic, said beam of magic turned a vibrant orange, before turning into a light shade of Cyan-blue, bursting through the ceiling. “Well, that was interesting,” I mumbled, changing to eon form, Snowdrop perched herself atop my neck as Honey Heart landed on my head, and Scootaloo, Winter Bell and Gracy Gloom glided unto my back. Suddenly, there was an eruption of light as the runes in my inventory flew out before me, also fusing the beam of energy/light, stabilizing it, the aged contents of the bookshelves regressing to their younger selves, and the room became lighter, with hovering orbs of snow-white light lining the walls. “Son..?” I turned, the man from the photograph was standing there, complete with the staff, robes and all, is aid nothing, merely staring at the man. “Is it really you?” he eyed me from ear to tailfin, I gave a weak nod, he burst out laughing, “I guess I didn’t need to write that farewell letter after all!” I flinched, he blinked “what is it son?” I handed him the journal “But, this doesn’t make sense, if I died then, how is it that I’m alive now?” he glanced between myself and the book “Much has happened in the past billion years,” he turned, facing my friends, Blaze, and the princesses “I’ve been gone, for how long?” he gasped. “You’ve been dead for a whole eon, Dad…” I shuddered at the use of the word “And what of Lily?” he asked with only the utmost urgency. “Rick’s little spell not only bought you and the tower back to life, it most likely bought the others back as well” Cellsy gave a weak smile. “But that’s impossible, you can’t simply reverse time on an entire Tower, much less a single human being!” he frowned, glancing toward me, “what have you done!?” “I don’t know, to be honest with you,” I bit my lip. “I just hope Lily’s alright…” he mumbled. “As do I,” I nodded “Edward..!” a woman, just like the one in the photo, burst forth from behind Celestia and the others, rushing toward him, wearing similar, sky-blue robes, embracing him in a warm hug. “And who’s, this…” she awed at me, staring at me in quite apparent horror “Rick, is that… it can’t be!” “It is,” I clenched my claws “Hello, mum.” “I can’t believe it’s you!” she rushed up to me, eyeing me from ear-to-tailfin-tip, “And I see you’ve made friends too!” “So, where do we stand, as of now?” ‘Edward’ raised an eyebrow, folding his arms in my direction “It’s been a whole eon since you, passed away, I’m sorry…” I grimaced, “I don’t care Rick, so long as I get to see you again” Mom smiled, pecking my cheek. “So, how was it that you got us back to life anyhow?” Edward hummed. “I used magic, that’s all that should really matter,” I flinched. “And what type of magic was it?” he frowned again “it better not be some Zamorakian cursed reanimation spell!” “Nay, ‘twas dragon slayer magic,” I winced “Dragon Slayer magic?” his eyes narrowed, “and where did you get this magic from, my son?” “A dragon God, one known as Crystagia, she….” I inhaled sharply, and then exhaled “she acted as my foster mother whilst she tutored me, you’re not mad are you?” “So long as it’s not a demon from the books of Zamorak…” he rolled his eyes “So, what can you do with this ‘Dragon Slayer’ Magic?” the lady known as Lily gave a faint smile, Snowdrop and the others, save Honey Heart, who remained rested atop my head, landed safely on the floor as I reverted to human form, fists blazing. “So, it’s fire-based?” Edward blinked. I shook my head; “It can be any element depending on which dragon you get it from.” “So, which element are you?” Lily giggled, poking my horns with apparent glee “Gemstone, but mostly fire-based,” I smiled, “can you please stop that?” “Why not..? It’s fun, besides; I just wanted to make sure they weren’t fake,” she smiled. “Fair do‘s,” I shrugged, “now, about the tower?” “I saw it being rebuilt on my way here, as if by magic!” Lily laughed. “So you can reverse time…” Edward hummed, unfolding his arms, “looks like I owe you an apology or two, son,” “Nah, it’s fine, you had every right to be suspicious about my words, and therefore, who I am,” I smiled. “So, what happens now, seeing as the tower’s being rebuilt?” Lily gave a light giggle. “We might as well go and see what’s going on upstairs then” “Edward said with a smile. And so we made the short journey to the Wizard's Tower, Twilight almost had an aneurysm upon entering the spacious first floor. The tower itself was several storeys high, and octagonal in shape, the same beam of light/energy from the basement acting as a lift to the upper levels, and almost-cylindrical bookshelves hovering between the many pillars that supported the upper floors. “This is….” Twilight’s eye twitched, almost convulsing. “Is she going to be alright?” Edward nodded toward the lavender mare. “She’ll get over it, she’s a rather studious mare, and therefore, has a passion for books, reading and the like,” I explained, changing to eon form. “Ah, so I see,” he gave a slow nod. “Ah, Edward, I was beginning to wonder where you were” a mild/darker skinned woman with greying hair sat at the receptionist’s podium beside the entrance. “I’m still here, Valina, you don’t need to worry about me.” “And this is your son, my, gosh, hasn’t he grown up quickly!” Valina gasped, staring at me “he looks to be quite the charmer, hope he’ll fit in well with the others.” “As do I Val, as do I,” Edward patted my back. “I trust these are your friends, Lily?” Valina gestured toward Twilight and the others. “We can talk Y’know” Rainbow Dash frowned. “So you can” Valina rolled her eyes, voice laced-and-dripping with sarcasm, “Shall I allow them entry?” she turned to Lily and Edward. “I trust that they’re not here to cause trouble, Valina,” Lily smiled. “Then I’ll let them pass, after laying down a few ground rules,” Valina smiled, giving the twisted root-like wand in her hand a flick, and a cyan screen-like projection appeared in the open doorway “No pestering the wizards, only a select few questions are allowed. Secondly, no using the teleportation beam for your amusement is to be allowed. Thirdly; treat everyone at the tower fairly,” Twilight read aloud, “I can agree to those terms,” She smiled. “Then I shall allow you entry, young equine” Valina smiled, and, with another flick of her want, the screen disappeared. “So the infamous gatekeeper has returned?” a short mane with a long-grey beard and moustache wearing the same sky blue robes and hat as my parents laughed as we entered the main area/library of the ground floor “We’re back, are we not?” Edward frowned, “I always did find you to be a little too senile and decrepit for the role of librarian, Borann.” “Such slights..!” Borann gasped in mock-shock-and-awe. “And coming from the father of a freak; no less?” “I’m also sentient, Borann,” I hissed. “So you are,” he gave a slow nod “tell me, why do you insist on staying around those two, you’re old enough to live on your own, are you not?” “I’ll take a caring family over an annoying half-pint midget any day,” I scowled. “Your choice,” he shrugged. “And here I thought blueblood was agitating…” Rarity spat “We let talking unicorns into the tower now?” Borann snapped, glaring right at me. “At least they’ve got an actual set of brain cells between them, you, on the other hand, have only age, corruption and a cocky and/or smug attitude about you, Borann,” I cracked my knuckles. “Would you care to repeat that, young scholar?” he frowned with an icy glare. “Gladly, old fool,” I snorted, “how about you make the right choice and step down, give someone who knows what they’re doing the job, eh?” “You have no right to threaten me…!” he silenced himself as I reverted to human form, wings, horns and all, breathing a small fireball in front of me “what in Saradomin’s name are you!?” “I’m an eon, a human, and a dragon slayer, and that’s all you need to know,” my eyes turned to slits as he took several steps backward, walking into a nearby wall, by now, several wizards had turned to face us, staring in awe at me, some preparing spells to attack, others, to defend. “Do with your spells as you wish, either attack me or defend yourselves, only know that I mean you no harm,” I held out my hands with a small smile. “What are you?” the Wizard in the middle of the small group stared at me, fire spells at the ready. “Part dragon, part human, part eon, and part rubber, take that how you will,” I shrugged. “And the horns?” he frowned. “Are those; of a dragons’, you needn’t worry about me going all demonic on you,” I laughed. “Then I think we can get by, if at all,” he nodded “I’ll let the Archmage know right away,” and with that he ascended the beam of magic energy in the centre of the library… “So, that thing’s your son?” A second wizard raised an eyebrow, glancing between Lily and Edward, who both nodded. “We may not be related by blood, but we’re still family” Lily smiled. “So be it.” the wizard from before re-appeared down the beam, turning to face me. “The Archmage will see you know, second floor, first on the left.” “I’ll be there,” I turned to Twilight “Sparkles, try not to break anything.” As we entered the Archmage’s office, sat behind a desk, a middle-aged man with silvery hair and a set of gold-trimmed Wizard's robes smiled at me, albeit, faintly. “A wizard visited me just a moment ago about you,” the Archmage raised an eyebrow, “and I’d like to hear it for myself, what are you exactly?” “I’m a human, an eon, and a Dragon Slayer,” I bit my lip as Edward placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. “I see, and you’re presence at the tower?” he gave a light frown. “I wish no harm to come to the tower, nor any of its occupants, Archmage,” I boldly declared. “As you say,” he nodded, “I hereby request that your parents keep an eye on you whilst you remain in the tower and on its grounds, is this acceptable?” I nodded, “Then I’ll let the others know of your acceptance to the Wizard's Tower…” -=- After Sedridor’s speech had finally managed to convince the occupants of the tower no harm, he returned to his office, and I was left with my friends and family to roam the tower; “So, what happens next?” Twilight twitched as she looked around the library. “Go on then…” I rolled my eyes with a heavy sigh. “She can levitate items, how?” Lily glanced toward me as Twilight picked several books from the nearby bookshelf, sitting down by the nearby wall, opening the first with her magic, behinning to read. “Pony magic differs from that of a human,” I began, smiling, “ “there’re two types of magic where I’ve been, ability-type, in which the magic in a user is freely flowing through them, and holder-type, where you have to use a certain item to use any form of magic.” “So, when we use runes, that’s holder type magic, and the same applies for combat staves?” Edward tilted his head. “Right,” I nodded,” now just think of what we could do if we needn’t use runes in our magic, but rather, what if we could use our minds instead?” “That’d certainly make things easier,” Lily gave a soft laugh, “So, are unicorns here holder-type or ability-type?” “I haven’t managed to work that out yet, but I’d have to say ability-type,” I gave a short hum, glancing toward the lavender mare, who was busy, indulged in her book, a little too indulged, as she didn’t seem to notice the amount of stares she was receiving. “She’s cute I’ll give her that,” Edward glanced between the two of us; “are you two… Y’know?” “I’m not sure how to answer that…” I blinked, “I mean, officially I’m with Autumn Heart…” “I see, and where is this Autumn Heart?” Lily smiled; I nodded toward the earth-brown unicorn who was currently showing Honey Heart around the library “You have a child?” suddenly, all eyes in the room were on us, one could hear, assuming one were to be lost, a pin dropping to the ground, giving a slight tinkas it hit the floor. “Please at least tell me that she’s adopted…” Edward mumbled. “Oh how I wish I could,” I crouched, holding my hands out, Honey Heart galloped over to me, quickly clinging onto me, quickly climbing her way onto the top of my head. “So, you had intercourse, with a pony?” Lily whispered, this of course, did nothing to avert the stares we were getting, “are you a blasphemer!?” “No, I’m an atheist mostly,” I flinched “Well, to each his own I suppose,” he frowned, glaring at Honey Heart, who poked her tongue at him, “So, how long has this been going on?” “How long have I been here?” I glanced toward Snowdrop, who was now perched upon my shoulder “Around thirty-to-forty years, Daddy” Snowdrop giggled. “How many of these things have you even…?” Edward glared at me icily, I mouthed the word ‘Two’ at him “For Saradomin’s sake Boy, and you have the nerve to bring us back, alongside the Wizard's Tower!?” “I ‘had the nerve,’ because I wanted my parents back, obviously you can’t appreciate what someone else has done for you, nor the gravity of that said action, Edward,” I scowled “Get out of my sight; you’re no son of mine” he growled. “Maybe you’d like to go back to playing dead then?” I snarled. “You wouldn’t dare!?” he bellowed. “You wish to risk your life on a gamble,” I spat “why didn’t you say so?” “Enough!” Lily boomed at the top of her lungs, panting for breath afterward, “both of you stop it, you’re acting like children, now why don’t we get over this, and try to work out a compromise!?” “Yes Mum/Yes Dear,” Edward and I glanced at one another, eyebrows raised. “Now, apologize,” she fumed. “I’m sorry for threatening you, Dad,” I held out a hand, he glanced toward Lily, who gave a menacing leer. “And I’m sorry for not giving your relationship a chance, Rick” he shook my hand with a weak smile. “Now, can everyone go back to what they were doing prior to this little excursion?” Lily lanced around the room, gradually, the wizards of the tower returned to their duties… “Remind us never to annoy thy mother,” Luna giggled nervously. “Oh I wouldn’t worry about it, I have to be like this to put up with these two,” Lily placed an arm around Edward and myself, “if not me, then who?” “True,” she smiled “forgive us for not introducing ourselves; we are Princess Luna, herald of the night, and guardian of the stars.” “And I’m Lily” Lily shook Luna’s hoof as she held it out “Indeed,” Luna nickered as Cellsy made her way toward us also, “and this is thine sister, Princess Celestia.” “Nice to meet you,” Lily smiled in return, shaking Celestia’s armoured hoof. “Likewise Lily,” Cellsy smiled “so, how does your magic work?” Twilight’s ears and head both turned toward us as the conversation changed to one of Magicka. “We use runes, something Rick refers to as ‘holder-type’ magic,” Lily gave a serene smile, “with the runes we can cast anything we can think of, but without them; we can’t do much except make more.” “And where do these runes come from?” “Rune essence” Edward smiled also, “it is from theta certain mineral that any type of rune can be made, and from there, they’re used in all sorts of arcane arts, most predominantly in combat magic.” “Combat magic?” Celestia raised an eyebrow. “Only for self-defence of course,” Lily bit her lip. “But of course, just as we use basic bolt spells when defending ourselves, such as in the past wars with the dragons and gryphons that’ve been waged on us as a nation.” “You’ve been in wars?” Edward blinked, glancing toward me, I shrugged. “A few, but we ponies prefer to avoid conflict, if possible,” Luna stated with a slight amount of pride in her voice. “So I see,” Lily smiled, again. “And where might this Rune Essence be exactly?” Luna raised an eyebrow. “It has its own mine in another plane of existence, which was discovered by Zamorakian priests a few decades ago,” Edward explained with a light frown. “And you have means to travel there?” Celestia tilted her head slightly. “We have a teleportation spell, yes” he nodded with a slight grin. -=-=- “So, that was fun,” I rolled my eyes as we arrived in Ponyville “I hope I can go back there again!” Twilight exclaimed with apparent glee. “I don’t see why not,” I sighed. “So, you’re Ok then?” Autumn Heart trotted beside me. “I’ll be fine, Autumn Heart,” I simpered as Discord popped into view right in front of us. “Does anyone know why there’s a tower in the middle of the Everfree Forest?” Discord beamed. “You mean you don’t know?” I blinked, “it’s the Wizard's Tower.” “Ah yes, the Saradominist wizards of old…” he sighed with a wide grin, “So, who not attack me?” “I came to realise something,” I smirked, “compared to the villainous scum that Fairy Tail as a guild has come across, you are but nought, trash that has merely yet to have been disposed of, a freak of nature, etcetera, etcetera.” “Really?” he frowned, “you tell me the lord of chaos, that I’m nothing?” “Compared to anyone from Grimoire Heart, Tartaros, or the Oracion Seis,” you’re nothing, especially when compared to Zeref himself,” I snorted with minor amusement. “You think a mere child is better than me?” he laughed hysterically, “that’s rich!” “He’s the lord of death magic,” I smirked “given the chance; he’d kill anyone with a mere thought, nothing more, nothing less” “You’re joking…” he stared at me with a slight of fear, I raised an eyebrow “well I’ll be damned…” and with that he vanished, teleporting away. “You have a wizard who utilizes death magic?” Celestia blinked. “Not in the guild, but somewhere in Fiore, yes, the Black mage; Zeref,” I gave a forlorn nod. “And around four centuries ago, he attained immortality,” Blaze smirked, appearing at the doorway to the house “you left the front door unlocked again, Brother.” “So, how powerful is he?” Twilight shuddered. “That much is unknown, other than his abilities and his immortality, there’s not much I do know, other than his hatred for mankind,” I frowned. “There’s one thing I still don’t get though,” Twilight glanced toward me, taking a small backward step; “how did you become a magma dragon slayer?” “The same way Natsu can use lightning,” I raised the other eyebrow, “and in a similar way Sombra uses his dark magic; anger and emotion.” “You must’ve been extremely annoyed for your fire to turn solid, Brother,” Blaze whistled. “Quite so, and since I’ve had dark magic literally ripped from my being, there’s no risk of corruption.” “I should hope so,” she gave a slow nod, sidestepping, allowing us entrance to the house. “So… we’ve an astral mage and a lava-surfer” Blackjack laughed, I tilted my head ever-so slightly, “what?” “Nothing at all, Blackie, nothing at all…” I slowly shook my head. Honey Heart’s stomach growled as she lay atop my head; “Daddy, I’m hungry,” she giggled nervously. “Well, let’s see what we can do to sate, that appetite, hm?” I smiled, walking with my family into the kitchen, Blaze causally following me there, smug grins aplenty. “So, what can I get you, Honey?” I smiled; Honey Heart levitated the cookie Jar over to me, placing it in my grasp with a light giggle as her stomach growled again. Judging by the way your stomachs grumbling, I’d say you need more than a few sweets, Honey,” I smiled, “let’s see what we can get at Sugarcube corner.” “Okie Dokie!” she nickered, glancing down to my shoulder as Winter Bell perched herself there on our way toward the confectionery. “Can we sing?” Honey Heart smiled down to me on the way there. “I don’t see why not, my little Honey Heart,” I said with a smile. “I've been watching you stumble through the darkest night Let me tell you It's gonna be alright I can see you've been trying but your wings got clipped been waiting in line but your turn got skipped I'll be there when you need me I'll be there when you call Yeah I'll be there to catch you when you fall Know that I'll never leave you Out here on your own I'll be the lights that guide you home Been a long time coming Feelings for you My hearts been skippin' a beat Maybe two Right now you're weak but, But you'll be strong I know where there's a place That you belong I'll be there when you need me I'll be there when you call Yeah I'll be there to catch you when you fall Know that I'll never leave you Out here on your own I'll be the lights that guide you home I don't know if you want me Or if you care But even if you don't I'll be there 'Cuz when I'm beside you My soul burns bright Let me be the one Let me be your light I'll be there when you need me I'll be there when you call Yeah I'll be there to catch you when you fall Know that I'll never leave you Out here on your own I'll be the lights that guide you home Now I know you've had problems We could solve 'em We could make it through Tried and true We could fight 'em off, all of 'em We could make it through a brighter day, anyway Gettin' by another way So I guess I'm trying to say I wanna be the lights guiding you through the night When things get dark, when you don't know what's right I wanna hold your hand, and tell you that you can So don't worry, it's gonna be alright I'll be there when you need me I'll be there when you call Yeah I'll be there to catch you when you fall Know that I'll never leave you Out here on your own I'll be the lights that guide you home” Honey Heart, Snowdrop and Winter Bell sang as we made it toward Sugarcube Corner, now on the receiving end of quite a few stares… “I didn’t know you sang,” I turned; Natsu, Erza, and Grey were there, grinning. “Yeah well, don’t expect me to do it often,” I rolled my eyes, glancing toward Natsu. “So, how’s Lyra?” “I was about to meet her here actually…” Natsu mumbled. “Good for you,” I smirked as we entered the shop, Lyra was sat at a nearby table, Natsu dragged himself toward said table, sitting opposite Lyra as she levitated a milkshake from the counter, placing it between them, gazing at him dreamily as she started to drink, Natsu reluctantly followed suit, glaring at me as he did so, I merely shrugged. “What can I getcha?” the cyan mare behind the counter smiled, winking at me, I frowned. “I’ll have three triple-chocolate milkshakes and four blueberry muffins please,” Honey Heart giggled, Mrs Cake nodded, returning not a moment later with the consumables that the little filly had requested. “How much do I owe you?” I gave a weak smile as Honey Heart levitated the items over to a table opposite Lyra and Natsu “It‘s fine, I’ll not charge you anything if it‘s for your daughter,” she smiled with a dismissive wave of her hoof,, glancing toward Lyra “the same also applies for Lyra’s new coltfriend over here.” “Oh, we’re not together…” Natsu trailed off, seeing the pony’s saddened expression before him, “I mean; we’re to get married soon…” Lyra leapt at him, somehow avoiding the cold drink as she lavished him with kisses. “So, you’re to be married?” I smirked as we left Sugarcube corner, Lyra skipping merrily alongside us with a look of pure glee upon her face, “do you even know how a wedding works, Natsu?” “Not really, no, why?” he blinked. I sighed, “Snowdrop, could you please get Twilight, and ask her to bring Cadance along?” I glanced toward Snowy, who nodded, pecked my cheek and galloped off toward the library. -=- “I heard that you required my assistance, Rick?” Cadance smiled at me as she teleported beside me, I nodded toward Lyra and Natsu. “Natsu said that he and Lyra are apparently getting married soon, he’s then gone on to tell me that he has no idea how a wedding works,” I smirked. “Oh, I can tell you all about it Natsu, but first we need to get you a suit, we should head over to Rarity’s for that,” Cadance chimed, picking the human up in her magic, skipping happily toward the boutique, Lyra quickly following suit. “You are in so much trouble…” Erza sighed with a smirk as Snowdrop perched herself back on my shoulder. “Yeah well, that’s the way the cookie crumbles,” I laughed. “So it is,” she laughed. =-= “I’d never thought I’d ever see this happen…” I bit my lip as Natsu, now wearing a suit, complete with his trademark checkered scarf, stood beside Lyra at the end of the aisle “I do,” he smiled, more-or-less completing the wedding; “I now pronounce you colt and mare, you may kiss the bride,” the priest smiled awkwardly, Lyra leapt up, planting her lips firmly on Natsu’s. “What’ll you do for your honeymoon then?” I smirked as the newlyweds marched from the town hall. “I’ve an idea, but I’ll need to save up a little for it,” Lyra giggled, now perched on the back of Natsu’s head. “Take what you need from me; or rather, the ridiculously large bank account that I have, assuming there’s anything left of it…” I rolled my eyes. “You mean it?” she gasped, awing at me. I nodded, “take what you want, just tell Cellsy that I sent you,” I said with a wide grin. “You’re a gem,” she exclaimed with glee, winking at me. “I’m also part dragon,” I smirked. “So, what’ll we do for ourhoneymoon?” Autumn Heart smiled, nuzzling into me as we sat on the couch in the second lounge, “I think spending time with you is nice enough as is, Autumn Heart,” I pecked the tip of her horn with a smile. “Aww, you’re too sweet,” she giggled pecking my cheek. “Anything for you, my little Tinker,” I draped a wing around her and each of my daughters, holding them close “we’re family, let’s at least act like one.” “And so we are,” she nickered. “Must you wear clockwise whilst doing this particular method of training, Brother?” Blaze chortled as we stood atop the hill near the library. “Why not, it’d compliment the fire that I’m to use for my next ability, Blaze” I grinned, clapping my hands together, bursting into whitish-golden flames, said flames began to grow exponentially, building up as they took shape; First came the legs and body, then the medium-long neck and tail, which, alongside the back were lined with triple-file spines, after that, the wings of great-golden flames burst forth as the head sprouted from the top of the neck, a horn pointing from each angle of its head, and a third, smaller horn from its snout “Second level dragon’s apparition, Tenkyu no Karyu!” I bellowed, the dragon above me gave an almost ethereal roar as I yelled, letting forth a vast torrent of alabaster fire directly into the sky. “Celestial fire dragon,” Blaze whistled, “that’s quite tha ability, Brother.” “What in the hay..?” I turned; Twilight and her friends were there, awing at me “What is that?” Twilight nodded toward the large dragon I’d ‘summoned’ “Second stage Dragon’s Apparition,’” I smiled. “How did you summon it?” she blinked. “The same way I conjure up a basic flame, only with more focus and concentration, I think,” I laughed. “Could it be something to do with the ‘Dragon Soul’ Celestia mentioned once?” Blaze tilted her head “It could be, perhaps we ought to ask her about it at some point,” I folded my arms as the dragon re-moulded itself back into the usual golden veil of flames “Uh, Rick…” Twilight giggled, eyeing me from head to foot, I looked down at myself, now appearing to be a bright whitish-golden-yellow in colour. “Looks like we’re doing a Naruto crossover now, brother..!” Blaze guffawed. ”So it does, Blaze, so it does,” I smiled as Honey Heart leapt toward me, perching herself atop my head. “Human torch,” she laughed. “Coming from the fire-ferret..!” I snorted. “Avatar reference intended?” she smirked, I nodded. “Quite so,” I said with another smile. “So, how is she not bein’ harmed by your fire then?” Applejack blinked. “Fire does more than just burn, Applejack, I smirked, “it only burns when I wish for it to do so, it’s an extent of the ability known as ‘Purple Flare,’” I winked. “It’s actually kind of cosy,” Honey Heart giggled, nuzzling into me “I love you Daddy.” “And I you, my little Heart,” I sat on the ground, moving Honey Heart into my lap, draping her wings around her. “That’s nice…” she yawned, curing into a ball as she fell asleep in my lap, giving a light snore with every other breath “When I see your smile Tears roll down my face I can't replace And now that I'm strong I have figured out How this world turns cold and it breaks through my soul And I know I'll find deep inside me I can be the one I will never let you fall (let you fall) I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all (through it all) Even if saving you sends me to heaven It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. Seasons are changing And waves are crashing And stars are falling all for us Days grow longer and nights grow shorter I can show you I'll be the one I will never let you fall (let you fall) I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all (through it all) Even if saving you sends me to heaven Cuz you're my, you're my, my, my true love, my whole heart Please don't throw that away Cuz I'm here for you Please don't walk away and Please tell me you'll stay woah, stay woah Use me as you will Pull my strings just for a thrill And I know I'll be okay Though my skies are turning grey I will never let you fall I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all Even if saving you sends me to heaven I will never let you fall I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all Even if saving you sends me to heaven…” I softly sang as Honey Heart slept, gently rocking he rack and forward “Ahem?” I glanced behind me; Celestia was stood beside Twilight and the others “Hiya Cellsy,” I smiled, turning back, gently stroking Honey’s mane “what can I do for ya?” “I’d like to know where you got your current form from,” Cellsy raised an eyebrow. “I just thought of it, and surely enough, it worked,” I gave a light shrug “And the dragon that appears to have mysteriously vanished?” she gave a faint smile,. “I really don’; think my daughter would appreciate me ruining her state of apparent bliss, Princess,” I rolled my eyes, she blinked, standing beside me as I unveiled my wings, quickly returning them back to their place around Honey Heart. “So she wouldn’t,” she smirked. -=-=- After what felt like eternity, the flames around my being began to flicker, and eventually died out. “Aww, is it over already?” Honey Heart gave me her best puppy-dog-eyes impression. “When my magic level returns, we’ll do it again, Ok?” I smiled, pecking her forehead. “Okie Dokie,” she saluted me, yawning as she clambered onto my head as I staggered to my feet, Snowdrop perching herself atop my shoulder, Winter Bell doing the same for the opposite appendage. “Where have you been?” Autumn Heart frowned rather glaringly once we entered the lounge. “Taking care of Honey Heart, don’t worry Tinker, she’ll be fine with me,” I crouched down, allowing my passenger to climb to the floor, save Honey Heart, who remained upon my head. “And where was this exactly?” she snapped. “Around the library,” Honey Heart chimed with apparent joy, “Daddy became all golden-coloured and warm; he even allowed me to sleep in his lap. “Golden?” Autumn Heart stared at me “you set yourself on fire?” “Not exactly,” I bit my lip “if we have any gems, I could show you, but it’d have to be outside.” “So, this is what you used before?” she blinked, awing at me, I nodded “it’s impressive, I’ll give it that.” “And it’s also my newest form of magic,” I smiled, dissipating the golden glow. “Well, I suppose I can forgive you, since she did come home unscathed…” she sighed indignantly. “She’ll always remain that way when she’s with me, you can count on me,” I grinned, she frowned. “I hope so, Rick, I really do,” she bit her lip, pawing at the ground nervously. “I hereby promise that, no matter what, Honey Heart will always be with be when we return home, come hell or high water, I’ll defend her with everything I have,” I smirked. “You’re quite the noble pony- err, person, Y’know that right?” she smiled. “I’m aware…” I mumbled, “So anyways, how goes the business with the shop?” “Oh, it’s doing Ok I suppose…” she smiled, “I made a few new clocks for us also, they’re easily noticeable, so you should be able to spot them fairly easily.” “So I should…” “So, I wonder how many times more powerful you are than the average mage at the newly created Wizard's Tower,” Blaze raised an eyebrow, I blinked as we made our way to the tower, “I heard about it from Autumn Heart,” I nodded. “I’m on level with a demigod or two, so there’s something at least,” I hummed. “Rick,” Edward smiled as we entered the tower, having been allowed entrance by Valina, “How’re you doing?” “I’m fine, Dad…” I blinked, still getting used to the fact that I’d bought back my dead relatives. “And who’s this?” he glanced toward Blaze “I’m Blaze, Rick’s adoptive sister,” Blaze held out a paw, which Edward, reluctantly, shook. “What are you?” he blinked. “I’m what‘s known as a Typhlosion,” Blaze sighed, “or you could just call me a giant estranged ferret, if it’s any easier.” “So I see…” he gave a light frown, “and how long have you been with your ‘brother’?” “Just over three-and-a-half-hundred years,” she flinched “How old are you again?” he stared at me “In form, around three-point-five-hundred years old, in spirit, around an eon, why?” I tilted my head. “And you never thought to bring us back sooner?” he frowned, again. “I didn’t find the basement of your tower until just before last week!” I argued back. “And what, of our home?” he scowled. “I’m three hundred years old; I think I can take care of myself, Dad,” I rolled my eyes agitatedly, “besides, when I found out about you, when I found the house, and your remains, I was practically rendered catatonic!” “So that’s where you were for the last month,” Blaze laughed. “I was out for a month?” I blinked, glancing toward the Typhlosion who was busy grinning at me, beaming from ear to ear. “Basically,” she smirked. “So, what brings you out here this time?” he raised an eyebrow, Lily now standing at his side. “I just found a new type of spell, I think<” I concentrated, bursting into flames, which then moulded around me, shaping into the same golden form I had before. “That’s amazing,” Lily gasped, “what is it?” “it’s a veil of magic, sort of,” I tilted my head ever-so slightly, seeing as Honey Heart was perched atop my skull, draping her wings around my horns as she lay there, “it may be an amalgamation of fire-based magic and energy, I don’t know just yet.” “It’s amazing is what it is!” Lily exclaimed with a huge grin “never in all my years have ai seen such magical prowess! I’m proud of you son.” “So, you got this magic from a dragon you say?” Edward laughed, I nodded, “Not just any dragon, Dad, Crystagia’s the gem dragon goddess.” “Well, tell her that I might be interested in having a nice chat with her soon,” he chortled. “There won’t be any need to wait, young human,” an almost-ethereal voice echoed from outside, my family and I quickly rushed to the entrance, where Crystagia lay in an arc around the tower. “You’re… Crystagia…?” Lily stared at the large dragon, who gave a solemn nod. “I am,” Crystagia nodded, “and might I ask your names?” “I’m Lily, and this is my husband, Edward,” Lily mumbled almost incoherently, “you’re the dragon who’s taken care of our son for these years?” “I am the one responsible for his teachings of the lost magic known only to dragon slayers, yes, and I’ve also been keeping a rather watchful eye on him, isn’t that right, son?” she glancved toward me with a grin. “Son…?” Lily gasped “but, how…? “I have taken care of Rick to the best of my ability, and in turn, he had, at one point or another, deemed we worthy to be his foster mother,” Crystagia sighed as she explained, glancing toward me again “I see you’ve finally unlocked your ‘Dragon Soul’ then?” “My what?” I blinked. “All dragon slayers, be they of ‘first,’ ‘second,’ or ‘third’ generation, have a dragon’s soul implanted into them at some stage, you however, seem not to have noticed, even when using ‘Dragon Force,’” she raised an eyebrow, “so it falls to your latest ‘spell,’ to get you any notice of your true capabilities.” “This is my….?” I glanced down at myself, taking in my now-golden form. “It has another form to it, but I assure you, I wouldn’t advise using it, for reason I refuse to elaborate on, Rick,” she smiled; holding out a clenched claw, which I lightly bumped using my fist. “Crystagia, was it?” Lily gave a nervous laugh, the dragon goddess gave a slight nod “I can’t thank you enough for taking care of our son, we’re eternally in your debt, if ever you need anything, feel free to ask, we’ll be at the Wizard's Tower for a long while anyhow,” she giggled. “I’ll be sure to remember it Lily,” Crystagia smiled with a nod. “So, she’s your foster mother?” Edward glanced toward me, I nodded, “at least she shows kindness; that of which, by the looks of things, wasn’t completely lost upon you, my son.” “You flatter me, Edward, really, I am just an Elder Dragon, no more and no less,” Crystagia laughed. “Rick here says that you’re a dragon god,” Lily smiled. “Now where might you get that information, young dragon slayer?” she glanced once again toward me, eyebrow raised. “Cellsy said that the original dragons of Equis that spread out across the universe with humans were, in their own right, gods, and she said that you’re one of them,” I gave a wide grin, “Never a dull moment with you, Brother..!” Blaze burst into a fit of laughter. “Indeed,” I laughed, turning toward the dragon goddess who lay out before me “but would you say that her analysis is true or false, Crystagia?” “It is, to a certain extent true, be it my modesty or the truth, there’s only one way to find out,” she smiled, “you’ll have to seek th other elders, I trust you know at least one of them?” “Something tells me that you’re not referring to Grandoa….” I raised an eyebrow. “Correct, but you didn’t answer my question, Rick.” “Igneel…” “That’s one; can you name any others, my dear son?” “Grandeeney and Mettallicana,” I blinked. “And that’s three now,” she simpered “I’m impressed with your knowledge on the dragons of old, Rick, who else are you aware of?” “Weisslogia and Skiadrum, although they’re… Y’know,” I bit my lip. “I’m aware of their unruly demise at the hands of their sons, and I’m glad you didn’t follow a similar path, my son,” she smiled. “So, this ‘Dragon Soul,’” I gave a short hum “I got it when I became an eon?” “Correct, you see, when you merged with that soul, its powers, for a time, were locked, but the your new eon form was given to you nonetheless,” The gem dragon nodded, “such is the way of two souls merging in our time, the second soul of which has their form, no matter how many, and their powers also, transferred to the new ‘host,’ as it were, even more proof of the new soul inside of you would be your horns.” “When I first became an eon, all those years ago, did I have a dragon’s soul then?” I clenched my fists. “I cannot say for sure, as I was not aware of your existence an eon ago, Rick, it would be better to ask Celestia to see if she knows anything on the matter,” Crystagia tilted her head slightly, “though it’s more than likely that you did, whether you were artificially created or naturally born, I do not know.” Her gaze shifted upward slightly, “and I see that you’ve a new friend?” “He’s my Daddy,” Honey Heart gleamed with a cheer. --=-=-- “Got played like a piano, did we?” Blaze smirked as my family, Twilight her friends and I stood with the princesses in the throne room. “Immortality is a price, not a gift, Blaze,” I frowned “besides, I don’t even play the piano.” “Yeah, you use a guitar, we know,” she smirked. “And the violin,” I mumbled under my breath” “Didn’t know you were like that, Brother,” she grinned, pulling a violin case out of nowhere, handing it to me. “Where do you get these things?” I frowned again, she winked. “A true magician never reveals her secrets,” she laughed, suddenly stopping, looking at me almost expectantly “well play then, I’m not sitting here waiting for nothing ya know!” “And in clockwise nonetheless,” Rarity chimed, “this should be interesting.” -==-== After the few select songs were over, I stopped, placing the stringed instrument back into its case, only then noticing the design of the case in general. “Blaze,” I clenched my fists, “where did you get this?” “Agatha, you know; the one you went through hell and back to get that thing for?” my sister gave an audible gulp. “I know that, what I don’t understand is why it’s not in my possession,” I growled. “’twas her final wish that she pass it down to you, Brother,” she gave a forlorn sigh, “I’m sorry…” “So, I’ve got a violin that’s nearly as old as I am?” I grumbled, “if not older…” “How old is it?” Rarity stepped forward as I re-opened the case, running a gentle finger over one of the strings. “Well, assuming it were twenty-five-ninety by now, it say almost nine-hundred years, it was made in seventeen-fourteen,” I explained, “originally made by Antonio Stradivari at the time, it’s almost priceless as it is now…” “You have a guitar signed by Bryan Adams, do you not?” Blaze gave a weak smile. “That was made in the late twentieth, early-twenty-first century, Blaze; this was made in the early-eighteenth, it belongs in a museum for what it’s worth!” I exclaimed, “After the great war, this may be the last Stradivarius in existence, making it priceless enough as is.” “But if it‘s almost ancient, and this is no offense to Agatha, then how is it so… perfectly well preserved?” Twilight stared at me, then toward the violin, “It was kept in what’s known as a ‘Vault’ an underground bunker designed to keep people safe from the outside war that was going on, and in that Vault; Vault Ninety-Two, they strived to keep musical talent alive, but after a few testes involving white noise went awry, the violin was kept on its own in an especially-made case, preserved thanks to the artificially created humidity in the case, where it remained untouched for over two centuries,” I explained. “Its case is the only reason it‘s in perfect working order?” Cellsy blinked, glancing toward the violin, perfectly preserved through the infinite sands of time. I nodded, “it’s a wonderful masterpiece, I‘m just wondering what to do with it.” “Keep it, you’ll need it for your part in the orchestra,” she glimmered. “My, what..?” I blinked in return. She giggled “You’ve proven yourself to be quite the expert with the guitar, your voice, and now of course, the violin; don’t you think it logical to be part of something bigger, Rick?” “I’m afraid that I must decline, Princess,” I smiled, “I’ve a family to look after, and I’d rather sell the violin than lose them.” “You’d sell the violin, priceless as it is?” Rarity gasped. “I’d rather not sell it at all, but if it came to it, I’d sooner sacrifice it than those close to me,” I gleamed. “Noble, if anything” Luna smiled, “we shall see you later, Sir Rick… -=- “Rick..!” Octavia, after a long period of not seeing her, sprinted toward me, knocking me to the ground as I crouched down to her level, thankfully, Blaze was carrying the violin case, so nothing was damaged. “How are you Octavia?” I smiled; she pecked my cheek, giggling as she nuzzled into me. “So, long time no see Rick!” Vinyl marched up beside me as Octavia stood opposite her, allowing me to steadily get to my feet, “and before you ask, Celestia told us your name,” she winked, “what’s with the violin case?” “I didn’t know you could play the violin, Rick” Octavia gleamed with a lustful look in her eyes. “Yeah well, I’ve been meaning to get in a little practice,” I smiled. “Perhaps we could do so together?” she winked. “I don’t see why not, lead the way Tavi,” she giggled, walking with me to the theatre as I collected the violin from Blaze, who merely grinned at me with a devious smirk. “So, where do we begin?” The silvery mare almost-purred as I sat upright on the edge of the stage “How about you start and I’ll see if I can’t follow?” she gave a faint nod, taking her place on a seat upon the stage, cello in hoof, beginning with a slow start, after a moment I began to attempt at following her lead in a duet… =-= “Well, that was certainly peaceful,” Octavia said with a smile, placing her cello in its case, giving me another, flirtatious wink. “Same time next week..?” I smiled in return; she tilted her head slightly for a moment, before sighing; “I’m sorry to say that I can’t, “she shook her head, “I’m due for the royal Canterlot Orchestra next week, and as such, I need time to practice.” “Fair enough, just feel free to stop by my house if you need anything, or want to do this again,” I grinned. “I’ve heard of ‘Making Music,’ but this is ridiculous!” I turned, Twilight her friends, the princesses and my family were all there, smiling right at me. “Long enough…?” I raised an eyebrow; “Quite so,” Cellsy raised an eyebrow, “it appears that you truly are skilled with such instruments, how do you do it? “Practice, I guess,” I shrugged, placing the Soil Stradivarius back into its case, Octavia sat beside me, examining the case and its contents. “Where did you get such a fine piece of craftsmanship?” Octavia stared at me. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” I rolled my eyes “Try me<” she smirked. “A post-apocalyptic warzone,” I raised an eyebrow. “…Ok, wasn’t expecting that….” She blinked “but still, both you and the violin are in perfect condition which means that, should you choose to, you’ll be able to qualify for the Orchestra,” I nodded toward Cellsy, she gasped; “No…!” “Apparently,” I sighed, “though I’ve got a family to look after, so I’m a little pressed for time.” “About that…” she bit her lip, “I’d like to join your herd, and to move in with you, if that’s all right with you, Rick.” “…I’m not saying no, but is there a reason you’re asking me this?” I blinked after a moment’s silence. “I’m a little low on money due to recent uprisings, and as such, I can’t really afford to be in Canterlot for much longer,” Octavia winced somewhat as I raised the other eyebrow. “Did I say no?” I grinned, she gasped, leaping at me, lavishing me with small, affectionate kisses… =-=-= “So, Octy tells me that she’s moved in with you, how’s that working out for you?” Vinyl grinned. “It’s going brilliantly so far, I’ve managed to rearrange the third lounge into a bedroom, and the second into a music room, so yeah, it’s pretty awesome,” I beamed. “I was wondering, is there a place I could store my equipment when it’s not being used?” she raised an eyebrow; her shades perched atop her horn. “There’s probably room in the spare room in the basement, so I should imagine so,” I nodded. “Thanks Rick-o, you’re an awesome friend!” she leapt up, pecked my square on the lips, then darted off. =-= “So, what d‘ya think Cellsy would look like, if she were a warrior?” Blaze tilted her head as we sat in the lounge. “I’ve already taken care of it,” I winked. “You didn’t…” she gasped as a small set of folded artworks were dropped into my lap with a note, “So you did…” “So, when’s our next practice?” I glanced toward Octavia, having hidden/burnt the artworks. “We can do it now, if you like,” Octavia smiled with a light giggle. -=-=- After the practice -=-=- “Well, I’d definitely say you’re Orchestra-material, Rick,” Octavia nickered, placing her Cello in its case as I did the same for the Soil Stradivarius. “Tell me,” she began, her form changing to a curvaceous anthro one, with her mane still as long as it was in her normal form, long pale-lavender arm stockings that went from her fingertips to halfway between her shoulders and elbows, a lavender dress, and a pair of bunny ears, also lavender, “what is it that you find so interesting about me?” “Well, you’ve great musical talent, plus you’re classy, but unlike most nobles, you’ve a sense of decency about you, and you’re beautiful to the point where most would consider one to be an angel,” I gave an audible gulp, placing the case for my violin on the floor. “I think a reward is in order for those kind words that are continuously birthed from that silver tongue of yours, Rick” pecked me on the lips as she picked me up, dragged me into the bedroom, locked the door behind us and throwing me on the bed. “So, what’ll we do first, hmm..?” =-=-= “So what were you doing?” Cellsy smiled as we sat in the library. “Nothing much” Octavia smiled. “We could hear you all the way down from in here,” Twilight deadpanned. “This isn’t exactly how I planned to spend a wintery Sunday morning,” Autumn Heart mumbled. “Trapped in a library in the middle of an almost-out-of-control snowstorm, yeah, I think I can see a few problems with that,” I rolled my eyes. “Yo, Rick, ya got any whiskey?” Blackjack sat right next to me opposite Octavia, as Autumn Heart curled up in my lap, and Honey Heart lay atop my head. I rolled my eyes, “I’ll see what I have,” delving into my rucksack, I pulled out another six-pack of whisky bottles, passing them to her with ‘Purple Flare’. “Thanks Rick, Love you,” she pecked my cheek, quickly opening the first bottle. “I’m aware,” I frowned, “getting dragged halfway through a castle by a ‘drunk-out-of-her-mind’ mare, and then being played like a violin, figuratively speaking, I kind of got the picture.” “You enjoyed it and you know it!” she chortled, I raised an eyebrow, “now Rick, don’t go denying it on me now~ Speaking of which, do you have any cards on you?” “I might, I’m just wondering if that tower of bottles you expertly crafted is still there,” I rolled my eyes, again. “What happened?” Twilight blinked, I raised an eyebrow, “Oh...! “That’s Queen Blackjack for you,” Blaze grinned, “it’s as I said; never a dull moment with you, right Brother?” “You could say that,” I slowly shook my head. “Wait, Queen Blackjack?” Rainbow Dash blinked, “what makes her a queen, other than the fact she’s an alicorn?” “What makes you a pony?” I tilted my head ever-so slightly. “What I am?” she blinked with a light shrug of her shoulders. “And there’s your answer,” I exhaled sharply as Blackjack finished her third bottle of whiskey, opening the fourth. “You aren’t gonna stop her?” Blaze nodded toward the semi-alcoholic alabaster mare beside me, who frowned. “Should I be?” I raised an eyebrow (again?). “Probably,” she laughed. “Yeah well, Blackjack can hold her liquor, it’d take more than a six-pack of bottles to get her even so much as tipsy,” I glanced toward Blackjack, who winked at me, “or, maybe not…” “And something tells me that you’ve got more than a few ‘six-packs,’” she folded her arms with a sadistic grin. “I found a type of jackpot of the stuff during a Slaver raid, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it,” I frowned. “Slaver raid?” Cellsy frowned in return, “explain.” “Saving the lives of innocent’s from a fate worse than death, yet again, might I add?” I bit my lip. “So I see,” she gave a slow, curt nod, “I’ll not ask you to elaborate any further “How much exactly, define ‘Jackpot’,” Blaze chortled. “Five whole kegs, thirty barrels, twenty small crates and around two-thousand bottles,” I smirked. “And what is this so-called ‘Jackpot’ composed of?” she raised both eyebrows. “Whiskey and Cider mostly, might be some Vodka mixed in with it “And you just found this in the middle of a Slaver camp?” “Not just any ‘Slaver Camp,’ Dear Sister!” I laughed with a shake of my head, “No, I looted this from paradise falls, which would go a great deal towards explaining the tough-as-nails security I had to go through to get it, alongside two-billion caps.” “Paradise falls?” Autumn Heart raised an eyebrow, gazing straight at me. “It’s not something I should be discussing with a foal around, I’ll explain it later,” I gave a forlorn sigh. “So how many guards did you say again?” Blaze smirked with a sly grin. “Around forty, maybe fifty or sixty, I didn’t know nor care at the time,” I clicked my knuckles, followed by my neck, and then my upper-back. “Right, ‘Cuz you were goin for the alcohol stash, eh?” she guffawed. “Actually I didn’t even know it was in there, I was just there to save lives, burn ammo and then get the hell out of there, believe what you will, Sister,” I tutted “besides, who’s going to use it anyway, I certainly wasn’t going to let it go to waste, but I’m certainly no alcoholic!” “Whatever you say, Mr Fahrenheit,” she grinned somewhat smugly. “One time, Blaze, one time!” I rebuked with an icy glare. “Twice actually,” she beamed. “I think someone would’ve told me if it happened again, Blaze,” I rolled my eyes indignantly. “Or maybe we wished to withhold information, thus proving our sick sense of humour?” she shrugged. “God Damnit…” I mumbled. “Aren’t I just the best, Dear Brother of mine?” she cackled with laughter. “That’s debatable,” I snorted with apparent derision. “You love me and you know it,” she glimmered with glee. “As family, nothing more,” I retorted agitatedly. “So, where’re you gonna put your little stash of unmentionables?” she giggled insanely “Most likely the basement, lord knows I need to use that spare room as is,” I shuddered. “You have an incredibly warped mind, Brother,” she howled with laughter. “I’m me, and that’s the end of it,” I smirked. “So you are…” Having retrieved various pieces of equipment from my inventory, and also having moved the electric guitar set I’d found from the basement to the front lawn, I placed said pieces of equipment, including valves, pipes and the like –including talismans along/into the various walls, thus, creating a type of fridge, then placing the ‘stash’ of alcohol into said fridge… “Where’d you get the amp-and-guitar?” Blaze smirked. “From the basement, having just placed the stash there, or half of it, at least,” I rolled my eyes, “please tell me that Canterlot has even a basic drum-kit in its inventory….” “I’ve seen it being used,” she nodded “why?” “Why d‘ya think?” I grinned. “Please tell me you’re joking,” she groaned. “But of course, I deal with stringed instruments of the quiet type, not the type to causer buildings to quake and crumble,” I laughed. “So, you’re just giving this to me, as it is?” Vinyl glanced toward the guitar and amplifier, then back toward me, awing at me. “I’ve no need for it Vinyl, and besides, it’s you who specializes in that sort of music here, not me,” I smiled. “I’ll give you two-thousand bits for it,” she smirked “Half it,” I grinned. “Deal,” she bumped my fist with a heavy hoof. Taking the equipment in her magic and walking into her home with it, winking at me as she closed the door, teleporting a bag of coins into my hands as she went. “Well, now that that’s done,” I sighed, taking myself to the music room, violin case in hand, sitting on the stool , placing the case on the nearby table, retrieving the Soil Stradivarius from within, relaxing with an elongated sigh, and then beginning to play… =-= “I didn’t know you played the violin,” a familiar, scarlet/snow-white eon with golden eyes appeared at the doorway. “Crystal, what brings you here?” I beamed. “Other than the fact that I’ve not seen you in ages for one reason or another; and the fact that I love you and care for you, not much,” Crystal giggled, “may I watch?” “You’ve been doing so for the past lord-knows-how-long, why do you feel the need to ask?” I rolled my eyes. “Two hours, by that clock next to you,” she nodded toward a pony shaped clock, which was the spitting image of Honey Heart, “so I hear that you’ve a new marefriend?” “We’re married,” Autumn Heart smiled as she sat beside me, pecking my cheek as Honey Heart clambered onto my head. “And she’s your foal?” Crystal nodded toward the filly atop my head; I nodded, “what’s her name?” “Honey Heart,” Autumn smiled. “Cute,” Crystal smirked. “I’m assuming you know how to play?” I raised an eyebrow. “I can play the guitar, but that’s about it,” she shrugged. “That gives me an idea,” I smirked with a sly grin… “Why’re we doing this?” Crystal whispered as we hovered outside Celestia’s bedroom at around six in the morning, my family, plus Blaze, positioned on my back, neck, and head respectively, with Honey Heart atop my head, again. “Because I love her, regardless of what she may’ve said or done” I raised an eyebrow. “Touché,” she nodded, beginning to play the guitar, and I began to sing whilst playing the Soil Stradivarius… “When I see your smile Tears roll down my face I can't replace And now that I'm strong I have figured out How this world turns cold and it breaks through my soul And I know I'll find deep inside me I can be the one I will never let you fall (let you fall) I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all (through it all) Even if saving you sends me to heaven It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. Seasons are changing And waves are crashing And stars are falling all for us Days grow longer and nights grow shorter I can show you I'll be the one I will never let you fall (let you fall) I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all (through it all) Even if saving you sends me to heaven Cuz you're my, you're my, my, my true love, my whole heart Please don't throw that away Cuz I'm here for you Please don't walk away and Please tell me you'll stay woah, stay woah Use me as you will Pull my strings just for a thrill And I know I'll be okay Though my skies are turning grey I will never let you fall I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all Even if saving you sends me to heaven I will never let you fall I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all Even if saving you sends me to heaven” I sang with Crystal as a duet, with Blaze, Snowdrop, and Honey Heart singing the background vocals “Uhh, Rick,” Blaze prodded my wing, I glanced toward the balcony; Cellsy was stood beside Luna, Cadance, Faust and Lulania eyebrows raised. “Don’t judge me.” “I wasn’t going to,” Cellsy glimmered, “and you sure you couldn’t have said that you loved me in person?” Crystal and Blaze grinned at me. “Why do anything normally? You do it once you do it a thousand times, do it uniquely, and then you might get somewhere,” I smirked, Cellsy’s/Celestia’s horn shone with a golden-primrose glow as I was dragged through the air toward her, my family landing safely on the balcony as I reverted to human form. “You certainly have a way with words, my little eon” she pecked my cheek, turning with the others and walking back into her room “I do believe I’m indebted to you now, Rick…” “Where were you?” all eyes fell upon me whilst we sat around the dining table Twilight asked the obvious question. “When, as in, a few minutes ago, or, a few hours ago..?” I smirked. “Both, if it’d help anything,” she frowned. “Here and there,” I winked. “Waking the princesses up with a love song, hardly counts as ‘Here and There,’ Brother,” Blaze chortled. “You did WHAT!?” Twilight shrieked. “A little bit of this and that,” I grinned. “Define your meaning,” she scowled. “Well, Crystal said that she was good with the guitar, so I thought, ‘Why the hell not?’” I shrugged with a smug grin. “I trust that thou would've done it regardless of her skills?” Luna giggled. “Basically, yeah,” I smiled. “Mushy!” Blaze guffawed. “You have a problem, Sister?” I raised an eyebrow, again. “Not at all, it’s just that if I were you, I’d use a little more flare, no pun intended of course,” she winked “I raised an eyebrow,” what?” “Didn’t know you were one for topics such as this, Blaze,” I clicked my tongue. “Yeah well, I tend to avoid them if I can,” she shrugged. “Speaking of love” Celestia smiled, “I received word, or image, of a certain set of artworks not mere hours ago, would you mind explaining that?” “Caught red handed, eh Brother?” Blaze cackled insanely. “I regret nothing,” I mumbled. “Clearly” Celestia raised an eyebrow, “honestly Rick, what are we to do with you?” “I’ve a few ideas, most of which aren’t even legal,” Blaze burst into a fit of laughter, I gave an icy glare, “I know, I know, that’s your line, don’t think I don’t know my limits, Brother.” “Fuck my life” I muttered under my breath “Don’t know much about your life, but I reckon Cellsy could sort you out, should you wish to engage in such an act,” she grinned from ear to ear “Or has Octavia beaten her to it?” all eyes were once again on me as several ponies performed somewhat impressive spit-takes. “Say any more, and I’ll prove that I don’t need to be Celestia to send you to the moon,” I growled. “You’d hit a defenceless little girl like me Ricky-o, where’s your chivalry?” she gave me her best ‘Puppy-Dog’ eyes. “You’re hardly defenceless, Blaze,” I frowned. “You’re right, I can think of at least two hundred ways to castrate you from where I’m sitting” she grinned. “I’d rather you didn’t,” I grumbled. “Oh, who’s the lucky mare this time?” she beamed. “Who says there’s anyone involved, I just said that I’d rather you not do that sort of thing,” I blinked. “That’s what she said,” she snorted. “Self-sexism..?” I tilted my head ever-so slightly. “Nay, verbal masochism,” she winked evilly toward me, “So, what’s it like, being married?” “Why don’t you ask Natsu and Lyra?” I shrugged, again, all eyes were on me once again as several more ponies performed several more spit-takes. “I don’t know, why don'tI ask Lyra and the ‘Human Torch’?” she simpered, staring at me with a wide grin, “you planned it, didn’t you?” “He said it, she went through with it, right in front of Erza, myself and Grey no less!” I laughed. “I can’t imagine the Salamander wearing a suit…” she shuddered, “was he?” I nodded, “Dear Arceus…” “When did this happen?” Twilight awed at me, wide-eyed and slack-jawed alongside her friends. “Last week-or-so,” I tilted a hand. “And we weren’t invited?” she frowned. “I wasn’t in charge of the invitations, Sparkles,” I grinned “I was merely another face in the rather large crowd of ponies, standing out like a sore thumb, as it were.” “So, is that Natsu Heartstrings or Lyra Dragneel?” Blaze blinked. “Or Lyra ‘Dragneel’ Heartstrings,” I suggested, using air quotes when necessary. “Touché, brother, touché<” she slowly nodded. “First it was Grey and Juvia; then it was Natsu and Lisanna, and now its Natsu and Lyra?” Twilight smirked with a somewhat-more-than sadistic grin, “what’re you up to?” “Who knows, maybe you ponies are finally rubbing off on me,” I rolled my eyes, voice laced with sarcasm. “I doubt it,” she laughed. “If you say so Sparky,” I rolled my eyes,” if you say so.” “I’m not the one with the eight-hundred-year-old violin,” she grinned. “At least you put it to good use, right Brother?” Blaze folded her arms. “I’ve no honest idea as to how to reply to such a comment,” I blinked. “So you say,” she tutted with a roll of her scarlet eyes, “I don’t see you complaining, Sister” I frowned. “I’m not the one who’s going to have to explain his motives for performing such an act,” she winked, “and at around six in the morning no less!” “What time did you wake up this morning?” Twilight stared at me, eyebrow raised. “Who said anything about going to bed?” Blaze stifled a roar of laughter. “You what?” she blinked, awing at me. “I was stargazing, and that’s the end of it.” “That’s not what I heard until around three in the morning,” Blaze rebuked with a sly smirk, I glowered, “what?” “Why haven’t I sent you to the local mental home?” I groaned. “Because you’ve no honest idea what to do with me,” she flashed her eyebrows at me. “I call harassment,” I mumbled as my stomach let out an unearthly roar. “How long has it been since you’ve last eaten?” Cadance raised an eyebrow toward me. “Last week-ish, why?” I tilted my head ever-so slightly. “Augmentations?” she sighed, I nodded. Glancing behind me I grinned, “Finally had that door put in like I suggested then?” “I thought about it for a while, and decided that whilst such destruction wasn’t completely necessary, it did help with the rebuilding,” Celestia smiled. “Don’t quite yer Day Job Cellsy” I laughed, beginning to ingest/eat the nearby gems that were laid out on my plate. “Would you rather come peacefully to my bedroom, or come ‘Kicking-And-Screaming’?” she raised an eyebrow, I stopped, choking to near-death on the ruby I was eating, barely managing to swallow the gemstone, staring at her in unrestrained horror, “it wasn’t a rhetorical question, or, if you wish, you can faint, it’d just make my carrying you all the easier. “I guess you could say she’s being an absolute gem, no?” Blaze laughed, “Now who’s not complaining?” “Shut the hell up.” “Make me buck-o,” she winked again, “Just goes to show that every action has its consequence, does it not?” she suddenly burst into laughter “What?” I placed a hand under my nose, glancing at it “Oh bugger…” “Not very subtle are ya?” she patted my back, I quickly changed to eon form, carrying the gems with me as I left; my family perching themselves back upon my back and neck respectively… Once I was under the shade of a random tree in the gardens, I began my breakfast in a somewhat hopeful peace. “What’re we going to do today, Daddy?” Honey Heart giggled. “I don’t know yet Honey, why don’t you go and see if Blaze needs help with anything?” “Okie Dokie,” she saluted me as she and the others jogged back into the castle. Making sure no one else was around, I hid behind a nearby tree, changing form to a average-sized snow-white unicorn with a two-tone electric blue mane and tail with silvery-cyan eyes “Oh Paper ~” I turned as I walked past the throne room, glancing behind me I saw Celestia stood there, smiling at me with a rather large grin. “Greetings, Princess Celestia,” I bowed quickly. “Oh, you don’t have to be so formal, you’re my coltfriend after all~” she almost sang. “So I am,” I rolled my eyes, continuing to trot through the corridors “So, what brings you to visit little old me?” “I thought that I’d surprise you a little, Paper Sky,” she giggled. “And so you have, Princess,” I smiled. “Please, call me Celestia,” she winked, “make anything new yet?” “Maybe…” I bit my lip “I’m working on making a dragon, not too large, just need to keep at it I suppose,” I gulped audibly. “Are you Ok?” she blinked. “I’m fine, Celestia, and I always will be with you around, leading us as you do,” I felt my cheeks flush. “You don’t have to be like that, just say it,” she smirked. “I love you,” I quickly blurted out. “And I you, my little tinker,” she trotted beside me, pecking my cheek, “I’ll see you later, in bed.” “Of course Celestia,” I nodded, she teleported away, I quickly reverted to my human form “Dumbass…” “So, are we ready?” Beauty Brass winked at me as I sat in the middle-back of the orchestra, I nodded alongside the other members, with Octavia being stood beside me with a smile, cello in-hoof. ()-=-() After the orchestra, I sat on the stairs in the main hall of the castle, Octavia on one side, and Autumn Heart on the other, with Honey Heart lying atop my head; “I didn’t know you played in the orchestra, Rick,” Autumn Heart pecked my cheek, letting out a slight giggle. “I’ve still that one other piece left to play,” I winked, opening the violin case, taking the Soil Stradivarius from said case, beginning to play… ()=-=() “That was incredible,” Octavia gazed at me with a sense of wonder in her eyes, “where did you get such a piece?” “I learnt it from the internet, it’s part of a series called ‘Evening Star,’” I smiled, “it works better with a cello and a piano though…” I turned, almost every pair of eyes in the room were fixated on me. “An eon-turned-demigod playing an intricate piece of music on a priceless violin,” Blaze whistled, “congratulations, brother,” then, as if to compliment her words, every pair of hooves in the room, came together in a large applaud as the ponies in the room, smiled, singing words of praise as they clapped. “So, what’s the one you’ve just played called?” Octavia leant into me. “I think that’s obvious, Octavia,” I draped a wing around her. “It’s named after me?” she gasped, wide-eyed and slack-jawed. “That it is, Lady of Silver,” I pecked her cheek, her cheeks forming a rose-red blush as I gently stroked her mane. “By the way,” I tilted my head, she glanced toward me; “do you have a last name?” “Philharmonica,” she smiled, “or Harmony, if you’d prefer, Rick,” “Octavia Philharmonica, a beautiful name for a beautiful pony,” I smiled. “Says the one who makes just as beautiful music, my little musician,” she smirked. “My little Cellist,” she giggled, “Care to do another?” she nickered. “By all means,” I gave a quick bow, beginning to play a second piece; (=) “That was nothing short of amazing,” Octavia lightly applauded, “what’s it called?” “Wizards of the Celestial spirits,” I smiled, “it’s quite the intricate piece, if I say so myself…” )+( As I sat before the statue in the forest, I changed to eon form, only armour with a, silvery-grey armour –that of which was normally worn by Steel Rangers, removing the helmet, placing it on the ground between the statues of the two fillies, saluting quickly, before firing a volley of rounds from the already-equipped assault rifle, leaving it beside the helmet and flying away … “Where in the hay did you get that?” Rainbow Dash asked, glaringly as she, her and our friends, stood with my family and the alicorns in the throne room. “Alternate Equis, see what you have to look forward to?” I growled. “Horseapples”!” she snarled, “there’s no way pony technology’s that advanced!” I rolled my eyes, bringing out a glassy navy blue sphere, holding it out; Twilight took it, holding hooves with each of her friends, tapping a glowing horn against the sphere, standing rigid for a few minutes, before eventually… “How…?” she stared at me. “I say again, see what you have to look forward to,” I turned and left. -=- “So, are we ready?” I glanced toward each member of my now-extended family, Blaze included, all of whom nodded; having positioned themselves upon my being, as per the usual formation on my back as I hovered on the stage in an empty theatre, Blaze and Crystal hovering/standing beside me. =-= After the ‘practice’ =-= “I must say that I hadn’t expected such songs, Rick,” Octavia nickered as we ventured the main hall. “I thought that we might try something …different, Lady of Silver,” I made a quick bow, pecking her cheek as we went “Speaking of different, I still haven’t worked out who Celestia‘s coltfriend is…” “Heard about that did you?” I turned, the princesses, Twilight her friends, and Faust were there, eyebrows raised. “You could say that,” I smirked. “You can talk, did –or didn’t- Roseluck say, and I quote; ‘you can clip my rose any time’?” Blaze grinned. “So she did,” I rolled my eyes, walking to the gardens, only to see a large, pillar-like structure fly overhead, my family leaping to the floor, landing safely as I quickly changing to my Spartan form as another pillar structure flew overhead, this one more of a trident-shape than that of a pillar, followed by a dozen more, and three more pillars. “They bought the whole fleet,” Blaze exclaimed, “They actually bought the whole god-damn fleet!” “So they have,” I whistled, just as a more-or-less-diamond-prism-shaped starship made it into view; “And there’s the ‘Spirit of Fire,’ those bastards actually managed it!” “Lord Hood’s up to the usual then?” she smirked. “So it’d appear,” I gave a light nod, “”What, else does the UNSC have in its inventory, I wonder?” “Well, the Infinityhas four up-to-date MAC-cannons, just a single shot form any one of those could send Canterlot and half of Ponyville to oblivion,” she shrugged, “and let’s not forget all the other armaments the ship has, eh?” “Ah yes. The secondary, tertiary, quaternary, and quinary armaments, for when one explosion the size of a planet isn’t enough,” I grinned. “You, what…?” Celestia stared at me, eyes like dinner plates, pupils like pinpricks. “Yeah, you've got access to swords spears, shields and various combat-based spells; I alone, save a few others, have access to all but the most powerful coil guns and nuclear missiles,” I tilted my head, “I believe this is what’s referred to as ‘Checkmate,’ no?” “Who exactly has that kind of firepower?” Twilight gasped. “Anyone who’s at least the rank of ‘Commander’ and/or is in ownership of anything bigger than a standard cruiser,” I shrugged, tilting my head the other way, “Wonder if Lord Hood knows he’s got a demigod on his crew…?” “I wouldn’t doubt it Brother,” Blaze laughed, “Speaking of which, isn’t that them?”?” she pointed to the largest of the ships, a massive pillar-like structure that almost blocked out the sun; the Infinity was flying. “So it is,” I nodded, “The Infinityrises once again… mind you, what do I know, I’m just another UNSC Jarhead.” “Spartan,” Blaze rolled her eyes as I reverted to normal, Snowdrop taking her place upon one shoulder, Winter Bell on the other, and Honey Heart upon my head, “besides, they did prioritize this planet as Tier-1, remember?” “So they did, even though we’re not as far behind tech-wise, we’re not exactly peacekeepers ourselves, as a species,” I gleamed. “World wars one and two, the battle of Agincourt, the boar war, the hundred year’s war, the wars of the roses, the fall of Arcadia, Reach, and various other colony-worlds, yeah, we’re just glorious rays of sunshine aren’t we?” Blaze chortled. “And I still say there’s no way you could be better than Twilight’s brother!” Rainbow Dash gave a sly grin. “Take a look at each ship in the sky, then back to me, because if it wasn’t for my superiors, I’d be the one in charge of all of them,” I smirked. “You can’t…!” she gasped. “I’m a General and/or Brigadier General, there isn’t much I can'tdo,” I beamed. -=-=- “So, we’re really back?” Blaze stared at me as I glanced around the area, having somehow learnt to revert to her Quilava form, standing on my shoulder as Honey Heart lay atop my head, and Snowdrop on my opposite shoulder. “Yeah, it feels somewhat nostalgic,” I smirked. “He’s back!” I turned, the human world’s variants of Twilight’s friends stood beside a human with blue hair, a white shirt with a navy-blue shield behind a thunderbolt with a black jacket, jeans and trainers “So we are,” Snowdrop, Scootaloo Blaze and I shared a roar of laughter. “They talk?” the other human stared at me. “So do you,” I shrugged. “I’m human,” he countered. “And that automatically makes you better than them?” I glowered icily at him, “watch what you say about my family, little boy, because it just might be the last thing you bloody well do.” “I’m twenty-five,” he frowned. “And I’m around three-hundred-and-forty/fifty,” I smirked. “That’s impossible!” he snapped. “I’m from one of several-million alternate worlds, your argument is invalid,” I grinned, he charged, drawing back an arm, attempting to hit me square in the face, I quickly activated Haki, resulting in the sounds of bones breaking, and the human holding his hand in agony. “You wish to fight, yes?” I spat, deactivating Haki, he ran into the high-school building, still clutching his hand in writhing agony. “You beat him without even flinching!” Rainbow Dash stared at me alongside the others. “So long as one’s willpower is unwavering, and they set their mind to it, nothing is impossible,” I smiled. “You’re impossible!” she laughed. “What’s this I hear about you hitting one of my students?” the new world’s variant of Celestia raised an eyebrow ass he and the other human made their way toward me. “He didn’t move, Brad just hit him and all of a sudden he started clutching his hand, crying like a little girl straight out of kindergarten,” Rainbow Dash winked at me. “Is that so?” she raised an eyebrow, glancing toward me, “so, you’ve returned…?” “Rick,” I rolled my eyes… After a lengthy lecture and debate about events most-recent, I found myself in the gym with Brad and the others; “Are you serious about this?” I tilted my head. “Well yeah, since fighting’s not allowed in school, we might as well do something else,” Brad scowled. “If you say so,” I nodded, gesturing toward the punch-bag; that of which felt as though it were filled with bricks, he threw back an arm, creating a small crater in the apparatus. “Not bad,” Blackjack stifled bursting into laughter alongside my friends and family. “What’s with the laughter?” he snapped, turning to face me. Fists blazing; I hit the bag once, creating a crease in the leathery material, I hit it again, and my fists sunk into the piece of equipment, pulling it back out resulted in a shower of small, metal spheres that poured from the bag onto the floor, creating quite the racket; “Checkmate!” Snowdrop chimed, nuzzling into me. “How did you just…?” Brad blinked, awing at me. “Classified,” I grinned, rolling up my sleeves, “probably doesn’t help any that I’ve got these on,” I quickly removed the weights, each of which created a thundering crack as they hit the floor, bringing forth a second punch-bag, replacing the first, firing a straight jab into the centre, the chain holding the bag snapped as the impact sent it flying into the far wall, bursting open, causing an eruption of small metal spheres to explode from the leathery container. “That’s impossible!” he barked. “Well, it clearly isn’t impossible, boy-o,” I laughed, “now, he who asks for a challenge should be the one to clear up the mess said challenge creates, no?” =-=-= “How did you do any of that?” Rarity stared at me alongside the others once the mess in the gymnasium had been cleared. “Like I said, it’s classified,” I winked. “Sure it is,” Brad snarled. “Nothing’s keeping you around me, boy, if you wish to leave, then do so, unless you’re trying to play the ‘Cool-Dude’ role and trying to play the hero for those lovely ladies,” I grinned. “Speaking of bullshit, are we doing an ‘Ao-No-Exorcist’ crossover, because it feels like one,” Blaze chortled. “Because, of the horns, right?” I smirked. “And due to the fact that you have a sword that’s almost as long as you are,” she nodded. “Almost?” I laughed. “Well, you’ve yet to combine the two that make it as it’s meant to be, Brother,” she grinned. “So I have, Blaze,” I rolled my eyes in a somewhat-amused manner… ()=-=() “So, you’re allowing us to fight?” “Just this once,” Celestia raised an eyebrow “If you say so,” I smirked as the schools’ populace sat in the crowd surrounding the moderately sized football pitch, “Begin!” Brad charged, hitting me once again in the face, resulting in the same aftermath as before, broken bones, only with the other hand. “Is that all?” I tilted my head, activating Haki on my arms, he spat on the ground at my feet as scales appeared upon my face, arms, hands and wrists, “you poor fool,” a sudden jab in the stomach sent him sprawling, another one to the face knocked him onto the ground, his face now bloodied by the crimson liquid pouring from his nostrils. “Game over, Boy,” I growled. -=()=- When I arrived back at home, my family scattered throughout the house, I lay underneath one of the cars on a scooter-board, ‘tweaking the mechanics.’ “Where were you?” Twilight’s face appeared on ground level alongside her friends hooves, princesses included as she peered under the Mercedes-C220-2013. “Out,” I winked. “Where is ‘Out’?” she frowned. “Classified,” I smirked, “it’s not exactly important.” “It is if it’s you, my little eon,” she gave a faint smile. “Touché, Sparkles, touché,” I gave a slow no. “So whatcha doin’?” “Waiting for an honest answer,” she rolled her eyes indignantly. “What do you want to hear then?” I shrugged, holding out an arm, Snowdrop passed me a spanner, I quickly took it, gently stroking her mane, which she leant into briefly before I went back to ‘tweaking the mechanics’ “I just want to know what you’ve been doing for the past two days,” she raised an unamused eyebrow. “And if I say it’s classified?” I rebuked. “Then I’ll not ask any more of you,” she winked. “Don’t quit yer day job Sparky,” I grinned. “You’re bleeding,” Celestia tapped her horn against my hands as I bought them together, quickly removing the blood, vaporizing it within an instant. “I’ll be fine, Cellsy,” I grinned, having finished ‘tweaking the mechanics.’ “Just be careful,” she pecked my cheek, “Faust knows you need to, Rick, by the way, why‘re you using ‘Dragon Force’?” “I’m just seeing how long I can maintain it,” I smiled. “So you are, Brother, so you are,” Blaze winked. =-= “Daddy, can you use that thing where you turn golden again?” Honey Heart sat in my lap as we sat on the front lawn with the others. “If you want me to, then by all means,” I quickly burst into flame, the flames moulding into the same golden ‘aura’ as before. “Thank you Daddy,” she chimed alongside Snowdrop and the others as the nuzzled into me. “You’re welcome, my little Heart,” I pecked her on the forehead, draping a wing around each of the others. “We love you, Daddy,” the five fillies chimed in unison. “And I you, my little Snowflake, Heart, Saving Grace, Rising Star, and Winter Bell,” I smiled. “That’s a mouthful,” Blaze rolled her eyes amusedly, “care to expand on it any?” “Rick…?” I turned; Black Beetle was there, staring at me in awe. Chapter XXIII; oddities...“Hello Black Beetle,” I smiled, “how’re you today?” “I’m fine,” she eyed me from head to foot “what happened to you?” “I unlocked my dragon soul, Blackie,” I winked, she fainted. “Fangirl, much…?” Blaze laughed. “So it would seem.” Celestia glanced toward me, I shrugged, “Is Luna still acting as you’re little housemaid?” Cadance shot her an odd look; “excuse me, Aunty, but did you just say ‘Housemaid’?” “I did,” Celestia nodded, “Luna has, at one point or another, offered to become Rick’s own maid, whether he still accepts or not is entirely up to him.” “I’ll be fine, I’ve got Autumn Heart and the others with me,” I simpered. “If thou art sure, Sir Rick,” Luna sat beside me opposite Autumn Heart, pecking my cheek; Autumn Heart quickly did the same, nuzzling into me. “Where does the glow come from?” Cadance blinked. “It’s his Dragon Soul,” Celestia smiled,. “Rick’s finally found one of the penultimate forms of his Magicka, Cadance.” “One of them…?” Blaze blinked. “‘Dragon Force,’ ‘Dragon Soul,’ and ‘Lightning-Flame-Dragon-mode,’ among others,” Celestia smiled, “not to mention you’re brother’s newfound power over magma,” “You mastered power over magma?” Cadance awed at me, “that’s… that’s incredible!” “That’d explain why the other world’s castle’s in ruins then,” Blaze laughed. “What’s left of it’s in ruins, you mean?” I smirked. “Touché, Brother, touché,” she gave a slow nod, “though I still wonder what could’ve made you go that far over the edge, I think it’s best that nobody ask such a question.” “It’s to do with the wastes, and I’ll not elaborate any further,” I stood upright, my family quickly following me into the forest as I walked, eventually finding myself stood before the statue of my fallen comrades, each one of them held an expression of certain happiness, I, on the other hand, wasn’t so lucky… “Calamity, Puppysmiles, Homage, Epsilon, Steelhooves, Delta, Forest Rain, Rainy Days, and any-and-all others who I might’ve failed during my time in the wastes, I’m sorry that I couln’t be there for you,” I clenched my fists, clapping my hands together, slamming them down on the ground, cyan lightning arced around me as a crystalline set of torches, complete with rainbow-coloured flames, rose from edges of the statue. “Rick?” I turned, my friends, the princesses, Twilight, her friends were there, glancing between the statue and I. “So this is the statue you mentioned,” Celestia stepped forward beside Luna and Cadance, “it’s impressive, but did you have to use alchemy?” “I’d rather use what I can to make it than to not make it at all,” I shrugged. “What do you mean why you say that you ‘failed’?” Cadance blinked, I raised an eyebrow, nodding toward the statue; “Oh…” she blinked, suddenly going wide-eyed “Oh my Dear Sweet Merciful Faust! They’re… they aren’t dead are they?” “I don’t want to talk about it,” I mumbled. “That’s a lot of ponies, “Luna stared at me… -=-=- “So, what’re you doing this time?” “Making a dragon,” I glanced toward Blaze for a brief moment as I sat in the as-of-yet ‘spare’ room, sitting at the table with a potter’s wheel/kiln, using various tools and the like to sculpt a clay dragon. “Just as Liz and Lucy did it then?” Blaze smiled. “Quite so,” I nodded, crafting the dragons body, then its limbs, then its tail, and finally, the head, with scalene eyes and a triangular spike on the end of its tail, its multi-layered scales shimmering in the filtered sunlight that glazed through the windows, carving the slightly flared nostrils and miniature horns, finishing the draconic figure, placing an ample amount of my magic into it; “That’s rather impressive,” Autumn Herat smiled also, “what’ll we do with it…?” -=- “You’re just giving me this?” Celestia blinked, placing the small-medium dragon on the floor beside her. “Basically,” I simpered, snapping my fingers, watching the dragon burst into life, stretching it’s moderately sized wings alongside its neck and tail, its emerald scales rattling with each motion, it’s golden eyes beaming like tiny, triangular suns, the little sword and shield that were attached to a ‘sling’ that went over one shoulder reflecting the light like a perfect mirror. “That’s amazing, how did you do it?” she stared at me, glancing toward the little dragon every now and then. “Magic, literally,” I winked, “now all she needs is a name, Princess Celestia.” “Gardenia,” she smiled, the dragon glanced toward her, quickly bowed, then fluttered onto her back, “How did you make her?” “A little ‘special’ clay here and a little magic there, wasn’t too difficult, Cellsy,” I grinned, “I said I’d make you a dragon, and so I have.” “Can she speak?” Celestia glanced toward Gardenia, who gave a light shake of her head, giving off a light Hrrr “I see, and you can understand me?” Gardenia nodded; “Hrrr” =-= “What’re you doing?” Crystal blinked as she hovered beside me as I made another dragon; “Making a clay dragon,” I winked, adding the finishing touches to the clay-based reptilian-esque figurine, the dragon had scales white as fresh winter snow, and deep, emerald eyes with sterling-silver horns, with a needle and a roll of thread in either of its paw-like hands. “It’s quite impressive, who’s it for?” she smirked. “Rarity” I smiled, walking with my family –Blaze and Crystal included- to the boutique, knocking on the front door. “Hello Dear, is there anything I can do for you, Rick?” Rarity smiled, I handed her the small dragon. “Oh my, I didn’t know you could do sculpting, I’ll place this on the mantle, shall I?” I snapped my fingers, the dragon burst into life just as Gardenia had, stretching,, scales, rattling, need and thread in-hand; “It’s extraordinary, what’s her name?” “That’s up to you, Rarity,” I beamed. “Gaia,” she declared, gleaming from ear to ear as the dragon perched herself upon her back… ()=() For the next dragon, I applied more delicacy to its appearance, it had golden-yellow scales, silvery, ovoid eyes, and an empty posy slung over its back, with a heart-shaped spike on the end of its tails, with a line of triangular spines running from its head to the tip of its tail. “Fluttershy..?” Blaze mumbled, I nodded, “I didn’t know that you cared for her, what with Scootaloo and all…” “I do, but I’d like to think that it’s limited to an extent,” I winked, finishing the dragon, adding a whitish tint to its scales ()-()-() “So, that happened,” Blaze smirked. “I think that Gretel will be fine with our little caretaker, if anything she’ll be a huge help,” I smiled, halfway through a fifth dragon, one with navy blue scales so dark they appeared to be black, it had a trident tail-tip, with whitish-silvery horns and golden, teal, scalene eyes, holding a small book in its claws. “Luna?” she sighed, I nodded, gesturing toward a rosy-pinkish dragon with sapphire eyes and a bow and arrow quiver, said arrows, rather than normal, had heart-shaped heads, and, rather than normal wigs, had those similar to that of an angel; “And that one’s for Cadance I assume?” I nodded again, “you’re demented.” “And you’re a fire hazard.” “Coming from you, brother, coming from you…” After I’d been tackled to the ground, lavished with kisses from head-to-foot, and barely gotten out unmolested, I went back to creating a sixth dragon, a lavender drake with opal eyes and an ovoid tail-tip… “What’s going on?” Twilight blinked as we sat in a circle in the library, each of her friends in the possession of a clay dragon, each one having a light conversation as they chatted upon the coffee table. “What Ah wanna know is, how in Equestria did, ya make ‘em?” Applejack stared at me intently. “Magic, quite literally too,” I winked, “You don’t like it?” “It’s not that Ah don’t like it, it’s that Ah’m wondering where ya’ll got the idea from,” she gave a nervous grin, “They’re not as good as me though,” Spike scoffed. “I could easily make one that’s better than any dragon in Equestria Spike, Dragon Gods not included,” I frowned; “all I’d have to do is clone Crystal, somehow.” “Eons are part dragon?” Twilight blinked. I nodded; “Quite so.” “That’s incredible,” she breathed. “It’s who we are…” I sighed. “Who else has one of these dragons?” Rarity batted her eyelashes at me somewhat flirtatiously at me. “Cellsy, Luna and Cadance,” I blinked, why?” “You could start your own business making these,” she giggled, “I assumed you’ve a room where you make these?” I nodded, “then I think you’d best get to it.” Within the first weeks of my placing the sign that implied my ‘business’ starting, I’d gotten quite a few requests, all of which had various trinkets which were based upon the pony who bought them, and so far, I hadn’t received a single complaint; “Good work so far, eh Brother?” Blaze smirked, I nodded. “Quite so, Blaze,” I nodded, finalizing a young, Pinkish-Scarlet dragon with white wings and a small bouquet of roses with a heart-shaped tail-tip, said dragon also had teal eyes, and snow-white horns. On the edge of the table sat two more dragons, one, a vivid green with a bouquet of tulips, and the other, a bright blue, with a bouquet of calla lilies, the first had golden eyes the second, a deep ocean-blue. “For Roseluck, I assume?” she gestured toward the scarlet dragon. “Indeed it is, Dear Sister,” I gave a light hum, carrying the trio of small dragons to the local florists, placing them on the counter as a familiar creamy-colour pony with a rosy-red mane with pale scarlet highlights walked up behind the counter; “Good morning Rick.” Roseluck smiled, “How may I help you?” I snapped my fingers, and the three clay dragons sprung to life, she gasped. “Are they, for me?” she glanced between the trio of dragons and I, I nodded. “The one with roses is yours, and the ones with Lillies and tulips are for your friends respectively, Rose,” I pecked her forehead, marching out of the florists with a wide grin. +-+ “So, who’s next on the ‘To-Give’ list?” Blaze chortled as I retold her, the events of the local flower shop. “In Dunno.” I shrugged, “Derpy maybe..?” “It’d be a start,” she shrugged. Once I finished Derpy and Dinky’s dragons, I headed to the silvery mailmare’s apartment, knocking on the door. “Oh, hello Rick, I wasn’t expecting visitors, how’re you?” Derpy smiled, pecking my cheek as she hovered before me, allowing me entry to her apartment, sitting beside me on the couch; “I’m here to give you these,” I placed the newly-kilned dragons on the coffee table, snapping my fingers as they came alive, both were silver, with golden horns and black eyes, club-shaped tail-tips, and a small box in their paw-like hands. “They’re magnificent!” she chimed, “how much do you want for them?” -x- “So, anything interesting happen?” Crystal smirked. I winked, “that’s for me to know and for you to find out, eventually.” “That’s what she said,” Blaze rebuked with a sly grin “Probably,” I rolled my eyes. By the month’s end, I’d created a small army of clay-based dragons, having installed various shelves around the on the outside of the house by the front door for the after-mentioned hand-crafted dragons. “That’s a mighty fine collection o’ dragons ya got there Pardner,” Applejack smiled, as I sat with Blaze, and my family on the front lawn “Applebloom’s been wanting one for a while now, how much are they?” “Between two and twenty bits, depends on what you think they’re worth,” I shrugged.” “Sounds fair enough,” she smiled placing three golden coins on the shelf, ca4refully taking a dragon with twin shields from the bottom shelf. I snapped my fingers, and the dragon came to life, landing on her back with a light Hrrr. “That’s amazing,” she whistled, “thanks Sugarcube, Ah’ll give this to Applebloom as soon as Ah get back!” and with that, she galloped toward the farm. “Well, there goes our first actual customer; and leaving thirty bits behind no less,” Blaze gleamed. “Thirty?” I blinked; she placed the coins on one of the shelves in a little line, “so I see.” “Excuse me?” I turned; Twilight was stood with a dainty smile spread across her muzzle. “What can I do fer ya?” I tilted my head ever-so slightly, as Honey Heart was laying atop my head. “I was just wondering how you make your dragons,” Twilight bit her lip. “Trade secret,” I winked. “Ok, how much are they?” she smiled, wider this time. “Between two and twenty bits, depending on how much you think they’re worth,” I smiled back. “Alright then,” she levitated a single, golden coin from her pocket, pointing to a ruby dragon with golden horns and mild-sapphire eyes, I handed it to her, grinning as it sprang to life. “Thanks,” she pecked my cheek, skipping merrily down toward the library, the crimson drake flying alongside her as she went. “That’s another ten bits for another one of your dragons, Brother,” Blaze, mirthfully, grinned. After I’d finished another series of dragons, I added another set of shelves beside the others, placing the newly-made dragons upon said shelves. “You make dragons now?” Angel smiled, hovering beside Crystal and Ilona. “I’ve a lot of spare time on my hands and/or claws, what do you want me to do?” I laughed. “You honestly want me to answer that?” she raised an eyebrow, smug grins aplenty. “Touché” I gave a slow nod. “So, how much are they each?” she smirked. “How much do you think they’re worth?” I rolled my eyes, she smirked, “Don’t even think about it.” “I wouldn’t have, provided you remained quiet about the subject at hand,” she rolled her eyes in a somewhat amused manner. “And I would’ve been able to say it anyway, had you not acquired such a twisted sense of humour, Angel,” I frowned. “Coming from you, I think that‘s saying more than necessary,” Crystal chortled. “So it is, Crystal,” I laughed. “So, how many have you sold so far?” Crystal simpered. “A few, or a dozen, I know not which,” I shrugged. “What’s next on the list of, ‘To-Create’ list then?” Blaze laughed. -=-=- “Are you fucking serious?” Blaze burst into a fit of language as we stood/hovered at the back of the house, staring directly at a Gurren-Lagann-Dragon. “I thought it’d be amusing to create,” I shrugged. “You do the strangest things, Brother,” she laughed. “Yes, yes I do” I guffawed. “So, what is this exactly?” Crystal blinked “A Gurren-Lagann dragon…” “What’s Gurren Lagann?” she blinked, I rolled my eyes, quickly changing to the after-mentioned form, quickly reverting back. “Since when were you able to do that?” she blinked, again. “Classified,” I winked. “I’m sure it is, Ricky-o,” Angel chortled. As the days passed, I got more and more requests, commissions and the like from what I’d guessed to be nearly the complete population of Ponyville. “So, you make dragons, and then you sell them?” Mayor Mare blinked. I nodded “I make them for anyone, or anypony, who asks, just send a couple –and I do mean a couple- of bits my way, and I’ll see what I can do, not to sound like a thief or a scammer or anything.” “What’s the highest you’ll accept for one of your masterpieces?” she smiled. “Thirty, or, if you’re really persistent, maybe forty, but that’s it, if not, I’ll do it free of charge,” I explained with a sheepish grin. “And what is the average cost of one of your little dragons?” she glanced toward the shelves with a slight smile. “Between two and twenty bits per drake, depending on how much the buyer thinks it’d be worth<” I smiled. “And what if someone somewhere other than ponyville were to ask for one?” she tilted her head “Then I’d have to ask how things get mailed around here,” I clicked my tongue “We usually just have sent by chariot by the guards, or have a resident mailmare like Derpy handle it,” she nickered. “And where do the guards place the chariot, should they return with it?” I raised an eyebrow. “Usually by the town hall, if not in one of its main offices,” she simpered, “I’ll see you later, Rick,” and with that, she trotted toward the town hall, smiling. “So, you jot a job offer then?” Blaze beamed as I sat in the art room, making another dragon, this one had stately silver scales with black horns and spines holding a small cello in its hands, as if beginning to play, its lavender eyes gleaming like pinkish suns. “I didn’t, I already had the job, all it needed was to be made official,” I stifled a yawn, finishing the dragon, placing it to one side, starting a second drake. “So you didn’t,” she glanced toward the Cello-playing dragon, “for Octavia, I assume?” I nodded, “Quite so.” When finished, the dragon was a rich/pitch-black colour with snow-white underbelly scales and horns, golden-yellow eyes, carefully playing a guitar in its claws, complete with a shield-shaped tail-tip. “And that’s a draconic representation of you, I take it?” she laughed, I smiled. “Indeed it is, Blaze, indeed it is.” “You made this, for me?” Octavia stared at the little dragon currently sat on the worktop in the music room; said dragon was currently playing its cello atop my empty violin case “Rick, it‘s amazing!” “It’s your little octave, as you are mine,” I smiled. “I might have to reward you for that later,” she giggled, for now though, let us practice, shall we?” she readied her cello; I nodded with a wide grin. -=- After practice, -=- “I have to say, that little dragon knows how to play rather well,” Octavia smiled at the small silvery dragon, who gave a light bow, placing its cello in its case, smiling in return toward the silver mare, “and you made it to look somewhat like me?” “I wanted to make it to be a little representation of your character,” I glimmered, “your looks, you beauty, your skill, all of it, now compressed into that little dragon.” “And you’ve made one for vinyl?” I shrugged. “I’ve yet to make, one, I’ll do it tomorrow,” I winked. =-= “So, first you gave me half-off on the guitar and amp, and now you’re giving me a small dragon?” Vinyl laughed, levitating the dragon –an alabaster reptile with snow-white scales cobalt horns and spines, complete with a pair of headphones- over to a nearby speaker, “how much do ya want for it?” “It’s free,” I beamed. “Are you sure you’re not up to something?” she grinned. “Positive, besides,” I quickly pecked her on the cheek, “I love you enough as it is!” =-=-= “Ok, don’t do that sort of thing around vinyl, unless you expect to be ravaged, almost literally,” I mumbled to myself as I walked back to the house. “Where’ve you been?” Angel and Crystal spoke in perfect unison. “Out,” I half-lied, “Fair do’s, my little Sugardrake,” Crystal grinned from ear to ear “God Damnit,” I grumbled, walking to the music room, where Grace sat with her cello alongside Octavia, both smiling as I walked over to the worktop, opening my violin case, retrieving the Soil Stradivarius from within, sitting beside the silver duo, the three of us beginning to lay as a trio… “You made another dragon?” Angel glanced toward Grace as we finished practice. “Alongside another two sets,” I nodded. “You really are into these things, aren’t you?” Crystal laughed; I shrugged, placing the violin back in its case. “Where’d you get the violin?” Angel blinked. “I’d rather not say, if it’s alright with you, Angel,” I bit my lip. “Fair enough, my little Ricky-o, she winked. “Friends of yours, I assume?” Octavia smiled, Grace placed her miniature cello in its case as she spoke. “These two are Crystal and Angel, and yes, they’re friends of mine,” I gestured to each of the two eons respectively. “I see, and which parts of an orchestra might they play?” “I’m the guitarist, apparently, Angels the lead singer,” Crystal grinned at me, I blinked. “You play the guitar also?” she blinked. “You do what now?” Angel gave me the largest shit-eating grin I’ve seen since the ‘Blaze’ incident of twenty-twenty-four. “I play the guitar, what’s the big deal?” “And you hadn’t thought to have told me?” she pouted. “You’ve never been around to find out, my little Angel,” I smirked. “So, what’s in the bag?” Crystal nodded toward my rucksack; I smiled reaching into said bag, pulling out a familiar trio of ponies. “Mina, Aqua and Sugar Spice,” I stared at the trio as they sat before me, blushing profusely as I raised an eyebrow in disappointment “What do you think you’re doing?” “Who’re you?” Angel shared a glanced with Crystal, having looked at each of the three. “I’m Mina, and these’re my friends, Sugar Spice and Aqua,” Mina bowed, gesturing to her friends. “And how did you come across my little wayward eon?” Crystal pecked my cheek. “We saw him walking down Main Street in our hometown of Trottingham, I don’t think any more needs to be said,” Aqua giggled. “I don’t get it…” she blinked, sharing a second glance with Angel. “Most of the mares that live in Trottingham, save the parents, are prostitutes,” Luna smirked right at me. “What the hell were you doing in such a place?” Angel and Crystal shared a huge grin. “At least it wasn’t New Vegas,” Blaze shrugged, beaming at me with a sly smirk. “I don’t think I want to know,” Crystal shuddered. “It wasn’t that bad,” Blaze rolled her eyes, “for me anyways.” “You chose for us to go to that world for that one reason alone and you know it,” I frowned. “And you agreed with me?” she laughed. “Had I known that that’s what you were planning, I would have done otherwise,” I scowled. “You loved it and you know it,” she cackled insanely, “wouldn’t be New Vegas if it was only drinking, drugs and Casino’s anyway.” “And you had me dragged away into that specific, select few areas for a reason?” I glowered icily toward the Typhlosion. “You’re supposed to have fun, Brother, not complain about it for eons on afterwards,” she gave a smug wink. “I hate you…” “You love really, you just don’t have the lack-of-pride to admit it,” Blaze glimmered. <>=<> “So, what have you gotten up to in the past?” Littlepip smiled as I started on another dragon, her mane now somewhat longer, looking as though it were flowing. “I’d rather not talk about it, my dear Littlepip, there’re some things that aren’t meant to be heard or seen by pony eyes,” I bit my lip. “Oh, Ok then,” she giggled, sitting beside me, watching my crafting of the new dragon, which had a special device on its lower left arm, and was a mild grey in colour, with amber eyes and dark-brown spines and horns, with a dagger-like tail-tip “Here,” I held out the finally complete dragon toward the mare, who levitated it onto her back, where it lay, glancing around the room, giving a light Hrrr of satisfaction. “It’s alive,” Littlepip stared at the little dragon, then toward me, “how did you do that?” “I placed a fragment of my magic into it, giving it both a ‘spark,’ and a soul,” I smiled, “what’ll you name her?” “Greyza,” Littlepip smiled, glancing once again toward the newly-named drake; who tilted er head, as if pondering the name, before nodding with a smile. There was a knock at the door, which I quickly answered; “Rick,” Blackjack was stood before me, beside Velvet Remedy, both grinning at me, “Velvet would like to know if you’d be able to make us a pair of dragons?” “I don’t see why not, you’re my Nakama after all, Blackie, you too, my little Remedy,” I winked at the two of them, walking back into the studio, getting started on the next duo of dragons “So, am I the queen f Ponyville now that we’re no longer in the wastes?” Blackjack sat right beside me opposite Velvet. “I can imagine so, Blackie, I can imagine so,” I laughed, quickly and carefully finishing her dragon, instantly drying it by means of fire-based magicka, doing the same for Velvet’s dragon once it was made, the two flying onto their respective owner’s backs with glee after stretching, springing to life with a light Hrrr =-=-= “So, they’ve still got that poster up then?” Blaze glanced toward me, perched on my shoulder, Crystal and Angel stared at it, then toward me, smug grins aplenty. “So they have,” I mumbled, casting a moment’s glanced toward the large billboard as Twilight her friends, my family, friends and I ventured from ‘Sweet Apple Acres.’ “What did you say about her other form when you first saw that poster again?” she grinned “I didn’t say anything of importance, Blaze,” I smirked. “‘Anything of importance,’ meaning that you said something,” she laughed. “You’re not one for letting sleeping dogs lie, are you?” I sighed. “Not really,” she chortled, “So, what’d you say?” “I said, and I quote; ‘She’s no Ellie Goulding,’” I grumbled. “Oh?” she beamed from ear to ear with a sly grin, “got a crush, have we?” “Speaking of which, I’ve noticed that you’ve stopped eyeing that pony on the other side of town,” I folded my arms. “I was curious is all,” she bit her lip “Right, curious,” I laughed. “Compared to ‘old,’ ‘reckless,’ ‘selfless,’ ‘crazy sonuvabitch’ you, eh?” she laughed. “As a UNSC, jarhead, I’ll take those compliments, Dear Sister,” I rolled my eyes. “Jarhead..?” Twilight blinked. “Another somewhat humorous term for an ODST or a Spartan,” I explained. “Speaking of which, I haven’t seen you use that armour recently?” Blaze blinked. “I’ve had no need to, you leave me be, and I’ll be fine, you start mentioning Ghouls, Zombies, Slavers, Raiders Mutants and the like, and I’m gonna have quite the itchy trigger finger,” I grinned with borderline-sadism. “Rick…” Twilight placed a gentle hoof on my side as I sat on the front porch, “you don’t have to keep it bottled up forever you know, we’re here for you; so if you ever feel like talking, we’ll be here for you.” “What happened to us in those wastes isn’t meant for pony eyes or ears, let alone your hearts or minds, Twilight Sparkle,” I frowned, “you said that there’s no such thing in zombies, yet the opposite is also true, you bathe a pony in enough radiation after putting a forty-four-Cal bullet in their head, and you watch what happens then, it’s not pretty, to say the least…” “Radiation,” she blinked. “That of which came from several tonnes of megaspells falling,” I shrugged. “Where from…?” she stared at me, mortified. “That’s for me to know and for you to find out…” “I’ve gotten word of your talking about your experience with beings known as ‘ghouls’ is this true?” Celestia frowned. “Just watch the skies, that’s all I ask,” I tutted, standing with her, the other princesses, my friends and family, Blaze included, on the balcony, staring toward the vivid, sapphire/ocean blue sky with intent. “You’re once again waiting for something that might not happen, you’re stubborn, much like your father,” she stood beside me, “but I suppose it can help in some occurrences, so I’ll take heed of your words, and have a small team of whoever I can spare to watch the skies, just as you say.” “Watch the skies?” Twilight blinked, “I don’t get it?” “I think you’ll find a falling megaspell will do more damage than a horde of Equestrian dragons, Twilight Sparkle,” I spoke somewhat grimly. “Even so, is there a need for such words and cautions?” Rarity raised an eyebrow. “That’s what I don’t know, yet,” I hummed, “soon as I can, I’ll do what I can.” “And what does that include?” Spike frowned, folding his arms with a scowl. “Saving the world, illuminating the darkness, cleansing Equestria of a horde of the unthinkable, you know; the usual…” I tilted a hand. “Why do you go this far, just for something that might not happen?” Twilight stared at me, awestruck. “Because of two reasons, Lavender,” I slowly shook my head “firstly, it happened once and I don’t want it to happen again, and secondly, I don’t anyone to dies where such acts are unnecessary.” “You mean you don’t want anypony to die because of you…?” she gave an audible gulp, I nodded, lightly, “you’ve nothing to worry about Rick, Princess Celestia will defend her subjects as best she can, and I’m sure, that if the worst were to happen, that you’d do everything in your near-immeasurable power to do the same for your loved ones, would you not?” “I’d do what’s necessary,” I gave a light shrug, “not what’s easy, even if I myself find myself disagreeing with it, I’m sure I can find a way to do what needs to be done.” “That’s not exactly what I wanted to hear, but, I suppose that you’d not do it if it involved your friends and family in a negative manner…” she rolled her eyes indignantly. “Then how do you explain that?” Blaze pointed toward the sky, where a large spherical object was falling alongside several others, right toward us, Celestia glanced toward me. “I warned ya,” I clicked my neck, my passengers safely disembarking, landing on the floor of the balcony in a somewhat-less-than-orderly fashion, my wings quickly retracting into my back as four extra arms burst forth in their place, grabbing the corners of the wall as I backpedalled, launching myself into the air, initiating ‘Gear-Second’ as I went, inhaling vast amounts of air, corking my thumbs four-at-a-time, exhaling into them, increasing their size exponentially. Changing the ends of my arms/hands into drills, I fired them toward the spheres, resulting in a series of explosions, also coating the arms in Haki, said explosion removing said haki, followed by my arms as the last of the spheres detonated, and I fell to the ground, my wings gradually squeezing through the gaps where my arms had sprouted, quickly flexing, reducing my plummet to a saunter… -=-=-=- As my vision blurred, I bolted to my feet, only to find myself in a ghostly-looking cavernous area “Ok, now I need to stop drinking,” I blinked as a skeletal equine figure wearing a pitch-black hooded robe appeared before me, its wings folded to its side as it glided down before me, scythe hovering beside him. “My, my, what have we here?” the figure tutted with a shake of its head, crimson glowing eyes staring right at me as I scroll appeared before it, unrolling to the floor, “Rick Hawkins, human, eon, demigod, dragon ‘god’ slayer, brother, father, and son, uncle?” he laughed “well, well, well, never thought I’d find another like you, now of all times!” “I’m dead aren’t I?” I shuddered, beginning to feel a little cold. “To be frank, you bled to death before anyone, or in your case, anypony, could get you to a hospital, how unfortunate,” he sighed, “as for me, I’m death, grim reaper, the pale equine, at least, that’s what most call me, but I go by the name of Mort, to my friends.” “I guess even death gets lonely every now and then,” I laughed. “Quite so, and it’s a shame to see a being as capable of you die when you’re in your toddler years, as an eon anyway,” Mort chortled, “now, for your successful return, I’ll need to take a few details, nothing too complicated, Ok?” “I thought that you’d know all about me?” I blinked. “This is more of a quiz than a file, if that makes sense,” I nodded, “good, now, what, if it were to happen, would you do in the event of a war rising in your current home?” “I’d do what I could as soon as I could, nothing special to it, just protecting those who I care about,” I grinned “Ah, so your file was correct, you do what you can for those of whom you love, good,” Mort chuckled “now, I know this is somewhat shorter than what I ask from most people, or ponies, rather, but, if given the choice, would you go to Heaven, and meet your relatives of old, or stick with the ones you have currently and be reborn as you were on Equis?” “So long as I’ve got people, who need me, and there’re people for me to protect, I don’t plan on dying anytime soon, Morty,” I beamed. “Well, that lines most of it up,” he rolled his shining eyes, “final question, say I were to be a dullard and send you to someplace else, what would you do, and this is assuming I’d taken your ability to ‘fly through reality,’ as you so aptly describe it.” “I’d make the best of things, or at least, I’d try to, and I’d live in memory of those of whom that I’ve been with for the rest of my days, is that all?” I smirked. “That’s all,” Mort tapped his scythe twice on the alabaster floor, suddenly, an olden-looking wooden door with a brass handle appeared beside him, said door opened, revealing Ponyville, “Have Fun!” As I lunged through the door, I came into contact with darkened wood; then I heard gasps, and the sound of shovels scraping dirt, and then the world came into view, or at least, the sky… “What in the hell..!” Blaze leapt toward me, staring right at me as I sat upright, quickly shaking my head. “You know it’s not very nice to place your family and loved ones into coffins and bury them whilst they’re still alive Y’know?” I laughed, steadily getting to my feet; all eyes were on me as I stepped onto solid ground, rather than stable mahogany, clicking several joints and vertebrae as I went. “Daddy..!” I was promptly tackled to the ground by a quintet of small ponies “We missed you!” Snowdrop, Scootaloo, Winter Bell, Gracy Gloom and Honey Heart chimed, tears streaming down their muzzles, cascading like miniature waterfalls as they clung onto me, barely allowing me room to breathe, let alone sit upright. ”How’re you back though?” Blaze laughed with a wide grin, lightly hitting me on the shoulder. “Oh you wouldn’t believe where I’ve been Blaze, trust me on that one!” I roared with laughter. “You got a second chance huh?” she blinked; I nodded “It appears that Hell doesn’t want me, and that Hell’s afraid I’ll take over,” we shared a glance, quickly bursting into fits of laughter. “So, what happens now?” she smiled as I stood upright once again, walking –with Honey Heart on my head, Snowdrop on one shoulder, and Winter Bell on the other- toward the house “I don’t know? Who’s up for muffins?” I grinned. “Oh there is something I should mention,” Blaze smirked, “you, posthumously, were knighted.” “Again?” she stared at me, once again sharing a laugh as we got home, moving the apparent ‘tributes’ from the doorstep, making my way into the lounge., allowing my passengers to leap unto the couch as I walked from there to the studio/art room “It can’t be..!” Octavia stared at me, wide-eyed and slack-jawed. “I’m real Octavia,” I smiled, crouching down to her level, “and I’m here to stay this time,” she leapt at me, clasping her lips onto mine as she draped her arms around me. “Where’d you go?” she cried, clinging onto me. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you Octy,, honestly, the places I end up…” I pecked her on the cheek. “Oh, just for that, she licked my cheek, winking at me “I’m going to have a shower, she walked past me, stopping at the entrance to the studio, turning back to face me, “and you’re going to join me…” “Yes ma’am…” -=-=- “So, the first thing you do after having been revived, somehow, is have coitus?” Blaze cackled insanely. “I don’t see anyone else complaining,” I raised a smug eyebrow. “Touché, Brother, touché,” she rolled her eyes; there was a stampede of a knock at the door. Opening the front door, I was welcomed by the sight of the princesses, Faust Lulania, Nyx, Twilight and her friends, all staring at me in apparent awe. “May I help you?” I tilted my head, Twilight leapt at me, clinging onto me, breaking down into sobs. “I thought… we thought that you’d died!” Twilight wept. “And I did, for a short while,” I hummed, “but I’m back, and as I said to Octavia; I’m here to stay.” “How’re you still here?” she stared up at me, climbing down to the ground. “To put it bluntly, Hell doesn’t want me and Heaven’s too afraid that I’ll take over,” I rolled my eyes. “And so you were sent back here?” she awed at me; I nodded, again, “So it’d seem, heck; it was either this or purgatory.” “So I see,” Cellsy stood right before me, leaning in, draping her wings around me, pecking my cheek, Nyx did the same soon afterward, nuzzling into me “So, how long was I out for?” I gave a faint grin. “Just under a week,” Nyx bit her lip, “I’m just glad that you’re back, as is Celestia.” “Well y’know can’t stay away from you lot for too long without things becoming dull, lifeless and boring,” I laughed. “Indeed, Sir Rick,” she nickered. “‘Sir’..?” I blinked. “Didn’t Blaze tell you?” Cadance giggled, “You were knighted for your efforts, posthumously of course.” “Stopping an entire civilisation from being obliterated will do that for an eon.” I turned; Blaze, Autumn Heart, and Octavia were stood beside the others, smiling. “I am no hero, Blaze, I’m me, and that’s the end of it,” I rolled my eyes, turning back to Celestia and the others, “honestly, you over-exaggerate about me way too often.” “Do we? Or is it who you are that forces us to do such things?” Faust smirked. “Touché…” I slowly nodded. “These are rather impressive dragon sculptures, Sir Rick,” Lulania stepped forward, examining a single dragon on the middle shelf, and it’s warm to, how is that possible?” “I put a fragment of my magic energy into it, and besides, it’s been in the sunlight, it’s going to be warm…” “So it is, silly me,” she giggled, “how much do you sell them for?” “Between two and twenty bits per dragon, prices, like most things, however, tend to vary,” I smiled. “If a normal shopkeeper were to sell them, they’d be at least double that,” Cadance exclaimed with glee, “how long does it take you to make each one?” “Around two-to-three hours, maybe extra one or two, depending on the complexity,” I shrugged. “And I trust that Celestia has one?” Faust grinned. “As have both Luna and Cadance, and more or less the whole of ponyville,” I laughed with a jovial nod. “Do you take commissions?” Lulania simpered. I nodded, “For a pony like you, it’d do it for free, what; can I do for you?” “Surprise me?” “That’s what she said,” Blaze laughed. “I don’t think that statement’s ever been used so accurately in recorded history,” I beamed. -=- “Boo!” “Gah..!” Twilight suddenly bucked her hind legs, hitting me right in the unmentionables, quickly turning, placing a hoof to her mouth as I collapsed; placing my hands over my privates. “Rick, I didn’t know it was you …I’m sorry!” Twilight bit her lip; I held a finger to her mouth, silencing any further apologies. “It’s alright, you didn’t know; just… give me a minute…” I grumbled. “Wasn’t a wise idea, was it Ricky-o?” Blaze chortled “Shut it,” I rolled my eyes as we sat in the library. “Make me,” she winked, “and speaking of random crap, what do you tink your little Sunflower would look like as a…?” “Human?” I blinked, interrupting her. “…Seapony,” she smirked, grinning from ear to ear as she stood on her hind legs, perched atop my shoulder. “Do you honestly wish for me to answer that?” I frowned; “That’s kind of the point, Brother,” she laughed. “Too bad,” I smirked. “You’re no fun.” “I can be; it’s just that you have a somewhat depraved sense of humour, Blaze.” “I have a sick sense of humour?” she cackled insanely, “who’s the one who sent those artworks to Cellsy, hmm?” “One time Blaze, one time,” I frowned. “Whatever you say~” she cooed, nodding behind me, Glancing behind me, I saw that Celestia was there, in anthro form, wearing the same dress as before… “Hello, my little sunshine,” Celestia sat beside me, pecking my cheek as I sat in the studio, creating another dragon, Autumn Heart sat opposite her, and Honey Heart lying atop my head. “And hello to you also, my little Sunflower,” I draped a wing around her, she quickly followed suit, leaning into me as I crafted the new dragon into shape, glancing toward me every now and then. “Who’s this for then?” she smiled, nodding to the clay-based drake. “Lulania,” I gave a quick hum, the dragon itself had scales as black as night, with white horns and underbelly scales, Whitish-Golden eyes, and a small book sticking out of the top of its rucksack, its stately/sterling-silvery angel-like wings folded at its sides. “It’s beautiful,” she giggled, “I just know that she’ll love it!” “Beautiful, eh…? Not unlike a certain few mares that I know,” I laughed. “You flatter me,” She and Autumn Heart chimed in unison. Celestia took a smidge of clay once I’d finished the dragon, dabbing it on my nose, “Gotcha!” “Two can play at that game,” I smirked, taking a small amount of clay, wiping it across her cheek “Oh?” she grinned, taking more of the soft material, reaching down my shirt and sliding it across my chest, I quickly did the same across her breasts. “Getting rather bold, are we?” she smirked with a sly winked, quickly removing her dress with a flash of light, leaving her with just a set of bright-yellow lingerie, staring right at me. Very little happened for the next few seconds as we gazed upon one another, suddenly lunging toward one another, wrapping our arms around one another, clasping our lips together, Honey Heart leapt to the ground as we moved, “I think it’s about time we moved on,” Celestia smiled, and with a sudden teleport, I was sat on her bed in her chambers in the castle. “I’m going to take a bath,” she smiled, glancing toward me as she walked toward the bathroom, discarding her remaining clothing on the way, “and you’re coming with me…” -=- “You really know how to treat a mare, Rick,” Celestia lay beside me under the covers, a gentle hand placed upon my chest as we remained there for a moment. “Anything for y little Sunflower, Celestia,” I smiled. “Just for that, I might suck you dry again,” she winked. “…Might?” I blinked; “Are you asking that I do so?” she raised a smug eyebrow. “Not exactly, but then again, if you choose to, then it’s up to you,” I pecked her cheek. “Keep it up, and in the worst case scenario, I might end up showing you what heaven feels like,” she giggled. “I think I already do, it’s called being around people like you,” I winked. “Oh, feeling brave are we?” she beamed, moving so that she was above me, “I could do anything sexual to you, and you wouldn’t stop me?” “I didn’t stop blackjack,” I shrugged. She nickered, “that’s because I know you won’t take advantage of an intoxicated mare, Sir Rick.” “And I won’t do so to you, either, nor will I fight, harm, or directly and/or indirectly bring harm to you, Celestia,” I draping my wings around the alabaster goddess of the sun, “So, if I order you to do something, you’d do it?” her scarlet/magenta eyes locked with my pale/dark green ones. “You’re the princess, I’m the knight, and as such, it’s my duty to do all I can for you, as and when you ask, your highness,” I winked. “Alright then, you just lie back and let me do everything, Ok?” she glimmered, I nodded =-=-= “You really are one of a kind, my dear Knight,” Celestia smiled; now back in her pony form as we flew to ponyville. “Lapis Draco Solis, Taiyo Fujin” I bowed as I landed. “So you are,” she tilted her head with a light hum and an almost-dreamy smile, “I love you, Ricky-o.” “And I love you also, my little sunflower,” I smiled; she pecked me on the lips, teleporting away with a wink and a faint grin. “Have fun?” I turned; Blaze was there at the front door of the library alongside my friends and family… “I’m not sure as to how to answer that,” I blinked. “I know, that’s why I asked,” she laughed, “anyways, who’s the latest dragon for?” “Lulania,” I beamed. “I told you it was for her,” Autumn Heart frowned. “So you did, and that’s who I sent it to, Rick’s little Tinker,” Blaze smirked. “You better have,” Honey Heart growled almost-menacingly. “Alright, it’s still in the art room, geez,” Blaze rolled her eyes rather indignantly. “It better be” Honey Heart snarled, huffing as she glided unto my head, pecking one of my horns, Snowdrop pecking my cheek as she also landed on my shoulder. “I love you Daddy,” Snowdrop chimed with Honey Herat and the others. “And I you, my little family, and I you,” I walked into the library, Twilight and the others were sat around the coffee table, each one of them staring at me, “what?” “We’re just wondering what it’d be like without you,” Twilight flinched, “we’d all miss you Rick, and I know that you’d miss us, wouldn’t you?” “More than anything,” I nodded. “And what about Blaze, would she go with you?” she grimaced. “I’m not going anywhere period,” I frowned, “what’s gotten this into your head?” “It’s just that, you actually died trying to protect Equestria, and we’ve been thinking that what it’d be like if you didn’t come back, should it happen again…” her voice cracked “It won’t,” I tutted, crouching down right before her, getting on eye level with the lavender librarian, “Twilight, I don’t know what, sick, twisted thoughts are traversing the corners of your mind right now, but know this, I’d sooner be erased from all reality than risk leaving any of you, Ok?” she nodded, “Good, now, what’re we going to do next?” “Ah’ll say that yer not half bad, undead er not, pardner, yer always welcome over at the farm!” Applejack stood beside me, pecking my cheek, sitting on her haunches, leaning into my side as I sat against the wall; Rainbow Dash was next; “I know this might be offensive, but I’m glad somepony went up there and stopped those things from destroying Canterlot,” her eyes darted about the room, before finally settling on me “oh what the hay?” she wrapped her arms around my neck, forcing her lips against mine, eventually parting after several minutes. “I guess I might as well be next,” Rarity chimed, standing beside me opposite Applejack, “I’ve never seen such a sacrifice as noble in all my life, let alone one such as, and dare I say it –glorious- as yours, Rick feel free to stop by the boutique at any time,” she quickly pecked my cheek, curling up in my lap. “And I’m next!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, “what you did with the whole ‘saving-Equestria-from-certain-obliteration’ was awesome, though you did go away for a while…” she mumbled at the end, suddenly cheering herself up (somehow); “but now you’re back and all is as it should be Ricky-o!” She firmly pressed her lips against mine, grabbing either side of my head as she did so, quickly parting with a giggle, bounding off upstairs, fluttershy slowly trailing behind… -=-=- “Well, yesterday was fun dontcha think?” Blaze smirked as I bolted upright the following morning, finding myself in my room, completely naked, headache from hell threatening for my head to explode in a bloody mess. Quickly finding myself a set of clockwise attire that Rarity had made for me, I walked downstairs, only to find an oddity of an event set out before me. “Would you like pancakes or waffles master?” Roseluck winked at me, stood on her hind legs in the kitchen, the end of a leash clasped between her teeth. “When, how, why and what are you doing in my kitchen, let alone my house, Roseluck?” I blinked. “You invited me over, remember?” she giggled, “you hired me to act as a gull-time maid whilst my friends help run the shop.” “I’ll be right back…” I rushed out through the front door, sprinting toward the library, almost knocking the front door in as I charged into the lounge. “Rick, what’re you doing?” Twilight giggled as I held my still-aching skull. “What happened yesterday?” I grumbled, sitting beside her on the couch. “Oh, well Pinkie Pie practically teleported everypony in town into here for a party, then you and Blaze showed up with the alcohol, claiming to be able to make the party, and I quote; ‘god-like,’” “And what else happened?” I groaned. “Oh, you hired Roseluck, and Rainbow Dash also, but I don’t think she’d remember it though…” Twilight stifled a giggle; I raised an eyebrow, “Sorry…” “No, don’t be, I had fun, whether I remember any of it or not, Twilight Sparkle,” I smiled with a roll of the eyes, “besides, it’s a party, it’s bound to have some somewhat quirky events in it, supposedly.” “If you say so, my little singer,” she laughed, I blinked, “you don’t remember using Spike to send the princesses, Faust and Lulania love songs?” I shook my head, “you wrote down several songs, whilst singing them aloud, and had Spike send them to Celestia and the others.” “Anything else interesting happen?” I shuddered. “You proposed to Blackjack, Littlepip, Velvet Remedy, and Celestia, the last one was via Spike, again,” she sighed, lightly frowning, “You know I can’t fly whilst smashed,” she blinked; “drunk beyond all recognition?” she gave a slow nod. “I didn’t do anything else that’d be considered stupid did I?” I bit my lip. “Well you kept yelling about how much you loved Celestia, and went and made a statue of her in the centre of Ponyville using alchemy, even if you were ‘smashed,’” Twilight exhaled sharply. “So how’d I end up at home then?” I blinked, again; “Once you were unconscious, I teleported you there,” she winced a little. “Thanks Sparkles,” I pecked the tip of her horn, “I didn’t ruin the library did I?” she shook her head, staring at me in apparent awe, “that’s good, I winked, lightly squishing her cheek, walking toward the front door, “I’ll see you later, Twilight…” “So, have fun learning about yesterday?” Blaze chortled. “Fuck you,” I growled. “Ok, not in the mood?” I scowled, “Ok, maybe not.” “So, you’ve returned master?” Roseluck sat in my lap as I rested back in the sofa in the lounge, “how may I serve you?” “Rose, I was drunk, you know when that’s the worst decisions are made, right?” I mumbled. “True, but I chose to go for it anyways,” she pecked my cheek, “you know the olden pony saying, a drunken mind speaks with a sober heart!” “So it does…” -=- Would somepony like to explain why there’s an uncannily large pile of letters littered with what appear to be love songs sat by my throne?” Celestia spoke in a regal, motherly tone as we sat around the dining hall. “Oh brother~” Blaze guffawed with gust, glee, and quite apparent/visible triumph, “that’s your cue, Ricky-o.” “I suspected as much,” Celestia giggled, “none of those songs looked familiar in any way, or at least, not ones sung on Equis.” “God Damnit…” I muttered. “What songs did you send her anyways?” Blaze grinned. “Nothing I’m telling you, here of all places,” I winked. “You sly dog!” she burst into a fit of laughter. “Considering I’ve the DNA of almost every sentient species in existence implanted in me, it’s certainly a possibility,” I beamed. “So, in other words, you got your tail standing on end a few times yesterday then?” she laughed. “Blaze I don’t have a…” she raised an eyebrow, “Oh fuck you…” “And the bell tolls once again!” she roared with laughter. “You did what?” Crystal and Angel stared at me, I shrugged, Angel laughed, whereas Crystal raised an eyebrow in all-too visible confusion. “Rick died,” Blaze nodded toward me as she glanced toward the two scarlet/snow-white eons with golden eyes. You did WHAT!?” they blared, darting over to me, lifting me from my chair, carrying me out of the room in a hurry, setting me down on the ground in the shade below a large tree in the gardens. “Are you hurt?” Angel demanded; “Are you alright, do you feel fine?” Crystal urged, the two of them clinging onto me as I sat against the tree trunk. “I’m fine girls, honest, I’ve never been better, not with eons like you around anyway,” I draped my wings around the twins. “Only if you say so, Rick,” thee twin eons spoke in an angelic unison, pecking either of my cheeks, sitting beside me, leaning into my sides. “So, what’s with the love songs?” Crystal smirked. “I got smashed, let’s leave it at that, Ok?” I frowned. “And I didn’t think you’d go near alcohol again…” Angel laughed. “I ended up proposing,” she shared an elongated gasp with Crystal “with several mares…” “You rowdy, little bugger!” Crystal howled with laughter, “that’s my little eon, always finding new ways to impress others, even if it’s unintentional.” ()-() “So, I guess we can add saving Equestria from total destruction to the list of achievements, no?” Blaze laughed. “So we could,” I rolled my eyes, “you’re insane…” “Aren’t we all at some point?” she shrugged from atop my head, “Touché,” I rolled my eyes agitatedly. “So, who’s the mare?” Angel nodded toward Roseluck, who giggled; “I’m Roseluck, but most, like master, just call me Rose,” Roseluck nickered daintily. “Rick, what did you do?” Crystal frowned, I shrugged “I was drunk, and apparently, a drunken mind speaks with a sober heart,” I rolled my eyes, goggles resting atop Honey Heart’s head, who, in turn, lay atop my head. “So you were,” she sighed with a shake of her head, “honestly, Rick, what are we going to do with you?” “I don’t know, but on an unrelated topic, I’ve still got the piano in the room by the front door that’s not been used in around three-hundred years.” “You play the piano?” Octavia darted into the room. “I can do everything an orchestra can, Octavia,” I winked, she fainted. -=-=-=- “So, what other instruments can thou play?” Luna sat beside my friends, Twilight, her friends, Faust, Lulania, Cadance and Celestia alongside Octavia and the other members of the orchestra in the theatre “I’ve had three centuries worth of practice, perhaps more,” I rolled my eyes, again, “you’d be surprised…” “Rick, you stopped a dozen megaspells descending upon the place, I don’t think anyone’s going to be surprised with what you do now,” Blaze frowned. “I Dunno, I’m still surprised by most of what ponies can do, and I’ve been here for nearly forty-odd years,” I shrugged. “You’re a demigod?” she tilted her head. “And you’re a talking ferret, what else is old news?” I grumbled. “Do you sing and play the violin simultaneously/” a brown pony with a pale brown mane and tail raised a hoof. “No, I use the violin for instrumentals, much like the piano, unless I can get an extra singer?” “I’d do it for you Daddy,” Snowdrop nuzzled into me from her place atop my shoulder “Me too..!” Honey Heart exclaimed with joy, lying atop my head “And don’t forget us!” Winter Bell, Scootaloo and Gracy Gloom chimed “Wouldn’t dream of it, my little Rising Star, Saving Grace and Winter Bell…” I glanced to the three of them, then toward Snowdrop “you too Snowflake.” “Just…” Snowdrop flinched; then sharply exhaled, “just promise me you won’t do anything too reckless, Ok Daddy?” “Ok Snowy, I promise,” I gently stroked her mane, “I didn’t technically break the last one, so you know I’ll make it up to you on this one.” “That’s right, because you’re my hero,” she chimed, nuzzling into me “you’re what matters most of all to me, Daddy, you’re my, everything…” she pecked my cheek, draping a wing around the back of my head. “And you’re my little snowflake, Snowy,” I pecked her forehead, stroking her mane for a moment. -=-=- “So, you managed to break out of jail, storm your way here, only to find yourself surrounded, outgunned, outnumbered, outclassed, and out of options, what do you wish to do, Sergeant Buckshot?” I smirked, standing alongside my friends, family, Twilight, her friends, the princesses, Lulania and Faust “What do you mean outgunned?” Buckshot, the golden-yellow unicorn with the fiery scarlet mane and tail wearing a black jacket with a pitch-black eye-patch with sideburns growled, “this is just the beginning of the saga of the end of Equestria as we know it!” “And you had my daughters original parents killed for it?” I boomed. He snorted, “A necessary sacrifice for a brighter future, Sir Rick, but I don’t have to tell you about such a topic, do I?” “I’d watch how much thou doth move thy lower jaw bone, lest it be forcibly removed, scum,” I snarled. “Really?” he raised a smug eyebrow, “and what’ll you do, should I refuse, or choose to act otherwise?” “Daddy…” Gracy Gloom clung onto my ankle, eventually releasing her vice-like grip on my lower limb, staring up toward me as the same golden glow as before erupted from within me, complete with the large golden dragon, that of which gave an ethereal roar as it took shape. “So, you have a dragon’s soul, but do you have its heart?” Buckshot practically cackled like a witch with the way he laughed. “I’ve the heart of an eon, and at least I’ve bloody well got one!” I bellowed, the dragon above me forming a large whitish-golden sphere between its jaws as I roared. “So you do, human, so you do,” he spat, “tell me, what‘d you do if there were no evil in the world?” “You mean a distinct lack of people like you?” Snowdrop growled. “Mind your tongue foal,” he scowled. “So much as touch her, and i get to enjoy tearing you, atom from atom, pony,” I glowered icily toward the unicorn. “You’d do that in front of her?” he nodded toward Celestia, who glanced toward me, a worried look spread across her face. “How about I do what’s necessary?” I snapped. “So you would,” he guffawed, “you’re just like me, Rick, do you know that?” “I’m nothing like you,” I glared daggers at Buckshot “firstly; I’ve got balls, secondly; I’ve got a heart; thirdly, I don’t go around tearing families apart because I’m too deluded to know what’s right and wrong!” “Such resolve,” he whistled, “I wonder how much training they beat into you for you to say that, Human?” “Some half-ass preacher like you doesn‘t have the right to talk about things like ‘Resolve,’” I scoffed. “Don’t I?” he blinked, mockingly, “you’re a monster, and you charge me with that crime? How primitive,” the dragon’s beam fired; narrowly missing him by a hair’s width. “I’m a monster, but at least I’m no barbarian! How many more ponies have to suffer through your malevolence?” I rebuked, glaringly. “Do you honestly wish for me to answer that vermin?” he gave a sly grin, “there’s an oncoming storm, whether you like it or not, and it is that of which I’m trying to save Equestria from, don’t you get it?” The dragon above me, alongside the golden aura around me, vanished, replaced with scales on my being, and magma oozing from my hands, all who were stood within a metre of me stepped backward as my fangs extended, and my eyes turned to slits, he teleported away. “Alert all squadrons, I want him found immediately,” Celestia urged a nearby trio of guards, who nodded, sprinting through the throne room’s doors. “Rick?” I blinked, the magma around me slowly dissipating as the scales faded into my skin, and my eyes returned to normal; turning I saw Celestia staring at me with a look of half-fear-, half-worry. “Daddy,” Gracy Gloom began to cry as I sat, cross-legged, clinging onto me as I draped my wings around her, gently stroking her mane, pecking her forehead. “Easy Grace, everything’s going to be Ok; don’t worry about it…” I soothed, or at least, I attempted to do so, slowly rocking back and forth “I’m sorry…” she sobbed, “if it weren’t for me, we’d-” I silenced her, quietly placing a finger to her muzzle, slowly shaking my head as she stared right at me, her gaze locking with mine “You’ve nothing to apologize, Grace, it’s as Roseluck once said, you were just a pawn in fates hands, in a so-called ‘chess game of the gods,’” I gave a faint smile, holding her close to me, using my wings as a makeshift-blanket. “You aren’t going to go after him?” Blaze stood beside me; “No need, they’ll find him eventually,” I shrugged, “and besides, if this is a ‘chess game of the gods,’ I’d like to know who the gods are so I can put an end to this irate chaos.” “As would I,” she grinned, the same golden aura once again reappearing around me, minus the large ethereal dragon. “Are you serious?” she blinked, gawking at me with an awestruck expression as I began to rock back and forward, again, slowly, Honey Heart having worked her way next to Gracy Gloom. “You have a problem, Blaze?” I raised an eyebrow; she shook her head, “Good.” “When I see your smile Tears roll down my face I can't replace And now that I'm strong I have figured out How this world turns cold and it breaks through my soul And I know I'll find deep inside me I can be the one I will never let you fall (let you fall) I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all (through it all) Even if saving you sends me to heaven It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. Seasons are changing And waves are crashing And stars are falling all for us Days grow longer and nights grow shorter I can show you I'll be the one I will never let you fall (let you fall) I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all (through it all) Even if saving you sends me to heaven Cuz you're my, you're my, my, my true love, my whole heart Please don't throw that away Cuz I'm here for you Please don't walk away and Please tell me you'll stay woah, stay woah Use me as you will Pull my strings just for a thrill And I know I'll be okay Though my skies are turning grey I will never let you fall I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all Even if saving you sends me to heaven I will never let you fall I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all Even if saving you sends me to heaven…” I chimed/chorused/cooed, gradually, rocking motion stopped, and a pair of light snores could be heard emanating from each of the fillies in my lap. “That was amazing,” Autumn Heart stepped forward, pecking me on the lips as I glanced toward her. “Then it’s not the only thing around here then is it, my little Tinker?” I winked. “When Honey Heart called that song a lullaby, I thought she was joking,” Blaze whistled, quietly, “looks like you win this one brother.” “So I do, Blaze, so I do,” I smiled, Winter Bell made her way onto my head as Autumn levitated Honey Heart onto her back, and I held Grace in my arms. “I must say that you’ve rather matured, Rick, “Crystal; hovered beside Angel, both smiling at me, “and it’s only taken three hundred years, not bad.” “Don’t judge, lest ye be judged,” I rolled my eyes. “I wasn’t going to, my love,” she pecked my cheek, as did Angel afterward, both flying out through the open window. “I have to agree with her Y’know?” Blaze sighed, “You’ve grown a great deal in these past years, and I’d be proud to call you my brother, Ricky-o..!” “This is our guild…” I muttered. “You had to quote Natsu?” she laughed somewhat softly. “What? He’s a great wizard,” I shrugged “speaking of the pyro, shall we see what he’s done lately?” “Where’re you going?” Celestia tilted her head as my family, friends and I walked toward the entrance of the castle, having followed us thus far. “Just going for a bit of friendly banter with a Salamander,” Blaze stood atop my shoulder. “Scarlet?” Twilight blinked. “No, Natsu,” Blaze grunted indignantly, “Natsu’s been, at one point, nicknamed the ‘Salamander.’” “Oh…” she slowly nodded… -=- “So, where’s the pyro?” I grinned upon entering the Fairy Tail guild, all eyes were on me, “what?” several stifled giggles/laughs broke out throughout the main hall, both upstairs and downstairs. “Natsu’s… how do I say this?” Grey grinned from ear to ear alongside Erza; “He’s been put out of commission for a while,” Erza smirked, “What; why?” I blinked “He’s had a kid with that one named Lyra,” Grey bust a gut in laughter, the hall’s occupants quickly joined in, I cleared my throat, loud as I could, then gestured toward Honey Heart, “Oh…” I quickly left the guild hall, frowning as I went. Upon tracking down Lyra’s apartment, I knocked on the door, a cream-coloured mare with a pink and navy-blue mane and tail with three wrapped sweets for a cutie mark appeared at the door, having opened it. “Hello, Rick, what can I do for you?” the mare blinked, staring at me in quite apparent confusion. “Is Lyra here-?” I was cut off by the sight of a filly, placed upon the back of Natsu’s head, with Lyra stood beside him; he glared at me, “Never mind…” “Hello Rick!” Lyra waved over to me, I waved back, Honey Heart now lying atop my head, with Snowdrop and Winter Bell perched upon my shoulders. “Hey Lyra, how’re you doing?” I smiled, she swooned, leaning into Natsu’s leg as she blushed profusely, her cheeks turning from mint/seafoam-green to a rosy shade of red. “Oh it’s been like heaven!” Lyra exclaimed with joy as Natsu moved the filly -a unicorn with tannish-orange coat and a blood-crimson mane and tail- to his arms, cradling the tiny pony “Natsu’s been the perfect father, even if he says he’s never done it before; it’s as if he knows what to do and when and how to do it!” “Perhaps he’s using what he’s been through as a form of experience?” I raised an eyebrow. “I wouldn’t be surprised,” the minty-green unicorn mare sighed dreamily with a just as happy expression plastered to her muzzle, “he’s been the perfect mate; and an even better foal-sitter, say, you wouldn’t happen to now one would you?” “I might,” I glanced toward Blaze, who stared at me, then glanced toward the foal in Natsu’s arms as he sat down on the sofa. “Oh hell no,” Blaze, finally getting the idea, quickly shook her head, fast as she could, “I did it for Rick and Autumn, I’m not doing it again!” “Please, just this once?” Lyra begged my sister, performing her best Puppy-dog-eyes’ impression; “Fine…” Blaze roiled her eyes, glaring at me icily, “but you owe me brother, big time!” “I’m sure there’s no need, I’ll pay you with whatever I can, Blaze,” Lyra winked at me, then pecked Natsu on the cheek, having moved to sit beside him “I’ll see to it that you get the necessary funding for looking after our little Amber Note…” =-= “That was cold, brother, even for a pyro like you,” Blaze frowned as we sat -‘we’ being my friends, family, myself, Twilight, her friends and Spike- in the library, glowering frigidly toward me. “What was cold?” Twilight blinked, as did her friends all eyes were on me as the deafening silence slowly settled. “Natsu and Lyra had a foal,” I smiled, “and Blaze here has been hired as the foal-sitter.” “They’ve done what?” Rarity gasped alongside Twilight. “Her name’s Amber Note, she’s a unicorn, and that’s all I know, really,” I glimmered. “That’s wonderful news!” she chimed “I do believe, when Amber Note is of age, that we should have an anniversary party to celebrate!” “I’m all for that!” Rainbow Dash grinned. “Me too…!” Pinkie Pier exclaimed with rather visible glee/joy. “Ah’m all fer a party o’ sorts, that is if the Salamander doesn’t mind,” Applejack simpered. “Or we could have it as a surprise!” Pinkie Pie giggled profusely, “it’s going to be AWESOME!” “That it is Pinkie, that it is,” I gave a slow, sagely nod. “You look as though you’re thinking, nay, pondering something, is there something on your mind, Rick?” “I need an idea of what the dragons I’m going to make for them are going to look like,” I beamed. “Oh you,” Autumn Heart nuzzled into me, pecking my cheek softly, speaking with the voice of an angel, “always thinking of others, be it positively or negatively, mind you, if you didn’t, it wouldn’t be you, would it, Rick?” “I very highly doubt it, my little Tinker,” I laughed. =-=-= “I know what to do for Natsu’s dragon,” I snapped my fingers, sitting beside Blaze and Autumn Heart in the art room/studio, carefully crafting a crimson dragon with golden underbelly scales with two horns pointing from the angles of its head, and a smaller one jutting out from its snout, its silver eyes ablaze with life as I snapped my fingers, having forged it with fire-based magic. “That’s a mini-mi Igneel!” Blaze laughed “So it is,” I smirked, moving onto Lyra’s dragon; that of which had dark green scales with lavender underbelly scales and wings, with a pair of ovoid, ruby-coloured eyes “and here’s Lyra’s little dragon, aptly named ‘Lyrica,’” I quickly crafted a clay lyre for the newly-created drake, who smiled as she took it, strumming the strings, as if testing it, before performing a small instrumental. “And what’ll you do for Amber Note?” Autumn Heart leant into me “I’ve yet to figure that out, Autumn, I really have,” I sighed. “Perhaps we should find out what her interests are beforehand- err hoof,” Blaze have a light chuckle “I’ll do it later on then,” I nodded, walking with Autumn Heart and Blaze to Lyra’s apartment, twin dragons on either shoulder. “Hello Rick, I wasn’t expecting visitors,” Lyra giggled as she answered the door; I handed her the two dragons, “the one with the Lyre; Lyrica is for you, the other one’s for Natsu,” I winked, Lyrica perched herself on Lyra’s back, rocking from side to side, as if testing her stability upon an equine’s spinal structure. “She’s beautiful,” Lyra giggled, “how long did it take for you to make these?” “Not long, and bets of all, they’re free,” I gleamed, “I’ll see you later, Lyra,” and with that, I turned and left… ()-() “You gave Natsu and Lyra their dragons?” Twilight ‘aww’d,’ “what about Amber Note?” “I’ve no clue as to what her interests are, so, until I can think of something relevant to that, I’m stuck for options,” I hummed. “You really are generous, you know that?” Rarity sighed somewhat dreamily. “No, I just care about my friends; that’s all,” I rolled my eyes agitatedly. “Say what you will, there’s no denying the goodwill of what you’re currently doing for them, Rick,” Twilight giggled… As I walked through ponyville, Sweetie Belle and Applebloom rushed toward me, taking either one of my hands in their hooves, dragging me to their newly-rebuilt clubhouse, changing to their anthro forms once there, lying me down on the bed, Applebloom working on my boots as she removed them, Sweetie Belle, meanwhile, removed my trousers and other sections of lower-area clothing. “We love you Rick,” Sweetie Bell rolled my shirt up as Applebloom locked the door, sitting on my chest as Sweetie Belle took my length into her maw, running her tongue along its base,. I grinned, moving Applebloom up a little, diving me tongue into her folds, twisting and turning it within her depths, causing her to give off loud, elongated moans as she arched her back, clinging onto the end of the bed as I twirled my tongue within her sex. Sweetie Belle, meanwhile, was busy pressing her lips down on my cock, coiling her tongue around its head, resulting in a profuse leakage of pre to burst forth from the tip, all of which, she devoured with a grin, pressing her lips a little harder around the head, removing herself from the rock-hard appendage, slamming her cunny down onto my dick, bounding up and down upon my being, our hips colliding at an alarming rate as seed flew through her insides, painting her walls white. “That was amazing, Rick,” Sweetie Belle panted for breath as she held herself above me, prodding my manhood against her rear entrance, sliding it in with relative ease, leaping up and down , hilting herself upon my member with each thrust. Applebloom, however, was shuddering like an earthquake as she climaxed, flooding my oral passaged with her fluids, almost screaming as she came; (-=-=-) “You smell,” Blaze wafted the air away from me with a paw, having chosen to stand upon my head. “I’m well aware of my hygiene levels, Blaze,” I smirked. “Who was it this time?” I winked, “oh, ok, tell me later then?” I nodded as we entered the throne room, where Twilight, her friends –minus Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy- The princesses, Faust, Starry Skies and Lulania were stood. “Have you ever thought of entering a contest wearing that Rick?” Rarity eyed me from head to foot, I, once again, was back in my clockwise regalia, with the goggles hanging upon my head, and Snowdrop and Winter Bell perched on either shoulder; “I deal with art, family and music, not fashion, Rarity,” I rolled my eyes; “to each their own; so to speak.” “But think about it you could end up with so much fame and fortune, if only you’d choose to do so,” Rarity glimmered. “Yeah… that’s not going to happen,” I shuddered. “If you say so, Dear…” she nickered. “Why ask in the first place?” laze patted the top of my head. “Because there’s a contest happening in the theatre tonight, and I was wondering if Rick would like to enter,” Rarity smiled, although, if he’d rather, he could direct the music for the contest instead.” “Where’s Rick Mayall when ya need him?” Blaze rolled her eyes. “Or Jack Bauer for that matter,” I laughed. “Touché, Brother, touché,” she slowly nodded. “So, when’s the theatre going to be free?” Autumn Heat winked at me. “It’s free now, if you’d like?” Rarity blinked. -=- After our ‘Practice,’ a crowd of ponies flooded the theatre, followed by a whitish/creamy-coloured mare with a cyan mane and tail with bright cyan eyes. “I must say, you have a wonderful singing voice,” the mare smiled, holding out a hoof, which I shook, “I’m Coco Pommel, but my friends call me either Coco or Pommel, and you are…?” “Rick,” I smiled, “I find it refreshing to meet quite the refined mare such as yourself, Suri>” “So, you’re the knight of the princesses I’ve heard so much about!” she gasped, quickly bowing, head almost slamming against the floor. “You needn’t bow Coco; I’m an ally, not a lord, nor a ruler,” I smiled; she nodded, raising back to her hooves. “It’s just such an honour to meet you, Sir Rick!” she exclaimed with quite apparent joy. “Just call me Rick, there isn’t a need to be so formal, Coco,” I chuckled. “If you say so, Rick,” she giggled, “Say, I’m rather new here, would you mind showing me the nearest guestroom?” “I wouldn’t mind at all Coco,” I smiled, collecting her luggage, carrying it to the nearest spare guestroom, placing it on the bed, “here you go, I hope everything goes as you plan, m’lady,” I bowed, pecking her hoof as she lifted it. “Oh, you’re quite the charmer,” she blushed profusely, her cheeks becoming a rosy shade of red as she glanced toward the clock, “Oh! I’d better get ready for the show, I’ll see you later, Rick.” “And I you, my little Coco,” I pecked her cheek as I walked out of the room, closing the door behind me as I left. “Two minutes to the contest everypony, a snarky, silvery mare with a pink mane and tail frowned as she glanced around the theatre, having just come from backstage, “where’s Coco Pommel?” “Yes brother, where is she?” Blaze laughed. “How should I know, probably still in her room making final preparations,” I rolled my eyes agitatedly, again. “She keeps doing this,” the silvery mare growled, “always the last to appear, and even when she does, she always loses, or comes in second-o-last place,” “That’s just a matter of the opinion of the judges, and their subsequent voting, nothing else,” I spat. “What?” she snarled, all eyes -including those of my friends, family, Twilight, her friends, the princesses, Lulania, Faust Starry Skies- were on me, “what would you know of beauty?” “Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, now, this may be me being an asshole, or you need a better set of judges,” I scoffed, “besides, everything has a deeper, inner beauty, it’s just that not everyone sees it.” “Holy shit,” Blaze burst into a fit of laughter, “you went off the deep end on that one Ricky-o!” “Here’s a phone, call someone who cares,” I passed her the phone from my jacket’s inner pocket. “Touché,” she grimaced. “I thought you said you didn’t do fashion,” Rarity smirked. “I don’t” I rolled my eyes, again. “Coco’s here,” a pink mare with a purple mane and tail –that of which were styled like Rarity’s, complete and utter show-off- walked from backstage “whether she’ll make it past the first round is, however debatable…” ==-+-== As the contest came to a close, and with Coco, surprisingly, as the winner, I wandered out to the gardens, sitting under the shade of an elder tree, legs crossed as I ‘meditated.’ “Rick?” I opened my eyes; Coco Pommel was there, wearing her latest ‘threads,’ her own rendition of clockwise attire, “Are you Ok?” “I just needed some time to myself, Coco, that’s all,” I smiled, “you’re free to join me, if you want,” I patted the ground beside me, Coco smiled in return, sitting beside me, leaning against me, pecking my cheek as she nuzzled into me. “So, what’ll you do now?” I simpered, glancing toward the mare sat beside me. “I think I’ll stay here for the time being, just to get into the flow of things, and to be with you, Rick” Coco giggled, “thanks for the help earlier by the way, I doubt anypony else would’ve done it so efficiently!” “There are few, save myself, my friends, family, and the alicorns of Equis that would have, Coco, guess you just got a little lucky,” I winked. -=-0-=- “And speaking of music, as you said earlier…” Blaze grinned as we –my family, friends Coco and I– entered the throne room, “How’s Amber Note doing anyway?” “I wouldn’t know, lately I’ve been here, haven’t I?” “Who’s Amber Note?” Celestia smiled. “Natsu and Lyra had a foal, let’s leave it at that,” Blaze shuddered. “Speaking of which, don’t you have a job you should be doing, Dear Sister?” I beamed. “So I, Brother, so I do,” she winked, quickly bounding off toward Lyra’s apartment after I teleported the pair of us to ponyville, quickly teleporting back. “You can teleport now?” Celestia raised an eyebrow as Coco Pommel made her way onto my back, perching her head on my shoulder as she wrapped her arms around my neck, Honey Heart lying atop my head in lieu of Blaze. “You didn’t seem too surprised before,” I smirked, “why the sudden act of ‘shock-and-awe’ now?” “Because I feel like it,” she grinned. “Touché,” I rolled my eyes, yet again… “So, this foal, Amber Note is her name?” I nodded, “what’s she like?” “I don’t rightly know that much really, I just popped over for a visit after so happening to find out about it,” I shrugged, lightly/carefully. “And I’m to assume that she’s a unicorn?” I nodded again, “that’s wonderful, I’ll make it so that they’re fully funded for anything they might need in the years to come.” “So, who’s your passenger this time?” Rarity smiled. “You know me, Rarity; it’s me, Honey Heart!” Honey Heart giggled. “I wasn’t referring toward you dear,” Rarity nodded toward Coco, who nuzzled into me. “I take it you’ve made a new friend, Rick?” Cadance smiled also; “So I have,” I grumbled as Coco landed safely with all four hooves on the floor. (=-=) As I sat on the front lawn, with my ‘next-of-kin’ sat around me in a small arc, I placed the Pipbuck onto my arm, quickly turning it on, accessing the ‘Notes’ section of the database. “You have ten new messages” a mechanical voice spoke from the wrist-mounted device. “DO I now?” I mumbled, activating the first Note; “Tesla, I don’t know if you’ll ever get this, but Homage’s been rather fidgety lately, I think she misses you, we all do, just remember that I love you, and I always will, even if were galaxies apart, I’ll find a way to come to you, wait for me, my love…” a young, feminine voice echoed through the gadget’s speakers, sounding as if she were crying. “Message repeats…” the same voice from before spoke somewhat monotonously. “Forest Rain…” I muttered, accessing the second new note; “Tesla, it’s me again, Homage’s behaviour’s gotten worse, she keeps breaking into sobs, what’s worse is that anytime we try to talk to her about it, she locks herself in the studio, crying, she definitely misses you, after all, you’re her wayward eon, you’re her arms, sword and shield out here in the wastes, as you are ours, please, wherever you are, whatever you do never forget us …” the same female echo returned, once again crying… “Message Repeats;” the mechanical voice also returned, “And you’re my little Rain…” I bit my lip, “And I you…” “Snowdrop, Winter Bell, Gracy Gloom, Scootaloo, Honey Heart, stay with Autumn for a while Ok, I’ll be back as soon as I can, Ok?” “Ok Daddy, we love you, the five fillies nuzzled into me, before marching into the house, closing the door behind them… Chapter XXIV: continuation...When I returned, I had a smile on my face, walking back to the house with a light grin, closing the door behind me, having returned to a point in time that was only a few minutes after my exiting Equis. Moping into the art room, I sat on the bench, starting on the first of a series of dragons, putting only the finest detail into each one. “Rick?” I turned, Autumn Heart stood at the doorway, a worried look cast across her muzzle. “How long have I been in here?” “All of last night and yesterday afternoon,” she raised an eyebrow, sitting beside me on the bench, glancing toward each of the new dragons, “who’re these for? They’re beautiful…” “They’re going with the statue in the forest,” I bit my lip “little mementoes for a few fallen heroes…” “Oh, I see…” she leant into me “never forget that I’m here for you, Rick, and so are Twilight and her friends, as well as the princesses, Ok?” I nodded, “thank you, my little Tinker, I’ve no idea where I’d be without you.” -=- The next few years passed without much hindrance, from neither buckshot nor anyone/anywhere else… -=- “Rick?” Autumn Heart smiled, pecking my cheek, “are you well?” “I’ll be fine, so long as you’re here, my little Tinker,” I draped my wings around her, holding her close as she sat in my lap “I can see why the others like this, it’s amazing,” she nickered, draping her arms around me, placing her lips upon mine, =-= “Rick, there you are!” Twilight sprinted toward me. “What is it Sparky?” I raised an eyebrow at their antics. “Applebloom and Sweetie Belle have been captured by the Diamond Dogs, Applejack and the others are on their way now, come on!” and so we went to the dirt plain that was home to the diamond dogs, Applejack and the others stood in formation when we got there, “So,” Blaze began with a frown, standing beside me, “slavers then?” “If that’s the case,” I sighed with a slight nod, “they’ll get what’s gone to both Raiders and Slavers alike, the Legion also.” “You’re going to kill them…?” Twilight gasped. “You give beings who take your family and relatives hostage a second chance, Twilight?” I scowled. “Well, there must be some way we can do this without meaningless violence!” she urged. “Think about it Twi, we only managed to get out last time ‘cause of Rarity, we ain’t got that this time, they know that we’re coming,” Applejack frowned. “You can’t be serious!” Rarity, Twilight and Rainbow Dash gawked at the two of us. “They said the same thing when I offered to take care of the Deathclaws out of quarry junction; I think you can guess what happened then,” I spat. “But, you can’t…!” Twilight rapidly shook her head glaringly, glowering at me in disgust. “If you’re not going to help, step aside, I’ve not a minute to spare for those trapped underground,” I scowled, again. “You’re a monster…” she looked away. “Would you rather Bloom and Belle be used and abused to the dog’s content, at their very whim? I raised an eyebrow, “because if that’s the case, you’re not better than they are.” Digging through the nearest mound of earth found me in an underground cavern, with a series of ponies on shackles and chains with metal collars linked to the chains on their ankles “What you doing down here, you no pony!” grey ape-like canine-esque figure wearing a blood-crimson jacket snarled as Twilight and her friends landed beside myself and Blaze. “Said the low-life slaver to the demigod,” I chided, “Blaze, you, Twilight and the others try to find the two we’re here for, I’ll handle the rest, Ok?” “Okie Dokie, Brother!” Blaze saluted me, now in her Typhlosion form “You can’t do this!” Twilight blared; all eyes that belonged to a pony were now on us. “Who’s the General here?” I frowned. “We’re not in the UNSC!” she bellowed. “Just go, the sooner you find Applebloom, the better it’ll be for everyone, and everypony,” I winked. After a lengthy argument, Twilight stormed off with her friends, leaving the two of us with the dog-like creature. “Comical” the dog laughed, charging toward me, a quick roundhouse kick to the jaw sent him sprawling, and a snap of his neck finished him off. “Rover!” a small, nut-brown dog barked, ironically enough, leaping right at me, Blaze setting him alight proved that such an act was unwise, to say the least. -=-=- “So, that was the last of them?” Blaze stood beside me at the end of the labyrinth-like mine. “So it’d seem, Sister,” I nodded, “come we have ponies to free.” “You’re not going to eat us?” the first pony, a unicorn mare, blinked as I crouched down to his level, smiling. “I may be part dragon, and a few other carnivorous species, but I’m on a strict no-pony diet, courtesy of Celestia herself,” I winked, again, breaking the chains on his legs, “now run along, find the nearest exit, if you can’t find one; find me instead.” “I’d rather stay with you, seeing as there may be more Diamond Dogs on the way,” she smiled, pecking my cheek as she wriggled free of the shackles that bound her. “As you say,” I simpered, moving on to the next pony… ()-() After all the ponies that I could find had been freed, we headed as a small army-like formation to the exit, performing alchemy to create a set of stone stairs that led out of the mine “Blaze scout ahead, I need to see if there‘re any more vermin topside,” I gave a curt nod. “Aye, Aye sir,” she saluted me, bounding up the stairs, quickly returning to the middle of the staircase, having been gone for a minute or two “All clear General Hawkins, sir!” she grinned from ear to ear “That’s good,” I sighed with relief, beginning my ascent up the staircase, followed by the freed slaves those of who trotted in double-file, “Are you happy now?” Twilight growled as we surfaced, beginning the walk to Ponyville “I’d be more concerned about Celestia’s opinion on the matter, rather than your own, Twilight Sparkle,” I tutted, she quickly magicked a quill and sheet of paper, writing down a quick note, Spike then sent note to Celestia by means of magical fire. “Twilight Sparkle,” Celestia appeared in a flash of bright light, smiling toward the lavender mare, then toward me, “what’s this I hear of Diamond Dog activity?” “Princess Celestia!” the crowd of former-captives chorused in shock-and-awe, dropping to the ground; bowing. “Rise my little ponies, there isn’t such a need to be so formal as of now,” Celestia raised an eyebrow toward me, before glancing at the crowed behind me, then back to me again, “how’d you do it this time, Rick?” “Twilight told me of Applebloom and Sweetie Belle’s capture by the Diamond Dogs, so I volunteered my services in aid of their little quest, thus, here we are,” I gestured around us. “You freed my little ponies?” she stared at me, I nodded, “!well then, it appears that I’ve to commend you for your actions here today, Rick, I’ll see to it that such a ceremony takes place tomorrow at noon, shall I?” “You do what you want, I’m only a knight, not a king, and I’ve need to be as such, Princess,” I quickly bowed. “So be it,” she giggled, walking with myself, Blaze Twilight, her friends and the others to ponyville, “you’ll have to tell me though, what of the Diamond Dogs?” “That depends on what you wish to happen, Princess,” I bit my lip, “are you willing to give those who’d use and abuse whoever they so wish to their heart’s content, a second chance?” “So long as they chose to negate any of those actions or motives, I might be willing to compromise,” she glanced toward me with a perplexed look cast upon her face, “why do you ask?” “Because in the wastes, which is filled with people like that, most of the time, the only way to reason with a Raider or a Slaver is usually to put a bullet between their eyes, or, if they’re really persistent, a whole clip-full,” I shrugged. “You would do all that, just for the possible safety of my loyal subjects?” she stared at me, this time, in somewhat apparent awe/horror. “I do what I feel is both correct, and yet necessary, that is all, Princess,” I gave a faint smile. “So you do,” she gave a slow, somewhat-mortified nod. “I take it this means no commendations?” I flinched, giving a light wince at the way I was speaking, “not that I mind at all, I mean, I’ve a family to care for, art to create and music to play, so it’s not like I deserve any such rewards anyhow.” “You say that like it‘s better than what I had in store for you, why is that?” she frowned. “Make no mistake, I wasn’t trying to offend anyone, or anypony, I just wish for a simple life where I can forget the past and move on, if at all possible,” I rolled my eyes, exhaling sharply as I went, “sadly however, that is not the case, as there’re threats to Equestria that could topple Equis as we know it, one of which has already been disarmed, but what of the others I wonder?” “What do you mean ‘threats’?” Celestia’s eyes narrowed. “Why, the end of Equestria as we know it, of course,” I facepalmed hard enough that it actually stung, “have you already forgotten my temporary sacrifice not last week, if a little earlier, Princess?” I continued, “had those megaspells of hit, you would not gave been around to speak of it, nor would anyone within two-hundred square miles of Canterlot, let alone the castle itself…” “How do you know that?” she scowled. “What do you think created the wastes in the first place?” I grumbled agitatedly, “this whole ‘me-going-insane’ thing and telling you to watch the skies is my way of making sure that it doesn’t happen again.” “So, you’re doing you best to do Equestria good, if only a little at a time?” she blinked. “Basically,” I smiled, “Why do you have to be so uncouth sometimes?” Rarity frowned. “I don’t know, maybe I’m just made to be a complete dumbass sometimes?” I snorted,” I mean, really, I know several people who’d rather have a Brahmin steak, a bottle of wine and a girl from the Gomorrah, but we don’t always get what we want, do we?” “Gomorrah?” she raised an eyebrow, Blaze walked in line beside me, smug grins aplenty. “Blaze, you’re the one who dragged me in there, therefore, you can be the one to explain it to them,” I smirked toward the Typhlosion. “Maybe later, I’m simply enjoying the moment, for now, Brother,” Blaze laughed. “So you are, Sister, so you are,” I laughed as we arrived in Ponyville “What do we do now?” Celestia turned to me. “Now, we attempt to repair what has been broken by what I class as ‘stuff-that-is-lower-than-trash,’” I scoffed, “attempt to scour Equestria and/or the nearby towns and points of civilisation, see if they’ve got any missing ponies, then send the respective civilians on their way with a chariot of guards.” “Ah, but family is like a decent friendship, Brother, and both a like a glass of water” Blaze patted my side with a gentle paw, “it may be fixed after breaking, but there shall always be the cracks, forever there, to remind the person of the past, no matter where they might be.” “You got that from me, didn’t you?” I grinned. “So I did, Ricky-o, so I did” she laughed. “When did you come up with such a phrase?” Celestia giggled, faintly. “A few decades ago, could’ve been a century with the way my memory seems to work, for all I know,” I laughed again. -=-=- “Hit me.” “You’re at eighteen. Now remember what I told you?” I raised an eyebrow, sat on the opposite end of an alchemy-made blackjack to table Pole Star; that of which had been erected (Lol) in the main hall when I suspected that nobody was looking. “There’s only three cards that will help, high risk, high reward. Usually, it’s not worth it unless you’re cheating.” “Right; and any casino will throw you out if they catch you.” I flipped my cards over; “I have a ten and a three,” I pulled a card from the deck and revealed it; “A two.” He revealed another. “An ace,” I flipped a third card, “And a Jack, I’m bust.” Star scooped the small pile of bits and pulled them closer with a smirk. Shining Armour threw his hand down in disgust, sitting beside Autumn Heart. “How is he so good at this?’ “I’ve no idea, perhaps experience, perhaps something else,” Pole Star nickered. “Are you gambling?” I glanced behind me, Twilight, the princesses; Faust and Lulania were there, eyebrows raised. “Not at all Cellsy, I’ve just spent the past three hours doing absolute sod all, excuse my language,” I rolled my eyes. “I should’ve guessed as much, with your recent talk of this ‘New Vegas’ and al,” she smirked. “Why don’t you go to Las Pegasus to do so?” “I’ve a family to look forward to, and it’s not like I can be in two places at once,” I shrugged. “New Vegas…?” Pole Star blinked alongside Shining Armour, I grumbled. “Just imagine the best casino’s hotels and pubs that you can think of stretched over a five-to-twenty-square mile radius, half of said activities are usually in the same building,” I smiled as I explained the ‘basics.’ “And of course, they’re somewhat, shall we say, raunchier?” Blaze grinned from atop my head. “How so….?” Pole Star, I raised an eyebrow, nodding toward my –literally- little sister. “You know what a strip club is right?” Blaze grinned from ear to ear, both guards gave a slight nod, just imagine that, a hotel, a casino, and a pub in one building, that’s essentially what the ‘Gomorrah’ is.” “And you walked into that?” Autumn Heart frowned. “Not a chance in hell Autumn, I dragged him in there by his ankles,” she laughed. “You’re joking…?” Autumn Heart blinked. “Hey, I’m stronger than I look ya know!” Blaze growled half-menacingly, half-adorably. “I think it was closer to my ears than my ankles Blaze,” I shuddered. “I don’t see you complaining otherwise!” she barked, I shot her an icy glare, “Ok, fair enough, shan’t bring it up again…” “You’re lucky you’re immune to fire, and that I don’t hit females of any species, sentient species anyhow,” I grunted. “Am I?” she gasped “you’d really strike me, your charming adorable little sister, oh, woe is me, what am I to do?” she acted as she spoke, leaping to the table and performing the appropriate theatrics. “And you said that I’d make a good actor,” I glanced toward the alicorns behind me, Celestia giggled, as did the others “Would you though?” she clambered back onto my shoulder, “would you really hit me?” “Depends on the situation your darkened sense of humour puts me in,” I shrugged. “I’m almost hurt,” she sniffled, beginning to fake crying, pulling a piece of fabric from her inventory, blowing into it, wiping away tears that weren’t even there, “you’d really hit me, but we’ve been through so much together Ricky-o, don’t you love me?” “This could be classed as a form of either torture or entertainment, I can’t tell, “Pole Star chortled, glancing toward me, “you really put up with this?” “On a bi-daily basis, Star, it can get a little tiring sometimes, but, considering what my family’s like, I’d say that that’s impossible” I laughed. -=-=- “So, what’re we doing again?” Blaze blinked as we stood in the arena. “Well, since the season four ‘finale’ (Lol), is but a Dragonball-Z piss-take, I was wondering if I can’t do the same,” I grinned. “Just don’t pop a blood vessel…” she chortled. “I know right, Sean Schemmel actually passed out once while voicing a certain character from the series,” I beamed. “So, how do you plan to do this?” Faust raised an eyebrow “Wait and see,” I winked, scales appearing upon my being a I initiated ‘Dragon Force,’ then unleashing the same-as-usual Whitish-Golden ‘Aura,’ initiating a second stage ‘Dragon’s Apparition,’ complete with the now-trademark golden dragon of flame. “Good, now we’re on second stage,” Blaze grinned, leaping onto my shoulder “how can we progress further?” `“I can assure you it won’t be by means of clenching every muscle and screaming until my lungs burst,” I laughed, “even if it mightgive me the ability to topple mountains and disintegrate the very earth itself,” I continued with a grin, also initiating ‘Lightning-flame dragon mode.’ “So, how will we do it?” she rolled her eyes with a sly smirk, “or rather, how will you do it?” Blaze blinked, again, as I then utilized ‘Gear Second,’ “That’s two-and-a-half, Brother, but we both know what using that ability can do to even a rubber-man like you, don’t we?” “What does she mean?” Twilight stared at me, eyes wide in apparent horror. “The only reason I’m able to use ‘Gear Second,’ is due to the fact that my physiology is that of a rubber-man, or in short, if someone other than people like me were to use this, their organs, and circulatory system would tear themselves apart,” I explained. “That’s suicidal!” she screamed at the top of her lungs, tears threatening to burst forth from their ducts. “Such is the price for such a power, Twilight, if you want, I’ll not use it unless asked,” I cooed, stopping all magical/physical abilities, reverting to normal, “I may be rubber, or rubber-like, but even I have my limits when using that ability.” Twilight leapt at me, knocking me to the ground, clinging onto me, crying into my jacket/shirt; “Please, don’t use it anymore…” she began to cry, “I don’t want to lose you again…” “Alright Twilight, I’ll stop using it,” I draped my wings around her, pecking the tip of her horn, resulting in a series of magenta-coloured sparks that arced around her horn. =-=-= “Are those…?” Autumn Herat stared at my newest creations that stood atop the hill behind the library. “Yes, yes they are,” I grinned, gazing at the statues of my friends and family, the princess, Twilight and her friends included, made completely from steel wire and bottle-caps. “Ok….” She raised an eyebrow, “I’m unsure as to what to think of these, but I’ll admit, now I know what you’ve been doing for the past two-and-a-half months.” “How many caps did you use making these?” Twilight smirked. “Not many, in comparison to what I had,” I rolled my eyes, “why?” “Curiosity,” she giggled. “So I see,” I sighed, exhaling sharply. “We love you Daddy,” Honey Heart chimed alongside her sisters as she clambered onto my NCR ‘Elite Riot Gear’, with Snowdrop and Gracy Gloom taking their places upon the shoulders of the NCR regalia I was wearing. “Where’d you get that awful set of attire anyway, Dear Rick…?” Rarity eyed me from head to foot, obviously trying to avoid eye-to-mask contact with the crimson eyes of the ‘helmet’ “Doing a little of ‘This-And-That,’” I shrugged, “nothing too bad, I can assure you.” “And the piece of metal attached to your side?” she gestured toward the 44. Magnum; “Let’s just call it a peacekeeper, shall we?” I hummed “I thought it’d be different for Nightmare Night.” “And what does it do?” she shuddered a little?” “I’d rather not say,” I clenched my fists, “but, I’ll give you one thing, the area I got it from, gave me and Blaze a grim reminder never to use fire-based abilities around a set of nuclear warheads.” “What were you doing around nuclear warheads?” Autumn Heart blinked. “Trying to redeem what little of the wastes we could salvage, and perhaps, given time, repair,” Blaze gave a somewhat forlorn hum. “There’s one thing I don’t get though, Twilight and the others, or all of Ponyville for that matter, should be fossils by now, so why aren’t they?” “An apt question, Blaze,” Celestia winked at me, “when Rick here harness the power that was bestowed upon the walls of may ponies’ homes years ago, there was, to put it bluntly, a trade, he shared his longevity with Equestria, and they, their kindness and prosperity. “’tis truly an amazing exchange” Luna nodded, sagely, “But, in exchange, may we ask thou a question, Sir Rick?” “Go ahead,” I smiled. “Where did you get most of your scars, specifically?” all eyes were on me “A Deathclaw nest in Quarry junction, barely managed to get out alive, let alone halfway through,” I shuddered. “What were thou doing there in the first place?” she stared at me quite visibly awestruck. “The nearby town, Sloan, had a problem with their quarry, or rather, a fairly large one, and the ‘mayor,’ so to speak, was willing to pay a hefty sum of caps for anyone ballsy, tough, or stupid enough to go in and come out alive.” “And you did it anyway?” Celestia draped a wing around me. “I didn’t do it for the caps, if that’s what you’re thinking, Princess,” I laughed. “I know you’d never do such a thing as reckless as that for money, Rick, you’re not like that,” she smiled, “you’re my little eon, and That of Equis, no less, why don’t you go out and see what it has to offer?” “Because I don’t need to, nor do I want to,” I rolled my eyes behind my blood-crimson visor. “Just don’t get either of us to talk about the divide, or anything to do with it, please,” Blaze stood beside Scootaloo, Winter Bell and I, yet opposite all the others. “Why, what happened there?” Twilight blinked. “We’d rather not speak of it altogether, if that’s alright with you, Twilight,” “Yeah, I think Mort missed out on a few of my titles when he reviewed my being and/or status,” I chortled. “Courier Six, no..?” Blaze patted my side, lightly bumping a clenched paw against my fist. “There is one thing I don’t get, how did the radiation in those megaspells not affect any of Equestria after I destroyed them?” I glanced toward Celestia. “We used a team of Pegasi to harvest what you call radiation into a series of clouds, which have since been studied and used in experiments under appropriate working conditions,” Celestia raised an eyebrow.” “Fair do’s, I just hope you know what you’re doing with that stuff,” I clicked my tongue. “And now it is my turn to ask a question of you, brother,” Blaze frowned, “who’s Mort?” “Pony grim reaper,” I grinned. “You’re joking…” she stared at me, I tilted my head ever-so slightly, “holy shit …you aren’t, are you? That’s… that’s insane, and yet not impossible, far from it in fact! …well, I can say it’s grand to have you back, Ricky-o!” “And it’s good to be back, Blaze, clichéd as the line may be,” I laughed. “So it is, then again, I wouldn’t know,” she chortled. “So, that’s another additive to the list of insane things that you’ve accomplished, eh?” she winked. “Right up there in the list besides making the infinite muffin button,” I nodded. “You made an infinite muffin button?” Twilight giggled. “I have, just don’t tell Dinky,” I chuckled, “lord knows what’ll happen then?” “A present for the mare, Brother..?” Blaze smirked, grinning from ear to ear, “and here I thought you’ said you’d get a bouquet?” “Since when have I said that?” I frowned. “Already denying it?” she laughed, “was it last year, or sometime this year, I can’t tell…” “I didn’t know you were that sort of being, Rick,” Twilight nickered with a light blush, her cheeks turning a rosy shade of pink. “So, ‘Sierra Madre’ was interesting enough, eh brother?” “Meh, it was alright, if a little eerie,” I shrugged, “But I’d rather not talk about it, or what happened to you, if that’s alright, Sister.” “I love it when you go all sentimental about that particular subject brother…” she cooed, nuzzling into moving herself under my hand. “Like that do you?” I smirked, scratching her behind the ears, “just as well you’re not like Torch…” “I know who you’re referring to, Brother,” she grinned from ear to ear, leaning into me “that little browser of yours, no?” “I’ll give you twenty gems if you drop the matter both here and now,” I frowned. “Fifty.” “Deal,” I shook her paw, quickly bringing out a selection of gems from my inventory, all of which, she devoured almost instantly, beaming. “And the deal’s off…” I rolled my eyes. “No, I’ll still stay quiet about it, but only to those who you don’t wish to hear of it, Ricky-o!” she glimmered. “At least you’re honest and loyal to your family, no offense or anything,” “And I can be pretty ‘magical’ at times, eh?” she nudged my side with a knowing grin and a flirtatious wink. “I haven’t got a horn that operates in that manner, unless you mean the one ‘down-south,’ and unless you’re my girlfriend you’re not getting any ‘magic’ from it,” I deadpanned. “Already did, remember?” she laughed. “Not of my volition though,” I rolled my eyes. “I know, Brother, I know,” she cooed again, “aren’t we but a strange family?” “Strange is a bit of an understatement, Blaze,” I facepalmed, or at least, ‘mask-palmed.’ “Say, what happened to all that alcohol anyways?” she smirked. “Basement,” I sighed. “Ah, that bumbling cliché, morbid as it may end up, it might as well be there, off all places.” “What’s Alcohol?” Honey Heart blinked, tapping me on my horns with a fragile hoof. “Blaze, if you would?” I smiled. “Me, why me…?” Blaze blinked. “You’re the one who bought it up, plus you’re the foal-sitter, so it doubles,” gleamed. “Blaze is a foal-sitter?” Twilight stared at me, wide eyed, her jaw almost meeting the lush, green grass. “That I am, Twilight Sparkle,” Blaze mumbled, “should you choose to fornicate with my Brother, I’d be all too happy to take care of the cold and/or filly for you.” “Fornicate?” Twilight blinked. “Shag, screw, do the nasty, keep the town up at night no doubt?” she grinned, again, from ear-to-ear. “Oh, oh…!” Twilight shuddered with a look of disgust, “well I don’t know if I’d be ready for that!” “Were the two of you not at it for approximately two-and-a-half hours at a time a few years back?” Blaze tutted, “what happened to you Twilight? You know that Ricky-o doesn’t do one night stands, right?” “I can’t,” Twilight dipped her head, staring at the ground, “ever since I found out about Winter Bell, I’ve found myself unable to bring myself to do such a thing; or to take our relationship that far, I’m sorry.” “Do you hear that Rick,” Blaze glanced toward me, after going through all that you have, saving countless lives at the cost of your own innumerable times, fighting against the odds with everything you have and more, saving Sloan from the Deathclaws, also saving Forest Rain from the Raiders, and Blackjack from those thugs, even now, you fight with all that you are and ever will be, and what are you rewarded with? Complete-and-utter bullshit..!” “You forgot to mention about me being one of the lucky few million to survive the human-covenant war, rather than one of the twenty-six-billion of whom died, sister,” I winked. “That I am, and I hereby add it to the list of thy achievements, Ricky-o!” she pecked my cheek, standing on tip-toes to do so, patting my back with a somewhat affectionate paw. “You lost how many?” Celestia awed at me. “I needn’t repeat myself, the fact that I’m here is a little thanks to the Mk-VI armour being as dense as the average sub-par American video gamer/internet junkie…” I burst into a fit of laughter. “You got trouble for doing that last time you uploaded that to the internet remember?” Blaze smirked. “Yeah, Fire-eaters or something, if he wants to have a go at me, at least get his bloody facts straight, America, or the Americas, is a continent, not a country, end of discussion,” I spat “and besides, I deal with family members, not random strangers over the web.” “So you do,” she laughed, (Again..?) =-= “Yo Ricky-o, ya got any whiskey?” Blackjack patted my shoulder with a fragile wing. “I’ll see what I can do,” I sighed, setting my rucksack out before me, retrieving two six-packs of whiskey. “She grinned, “Sweet, thanks Rick,” she quickly opened the first bottle, downing it almost instantly “She’s an alcoholic?” Luna blinked. “Don’t think so, but she adores her whiskey like I’m sure astronomers admire your work, Princess,” I quickly bowed “Thou flatter us,” she giggled, sitting beside me on the balcony, “and, as promised, we haven’t spoken to thy next of kind about her magic, nor has thine sister,” she added with smile. “It looks like I can trust you after all, Woona,” I draped wing around her back, pecking her cheek. “Woona?” she blinked, glancing toward me with an unamused expression “Woona, Lulu, Luna?” I tilted my head, Luna facehooved. “Forgive us if we withhold our enthusiasm,” the lunar goddess rolled her eyes. “Hey, if you need me, I can still be used as a teddy bear, just don‘t Tell Cellsy,” I winked. “We would like that, but do you not have a family to get home to?” she giggled. “I could teleport, but yes, I’ve a family to go home and be with, as have you, here in Canterlot, surrounded by your sister, guard friends and subjects, you’re Nakama, if you will,” I grinned. “Rick, you’re my only friend,” she pursed her lips, “I’ve Nopony other than you, my sister, and the current bearers of the elements of harmony.” “Wrong,” I smirked. “We beg thy pardon?” she frowned. “You’ve got me, and I’ve got the guild to back me up, if only a few members, so we’ve got your back, so to speak; and you’ve got us, as allies, and more-than-likely as friends, ‘My little Tsuki…’” -=- “That’s the last time I’m mentioning the guild to anyone from Canterlot….” I mumbled, falling flat on my face alongside as I stood beside my friends and the like in the throne room. “What happened?” Celestia walked down from the throne, sitting before me, standing between myself and Twilight and her friends. “I got used as a teddy bear again, god Damnit,” I mumbled, rolling onto my back. “Have fun did we?” she smirked. “I’m unsure as to how to answer that, Princess,” I raised an eyebrow. “Waiting for your CPU to get back in gear, Brother?” Blaze grinned. “Yeah, pretty much,” I gave a quiet laugh. “You have a CPU, a central-processing-unit’? Twilight stared at me, almost mortified. “I’ve a brain and heart if that’s what you’re asking,” I winked, pulling myself upright. “But titling it as ‘CPU’ implies that is mostly -if not completely- mechanical and technological!” she rebuked with an icy glare. “I wouldn’t know, the folks up at Big-MT didn’t explain much about the so-called experiments and/or surgery they had me go through at an undisclosed point in time,” I shrugged. All eyes were now on me as Luna appeared via teleportation, standing beside Celestia. “You WHAT!?” the lavender mare bellowed at the top of her lungs. “Nothing important Sparky, don’t worry about it,” I muttered, rolling my eyes. “It’s important if it involves us!” she blared “So now that he’s told you about the dangers of the wastes, you wish to be with my Brother?” Blaze snapped, “I suggest that you think very, very carefully about what you want with Rick, you don’t want to know about the last time this happened…” “So, when somepony uses that spell to change you to what you’d look like without magic, you have biomechanical organs also?” Celestia raised an unamused eyebrow. “I nodded, “basically,” she frowned, tapping her horn against my head as it shone with a bright-primrose aura, my form changing to its natural state as she did so., standing me on my feet by means of levitation, placing a hoof against my chest where my heart should’ve been.” “There’s barely a pulse, if any,” her eyes narrowed, “what happened to you?” “That’s something we’ll have to wait and find out, isn’t it?” I raised an eyebrow in return. “I thought you stopped the megaspells?” Twilight glowered at me. “I stopped the wastelands from coming into being in one way, not in all of them, Lady of Magic,” I sighed, “There’s still the ground-based forces to worry about, and those of which may-or-may-not come from within Equestria, this isn’t over until I know that that the situation is as such, Twilight Sparkle.” I turned to face Celestia “just say the word, your majesty, and I can have the situation over in a matter of hours…” -=-=- “Is there a reason why the Infinity just fired six full payloads from each of its main MAC’s toward down-under?” Blaze blinked on the following day “Because when you’re as high a rank as me, almost nothing’s impossible,” I winked. “Rick, you’re a General, the only higher rank is that of a Field-Marshall,” she laughed. “My point exactly, dear Sister,” I grinned as we walked into the throne room. “So, this is how you save Equestria?” Celestia scowled. “Would you rather I go there and deal with it personally, Princess?” I tilted my head ever-so slightly, seeing as Snowdrop was perched upon my helmet. “I’d rather you not do anything of the sort,” she frowned. “Fair do’s” I rolled my eyes, again, “I trust that you shall take it from here?” I quickly bowed, before continuing to speak, “but if I may place a light-hearted suggestion?” she nodded, “keep an eye on on-border activities; that is all.” “Sir?” a sudden, familiar, voice spoke over the comms; Celestia raised an eyebrow, clearly hearing the person who spoke. “What is it Garret?” I pressed a pointed index and ring finger against the side of my helmet, just as Carter would’ve done, as per the usual. “We’re getting sightings of more and more gamma radiation down here, you might wanna have a look at this Sir, there’re survivors clinging to what look like home-made alchemy-based weaponry, even a sub-par nuclear bomb!” Garret exclaimed “I’ll be there A.S.A.P. you just round up what you can in the way of weaponry, destroy it if you can manage to do so without it going off and deep-sixing everyone there, both human and survivor alike. “Sir…??” Garret hesitated “Bring what you can to my current position as and when you can, if possible, would you kindly?” I grinned, not that Celestia saw it; I don’t think, “Same goes for any survivors.” “I’ll do what I can,” he nodded, invisibly. “Good enough; General out,” I cut the com-line. =-=-=-= “So, this is who you decimated?” Celestia glared icily at me as the small group of Zebra’s entered the science lab alongside Garret and several UNSC weapons specialists/engineers, Twilight and her friends glowering at me as they walked toward us “We’ll see, Princes, we’ll see,” I raised my hands defensively, “now, you said you had the residue from those megaspells?” she nodded, glaringly. “What’s your point?” she spat, Garret handed me what looked like a compromised rifle made of various scarp parts and such, said rifle had a pinkish orb attached to it “Shall we compare the two?” I smirked. Cracking the orb open, a pinkish gas escaped from within, as a nearby pony working in the lab passed me a test tube, also filled with an almost-identical gas “If you say so…” she snarled, her horn glowing as she opened the test tube, removing the cork, magically examining the two gases There was a moment, before she slammed the cork back into the test tube, staring at me with a look of horror. “They’re the same…!” she awed at me. “My guess, they’re preparing for war, or at least, they were, and you wouldn’t have been able to put up much resistance, what with Canterlot supposedly destroyed by the megaspells,” I nodded “But what about Zecora..?” Twilight blinked. I sighed, “If you want my opinion; Recon, she was here to examine and assess your abilities and each of your characteristics, then travel back to her homeland to discuss with her leaders how best to pick you off like diseased flies.” Another pair of scientists working in the lab quickly took care of the remaining gas, filtering it into a large beaker, which was then sealed. “So, we’ve just evaded what could’ve been seen as a one-sided war?” Garret tilted his head I nodded, “we have just -and I’d hate to be arrogant- saved all of Equestria, if not all that dwell within, Colonel,” I grinned. “You saved my little ponies?” Celestia stared at me, mortified, “I can’t thank you enough.” “You just did, I smiled, “besides, do we keep this quiet, or do we spread word of this incident?” “I think we’d better keep this quiet,” she gave a slow nod. “As you say,” I bowed quickly, “I shall entrust the rest to you, Admiral,” and with that, I left, walking with my friends and family from the lab. “Admiral Celestia?” Blaze laughed as we made our way to the gardens. “I thought it’d be nice,” I shrugged. “Level Up!” she guffawed “New Perk, Hometown-Hero! Congratulations, you’ve saved Equestria, you now gain + 100 fame in every area within said country’s borders!” “Whilst I must remind you that this isn’t a game, I’d have to agree with you on that, if only a little,” I laughed, suddenly stopping when I felt the ground quake, and a familiar magical ‘anatomy’ could be felt in the air. I suddenly burst into a fit of laughter, “Looks like Cellsy’s gone and done it!” “I wouldn’t be impressed, Rick,” Autumn Heart shuddered, “Luna-only-knows what’s going on in there right now!” “I’ve a pretty good idea,” I simpered, “I guess that proves that there’re a few princesses in Equestria who can look after both themselves and their loved ones.” “There’re plenty of ponies who can do that, Rick, try not to judge a species’ actions based upon that of an individual,” she gave a light frown. “Alright then, Autumn Heart,” I exhaled sharply, crouching down to her level, holding out a clenched fist, “we cool?” “For now, but I won’t have you dishonouring the rulers of Equestria,” she raised a smug eyebrow, bumping hoof against fist, “but that doesn’t mean I don’t love you, even if I am a little disappointed with your views upon others. “I can change, all it needs is the right amount of persuasion,” I winked. “Only you…” she rolled her eyes, breaking into a fit of laughter, pecking me on the lips, “I’ll have to do something about that side of you later, won’t I?” “Only if you’re up for it,” I shrugged, (again?) “Is that a challenge?” she grinned. “Maybe,” I gleamed. “I might have to reward you for that later, Ricky-o,” she winked. “So you might, Autumn Heart, so you might,” I rolled my eyes with a light chuckle, still in my ‘true’ form/state. -=- “So, you have a mechanical heart, brain, and spine?” Celestia shuddered at the thought as we stood in the throne room, Twilight and her friends surrounding the solar deity with a light frown. “That’s the basics of it, and, if one, were to put it bluntly, yes, but also, not quite,” I hummed, “they’re technological, but not quite mechanical, and as such, I don’t need to worry about popping my clogs whilst using ‘Gear Second.’” “‘Pop thy clogs’?” Luna blinked. “To put it simply ‘Die,’” I bit my lip. “So we see,” she nuzzled into me, pecking my cheek, “we art most glad to have a friend such as thee, Sir Rick, or is that knight-General Rick now?” “You what..?” I blinked. “We promoted you, with Lord Hood’s permission of course,” Celestia giggled. “I’ve no clue as to what to say…” I stared at her, somewhat awestruck… =-= “So, that happened,” Blaze laughed as we stood upon the balcony, overlooking Equestria with a grin. “So it did, Blaze, so it did,” I sighed. “What’ll we do now?” she blinked. “The immortal question that is,” Blackjack guffawed. “As you say, Blackie,” I winked. “Looks like somepony’s made it to 2nd base,” she nickered. “I just hope that nopony asks why Daddy just sent half a country to oblivion,” Snowdrop Squee’d. “Seriously…?” Crystal and Angel awed at me, hovering before me, wide-eyed and slack-jawed. “More or less, but I’d say it’d be closer to two-thirds,” I smiled. “And you don’t you think you might’ve overdone it?” Crystal laughed. “Indeed,” Celestia and Luna nodded alongside Cadance, Twilight, her friends and Spike. “My brother, more or less, has just saved Equis as we know it, there isn’t such a thing as ‘overdoing it’!” Blaze chortled. “You normally do things like this?” Angel giggled with a playful wink. “If my career as a Spartan is anything to go by, yes, yes I do, at an alarming rate also,” I beamed. “That’s... actually kind of scary,” she gave an audible gulp. “If it helps, I try not to think about it too much if it helps,” I shrugged. “So you don’t,” Cadance gave me a worried look. “How do you do it, how do you go on knowing about the failures that you’ve to put up with?” “I learn from my mistakes, as any decent being with at least half a brain cell should and/or would do,” I frowned. “You do everything you can to make up for it,” I began, “knowing that you’ll never succeed in getting rid of the guilt, and you devote yourself to spending every second trying to do better despite the fact that it’ll never be enough, and that you pray with every single good act you do that somehow, when your life is over that you came close to making up for the wrong you committed.” “That’s…” she blinked, staring at me seemingly rather taken aback, “that’s impressive, but I am sorry for your loss.” “Don’t be, you’re not Raider-material, Cadi,” I simpered. “I don’t think anypony here is,” Littlepip nuzzled into me, “at least, I hope not…” “As do I, my Littlepip,” I smiled, gently running my fingers through her mane… -=-=- “Nyx, what a wonderful surprise,” Nyx glimmered, standing with my friends and family upon the front lawn. “It’s nothing short of Grand to see you too, Rick,” I smiled. “Mom..!” Winter Bell leapt toward the lunar goddess, who held her close, draping a wing around the filly. “How’ve you been Winter Bell?” Nyx pecked Winter Bell on the tip of her horn. “I’ve been great; Daddy’s taken awesome care of me lately!” Winter Bell cheered as I made my way toward the duo, Winter Bell clambering up my back, sitting on my shoulder, “you’re the best parents a filly could ask for!” “As is Autumn Heart,” Honey Heart pecked either of my horns with a wide grin. “You three are the best ponies in Equestria, even if Daddy’s only one-billionth-pony in part,” Winter Bell declared with a glimmer. “I must be doing something right for such an angel as you to say such a thing, my little winter Bell,” I smiled as she nuzzled into me, smiling as she did so. “Nope, just keep doing what you usually do Daddy, we’ll love you either way,” Snowdrop giggled from her place on my other shoulder. “That’s right, you’re our Daddy, and we’re your family, and we love you just as you love us, and there isn’t anypony or anything on Equis that could change that!” Honey Heart chimed from atop my head. “Touché, My little Heart, touché,” I smiled. “You know what I find strange?” Blaze stifled a roar of laughter, “the human we all know and hate claims to get perfect distortion on the guitar he uses even though it isn’t even plugged in to anything, how does that work?” “If you’ve got the lack of brain cells, and the right pieces of equipment, anything’s possible,” I shrugged, “Speaking of music, where’s Vinyl?” “You’re not going to do what I think you’re going to, are you…?” she gave an audible gulp. “Someone’s got to, Blaze, “besides, I don’t think ‘we-know-who’ is going to be anywhere outside of a hospital for a damn good time,, come to think of it, I might’ve given the guy an embolism to the brain, assuming he has one…” “And you didn’t use the GDB?” she smirked. “If you’re referring to the Giga-Drill-Breaker, I didn’t use it because I didn’t want to be the one cleaning up the mess of the aftermath, dear Sister,” I winked. “…Touché,” she gave a slow, yet curt nod. “So Rick, I heard you needed to borrow the guitar?” Vinyl smirked. “With the amplifier if that’s alright, Vinyl,” I winked. “Sure, borrow it anytime ya like, I don’t use it that much anyways” she shrugged, levitating the twin sets of equipment to me., -=-=- “What was that?” Twilight shook her head after I’d played a few songs with the guitar (‘Fury of the Storm,’ ‘Operation Ground and Pound,’ Soldiers of The Wasteland,’ ‘Heroes of Our Time,’ and ‘Revolution Deathsquad.’) “Whatever it was it‘s awesome!” Vinyl laughed. “That’s a level of music few people will ever get to, save a few people I know,” I grinned, “it’s called ‘Power-Metal’ for a reason, Twilight Sparkle, I’d like to see yerlover-boy from an alternate dimension even so much as try to do the same.” “He’s not my coltfriend!” she bellowed. “Right, and I’m a therapist of the highest calibre,” I rolled my eyes, voice slathered with only the highest amounts of sarcasm, just as a Golden- Yellow unicorn with a blazing yellow-and-red mane and tail with teal eyes burst through the door “I thought HE* was here,” Sunset Shimmer gave a forlorn sigh. “Nope, just me, proving a point, again,” I laughed. “Do you have to be so rude?” Twilight frowned. “Do you honestly want me to reply to that?” I scowled. “Flash Sentry huh?” Crystal giggled, alongside Angel not unlike that of a little girl, “Sounds like the name of a glow-in-the-dark-condom.” “Makes us wonder what Hasbro does in its free time, eh Brother?” Blaze winked. I played a single string on the guitar, “still a better musician that Daniel Ingram, even if it’s just one string.” “So you are,” she chortled. “You can have next-to-no experience at all with music in any of its forms, but you play a single note on any instrument in the world, even if badly, and you’ll already be a better music artist that anyone who works for Hasbro,” I shrugged “Harsh, Brother, harsh,” she smirked. “I wasn’t aware you played the electric guitar, Ricky-o” Crystal nodded toward the instrument as it lay across the top of the amplifier. “I can play almost anything, except the harp, and the keyboard,” I shrugged. “Should we go and see how much better we are?” Blaze cooed. “And waste precious time when we could be seeing what there is to around here?” I gleamed, “I think not!” “What’s this we hear about you hospitalizing someone?” Crystal grinned with a sly smirk, as did Angel. “He was being a tad of a prick toward my friends, so I broke him,” I raised an eyebrow, “Used Haki and everything…” “Haki?” she blinked. I nodded, my arms turning a shining, charcoal-black, “strong enough to shatter boulders, if you’ve the willpower, perhaps even crack diamonds.” “The human got his hand shattered when you used it as a means of defence when he hit you, Brother; I think it could easily crack diamonds, let alone bones,” Blaze beamed. --=-- “So, what’s Nightmare Moon doing here?” Spike gestured toward Nyx as we walked through the castle; I stopped, as did Nyx. “Say that again,” I turned to face the purple dragon, fists blazing. “I was just curious, she is Nightmare Moon after all,” he shrugged; I punched him straight in the jaw, sending him reeling, the same-as-usual golden glow taking over my form, with the same-as-usual dragon taking form above me, letting out an ethereal-yet-intimidating roar “Nightmare Moon killed one of my best friends in the wastes, for scum such as you to compare that vile beast to my marefriend here is nothing short of disrespectful,” I boomed as Spike staggered to his feet, “make no mistake, I shan’t spare you a second time, and should you choose to bring it up again, I really don’t want to have to explain to Twilight why her son’s entrails are coating the insides of her library, little Gecko.” “You and what army?” he spat. “Me and the whole UNSC home fleet, wall lizard,” I snarled, the draconic figure above me seemingly fusing with me, becoming a deep, blood-red/crimson colour in the process, bones appeared under its hellish ‘skin,’ the now fused entity let out a deafening/blood-curdling roar as I fell onto all-fours, piercing his scales from his chest down to his waist with twin razor-sharp sets of claws. “Daddy..?” Snowdrop and Honey Heart gasped alongside Winter Bell, and, just like that, the crimson aura around me dissipated, exploding back to normal as I fell onto my front, steadily, albeit eventually, getting to my feet, clinging onto me as I sat, cross-legged, teleporting with Scootaloo and Gracy Gloom to the outside of front lawn once they were in contact with me. “I’m sorry,” I draped my wings around each of my family members as they sobbed, “I hereby solemnly swear, that on my role as a Knight-General, it’ll not happen again.” “Pinkie Promise,” Snowdrop exclaimed, glaring right at me alongside the others. “Cross my eye, hope to fly, stick a cupcake I my eye,” I gave a faint smile, performing the necessary acts for a ‘Pinkie Promise,’ repeatedly, five times in fact, “I’m sorry for making you all worry so much about me, rest assured; it won’t happen again, My little Saving Grace, Snowflake, Heart Rising Star and Winter Bell,” I glanced to each of them in turn, “ “We love you daddy, the five fillies chorused in unison, nuzzling into me as I sat against a nearby tree. “And I you, my little family,” I smiled, the golden glow still surrounding me “So, Nightmare moon killed one of your best friends?” I turned; Celestia and the others were stood there. “She murdered a filly in cold blood; said filly was also looking for her mother, not an easy task in the wastes,” I scowled. “And you think Nyx will do the same?” Celestia raised an eyebrow. “Nyx won’t, that’s for sure, she’s too kind, caring, and she’s the mother of our foal,” I pecked Winter Bell on the forehead, followed by Snowdrop, Gracy Gloom, Scootaloo, and Honey Heart. “I’m relieved to hear you say that, Rick,” Nyx sat beside me, draping a wing around me, Winter Bell immediately placed herself between the two of us, Honey Heart did the same as Autumn Heat sat opposite the lunar Goddess. “Anything for my Nakama, Nyx,” I pecked her horn-tip, causing her to shudder a little. “Just like the time you made that twenty and/or fifty-quid bet in college, eh Brother?” Blaze winked suggestively at me. “About what exactly..?” Autumn Heart blinked alongside Celestia, Luna and the other alicorns, sans Nyx “I said that a basic-level dragon-slayer would still be more powerful than a certain pony, even with both arms missing,” I grinned toward Celestia, Twilight scowled at me. “And you got to keep the money afterward, didn’t you, Brother?” Blaze laughed. “Actually I gave it to charity, hopefully someone there can use it for something other than a huge waste of time, money and breath,” I rolled my eyes. “How much did it end up to again?” she smirked. “Around eighty-odd quid, I think, assuming my memory’s correct,” I tutted, “sent another seventy on a bet that Gurren Lagann could beat the same pony, that of course, was also pointless, as Gurren Lagann’s final form is around seventy-three-billion Light-Years tall, made completely of Spiral energy and willpower,” I added with a sly grin,” Discuss.” “But that shouldn’t be possible!” Twilight argued, glaringly. “The talking pony and supposed princess of ‘friendship’ is telling me what is and isn’t possible?” I snorted derisively,” the whole point of Gurren Lagann is to prove that nothing’s impossible, Twilight Sparkle, I think I know my limitations.” “Libera me from hell; right Brother..?” Blaze grinned from ear to ear “Quite so, Blaze,” I laughed, “Sore da Tengen Toppa, Sore da Gurren Lagann. Giant mecha the size of a parallel universe whose size and power increases by tenfold when it uses its final attack, still not compensating for anything,” “Must you be so crude?” Rarity frowned, lightly. “Touché,” I gave a light nod. “That’s a thought; could we manage it, if we all fused together, just you, me, and our friends and family; could we form the Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann?” Blaze blinked. “You do realize that the mecha you’re referring to is around one-hundred times the size of the average galaxy, right?” I raised an eyebrow. Blaze nodded; “that’s half the reason why I wish to see if we could pull it off, although I can’t think of how a pony could pilot it.” “That’d require spiral energy, and that, in turn, would require willpower and fighting spirit,” I explained, “and, as we know, ponies talk more than they act, so I don’t think so.” “Do we now?” Celestia gave a light frown. “When words are inadequate, actions must be necessary,” I sighed exasperatedly, how do you think I got to the rank of General?” “Shining Armour’s a better leader than you’ll ever be!” Twilight roared. “Shiny couldn’t activate the Ark, nor any of the halo rings, therefor, would be unable to –if need be- save the galaxy, or the universe even,” I winked, “the only species who can use any type of Forerunner tech are humans, and the Forerunners themselves.” “Your point is what?” she snapped, “My Brother’s got more experience!” “I’m, nearly three-fifty years old, nearly a fifth of which has been spent trying to save colony world after world, going up against enemies that can turn a planet’s surface to glass by the mere touch of a button, and that they religiously believe all humans to be little more than trash, that of which need be eradicated by any means necessary,” I lectured, “ “You spent seventy years in the UNSC?” Celestia stared at me, somewhat awestruck, apparently. “That’d imply that I left,” I chortled, “But yes, I’ve spent nearly seventy-to-eighty years with the UNSC, saving countless lives at the cost of countless home-planets.” “But my Brother’s still better!” Twilight glared icily toward me. “When’re people going to realize that they’re not the best at what they do?” Blaze snarled, “There’s always someone better, pony, so why don’t you just shut you poisonous trap the fuck up, sit the bloody hell down, and admit it?” she growled, “or is your pride as a pony too much for you to do such a thing, or are you just thick skulled?” “How dare you talk to my student like that?” Celestia boomed. “I dare because someone has to! If not us, then who..?” Blaze spat, “I think it’s time you lot got a fucking reality check, you’re not the smartest, strongest, fastest, nor the best species in the universe, but then neither are ours, but at least we have the bloody testicular fortitude to admit it!” she bellowed at the top of her lungs. “Holy shit…” I whistled. “Pun intended?” the now almost-irate Typhlosion glanced toward me “Would it help?” I shuddered; she shrugged, “fair enough…” “So, what do you think of me?” Autumn Heart stared at me, eyebrow raised. “You’re my little Tinker,” I pecked her on the cheeks, she giggled. “That’s nice to know, thank you, Rick,” she sat right beside me as Honey Heart curled up in my lap. “Welcome,” I smiled, “now we just have to see if I’m to be thrown off-planet for doing something that Cellsy doesn’t like.” “I’ll not let it happen!” she leant into me. “And I’ll not let you sacrifice yourself for me, after all, somepony’s got to take care of Honey Heart,” I gave a forlorn sigh. “Please,” she took my arm in hers; clinging onto it with all her might “please don’t go…” I turned to Celestia, who raised an eyebrow, “whilst I won’t exile you for your foul behaviour, I shall give you a final chance to apologize before I have you sentenced to Tartarus, indefinitely.” “And break apart a perfectly happy family?” I tilted my head. “I didn’t say who,” she smirked. “Leave my sister and anyone else in my family out of this, you’ve already threatened them enough as is,” I snapped, “if you want to have a go at me, you do it at me, nobody else!” “I take it you’re not going to apologize?” she raised an eyebrow. “I’ll apologize, if you stop threatening my family,” I held out a hand. “Very well then,” she shook my hand with an armoured hoof, “that is how it shall be from now on, Rick, but I warn you; annoy me again, and you’ll get no chance to repent for your actions.” “Good thing we’re an atheist family,” I stifled a fit of laughter. “But what of your parents..?” Cadance blinked. “They can have any religion they want; I won’t judge them, nor will I attempt to stop them,” I shrugged. “Yeah, you’re not Celestia, who’ll just discard people like trash just for being different,” Blaze nodded. “I’m just another type of demigod,” I shrugged. “And there’s the ‘Title Drop’!” Snowdrop chimed. “I know, right?” I guffawed; Celestia stepped toward Blaze, horn ablaze with a brilliant Golden-Primrose, only to be sent flying toward the nearby confectionery, boot-shaped indent quite visible on her chest as her necklace shattered. “Looks like I cant trust anyone here then. All that I’ve been through, the Mojave-and-Capital wastelands, the Equestrian wastelands, the UNSC, and everything else, and yet you still ignore all of it, like the selfish whore that you are, Celestia!” I bellowed, eyes turning to paper-thin ‘slits’ “You hit her!” Autumn Heart gasped, as did everyone else who was present. “I’ll not have scum such as her anywhere near my family, not so long as I’m alive anyway,” I beamed, leg returning to normal from the usual shining-charcoal-black colour. Twilight and her friends rushed to Celestia’s side. “But I thought you didn’t hit mares!?” she stared at me, wide-eyed and Slack-jawed. “I don’t hit mares who leave me and my family be;” I fumed. “So, what does that make me?” she blinked. “You’re my family, or at least, you’re a part of it, Autumn Heart,” I gave a weak smile, crouching down to her level,” think of me what you will, I won’t stop you, only tell you that I still love you, complicated as the situation might be.” It was then that I noticed that Celestia, alongside Twilight and the others, had teleported away, leaving me with my family and Co. “First Spike and now Cellsy, you really do need a vacation, dontcha Brother?” Blaze hummed. “I just want things to go as simply as they can, and for us to live happily, is that too much to ask?” I mumbled. “I hope not, Brother, I hope not,” she cooed, leaning into me… -=- Having given Mort his own personalized dragon/Dracolich, I sat in the music room playing the violin, sometimes spending whole days in the room, playing away, only stopping for food, to go to the toilet, or to sleep, and then quickly whisking away back into the room once any of the above had been done. “Rick, I really think you should see a doctor,” Littlepip spoke calmly, with an almost motherly tone as she entered the room “Don’t worry My Dear Littlepip, I’m fine,” I smiled, faintly, continuing to practice. “Are you? Your bloodshot eyes and shrunken irises suggest that you’ve not been getting much sleep, have you been crying?” she blinked. I gave a forlorn hum, placing the Soil Stradivarius in its case, leaving the case on the worktop next to Octavia’s Dragon, Grace, who also placed her miniature Cello into its case; “I’ve been thinking about what happened with Celestia, and how best to apologize.” “I see,” she nodded, “well, you don’t need to be a knight to protect those of whom you love, do you?” she tilted her head, I blinked… =-= “Is there a reason you’re here?” Celestia snarled. “I’d like to surrender my knighthood to Equestria,” I bowed. “And I hereby remove it, again,” she scoffed, “you really should have a little more control, Rick, you’re an eon of Equis, act like it!” I nodded, turned, and left, retrieving a small, tennis ball-sized orb from my inventory, throwing it through the doors to the throne room as I left, releasing a light-pinkish cloud/explosion of radiation as I flew, homeward-bound… =-= “So, you’re not a knight?” Littlepip looked taken aback. “And I’ve also surrendered my title as an eon of Equis,” I nodded, “if they’re going to try and tear my family apart as I know and love it, why should I bother doing anything for them in return?” “True, but you have to at least give them a chance,” she gave a small giggle, “they’ve a lot of work to do running Equestria.” “I know, and that’s why I’m now trying to co-operate with them to make a better Equestria as a whole….” --=+=-- “Must you be in that form for this event?” Celestia eyed me from head to foot; Standing in my Alphamon form, I stood a couple of feet above her, I grinned, regardless of whether I had an actual mouth or not; “Would you rather I go as a demon from the ninth layer of hell, Princess?” I tilted my head. “I’d rather you go as you, for all that you’ve done, both good and evil,” she rolled her eyes with an exasperated sigh. “So, what’re we doing exactly?” Spike blinked as we disembarked the train, more-or-less marching to the Crystal Empire “we’ve got to be doing something important to be dragged out here to the Crystal Empire!” needless to say, his voice was almost cracked from the ‘X’ shaped scar I’d given him last year. “We’re here to finally spread word of Twilight’s coronation, as to confirm the forty-year rumours,” Celestia glanced toward Twilight, then toward me. “What?” I blinked, she raised an eyebrow, “I’m not going to do anything you don’t want me to Cellsy, you know that, right?” “If you say so…” “So, this place is called the ‘Crystal Empire,’ right?” Natsu stood beside Erza, Grey, Wendy, and Lyra, Amber Not lying atop his head with a light grin, just as Honey Heart was perched atop my now-metallic skull. “Basically,” I nodded, “they had a go at me, warning me not to eat any of the buildings because they’re apparently made of gemstones.” “You’re joking…” he laughed, I raised an eyebrow, “I guess not huh…?” “Well, if you didn’t want me to even think about it, don’t say it,” I shrugged. “It’d make things easier too,” Erza nodded in agreement, gazing at me from head-to-foot, “so, how long have you had that form hidden away from us?” “A while,” I smirked… === “The duke; and duchess of Maretonia..!” Flash Sentry bowed, gesturing toward a well-formally dressed mare, one of whom walked alongside a just-as-well-dressed stallion; “It’s an honour, your highness,” the orange stallion with the brown mane, tail and beard bowed alongside the alabaster mare, before walking on to the main hall of the castle, followed by several couples of ponies who came from various parts of Equestria, each one following the same actions of the first two. “What did he mean by ‘Your Highness’?” Natsu and grey blinked simultaneously. “Twilight’s a princess” Blaze smirked. “She’s a, what now?” Grey stared at Blaze, then toward Twilight, who gave a faint smile-and-wave “Looks like I’ll have to get the guitar again…” I mumbled; facepalming. “Looks like it, Brother…” Blaze sighed, “I wonder how the other Equis’ Crystal Empire’s doing?” “Eh, it’ll be fine, it’s got me looking after it after all,” I glimmered. “But how can you be in two places at once?” Twilight blinked, I raised the other eyebrow, “Oh… Oh…!” she nodded; then shuddered almost-uncontrollably, “Now I don’t want to know!” “How can you be in two places at once?” Wendy giggled. “Like this,” I changed to eon form, Blaze handing me a large amount of gems as I did so, grasping my crystalline heart as I devoured the gems, my heart quickly regenerating anew “You just took your own heart out!?” she screamed. “That I did,” I nodded, reverting to human form, handing it to her, she quickly pocketed it. “Dude, that’s creepy…!” Spike shivered in apparent fear. “Not going there, Cellsy knows why,” I grinned from ear to ear, without a mouth… “Why not,” Natsu smirked. “Reasons of which I cannot explain without scaring someone,” I winked with a sly grin. “So, aren’t you going to tell them?” Blaze gleamed toward me, nodding toward Erza and the others. “Oh, right, I reached a second stage of ‘Dragon Force,’” I smiled. “You what..?” Natsu stared at me; I sighed, the same Golden-Yellow glow overtaking me, complete with the Karyu-no-Tenkyu, “Happy?” “I just hope you know what you’re doing with that form, Rick,” Celestia frowned. “If spike hadn’t of made the comment about Nightmare Moon, I might’ve held back a little you never know,” I shrugged, “he does it again, and I don’t care what happens to me, he will die, may I be a dragon slayer or otherwise.” “You’d go that far, just for a friend?” Erza blinked. “If it’ll stop any problems that may exist, then yes, yes I would,” I nodded, frowning. “You’re insane!” Natsu chortled, whereas Amber note ooh’d at my new form, giggling lightly. “It seems someone says otherwise,” I smirked. “So it does,” he rolled his eyes somewhat uncharacteristically. “But I’ve yet to go further than this,” I gestured to my now-golden form, “oh, wait, no I haven’t…” “Please don’t Daddy,” Snowdrop nuzzled into me as she perched herself on my shoulder, as did Winter Bell. “I won’t do it unless I feel like I have to, Ok?” I smiled. “Okie Dokie,” Honey Heart nickered. “But you also possess the power to melt even the hardest diamonds, do you not, Brother?” Blaze patted my wings with a gentle paw. “So I do,” I smiled, hands blazing, the fire around which liquefied into magma “Magma..?” Grey awed at me, “but that’s impossible!” “Nothing’s impossible if you put your mind to it, Grey,” I grinned, “Speaking of new elements, how’re you and Juvia getting along?” “I’d rather not talk about it if that’s alright with you…” he mumbled. “Fair do’s,” I gave a light chuckle, the magma around my hands evaporating into fire, which then faded into thin air. “And how’s Lisanna?” I smiled, turning to face Natsu. “She’s… alright,” Natsu’s face turned beetroot. “Uh-huh… right,” I slowly nodded “very well, I’ll not ask any further.” “I hate you…” he grumbled. “As you say, Salamander,” I nodded, again… “You planned all of that, didn’t you?” Blaze laughed. “When I wake up in the morning, I never plan for the day ahead, that way, the word ‘premeditated’ doesn’t get thrown across the courtroom like a figurative pinball,” I beamed, the golden glow around me giving way to scales that appeared on my face, hands, arms and wrists. “Touché, Brother, touché,” she chortled. “I think you just admitted to being insane…” Twilight gave a light giggle. “I wouldn’t be bothered or surprised if I did,” I sighed exhaling sharply, “it wouldn’t be the weirdest thing I’ve done thus far; would it?” “Hardly,” she gave a light hum, “you’re an odd one, Ricky-o, Y’know that?” “That’s a bit of an understatement, isn’t it?” I raised an eyebrow “So it is…” she laughed -+-=-+- “So, what happened?” I smiled. “It wasn’t too bad” Twilight hummed, “but I suppose it could be a little better.” “No matter what your job is, one might eventually find a way to make it better,” I laughed. “Like what?” she stared at me, eyebrow raised in quite apparent curiosity. “I don’t know, I’m not a prince,” I shrugged, “it’ll be up to you and your companions to figure that one out, Twilight Sparkle, after all, I doubt you’d be alone in an endeavour such as this, no?” “I suppose…” she mumbled. “Don’t go all droopy on me, you’re my friend, that means it’s my job to see you smile,” I frowned, then blinked, “did I seriously just say that?” “Looks like it, she giggled. “Well there’s a start,” I rolled my eyes (again…); sitting beside the lavender mare ion the train back to Ponyville. “Are you two..?” Natsu gestured to either of us, Twilight bit her lip’ then shook her head, I shrugged, just at that moment, Autumn Heart landed in my lap, pecking me on the lips followed By Honey Heart climbing onto my head Twilight moved to where her friends were with a forlorn glance toward me as Littlepip and Velvet Remedy sat either side of me, nuzzling into me as Blackjack sat on the table between the chairs, “Yeah, I’ve no clue as to how to explain this,” I stared at him, glancing toward each of the mares around me. “I’ll bet you don’t you dog, you!” he burst into a fit of laughter as Littlepip moved to the area between my legs… “Did they seriously…?” “Shut up.” “But they…!” “Shut up.” “You aren’t complaining, are you?” Natsu howled with laughter. “Not really, considering Lyra did the same for you, Pyro,” I laughed. “Hey, at least it was only one pony!” he chortled. “Lyra, take your friend here to the ‘You-Know-Where’ give him something to have fun with eh?” “Ok!” Lyra giggled, carrying Natsu in her magic, Amber Note skipping merrily alongside her as she went “So…” Grey and Erza smirked. “Where’s she taking Natsu?” Erza grinned. “I’m not exactly sure as to how to answer that…” I mumbled. “As you say,” she smiled, walking with Grey and Wendy into the guild hall. “So, where did she take Natsu?” Twilight raised an eyebrow as we sat around the dining table in canterlot. “Nowhere important,” I winked, “why do you ask?” “It’s just that, I’ve gotten this strange feeling in the atmosphere around Canterlot, and I was wondering if Natsu might be the cause of it,” she explained. “Fair enough, but I doubt Natsu even knows about the magic in the atmosphere around him, let alone a city,” I simpered. Suddenly, the double doors to the dining hall swung open, only to reveal Natsu, topless/shirtless, glowering at me with mares hanging from his arms, legs, head and shoulders. “Holy shit…!” Blaze cackled with almost/borderline manic laughter, “where’d you find that place, Rick?” “Well, after all the radiation was cleansed from the wastes, I found an underground bunker,” I grinned as I began to explain, “and I think, judging by Natsu’s passengers, that the rest is obvious.” “You found a brothel?” she stared at me; I shrugged, “be it a brothel or a club, I found it, and I told Lyra about it, that’s what I’m going to get murdered for here…” “But we have to go back,” Lyra, the Pony on Natsu’s head, chimed with glee “either you go back, or I nag,” Natsu’s expression changed to one of horror as he quickly turned and left. “‘Nowhere important’..?” Twilight laughed. “I thought it’d add more of a flare to their commitment,” I shrugged. “I don’t think you using those words in that order is safe, Brother,” Blaze shuddered. “What’s the worst that could happen?” I shrugged. “I’m not going to answer that,” she grumbled. “Kokoro no Eigo..?” she raised an eyebrow, I shrugged, “fair do’s.” “‘Luna’s Love Lounge,’ Blaze read aloud as we stood outside the ‘club/brothel’ “We’re going to hell for this Brother, you know that, right?” I nodded, “just another reason for why I should be executed, eh?” “Quite so,” Celestia nickered as Littlepip, Blackjack, and Velvet Remedy dragged me through the entrance to the underground building, which had been accessed by means of large trapdoor. “What’re you doing down here?” Natsu blinked, now stark naked, also lying on his back with what can only be described as the cutest pony I’ve ever seen pumping his jewels in and out of her love canal with apparent glee,, Lyra sitting on/straddling his chest, her marehood inches from his oral passage. “And you’re one to talk,” I laughed. “You found this place before me, so you’re the one to blame,” he frowned “Blame my morbid curiosity, not me,” I chided “have at him Lyra.” Lyra nodded, slotting her sex with Natsu’s lips, he rolled his eyes, apparently causing her great joy as she arched her back. “May I help you sir…?” +-+-=(-)=-+-+ “So, that happened,” Blaze laughed. “So it did,” I rolled my eyes. “Reminds me of when I nicked my dad’s wallet and bought a brand new three-sixty console, complete with controllers and an also-brand-new ‘Fallout: New Vegas’ game; Spent all month at college in my room playing it for hours on end.” “You spent a month playing a game?” Twilight raised an eyebrow as stood in the main hall of the castle partway through the beginning of the gala, Wendy, Erza Grey included. “How d’ya you think I got so good in the wastes?” I gave a light frown, “what, in one reality, is little more than a game, in another reality, is just that, reality.” “Also got one-hundred-thousand caps from playing blackjack, both in-game and in reality, didn’t you?” Blaze smirked. “That I did,” I nodded. “One-hundred-thousand caps..?” Twilight stared at me, slightly awestruck, “just how long were you playing for?” “Around three hours, four-and-a-half at the longest,” I shrugged, “it wasn’t that bad, considering I was playing with a platinum chip.” “You have a platinum chip?” she blinked, “as in, a poker chip, made out of platinum?” “Need I repeat myself?” I smirked, retrieving said chip from my inventory. “I’m just surprised is all,” she giggled, “Where’d you get it?” “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” I laughed. “Wouldn’t I?” she grinned, as a dark-ish-blue/indigo Pegasus with a flowing, perfect-golden mane and tail -wearing a cape/dress/robe of the same colour with what appeared to be faint, snow-white constellations scattered across its surface, embedded/sown into place, complete with golden shoes and a bracelet around a foreleg- stepped forward. “Stealing the competition, are we?” everyone stared at me, “what?” “You seriously didn’t just say that…” Grey grumbled. “And what if I did?” I frowned lightly toward the ‘ice-make’ wizard, “she’s obviously a rather refined mare with clarity, beauty and grace, I don’t see the problem in complimenting her for any of the above, Grey Fullbuster.” I was promptly knocked to the floor by the indigo Pegasus, who slammed her lips against mine, winking as she parted “I’m free tonight, so feel free to make my day, Sir Rick,” she giggled, pecking my cheek as she turned and left… “I’m not sure how to feel about that,” I blinked. “She’s not that awesome,” Rainbow Dash waved a dismissive hoof, currently wearing a rainbow-coloured cape, similar to that of the other Pegasus, with a golden wreath/crown and a grape-‘cluster’-shaped necklace, similar golden shoes, and a pair of golden rings around the base of her wings, complete with an extended mane-style. “Well she’s got my vote either way,” I muttered, almost under my breath. “Are you…?” Blaze stared at me; I raised an eyebrow in return, “Jesus Christ…” “I don’t see you complaining, do I, dear Sister?” I smirked. “Says the one who’s dressed like Minato Namikaze..!” she burst into a fit of laughter. “Where did you get that anyway?” Erza eyed me from head to feet alongside Grey, Natsu and Wendy. “I requested it from Rarity, suffice to say, it’s nice to see a bit of change around here,” I glimmered. “You got that level of attire from a pony?” Erza stared at me, then toward Rarity, who looked away in embarrassment, “I have to say it’s actually rather well-made, it suits you too.” “Arigato,” I grinned. “So, what brings you here?” Celestia smiled as she stood beside Faust, Lulania and the other alicorns. “I’m unsure as to how to answer that,” I tilted my head, “one part is here for the gala in and of itself, and another is to apologize, whereas the third is a compound of the two.” “I accept your apology, Sir Rick,” she grinned. “Heard that did you?” I mumbled “You dragon slayers aren’t the only ones with enhanced hearing and senses,” Firefly smirked. “So we’re not,” I rolled my eyes, again. “What’ll you do now, Sir Rick?” Galaxia smiled. “No idea, probably make the best I can, as per the usual,” I shrugged, yet again… “So, what about you’re ‘Elite Riot Gear’?” Blaze beamed. “That’s in my inventory, Blaze, and with good reason,” I frowned, “besides if I wanted to scare anyone shitless I’d use my Necromancer armour and Phoenix Doom’ helmet.” “‘Necromancer’ Armour..?” Celestia’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Another drunken bet gone wrong; right Brother?” Blaze sighed. “To put it bluntly,” I hummed. “But that’s neither here nor there, and besides, it’s a while until Nightmare Night anyways.” “You’re going to, aren’t you?” Blaze raised a smug eyebrow whilst giving a sly smirk. “If I feel like it,” I tutted, --=-- “Are you sure about this?” Crystal giggled as I hovered in place, thanks to the ‘Necromancer’ Armour, complete with blood-red dragon wings and the ‘Phoenix Doom’ Helmet, hovering just outside the throne room “Why wouldn’t I be?” I shrugged, bursting into the throne room, scythe at the ready, only to be sent flying be a somewhat-terrified Celestia, hurtling past Crystal, my family and friends, right through the window at the far end of the corridor, crashing into a tree in the gardens “Ok, not doing that again,” I grunted, getting to my feet at a slow-and-steady rate, beginning to hover once again, “note to self, never walk in on Cellsy wearing death-related armour, no matter the circumstances.” “Who are you?” Celestia appeared beside the other alicorns, each one, save Firefly, had their horns aimed at me. “‘necromancer’ Armour, ‘Phoenix Doom’ Helmet,” I gestured to the armour and helmet respectively, “Dontcha recognize me Cellsy?” “Rick?” she blinked, she and the others now standing upright/normally, staring at me in awe as I reverted to normal. “The one and only, arrogant as it may sound,” I grinned, “you needn’t worry about me, Tenkyū.” “You’re a crazy bastard, Y’know that?” Crystal lightly punched my shoulder when she and the others caught up to me. “Yeah, well, what’re you gonna do about it-?” Crystal silenced my, placing her hands on my shoulders, and her lips against my own in a long, somewhat-passionate kiss. “You’ll get the rest later,” she winked, flying away. “Rick?” I turned around, the indigo Pegasus with the golden mane and tail from the Gala was there, smiling at me gracefully, moving to sit beside me, complete with her attire from the Gala, “Ah, it is you,” she smiled again, walking alongside me as I made my way through ponyville. “It’s nice to see you also…?” I glanced toward her. “Golden Star,” she giggled, “I’m glad I finally get to thank you for those few wondrous words you said to me last week, Rick.” “Think nothing of it,” I laughed, “I am merely stating what I believe to be true, Golden Star.” “But I will think something of it, Sir Rick,” she grinned, “what you said to me then has made my life all-but complete, and as such, I wish to join your herd, with your permission of course…” she bowed. “Look out below!” a sudden blur of Cyan/rainbow colour slammed into the mare I was currently awing at, knocking her into a large puddle of mud “Are you Ok?” I rushed to Golden Star’s side, using Purple Flare to levitate her onto dry land, Rainbow dash glared at me “I’ll be fine, but I must get this dress washed up as soon as I can!” Golden Star urged, quickly removing her clothing, handing it to me as she folded it into a neat little pile. “Then we’d best get to the nearest instrument that’d help with that, eh?” I winked, she winked back. Trotting alongside me with a light skip in her step as we walked homeward bound. --=-- “I have to thank you for this, Rick,” Golden Star smiled, holding a mug of hot chocolate whilst sat on the couch, blowing over the top of the cup lightly, taking a sip, then sighing with apparent relief, “Not many ponies in Canterlot would do this for a mare like me.” “Oh bollocks to that!” I shouted, then, realising how loud I’d been, I quickly bowed, biting my lip, “please pardon both my audacity and my foul language, Golden Star, it was just my thoughts that a pony like you should be somewhere at the stop of the ‘Hall of Fame,’ assuming there is such a thing in Equestria, ponies as magnificent as you deserve to be held in regard as high as the heavens themselves.” “You flatter me…” she blushed, her cheeks turning a vibrant pinkish colour, ”Truly, you have a gift with words, Sir Rick.” “And you’ve a gift in being as beautiful as you are,” I winked. “So I have Rick, so I have,” she giggled, placing her drink down on the coffee table, leaning into me, “how long are my clothes going to take being cleaned?” “An hour by wash, another hour in the dryer,” I raised an eyebrow, “why?” “Because if it’s going to take that long, I might as well have a little fun, Sir Rick,” she rolled onto me, crouching on my lap, placing her hooves on my shoulders, and placing her lips against mine, gradually parting, tracing her tongue over my lips as she did so. “Fun, eh?” I smirked, draping my wings around her, “I think I may be able to help you there, Golden Star…” -==-==- “So, has it been two hours yet?” Golden Star panted for breath, straddling my member as I lay on the bed in eon form I checked the nearby clock, glancing back to her; “Seems like it, my little Star,” I smiled, she giggled, clambering down unto my chest area as my length slid back into its sheath, albeit, eventually. “Y’know Rick,” Golden Star began, tracing my chest symbol with a fragile hoof, “there’re a lot of mares in places like Trottingham, Las Pegasus and the like, and there’re just as many who’re looking for a stallion like you to take them and whisk them off their hooves.” “Too bad I’ve got ponies like you in a place like Ponyville,” I laughed as she moved to the bed, then onto my back as I rolled over, “and besides, you’re a part of my herd, what more could I want?” “I wasn’t saying for you to leave, I’d never ask such a thing of a being like you, Rick, I was merely stating what I’ve heard lately, rumours that’ve been spreading about your reputation and such,” she winked, “but, if you’d rather stay here, regardless of my sayings, I can understand that.” -=- “So, Rainbow Dash came down out of nowhere, and tackled Golden Star into the mud?” Twilight stared at me, occasionally glancing toward the mare beside me as she sat beside my friends family and I opposite Twilight, her friends, Celestia, Luna and the other alicorns. “Basically,” Golden Star and I shared a glance; then draped a wing around one-another, leaning together as she placed her head on my shoulder, now that she was back in her attire, she looked better than ever. “I can’t believe you did such a thing!” Twilight and Rarity frowned toward their cyan friend “It was an accident, I lost control of my speed, that’s all,” Rainbow Dash’s face turned a bright scarlet-red in embarrassment. “Your flaring nostrils and change in skin tone from blushing to such an extent state otherwise,” I slowly shook my head. “What?” she scowled. “As does your now sudden change in attitude,” I raised an eyebrow, “it’s basic neurobiology, by studying the way your body language appears unto others, I can tell what your thought process is like.” “Are you saying I’m jealous?” she snarled. “I’m not merely saying it, I’m stating it outright, ever since you first say Golden Star here,” I nodded toward the mare currently using my lap as a bed of sorts, “you’ve been rather, shall we say, different, your use of words, actions and body language since I’ve entered the room as been another indicator of said jealousy.” “That’s a load of Horseapples and you know it!” she bellowed. “Further continuation to argue with me will only result in more proof,” I shrugged, “make of that what you will.” “I’m not jealous of some two-bit whorse from Trottingham wearing glittered bathrobes!” she blared. Twilight and her other friends gasped in unison “Rainbow Dash..!” Rarity exclaimed, “How can you say such a thing, Golden Star here has to be one of the most attractive mares I’ve seen in a long time, I’m only left to wonder where she got what you call ‘Glittered Bathrobes’ from.” “I got them from a friend,” Golden Star frowned toward Rainbow Dash for a moment, before glancing toward Rarity, “a mare named Coco Pommel, do you know her?” “Bloody hell….” I mumbled, “I thought she had talent when she made that makeshift Clockwise, but this, really?” “I know, I was amazed as I watched her craft it, she’s an absolute gem that Coco, she mentioned a Wayward Eon’ a few times, though I can’t tell who she’s on about….” “Haven’t heard that title since I left the wastes,” I whistled. “That’s you!?” she gasped also, “I was wondering what that other form was!” “And so you found me, now what?” I winked. “You’ll find out later,” she grinned, pecking me on both cheeks, then the lips, finally returning to curling up into a ball in my lap. “You called me refine, why?” “Refined doesn’t even begin to describe your character, Golden,” I smiled, “your almost indescribably beauty wearing what you are, your pleasant, light-hearted -and if I’m to be honest here- adorable personality, and not to mention you’re one of the most sensible ponies I’ve ever met.” “Thank you, my little eon,” she cooed, using her gown/dress as a duvet, letting out a stifled yawn as she fell asleep; giving a light snore with every other breath. “Why would I be jealous of her?” Rainbow Dash spat. “Did you not here all that I’ve just said to describe her as who she is?” I glowered icily toward the cyan Pegasus, “And I guess that’s another thing she’s got and you haven’t, Rainbow Dash, she’s actually level-headed.” “She’s a…” Rainbow Dash glanced to each of her friends, who gave looks of utter disappointment in return, “Fine, but I still don’t like her, even if I am jealous!” “Being jealous of something means you can have something to strive for, to be better in turn of it being better than you, so to speak,” I rolled my eyes. “I don’t want to be a fashion freak!” she shuddered, gagging at the thought. “Well I never!” Rarity scoffed. Turning and walking from the throne room. “Ok, not a fashion freak, but I still don’t want to do anything of the sort!” she rebuked. “I thought being awesome was all about showing how much better you are than everyone else, is that not what you said when you met Honey Heart?” I smirked. “Oh yeah..! Thanks TK!” she grinned, soaring out through the open window “So, Necromancer Armour Blaze grinned. “Already did it once, and I don’t plan on doing it again,” I sighed, exhaling sharply as I did so. “Really; and how did that go?” she smirked. “Well, put it one way, we’re- sorry, I’m still lucky the armour’s still in one piece upon being thrown through the castle, out through a window and into a tree,” I clicked my tongue. “So you are, and what’ve we learnt from this?” she beamed. “Never wear dark-related armour in Equestria, lest you be sent flying?” I shrugged, yet again… “Close enough,” she tilted a paw, “now, give it a proper ending.” “…Because that would be bad…?” I tilted my head. “Meh, good enough, I don’t suppose you’ll demean yourself any further with the subject, eh Brother?” she glimmered. “You’d be surprised what I can do, Dear Sister,” I stated calmly, completely deadpan. “Oh would I now?” she folded her arms, grinning from ear to ear, “go on then, prove it.” =-= “This isn’t what I said when I asked you to ‘Prove It’ Y’know?” Blaze stood beside my family and I, as I gazed up toward the large flag that I’d posted on the side of the castle, said flag depicted Golden star in her usual Gala attire with a pair of shining angel wings and a primrose halo atop her head. “I thought it’d be nice to do, a little commission, so to speak,” I grinned. “Speaking of random shit, pardon my language, how’s that argument going on the internet?” the Typhlosion beside me patted my back standing on her hind legs as Twilight, her friends, the princesses, Faust and Lulania appeared via teleportation “He’s a stubborn one I’ll give him that, always voting for the pony in question, even when there’s no hope for victory,” I snorted. “Just like you then eh?” she smirked. “At least I can make it happen,” I rebuked with an icy glare. “So you could.” She nodded “So, what’s the argument moved onto this time?” “It’s Naruto-related-ish,” I shrugged. “You’re kidding… You’re kidding, right…?” she blinked, staring at me bewilderedly. “I’m afraid not, Sister, I’m afraid not,” I sighed with a light shake of my head. “What’s his argument this time?” she scowled. “The usual, we-know-who apparently becoming a god-like being,” I tutted, rolling my eyes. “And your response?” she clenched her fists, grinning from ear to ear with a sly smirk. “She’s got the powers of a so-called ‘God,’” I made air quotes at the word ‘god,’” we have a demigod who can summon meteors, and another almost-demigod who can summon what I like to refer to as a celestial dragon deity composed of lightning-based energy that has, more-or-less, the power to lay waste to an entire colony and/or oversized city with a single hit.” “Kirin, right..?” she blinked, I nodded, “a powerful set of abilities indeed…” “Well the one who can summon meteorshas been compared to a god before,” I shrugged “besides, there is another that can stop it, but at a heavy price.” “Sussano’o…” she grinned. “Quite so,” I nodded. “You’re joking, right…?” Twilight blinked, giving a nervous giggle. “Why would I joke about it?” I tilted my head. “So, this is your latest work?” Celestia smirked as Golden Star approached, albeit, somewhat-timidly. “You should see the flag I made and posted on the tower,” i laughed. “I’m not sure I want to know…” Blaze mumbled. “It’s not that bad,” I rolled my eyes. “Remind me why you’re using ‘Dragon Force’?” she raised a smug eyebrow. “Because I’ve finally figured out how to excel my abilities to the third level,” I beamed, changing to Alphamon form; then triggering my ‘Dragon Soul’ “A Golden Alphamon..?” she blinked, suddenly, two pairs of metallic appendages appeared below the ones already present on my back, a Whitish-Golden wing sprouting froth from each of them, the Ouryuken blade materializing before me, its handle extending to twice its usual length as its blade sharpened to a point the bottom end up the handle reshaping into an elegant spearhead, and the armour itself became more refined, and somewhat-‘curvier.’ “Jesus Christ..!” Blaze bellowed, staring at me in quite apparent shock-and-awe, “how in the actual fuck!?” “Magic,” I grinned, still not having a mouth, reverting to my regular Alphamon form, then back to my human form. “Wasn’t Alphamon meant to be a demigod?” she smirked as Crystal and Angel awed at me, their expressions quickly changing to smug grins. “He’s on par with a demigod, but I’m not actually sure of it,” I shrugged. “Put two demigods together, and that’s what you get?” Autumn Heart perched herself upon my back, draping her arms around my neck as she placed her head on my shoulder, just at that moment, Honey Heart landed upon my head. I grinned; “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.” “You’re only half right!” Blaze chortled. “Meh, it needs work anyways,” I smiled. “How is it that you’re able to do such things?” Golden Star awed at me, eyeing me from head to foot. “If I knew that I’d tell you,” I beamed. “I suppose you would, wouldn’t you,” she giggled, rearing up on her hind legs, pecking me on the cheek, winking at me as she galloped into the castle with a light giggle… “…You’re not done with her are you?” Blaze glanced toward me alongside Crystal and Angel, smug grins aplenty. “You assume that because she likes me, that I’m to be interested?” I raised an eyebrow. “Rick, we know what you and her did last week,” she glimmered, “you her little guardian angel?” “I’ve no clue as to what you’re on about…” I mumbled. “Sure you don’t…” she gave a slow, smug nod. “Are you insinuating something, Blaze?” I hummed. “I’m not insinuating anything, I’m saying it already happened,” she laughed. “How do you mean?” I folded my arms. “She ‘tripped-and-fell,’ so to speak; and you offered her help, yes?” she winked. “What’re you getting at?” I blinked “You two did it, didn’t you?” “Seeing as the building’s foundations are still as they were when I got here, no,” I frowned. “Not yet anyway, you sly dog you!” she patted my arm with a rather absentminded paw. “I was joking,” I rolled my eyes agitatedly. “And I wasn’t,” she grinned from ear to ear, “so, how was she?” “You’re impossible…” I groaned. “I’m your sister,” she tilted her head “Adoptive sister,” I simpered. “Are you saying I’m not as good as the real thing?” she tutted, “and here I thought that such insults were below you!” ”I never said that,” I blinked, “honestly it’s a wonder you haven’t given me an aneurysm…” “You love me and you know it!” she guffawed. “As family, nothing else,” I growled. “I know, that’s why I did what I did, eh Olky?” she cooed. “Haven’t heard that name in a while,” I whistled, “now that’s going back a while, Blaze, around three hundred years or so.” “It’s been that long already?” she gaped, I nodded, “doesn’t time fly when you’re saving worlds?” “So it does, Blaze, so it does,” I sighed. “Has it really been that long…?” Crystal and Angel hovered on either side of me as I changed to eon form. “So long as I’ve got you lot I don’t mind what happens to me,” I clicked my tongue, “you’re my little gem and angel.” “And you’re our little eon, Rick…” Chapter XXV; Evolution (And Religion)“So, you’re two-thousand years old?” Crystal awing at me alongside Angel “Basically,” I bit my lip, “I’m sorry for not telling you before, Crystal, you as well, Angel….” “No, we needed to hear it sooner or later, and now you’ve told us, so we can move one,” Angel smiled, pecking my cheek, as did Crystal. “You’ll always be our little eon, Rick,” Crystal simpered as we glided into the castle my being in Necromancer armour, complete with the shadow-like dragon wings making it all-too easy. “Chrysalis,” I nodded, quickly reverting to normal when I noticed her in the throne room alongside the princesses, Lulania, Faust, Firefly, Galaxia, Iris Harmony herself, Twilight, her friends, Shining Armour and Flash Sentry; “It is a pleasure to see you, Rick,” Chrysalis teleported to my side, nuzzling into me, pecking my cheek, walking beside Crystal, Angel and I as we made our way toward the alicorns and the others. “Rick, I assume you know why we’re here?” Faust beckoned me toward her; I smiled, walking closer to the group. “If I’m honest, not really,” I blinked, “I take it that it’s important if the others are here though?” “Direly so,” Firefly stepped forward, “knowledge of you’re saving of Equestria as we know it has spread like wildfire through neighbouring countries, so fast in fact, that we wish to knight you, as one, united, Equestria…” -=- “So, Sir Rick of Equestria?” Crystal beamed, “what do you plan to do now?” “I think regaining the feeling in my lower half should come before anything else,” I grumbled, hovering beside Angel and Crystal. “Let’s hope the news of your re-knighting doesn’t go too far…” Angel giggled with a sly wink. “So long as I don’t get a ton of mail every day and they don’t post posters of me in the guards’ barracks for mares to draw not-so-subliminal messages on, I think we’ll be fine.” I laughed. “You imagine for such a thing to happen?” Firefly chortled. “You ponies seem to be capable of just about anything and everything,” I grinned, “so yes, yes I do.” “Isn’t gurren Lagann also capable of that?” Blaze smirked. “You won’t find a pony the size of the universe,” I raised an eyebrow. “Nor will we find one made of spiral energy,” she folded her arms, tilting her head, “I wonder what that’d be like…” she stared toward me I raised an eyebrow, “What?” “You’re not going to create another artwork?” she grinned. “Why would I?” I blinked, she nodded behind me; Turning to face behind me I noticed a gryphon, a mildly sized dragon with crimson scales and horns with golden underbelly scales and eyes, a pair of large deer, one female and one stag with golden antlers, finally, a zebra emerged, with emerald eyes and a set of armlets and earrings. I quickly reverted to human form once again as they, alongside the alicorns, formed a circled around me “So, this is the human who wiped out our army!?” the gryphon scowled, her piercing gaze unwavering as she glared icily right at me, “you’re a freak!” “I have to agree, a being so fragile, and so capacious -if anything, couldn’t have wiped out my people, reducing Zebrica to molten ash!” the zebra bellowed. “If it’s a fight you want, if not war, declare it on me and me alone, leave Equestria out of it!” I exclaimed angrily, glowering toward the pair of them. “Our fight was never with Equestria to begin with, Human;” the Gryphon snarled, “do you wish to come to Gryphus to face your punishment for your crimes, or do you truly wish to die here and now?” “Or do you wish to journey with me back to Zebrica, where we shall have you return our country to its former glory?” the Zebra mare growled, should you choose otherwise, I shall ally what remains of our forces together, and war shall be waged like never before!” “You’d wage war over a single person’s actions?” I scoffed, “how childish…” “You dare defy me!?” the fem-gryphon aimed her weapon, an intricately carved-and-crafted crossbow, aiming it right at me. “This should be interesting…” Blaze laughed as I was enveloped in the same-as-usual golden aura, complete with the golden dragon “Tenkyu No Karyu,” I grinned. “So you can summon a holographic projection, so what?” the gryphon spat, readying her crossbow, aiming for my head, pulling the trigger, only for the gem-tipped bolt to be caught by one of the dragons’ hands, thrown away like trash as the being discarded it with high abandon. “Holographic projection..?” I blinked “nay, magic.” “It‘s fucking witchcraft..!” she boomed at the top of her lungs, “summoning a golden dragon, your form gaining a golden aura, your entire magical atmosphere’s been altered, just what the bucking hell are you!?” “Demigod,” I beamed,” unless you wish for those ships you see in the sky to send your kingdom to oblivion, I suggest you aim that thing elsewhere…” “You wouldn’t dare!?” she blared. “You wish to bet on that?” I tutted, “As you wish, freak…” she scowled, lowering her crossbow. “Witchcraft..?” Blaze gasped, “I call racism!” “I do not care for you pony friends, little one,” the she gazed upon the two of us with pure, unadulterated rage/fury in her eyes “I only came for one thing,” she pointed toward me with an accusing talon “I return to my kingdom with his head, and I’ll be living the highest life you can get in Gryphus for the rest of my days “You’re here for revenge?” I blinked, the golden aura/dragon around me fading in an instant, “I’m sorry to say that neither that nor returning proof of my death will get you anywhere, Crystal Angel and Blaze here’d have you skinned alive in an instant.” “You’ve a two-billion-bit bounty on your being, and I promised not to return empty handed!” she snapped. “Well then,” I held my out at either side of me, “have at me.” She lunged at me alongside the Zebra, only for the both of them to be sent in the opposite direction by means of twin lavender beams of energy from the eons beside me. “And people used to tell you to grow up!” Blaze patted the back of my head as she stood on my shoulder. “Irony at its best, dear Sister,” I nodded. “Forgive me for asking, but what is that strange device on your arm?” the female deer pointed toward my Pipbuck. “It’s a reminder of what I’ve yet to do, yet need to,” I smiled. “I only asked because my kind value technology above all else.” she smiled, “Tell me, how was it made?” “It’s a mixture of magic and technology,” I simpered. “Interesting, perhaps you’d be interested in sending us the schematics to create such an item?” “I might be able to, depending on what you need,” I nodded. “Very well then,” she nodded in return “you shall send us schematics, and we’ll pay you in kind with whatever you need, Rick.” “As you wish,” I quickly bowed. “I see you have manners, that at least, is a gift,” the stag smirked. “Oh dear,” Blaze quickly covered her mouth with a paw “Implied racism?” I frowned. “Not at all, I was only going to say what you could do, given the situation,” she winked with a sly grin. “So, what brings you here, if I may ask?” I turned to the dragon, ignoring Blaze’s implications “I’m here for one thing,” the dragon smiled, “Grandoa and Igneel send their regards, wayward Drake.” “You know Igneel?” I stared at him, completely awestruck. “What dragon doesn’t know their king of flame?” he laughed. “Tell me, does he talk of another human often?” I tilted my head slightly “Not often, but he mentions a son of his, that of which he- no, which I claim to be human,” he beamed. “I thought you’d be bigger…” Blaze mumbled. “That’s one of my abilities with dragon magic,” he grinned. “I am able to change my shape, form and size at will.” “You know the town down the mountain from here?” I smirked. “I know of Ponyville, what of it?” he grumbled. “Guess who’s there…?” I flashed my eyebrows at him. “Natsu..?” he stared at me in apparent awe; I nodded “And he’s been waiting for you for a while, Igneel.” “I’ll see what I can do about that, Son of Crystagia,” he grinned. -=-=- “So, that happened…” Blaze whistled as the chariots flew into the horizon alongside Igneel and the gryphon. “So it did, Blaze, so it did,” I hummed. “So, does this mean we’re going to war?” she glanced toward me. “Have you ever seen the Halo Legends episode title ‘The Duel’?” I grinned. “No…” she gaped, “no, you wouldn’t…!” “Wanna bet?” I snorted, grinning from ear to ear as u hovered on the balcony alongside the others. “That being said, seeing as it’s you, Brother, I suppose anything’s possible…” she laughed. “Quite so,” Iris and Galaxia shared a giggle. “To be irreplaceable, one must first be different,” Snowdrop chimed, glancing toward Celestia, “how different would you say Daddy is?” “Quite different, Snowdrop,” Celestia nickered, “quite different indeed.” “Just what in the hell have you been teaching her anyways?” Blaze gaped, staring at me in quite visible horror. “Nothing too important,” I winked. “Such as..?” she beamed. “Barely anything, what she learns, she does so from her own sources, not mine,” I smiled. “Oh really,” she smirked, “and what if that source happened to be your laptop?” “I have restrictions on it for a reason you know,” I rolled my eyes, “you think too little of me, Dear Sister.” “No, I think about the harm that letting a filly on the internet could bring to her,” Blaze frowned. “I’m fine Aunty,” Snowdrop giggled, lying atop my head with a smile, “Daddy knows what is and isn’t safe for me, and can act accordingly to prevent anything bad happening to me.” “Such a strange family…” Blaze and Autumn Heart sighed in almost-perfect unison. “Excuse me..?” As we turned, I noticed a perfect/snow-white Earth-Pony mare with a reddish-burgundy mane and tail with a green tail-tip and emerald eyes, carrying an easel, a set of paintbrushes and a set of sheets of paper “May I paint here?” she bit her lip “Sure,” I smiled, blinking “oh, that reminds me,” I quickly reverted to human form, placing my rucksack on the ground as I changed back, retrieving the latest set of artworks, levitating them over to Celestia. “You do art?” the mare blinked, gazing at me from head to tail-tip, “what type do you prefer?” All eyes were now on me as I smirked, “I don’t mind really, I’m impartial to most types. Might I ask your name…?” “Palette Swap,” she held out a hoof, which I shook, “you needn’t tell me your name, Rick; I know all about you, you’re magic, your abilities, your personality; all of it.” Palette’s face was a deep crimson colour as she hid the lower half of her face with a hoof “Fangirl much..?” Blaze laughed as Palette Swap handed me several rolled up canvases, pecking my cheek as she did so; setting up the easel on the balcony, bringing a paint wheel from her saddlebags, winking at me as she began to paint, with her tail, rather than an actual brush… “That’s an interesting way of painting,” Blaze smirked at me, glancing toward Palette Swap with a grin. “I’ve always used my tail as a makeshift brush, as it’s easier than using my hoof or mouth with an actual brush,” Palette Swap smiled, “Eh, if you’ve got it, why not use it?” she shrugged. “Taken out of context, that’d sound rather awkward, Blaze,” I raised an eyebrow. “So it would,” Palette Swap nickered rather light-heartedly. After around an hour, her painting was more-or-less finished. “There we go,” Palette Swap exclaimed with joy, showing me the painting “What’s..?” I gestured toward what looked like a small eon in the centre of the portrait; that of which was a painted replica of the horizon, looking toward the horizon; I saw just that, a small eon, beaming at me with tears streaming down her face “Daddy!” the latias cheered, ramming headlong into me as Snowdrop landed gracefully on Celestia’s back “I missed you Daddy!” the eon exclaimed with glee, nuzzling into me as Crystal hovered beside me, “you as well Mommy!” “It’s grand to see you as well, Valkyrie,” I smiled, pecking the eon on the forehead as she climbed onto my back, placing her head upon my own, beaming as she did so, glancing toward her thereafter “how’ve you been?” “Ruby’s been looking after me and Flora ever since she was born, she’s like my aunty!” Valkyrie gleamed, “And Blue Bolt finally convinced Lyra to let me through the gateway, thus, bringing me here, to you..!” “And I’m glad for it,” Crystal and I smiled, “I’m not sure if I can go on without knowing whether or not my little Valkyrie’s safe… especially not for this long…” “I love you Daddy, you too Mommy,” Valkyrie giggled, hovering somewhat cosily between us, nuzzling into the both of us with a light hum. “And we love you, Val, and we always will,” Crystal simpered, draping a wing around the little demigod. “How long have you had her?” Twilight glowered at me. “I don’t see why you’re complaining about both it and me whilst asking me,” I scoffed. “Because I…” she glanced toward Crystal, then toward Valkyrie, who waved with a light grin, she waved back, turning and walking away. “You’ve quite a bit of history with her then?” Crystal frowned. “I’d rather not talk about it…” I avoided her gaze as best I could “It happened again didn’t it, what happened with your Ex I mean…?” she bit her lip, I nodded, “that little bitch-!” I quickly covered Valkyrie’s ears, she sighed with relief, “thanks.” “Don’t mention it,” I smirked. “So, what#’#re we gonna do about it?” she cracked her claws “About what?” I blinked. “Her,” she snapped, “Nobody gets to treat my little eon with that sort of crap twice and live.” “It happened, and I don’t care, because he who else is involved in this is, shall we say, Out of Commission’?” I grinned. “So, you were cheated on?” she snarled, eyes ablaze with only the greatest amounts of fury/rage, I nodded. Crystal almost teleported away with the speed she travelled, soaring down the corridor after the lavender mare. “She’s dead.” I laughed. “Explain,” Celestia’s eyes narrowed. “I wouldn’t fight Crystal, not only because she’s a lady, but because she’s stronger than I am or ever will be, be it in magic, physical strength or otherwise,” I grinned. “There’s no way…!” Rainbow Dash gaped. “You’d be surprised what she can do when she’s in the mood,” I rolled my eyes as the ground quaked, and I heard glass shatter along with what sounded to be a plasma-based weapon firing, “and that’s endgame.” -=- When we got to Crystal, she was panting for breath, beaming from ear to ear with a malevolent grin, wide eyes and blood-stained claws “Mommy..?” Valkyrie gasped; Crystal spun around; gazing at me with a worried look, “I hope I didn’t go overboard, my love…” she nuzzled into me, draping her arms around me, placing her lips on my own. “This is me you’re dealing with, there’s no such thing as ‘overkill,’” I winked as she let me go, Valkyrie once again climbing onto my back. “Where’s Twilight…?” Applejack glanced toward a nearby window, which was all-but shattered with blood leaking from the cracked edges… “You piss around with my family, and this is what happens,” Crystal gestured around the immediate area; I quickly covered Valkyrie’s ears again. “You murdered my student?” Celestia boomed. “You’re so-called ‘student’ just repeated what you did not three-hundred years ago,” Crystal bellowed at the top of her lungs, “so I guess it’s true what they say, if there’s something wrong with the bitch there’s going to be something wrong with the pup! I hope you’re fucking happy, Princess! Because of you, my little Eon has to suffer again!” “I didn’t think..!” Celestia began. “No shit, Sherlock!” Crystal blared “do you ponies ever think about someone other than yourselves, or is it just hot air and arrogance lodged in with that shit-pile in your skull you claim is a brain?” she continued, now completely irate, “and don’t think of trying to apologizing, the either of you, Rick’s been through enough without scum like you buggering his life up as is, and then you go and do all of that, who the fucking hell do you think you are!?” “Mommy…” Valkyrie whimpered. “What is it dear…?” Crystal’s mood changed from one of unadulterated anger to one of worry within an instant. “I’m scared…” Valkyrie shuddered. “Please, don’t be scared, I didn’t want to resort to yelling, truly, please forgive me…” =-= “Can you believe she wanted a foal with me?” I glanced toward Crystal as my family, friends and I walked/glided through the castle. “Who, Celestia,” Crystal glared icily toward me, I nodded, “So, she broke you and we-know-who up, and then tried to basically seduce you into a relationship?” “That’s one way of saying it, yes,” I nodded. “That little scum-ball’s harder to believe than a flying Dunsparce!” she growled. “So, first it was me who railed at her, then you,” Blaze grinned, “I wonder who’s next…” “Hopefully not me,” I mumbled, “Trust me, Brother; it’s better to get it out than to keep it in,” she smirked. “To each their own… I suppose,” I shrugged. “You could be scum of the earth and still be a better demigod than her,” Crystal pecked my cheek, nuzzling into my side as we journeyed home, “because you’ve a lot of things they don’t have, or can’t even so much as begin to comprehend, my little Eon.” she smiled, “You’ve got ambition, a heart, mind and soul, and you’ve got balls, both physically and figuratively,” she winked, “and you’ve got a will to continue even further than the point most people I used to know would’ve given up, quit, or otherwise. You’re a special eon, you’re my eon, Rick, and I intend to keep you until the end of our days, if you’ll have me, that is.” “Of course I will, my little Gem,” I smiled, pecking her on the lips, leaning into her side as Valkyrie hopped from my back to Crystal’s. “And can you believe that one of rick’s so-called ‘friends’ worships that little lavender mare like that of a god?” Blaze snarled. “No..!” Crystal gaped; I nodded; “It’s true, he compares Twilight, or at least, he worships her almost religiously as if she were born anew as the divine creator, and it’s up to my sister and I to prove him otherwise.” “How arrogant,” she spat “He’s a ‘normal’ human, what do you expect?” I used air quotes as I snorted, “If he were American I’d have to give him credit for his arrogance and stupidity, sadly, that isn’t the case…” “Don’t we know someone who can reset the entire digital world, and then bend it to their will?” Blaze smirked. “That we do, Blaze, old Omnimon-X, if I recall,” I grinned, “he who surveys all that he sees in the Digital World, keeping an ever-vigilant gaze over his subjects like a true king, not like any princess here, save Luna.” “And didn’t Natsu and Laxus each beat a ‘God-Slayer’ of their respective elements?” she gleamed. “So they did,” I nodded as we entered the dining hall, “Zancrow and Orga respectively… But you have to remember, Laxus, the Fairy Tail Guild’s local Lightning Dragon-Slayer, beat one of the ten wizard saints, Jura, to be exact, as well as Orga, almost simultaneously so.” “How many dragon slayers does the guild have?” Crystal and I took our places around the table as ponies began to filter into the room “There’s me, Natsu, Gajeel, Laxus, Wendy, Possibly Ilona and Winter Bell,” I shrugged as the Princesses and the other alicorns, save Twilight, teleported into the room beside Twilight’s friends, each of Twilights friends glaring at me beside Celestia “Define ‘Possibly,’” she raised an eyebrow “It depends on if Dragon-Slayer magic can be passed on genetically or not, if it can; the Guild’s going to have a field day,” I laughed. “So they are,” she giggled, “but they’re not the only ones, remember?” “Ah yes, we’ve also got you and Aero,” I chuckled, “how did I forget our wayward-eon friend?” “He’s you’re brother-in-law, you tell me,” she smirked, “on an unrelated note, what would it be like if you fought without holding back?” “Do you want all of Equestria to be reduced to mere molten ash?” I raised an eyebrow. “Touché,” she giggled, “so, what’s your latest ability with dragon slayer magic?” “Magma,” I deadpanned. Crystal whistled; “I’m guessing you got it via anger and emotion?” I nodded, “quite so.” -- “So, what’s this I hear about you giving someone a nosebleed?” Crystal patted my back with an ‘approving’ wing, pecking my cheek also. “You mean that twig I broke last year?” I scoffed “child’s play, really.” “That ‘twig’ probably got an embolism to what little brains he had left, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’d six-feet-under by now!” she chortled. “Probably, I mean, I’ve no idea how much reinforcement a being or a limb can get from using Haki, both in offence and defence,” I shrugged. “And we still haven’t figured out who ‘Paper Sky’ is, have we Brother?” Blaze gave an agitated sigh. “I don’t really care, I mean, what can a pony do to a dragon slayer, let alone a Dragon-God-Slayer?” I rolled my eyes. “Touché,” she laughed. “Oh yeah, Crystagia’s a Dragon-God,” she slowly nodded. “And a fool,” Celestia mumbled. “At least she, Edward and Lily are decent parents, I couldn’t really ask for better,” I snapped, “let me rephrase that, I could, but I don’t want to end up like you, selfish, pathetic, arrogant, and not to mention spineless.” “You don’t have an actual spine,” Rarity scowled. “I do, it’s just made of titanium polycarbonate-alloy,” I grinned. “Wastelands..?” Crystal bit her lip, I nodded, “Honestly Rick, what am I to do with you?” “I’ve a few ideas, but most of them aren’t even legal,” Blaze burst into a fit of laughter. “Why aren’t we surprised?” Crystal and I shared a laugh. “And thus returns me to our original conversation, with the whole ‘God-Worship’ thing,” Blaze smirked. “Being worshipped as a god does not make you a god, Blaze,” I gave a sly grin, “it’s a shame a certain few people I know don’t seem to understand that.” “Or if she can survive against you for anything more than five minutes with you using your Necromancer armour,” “Given what I could do with that armour, or rather, what I can do, I wouldn’t give her half a minute Dear Sister, let alone five,” I gently bumped my fist against her paw. “Or last in the wastes for anything longer than ten seconds flat without having a mental breakdown and/or aneurysm,” she winked. “I‘ll give it two –point two-recurring,” I beamed, “the place of which alters your morals on what might be considered ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ elsewhere, changes them in the favour for your own survival above all else.” “Thus exists the wastelands,” she hummed, “it’s a wonder we got out alive, let alone in one piece, and by ‘we,’ I mean ‘you.’” “I’ll take that one with a minute amount of Pride, Blaze,” I glimmered. “Careful Brother, you may end up like them,” she warned me with a light chortle. “That’s Autumn Heart you’re talking about as well as my family you know?” I frowned. “I wasn’t talking about any of them,” she held her paws defensively. “Fair enough,” I nodded… =-=-= It took a few years, but Twilight was eventually allowed freedom from the hospital, not that I was bothered by any of it, but I had better things to do, because in the meanwhile that she’d been hospitalized, I’d successfully recruited Winter Bell and Ilona into the ‘Fairy Tail’ guild; “So, we’ve a pony and an eon in the guild?” Grey blinked, standing beside Natsu and Erza; I nodded, “both of them are Dragon Slayers,” all eyes were now on Ilona and Winter Bell as they hovered beside me before the guild hall burst into cheering and laughter “So, which generation are you?” Erza glanced toward Ilona; “I’m a Fourth-Gen,” Ilona smiled, “I got my magic from neither a dragon nor a gem, but rather, inherently, as did Winter Bell.” “A new generation…”she smiled, “congratulations on joining the guild, Ilona.” “Thank you, Lady Erza,” Ilona quickly bowed. “I see you’ve your father’s mannerisms,” Erza laughed, “tell em, what element are you?” “I’m a combination of Light and fire, whereas my sister here is a hybrid of shadow and fire,” Ilona gestured to herself with a dainty claw, and then toward Winter Bell, who gleamed toward the ‘Wizard-In-Armour.’ “Light and fire; both at once…?” Makarov stood beside Erza and the others, “then we’re to assume that the Fourth-Gen, that of whom, gain their powers inherently, are able to possess more than a single element?” he glanced toward me. “So it would seem,” I draped a wing around both Winter Bell and Ilona, “but then, Natsu and I have ‘Lightning-Flame-Dragon Mode,’ and Gajeel has -Iron-Shadow-Dragon Mode,’ so maybe it’s not just them?” “An interesting point, Rick,” he smiled, “I’ll talk it over with the magic council, thank the great divine that we’ve still got a link to them, if only with thought-projection.” “So we have,” I grinned. -=-=- “You didn’t tell them about your new, magmatic abilities, Brother?” Blaze sat upon my head with a wide grin as I hovered with Crystal and Angel By my side and Valkyrie upon my back; Glancing behind me, I saw Natsu, Erza, Grey, Wendy and Lyra, the former of whom had Amber Note perched atop his head. “What does she mean?” Erza blinked. “I have new abilities with my dragon slayer magic,” I smiled, fists blazing, the fire of which liquefied, morphing into magma “And that’s not counting your ‘Third-Stage’ dragon slayer mode!” Blaze exclaimed with laughter. “You’ve another new form?” Grey smirked, “how many do you have?” “More than I’d care to count,” I rolled my eyes. “So, Season-4 ‘Finale;’ what’re your opinions?” Blaze patted my ear somewhat affectionately. “It’s just a huge cliché build-up with a Dragonball-Z-Esque ending, so what?” I shrugged, “I think it’s about time Hasbro did, or at least tried, something original, other than hanging from the ‘split-ends’ off other peoples work.” “And what of your character?” she flinched, biting her lip. “I’ve a whole and/or literal Eon of history in me, if they try to alter that, or try to use it for their own selfish gain, heads are gonna roll,” I scowled. “They’re going to anyway though, probably,” she gave a forlorn sigh. “I wonder if that little purple gecko that hangs around with Twilight has the attention of Rarity yet?” Crystal and Angel shared a giggle. “It’d be like breeding a bird with a fish, can you imagine the offspring?” I laughed. “I really didn’t need that mental image,” Crystal and Blaze shuddered, looking rather pale in the process. “Meh, it’s not like the two of them are together or anything, is it?” she blinked. “It’s not that important anyways,” I shrugged, “besides, the only fun we’re bound to have around here nowadays is the ever-increasing threat of war.” “ “What happened?” Grey raised an eyebrow. “Basically, there was a war between the dragons and the attacking gryphons, the surviving Gryphons want a war against me, as a Dragon Slayer, for being the one to literally decapitate their emperor,” I explained. (+)--===--(+) I stood on the border of the dragon’s home country, an army of irate Zebra’s and gryphons stood opposite me as I stood beside the princesses, Twilight, her friends, Spike, Faust and the others alongside my friends and family, Crystal, Angel, Ilona and Valkyrie included. “Not bad, we might actually have a challenge on our hands here Blaze,” I smirked, standing in Alphamon form with an invisible grin. “And should you get hurt, or worse, what then?” Autumn Heart stepped forward, leaning into me “My armour in this form is composed of Chrome-Digizoid, ain’t nothin gonna break it, let alone leave so, much as a scratch upon my being,” I fragilely ran my fingers through her mane, reverting to human form. “Long range, Blaze, or short range…?” I beamed almost sadistically. “How about both?” she grinned. “Fair do’s,” I grinned, in haling copious amounts of air, corking both thumbs, exhaling into them, flying into the air, launching myself toward the now-approaching army, focusing ridiculous amounts of Spiral energy into my arms, that of which began titanic drills, launching them forward with Gatling-Like punches, all but decimating the army, both land-and-air-based. -=-=-=- “How did you do that?” Twilight gaped, awing at me. “A combination of my rubber physiology and Magic-turned-Spiral Energy,” I grinned, “maybe now a friend of mine will stop comparing a certain character to a god.” “Rick, why’re you… Y’know?” Crystal gestured to my now-shrunken form. “Don’t ask, please,” I mumbled, my size suddenly exploding as my form returned to normal. “Well, that was short-lived,” Blaze laughed. So it was,” I rolled my eyes, turning to the mildly uninhabited battlefield, now with only a few, wounded survivors. “So, are you gonna do it?” Angel nodded toward the few survivors who were huddled together, awing at me in quite visible horror, “Are you going to prove to them that you’re a monster?” “And give a few ponies what they want?” I spat, “why should I lower myself to do such a thing?” I clenched my fists, “no, they may live to see another day, if only to tell their descendants of their failure.” “Giga-Drill-Gatling, then,” Blaze smirked, leaping to the floor, changing to her Typhlosion form mid-jump, allowing Honey Heart, Snowdrop and Winter Bell to perch themselves upon my head and shoulders respectively. “So it’d seem….” (==)-(+)-(==) When I/we got back, there was a large party that been set up at an unknown time, complete with a crowd -that of which was no-doubt composed of everyone in Ponyville, that of which I ignore, instead, however I opted to unlock the front door of the house, walk into the landing/porch, hang my jacket up on the rack, and then proceed into the music room, bring out my violin with Grace retrieving her cello, and the two of us played in silence… =-=-= “Rick?” I looked up toward the doorway; Autumn Heart was stood beside Twilight and Crystal, who kept frowning at the lavender mare with an icy glare. “Can I help you, Autumn Heart?” I gave a faint grin. “You seem troubled,” Was all she said. “More-or-less obliterating two countries’ armies at once will do that for an eon,” I mumbled, “they wanted war, so that’s what I gave them, and now they’ve little in the ways of defence, let alone retaliation, should something or someone choose to attack either of them.” “You’ve been played,” Crystal scowled. “Damn…” Blaze mumbled. “Rick,” Twilight stepped forward, Crystal scowled at her as she placed a gentle hoof on my leg, “I just wanted to say, I’m sorry for anything I might’ve done to upset you, and I didn’t know that being with him would cause you to act so drastically, can you ever forgive me?” “I don’t know,” I bit my lip, “give it a few days, Sparky…” “Ok,” she nodded, then turned and removed herself forthwith from the premises, I quickly followed, Autumn Heart and crystal venturing beside me as I stood on the front lawn, Twilight and her friends standing between myself and the large crowd, Princesses, alicorns, Firefly and Co. Included. “So, what other armours do you have?” Crystal nudged my arm with a fragile hand. “Paladin, Death-knight, Technomancer, Dragon-Lord, Dragon-Knight, and Shadow armour, among others,” I gave a light/short hum, sitting on the front porch, draping my wings around Snowdrop and the others as they nuzzled into me. “Paladin,” she smirked. “It’s not what you think, believe me,” I mumbled with a light frown. “So, no robes, just cold, hard steel?” she grinned. “Essentially,” I shrugged. “So, why is one of your ‘Next-of-Kin,’ so to speak, a bat-pony?” she nodded toward Gracy Gloom. “The correct term is Thestral, Crystal,” I rolled my eyes, gently running my hand through the bat-pony’s mane, “Calling them a ‘Bat-Pony,’ counts as borderline-racism, my little Gem.” “How’d you figure that out?” she beamed with a sly grin. “My magical ability of being a carbon/water/oxygen based life-form that nobody ever listens to?” I tilted my head. “We listen to you Daddy,” Snowdrop, Gracy Gloom, Scootaloo, Winter Bell and Honey Herat chimed in angelic unison. “As do I,” Crystal folded her arms, smirking. “Alright, in was having a joke, but if you want to be pedantic about it, no ice cream for a week,” I “smiled. “What..?” the five fillies gasped, staring at me in a mix of horror and frustration, “please don’t do that Daddy!” Honey Heart gave me her best ‘Puppy-Dog’ eyes. “What do we say when we want something?” I raised an eyebrow. “Please may we have some ice cream?” the five foals sat in an arc around me, smiling with apparent wonder. “I trust you’ll know where to find it?” I simpered; all five of them hurried into the kitchen, Autumn Heart quickly followed them. “You spoil them, you know that?” Blaze grinned. “Considering you two are now Aunts, I can accept that,” I laughed. “I can accept being an Aunt,” Crystal smiled as Ilona and Valkyrie landed either side of me, leaning into me, “besides; I’m a mother of two-and/or-seven, as you are a father of the same beings, Rick, you are my little Eon, after all…” “By the way,” she glanced to the area beside me on the front lawn, “what’s with the boxes?” “Mementos, so to speak,” I tilted my head, if only a little. “Rick, they’re cards, sure they may have sentimental value, but anything else?” Blazed shrugged “Says you,” I frowned. “So, how do you play?” Crystal opened one of the boxes as I moved, standing beside her and Blaze. “I could probably teach you if you wanted,” I smiled. “That’d be nice,” she winked, pecking my cheek. -=- “So, how many cards do you think you have, in total?” the scarlet/snow-white eon leant into me as I sat on the front lawn with the laptop, Snowdrop and the others sat beside me, each eating a half-melted bowl of ice cream. “Well, it’s all worth at least a few-hundred quid anyways,” I tutted, “there’s an average of five-to-nine cards per back, depending on release date, so that, multiplied by the amount of packs in each box…” “And even further multiplied by the amount of boxes,” she stared at me; then glanced toward the boxes, “that’s a lot of cards, how did you say you got these again?” “I found the boxes in the basement,” I smiled, “unpacked a few cards, which’re now in my room.” “A few?” she grinned, “Just a few packs, no more and no less,” “So, what decks do the two of you specialize in?” she giggled. “I deal with dragons, Blaze handles the fire-attributes, mostly Pyro’s,” I smirked. “That grin of yours tells me that you’ve gone and done something insane,” she laughed. “Twilight watched us play a few games, and thus, became curious as to what it was that we were doing, and in the end, I taught her the game, and she got a spellcaster deck,” I rolled my eyes. “But Brother knows a few OTK’s, so it’s even,” Blaze gleamed. “‘OTK’..?” Crystal raised a smug eyebrow. “One-turn-kill,” I began “it’s usually for those who have somewhat specialized decks who don’t want the game to go on forever.” “So, am I to take this as an apology?” I glanced toward where Twilight and her friends were stood; Celestia was positioned at the front, holding a card with a long letter hovering beside it in her magic, eyebrow raised toward me. “You had to choose that card for such an apology?” Blaze stared at me, beaming from ear to ear. “I don’t see anyone else complaining,” I shrugged, glancing toward the icy-blue filly sat beside me; “Thank you for delivering that, Snowdrop.” “You’re welcome Daddy,” Snowdrop giggled. “I am to be compared to that of an angel then, Rick?” Celestia smiled, sitting opposite Crystal, changing to her anthro form “Go on Brother; do it,” Blaze grinned. “I may’ve said that I’ve found a piece of heaven in you Cellsy, now I guess we’ve managed to prove it,” I draped a wing around the solar goddess. “And I’ve found my Herald, Knight and Guardian,” she cooed, placing her head on my shoulder, leaning into me. “So, what else have we missed out on?” Angel smiled. “Well, Luna went overkill and gave Rick a strip-tease, so there’s one thing,” Blaze shrugged. “She did what!?” Crystal gawked at me, wide-eyed and slack-jawed. “I dread to think what else she was planning to do…” Blaze mumbled. “As do I,” Crystal smirked, “How do you do it?” “Do what?” I blinked. “Never mind…” she laughed. “So, who else have you sent one of those cards to?” “How about forty,” I grinned, “‘Majestic star Dragon,’ Shooting Star dragon, and one Stardust Dragon along with a Majestic Dragon and the rest of the star-based deck.” “You gave Luna a Stardust deck?” Blaze gaped. “Alongside the strongest card from said deck,” I rolled a hand, grinning from ear to ear. “You gave her a shooting Quasar Dragon?” her jaw hit the grass-laden earth, “are you insane!?” “I think we already established that two-centuries ago, Blaze,” I laughed. “I don’t get it, what’s the big deal?” Crystal blinked. “Shooting Quasar Dragon is one of the five strongest synchro monsters in the game, alongside Malefic paradox dragon, Odin; Father of the Aesir, T.G. Halberd Cannon, and Red Nova Dragon,” Blaze exclaimed with a scowled, almost glaring at me. “I think you’ll find that there’re much stronger cards in the game, Blaze,” I beamed. “Like what?” she almost-snapped. “The Five-Head Dragon, the wicked gods, the Egyptian gods, the Tyrant Neptune, Gandora, Heart-Earth, Heart Earth Dragon, Heart earth-Chaos dragon, No-Ci-1000, the sacred beats, Rainbow Dragon, Rainbow Dark Dragon, Rainbow Neos, Divine Neos, Chimera-tech over-dragon, Yubel, and all the others that I’m not going to bother mentioning,” I lectured. “And you’ve got all of those?” she frowned. “Not yet, but here’s hoping anyway,” I chortled. “Rick, the names you just mentioned are that of some of the rarest cards in the game, how in the heck do you hope to get one from the supply we have?” she raised a smug eyebrow. -==- “You called me here for something?” Celestia stood with me on the balcony, alone… “I…” I bit my lip, mumbling almost incoherently, “I wanted….” I quickly shook my head, draping my wings and arms around her, embracing her tightly, “I wanted to apologize…” “Don’t feel sorry, Rick,” Celestia changed to her anthro form, placing her hands on my shoulders, placing me before her, smiling, “I was wrong to take advantage of you whilst you were still redeveloping all those years ago, and as such, it should be me apologizing, and again for Paper Sky,” she added, pecking my cheek. “I’ve had a word or two with Paper Sky, and he understands, heartbroken as he is, he’ll not deny either of us the chance of love.” Celestia beamed. “So, it is my turn to ask something of you, young eon.” “Ask away, Princess, I bowed before the solar alicorn. “Will you allow me to coronate you as king?” she levitated me onto my feet; “for all that you’ve endured, for all that you’ve had to have sacrificed, I’d like the chance for Equestria to be put back to its rightful place. “With all due respect, I’ve a family to look after, being a ruler’s only going to put pressure on that, Taiyo Fujin,” I quickly bowed, again, “I’ll be a prince, but no more than that,” “I’ll agree, but only on one condition,” she smirked. “By all means, Lady Celestia,” I nodded, gleaming. “You get to be a prince, but you have to go through what nopony else has,” she grinned, magicking a ball-gag, length of rope and a large vibrator into the room. “Oh hell no…” I grumbled. “I didn’t say they were for me….” =--= “So, have fun?” Blaze smirked as I stood in what appeared to be a gymnasium. “Eh, I can’t complain,” I shrugged as I jabbed at the punching back, leaning in and elbowing the equipment with a Haki-Armoured arm. “How long are we to remain here?” she grinned “Not much longer, Blaze,” I beamed, initiating ‘Dragon Force,’ rearing back an arm and sending the punching bag flying into the far wall, causing an eruption of sand to burst forth from the leather apparatus. “So, about that twig,” Crystal gave a sly grin as we walked with Twilight and her friends to the throne room, eventually winding in the great chamber alongside my friends and family, “how’d you do it?” “Well, it didn’t take that much effort, if any at all,” I hummed, “A bit of defence-based Haki here, a few roundhouse kicks to the jaw there, it’s just a fight, nothing more and nothing less.” “Brother,” Blaze pointed to my hands, looking toward them, I noticed that they were bleeding slightly, “Eh, compared to what I have been through, this isn’t much,” I shrugged, “ “So it is, but still, you should at least do something about it,” she leapt onto my shoulder. “Nah,” I laughed, “let the air get to it so it’ll scab, and eventually heal.” “Well, I suppose there is the part where you didn’t use ‘Gear Second’ against that measly human, so there’s always that,” she chortled. “Blaze, I don’t think the head of the college would appreciate it all that much if I were to coat the walls with his entrails,” I guffawed, “oh well, food for thought.” “You sound like a mass murderer talking like that,” Crystal giggled with a light grin. “And here I was hoping to be different from the rest of humanity,” I rolled my eyes. “You are, you’ve got the DNA of almost every sentient species in the universe implanted into you, remember?” she gave my shoulder a light jab, “you’ll always be my little eon, Rick, never forget that.” “I prefer the term’ ‘Biomechanical Entity,’” I grinned; “besides, if I needed to dispose of said trash, I could always use the Hawk Rifle.” “So you could,” Celestia raised an eyebrow, sat upon her throne in her anthro form, complete with her gala dress “is there a reason why you’re wounded?” “Practice,” I winked. “So I see,” she nickered, “And what brings you to my castle this time?” “I’m here to surrender my title, both as a possible ‘Prince,’ and that of a knight…” I declared with a light frown “…to Equestria.” “What do you wish to happen then?” she giggled. “I’d like to be a Knight, but not just to Equestria,” I began “I’d also like to be knighted in your honour, and that of the other goddesses of Equis, and Crystagia also,” I added, biting my lip, “and for my title as a prince to be redacted, Your Majesty.” “Then so be it,” she beamed, “from this day on you shall be a knight of Equestria and all the gods of Equis, to serve and fight in their honour, and mine.” “Thank you, your majesty,” I quickly bowed. She stood up from her throne, walking toward me with a smile, standing before me, “change to your eon form,” she glimmered, I did just that, changing to my eon form as Blaze leapt safely to the floor, she climbed onto my back, “now, I don’t suppose you’d mind me riding you like this?” “Not at all, your majesty,” I smiled, flying from the throne room to her room, lowering myself to the floor once inside, “You may leave, Sir Rick, or you may stay, I could always use your company,” she patted the spot beside her as she sat on the bed. I quickly lay in an arc around her on the bed, “There’s a good eon, my little Sunshine,” she gently scratched me behind the ears, which I leant into, “tell me; would you like to stay the night?” “With all due respect Princess, I’ve a family to look after,” I flinched a little. “Don’t worry, I won’t keep you here long, she smiled, gesturing for me to sit up, I did, our eyes locking, her Pinkish-Magenta eyes meeting my dark/poison green ones, “ so, what do you wish to do now?” “What do you wish to happen, your majesty?” I smiled ever-so faintly “Always the charmer,” she giggled, pecking the tip of my nose, winking at me afterward, “there’s many a mare in Equestria who’d want to have a stallion like you, Rick, I hope you realize that.” “Why have them when I have Autumn Heart?” I tilted my head, “and of course that’s not counting Littlepip, Velvet Remedy and Blackjack, your majesty.” “Please, call me Celestia,” she draped a wing around gently scratching under my chin; I collapsed, falling to her side with a dreamy expression, “it appears that we’ve found a weak point, my little Eon.” “As you say, Celestia,” I simpered. “So, what happened?” Crystal hovered beside me with a sly grin. “Nothing important, my little gem” I raised an eyebrow. “Says you…!” she laughed quietly “Quite so,” I smirked as we hovered outside Celestia’s bedroom window, guitar in-hand. -=-=- “You did it again?” Twilight blinked. “And why not?” I smiled, “I love her, and would do anything for her, so why not?” “You woke her with a love song,” Blaze raised an eyebrow, “not for the first time either, might I add?” “You did what now?” Natsu, Erza, Grey and Wendy glanced toward me, everyone, sans Wendy, grinning with a sly smirk “Don’t judge me,” I grinned. “I wasn’t going to,” Erza smiled, “which song was it anyway? Was it ‘Your Guardian Angel;’ or something else?” “No, that’s the one,” I beamed, just as Snowdrop leapt onto my head, pecking one of my horns, nuzzling into me. “I love you Daddy,” Snowdrop giggled, moving to my shoulder, leaning into me, “can you sing my song?” “You cannot see but your heart is pure I know you feel trapped In a dark world Some brush you off and call you weak but your name is snowdrop and one day they'll see If you hold fast and stand strong you'll discover who you are If you listen to the world at night you can hear the twinkling stars If you use love to guide your heart you are bound to go far You have the power to change the world being uniquely who you are If you hold fast and stand strong you'll discover who you are If you listen to the world at night you can hear the twinkling stars If you use love to guide your heart you are bound to go far You have the power to change the world being uniquely who you are If you hold fast and stand strong you'll discover who you are If you listen to the world at night you can hear the twinkling stars If you use love to guide your heart you are bound to go far You have the power to change the world being uniquely who you are…” I sang as softly as I could,, sitting cross-legged and draping a wing around her as she sat in my lap, nuzzling into me. “Don’t forget about us,” Scootaloo and the others chimed, as Winter Bell and Gracy Gloom perched themselves on either shoulder, Honey Heart of course choosing to lie upon my head, whereas Scootaloo sat beside Snowdrop in my lap. “I see that you’ve not heeded my warnings then?” Buckshot appeared via teleportation at the at the entrance to the castle. “Persistent little bugger, aren’t you?” I scowled. “So I am, but, I only ask that you take my advice and stop what it is that you’re doing,” he frowned. In an almighty explosion of raw power, I burst aflame, enveloped in Whitish-Golden fire, also setting Snowdrop and the others alight in the process “You would dare threaten my family, my home, and all of whom reside in it?” I boomed, noticing that neither Snowdrop nor Scootaloo were in pain, nor were the others, for that matter, my eyes ablaze with a blinding white light to the point where they stung, a magic circle appearing between us and buckshot, one of golden colouration with several assortments of intricate incantations appearing around it as I stood upright, my family hovering by my side in an arc, eyes also ablaze with shining radiance “Kami Metsuryū Ogi, Shiranui Gata; Hogo-sha Ryū no Hōkō!” I bellowed, inhaling and firing a vast amount of golden flames, Snowdrop, Scootaloo, Winter Bell, Gracy Gloom and Honey Heart and the others quickly following suit, firing Cyan, Orange, Navy-Blue, Mild-Greyish, and pitch-black flames respectively into the circle, which was then amplified as it passed through, each breath of fire spiralling around the next with my own roar in the centre, returning the unicorn in question into dust, if even that… “You created a new spell…” Twilight gasped, “How did you do that?” “Well,” I began, glancing to each of my ‘Next-of-Kin,’ who‘d become alicorns at the use of the new spell, “I’m not entirely sure…” “You sent forth magic that is on the level with at least three ponies of my magical calibre, even if I weren’t holding back,” Celestia raised an eyebrow, “what kind of magic was that?” “Dragon Slayer magic,” Crystagia landed before us, lying in an arc in front of me, “albeit, highly advanced Dragon-Slayer magic,” she added, beaming, “Rick, I’m not surprised you had it in you, nor your family, to use that type of spell, the spell in question is one of the first, most intricate spells ever created, by both dragons and their students.” “Oh, that reminds me,” I glanced toward Natsu, who, alongside Erza, Grey and Wendy, were awing at me, “I met Igneel.” “You met him?” Natsu went wide eyed as he spoke, “you met Igneel?” “Yep,” Blaze grinned,” didn’t say where he was going when he left though.” “That’s a shame,” he sighed, “oh well; at least I’ve something to do for the next few years.” “I really don’t think Lyra’s going to allow you go on a random-goose chase for a dragon, Natsu,” I rolled my eyes. “I can sneak out then?” he gleamed. “I don’t think that’d be any better than abandoning her, you got yourself into that relationship, and you’re going to live with it, Pyro,” I frowned. “Damn it…” he mumbled. “So, how high, on uh scale o’ one ta ten, was that spell they just used?” Applejack glanced toward the divine Gem-Dragon-Empress. “Around twenty,” Crystagia softly laughed, “and in using it, his ‘Next-of-Kin’ have also become Dragon-Slayers themselves. “Celestia said that you, Igneel and the others were seen, or could be classed as- gods, is that true?” I tilted my head ever-so slightly as Snowdrop landed between my horns. “That depends on what you want to believe, Rick,” she smiled, “but I suppose, if you want to see us as gods, then we can be just that.” “That also reminds me,” I glanced toward Celestia, “seeing as I was created, was it done with a ‘Dragon Soul,’ if so, do I have two?” “You were made with a ‘Dragon Soul,’ but i remain clueless about whether it has remained in your being or not, Sir Rick,” Celestia smiled also. “Wait,” Blaze began, “you’ve got the DNA of almost every sentient being in existence right, what if one of those beings was a Necromancer? It’d explain your ability to bring Snowdrop back.” “You know what, this is the first time I’ve actually thought about it,” I blinked “nice work Blaze.” “Arigato,” she winked, “So, what happens next, now that the slug’s gone? By the way, you’re using ‘Dragon Force.’” I glanced down at myself, and sure enough there was a scale-like design covering by arms, hands and wrists, “So I am, Blaze, so I am,” I sighed, releasing the spell, my body returning to normal as I did so. “And in doing so,” Crystagia smiled “you’ve made your ‘Next-of-Kin demigods, just as you are, I hope you realise what you’ve just done, Crystal Dragon Slayer.” “We’re demigods now?” Scootaloo gasped, “Awesome!” “The six Elements of Nature,” the large dragon beamed with a weak smile, “just as there are six Elements of Harmony, now there‘re six of each.” She continued with a faint grin,” Rick, Scootaloo, Snowdrop, Honey Heart, Gracy Gloom, Winter Bell, I hereby knight you as the Warriors of Grandoa, and the latter five as the newest Elements of Nature.” “Uh, Brother, you may want to take a good look of yourself,” Blaze mumbled. Looking down at myself, I noticed that the scales had returned, glancing backward revealed four, feathery Whitish-Golden dragon-like wings, raising my hands also revealed my being covered in golden flames. “A new form of ‘Dragon Force…’” Crystagia gave a light hum, “Use it wisely.” “So I will,” I quickly bowed. “So that’s you, Natsu, Laxus, Gajeel, Wendy, Honey Heart, Snowdrop, Scootaloo, Gracy Gloom Winter Bell, and Ilona,” Blaze smirked, “did I miss anyone out?” “Crystal?” I shrugged. “And Crystal, so that makes twelve Dragon Slayers in the guild,” she chortled “and here I thought we couldn’t get any crazier!” “Oh it can always get weirder Blaze, particularly if people like me are involved,” I grinned. “So you say,” she rolled her eyes as Snowdrop perched herself atop my head, And Honey Heart and Winter Bell sat on either shoulder, “but there’s one thing I don’t get, and it might as well be said now rather than later, Brother.” “What is it?” I simpered. “You’ve been holding back all this time, haven’t you?” she frowned, “I still remember when Crystagia placed that magical seal on your being, stopping most of your power from surfacing unnecessarily, Rick, so, how about we remove it?” “I’d rather not risk any further damage to the nearby area, Blaze,” I exhaled sharply. “It can’t be that bad right?” Rainbow Dash gleamed. -=- “So, you want me to go back to your world, beat a Sombra-infused-Tirek, and then pardon your being?” I frowned at the other-world’s Discord; “let’s get this over with then…” “So,” Blaze began, “where’s the monster?” “Currently taking residence in the old castle in the Everfree, or what’s left of it” the other-world’s Celestia glared at me with a cold-hearted gaze. “So, whose magic has he stolen thus far?” I tilted my head ever-so slightly. “Everypony’s but ours,” Cadance hummed “how do you plan to defeat him?” “I’m gonna try decapitation, see if that works,” I grinned, drawing the Daybreaker, “why hasn’t he taken your magic?” “He must feel that we’re too weak to defend ourselves for long against his means of offense, which is mostly true” Celestia bit her lip. “So it’s a fight between a supposed-Demigod with the power of a Dragon-God against a technical ‘Centaur-Demon,’ sounds like a bad anime storyline,” Blaze laughed. “Shit happens, pardon my language,” I smirked. “So it does,” she rolled her eyes as I sheathed the Daybreaker. “So, how else do to plan to defeat Tirek?” I burst into Whitish Golden flames; “Fair do’s, Brother.” “If all else fails I have a missile-launcher in my inventory,” I shrugged. “I’m not even going to ask…” Celestia mumbled. “And if that should fail?” the new-world’s Luna blinked. “Kami Metsuryū Ogi, Shiranui Gata; Hogo-sha Ryū no Hōkō,” I gleamed. “Ah of course, your new megaspell.” She beamed. “You know a megaspell?” The new-world’s Twilight blinked alongside her friends, Spike included. “Never doubt a Dragon-Slayer,” I winked. =-=-=-= “Well, that was fun,” I clicked my neck and shoulders, having beaten the demonic fusion of shadow and demon. “You beat him, and so easily too, how did you do it?” Cadance gaped, staring at me in quite apparent awe/horror. “Metsuryū Ogi, Shiranui Gata; Tsuki Hōseki Ryū Gurren Bakuhoshijin,” I beamed. “An attack that’s not been used in just over forty years,” Blaze gave a slow nod. “Which translated into Equestrian; means what exactly?” Cadance tilted her head. “Dragon-Slayer Secret Arts, Lunar Gem Dragon Exploding Star Sabre,” I grinned. “Are you serious?” Blaze raised an eyebrow. I shrugged; “Why not?” “You’re at it again, aren’t you brother?” she smirked with a sly grin. “Why do you now have scales?” Celestia smiled. “‘Dragon Force,’” I began, “the supposed, ultimate, final form of Dragon Slayer magic, the power of which is said to be comparable to that of an actual Dragon, thus, the user gains the power of a dragon, the power to utterly destroy everything.” “Or in your case, Brother, the power of a Dragon-God,” Blaze winked. “So it would seem,” I clicked my tongue, “Besides, it was a demigod with the power of a Dragon-God and a supposed ‘Demon’ who looked suspiciously like 'Berial' from ‘Devil May Cry 4.’” “You know what, I’ve just noticed that,” she laughed. “Either way, it’s a shame we didn’t get to use the megaspell,” Snowdrop chimed from atop my head, pecking one of my horns. “So it is,” I smiled. “Shall you be leaving then?” Celestia simpered. “Well I’ve a family to go home to, so it’s going to have to be soon,” I raised an eyebrow “why do you ask?” “Curiosity, besides, we need heroes like you more often, not counting the Elements of Harmony,” she beamed. “I don’t like where this is going,” Blaze frowned. “Of course, you wouldn’t,” I laughed “always the same, eh Blaze?” “You can talk, Brother,” she grinned. “Yes, yes I can,” I glimmered. “So, this family, do you think I could join?” Celesta gave a faint grin. “Not unless you can clone yourself,” I winked, so that’s what she did, her horn shining with a radiant primrose glow, and then there stood two of her… “Is there a reason as to why there’re two Celestia’s?” Shining Armour blinked at the dinner table, all eyes were on me as silence filled the room on a sub-par ambient level. “I don’t see anyone else complaining,” I shrugged. “So you don’t” he smirked, “just a quick question, how are we to tell them apart?” “Cellsy, if you would?” I quickly bowed; Cellsy nodded, changing to her anthro form, winking at me afterward, “is this form to your pleasing, my little Sunshine?” There was a loud clatter of bowls, plates and cutlery as my head landed on the table “Fuck my life…” “I don’t know about her life, but I bet the two solar goddesses could sort you out, eh Brother?” Blaze patted my back with a smug grin, I shot her a glare, “what? For all we know it might be able to happen.” “What am I to do with you, Blaze, honestly?” I rolled my eyes, sitting upright. “I’ve a few ideas, most of which are seldom legal,” she chimed. “As is normal with you, Blaze,” I slowly shook my head. “So it is, Brother, so it is,” she laughed. “Just as crazy with you around, eh?” “You know me,” I grinned, “saviour of the Twilight Daedra, herald of the light, guardian of the sacred star, and protector of Equestria and all her inhabitants…” “Sacred Star,” Shining Armour blinked. “Azura’s star, that of which I gave to Twilight,” I glanced toward the lavender unicorn, who winked in return. “A priceless artefact in itself, Brother, I still question whether it was wise to give a gift of the Daedra to a mere pony,” Blaze frowned lightly, “that being said, unless Azura is present, it remains harmless to all but the wielder, only then does it serve its purpose.” “Cryptic,” I tutted, “how typical of a dark demigod to place such a riddle on one of their artefacts,” “And on a completely unrelated note,” she beamed, “what’s it like, you being a virtue of the wastelands and all.” “Virtue,” Twilight blinked, “Blackjack represents Perseverance, Littlepip represents Sacrifice, Puppysmiles represented Innocence, Murky-Number-seven represented Hope, and Silver Storm represented Compassion,” I explained with a light frown. “And what do you represent?” Cellsy smiled. “I’ve an idea,” Blaze smirked, “Faith.” “That’s correct,” I smiled, “we six virtues stand guard over all that occurs in the wastes, or at least, we used to…” “Puppysmiles, you mean that filly on the statue you made with the spacesuit?” Rarity gasped. “She’s the one,” I nodded, “and it wasn’t a spacesuit, Rarity, it was a MK-VI radiation suit, and was the only thing keeping her alive, both literally and figuratively.” “But she’s just a filly!” she shrieked. “That ‘Filly’ had the most powerful ability I’ve seen in all three-and-a-half centuries of living, Rarity,” I scowled, “it wasn’t one that came from being intelligent, nor smart, nor fast, nor brave, it wasn’t the ability to nuke a whole country from orbit right off the face of Equis, nor was it the ability to carve a whole army like Canadian bacon, it was the ability to make an ally out of basically anyone, and, if used correctly, can make quite the difference.” I lectured. “But that’s impossible!” she argued, almost glaringly so. “There is nothing impossible to he who will try,” I winked. “So, if she’s alive in this Equis, we’ve saved her life, and that of her mother’s,” Blaze held out a clenched paw, which I lightly bumped my fist against; “what with destroying those falling megaspells and everything…” “Either that or it’s already happened in an alternate timeline,” I shrugged. “And you don’t mind that you could be saving them?” Twilight frowned. “I promised that I wouldn’t leave,” I snapped, “besides, I’m not that of a god, I can’t do everything, nor can I save everyone I want to, best let nature run its course.” “But that wasn’t nature that bought those nukes down on Canterlot, was it Brother?” Blaze raised an eyebrow “No, but it is tha nature of those who would dare use such weapons to bring about the end of Equestria,” I sighed, “I guess it’s just something we have to accept, Blaze.” “But still, I can’t help but feel uneasy not helping those who might need it,” she frowned. “I’m an Element of Nature, not Reality Dear Sister,” I rolled my eyes, “besides, I’m not the creator of the universe…” “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” she grinned. “You’re thinking of asking Lulania, aren’t you?” “Maybe~” she cooed, “I don’t know why, don’t you do it?” “Why me..? It’s your idea,” I gave a bemused stare. “You’re her Ex-boyfriend, aren’t you?” she shrugged. “I hope you’re using emphasis on the ‘EX’ part, Sister,” I scowled. “Why?” she blinked, “Can’t you try again? I mean, it’s not like it’ll happen again, right?” “Speaking of the wastes,” Blackjack chimed in, nudging my shoulder with a smug grin, “I’ll bet you fifty caps there ain’t a raider in the wastes who hasn’t been used as gecko good by now.” “Probably,” I laughed. “Gecko food..?” Twilight giggled, “What does that mean?” “Just imagine a bipedal reptile with scarlet scales with dark/blood-red markings and golden eyes, or at least six of them, all similar to me in height, with the ability to breathe fire, all tearing a Raider limb from limb, literally,” I grinned. “They’re dragons?” she blinked, again. “Nope, just fully-grown-and-mutated gecko’s and I do mean gecko’s,” I smirked. “I don’t think I want to know…” she mumbled. “Meh, if the long-range fire-based attacks don’t kill a raider the bacteria from the saliva rotting their blood-stream certainly will,” I hummed. “That’s disgusting,” Rarity scoffed, “although I wonder how it works…” “It’s a type of toxin that, once gets onto the blood, acts as a poison, infecting the cells and such, I’d imagine it to be somewhat agonizing myself,” I simpered. “Just imagine, around seventy-sixty-five million years back, there were even larger reptiles that did the same thing!” Blaze laughed. “Actually Blaze, I don’t think there were,” I stated somewhat coldly “think about it, if we humans were returned to earth all those ages ago, why’re there skeletons that date back to around sixty-five-million years ago, and not anything older than a billion?” “Maybe you lot were put into either a time-lock, or cryogenic sleep?” she shrugged. “Either that or the whole ‘Fossilized-Dinosaur-Skeletons’ thing is just a joke of God’s own devising that the palaeontologists haven’t worked out yet,” I smirked. “But what of anyone who has a half-decent religion, if only in their own minds and opinions?” she chortled. “Well, if they have a religion, and they believe in a god, chances are they’ll actually be blathering about their memories of a certain solar Princess, save for those who don’t believe in a god, but still have religion,” I blinked. “Explain,” Celestia and Cellsy shared a light giggle “You are gods, aren’t you?” I blinked. “I think we’ve just worked out all –if not most of, religion,” Blaze guffawed “The UNSC,’s gonna have my guts on a silver platter for that Y’know?” I laughed. “So they are, but I don’t think they’d outright murder anyone who’s above the rank of at least Captain,” she roared with laughter “Definitely not a General though!” “Just another day in the life of a wayward Eon, eh Rick..?” Blackjack nickered, “So it is Blackie, so it is,” I exhaled somewhat sharply. “You’re a General?” Celestia raised an eyebrow. “And a legate, but that’s another story for another time,” I winked. “A legate, as in; that of a medieval army…?” she stared at me. I raised an eyebrow, “Medieval?” “From the days of old,” Cellsy smiled, “from ancient times, basically.” “I wouldn’t call it ancient, but it may as well be medieval,” Blaze smiled, reverting to her Quilava form as she landed on my shoulder “it is Skyrim, after all…” “Skyrim..?” Celestia blinked, “where is that I don’t think I’ve found it on any map that I’ve read?” “It’s on another world; that of which is called Nirn, and is abundant with a plant known as Nirnroot,” Blaze began. “There‘re several races upon Nirn, or, to be specific, Tamriel, there’re the ‘normal’ human beings, like the Nord’s, Bretons, and Imperials; the likes of which originate from Skyrim, High Rock and Cyrodiil respectively, and let’s not start on the elves, Khakiit and Argonians.” Blaze lectured. “And you call me a wise-ass?” I raised a smug eyebrow,” “I read, you don’t,” she argued with a grin, “besides, someone had to say it, right Brother?” “You’re her Brother?” Celestia blinked, again. “My parents were ‘killed’ by poachers,’” Blaze spat, glowering toward Cellsy using air-quotes when necessary. “Yeah, ‘Poachers,’” I rolled my eyes, “Faust wants to piss around with my family again she’s gonna find out how efficient I am with a crossbow…” “And what of your Chivalry..?” Blaze smirked. “Like I said, whosoever threatens or slights my family, one way or another, I don’t care who or what, chances are they’re going to end up worse for it,” I snapped. “So you did, Brother, so you did,” she laughed. “You have a crossbow?” Shining Armour frowned, cocking an eyebrow as I retrieved said weapon from my inventory. “Needed it for the Dawnguard,” I beamed “bloody pests…” “Those ‘Pests’ just so happened to be vampires, Brother, besides, I don’t see you complaining about a certain member of a certain clan of said species…” Blaze grinned. “They’re still technically human, Dear Sister,” I frowned. “So they are,” she laughed, “but what’re you to do if even one of them ends up here, by any means that may-or-may-not be necessary?” “That’d be a puzzle-and-a-half, now wouldn’t it?” I tutted, “you always did have a knack for riddles, Blaze, and I still haven’t learnt why?” “Because I use my brain for proper uses, for example; solving puzzles and the like,” she gave a sly smirk. “Alright, name the three mathematical constants,” I folded my arms. “They would be the ‘Golden Tangent,’ Euler’s Constant,’ or whatever it’s called, and three-point-one-four-recurring,” she bowed quickly, “anything else, Ricky-o? or would you rather I ask you what DNA stands for?” “Deoxyribonucleic-Acid,” I smiled, “basic biology there Blaze.” “So it is,” she nodded, “now tell me how many bones there are in the human skeleton.” “Again, basic biology, two-hundred-and-six in an adult, three-hundred in an infant, forty-seven pairs of which fuse as we age and/or mature.” I facepalmed; “Alright, now name all of the isotopes listed in the handbook of physics and Chemistry,” she gleamed, I quickly did as she asked; “You remember all that?” I nodded “Jesus Christ…!” she whistled “and I used to wonder how the hell you managed before we met, now however, I no longer wonder, Rick.” “First time in the past three-hundred years that you’ve used my proper name, Blaze,” I tilted my head slightly “is there a reason for it?” “Not at all, I was merely congratulating you on your long-since-passed/past successes, Brother,” she winked, “such is the reason for my next course of action, Rick.” She leapt onto my head “I hereby release you from any and all obligations you have toward me as a relative, if only an adoptive one, Rick.” “Any reason for it?” I blinked, glancing up toward her, replacing my weapon into my inventory. “I just want you to feel as if I’ve grown since we met, Ok?” she giggled, “besides, you’re my little eon now!” “Oh Hell no…” I groaned. “I’m afraid so Brother,” she set herself on her front, wrapping a paw around either horn, “Now, what do we do now?” “I hate you…” I mumbled under my breath. “You hate me?” she gasped mockingly, leaping onto area of the table in front of me “but we’ve been through so much together! Why must you hate me so…?” “You’re a bloody riot, you know that?” I grunted with slight agitation. “You take things too seriously Ricky-o!” she guffawed, again. “And you don’t take things seriously enough….” I stared at her, as a wide grin spread itself from ear to ear across the Quilava’s features, “Laptop?” “However did you guess?” she batted her eyelashes at me. “I’d rather not answer that,” I grumbled, “that being said, I’ve to do something about it, I suppose?” “So you do Rick, so you do,” she laughed. “So, remind me why you’ve done what you have, if only a moment ago?” I snorted. “Like I said, I feel the need to be somewhat independent from you, even if it is after two-hundred-years…” she sighed, “besides, I love you, and it’s about damn time that I said it!” “If you felt the need to be independent, why didn’t you just ask?” I laughed in return. “I didn’t want to pressure you with such a question, Rick, you do have a family to look after, after all,” she beamed, “and besides, now’s a good a time as any, is it not?” “And the other half of your little statement…?” I re-folded my arms; all eyes were now directed toward my former sister; “Well, I’ve always felt a certain, ‘Kinship,’ let’s call it, toward you; you found me when I was little, took me in when nobody else would, cared for me like… Like an actual father would,” she gagged at the use of the term; “And then you turned out to be an eon, in both, form, and mind as well as spirit, and there began my little infatuation with you, Rick, I began to love you as a human being, or a demigod, whichever you prefer to be referred to as, and then we came to the wastes, and you continued to show me who you were, not because of me, but because you could, and someone had to, and then we came here, and your Kindness, Generosity and the like exploded into fruition, what can I say?” she bit her lip, her face a deep scarlet colour as she stared at the plate below her, pawing at the table with a nervous look in her eyes; “What d‘ya say Rick, will you join me as we’ve done so far?” she held out a fragile, clenched paw, which I gently bumped my fist against, “C’mere,” I grinned, she leapt at me, changing to her Typhlosion form as she clung onto me, draping my wings around her as she nuzzled into me, “you ask of your maturity, and then you show it en-masse anyway? What am I going to do with you, Blaze?” “I’ve no cue, Rick, do you know>?” she smiled, her bright-crimson eyes meeting my own, “By the way, what’s that smell?” I raised an eyebrow. “You’ve only just noticed?” Blaze burst into a fit of laughter, “I’m… well, Y’know…?” “You what?” I almost-yelled, suddenly feeling rather mortified; “Will you offer me one final request?” she sat in my lap, clasping her paws together in a makeshift prayer stance, “Please..?” “Name it, and I’ll see what I can do, Blaze,” I nodded. “Make me a mother,” she pecked my cheek. “You want what?” I awed at her, utterly gobsmacked. “I want to have… I want to have a little one, with you, Rick, is that Ok?” she was almost in tears by now… “You want a child, with me no less?” I placed a gentle hand on her head as a tear rolled down her cheek, I quickly caught it, “hey, there’s no need for that, Blaze, you needn’t shed a single tear, Ok?” she nodded, “Now, how long have you wanted this to happen?” “A little while,” she began to weep, “I just love you so much…” her weeping broke down into sobs, “Please, will you allow me this one final gift, Rick…?” “I…” I exhaled sharply, “I don’t have much of a choice do I?” “You have a choice, you’ve always had choices, they are that of which that define us, you, me, your friends, family and Nakama, everyone in existence, be they of good or evil, it is they who make us who we are, and it is from that that I do not mind what you choose to do, given the situation, Rick.” She latched onto me like the galaxy’s toughest form of Velcro. “One final question then, before I make my decision upon the matter,” I declared with a faint grin; “how badly do you want this to happen?” “It’d be with both my greatest honour; and my greatest wish for this to happen, Rick.” She gave the tip of my nose a slight lick, “but if you don’t want to, I can understand…” “You talk as If you’re quite low on my current priority list; tell me, what gave you that impression?” I smirked. “You’ll do it?” she gasped, I tilted a hand; “Why do you act as if I don’t care what I do with you, Blaze, you’re Nakama, closer than family, I always care for my Nakama, you of all should know that as much as I do,” I winked, “tell me that and we may be able to continue.” “I’ve no words at all for your kindness,” she cried into my jacket. “You’re a little bit of a fool, Blaze,” I shook my head with a soft laugh. “Just tell me, will you do it?” she stared up at me, tears cascading down her cheeks like minute reverse-geysers. “Let’s go then…” I stood up, carrying the Typhlosion in my arms like damsel in distress, jokes not intended… -- “Do you feel as though you’ve calmed down yet?” I smiled, weakly, Blaze nodded, standing above me as I lay on the bed in a locked guestroom, beginning to take my member into her maw, slowly starting to bob her head up and down as I began to feel around her nether’s, quickly finding her snatch, she flinched suddenly as I touched it. Moving the slight amount of fur aside, I saw how enflamed her sex was, I quickly dove my tongue inside, dancing and twirling it within her folds, causing her to moan as she hilted her oral passage on my dick, moving her head faster and faster as she went… -- “Ready?” I held the sides of Blaze’s thighs carefully in my hands. “Make me yours, Rick,” she winked; I nodded; diving my cock straight into her tight little cunny, pounding it back and forth, continuously hilting her as she moaned loudly as possible, leaning over her and placing my lips against hers, she quickly clasped her paws around my neck as I pummelled into her pussy, groaning as pre leaked once again from the head of my shaft. “Ravage me Rick, make me your personal plaything…” she grinned, forcing her lips against mine as she rolled me over onto my back, bounding like an endlessly lopped spring as she held me down by my wrists, “I can’t tell you how long I’ve waited for this, My dear Eon, now I’ll get to bear your Next-of Kin…” she slurred as she leant over me, lavishing my neck and face with small yet affectionate kisses/pecks; “Do I make a good fuck-toy, Rick,” she raised an eyebrow, leaping up and down, pulling all the way out and then slamming all the way down as she had her way with me, “do I make a good slut-bunny for you, hmm? Do I make your mind flow with orgasmic thoughts whilst you’re pile-driving my little cunny?” As she continued to bound upon the spot, her folds constantly clamping around me manhood, she moved her paws to either side of my head, “I can’t wait for them to be bought into this world you know? I’ve always wanted a family of my own, and thanks to you, I’ll have one!” she beamed as she leapt, “So, what’ll their name be, hmm…?” Chapter XXVI; to tell of Skyrim...“So, what happened?” Natsu grinned alongside Grey and Erza as a new, winged Quilava stood atop my head, Blaze standing beside me alongside my friends and family, who stood opposite Celestia, the princesses, Faust and Lulania as well as Twilight, her friends, minus Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, and Spike also… “Well, I released Rick from all obligations he had to me as a relative, the rest is fairly obvious,” Blaze gestured to the being currently lying on her front between my horns, “Say hello Ember.” Hiya..!” Ember landed on my shoulder, holding out a paw, Natsu lightly bumped a clenched hand against it. “So, Ember,” Cellsy smiled, “how’re your parents treating you?” “Well Dad’s always telling me to stay safe whenever I venture out with Mom, and Mom always tell me to have fun when I go out with Dad, so I’m a little confused as to what to do,” Ember tilted her head. “You can have fun, I just don’t want you getting hurt, or ending up in trouble, Ember,” I smiled. “Okie Dokie,” she saluted me with a faint grin and a giggle, nuzzling into me. “I see that you’ve quite the herd, Rick,” Celestia smirked. “I’m a knight to Cellsy and a select few others, no one else,” I rebuked. “What about you supposedly being the Mayonaka Ryū Kishi?” Blaze blinked “That was a one-time thing,” I frowned. “So, no ‘Magic of Friendship’ from you then?” she laughed. “A little magic’s is fine, too much of it and you lose your sense of reality, be honest and loyal to everyone, and you’ll end up either lying to yourself or stabbing yourself in the back, be that little too kind or generous and you’ll end up with nothing but bittersweet memories, apply to much laughter to a single subject and you yourself become the joke, and so on,” I explained somewhat long-windedly. “That’s rather cryptic, if not philosophical,” Celestia nickered. “In the words of Itcahi Uchiha, and I quote; ‘each of us lives bound by our individual knowledge and our awareness all that, is what we call ‘Reality.’ However both knowledge and awareness are equivocal one’s reality might be another’s illusion we all live inside our own fantasies…’” I grinned. “Wise-arse,” Blaze lightly punched my shoulder. “I’ll have to think about that, Rick,” Cellsy simpered, “you’ve given me quite the ‘train of thought,’ so to speak.” “You got his eyes, didn’t you?” Blaze grinned. “Nope,” I beamed, “don’t need ‘em, don’t want ‘em.” “Even though he could manipulate time in an illusion upon placing someone into said illusion,” she raised an eyebrow as Ember landed unto her back, “you’re strange, Rick, you know that?” “I think we established that upon first contact, Blaze,” I laughed. “Like the fact that most of what you have in your rucksack isn’t even legal?” she chortled. “Touché,” I nodded, Snowdrop quickly landed on my shoulder whereas Winter Bell landed on my head, and Honey Heart perched herself on the other shoulder. “You never told me how you got half of it anyways,” she raised an expectant eyebrow. “And I don’t think I ever will,” I smirked, she shot me an icy glare, “Riften, and that’s all I’m telling you, Blaze.” “So, what can Ember do, magic wise?” Grey glanced toward the small, winged Quilava. “Well, I can use Dad’s ‘Dragon Aura’ and Teleportation, and both Mom and Dad’s Dragon-Slayer Magic…” Ember mumbled. “What’s ‘Dragon Aura’?” Erza blinked alongside her comrade/fellow Guild-members. “Can I?” Ember glanced toward me, I nodded; she burst into flames; that of which morphed into an exquisitely detailed Whitish-Golden/yellow aura with razor-sharp claws extending from where its feet and hands were. “That’s incredible!” Cadance gasped, suddenly glancing toward me; “how old did you say she was?” “I’m only twelve, but I’ve already learnt so much from Mom and Dad!” Ember chimed, nuzzling into me, “But I’ve still a lot to learn from Dad, after all, he’s a Demigod!” “Only by title and longevity, nothing more,” I laughed, “Ember, if you ever need to learn, just ask, Ok?” “Ok Dad,” she smirked, the Aura around her suddenly vanishing with a burst of sparks, replaced with scales on her arms, paws and face. “Ya’ll mean ta’ tell me that Ember here’s a Dragon Slayer?” Applejack gaped, staring at Ember with a look of nothing short of pure, unadulterated horror, “that’s impossible!” “I don’t see Ilona or Winter Bell complaining,” Blaze growled. “But they’re a pony an’ eon, respectively…!” she retorted angrily, “Ah guess Ah’m not used tah anything different using magic like that…” “So be it then,” I nodded, turning to Ember, “Ember, from here on, I will continue to teach you all I know about Dragon Slayer magic, and I mean everything.” “You will!?” she awed at me, wide-eyed in mild surprise, I nodded, again, “just so long as you promise not to use it unless absolutely necessary, I’ll show you what I can.” “Thank you!” she cheered, leaping at me, clinging onto my front as I draped a wing around her… Two weeks passed, and Ember began to quickly grow as a Dragon Slayer, not in mere power, but also in skill and knowledge also; “Ursa attack,” Roseluck, Lily and Daisy shrieked as they galloped passed as Twilight, her friends, the alicorns of Equis, Celestia, Firefly, my friends, family and I marched toward the beast; “So, whose turn is it this time to take out the trash?” Blaze glanced toward me with a sly grin, I shook my head. “May I?” Ember raised a paw, standing upon my shoulder. “If you think you can, go right ahead,” I bit my lip, “just be careful. “Okie Dokie Dad,” she laughed, climbing down my back, charging toward the large Bear-like creature, inhaling copious amounts of air as she went, suddenly stopping as she exhaled a gigantic stream of emerald flames that enveloped the beast, “Fourth-Generation Dragon-Slayers huh,” Blaze smirked, arms folded as she grinned at me with a sly smirk. “Same as Amber Note no doubt,” I nodded as the Ursa practically melted from view, receding into the earth as Ember clambered up onto my head, nuzzling into me “I see,” she smiled, “so, how goes the training?” “Bad timing, much..?” I chortled, just then noticing the scales in Ember’s being. “So it is,” she rolled her eyes in a somewhat-amused manner. “How in tarnation did she just do that?” Applejack Bellowed. “I don’t see anyone else complaining?” Blaze snapped. “Ah’m not complaining,” the farmpony frowned, “Ah’m just surprised that she did that so easily!” “Rick, be a dear and have all of your magic ripped from Equis would you?” Blaze snarled toward the orange pony, “I find it a fatal offense that such magic should be treated so lowly as that, even barbaric as it may be!” “No can do I’m afraid,” I sighed, “I can either tear my heart from my being and create a new one, or I can stop using it, either one is only temporary.” “What’s yer problem?” Applejack glared icily toward Blaze. “What’s your problem with my daughter?” Blaze barked, “I could end your life in an instant if I so wished, so I’d think twice before insulting her abilities and our way of life, equine.” “And you ain’t gonna stop her?” she turned toward me. “I won’t and besides, chivalry.” I shrugged. “You stopped Nightmare Moon, didn’t ya?” she scoffed. “Tell me when a shadow-based demon from the eleventh layer of hell counts as a god, let alone a lady, Applejack,” I folded my arms with a wide grin. “And Nyx…?” she stepped backward. “Nyx has heart, you clearly don’t,” I raised an eyebrow, my grin quickly fading from view. “Ah’ve got a family!” she rebuked with an almost-rabid snarl. “So have I, and I always will, be it dead or alive,” I tutted. “…At least you’ve got parents…” she mumbled, giving me a frigid, dagger-like glare. “And that’s meant to insult me?” I laughed. “Try again later.” “I meant to say that you’re lucky!” she boomed. “So are you, at least you have memories of being born into a paradise such as Equestria.” I smiled, faintly. “No, no Ah don’t…” she muttered. “Any reason for it?” I blinked. She shrugged “the Hay if Ah know, but Ah’m gonna find out! If you help me with that, I might just forgive ya.” “There’s no need for that, Honesty,” Faust declared, beaming. “Why..?” Was all Applejack replied with… “Applejack,” Firefly began, “I don’t know how best to tell you this, so I’ll say it like this; you weren’t born a few decades, nor a few years ago like the other citizens of Equestria, you were created like Rick was, just opposite side of the corridor in the science labs also, you were made as a pony, but with the powers of an eon, and the ability to change your form, those twin abilities would eventually be passed on to all Equestrians, pony and Human alike, but you were the forerunner for it all, haven’t you ever wondered how you managed the things you’ve done with Rick here, awkward as they may be?” “Indeed,” Faust added grimly, “it is from all those years ago and the great war against darkness incarnate itself that you’re here today, having been encased in a magical barrier that ceased your aging for a whole eon, you were reborn, so to speak, with no memories, so we gave you new ones, and a new family, we gave you all that you could’ve asked for, and so we left you be, erasing both ourselves and your memory of our being from your mind, leaving you to live, love and work under Celestia’s sacred sun, and such brings us to now,” she nodded toward me “Ya’ll mean ta’ tell me that, Ah don’t have any actual family?” Applejack collapsed to her haunches, tears welling in their ducts at the corners of her eyes “And people in Skyrim had the nerve to label me a monster…” I spat, irately. “Need we mention that thy cutie mark is also manufactured?” Luna gazed upon the orange pony, who shook her head “They know don’t they, Big mac and Applebloom an’ Granny?” Applejack blared, tears finally beginning to stream down her muzzle. “They do, but fret not,” Iris smiled almost-graciously, “yours is a special element, Applejack, for should you search within yourself far enough you’ll find more than you could ever hope for…” “So, even Mah names fake?” she snarled. “That it is,” Faust nodded, “though your name won’t appear as it is now in any history books, no matter how far you might look, your old one will definitely resonate through the ears, minds and hearts of almost every librarian in Equestria, Terra.” “So, what do Ah do now?” Applejack shuddered, turning toward me, draping her arms around me as I crouched down to her level, crying into my shoulder, Ember moving to Blaze’s back as the Typhlosion stood on all-fours. “Well, running away won’t help,” I began, draping a half-folded wing around her back, “So the only thing you have to do is stand up against it, and once it’s over with, you can live as you see fit, it’s your life after all, Applejack, and besides, you’re one of the strongest people I know on Equis.” “Thanks Sugarcube,” she gave a light giggle, sitting beside me, changing to her anthro form, glancing down at herself, blinking as she glanced back toward me, leaning into me, “Ya’ll are alright, for an eon born in a test tube or somethin’…” she laughed, “no offense o’ course.” “Meh, I’ve heard worse,” I shrugged, again. “So ya have, Rick, so ya have,” she pecked my cheek, “Ya can call me Terra if ya wan, by the way, Ah feel as though Ah can get used to it…” “If you say so, Jackie,” I smiled. “Ya’ll remember then?” she laughed. “You’re Nakama, of course I’m going to remember,” I smirked. “This is the one known as ‘Rick’?” a large, (and by ‘large’ I mean around eight-foot-high,) pitch-black minotaur raised an unamused eyebrow upon noticing me in the throne room alongside the deer, Gryphon and Zebra from before, my family, friends and I standing as a small crowd at the centre of the room as the others stood in a circle around me, with Twilight, her friends, Spike, and Celestia stood by Cellsy, Grey Erza and Natsu stood beside Blaze, Ember and I. “Is there a problem?” I raised an eyebrow. “Not at all, human,” he laughed, “it’s just that when I heard of a ‘Demigod’ who’d apparently; ‘Saved Equestria as we know it,’ I’d imagined them to be something… well more,” he gestured toward me with a sly grin, “Surely you understand..?” “But of course,” I smirked “Though I wouldn’t expect too much from what we hear vy means of rumours and hear-say.” “You dare insult me!?” he boomed at the top of his lungs, drawing his weapon from his back, the weapon being a large two-sided battle-axe, readying it. “I’m just saying that I would rather find out for myself what the rumours say, rather than relying on them as an opinion, rather than making my own,” I sighed, agitatedly,” you wish to bring about a fight, or even war from such a thought, so be it, I won’t step you.” “You’re stubborn,” he chortled, standing his weapon against one of the nearby pillars, “brave, but stubborn, as for war, I wouldn’t dream of angering the dragon’s greatest ally, Human, to do such a thing would mean extinction for my species as a whole, and I currently wish for no such thing.” He roared with laughter, stepping forward, holding out a clenched fist, “so be it, I shall allow the Grand-City know to you Equestrians as ‘Minos,’ to be an ally to Equestria alongside the Dragon Empire.” “So be it,” I nodded, lightly tapping my fist against his, turning to face the Gryphon and Zebra “We also wish to join as allies,” the Gryphon gagged at the term “seeing as war, violence and the like aren’t going to solve anything, we shall allow our population’s remains to be integrated into that of Equestria, Human. But we shan’t be as kind as the Dragons or the others, but we shall still respect the laws, rules, terms and conditions nonetheless.” “So, that’s how many titles that you have now?” Blaze grinned. “How about immortal,” Blackjack laughed, “I haven’t seen an injury that’s actually kept him down for more that long, chronologically speaking,” “Yeah well, I’ve the Daedra to thank for that one,” I grinned. “Azura, Boethiah, Meridia, Nocturnal, Hircine, Hermaeus Mora, Clavicus Vile, Malacath, Mehrunes Dagon, Molag Bal, Namira, Peryite, Sanguine, Vaermina, Mephala, and Sheogorath, to be precise,” “The Daedric princes and princesses, sometimes referred to as ‘Daedric Lords’, or ‘The Old God’s by the Reachmen,” I shrugged. “So, what do they do? Who are they?” Cadance blinked. “They’re the semi-dark gods of Nirn, each with their own realm in Oblivion,” I began, “they mostly deal with mortals for their own gain, save for Azura, Meridia.” “Why those two?” she tilted her head. “Because they’re the only two out of the lot that won’t outright have you murdered, or at least try to, even indirectly,” I laughed, “Azura’s the princess of Dusk and Dawn, often referred to by many as the ‘Mother of The Rose,’ and ‘Queen of the Night Sky,’ mostly by elven kind, and Meridia’s the Princess of life and infinite energies, and also has a fiery passionate hatred for all things both dark and undead.” “So, what do they do?” Celestia smiled. “Offer rewards in return for the tasks they hand out to those lucky enough to be offered I suppose, I’ve not really thought to invade on their business, what with them being gods and all,” I hummed. “And just what are these rewards?” Cellsy smirked. “The Dawnbreaker for one, and The Star for another,” I glanced toward Twilight who levitated the artefact from her saddlebags within a magenta-ish glow. “That’s… that’s beautiful,” Cadance stepped forward, taking the star in a cornflower-blue aura, her horn now ablaze with an identical aura as she studied it, ”what is it exactly?” “A Soul Gem,” I beamed, the star was quickly levitated over to me, dropped into my hands as Cadance went a pale green colour. “What’s a soul gem?” Grey blinked “Basically, when I defeat an opponent, their soul gets contained within the star, which is then used in enchantments.” “That’s sickening!” Twilight snapped. “Such is the way of things in Skyrim, and all of Tamriel, I’m afraid,” I gave a forlorn sigh, “besides, who are we to question a god?” “And that’s not mentioning that Azura and Meridia are basically the only Daedra who care about their followers’ wellbeing,” Blaze smiled. “Followers’…?” Luna blinked also. “Every god has at least one follower, wherever that person or entity might be in the universe,” I gleamed, “Azura’s only one in all of Skyrim, and as for Meridia, well, I do not know the number of her audience, let alone where they are.” “And what of your status with the supposed ‘Gods,’ Rick..? Where do you stand on their little chessboard, as it were?” Faust nickered. “He is my champion,” The Sacred star of cyan and silver rose from my hands, emanating with a vibrant golden glow on one half, and a silvery/pearly-whit on the other, speaking with a feminine, echo-y voice “And you, Faust would do well to remember not to meddle with his affairs, you are but a mere pony in comparison to my power, mortal, see to it that you anger me no further!” “And as for you,” Azura once again began to speak through the her Sacred star, “You, Rick, shall be offered a chance at taking a place of your own in my realm; Moonshadow, will you accept, and be carried through to my home with those of whom you cherish, or will you stay, and sacrifice more to these mere equines? Know that I shall be watching over you, no matter your decision here.” “You’re her champion?” Cadance gasped, Celestia and the others stared at me, gaping as I laughed. “You have a problem with that?” Azura growled, “it is my choice for Rick to be my champion, he has served me well, and I’ve no doubt that he will continue to do so, ell into the future, little pony!” “Serve her?” Cellsy scowled, “Rick is my knight and mine alone, other than that of the gods of Equis, Azura!” “Is that what you want? Or is it what has actually happened out of the kindness of his heart?” she barked. Suddenly, there was a blinding eruption of light, when it faded, rather than the star; there stood a large winged unicorn with a blue-ish/silver coat with a cobalt mane and tail with suns and moons held within, with the Sacred Star for a cutie mark, and brilliant golden-yellow/topaz eyes “Must I use the form of one of your kind to properly communicate with you equines?” Azura frowned, “Honestly, you’re worse than the Dremora.” “And who might you be; little one?” Azura cooed, as she turned her head to gaze upon Ember, who’d since leapt onto her back. “I’m Ember,” Ember beamed, “Will you be my friend?” “I can be your guardian, if you so wish, Little Ember,” Azura chimed with a slight amount of tranquillity present in her voice. “Okie Dokie Azura,” Ember laughed, leaping from the Twilight goddesses back to my shoulder and then clambering unto my head. “Newpony..!” Pinkie Pie merrily bellowed with a grin, bursting through the double doors with a row of laughter, racing in a pink blur, fast as lightning. “Is she always so jovial, no matter the situation?” Azura stared at me, eyebrow raised. “Just wait until your birthday party,” I rolled my eyes, “I’m assuming that’s an absolute ball of a time!” “Rick, you’ve never attended one of Pinkie Pie’s parties on your birthday,” Twilight frowned. “And I don’t intend to anytime soon,” I winked. “Why?” she scowled. “How old do I look? And how old do you think I am?” I rolled my eyes “You look to be around thirty, and you said that you’re three-hundred, why?” she shot me an icy glare. I snapped my fingers, spontaneously creating a small fireball above my index finger; that of which was orbited by nine, smaller crystals, each one a carrying shade of colour, and it was at that point that the zebra, Gryphon and Minotaur exited the castle; “It’s a ‘Mimi-me’ Solar-System,” Blaze laughed. “So it is,” I smiled. “At least you don’t bugger around whilst you’re in the UNSC,” she gave a light, somewhat-curt nod. “That’s another of our differences Blaze, I do what’s right and what’s necessary, rather than just muck around in filth,” I snorted “you give me a reason enough, and point me in the right way, and you’ll have entire armies levelled and deep-sixed within a matter of hours. Besides; someone needs to take out the trash.” “My Brother doesn’t ‘muck around,’” Twilight exclaimed in an irate manner. “I’m sure…” I slowly nodded. “He doesn’t!” she bellowed. “That’s not what I’ve seen,” I shrugged, “we humans may be arrogant by nature, but when it comes down to it, we don’t let anything such as ‘Pride’ get in our way, or at least, the UNSC doesn’t. We do what’s necessary, and what we feel is right, trey to keep up, won’t you?” “Anything you can do Shining Armour’s already gone and done it!” she rebuked. “What have I said before about humans and forerunners being the only ones able to use such technology in order to save the galaxy?” I laughed. “I do believe this is either the third or fourth time I’ve heard you initiate this argument, my Dear Champion,” Azura hummed, “why do you persist, knowing full-well that she’s not going to give so easily, if at all?” “Heck if I know, why does she persist on insisting that her brother is better than all of what humanity has achieved in its lifespan as a species?” I grinned. “Touché,” she smiled. “Even so, where my brother may fall, Celestia shall surely prevail!” Twilight growled. “You’re a princess, right? Why don’t you start acting like one and stand up for yourself rather than needing to hide behind others for support?” I folded my arms “And you do?” she spat. “I do indeed,” I nodded “you harm one of my family or friends, or threaten them; and I’ll gladly gut you like a fish and have your entrails paraded through Canterlot, little pony…” “You wouldn’t dare!” she barked. “I’m a General, there’s not a lot I can’t do,” I raised an eyebrow, “I said to Littlepip that I failed once, and that it wouldn’t happen again, and what d’ya know, it bloody well happened again, twice!” “But I’m… we’re…!” she bit her lip. “You’re nothing,” I turned and left, my friends and family quickly following me as I vacated the throne room, Azura also following me as I exited the great chamber. “So, that happened,” Blaze frowned, “I don’t blame you for saying what you did, but couldn’t you show a little restraint when around Ember?” “I’ll do better next time, Blaze, trust me on that.” I nodded. “So you will, Rick, so you will,” she beamed. -=- “So, how’s Amber Note?” I glanced toward the fire Dragon Slayer with a grin; “She’s alright, how’s Honey Heart?” he smirked. “She’s as good as gold, if not better,” I glimmered. “So, what was that with the lavender horsey back there then?” he laughed. “I wouldn’t pay attention to her, she’s just going to be crying herself to sleep for days on-end as-is,” I sighed. “But still, dontcha think that was kind of harsh?” he tilted his head. “Imagine how you felt when you were split from Lisanna, and imagine going through it three times at once, that’s what it feels like,” I scowled. “…We don’t talk about that,” he frowned. “Just trying to get something to compare it to,” I held my hands defensively, “besides, she’s back, isn’t she?” “Still, I don’t think it’s the best topic for conversation,” he smirked. “Yeah well, I’m not exactly feeling too talkative either,” I pouted, the two of us quickly bursting into fits of laughter. “So,” I began, having finally calmed down, “how many times have you been dragged off to we-know-where in Canterlot with Lyra?” “How many times have you been?” he grinned. “Once, and that was to make sure you weren’t tearing the place apart,” I rebuked. “Touché,” he chortled, “so, how’s Autumn Heart?” “She’s as she’s always been, god-damn-perfect,” I whistled. “What about Lyra?” “She’s alright, couldn’t really ask for a better girlfriend,” he shrugged. “I could argue, but I don’t want to risk you tearing the whole town to shreds in anger,” I laughed. “I’m not that sensitive,” he frowned with a gleam. “So, what’s it like, having a foal?” I folded my arms, again… “Don’t you already know?” he beamed with a smug grin. “I’m asking for your perspective and opinion, so long as you don’t mind of course,” I simpered. “It’s not bad actually; I mean… Sure I have to walk her to-and-from school every day, but that’s when I truly get to bond with her as a parent I suppose. And besides, someone’s got to go to the parent meetings every other week… and that being said, I still love her as I feel I should, what about you?” he blinked. “Never thought you for the fatherly type, Natsu,” I chuckled, “but, I suppose I should at least give a guy a chance, so to speak, and you’ve done more than that, so congrats on that I s‘pose.” “Thanks, I guess,” he smiled. “Welcome,” I nodded behind us, where the others were stood; smug grins aplenty. “How long have they been standing there?” Natsu glanced toward me after taking a quick peek at each of our figurative ’audience.’ “Long enough,” I smirked. “You set this up, didn’t you?” he frowned. “Not really,” I shook my head, “you said it, we just so happened to all be here.” “So, I’m perfect am I?” Autumn Heart stood beside me, nuzzling into my side, “I might have to reward for that silver tongue of yours later~” she sat beside me as I sat cross-legged, Ember leaping onto my head, Snowdrop and Winter Bell both sitting in my lap, Scootaloo, Gracy Gloom and Honey Heart leaning into me at odd angles as I draped my wings around each of them. “Element of Sacrifice, much..?” Blaze laughed, “I know, right?” “So, who’s the little one?” Crystal and Angel smiled. “I’m Ember,” Ember held out a paw, which the twin eons gently shook. “And this makes seven?” Crystal and Angel shared a light giggle. “Eight, technically,” I bit my lip. “Ooh-Ah,” Crystal chortled, “Who’s the lucky one this time?” “That’d be Dinky, or Derpy, depending on your context-of-speech.” I winked. “Trying to impress, or are you going for a new World-Record?” she laughed. “If I was trying to impress I’d do that but since I haven’t done so in around a century or two, I see no need for such actions,” I smirked. “No…” Blaze gasped, wide-eyed and slack-jawed, “sure you don’t mean…!” “Yes, Blaze, yes I do,” I grinned, “But more on that later, with any luck.” “So, Dinky…” Angel beamed. “What about it?” I hummed. “Shouldn’t you be taking care of her?” she frowned, lightly. “I trust Silver enough to take care of Dinks. Besides, I’m not needed around there anytime soon, unless there’s another gala happening soon.” “Why, what’d you do?” Crystal smirked. “Nothing I’m telling you, my little Gem.” “Rick offered to foal-sit Dinky whilst Derpy went to the gala,” Blaze simpered with a sly smile. “Aww, that’s sweet of you,” she cooed, pecking my cheek as she hovered beside me. “It’s what I do,” I winked. “Remind me why we’re up here again?” Blaze frowned as we (‘We,’ being myself, my friends, family, the princesses, Celestia, Twilight, her friends and Spike), stood atop the great mountain on which Canterlot rested. “Just testing a theory,” I winked, turning toward the sky, inhaling as I did so; “O-Dah-Viing!” I bellowed, as a rift in the fabric of reality torte open above us, and a great crimson dragons burst forth from its depths, circling the peak of the mountain a few times before landing before us with a slight ‘crash’ so to speak… “Greetings Dovahkiin,” The almighty wyvern beamed as he glanced to the others, “And I see you have an audience with you, no doubt to bear witness to your Thu’um, no?” “Not exactly,” I laughed. “What…” Twilight was almost speechless, almost, “who are you?” “Ah, Krosis, I beg your pardon for not Gristal, introducing myself,” Odahviing huffed, “I am Odahviing; Former Right-hand and lieutenant to Alduin, the Duaan, the World-Eater, now, however, I align my services and life to the Dovahkiin, for he has proven his mastery twice-over to me, and the Dovah.” “Forgive me for being blunt, but in what language are you speaking?” Celestia blinked. “Ah, Krosis, forgive me for not explaining the language of the Dovah, the dragons, to you, Malkey.” Odahviing hummed with a slight grunt, “it has been centuries since I last spoke to a Joor, a mortal, what do you wish to ask of me?” “And what, of this ‘Dovahkiin’?” Cellsy frowned, nodding toward me. “Ah, the Dragonborn,” the crimson drake gave a sagely nod, “what of him?” “Dragonborn..?” Luna blinked “It’s to do with my ‘Dragon Soul,’” I beamed, “when I had it planted in my being, I became a somewhat, ‘false’ Dovahkiin, but a Dragonborn nonetheless, so I got quite the amount of attention when I went to Skyrim.” “Speaking of which,” Odahviing raised an eye-ridge, “where are we, if you do not mind my asking?” “Equis,” I smiled; “Ah yes, home-realm to the Malkey, Amokriin, and the weaker Dovah that were made by Akatosh,” he laughed “I’ve been meaning to come here, if only by asking the ones you mortals call, ‘The Divines.’” “So, how old are you?” Celestia cocked an eyebrow “I am countless millennia in age, third-born from Akatosh,” Odahviing seemed to be pondering in thought mid-reply, “it has been too long, and I have lost track of my age, little Malkey, but, I ponder not on things such as time, or chronology, that is for Akatosh to rule over, not a mere Dovah such as me.” “So, who is Akatosh exactly?” Twilight sat on her haunches alongside the others in an arc behind me. “He is the deity and ruler of time, and took the form of an almost-inconceivable dragon during the ‘Oblivion Crisis*,’” Odahviing began, “it is from he who we Dovah, we dragons, originate, or at least, those from Tamriel.” The dragon grumbled, “he is one of the nine so-called ‘Divines*’ as they are referred to by the Joor, the mortals of Skyrim.” “So, what other divines are there?” Cadance raised a reluctant hoof. “I truly know only one other of the ‘Divines,’ a being named Kynareth,” Odahviing gave a slight grin, “it was with her permission that Paarthurnax was allowed to teach the Thu’um to the Joor, to the mortals of Tamriel, and in doing so, allowed for the defeat of my former leader, Alduin the Duaan, the ‘World-Eater.” “Who’s Alduin?” Rainbow Dash frowned. “An Apt question to come from a Malkey, a pony,” the dragon laughed, “Alduin the Duaan, or in your tongue, the World-Eater, my former ruler and leader of all Dovah, all Dragons of Tamriel, he always was the arrogant with his power, as was the way of the First-Born of Akatosh,” he smiled, “but there was a , shall I say, opposition, to his will? There were Nord heroes who used a Kel, and Elder Scroll, to banish him through time itself.” “They sent him into the future?” Luna blinked. “Not intentionally,” Odahviing sighed with a slight ‘rasp,’ “it was due to the efforts of those heroes that Skyrim and all of Tamriel was, for a time, saved, but eventually, Alduin returned, and so to, did his destiny as the Duaan.” “But he was stopped, right?” Twilight gave a nervous giggle. “Eventually, yes, once upon Paarthurnax’s Strunmah, his mountain, as it were, and again in the land of the dead, in Sovngarde,” he grumbled, again. “You want to the land of the dead?” Cellsy gasped. “Not by choice,” I shrugged, “someone had to do it, so why not me, he who was destined to defeat Alduin?” “But, how did you get there?” Twilight stared at me, gaping. “Magic, both figuratively and literally,” I beamed. “I guess you had no other choice, huh?” she smiled with a sly wink, Odahviing glanced toward me eye-ride raised, I shook my head at him. “So who created us then if Akatosh created you?” the lavender mare gave a forlorn glanced toward me, then turned to face the dragon in question; “My guess would lead toward Kynareth,” Odahviing smirked, “she is the strongest of the ‘Sky Spirits*’ and the goddess of the air, heavens and sky, it is from her doing that you ponies were brought into being, as was the same for all peaceful beings of nature.” “But what about Lulania…?” Cadance tilted her head; “Ah, you know of the ‘All-Maker,’ as the Skaal refer to her as?” Odahviing hummed “she is mostly null in form, but she has been known to take the form of either a Malkey, a pony, or a Jul, a human. It was she who bought life to both ‘The Divines,’ and ‘The Aedra,’ and, in turn, the Daedra,’ and, eventually, all Gods and Demigods alike” “But that would mean that Rick’s the co-creator of the universe!” Twilight shrieked “if it weren’t for their meeting, we wouldn’t be here!” “So you wouldn’t little pony,” Lulania appeared via telepor5taion in a small eruption of light, standing beside Twilight; “It was when I created a lifeless universe, free of all planets, with only stars, constellations and nebulae as its population, that I fell impregnated, and yet, that same impregnation lacked a ‘Spark,’ or ‘Essence’ so to speak, I created Earth, and with it, all species that came to live upon its surface, in its skies, and under its oceans, it was then that I duplicated myself, constantly changing form with the passing ages and era’s alike that I met Rick, and thus, I found the spark, and the essence along with it, and so, when the clone re-fused with me, that was when I gave birth to the gods of the universe, who then made their own planets, galaxies and the like, complete with their own population and species of both flora and fauna, the rest is history as clear as Crystal.” “And nobody on Earth suspects a damn thing!” Blaze burst into a fit of laughter. “Quite so,” Lulania giggled. “And that’s why I’m the reason for my own existence,” I laughed. “It’s an alternate ‘Bootstrap Paradox.’” “That means you’re technically related to everyone and everything that exists, will exist, or has done so before passing on, Rick,” Blaze stifled a row of laughter, biting her lip as she did so. “Well, there go my morals involving anything to do with coitus,” I shuddered. “Dad, what’re morals?” Ember tilted her head, having since perched herself upon my shoulder. “They’re basically a person’s sense of right and wrong, my little Ember,” I smiled. “Oh, Ok then,” she giggled, climbing upon my head. “You seem to be taking this all-too rather well, Sir Rick.” Lulania smiled, pecking my cheek with a faint grin. “It’ll kick in eventually,” I beamed, “if I gave you the ‘Spark,’ does that make me… Y’know?” “You and you alone, are the co-creator of the universe,” she nodded. “And yet I lack the ability to hold such a title,” I chortled. “Do you?” she raised an eyebrow, beaming, “before we were separated, I placed a fraction of my power –a fifth at most, into your core, as it were, all you’ve to do is wish for it to surface, my little eon. I should warn you, however, that it is a deterrent force that should only be used sparingly, and therefor shouldn’t be wasted on common foot-soldier-level opponents.” “Well that explains a lot,” Blaze guffawed, “no offense, Rick…” “None taken, Blaze,” I smiled, “Besides, it had to be explained eventually as to where most of my power comes from, right?” “Indeed,” Lulania nickered, “I’ll see you later,” and with that, she vanished, teleporting elsewhere. “Well, this has been quite the revelation,” Cellsy and the others stared at me, “what?” “You’re the co-creator of the universe…” Twilight mumbled. “So I am…” I hummed, glancing toward the sky, where Odahviing now circled the heavens above the mountaintop, eventually flying into the distance. “So, you’re a demigod, and yet you’re the forerunner for all gods, and therefore, all beings in existence,” Blaze smirked, “do I count as a being created by Kynareth?” “I suppose there’s only one way to find out,” I clicked my shoulders, “and she just left, so it means we’re going to have to wait,” I added, changing to eon form, Ember moving to my back as Snowdrop, Scootaloo, Gracy Gloom, Winter Bell and Honey Heart hovered beside me. “Are we ready?” I glanced toward Snowdrop Snowdrop and the others nodded; “Ready when you are Daddy,” they chorused, soaring down the mountain, Snowdrop flying above me with Winter Bell and Scootaloo on my left side, and Gracy Gloom and Honey Heart opposite them, Winter Bell and Honey Heart breaking formation, performing corkscrews as they glided with me toward Ponyville, Scootaloo and Gracy Gloom doing the same as Snowdrop accelerated somewhat as I sped up, the five of them flying close as they could to me without actually making contact. A barrier-like ‘shield’ began to form before us as we gradually changed direction back toward the heavens, breaking as we rocketed through the sky, the five fillies breaking off and soaring across in front of me, landing on my back as I headed back toward Canterlot, forming a rainbow trail behind me that, instead of the usual prismatic design, was a mix of icy-blue, snow-white, Whitish-Golden-Yellow, Pitch/Matte-black, Vivid-crimson, and pale/rust orange mixed with a vibrant-Magenta shade of colour, all fused into a single, multi-layered rainbow design behind us… “That was…” Rainbow Dash stared at me, quite visibly awestruck as we landed in the gardens, “How…?” “Magic,” I laughed, glancing back toward Ember, “are you alright, Ember?” “That was awesome!” Ember cheered with a sense of pride in her voice “can we do it again Dad?” “Maybe another time, perhaps,” I chuckled, “ “It appears that you’ve attained another level of the ‘Sonic-Rainboom,’” Celestia smiled. “Perhaps, perhaps not,” I shrugged as my family landed beside me, safely landing with all four paws/hooves on the ground, reverting to human form with a grin. “But that can’t be possible! I invented it!” Rainbow Dash growled. “Or maybe it’s us eons that invented it, and just wished for it to be erased from history?” I shrugged. “Correct,” Faust smiled, “it is you who made the spell, and it is you who shall continue to do so until the end of your species. “I wonder where the changelings come from,” Autumn Heart hummed. “My guess would be the humans who stayed on Equis, which were then morphed into the Flutter-ponies, and then mutated by one of the elements of creation into what they are now,” I hummed. “How did you..?” Faust gaped, awing at me with a somewhat mortified expression, standing beside her elemental comrades; I raised an eyebrow, “they were corrupt, they had to be dealt with; surely you understand?” “So, rather than trying to give them a chance to change their ways through your little ‘Harmony Squad,’ as Midnight Rose called it, you just alter them to your whim? And you said that they were corrupt yes? Well, I’ve a question for you, what makes you so much better?” glancing behind me, I saw Natsu, Grey, Erza and Wendy, staring at me in apparent awe “And who are you to oppose me, should we choose to remove your titles here on Equis, you are but nought to us, a pest that is about ready to be disposed of!” she snarled. “I have decency, I have a heart, mind and soul, I have a family to look after and care for,” I snapped, “and at least I know how and when to give people a second chance, Element of Life. That being said, someone has to take out the prideful, arrogant trash, don’t they?” “You’ve got nothing!” she boomed. “I’ve got the balls to stand up for what I think is right, rather than to take that of which is most important away from someone because I feel like it, Faust, if that is your name.” I smirked. “You are but a flaw in the universe, Rick, you always were the one to change things for the worse,” she snorted derisively. “This coming from a shit-streak of a pony who mutated an entire species for her own gain?” I laughed, “Besides, if you’ve a problem with me, instead of whining for days on end, how about you actually get off your arse and do something about it? That is, if you feel like you’ve got the balls.” “Are you questioning my power?” she growled. “So, Power-Hungry, corrupt and arrogant and prideful?” I beamed, turning and walking away, my family quickly following me alongside Autumn Heart, Blaze, Blackjack, Littlepip and Velvet Remedy, “It’s like my actual Nakama are the only ones I don’t have any problem with…” When I’d ‘calmed down,’ I headed with my friends family and the four Fairy Tail Wizards into the throne room alongside Twilight, her friends, Crystal and Angel. “A moment please,” Celestia raised a hand, both her and Luna standing opposite one another in their anthro forms, horns ablaze with golden-primrose and cobalt-blue aura’s respectively; I’m playing ball with my sister…” “But… Where’s the ball..?” Natsu, Wendy, and Twilight blinked; All of a sudden, the earth shook as the sky seeming roared with a definite shaking “You aren’t….” Blaze mumbled, glancing toward me, I shrugged. “It appears that the ‘ball’ would seem to be a series of nearby planets,” I hummed, “I’m just wondering if said planets have any sentient life on them…” “I wonder if you could do that, Daddy,” Snowdrop lay atop my head, comfortably perched between my horns. “Highly unlikely, unless of course all of said power is in that Soul dew I have locked away in the lounge.” I raised an eyebrow, glancing toward the icy-blue filly with a curious expression, “what d‘ya reckon we should do with it?” “Try consuming it,” she giggled. “Now isn’t that a risky option?” I smiled as the earth rumbled again. “I was just trying to suggest something that might help you get your old powers back,” she gave a faint smile. “And I thank you for it, my little Snowflake,” I beamed, changing to eon form as the other of my ‘Next-of-Kin’ leapt onto my neck and back respectively. “We love you Daddy,” the six of them chimed, “And I love you, my little family,” I glimmered. “So, about that Soul Dew…” Blaze grinned, I winked, retrieving said Gemstone from my inventory, said gemstone then hovered in place before me, pulsating with crimson light. “So,” the Soul Dew began, “you wish to absorb my power, and rightfully take back what is yours? Then come and get it!” and with that, the pulsating erupted into a blinding beam of energy that struck me straight in the chest-symbol,. My family quickly landing on the floor as I reverted to human form, Triggering both ‘Dragon Force’ and ‘Lightning-Flame Dragon Mode,’ devouring the magic energy as it came from the shining orb. “So, you’ve done it,” the Soul Dew laughed as I collapsed to my knees in agony, “you’ve gone and absorbed all my power- no, all of your power, use it well, will you, Rick?” I collapsed to my front, grimacing with pain racking throughout my body in a series of excruciating waves as ‘Dragon Force’ was torn away from me. “Let the pain run its work, for you are stronger than you’ve ever been before,” the orb floated down to my side, “you always were a reckless being, Y’know that? Always willing to take risks and make the ultimate sacrifice what you felt was right, and I’m glad to see that that part of you hasn’t been altered any during your warping to Earth, and you’re reverting to an infantile state, Rick.” “Is that it?” I mumbled in varying degrees of pain, barely managing to stagger to my feet, ‘restarting’ ‘Dragon Force,’ bursting into Whitish Golden Flames, the Whitish-Golden-Yellow aura overwhelming me completely, “Hardly felt a thing,” I laughed, my attire changing with the aura to that of an open-fronted waistcoat which had black trimmings, with black-ringed ‘False-Clockwise’ trousers/bottoms with heavy-duty boots a dozen blood/dark-crimson dragon-head-shaped entities appeared in a ring behind me, hovering in place. “The third Stage of Dragon Slayer magic, disregarding basic-level magic…!” Blaze stared at me in horror alongside Twilight and her friends, Spike included; “How d‘ya feel?” “Like I can change everything,” I beamed, bursting into flames that enveloped my already-present aura; that of which erupted into a great pillar of fire that burst through the many layers of the castle above me. “So, you’ve awakened it then, Lulania appeared besides Faust, Firefly, Iris, Galaxia an Celestia in a grand burst of light, standing beside Luna and Cellsy, “you’re ‘Dragon Soul’ has finally emerged in its grandest state, Rick, use it wisely.” “I say it’s about time,” Firefly laughed, now I can fight him seriously!” “Me, fight you?” I chortled, “Unless I’ve a good reason for it, I remain chivalrous, or I’d like to think as much anyways.” “And thus you remain weak, even in that state,” she snorted with a smug grin. “So long as I can protect those of whom I care about, I don’t care how weak or strong I am, Firefly,” I grinned. “And so you do,” Iris smiled, “congratulations on retrieving your previous being’s powers, Rick.” “I too, wish to congratulate you on your attainment of your old ‘prowess,’ so to speak,” Galaxia nickered, “Can you change back?” It took a while, but I eventually grasped the ability to change between forms, “That took long enough,” Blaze smirked. “So it did, Blaze,” I smirked. “Uh, Rick,” Autumn Heart nodded upward, gesturing toward the ceiling. Looking toward the now-present/large hole in the ceiling, I saw a rather frightened pony staring right at me; “Coco..?” I blinked “Didn’t know she was still here,” Blaze hummed, glancing toward me “she here for you or her own business?” “Rick?” Coco Pommel blinked, leaping from the hole, and into my arms. “How cliché, the damsel falling into the hero’s arms,” Blaze laughed, I shot her an icy glare. “I didn’t know you were visiting, Rick,” Coco nuzzled into me as I set her down, sitting beside me. “Yeah, we were hoping to get the ‘drop’ on you, but it appears that you got us instead,” Blaze cackled somewhat insanely. “So it does,” she giggled, climbing up my back and pecking my cheek, “my little eon…” “Look out below!” a familiar, snow-white pony with a burgundy mane and tail yelled, prompting me to dive forward, catching her. “Palette Swap,” I blinked, “what’re you doing here?” “I was with Coco helping her design a new set of clothing when that hole suddenly appeared,” Palette Swap pointed toward the hole in the ceiling. “Fair Do’s,” I smiled, setting her down on the floor, albeit, carefully. “Also, I’ve something I’d like to say to you, if you don’t mind,” she winked a little slyly, “I’ve heard Coco Pommel sing your praises for the past week, and I have to admit, I envy you, not for any of your abilities or the like, but because of who you are, and… well… I love you…” “Well,” I blinked “that’s a new one…” “How is it new?” Blaze grinned “there was one point that I heard about where you had the whole of Ponyville chasing after you at one point, wasn’t there?” “One time Blaze, and one time only,” I frowned. “Oh… I’m sorry for my intrusion then…” Palette Swap muttered, beginning to walk past me, only for me to stop her with a gentle hand on her shoulder as I crouched down to her level, placing my lips against hers as she turned, she quickly wrapped her arms around my neck, forcing me onto my rear as she parted. “Well, what happens now, my little eon?” Palette Swap grinned, quickly placing a hoof over my mouth as I began to speak, “never you mind anything, I just figured it out…!” -=-=-=- “Are you serious?” Blaze and Natsu shared a laugh. “Really, Rick, you do let the strangest things happen” Autumn Heart giggled, pecking my cheek, “even if one of those things is letting basically every mare in the room have their way with you,” “I don’t see anyone else complaining,” Blaze smirked. “I wasn’t complaining,” Autumn Heart climbed onto my back, loosely hanging her arms around my neck as she began to nibble on my ear. “I probably don’t want to know…” I mumbled. “Basic pony-based foreplay,” Cellsy smirked, the dominant ones often begin by nibbling or gently biting on the other one’s ear.” “Is it awkward enough that I don’t care?” I gleamed. “You’re letting her do that, to ‘dominate’ you, so to speak?” Firefly laughed. “She’s my wife, I’ve a right to care for her don’t I?” I felt a sudden thud as Autumn Heart landed on the floor, her hoof twitching every now and then. “She just fainted,” Blaze grinned, “now what do you plan to do?” “I’m your wife am I?” Autumn Heart’s face suddenly appeared right before me “Well, in that case, I do,” “What?” I blinked “‘I do,’ meaning; ‘I will marry you,’” she beamed,” is that alright, my darling Rick?” “Why wouldn’t it be?” I smiled, pecking the tip of her horn with a smile. “I now declare you to be colt and mares,” Cellsy smiled, “you may kiss the bride.” Autumn Heart glanced toward Celestia, beaming; then turned back to me, draping her arms around my neck, Palette Swap and Coco Pommel leant into me, pecking either cheek as I draped a wing around either of them. “So, where do we live then?” Palette Swap winked, “I shall fund for any changes that may be necessary to your home, Rick,” Cellsy winked. “Thank you, Princess,” Coco Pommel bowed alongside Palette Swap. “There is no need to be so formal, I am merely doing what I feel is right for you four,” the solar goddess beamed. =-=-=-= After the house had been extended further, and the additions to each of the rooms having been dealt with, Palette Swap and Coco Pommel quickly grew accustomed to their new rooms, and to the rather cavernous art room that’d been merged with the previous one. “Isn’t it beautiful?” Coco Pommel cooed as she stood beside Palette Swap and Autumn Heart, nuzzling into me. “Much like Autumn Heart and Palette Swap,” I grinned. “What about me?” she blinked. “You’re adorable, there’s not much more that needs to be said,” I shrugged. “Thank you, Rick,” she climbed upon my back, pecking my cheek as she loosely wrapped her arms around my neck. “-=-” “So, have fun?” Crystal smirked. “Somewhat,” I gleamed. “Why do you ask?” “I’m just curious as to how you ended up with the whole town chasing you, my little eon,” she winked as we stood/hovered in the throne room once again. “I’m guessing it had something to do with a local Heat-Wave,’” Celestia giggled, “they always happen this time of year, especially to Earth-Ponies.” “Because they’re more connected to the earth and therefore, nature, right?” Snowdrop chimed. “That is correct,” Faust smiled, “speaking of nature, I’ve something to say to you, Rick;” she added, beaming, “every time you use your new power, and your new form, you ascend unto god-like levels of power, and thus, become an ‘Element of Creation.’” “So, he’s a ‘Demi-Demigod,’ where the demi is both in on itself, and the ‘God’ part,” Blaze chortled. “Quite so,” Firefly gleamed. “His power ascended far enough to be called as such, but is therefore a deterrent force, as Fust and Lulania may or may not have stated before.” “I bet Makarov’s gonna go mental upon hearing that,” she laughed. “Most likely,” I nodded slightly, Honey Heart having perched herself safely between my horns with a wide grin. “So, what’s that you keep saying about not being a god?” she smirked. “So what if I am? It’s only temporary, Blaze,” I simpered. “Try using it now then,” she folded her arms, I did, initiating the god-like abilities via use of ‘Dragon Soul’ and ‘Dragon Force,’” Not bad…” “I don’t see what’s so great about me, I mean; Natsu beat a God-Slayer, Laxus beat one of the Ten Wizard-Saints, Wendy can use ‘Dragon Force,’ Ember can use ‘Dragon Soul,’ and Erza beat one hundred demonic entities, at least thirty of which were S-class,” I explained in a somewhat-indifferent manner. “That little girl,” Cellsy pointed a hoof toward the Sky Dragon-Slayer, “can use Dragon Force?” “Basically,” I smiled. “Please tell me you’re joking…” she mumbled. “Nope,” I beamed. “But don’t you have Lightning-Flame Dragon Mode’?” Cadance blinked. “As does Natsu,” I raised an eyebrow. “But thou hath magmatic abilities, dost thou not/” Luna stepped forward “And in an alternate universe, so does someone else,” I rolled my eyes, “not to be rude or anything, but whatever I’ve done, someone else in the universe has probably already done it. That being said, I doubt it’d be a pony, no offense.” “Explain,” Celestia frowned. “I can’t imagine a pony with Magma-based abilities, fire, maybe, but not magma.” I bit my lip. “So be it,” she nickered. “So, you’re a god?” Blaze patted my back with a wide grin. “Apparently so…” I mumbled. “So, what happens now?” Blackjack placed a fragile hoof on my side. “That is indeed the question, Blackie,” I smiled. “So, do we keep quiet about this or reveal it to all?” Littlepip giggled, standing beside me, leaning into my side. “Keep it quiet,” I winked, “there’s few outside of Equestria who’d believe it anyways, my Littlepip.” “So they wouldn’t, my little Eon,” she smiled. “We could keep a secret, my little Ricky-o,” Crystal and Angel shared a light giggle. “Of course, you can,” I rolled my eyes. “So enters the Fourth-Generation of Dragon-Slayers,” Velvet Remedy smiled as Ilona and Winter Bell hovered on either side of me, surrounded by Snowdrop and the others. “Indeed it does, my little Remedy,” I grinned. “‘Fourth Generation’..?” Celestia blinked. “First-generation are those who are taught magic by a dragon; Second-Generation are those who have it implanted via Dragon-Lacrima, Third-Generation who have it both taught and implanted into them, and Fourth-Generation are those who gain it through genetics and/or inherit it from their parents.” I explained, beaming. “You mean to say that Snowdrop and the others with you are…?” Celestia gaped, glancing toward each of my family in turn… “We’re all Dragon-Slayers!” Honey Heart chimed alongside Snowdrop and the others as I ‘disengaged’ ‘Dragon-Soul.’ “So, who else can use ‘Dragon Force?” Celestia shuddered a little. “There’s me, Blaze, Wendy, Natsu, Rogue, Sting, and I think that’s it, for now…” I smirked. “I wouldn’t say that Wendy needs ‘Dragon Force’ though,” Blaze grinned, “if she uses ‘Vernier,’ Arms;’ and ‘Armor,’ her breath attack is just as strong as your ‘Lightning-Flame Dragon’s Roar’!” “You’re joking…!” Natsu, Grey and Celestia gawked toward the Sky-Dragon-Slayer. “Yeah, when they were going to activate the mechanism which would’ve eradicated all of Fiore’s magic,” I frowned, “yet, somehow, she and Carla managed to do the impossible…” “And you also did the impossible by saving them from the subsequent explosion;” she gleamed, “your ability to fly through reality and then back again saved their lives.” “I just so happened to be there, nothing more, nothing less,” I barked, changing to eon form, “So you say, but we both know that you went with her to make sure she ‘pulled through,’ so to speak” Blaze grinned. “Eh, think what you will..!” I was silenced as the Sky Dragon-Slayer walked toward me, pecked my cheek, and climbed onto my back, beginning to gently scratch behind my ears, which I leant into, unfortunately. “You have that form only for entertainment purposes, dontcha Rick?” she beamed. “Getting beaten by a little girl again?” “This ‘Little Girl’ just so happened to have defeated one of the nine demons of Tartaros from the Book of Zeref,” I glimmered. “So she did,” the Typhlosion laughed. “She did WHAT!?” Twilight bellowed; I shot her an icy glare as Wendy clung onto me. “I think the phrase I should be saying to you is, ‘You’re outclassed here,’” I chortled. “But she’s…” she rapidly shook her head “she’s just a little girl!” “Even her size hasn’t changed due to everyone in Equestria having the same longevity and near-immortality, she’s around thirty,” I raised an eyebrow. “You do realize she’s riding you like an equine, right?” Natsu grinned. “Like you’re one to talk, remember that time with Asuka?” I laughed. “That’s different…” he mumbled. “Really? How so..?” I folded my arms as Wendy released her iron, vice-like grip on me, lightly pinching the corner of my ear, ‘tweaking’ it slightly. “Well, that was part of a challenge, besides, it was only for a day,” he grinned from ear to ear. “As you say, Salamander,” I beamed, Wendy having chosen now-of-all-times to lie along my neck, placing the side of her head atop mine, using me as a bed-and-pillow. “So, how long do you plan on keeping her up there?” Grey grinned. “As long as she wants to,” I shrugged, “So long as she’s safe, I see no problem in her actions.” “So, you do care?” Blaze smirked. “Of course I do, she’s one of my Nakama, why wouldn’t I?” I growled. “Nakama..?” Wendy bolted upright, staring down at me, eyes like pinpricks, “I’m you’re..?” Without warning, she leapt from my back to the floor, spun on her heel/toes so she stood before me; and then placed her lips upon my own, giving my chin area a light scratch afterward, I promptly collapsed to the floor. “I didn’t think she had it in her…” Natsu burst into a fit of laughter, Wendy, playfully, poked her tongue at him, taking me by the claw and dragging me from the room. “Help me…!” I groaned. “Why’re you complaining?” Blaze beamed. “I Dunno, why am I complaining?” I laughed, quickly being dragged through the castle’s front gates to the gardens, specifically, in a small clearing behind a tree and a few large bushes, rolling me onto my back, sitting upon my stomach as I lay against the tree-trunk… -=- “So, how’d ya take it?” Blaze grinned. “I hope that’s rhetorical, Blaze,” I frowned. “And why should it be?” she beamed, Snowdrop having perched herself atop my head, whereas Gracy Gloom lay along my neck, and the others were positioned on my back. “Because I have foals on board,” I glanced toward my ‘Next-of-Kin,’” one shouldn’t need to hear things at such an age. That being said… How strange can things get?” “Rick, you woke Cellsy with a love song; Twice,” Crystal laughed. “I was bored, a’right?” I scowled. “So, anyways, on a completely different topic…” she beamed. “Is there a reason as to why there’s enough bottle caps in you inventory to make a series of sleigh bells?” “You have sleigh bells?” Angel grinned. “Don’t get any funny ideas…” I grumbled. “Why not, we’re red and white, you have makeshift ‘sleigh-bells,’ and I’m sure Cellsy has a chariot large enough to serve as a sleigh!” she chimed. “It’s not even winter…” I muttered, “Besides, who’s going to paint the chariot in the first place, and this is assuming I’m even up for the idea.” She grinned, raising an eyebrow at me “I’m not pulling that thing Y’know!?” “Why not..? You’d make an excellent reindeer!” Crystal grinned from ear-to-ear, “Besides, someone has to do it.” “You’re serious?” I blinked, she smirked. “So you are…” “So, are we going to do it then?” Angel giggled “You’re not getting me to pull that chariot, sleigh/thing, whatever you call it,” I growled. “Aww, don’t be such a kill-joy!” she laughed. “And don’t forget, you already wore reigns once, didn’t you?” Blaze smirked, beaming from ear-to-ear; “Thanks to Littlepip anyways.” “Oh?” Crystal gave a wide, smug, grin, “Where are they now?” “Destroyed,” I snorted, “you didn’t really think I’d keep them, right?” “You’ve proved yourself stranger in the past, so I wouldn’t really be surprised,” she raised an eyebrow. “So I have,” I nodded as Wendy clambered safely to the ground. I reverted to human form, beginning to focus my magical energy into my now-clenched fists, grinning as twin spheres of pure, un-diluted darkness appeared around them “So, the same power from three centuries ago as unearthed, itself; hmm?” Blaze raised an eyebrow. “But I thought you had all of the Dark magic extracted from your very being!? What are you up to?” Celestia scowled. “Dark by nature, not by element, Celestia,” I quickly bowed. “I wonder, j7ust how many elements do you have?” Crystal smiled. =-= “Once I was back in the new form, with the now-prismatic/rainbow-coloured spherical dragon heads floating behind me “Fire,” I began as the middle-left head opened its maw, charging up a large fireball, “Ice, Wind, Water, Thunder, Light, and Shadow, Rise…!” as I spoke, the other orbs opened, creating multi-coloured fireballs respectively as I inhaled, exhaling alongside the ‘Dragon-Orbs,’; creating a devastation/titanic breath attack that annihilated the crowds areas of the arena, travelling at supersonic speeds toward the East “Endymion Dragon’s Roar..!” “Is this…! The power of a god…!?” Blaze echoed standing beside me with a somewhat disturbed expression. “And that was without ‘Second Origin,’” I laughed, reverting to normal. “And that was also with most of your Dragon-Slayer magic sealed away…!” Blaze awed, gaping at me as the others made their approach, Grey Natsu and Erza having left for the guild. “So it was,” Celestia, Luna and Cellsy shared a nervous glance, “Perhaps you should have it sealed?” “If it’s what’s necessary, so be it,” I nodded, with a flash of light their horns tapped upon my chest and head. “’tis done, Rick.” Luna smiled, “thou should rest a moment, as the slight amount of weariness should be taking effect at any moment.” “That’s certainly not a joke,” I collapsed onto my arse as I staggered, Snowdrop and the others leaping toward me, colliding with me at great speed, knocking me to the ground. “You’re brilliant Daddy!” Honey Heart gleamed, “I hope to be as strong as you someday!” “And so do I!” Snowdrop chimed. “Me too!” Winter Bell chorused. “I’d also like to be like you someday,” Scootaloo almost cheered, nuzzling into me alongside the others. “You’ve a fan-base,” Blaze grinned. “So I do, Blaze, so I do,” I laughed. “Just like the question ‘Knowledge, speed, or power?’ eh Rick?” Blaze winked. “I choose knowledge or speed, power is nothing, if you don’t have the knowledge of how to control it, let alone actually use it*,” I smirked, “besides, hit fast and punch hard, it actually gets things done; or at least, it can do.” “You’ve got the form of a pony, haven’t you?” she beamed. “Probably, I mean, even if I have, I’ve certainly never used it,” I shrugged. “Do it,” she chortled. “Nope,” I smirked. “Why not,” she blinked. “One word, Blaze, Arvak,” I grinned. “You’re not going to…” she gaped. “No, not now, maybe on Nightmare Night,” I winked. “So, there’s no chance of showing your pony form?” she gave me her best ‘puppy-dog’ eyes. “Alright, but just this once, and that’s even assuming I have one,” I grumbled, my form changing with a small eruption of light to that of a large Matte/Pitch-black stallion with a crystalline horn and solid and/or holographic wings with a dark, blackish-grey and poison green mane and tail with glowing neon green highlights running through both. “So, that’s your new form,” Blaze smiled, “I must ask, are you an alicorn, a Pegasus or a unicorn?” “Both a Pegasus and unicorn, but at the same time, neither, for both wings and horn are, or at least, seem to be, artificial, so technically, I’m just a deformed earth pony,” I laughed, Wendy choosing now of all times to climb onto my back, patting the back of my head with a gentle hand. “Where do you wish to go?” I glanced toward the young Dragon-Slayer. “Home, back to the guild,” Wendy smiled, and so, I took off, with the ‘Lady of Sky’ clinging onto me as I glided toward Ponyville --=-- When I landed back onto solid ground with a light tap, I trotted into the guild hall. “Thank you,” Wendy smiled again, giving a light giggle as she clambered safely to the floor, pecking my cheek, by now, all eyes were on me, even that of Makarov himself. “Just be careful, and stay safe, Ok?” I chuckled. “I will,” she giggled, (again?) “So, who’s the new guy?” A certain sniper-wizard beamed. “Why don’t we ask?” the woman next to him smirked. “Alzack and Bisca, was it?” I grinned, “How do you…?” Alzack gasped, my reverting to normal shut him up. “So, why were you in that form?” Bisca laughed. “I was just being considerate is all,” I chortled, “There’s nothing to it really.” “So you say,” she grinned from ear-to-ear as Natsu Erza and Grey walked into the hall. “Did anybody catch the pony that’s just walked in here?” Grey smirked, everyone minus Makarov pointed toward me as I changed to eon form, Wendy climbing back onto my being “So, you give rides now?” Alzack glimmered. “To friends and family, maybe,” I winked. “Well, it’s only logical that Wendy’s with you now,” he smiled, “she hasn’t stopped talking about you since you left, Singing your praises every now and then, just what did you two get up to during your various missions?” “Doing what we’re supposed to do,” I shrugged, “with both speed and efficiency, might I add?” “So you say,” Bisca beamed, “I reckon there’s something going on that we’ve yet to find out, isn’t there?” “What makes you say that?” I laughed; she pointed toward my head, where Wendy wa lying along my neck, resting her head side-on to the top of mine, “Fair play…” -=-=- “So, what other items do you have in your inventory?” Celestia smiled. “Well, there’s always this,” I ‘retrieved’ a certain ancient, legendary bow from my inventory “Ah yes, Auriel’s Bow,” Blaze began, beaming, “A legendary artefact of Tamriel, Crafted by the Anui-EL and then wielded by Auri-EL in an equally legendary battle during the Dawn-Era.” “I’d never of thought such an item to have existed,” Cellsy glimmered, perhaps I should get out more, explore the universe every now and again.” “And you’d probably be surprised as to where the bow gets its mythic power form, Princess,” I gleamed. “Where?” she giggled, I simply pointed upward, having returned to the castle nce Wendy and I had parted ways, returning with my family, Blackjack and the others separating ways also, if only temporarily. “The sky,” Rainbow Dash grinned “Higher?” I smirked. “Is it the moon?” Twilight nickered. “Similar distance, now think oppositely,” I winked. “It gets its power from the sun?” Celestia stared at me as if I’d grown an extra head. “Well, yes, and no,” I laughed, “It gains its power from Aetherius itself, using the sun itself as a ‘solar-gateway,’ so to speak.” “How is such a thing possible?” she blinked. “Well, the one who wielded it in the war was said to be a demigod, and the ones who created it were, in turn, gods or could be considered such.” I explained, smiling. “And what may be the reason for its oh-so faint, yet oh-so dazzling glow?” Luna awed at the artefact, eyeing it from end-to-end. “It’s enchanted to do triple damage toward undead, whatever that might be, skeletons, Draugr, zombies, ghouls, all dead, be it peacefully or otherwise…” “Draugr..?” Twilight shuddered. “Zombies, basically, only Nordic,” I scoffed, “they inhabit most of Skyrim’s dungeons, which are otherwise inhabited by bandits, Frostbite Spiders, Skeevers other forms of the undead, necromancers, fiendish-spellcasters , and the like.” “Such an amazing thing of beauty…” Rarity gawked at the ancient weapon, “Where did you say it’s from?” “Part of my adventures with the Dawnguard,” I simpered. “I just thought of something,” Blaze glanced toward me with a malevolent grin. “Celestia Dawnbreaker, how’s that sound?” “You’re naming a solar goddess after a light-based weapon?” I raised an eyebrow, she shrugged, “What do you think, Princess?” “I’d be honoured,” Celestia giggled, “But I must ask, what is this ‘Dawnbreaker’ you speak of?” “Oh this..?” I unsheathed the Daedric blade, which shone with the light of one-thousand suns from hilt to the tip of the blade, “it’s just another Daedric artefact,” I laughed, “I had two, but I changed the other one to the Duskfall.” “Why does it shine like that?” she gaped, gawking toward the ebony blade with shock-and-awe. “Magic,” I replied with a faint grin, “it’s enchantments to do extra damage to undead, and then trap their souls into soul gems, which are then, in turn, used in enchantments, or it recharge its own enchantment “Like necromancy?” she frowned. “I don’t think Meridia would approve of such a thing,” I laughed, again. “Ah yes, the Daedra you mentioned before,” she smiled, “how did you get into contact with such a being?” “I found her beacon, that of which I used to eradicate the shades from her monastery.” “I’ll bet you did,” Blaze chortled. “Blaze, she’s a demigod, and secondly, I don’t she’d go for someone like me,” I blinked, “Damnit…” “So, what do you plan to do with the crown?” she grinned. “What crown?” I blinked. “The Aetherium Crown of course!” she cheered, patting my back with a somewhat-affectionate paw. “Oh, that thing,” I rolled my eyes, bringing a mild-golden crown with cyan-coloured gemstones embedded into it from my inventory. “What other artefacts do you have?” Autumn Heart laughed softly. “A few important ones, and a few, not-so important ones,” I smiled, bringing out a large crate from my inventory, placing it on the floor beside two others. “‘A few’…?” she smirked. “I was in Tamriel for a while, let’s leave it at that,” I winked. “That’s a lot of gems,” she whistled upon opening the first crate; that of which was brimmed with crystals of varying types and sizes. “Yeah well, I had a lot of work in a certain guild that needed to be done,” I chuckled. “And what’s with these masks?” Rainbow Dash lifted an intricately carved mask from the second crate, glancing down at the others. “Ancient Dragon Priests wore those masks; that of which are said to bend the laws of time itself,” I smirked. “How…?” she blinked, I shrugged. “Hell if I know, I just thought they’d sell for a good price in Tamriel, never did get to sell them though, oh well…” I exhaled sharply. “And what’s with these?” She opened the third crate, glancing between several-dozen small/medium glass boxes, each filled with a different alchemical ingredient. “Rick had quite the name for himself as n alchemist in Skyrim and Raven Rock.” Blaze smiled. “Fake magic?” Twilight frowned. “The only such things as fake magic is that of which has no heart, Sparky,” I grinned. “Hexes, curses and the like are all fake, my magic, real magic, comes from within,” she placed a light hoof over where her heart was. “if you want to believe otherwise, I won’t stop you, Rick.” “Be it faith fortune or prayer, all are a form of magic, so why should alchemy be any different? Is it because it comes from an outside source? Or because of the atrocities people have done using said magic? Either way, it’s magic, and all magic comes from a heart that believes, Sparky.” I chuckled. “You had to paraphrase Makarov Dreyar?” Blaze chortled almost irately. “I thought it’d help, if only a little,” I shrugged. “Who’s Makarov?” Celestia blinked. “The Fairy Tail Guildmaster,” I beamed. “What’s he like?” she smiled. “Strong, Smart, knows what he’s doing, also knows what to do and when and how to do it, perfect for the job,” I nodded. “Speaking of ‘Fake-Magic,’ Blaze flashed a grin toward Twilight “does that mean your Thu’um is also a ‘Fake’ magicka, seeing as it originated from an outside source?” “I daren’t question Paarthurnax’s wisdom, and let’s leave it at that,” I laughed. “Fair do’s,” she smirked. “Thu’um?” Celestia giggled. “How do you think I summoned Odahviing?” I raised an eyebrow. “You got that magic, from where exactly?” she gaped. “It originated from the dragons, one of which, Paarthurnax, bequeathed it to the denizens of Tamriel, with the permission of Kynareth, of course.” “What happened then?” she stepped forward, forming a crowd before me as I closed each of the crates, placing them back into my inventory, alongside the bow, standing alongside the others. “The humans, three Nords in particular, used their newfound power against Alduin, defeating him, albeit, with the use of an ancient artefact, but that’s a story for another time.” “Aww,” glancing around my feet, I saw Snowdrop and the others crowded around me, staring at me with ‘puppy-dog’ eyes, playfully pouting. “Maybe later, Ok?” “Ok Daddy, we love you,” the five of them chimed in unison, almost chorusing as they did so. “And I you, my dear little family,” I smiled, “and I always will…” Snowdrop squee’d, hovering unto my head as Winter Bell and Gracy Gloom sat on either shoulder. “Never thought you to be a storyteller, Rick.” Cellsy nickered, “Why the change?” “Why would I change?” I simpered, “I’m just passing-on what I know, that’s all.” “So you are,” she smiled with a nod, “Safe travels, my little Shmoopie.” “Shmoopie,” Crystal frowned, “Rick’s my little eon, and that’s the end of it!” “I’m different, so there’s always that,” she shot me an icy glare, cold as the core of the arctic circle during mid-winter, “Sorry…” “I suppose you have a point, you are unique, there’s not a being like you in the universe, I reckon,” she smiled, pecking my cheek. “Not true, per se,” Lulania cleared her throat with a slight wince, “there is another being, just as different from his kind as Rick is to yours, Crystal, he is a being that goes by the name of Takua, have you heard of him?” “The Chronicler? Who hasn’t?” Crystal blinked, “last I heard, he was morphed into a toa, and then to a Titan-sized being, why?” “Curiosity,” the all-maker smirked, “I see that you’re memory far surpasses my own, congratulations, Crystal.” “Do not think of me as some animal that needs to be disposed of, pony, creator or not, you touch my little eon, and I will end you!” Crystal scolded the ancient goddess. “And I don’t doubt that, which is why I severed our relationship short long ago, two-millennia ago, in fact.” Lulania snorted derisively. “I’m all-too aware of your and Cellsy’s actions, pony,” she snapped, “can’t say I’m impressed with your childish actions, rather, quite the opposite.” “A God falls for a human, or vice-versa, said god then leaves for elsewhere, creating other gods, demigods and the like as she goes, and then the god councils with her greatest, the rulers of sun and moon, who betray the human, causing him to fall into discord, eventually bringing us to where we are, no?” Blaze scowled. “It’s almost mythic,” I shook my head, “And thus, I have another question…” “What is it that plagues your thoughts, Sir Rick?” “Do you, perhaps, know of a wise one known as ‘Holo’…?” chapter I arrival‘Tesla’ The name didn’t mean much to me –as not much did- it was just a name, and that’s how it would stay for the remainder of my days “First question, where am I?” I asked the nine beings ahead of me, three larger than the others with wings and horns, one smaller one with wings and a horn one was lavender, the second was white, the third indigo, and the fourth was pink “On the outskirts of Ponyville; Equestria; Equis” the white being’s eyes narrowed at the small ferret-like being atop my head “Like from the kid’s show” the ferret-like being known as blaze, the Quilava, smirked from atop my head “I don’t understand” she blinked “Perhaps we’d better go somewhere else for the Q-and-A session” I chuckled “Indeed” the indigo entity spoke with clarity and grace, with a great flash of light I found myself in a great hall with marble floors, walls and sky-high ceiling “You look pale, are you going to be sick?” The white quadruped smiled “Just a little motion sick; right TK?” Blaze laughed, I nodded “So, who are you?” the pink one spoke with a tone of apparent humour “Teslakana, or Tesla, for short” I held out a hand, she shook it with a hoof “and this is Blaze, my sister” “She’s your sister, but you look nothing alike!” the small white what appeared to be a unicorn gasped “She’s my adoptive sister, her parents were killed by poachers” I bit my lip “Oh” she blinked “I’m sorry to hear that” “Don’t be, wasn’t your fault” Blaze mumbled “So who might you ‘ponies’ be, did I get that right?” I tilted my head the larger white winged unicorn chuckled “We are ponies yes, I am Princess Celestia, this is my sister, Princess Luna, my niece, Princess Cadance, and my student, Princess Twilight” Celestia smiled “You don’t have a Prince, or a King or Queen?” Blaze blurted out, quickly covering her mouth with a paw “We haven’t had a king or queen for a billion years” Luna sighed “But we’ve a prince, two of them in fact, one of which is Twilight’s brother” Cadance turned a one-eighty on the emotional scale, somewhat “And who might you be, little one?” I glanced toward the cyan Pegasus who was hovering before me “I’M Rainbow Dash, fastest flier in Equestria!” “Self-proclaimed or actual?” Blaze yawned “Actual of course!” Rainbow Dash glared at her “I bet I could beat either of you in ten seconds flat!” “Blaze and I shared a glance, then burst into laughter “What’s so funny?” Twilight nickered “The fact that your air-headed friend seems to think she’s the best at what she does” “You have wings, don’t you, why don’t you test them?” Rainbow Dash snorted “Careful there pardner, we don’t know what he’s capable of, so why dontcha think before charging in head first, Ok?” the orange pone with a blonde mane and tail both styled like ponytails with a Stetson atop her head chuckled “Sorry there Sugarcube, Rainbow Dash dun half get excited when it comes tah competition” she smiled “Name’s Applejack, Ah run the farm down the road from Ponyville, feel free tah visit if ya get the chance” “We will, don’t worry” Blaze smirked down at me “Wont we, brother?” “Why not?” I shrugged “Watch out!” she yelled, I leapt into the air as twin white pegasi armed with swords and clad in golden armour brought their swords down to the ground where I’d been standing “Gem Dragon Talon!” I growled, bringing a suddenly-ignited foot down to the ground between them, the shockwave of which both sent them flying, and cracked the marble floor “That was magic,” Twilight gasped “you used magic!” “Still feel like taking him on Rainbow?” Applejack smirked at her cyan friend “Maybe I miscalculated a little” Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow “Stand down” Celestia also raised an eyebrow as the guards stood either side of me “How did you do that?” “I’m a dragon slayer” I grinned “You’re a murderer?” Twilight gaped “I may have the title, but I’ve never, and will never, kill dragons, especially if they’re my friends or family” I frowned “And how did you get such magic, or rather, where?” Cadance giggled “Classified” I bit my lip “With all-do respect princesses, I can’t let just anyone go there” “Fair enough” Celestia smiled “So, what is it that you are; creature?” “I’m an eon, or in this form, a human” I smiled “This form,” she eyed me up and down “explain” “By all means” I bowed, changing to my eon form “Are you a changeling?” she frowned “I don’t know what that is, some sort of shape-shifter I assume?” I tilted my head “They’re a race of sentient, and yet dangerous, bug-like species that feat upon love in order to sustain themselves” Cadance shuddered “If that’s how they survive, there’s not a lot we can do about it, unless you plan on driving them to extinction” I shrugged “We may have our dislike for them, but we’d never end them as a species” Celestia blinked “tell me, what is it that you eat?” “Fish, chips, pizza, salad, gems; the usual” I rolled my eyes “You eat gems,” Twilight stared at me in apparent surprise “you’re a dragon?” “In part, yes” I nodded “But you look nothing like one!” Rainbow Dash rebuked “I’m from an alternate world, your argument is invalid” I laughed “You win this one buster” she grinned with a slight leer “I believe it is time for dinner, sister?” Luna’s stomach grumbled with a slightly comical tune “Indeed it is Luna” Celestia nodded “I believe we can continue this at the dining table, Tesla” When we got to the dining hall, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy, having introduced themselves to me, I sat at the end opposite Celestia and Luna “What’s with the animal?” a three-tone dark blue mane and tailed unicorn clad in purple armour eyed me up and down “He is our honoured guest, Prince Shining Armour” Celestia glanced toward me, I merely smiled “Just be careful” Shining Armour stared at me in apparent suspicion “I have ways to easily make you disappear” “Feel free to try” I shrugged “Fine, you, me, arena, after dinner” he smirked “Is that how you got your title, by being arrogant?” I tilted my head again “I’m the captain of the guard!” he snapped “And I’m a brigadier of the UNSC, congratulations” “How old are you?” Twilight blinked “In human years, eighty, in eon years, naught-point-seven” I glimmered “So, how did you become a dragon slayer?” Celestia sipped her tea rather casually, all eyes were on me “I got my abilities from eating a certain type of gemstone known as Dragon Lacrima; whilst most second generation dragon slayers get it implanted into their bodies, whereas I’ve got it running through my veins” I explained “Second gen?” Twilight blinked “First generation get taught by a dragon, second generation get it by gemstone, and third are by both” I clicked my tongue “Taught by an actual dragon?” she stared at me in horror “Precisely” I nodded “Most of our world is peaceful; yours seems to be an interesting one, Tesla” Celestia smiled as I reverted to human form, still wearing my clockwise goggles and usual regalia, complete with goggles resting between my spiky brown hair and blaze, and my rucksack, which contained a soul dew, my laptop, with charger, a torch, and a few, ‘extra items’ “I must ask where you got that impressive attire Tesla!” Rarity stared at me like a predator does its prey when it gets a fresh kill “An alternate world” I shrugged “You have space-travel?” Twilight gazed at me, almost salivating “I can travel anywhere, and anytime, just by thinking about it,” I laughed “there isn’t a part of reality I can’t journey to” “That’s incredible!” Cadance whistled “It has its uses” I smiled “So, where do thou originally come from?” Luna simpered “Earth, population of around seven billion” I deadpanned “Seven billion?” she gasped “Tia, we haven’t even reached two hundred million yet, how long do thou think these humans have lived for?” “Around three hundred million years” I answered for her “How old is this ‘Earth’ you speak of?” Celestia “As far as we know, four and a half billion years old” I raised an eyebrow “why?” “Just curious” she gave a weak smile -=- After dinner, Shining Armour and I stood opposite one another at the arena “Get ready to lose, human” Shining Armour smirked “I’m not paid to do such a thing,” I chided “Neither am I,” he grinned, as the referee, one of the guards, lowered his hoof “Begin!” I went in to hit Shining Armour square in the face only for him to teleport away “You run from battle?” I laughed with glee “how ironic” “I never run” he hit me from behind, I turned around, he hit me from the side, and again, this time, from the other side “You say you’re a dragon slayer yet you have no weapons that I can visibly notice, why is that” he grinned “I use magic, not might” I sighed, igniting my fists in an emerald flame, catching him just on the tip of his mane as he tried to swat at me “gotcha” “Not so fast” he caught me in the side again Closing my eyes, I began to sniff the air around me, turning my head, suddenly sensing something from behind me, turning on my heel and bringing my fist down, right down on his skull, cracking his horn as the ground splintered open, rumbling in the process “There’s no way…!” Rainbow Dash gasped from the crowd “I believe that’s checkmate, Shiny” I smiled as he rolled onto his side, Twilight and her friends, alongside the princesses, teleporting beside us “Well played, for a human” he coughed, wearily getting to his feet, only to collapse, I caught him as he fell “How did you do that?” Twilight stared at me, mouth agape “Perception” I winked “That’s a dirty trick” Shining Armour scoffed as he managed to balance himself, standing upright again “In war nobody’s going to care what’s dirty or not, what matters is survival” I clicked my neck, shoulders and knuckles “Touché” he slowly nodded “I believe it’s time for some rest” Celestia smiled “Noted” I smiled back, falling onto my back, blaze curling up on my chest “Are you serious?” Cadance nickered “Here’s as good as any” I sighed “I refuse to have a well-mannered guest such as you sleep out in the cold” Celestia raised an eyebrow “Why not, some people count sheep to get to sleep, I count stars” I smirked “You do?” Twilight blinked “Stargazing’s an old hobby of mine” I clicked my tongue “it’s therapeutic I guess” “It is we who raise the moon and stars every night, fair Tesla” Luna stated with a tone of utmost authority “And I thank you for it” I glanced at her for a moment, staring back up at the stars “Now, where’s Orion?” “There he is” Blaze pointed to a certain cluster of stars “So he is” I nodded, “and there’s Aquarius” I pointed to a different constellation “And Leo “she pointed elsewhere” “And the phoenix” I gestured to a fourth constellation “And Draco” she pointed toward a fifth “Thou truly appreciate the night?” Luna bit her lip “Why not?” I shrugged “it may be cold and dark, but that doesn’t there’s nothing good to it” “Goodnight Tesla” Blaze yawned “Goodnight Blaze” I tutted, quickly falling asleep -=-=- When I awoke the next morning, I felt myself lying next to something warm and fuzzy “What in the fudge?” I blinked; Luna had chosen to sleep by my side, apparently in hopes to keep me warm with a wing draped over my stomach, Blaze was stood on her hind legs beside me, trying not to bust a gut in laughter “Tesla got himself a quadruped duvet?” Blaze grinned “Oh shut up” I chuckled, trying to sit upright, only to be pulled back down to the arena floor, Luna wrapping her hooves around me “Don’t go… my love” Luna mumbled in her sleep “That just cements it” Blaze cackled with laughter as Luna gave my cheek a long’ hard, lick, nuzzling into me “Pinch her lightly on the ear, see if that works” “Might as well try” I pinched Luna lightly on the earlobe, which caused her eyes to flutter open, staring at me as they went half-lidded, pecking my cheek “Good morning, Fair Tesla” Luna smiled “Hello” I mumbled “Do I make a good pillow?” “Nay, but thou doth make a ‘more than satisfactory’ teddy bear” she giggled, pecking my cheek again “Good to know” I slowly nodded “So it is” she nickered, clinging onto me “Don’t make us move from here, Ok?” “Fair enough” I bit my lip as Celestia, Cadance, Twilight and her friends trotted up to me from the castle “What’re you doing?” Twilight smirked “Apparently I make a good teddy bear” I nodded “So you do” Celestia raised an eyebrow “Luna?” “Give us five more minutes Tia, one does not simply leave from this comfortable position” Luna sighed “Why don’t you return the hug?” Blaze glimmered “Because I don’t want things to turn awkward?” I suggested “Tesla, you’ve only been here a day, and the co-ruler of practically what could be the whole planet is fondling you like a stuffed animal, what’s more is she’s doing it in front of her sister” she chortled “I fail to see how this could get any more awkward” “Damn you for being right” I cursed “I’m lovely aren’t I?” she cooed “If a little eager” I rolled my eyes as Luna finally released her grip on me, standing upright as I attempted the same, only to me met with a resounding crack “And there goes my back” “Are thou well?” Luna smiled “I’ll be fine” I pulled myself upright steadily getting to my feet “If thou are sure” she winked suggestively “Anyway, I do believe it’s time the sun was raised” Celestia glanced toward her sister, who nodded, her horn glowing as the moon was lowered, and the sun took its place “That’s impressive” I smiled “We thank thee” Luna smiled “Ain’t a problem” I shrugged, stretching my two sets of wings “So it isn’t” Celestia gave an expression as if to say ‘are you serious?’ I shrugged “Have you decided where you’ll be staying, Tesla?” “Not yet” I tilted my head “Thou can stay with us” Luna purred “Aren’t you getting a little ahead of yourself?” Celestia chuckled toward her lunar sister “Are kindness and generosity not two of the elements of Harmony, Tia?” Luna raised an eyebrow “Fine, but if Tesla says that something’s uncomfortable, you stop, Ok?” she simpered “Perish the thought dear sister!” Luna guffawed “Then it’s settle then” Celestia sighed “Tesla, you shall be staying with my sister until we can get you other arrangements” “Thank you, ‘Tia’” I smirked “Call me that again, and you get sent straight to the moon” she said, her voice sweeter than honey “Better stargazing for me then” I shrugged “Touché” she slowly shook her head, both her and her sister disappearing with a great flash of light “Did that seriously just happen?” Rainbow Dash laughed “Did what just happen?” I blinked “You just got hooked with Celestia’s sister” she grinned “I didn’t get ‘hooked’ with anyone” I frowned “I just so happened to get the arrangements for a decent living space, that’s all” “Keep telling yourself that” Blaze perched herself on my head as we walked into the castle for breakfast “I trust you had fun last night?” Shining Armour grinned at me like an idiot “Yeah I got used as a ‘Human teddy bear’” I laughed “How’d that work out for you?” he raised an eyebrow “Besides the concrete floor, not too bad” I smiled “You actually slept on that thing?” he burst into roars of laughter “And I suppose having a tattoo on your arse makes you any better>” Blaze smirked “It’s a cutie mark, everypony gets one when they find their special talent” Celestia ‘observed’ “Fair enough” I shrugged “Do humans get Cutie marks?” Twilight raised an eyebrow “Not unless it’s an actual tattoo or guild emblem, like so” I rolled my sleeve up, revealing the bird-like mark of the Fairy Tail Guild “It’s somewhat beautiful” Rarity hummed “how is it placed there?” “A magic, stamp-like device” I tiled my head “I’m not sure what the actual mechanics are, and I don’t want to get a headache from asking” “You had that stamped on?” she raised an eyebrow “It’s harmless” I chuckled “You humans really are interesting creatures” Blaze tutted “If a little odd” I nodded “Indeed” Luna simpered “So what’re you going to do for work, my little eon?” “I’ve no idea” I muttered “Well, how about you live with us?” Celestia smiled, all eyes were either on her or me “For what reason would you let a complete stranger into your castle?” I chuckled “not that I mind the offer of course” “Because I do not believe your intentions are that of malevolence” she simply replied “If you were; would you honestly believe that I would let you stay, even for a moment?” “Most people can be changed, if not reformed, you just need to know which nerve to pull, and how, when, and where to do it” I shrugged “Oh,” she raised an eyebrow, not looking at all pleased “and what would you know on the subject?” “Not a lot, just a tad of what I’ve heard on the topic of psychological warfare” I bit my lip ‘Definitely the wrong thing to say!’ “And what have you heard?” her eyes narrowed slightly, I felt as though I had a spear of pure light aimed at my neck “Nothing important” I gulped ‘Thank Christ!’ “Good,” she smiled “Now, about that offer?” “Might as well” I sighed “things are only going to get weirder from here on anyways” “Good, then I assume that you shall happily hold the honorary title of Prince Tesla?” she grinned “I what!?” I boomed “on what part of what imaginary contract does it say that I’m a prince?” Celestia teleported in a rather thick scroll which unrolled in my lap “Well I’ll be damned” I whistled “When was this made?” “Two-thousand years ago” Luna smirked “And yet you lot don’t look older than thirty at most” I blinked “Immortality has its perks” Celestia gave a forlorn sigh “And- here… never mind” I clenched my fists, rolling the scroll up as it popped out of view “You were about to say that you thought you looked good for your age, weren’t you TK?” Blaze gleamed with a sly smirk “Damnit” I held my head in my hand “We are most flattered, Tesla” Luna’s cheeks turned a vibrant pink tint “Not every day you get to meet such refined people” Blaze rolled a paw in mid-air, as if suggesting me to continue “Refined doesn’t even begin to- what?” everyone in the room was staring at me “Aunty, must we keep such a callous being in our midst?” A snow-white unicorn wearing a collar and suit complete with a flower to go with it and a mustard-ish coloured mane and tail raised an eyebrow toward Celestia “He’s our guest” Luna smiled “And an honoured friend” “He’s an animal” the unicorn spat “I’m also sentient” I snapped “So you can talk, what else, can you do?” he laughed “You don’t want to know” I growled “You dare threaten me?” he scowled “Not yet anyhow” I waved a hand dismissively “maybe if your intentions are ill of heart, then I might consider it” “So I see” he frowned “I’ll see you later, maybe” “Amen” I chuckled -=- “Tsuki Hoseki Ryu; Metsuryū Ōgi Guren Bakuhoshijin” I roared, releasing twin torrents of silvery-coloured flame toward the far wall of the arena, melting the outermost layer of stone to little more than sludge “Not bad” Blaze hummed “but why did you name it that?” “I’ll explain later” I smirked, inhaling sharply, exhaling a torrent of flame “Tsuki Hoseki Ryu Hokou!” “Star-Gem Dragon roar” Blaze blinked “Really?” “I thought it’d be fun, all things considered” I shrugged “Mushy” she laughed =-= That night, I failed to get any sleep whatsoever, so, doing what I thought to be natural, I got dressed and headed out into the corridor “Princess Luna is not to be disturbed” the guard outside Luna’s room deadpanned “I just want five minutes with her, that’s all, nothing sensual or anything of the sort” I raised my hands “I’m sorry sir, but I can’t allow that” he sighed “Look, I just want to talk to her for a few minutes, that’s all” I bit my lip “Alright, I have to award your perseverance though” he smiled, opening the door slightly, I nodded, walking into the room “We thought we made it clear that we weren’t to be disturbed!?” Luna bellowed “Luna, it’s me, it’s Tesla” I gulped, she turned to face me from her position on the bed “Oh, we did not know, please forgive us Tesla” she mumbled, her eyes were bloodshot with tears streaming down her face “Are you Ok?” I blinked, her appearance was heart-rending “We are fine” she sniffled “Tell me, what happened to you, you go from being the loveliest pony I know, I come to talk to you, and you’re like this, why?” I cooed “We have trouble socializing after our banishment” she stated coldly, gesturing for me to sit beside her, I did She explained to me about her transformation into a deity known as Nightmare Moon, her banishment, her return, and her apparent defeat by Twilight and her friends “I see” I slowly nodded “and this is why you have trouble, because all of your friends of old are… dead?” “Very much so” she wiped her tears away “Well, why don’t you start with me?” I smiled “What do you mean?” she raised an eyebrow toward me “I’ll be your friend, if no one else will” I draped a wing around her “Thou would, even after all we have told thee?” she gasped “A friend is someone who accepts your past and who you are, and learns to live with it, considering your beauty, I don’t think it’s going to be a problem” I smiled “Thank thee!” she cheered quietly, clinging onto me, eventually letting go “but tell us, what, was thy life like, before meeting us?” “Troubling, to say the least” I cleared my throat “if it weren’t for my dad taking me away from my mum, and this is before I even turned a year old, I’d be dead, simple as that” “How?” she frowned “Negligence” I shrugged “I was a literal human bag of matchsticks, had several nurses at the clinic in tears over the whole ordeal“ “Then how are you alive?” she gaped “My dad may’ve beaten the hell out of me up to the age of eighteen, but I moved out eventually, got a job down at Wareham forestry commission and everything” “Is that where thou are from?” she smiled faintly “Yep, one of the more refined places on earth, I reckon” I nodded “And you had to put up with that for seventeen years?” she blinked, I nodded again Her horn glowed a bold, cobalt colour, her eyes narrowing slightly, then widening “Thou are, telling the truth” “Oh thou poor thing” she draped her wings around me “here why don’t you sleep with me for tonight?” “Technically I’m supposed to be here anyway” I shrugged, stripping down to my boxers and getting into bed with her “So thou are” she giggled, draping a wing over me, using me as her personal teddy bear “Is this right?” I glanced toward her “What do thou mean?” she frowned “I mean, we’re to different species, aren’t we?” I flinched “Thou thinkest that we care?” she laughed, pecking my cheek “Touché” I nodded, pecking her on the snout, causing her to shudder slightly, I chuckled, my vision fading to black as I fell asleep -=-=- When I awoke the following morning, Luna was already awake “Sleep well Sugarbear?” Luna cooed “No thanks to you, yes” I smirked “We see thy cheap remark and raise thou one” she laughed, her horn glowing a deep blue colour as the bed slightly warmed up, its softness escalating exponentially “Oh Sweet merciful Thor that’s amazing…” I groaned “Would you like us to continue?” she smirked “By all means, do what you want” I shrugged she practically squee’d, the door burst open and Celestia appeared “Believe me it’s not what it seems” I bit my lip “What’re you doing?” Celestia raised an eyebrow “Tesla wanted to talk to us, and so he sought us out, we talked, he told us about his earlier life, and we about ours, and he accepts us for who we are” Luna smiled “Really?” Celestia glanced at me, I nodded “I won’t do something the two of you don’t want me to do, princesses” I bowed my head in respect “Then I’ll see the two of you at breakfast” Celestia smiled, walking out of the room “Luna,” I began, she turned to face me “I’ve a request I’d like to ask of you, if that’s alright” “Name it” she nickered “I’d like to be your knight” I blurted out “Thou want to be thine knight?” she held a hoof to her mouth “By all means, we don’t see why not, Sir Tesla” “Thank you, Lady Luna” I bowed “Now, thy princess demands love” she grinned =-=-= As I staggered out of Luna’s room, with the dark-coated princess by my side, I was caught short by a small ferret-like being running up the back of my leg and perching itself on my head “Have fun, Tesla?” Blaze laughed “I don’t know how to answer that” I blinked, walking with Luna down to the dining hall =-= “What was that racket I couldn’t help but hear?” the white unicorn from yesterday snarled toward me, Twilight and her friends sat beside me “What racket?” I blinked “The one coming from your room” he frowned I blinked “don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to, human, if necessary, I’ll protect my family from scum such as yourself with my life” “Three things” I raised a trio of fingers “one, you couldn’t fight your way out of a wet paper bag, let alone find water if you fell out of a damn boat, two, you’re being hypocritical calling me scum, and three, that’s my job now” “You what?” he alongside Rainbow Dash, Rarity Twilight and Applejack blinked “Perhaps you’d like to explain yourself?” Celestia raised an eyebrow “Well, it’s quite simple really” Blaze chortled “when a man and a woman love each other very-!” “Blaze, you are not helping” I quickly covered her mouth with a free hand “Aren’t I?” she fought her way free “Apparently you are a magnificent beast” “Luna?” Celestia grumbled “Is there nothing wrong with love?” Luna stated rather poetically “ “I’m not saying there is, I’m just asking you if you truly believe that this will work” she tilted her head “That’s what I said” I smiled “So be it” Celestia sighed As I stood in the centre of Ponyville, Blaze still perched atop my head, I tilted my head slightly “So, work” Blaze patted my head “Back to the crux of the matter” I mumbled “I’m sure you’ll find work fairly easy” Twilight nickered “How,” I raised an eyebrow “Well, I’m sure your anatomy has its advantages in comparison to ours” she smiled “Like?” I sighed “Well, you can reach higher objects without needing to fly, so there’s that” she suggested “Only by three or so feet, not much of an advantage if you ask me” I folded my arms “Well, ya‘ll could always try down at the farm” Applejack smiled “Might as well” I shrugged, walking with her and the others down to the farm “Welcome tah Sweet Apple Acres” Applejack gleamed as we entered the farm “It’s…” Blaze blinked at the surrounding area “It’s huge, you really own this?” I stared at the orange mare “Mah family’s had it fer generations” Applejack shrugged “it’s mah home, and ah’d not trade it fer the world” “Amen” I smiled “So what is it you want me to do?” I stood under the shade one of possible millions of trees in the orchard “Kick it” Applejack smiled “Or hit it” Blaze winked down at me, I winked back, bringing an arm in front of my chest, clenching my hand into a fist as I tensed my muscles, striking the tree, dead-centre, causing a barrage of apples to fall from the branches, landing in several large/wide buckets around it’s stump “You did that, in one hit!” Rainbow Dash gasped “How strong are ya?” Applejack whistled “Strong enough that he looks as though he’s broken his hand” Blaze tutted “honestly Tesla, you ought to take care of yourself” “Are you Ok?” Twilight gazed at my now bleeding hand as I let it fall “It’s nothing” I smirked, walking over to another tree that had buckets circling it’s base, reverse-roundhouse kicking it, causing more apples to fall “Ah think that’s enough, ya’ll can stop, Ah don’t want a potential employee ta get hurt, ya hear?” Applejack chuckled “Ya‘ll can carry the apples over to the cart, that’d be good enough” “Fair enough” I shrugged, lifting one of the containers, slinging my arm through the ropes that made up its handles and then did the same for the other, carrying both with relative ease “How in the hay” she whispered rather loudly “not even Big Mac’s that strong” “Guess I’m just that good” I muttered, carrying the apples over to a nearby cart, placing them down on said cart “Are thou sure that thou should be working here?” an ethereal voice giggled from behind me, turning around I saw Luna and Celestia “I’m used to it, Forestry commission and all” I smiled “Except that was with berries rather than apples” “We didn’t know that thou were this strong, perhaps we miscalculated?” she giggled “Hardly” I simpered as we walked back to Applejack and the others, picking up another two containers full to brim with apples “Howdy there princess” Applejack tipped her hat in respect “what can Ah do fer ya?” “We are merely here to see if Tesla has found himself a viable form of work” Celestia smiled “I’m not complaining, so there’s something” I chuckled “Quite” Luna winked -=- The rest of the morning was spent carrying apples from the trees to the carts, and then returning to said trees, in an almost endless cycle “Soup’s on everypony!” Applejack cheered as she rang a rusty metal triangle hanging from a low branch “Are ya sure you’ll be fine princesses?” “We are satisfactory, for now” Luna smiled “I’ll be fine” Celestia glanced toward her sister, then toward me “I’ll be there in a minute” I nodded “Suit yerself” Applejack nickered as she galloped toward the farmhouse as I forward flipped, landing on my hands, standing on said hands with ease, blaze climbing up my back and sitting on my feet “Are thou, trying to impress us?” Luna smirked as I stared doing push-ups (stand-ups?) “Nay, I’m merely working out, since I don’t think there’s a gym here” I grunted as Blaze used the space between my feet as a hammock, resting her rear on one foot and her neck on the other “Keep going on, eh Brother?” Blaze laughed “That I will” I bit my lip “How long can you usually last?” Celestia raised a smug eyebrow “And your sister just asked if I’m trying to impress you?” I blinked “Oh, the irony” “Putting that aside, I asked you a question” she chuckled “Maybe two hours” I clicked my tongue After Applejack and the others had finished lunch, they stopped as soon as they saw me “Well, well, well, look at you, getting tough are ya?” Applejack laughed, I said nothing, only continuing “Why is Blaze using yer feet as a bed?” “It’s comfortable, sort of” Blaze giggled “If ya’ll say so” she sighed “feel like doing a little more handiwork, stretch?” “Using my anatomy as a joke, that’s a new one” I nodded, Blaze clambering down onto the ground as I fell onto my front, stopping myself with my feet, standing upright “So, how many kicks does it take?” Luna grinned Kicks?” I backhanded the nearby tree, causing another barrage of apples to fall into the containers “why risk breaking my legs, gonna need them for walking” “Touché” she nodded as I carried the containers over to an empty cart, walking back with a slightly injured hand “You’re hurt” she stammered, her horn glowing, a spectacular cobalt colour as my hands were healed “Thank you, Tsuki” I chuckled again “Tsuki?” she blinked “It’s Japanese for moon, which, translated into Latin, means Luna” I explained “It’s beautiful” she smiled as I carried another duo of containers to the large cart, placing them down on said cart, rolling my shoulders, flexing my arms “Be careful not to strain thyself, Sir Tesla” she chuckled “I’ll be fine” I winked, carrying a third pair over to a third cart, placing them down “Next thing you’ll be pulling the three carts without a hitch” Rainbow Dash laughed “Flame of rebuke?” Blaze offered “If you would” I smirked, she nodded, breathing golden flames over me, which I ingested, eating all that she encompassed me with, eventually stopping as sudden, large amounts of power exploded from within me, causing me to burst into flames rather erratically “‘Dragon Force’” Blaze began as scales appeared on my arms, face and hands “the final, penultimate form of Dragon slayer magic, said to be in equal terms of power to that of an accrual dragon” “Watch the flames stretch” Applejack chortled “Sorry” I rubbed the back of my head as the flames died down, grabbing onto the ‘arms’ of the front cart, the other two being already connected and loaded with foodstuffs including cakes, pastries and so on “No way…!” Rainbow Dash laughed, walking beside me as I, slowly-at-first, began to pull the carts “Holy Buck!” “Rainbow,” Twilight snapped “all things considered I’ll let that one slide, this time” “So, are we taking this to Ponyville then?” I gave a smug grin “Sure are” Applejack giggled, walking with me alongside the others toward Ponyville “Is he really managing to pull those?” one pony stopped and stared at me as I pulled the carts into the market “Looks like it” anther one whistled “I’ll bet ten bits he’s hooked already” “Twenty” the first pony retorted “Fifty” a third butted in “Deal” the other two nodded in agreement, all three staring at me in apparent wonder as I stopped the carts at the end of the market stalls “Ah don’t know how ya’ll just did that, but Ah sure am grateful, thanks Tesla” Applejack glanced toward the three mares who had a laser-like focus aimed at me “Looks like ya’ll have got some unwanted attention pardner” “Don’t I just?” I clicked my neck, letting go of the ‘handlebars,’ clicking my shoulders, “Well, we’re not so sure, the moon looks to be a rather interesting vacation spot this year; don‘t thou think so, sister?” Luna chuckled “It’s Tesla’s choice” Celestia simply shrugged “My choice for what?” I blinked “Herding” she smiled, I suddenly felt rather pale “Are you Ok, you look a little unwell” “I’ll be fine” I shuddered as Applejack handed me a medium-sized bag that clinked when she placed it in my hand “Here, for your work, Ah suppose ya’ll be coming back tomorrow?” Applejack smiled “That I will” I grinned =-=-= That night, I found myself hovering in the middle of a road, invisible to all but myself in the realm of dreams “Who are you?” I blinked at the sight of the two unfamiliar humans, the woman, my mum pushing a baby carriage as a car with beaming headlights soared up toward them “Look out!” but it was too late, the man had already run to the other side of the road, where as it was too late for the woman, I looked away as the car hit her, tears on the edge of cascading down my face as my vision faded to black -=-=-=- I bolted upright, panting for breath; Luna draped a wing around me “Bad dream?” Luna cooed “Not half” I mumbled “Here, allow me to see what you witnessed” she placed her horn on my head as it shone with a deep blue glow, removing it a moment later “That’s terrible” she gaped, draping her arms around me “I don’t know what to do, Lulu” I muttered “Let us replay it, together, I shall be by your side this time” she chimed “Thank you” I bit my lip as I found myself on the same road as in the dream “Hold on” I squinted, staring down at the humans “They’re familiar, aren’t they?” Luna stated flatly “Mom…Dad…” I whispered as I watched my dad run to the pavement, whereas my mom= pushed the carriage out of the way of the car, getting hit in the process, she was dead before she hit the ground, my vision fading back to reality “My mom… saved me…” I gaped “She did, she saved thy life at the cost of hers” Luna nodded “how doth thou feel?” “Sick to my stomach” I cringed “We think Thou had best stay here, we shall get Celestia” and with that, she left, allowing me to get dressed before she returned with her sister “Luna tells me you’ve had quite the dream,” Celestia began, how, do you feel?” “Like I’m going to puke” I shuddered “I saw it too, I’d never of guess that-” I cut Blaze off with a glare “Sorry” “It’s not your fault” I sighed “I would’ve been honoured to meet her,” Celestia smiled “your mother I mean, sacrificing herself for her child without a second thought” she exhaled sharply “Although I suppose we’re stuck with you for now” “You hear of a friends’ family member dying and yet you joke about it” I shook my head, Blaze perching herself atop my head as I left the room, storming down the corridor and out of the castle “Do your arms still ache from yesterday?” Blaze stared down at me in curiosity as I took-off from the entrance of the castle, gliding toward ponyville “Not much” I tutted “They really know how to push a guy’s buttons, eh Telsa?” Blaze sighed “I know right?” I gave a sarcastic laugh as I landed at the entrance of Sweet Apple Acres “Ya’ll are here early” Applejack chuckled “Eager to start the day early or somethin’?” “You could say that,” I smiled “So what comes first then?” “Well, ya could start carrying the containers to the carts, same as yesterday, or you could plough the field that needs doin’” she shrugged, gesturing toward a rusty plough “That thing, really,” I blinked “you haven’t thought to replace it?” “Don’t have the funding” she shrugged again “And yet you somehow have me more than a months-worth of wages yesterday” I tiled my head ever-so slightly “Is there a problem?” she frowned “Not at all” I smirked, starting to ‘buck’ the nearby trees, collecting apples from them, and then carrying the containers onto the carts “Where’d ya get tha strength from anyhow?” she laughed “Classified” I winked “Ah’m sure you’ll tell us eventually” she grinned “I’m sure I will” I nodded, carrying another container over to a fourth cart, followed by another two “How many carts do you have?” “Quite a few, we need ‘em for all the apple trees we have” she whistled “I’m sure I spotted an orange tree somewhere” my eyes darted from side to side “There ain’t no orange trees here pardner,” she chuckled “nice try though” “I honestly don’t know what I was thinking” I rolled my eyes, placing yet another container down onto yet another cart “Ya’ll are doin’ great work there, Stretch” she nickered, running up to a nearby tree twisting on her front heels and slamming her rear hooves against it, causing it to shake as a proverbial rain of apples fell from the tree, I stared at her “what?” “Remind me never to annoy you” I glimmered “Nah, ya’ll are fine with me Tesla,” she laughed “just apple buckin’ the ol’ fashioned way” “I don’t suppose there’s another way a pony can do it, is there?” I folded my arms other than magic, or doing it by hand of course” “Nope” she simpered “So what’s living with Princess Luna like?” I hit another tree, resulting in a small sea of apple falling into the containers resting at its roots “She’s right behind me isn’t she?” I mumbled, turning around, only to find empty air, facing forward again “It’s interesting to say the least; she’s got well-mannered, beautiful, fun to be with, caring, wise, and a little cute” “Ah’m sure she’ll be glad to hear ya say that” Applejack smiled “Ya’ll seem to be cut out for this sort of work, where’d ya get the experience from?” “Wareham forestry commission” I shrugged, continuing the process of shedding trees of their apples into containers and then placing said containers onto the nearby carts Worked with them for a while until I got enough money to live alone, I don’t want to talk about the rest” “Fair enough pardner” she tipped her hat in apparent respect as an unfamiliar ‘filly’ (I think) with a golden yellow coat with a scarlet mane and tail wearing a pink ribbon appeared on the doorstep, staring at me in what seemed to be a mix of awe and horror “Hello, little one” I smiled “What are ya?” the filly eyed me up and down “A human, an eon, and a dragon slayer” I gleamed “You can slay dragons, like in the Fairy-tales?” she gasped “That I can” I nodded “Ah thought Ah saw somethin strange pullin’ those carts yesterday” she gave me the most adorable smile I’d seen thus far “name’s Applebloom, Applejack’s sister” she rushed up toward me, holding out a hoof, which I shook, crouching down to her level to do so, and then standing back upright “Did you really buck all them apples,” she glanced at the carts, and then back at me, I nodded “that’s amazin’!” “It is merely what I can do” I shrugged “But, how, how can you do such uh thing,” she blinked “it shouldn’t be possible!” “When you put your mind to it, nothing’s impossible, that’s the magic of life itself I suppose” I grinned “Ok” she nickered “You want these over at Ponyville?” I clicked my neck “There’s no way ya‘ll can pull all o’ them!” Applejack stood beside a large, bright red pony with a short pale brown/ginger mane and tail “Watch me” I smirked as Blaze breathed her trademark golden flames over me, inhaling and ingesting them, triggering ‘Dragon Force’, waiting until the flames died down, scales appearing on my arms, hands and face in the process “How did ya’ll just eat fire, mister?” Applebloom gaped “Magic” I winked as she clambered up my back, perching herself on the back of my head, resting her head upon mine as Blaze sat on my shoulder “Well alright then” Applejack sighed, placing the carts into double file, bringing out a large selection of foodstuffs, twice as much as last time “good to go Tesla” “Right-o” I beamed, straining my arm and leg muscles as I began to pull the carts, all six of them “Making good time TK” Blaze smirked as I picked up slight amounts of speed “I’d like to see you try this” I laughed, tensing my muscles as I picked up a little more speed “I’m not that strong ya know” she rolled her eyes “Fortunately, I am” I chuckled, nearing the town “It’s him again” the same trio of ponies from yesterday sighed dreamily, leaning over a haystack placed beside a nearby building, staring at me as though I were a knight-in-shining-armour “Good Morning” I winked at them, the one on the left blushed a deep red colour; the other two fainted “You can clip my rose anytime…” the creamy-coloured mare with the rose-coloured mane and tail with lilac-ish highlights cooed, waving lightly over to me as I set the carts up at the market “Flower pun” Blaze chortled “Ah don’t get it?” Applebloom blinked as the large red stallion folded down the sides of the carts, turning them into a series of stalls “I’ll tell you when you’re older, maybe” I chuckled, crouching down as she clambered down to the ground “Looks like ya got yourself a keeper, Stretch” Applejack laughed “Whoopee” I rolled my eyes as ‘Dragon Force’ wore off “There might be a few things ya’ll can do down at the farm, just follow Applebloom” she nickered “Will do” I nodded, following the yellow filly back to the farm -=- I can hear your footsteps you know?” I clicked my neck, glancing behind me; I saw the same creamy-coloured pony from before “Sorry, it’s just that I wanted to get to know you better” she flinched “Fair enough,” I shrugged, continuing to walk toward the farm “So who are you?” “I’m Roseluck” she smiled, but most of my friends call me rose” “And that’s the reason for the pun earlier?” I grinned “I’m sorry” she flinched again “I don’t mind, it’s not the worst that’s happened to me” I bit my lip “That’s both disturbing and somewhat relieving at the same time” she gave me a look of apparent curiosity “I’d rather not talk about it” I shrugged “And I wasn’t going to ask” she nickered “you are a strange being..?” “Tesla” I held out a hand, which she shook, smiling graciously “That’s a bold name, mind you, considering your strength, I’m not surprised” she eyed me up and down “I take that as a compliment” I laughed, finally making it to the farm “They still have that ghastly plough?” she sighed “and after all this time I still ask them to replace it with a new one” “I can do that for them,” I smiled “all I need is some steel primer and sandpaper” “I could probably get you those” Rose winked “wait right here buster, I’ll be back” and with that she left, galloping off at full speed down the road to Ponyville “Tesla got himself a girlfriend?” Blaze smirked “I don’t know” I hummed “It sure looks like it, “Cellsy’s gonna kill you for that you know?” “I can handle it” I shrugged “Could you now?” a soothing, yet regal voice echoed from behind me, turning on my heel, I saw Celestia and Luna stood there “Tesla, I apologize for laughing when I shouldn’t have earlier” Celestia bit her lip “I’ll think about it” I sighed, turning to Applebloom “So what needs doing, Applebloom?” “Well, we were gonna plough the fields, but since you thought of a solution for us, Ah think we can wait” Applebloom, nodded behind me, I glanced behind me again, Roseluck was galloping back toward me with a pair of what looked like saddlebags “Here we go” Roseluck smiled, handing me a tub of steel primer, a sheet of sandpaper and a brush “What are thou doing?” “Fixing an age-old problem” I smiled with apparent glee, walking over to the plough, scraping the rust away with the sandpaper, and then applying the primer using the brush “It worked..!” Applebloom stared at the plough as if it were brand new, seeing as that’s how it looked “now what?” “Now, we wait for a couple of hours” I sighed, placing the tub down by the plough, setting the sheet of paper beside it and resting the brush on the lid “How did you know about that?” Roseluck blinked “I worked at the Wareham forestry commission, had to repaint on of the vehicles once” I shrugged “What are you anyway?” she eyed me up and down “A human, an eon, and a dragon slayer” I tilted my head “You can slay dragons?” she blinked “Not sure on that one, probably” I hummed “Well I wish you luck either way, I’ll see you later” she winked as she started to jog back toward ponyville “A friend, we assume?” Luna smiled “Roseluck” I smiled “Ah yes, she runs a florists in town with her sisters, fancy a rose?” Celestia smirked “I’d rather have Crystal” I shrugged “What?” Luna blinked “It’s nothing” I mumbled as what appeared to be a rift in the fabric of reality itself tore open between us, and a familiar eon fell through “Crystal?” I blinked “Tesla,” the crimson eon gasped, pinching my cheeks, lightly tugging them, eventually letting go “it IS you!” “Who else?” I grinned “And blaze!” she whistled “Long time no see girlfriend!” “You know it!” Blaze smirked as the rift closed “So, how are things?” I smiled; Crystal clung onto me, almost crushing me to death “Great now that you’re here” she exclaimed “Can’t… breathe…!” I gasped for air as she let me go “Sorry, haven’t seen you in ages and all” she laughed “It’s been half a week” I raised an eyebrow “Same difference” she poked her tongue at me “Shall we, my love?” “When I see your smile Tears roll down my face I can't replace And now that I'm strong I have figured out How this world turns cold and it breaks through my soul And I know I'll find deep inside me I can be the one I will never let you fall (let you fall) I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all (through it all) Even if saving you sends me to heaven It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. Seasons are changing And waves are crashing And stars are falling all for us Days grow longer and nights grow shorter I can show you I'll be the one I will never let you fall (let you fall) I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all (through it all) Even if saving you sends me to heaven Cuz you're my, you're my, my, my true love, my whole heart Please don't throw that away Cuz I'm here for you Please don't walk away and Please tell me you'll stay woah, stay woah Use me as you will Pull my strings just for a thrill And I know I'll be okay Though my skies are turning grey I will never let you fall I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all Even if saving you sends me to heaven to fade” I sang with Crystal as a duet “To us” I grinned, holding out a fist, which she bumped with her own “How long have you two been together?” Celestia raised an eyebrow in my direction “Just over sixty years” Crystal pecked my cheek “And I’m glad we’re back together” “How’re the others?” I simpered “Aero’s doing great, Ruby and Blue Bolt have had a daughter named Flora, Angel’s going ballistic that you’re missing, and I’m here” she giggled “although Lyra’s sacrificed most of her energy getting me here, getting any more than one eon here would’ve killed her” “Damn” I swore “It’s Ok; Angel will be here soon enough” she winked “Speaking of which, where are we?” “Equestria” Celestia smiled “Fair enough” Crystal nuzzled into me “what I meant to say was why’re, we at a farm?” “Different world and I don’t have any legitimate money on me” I smirked “Seems legit, ironically enough” she chuckled “I know, right?” I laughed “So what’re we doing for work exactly?” Crystal giggled; I nodded toward the plough “seriously?” “The days-worth of goods is already being sold, so I don’t need to do any more on that department” I shrugged “And there’s no way you could prepare more for the next day?” she gave me a smile that melted my insides “You are the perfect eon” I deadpanned “I try” she laughed softly before saying “so, who’re they?” “I am Princess Celestia, co-ruler of Equestria, and this is my sister, Princess Luna” Celestia eyed Crystal up and down “I’m intrigued as to how you got here, but I can wait until another time” “Magic” Crystal winked toward me suggestively “So I see” she nodded “Tesla, we shall take our leave now, farewell” and with that, they teleported back to Canterlot “Friends of yours, Tesla,” Crystal gleamed “Sort of” I smiled “Tesla…” she groaned “Look, I didn’t want to end up as Luna’s personal teddy bear alright?” I mumbled “Aww, that’s nice” she nickered, sort of “Tesla,” Applebloom smiled up at me with her amber eyes practically shining in the light of the sun “Yes Bloom, what is it?” “Blackjack” she glimmered as something whacked me around the back of the head, forcing me to black-out -=- When I could stand upright, it was as though someone had shut off the sun, only to have it turned on again “Surprise!” practically the whole town of Ponyville cheered as Pinkie Pie bounded in circles around me “What the hell?” I blinked “I never got to give you your ‘welcome-to-equestria’ party, silly!” Pinkie Pie laughed “So you didn’t” I rolled my eyes as she passed me a glass filled with a strange orange liquid “What’s this?” “Zap-apple cider” she giggled “Fuckin’ awesome” I slowly nodded, downing it, tow which she replaced it with another “How strong is the cider?” “Strong enough, pardner” Applejack laughed “First timers are usually tha ones who last the shortest in drinking the stuff anyway” “In comparison to some alcohol from earth, this isn’t actually that bad” I smiled again “Thanks, it’s one o’ our leading drinks here in Equestria” she smiled “And I can see why” I nodded, downing the glass So what brings you to Equestria…?” Rarity glanced toward Crystal “Crystal” Crystal held out a claw, which, Rarity shook “And you two are, well acquainted?” Rarity smiled, crystal and I shared a glance, and then burst into roars of laughter “Did I say something amusing?” “It’s just that we’d have been well-acquainted sixty years ago” Crystal wiped a stray tear away from her eyes “Sixty years?” Twilight stared at me “you don’t look any older than thirty!” “Near-immortality” I smirked “I’ve got another almost billion years left in me yet!” the immediate area fell deathly quiet “A billion years?” Rainbow Dash whistled “don’t waste it, big guy!” “Wouldn’t dream of it” I held my hand with Crystal’s, changing to eon form, hovering beside her “So, are you special somepony’s then?” Twilight stammered “What’s that mean?” I blinked “Coltfriend and marefriend?” she rolled a hoof “We’re married” Crystal held out a golden ring with a diamond-shaped diamond in it “Congratulations” Applejack held up a glass, followed by everyone else present mimicking her, smiling at the two of us “Thank you” I smiled “So, how did ya’ll manage to pull all six carts this morning pardner?” she nickered “I’m stronger than I look,” I grinned “given who I’m betrothed to I kind of have to be” “Beg pardon?” she glimmered “Tesla thinks that I’m dumb enough to go falling for another eon, or that I’ll go missing and never return” Crystal chortled “It’s called ‘me-giving-a-damn-about-someone-other-than-myself,’ Crystal I frowned “give me a break” “I think it’s rather poetic, really” Rarity hummed “be sure to keep him Crystal, he’s definitely a refined eon” “What’d you do this time?” Crystal folded her arms, sighing as she turned to face me “Other than get used as a princess’s personal Teddy bear, not much” “Tesla we could here you down the hall” Twilight cleared her throat “Doing what?” Crystal clicked her knuckles “Loving Luna” Blaze smirked “That’s for not telling me,” Crystal punched me lightly on the shoulder, then pecking me on the cheek, and then punching me again “What’s the last one for?” I blinked “Not inviting me, dumbass” she laughed “What?” I blinked “It’s an open relationship, Tesla, don’t ruin it” she winked “This is going to take a while to explain then” I shook my head “Isn’t it just?” a familiar pink winged unicorn cooed, glancing behind me, I saw Cadance alongside Luna and Celestia “I’m guessing that you sensed the rift in the fabric of reality and were drawn here by that?” I tilted my head “No, I was drawn here by the sheer amounts of love radiating from the pair of you” Cadance giggled “Say what now?” I blinked “Celestia is the princess of the sun, Luna is the princess of the moon, whereas I am the princess of love” she declared rather merrily, eyeing me up and down “you’re actually kind of cute, you know that?” “You’re going to let her say that?” Crystal raised an eyebrow “I thought you said it was an ‘open relationship’?” I folded my arms “It is, I’m just curious to see what you’re going to do” she gave a sly grin “Tell that to Angel” I chuckled “She already told me about that” she raised an eyebrow “naughty, aren’t you?” “Tesla did the nasty?” Blaze laughed “Yes, apparently so” Crystal sighed “and here I thought you were off spending time with your friend” “Technically I was” I grinned “Quite” she giggled “Now, what’re you going to do?” “What do you want me to do?” I shrugged, she raised the other eyebrow rather sultrily “Best not answer then…” “If you say, Tsuki no Ryu” Blaze guffawed “Lunar Dragon..?” Crystal glanced toward Luna, and then back to me, eyebrows still raised “You really went all the way with her didn’t you, speedy Gonzales” “Just don’t get me smashed out of my brains and I’ll be fine” I chuckled, again “What’s the date?” Blaze murmured “Third of January twenty-seventy-five” Crystal grinned “your birthday in just under three weeks” “The twentieth,” Rainbow Dash beamed “Twenty-second” I smiled “How old will you be then?” Twilight smiled, leaping onto my back “Seventy-nine” I glimmered “That’s older than most ponies get to live” Rarity sighed, I flinched “What?” “It’s nothing” I smiled “Don’t lie; Tesla” Luna stood beside me “remember what you told me, about your earlier life, and that dream you had” “What dream, is it naughty?” Crystal laughed, I glared at her “Nay, it is tragic” Luna bit her lip “doth thou, wish to see it?” “I do” Crystal nodded as Twilight, her friend and a small, purple, bipedal lizard stood on her back “Hold on then” she held out a hoof, Crystal held onto it as Twilight and her friends connected their hooves with hers, I did the same, holding onto Crystal’s claw -=- We were back in my dream, the speeding car rocketing toward my parents as my dad ran to the pavement, leaving my mom to die, crushed under the car, but not before pushing me out of the way, still lying in the carriage, then the dream ended -=- “Who were they, and who was in the carriage?” Crystal blinked “Me” I bit my lip “Tesla,” Twilight gasped “that was you!?” “Then those humans were…” Crystal stared at me in awe “My parents” “Your mother died saving you, and you’ve grown into quite the… man?” Cadance giggled “I fail to see how one can leave their wife and child to die like that!” Rarity snapped, an awkward silence echoed over the farm “Nothing important here folks” I waved, everyone went back to their current ‘happenings’ as it were “But how,” Rarity gazed at me with intent “how can you live knowing that he-!” I raised a hand “I don’t really care, I’ve outlived all of his wrongdoings, and he himself, what more could I ask for?” “Your mother?” she shrugged “People don’t come back from the dead, Rarity, not ever,” I growled “not ever!” “Tesla,” Crystal clung onto me “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” “I only found out about it with the dream I had last night…” I struggled to breathe “and I didn’t want to ruin our reunion” “You…” she cried “always thinking about others “That’s me” I grinned like an idiot “Are we still friends?” Luna bit her lip, I sighed, rolling my eyes, gently lifted her head with a claw, pressing my lips against her, she forced her lips back against mine hard enough to the point where I fell on my back “Thank thee, Sir Tesla” she nickered, standing beside me as I rolled over, climbing onto my back, hovering beside Crystal “Not a problem, Lady Luna” I smiled “Lady Luna?” Crystal gave a smug leer “Apparently I’m a ‘magnificent beast’” I slowly nodded “So you are” she glimmered “my little eon” “My little gem” “What about us?” Luna gave me her best puppy-dog eyes “My little Tsuki” I smiled “Thank thou” she sighed “So I hear you’ve a somewhat addicted fan-base” Blaze laughed “That I do” I slowly nodded, noticing the three familiar ponies from earlier “watch this” I smiled “good afternoon, the previous fainters fainted, again, Rose just blushed “That did not just happen!” Crystal burst into a fit of laughter “I was not aware that you had fans” Celestia stifled a giggle “Neither was I until yesterday” I chuckled, again -=-=- Ah’m telling ya’ll that we can get our cutie marks on spelunking” Applebloom guided m, a small Pegasus named Scootaloo and a just as minute Unicorn named Sweetie Belle into a cave in the everfree “Are you sure this isn’t dangerous?” Scootaloo blinked as a low growling could be heard “That ain’t me” Applebloom glanced toward Sweetie Belle “Nor me” Sweetie Belle shook her head, Applebloom gazed up toward me, I shook my head, another low growl as six lion-like beings emerged from the darkness, all armed with razor-sharp teeth, scorpion tails, and bat wings “Girls, run!” the three fillies ran as I blasted a great fireball toward the lead creature, angering the rest, as I let loose a dragon’s roar of fire at a second, the third got me in the side with its tail, the piercing feeling coursing through my body as I ripped its tail out, using it as a whip, knocking the other three unconscious “And that’s game” I felt like vomiting Changing to eon form, I flew to the edge of the forest, crashing down on the edge of town, collapsing flat on my face, my vision fading to black once again =-=-= As my vision blurred I heard voices, alongside a repetitive beeping “Are you alright?” The pony at the foot of my be dressed in a doctors uniform smiled “Who are you?” I blinked “Doctor Wheatley” he chuckled “you’re lucky to be alive, Tesla” “What happened?” I sat upright, now in my human form, glancing to one side, I saw Twilight and her friends alongside Sweetie Belle, Applebloom, Scootaloo and Luna “You were poisoned with enough Manticore’s venom to kill a pony, that’s what!” he exclaimed “if it weren’t for these fillies you’d be dead, we barely managed to get all of the venom out, but we had to do a blood transfusion, fortunately we had a donor on-hoof” I glanced toward Twilight “no, sorry” Rainbow Dash “warmer” Applejack “Sorry pardner, yer Gettin’ there” Rarity “I would if I could darling, believe me” Luna..? “We’d do anything to save thine beloved” Luna gleamed “So, when can I leave?” I smirked “Any time you want, your blood levels are all normal and all of the venom’s gone, so I see no reason to keep you here any longer” and with that, we left “So what do you reckons gonna happen now?” Crystal glided down beside me, Blaze perched herself on my head as she leapt from eon to human “If I were a normal human, the magic infused blood in me would cause me to absorb more magic until I go into an aneurysm, killing me” I deadpanned, and then grinned “fortunately I’ve a few ways of getting my magic from one person to the next” “About that” Applejack lightly prodded my knee “can ya’ll really breathe fire like an actual dragon?” “To defeat a dragon a dragon slayer needs to take the power of a dragon upon themselves” I riddled “That doesn’t explain anything” she blinked “I refuse to use any form of offensive magic in a civilised area” I folded my arms “That’s rather noble” Celestia smiled “perhaps you’d like to demonstrate your abilities at the arena “This should be fun” Blaze chortled -=- Once at the arena, I called upon my dragon slayer magic, bursting into flames “Shall we begin?” Shining Armour nodded, I smiled “Eigo Hoseki Ryu” I inhaled sharply, Twilight, her friends and the princesses in the stands alongside Crystal “Hokou!” I let out a sudden torrent of pitch-black flames toward the armoured unicorn “He breathed fire!?” Twilight gasped as Shining Armour appeared unscathed, stood behind an almost broken shield “Not bad, Human, but you’re going to have to do better than that!” Shining Armour laughed “And do better, I will” I grinned, charging toward him, both fists ignited in flames, striking the shield, gleaming as it shattered like glass “Eigo Hoseki Ryu Tai No Tekken!” the second blazing fist hit his helmet, sending him sprawling “Told you so” “So you did” he grumbled as he wearily got to his hooves, staggering toward me, his horn glowing for a moment as he flashed a brilliant golden colour for an instant “Care to try again?” “He’s asking for more than he can chew” Crystal laughed “What do you mean?” Celestia blinked “Just watch” she smirked ‘Mom, this one’s for you, I’ll never forget you’ “Time to end this,” I spat, charging at Shining Armour, bringing forward a leg, kicking him high into the air “Metsuryū Ogi, Shiranui Gata; Guren Kuro Hōō Ken!” I burst into pitch-black flames, launching myself via said flames toward Shining Armour, hitting him dead-centre in the stomach, then doing a forward flip and bringing my heel down onto his back, sending him crashing into the ground, landing back on the now-cracked arena floor “Ah don’t believe it!” Applejack gasped “there ain’t a pony alive who could match yer brother Twi” “Tesla’s no pony” Crystal scoffed, gliding down to me, pecking my cheek “well done, my love” “Why black flames?” Cadance blinked “You can have it in whatever colour you want, so long as it’s black” I laughed “Probably from Luna’s blood transfusion though” “You had a blood transfusion?” Crystal stared at me “I would’ve done it, had I been there Hun” “I know you would’ve dear, I love you too” I glimmered “You crazy bastard” she scuffed up my hair; I returned it to normal as she started laughing “why aren’t I surprised?” “Cause it’s me” I grinned “Too right” Blaze perched herself on my head “So, what’re you going to do now?” Twilight glanced up at me “I trust that the market job’s already been done?” I clicked my neck “We’re waitin’ on ya for that” Applejack chuckled “Then that’s what I’ll do” I smiled, walking to the farm “Are ya sure ya’ll are Ok with this?” Applejack raised an eyebrow as I kicked a nearby tree, sighing as a small wave of apple from said tree “How do you mean?” I beamed “Ya’ll got enough venom in ya ta kill a pony” she stammered “I’m no pony” I smirked “So Ah see” she laughed as I carried a pair of full containers over to a nearby cart “Still wearing the clockwise gear then?” Crystal smiled with apparent interest “Why wouldn’t I?” I gleamed, continuing with my work “Just asking” she slowly nodded “So you are” I sighed Around an hour or two later, and I was starting to sweat “That’s starting to get uncomfortable” I shuddered “What do ya mean-?” Applejack stopper herself as I hung my jacket and shirt on a nearby branch “I can’t work wearing that whilst I sweat” I raised an eyebrow as she eyed me up and down “You alright AJ?” “Ah’m just peachy” she shuddered, her face turned a light scarlet colour “You surprised me there Pardner” “I’m full of surprises, stops life from being dull and boring” I chortled “Ah suppose so” she bit her lip “Are you Ok?” I tilted my head, carrying another container over to the final cart “Ah’ll be fine, ya’ll don’t need tah worry about me Sugarcube” she chuckled as Blaze breathed her trademark flames over me, which I ingested, triggering ‘Dragon force,’ pulling the series of carts to Ponyville “There he- Oh my..!” Rose gasped as she and the two other mares eyed me up like a piece of candy “Mornin’” I nodded, they fainted, rose’s face turned, well, rose-coloured, almost blood-red crimson, I chuckled, pulling the carts into the market, letting go of the handlebars as Twilight and her friends trotted/glided toward me “What on Equis?” Twilight eyed me up and down “You try sweating whilst wearing that clockwise gear” I folded my arms “it’s not exactly comfortable” “Your muscles structure’s rather unique” Twilight smiled, prodded my stomach with a gentle hoof “I wonder if I could make a new set of attire for you to wear as well as that other clothing that you wear, what was it, ‘Clockwise’?” Rarity nickered “Basically” I nodded as “Why do you have scales now?” Twilight nickered “Just a part of dragon slayer magic” I shrugged “What else can you do?” Rainbow Dash smirked -=-=-=- When I awoke, I smelt burning Steadily getting to my feet, I looked around, ponyville was burning, and Twilight and her friends were circled around me, surrounding by an army of greyish-purple bat-winged ponies with fans and lavender armour “Give us the human” one of the armoured ponies snarled “Why should we, you’ve already taken the princesses, what else does nightmare moon want?” Twilight snapped “Nightmare moon?” I blinked, remembering what Luna had told me “I think not!” I launched myself into the air, creating two large fireballs in either hand, slamming the combined inferno down on them, reducing them to ash “Eigo Hoseki Ryu No Koen!” “Tesla, you’re awake!” Twilight simpered “What the hell is going on?” I growled “Ponyville’s been under siege, Nightmare Moon’s back, the princesses have been captured and there’s an army of shadow ponies after our hides” Rainbow Dash frowned “An army versus me, what I like” I grinned “Where is she?” “Are you crazy, there’s no way you could beat Nightmare Moon by yourself! Twilight shrieked “Watch me” I raised an eyebrow “now, where is she?” “She’s in the everfree forest, in the princess’s old castle” Rainbow Dash slammed her hooves together “The let’s go” I deadpanned, sprinting toward the castle in the forest “Well what do we have here?” a pitch-black winged unicorn the size of Celestia stood before clad in teal armour, Celestia and Luna lying at the entrance to the main hall “Luna…” I crouched down, placing a gentle hand on her chest; she was breathing “thank Thor…” “Yes, that’s right” Nightmare Moon smirked with sly grin “she’s defeated, as is her sister, now, will you rule by my side, Tesla, I can give you anything you want, just say the word, and it shall be done” “Luna told me about how she wasn’t loved one-thousand years ago,” I began “but look at you, you’re beautiful, scary, but in your own way, stunning” I went on “I think they were fools not to love you, you are and always will be a part of Luna, and seeing as how I love her like family, if even more, I love you also” I bowed “You, you actually love me…?” she gasped “I’d never have thought such a thing were possible!” “But yet somehow it is” I beamed “it’s true that there are animals and plants in the world that grow, feed and live during the night, but the day is just as important, ponies thrive under it, as do the many species of fauna and flora that co-exist across this planet, they deserve just as much happiness on this planet as you do, and vice-versa, don’t let your gears get the best of you, without heart your love for your subjects will never progress , so please, stop this madness” “I…” she stammered, bowing before me “I surrender” “How on Equis did thou manage to do that?” Luna had somehow found a way to stand upright, as had her sister “I can’t say” I winked “You’ve a silver tongue” Nightmare Moon chuckled, pecking my cheek “I will gladly serve you to the end of our days…?” “Tesla” I held out a hand “can I call you Nyx?” “Why?” she blinked, shaking my hand with a timid hoof “Nightmare moon makes you sound like a vile beast, and something that belongs in the darkest of ponies’ dreams, whereas Nyx is actually kind of, well, cute” “You may call me that, if it’s any easier” she nickered “Well Ah’ll be” someone from the entrance let out a giggle, turning around I saw Twilight and her friends stood there with finely crafted jewellery hung around their necks, and a tiara resting on Twilight’s head “How’d ya manage to do it?” “I only fight when I have to, or when I’m really annoyed” I clicked my neck “and I think we can let Nyx go for now” “You’re going to allow her to roam free?” Celestia raised an eyebrow “I will do as instructed, per Tesla’s command” Nyx bowed quickly “Then it’s settled then” Luna faintly smiled -=-=- As we stood in the main square of ponyville, the citizens of said town crowded before us, muttering to one-another, staring at Nyx in curiosity “Can we have your attention please?” Blaze yelled, everyone present in the crowd turned to face us, now silent “Nightmare Moon is no longer our enemy, rather, she’s now an invaluable ally, and a friend, and I hope to see her treated as such, and I’d like for her to help restoring the town back it its original state “That I shall” Nyx nodded “Are there any questions?” I smiled, no hooves were raised “then I’ll let Celestia take it from here” and with that, I walked back to Sweet Apple acres -=- “Great work out there brother” Blaze sat atop my head as I carried a container full of fruit over to the first cart “Thanks Blaze” I sighed “where’s my coat?” “Here” she climbed onto and perched herself on a nearby branch, where my shirt and jacket were still hanging “That’s good” I went about my work, shedding trees of their fruit and then carrying containers of said fruit over to the carts (technically, they’re wagons, and shall be called as such from now on) “Wouldn’t want such a priceless gem to be broken, would we?” she laughed “Perish the thought dear sister!” I chortled “Now you’re sounding like Luna” she giggled “I did not mean to cause offense” I winked “Of course you didn’t” she smirked “Why would such a roguish being such as yourself want such a thing?” “I don’t know” I chuckled “maybe the universe is breaking at the seams and we’re all going mad as a result” “Wouldn’t surprise me” Blaze tutted “What’s goin’ on?” Applebloom appeared at the doorstep to the farmhouse “We gained a new ally” Blaze laughed “Who,” Applebloom blinked “Nightmare Moon, AKA Nyx” I smiled “Nightmare Moon’s back!?” she screamed “She’s our friend now” I cooed “you don’t need to fear her anymore” “But what about the night?” she bit her lip “That’s still Lady Luna’s job, so don’t worry, she, and the others will protect you, me included” I saluted “Ya will?” she ran up to me, perching herself on the back of my head after clambering up my leg “I’ll defend my friends with my life, if need be” I nodded “any friend or family of Applejack’s is a friend of mine” “That ya’ll” she yawned “Tired?” I simpered “More than!” she laughed with a tired look in her eyes as I placed the final container on the last wagon, crouching down as she climbed down to the ground “Now, run along, get some shut-eye” I winked, she nodded, skipping back into the house, closing the door behind her “Didn’t know ya’ll were good with foals” I turned around, Twilight and her friends were stood beside me alongside the princesses and Nyx, eyebrows raised “And you’re not wearing your upper clothing because why?” Celestia smirked “You try sweating in it, it’s not exactly comfortable” Luna grinned “don’t get any ideas” “Perish the thought, my love!” she laughed “Do you require assistance?” Nyx smiled “Just do what you do and look pretty whilst you’re at it” I shrugged “not that that should cause any problems, right?” “Of course not” her cheeks went a deep shade of maroon “Good” I chuckled, again “So ya’ll are interested in herding?” Applejack gave a sultry look “I might be,” I shrugged “Why?” “No reason” she chuckled “Just curious” “Sure” I slowly nodded, “Element of Honesty” she winked “Element of what now,” I blinked “Honesty, oh, that’s right, you haven’t been told yet” Twilight nickered “We’re the elements of harmony; magic, Generosity, Laughter, Loyalty, Kindness and honesty” she gestured to herself then each of her friends, Blaze perched herself atop my head “Cool beans” I shrugged, blaze once again breathing her trademark lames over me, which I ingested, as per the usual, beginning to once again pull the six wagons into town “He’s back again!” Roseluck waved over to me as we entered the main square of Ponyville, the sun gradually rising above the horizon “You didn’t raise the sun, dear sister” Luna blinked “I don’t always need to do so, merely because I can, Lulu” Celestia raised an eyebrow as I stopped the wagons into the centre-most area of Ponyville as the citizens that were busy helping repair the damage stopped and stared “I see you’re doing what you can, Tesla,” Crystal glided down to me, eyebrows now raised “why’re you... Y’know?” “You try sweating in that clockwise gear, it’s not exactly doable” I frowned “Fair do’s” she giggled “So, what do we do next, Sir Tesla?” “We do what we can” I sighed “and here I was, never thinking that this could happen” “Anything’s possible, my love” she pecked my cheek “Supposedly” I nodded -=-=-=- It took a couple of weeks, but eventually, the damage to ponyville was repaired “Greetings fellow subjects,” Celestia stood before the countless mares, stallions, cots and fillies that made up the population of ponyville “it is with great pleasure that I welcome four new citizens to Equestria,” she lifted a wing, pointing it toward me, Crystal and Nyx, Blaze sat atop my head “please, step forward “Hello Equestria,” I began, smiling, all were silent “I’d like to introduce myself, as some of you may know already, I’ Tesla, or Teslakana, this is my sister Blaze, and my wife, Crystal” a hoof was raised that of which belonged to Roseluck “yes?” “You look nothing alike” Rose giggled “My parents were killed by poachers” Blaze deadpanned “What about Crystal?” Rose stammered, I changed to my eon form, and the reverted back again “Fair enough” she cooed “So, what are you exactly, one of the ponies eyed me up and down “A human, an eon, and a dragon slayer” I smiled “You can slay dragons?” another one gasped “I can, but I refuse to do so unless provoked” I frowned “So, you’re a good guy then” Sweetie Belle stood beside me after climbing onto the stage alongside Scootaloo and Applebloom “That’s a matter of perspective” I chuckled “What’s that mean?” Applebloom blinked “It means a particular attitude towards or way of regarding something; a point of view, basically” Sweetie Belle batted her eyelids at me “Correct” I nodded “Are all ponies like you, wise beyond their years, or is it some kind of rare gift?” “I don’t know…” she stared at me dreamily, gazing at me as Applebloom dragged her away alongside Scootaloo “Just another fan to the list, eh Tesla” Blaze laughed “Looks like it” I smiled again -=- As I went about my usual work, filling and carrying containers of apples to the wagons and then repeating the process, I noticed a certain trio of fillies stood at the entrance to the barn, staring at me as I worked “You three Ok?” I smiled as Sweetie Belle Scootaloo and Applebloom smiled “We’re fine Tesla, just thinking about how we’re gonna get our cutie marks” Scootaloo nickered “What about dragon slayers?” Sweetie Belle winked at me “One, that’s borderline suicidal, two the process of even becoming such is painful beyond anything you’ll probably ever experience and three, you’re too young to learn such magicka” I sighed “Look, I can see in your eyes how badly you want it, just don’t be reckless, Ok?” “Ok” the trio chimed “Huh, odd” I blinked, turning back and getting on with my work “Tell me about it”, I glanced toward a nearby tree, Applejack was stood there, grinning “they’ve been tryin’ tah get their cutie marks for ages now” “And your advice on the matter..?” I raised an eyebrow “Let time do its thing, let nature run its course” she smiled “Ya’ll really are something, aren’t ya?” “Why’d you say that?” I tilted my head slightly “Well fer one, yer a human, now Ah can respect that, but a dragon slayer? That just doesn’t happen on Equis, hasn’t happened so far anyways, and then ya’ll reveal that yer also an eon, whatever that is, then ya’ll have been coming here for the past two tah three days and helping us with tha farm without a second thought, why?” “Cause, I’m trying to be nice” I shrugged “Ok, but why Nyx?” she raised an eyebrow “Not all that is dark is evil, merely misunderstood” I cracked my knuckles “That bein’ the case, why do ya‘ll have those things on yer arms?” she nickered “They hold my physical strength back, but not that of my magic” “Try taking them off” she smirked “If you say so” I sighed, removing the metal bracers around my lower arms, each one create a sight rumble as it hit the earth “So why do ya’ll need ‘Dragon Force’ to pull them wagons?” she giggled “’Dragon Force’ increases both physical and magical prowess” I explained “How heavy are these anyway,” she picked up one of the bracers, weighing it in her hoof “Sweet Celestia, now that’s heavy” she whistled and you’ve been carrying them around for how long?” “Around forty years” I shrugged “they’ve been enchanted so the stronger I get, the heavier they get” “You’ve had what on for forty years?” I turned around again, Twilight and her friends were stood there beside Nyx “These” I passed her one of the bracers “How heavy are these meant to be?” “The stronger I get, as I said before, the heavier they get” I glimmered “But that would mean…” she gasped as I backhanded a nearby tree, making a large indent that went through from one side to the other “That’s coming of yer pay ya know?” Applejack laughed “Fair enough” I shrugged “And since the human leg is anything up to five times stronger than the arm, you can imagine what that’d do” “Five times stronger,” Twilight stared at me, eying me up and down “how strong are you?” “Strong as I need to be” I hummed, carrying on with my work, whistling a familiar tune as I did so “Ya‘ll are that strong?” Applebloom blinked “That I am, Applebloom” I smiled “So, I heard that it’s a rather special day tomorrow” Twilight simpered “What’s the date?” “Twenty-first of January” she gleamed “So it is” I sighed “Congratulations, Aniki” Blaze chuckled “Are you gonna celebrate it?” “Not really?” “What?” Pinkie Pie gasped “you have to celebrate your birthday; otherwise it’ll just be another boring day!” “I’m not going to bother explaining it” I face-palmed “So, no party?” she pouted, giving me a look that, by the laws of physics, should’ve given me a heart attack “Do what you want, I won’t stop you” I shrugged again, pulling the wagons toward Ponyville, Sweetie belle Scootaloo and Applebloom jumping into the one at the front “Mush” Blaze laughed as I stopped the carts at the market, same as always, the same three ponies leaning over the same haystack by the same building, on the same part of town “Ah expect ya’ll are expecting a reward for yer work?” Applejack raised an eyebrow “Not really” I clicked my tongue “Well, here ya are anyway” she winked, handing me a large bag of coins “The extra’s fer yer absence fer the time ya’ll were poisoned saving mah sister” “No argument here” Blaze smirked “Blaze, manners” I warned her, walking back toward the farm with the bag of coins, Applebloom Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo following me there “So, what do you plan to do with it?” Blaze grinned down at me “I know that look, brother; you plan on doing something you probably shouldn’t” “Charity Blaze, charity” I corrected her, walking into the barn, placing the bag down under a large pile of hay, turning to Applebloom “Alright, little one, in a few days, maybe even tomorrow, when I give the signal you to try and get into the house with the bag I’ve just hidden, go nuts with it, if you manage to get any passed your sister, Ok?” “Ya’ll mean that?” Applebloom gasped “Blaze doesn’t need it and I don’t want it” I shrugged “go bonkers little one, take it now if you want, I don’t mind” “thanks Telsa!” Sweetie Belle pecked me on the cheek, the three of them rushing back toward town with the bits split between them in their saddlebags “What was that about?” Applejack blinked as I continued with my work “What was what about?” I tilted my head, pulling the now renewed plough along the edges of a nearby field “Mah sister and her friends just galloped passed me like they’ve jus’ seen a ghost, what’s more is they’re praising you like Celestia” she raised an eyebrow “Ya‘ll wouldn’t happen to know about that, would ya?” “Is it important?” I shrugged “If it involves mah family, Ah’ll say it’s got higher priority than the rest of Equestria” she frowned “Amen” I nodded “And where’s that bag o’ bits Ah gave ya?” her eyes narrowed “Did you give them away?” “Tesla’s now giving charity” Blaze grinned “Is that so?” Applejack hissed “Well in that case there’s one thing Ah’m gonna have tah do” before I could react she had stood on her hind legs, pinned me on the ground and planted her lips onto mine, eventually parting “What..?” I blinked “Ah reckon Princess Luna’s a might lucky to get somepony as considerate as you for a coltfriend” she giggled “Ah’m honestly jealous” “Right…” I stammered, getting back to my feet, now pulling the plough a little faster, nor working in the inner parts of the field “Did Ah say somethin’?” she smirked “Not at all” I finished the field as fast as I could, stretching and clicking my back vertebrae afterward, followed by my shoulders and ankles “Ah also see that ya‘ll fixed our plough, thank ya there pardner” she smiled “There ain’t any type of rust that steel primer and sandpaper can’t fix” I grinned “So Ah see” she nickered, I sat under a nearby tree after placing my shirt and jacket back on, picking them up from the low branch “Might as well remove those too” I rolled up my trouser legs, removing the hidden leg bracers on my lower legs “How many o’ those things do ya have?” she laughed “Just the set of four” I chuckled, standing up and walking back toward Ponyville “Tesla” Applejack called out, I glanced behind me “Ah love ya” “Fair enough” I grinned, continuing the trek toward the town “It’s the hero!” A pony from the entrance to a nearby house pointed toward me, to which the many citizens of ponyville crowded around me “Three cheers for Tesla!” he whistled “I didn’t sign up for this…” I mumbled -=- After the somewhat different hilarity was over with, I sat on the bench by the fountain “Are you Tesla?” a silvery/light grey mare with a long dark grey mane and tail with a pink bowtie and mulberry eyes sat beside me on the bench “That’d be me” I nodded “My name is Octavia and I’ve, got something I like to confess…” Octavia’s cheeks turned a slight pink tinge “Go on ahead, say what you need to” I smiled “I’m in love with you” she bit her lip, flinching “How so,” I hummed “I hot a glance at you when you arrived here with the princesses in canterlot, and then I saw you using your strength to haul those wagons in, and now I’ve heard that you saved the princesses, and now that I’ve gotten up close and personal, I do find you rather attractive” she giggled “do you accept my love?” “What would you say if I was herding” I whispered, leaning in closer “I’d be honoured” she bowed quickly, skipping off into the distance “Sounds interesting” Blaze cackled with laughter “Can it, torch” I snapped “Ooh, alright then, who pissed in your porridge?” she laughed “I skipped breakfast” I muttered “So you did” she smirked “Ruby and Angel are gonna kill me” I moped “I’m sure they’ll understand” she stifled laughter “Easy for you to say” I sighed “Yes, I suppose it is” she giggled as my stomach let out a rumble “Someone’s hungry” she chortled “And I gave my cash to Bloom and her friends” I sighed again “That’s karma right there” “No, Karma would be walking into that confectionery over there and finding a few muffins left out for you by those friends of hers” Blaze pointed toward a large gingerbread house “Let’s test it shall we?” “Might as well” I shrugged, walking with blaze to the shop, walking through the front door “Well if it isn’t the local hero?” a cyan blue pony with a pink mane and tail smiled “I trust that you’re the one Sweetie Belle left these out for?” she pointed to a card box, looking in aid box I found a set of triple chocolate muffins “Looks like I owe you and Applebloom now” I laughed “thanks for these” “Take care now” she smiled as I left “You owe who now?” Blaze grinned with a sly smirk as I sat back on the bench “Alright, I was wrong and you were right, again” I mumbled “Aren’t I brilliant?” she laughed “You’re my sister, so there’s something” I chuckled “And you’re a human, so there’s that” she retorted “Ferret” I simpered “Stretch” she tutted “At least I’m not a midget" i grinned “At least my arms are proportionate to the rest of me” she snorted “At least my backside doesn’t light up every time I get excited” I folded my arms “You gonna eat those?” she grinned “Obviously” I rolled my eyes, quickly finishing the muffins, Blaze burned the box, and I hid the ashes under the bench “That’s better” I walked toward the town hall, which had a notice pinned to it “A dragon problem?” I hummed “this should be fun” As I trekked up the mountain, heading toward what I’d hoped to be the dragon’s lair, I heard footsteps “I can hear you, you know?” I frowned; glancing behind me I saw Twilight and her friends “You heard about the problem too then?” Twilight pointed toward the thick trail of smoke “It’s on the noticeboard in town” I shrugged, continuing the walk up the mountain path “You don’t really think you’ll be able to beat it, do you?” Rainbow Dash flew alongside me “Never question our skill” Blaze gleamed “Tough guy eh?” she laughed as we arrived at the entrance to the lair, which was about twenty feet tall “What size do you reckon it is, sister?” I smirked, cracking my knuckles “Thirty to forty feet, probably bigger” “Just might make it to lunch then” I grinned “Who’s going to do what now?” a low, husky voice echoed from the cave as a large blood-red dragon with golden spines, wings and tail-spike walked to the entrance “You’re causing a problem for the towns below as your smoke is blocking out the sun” I frowned “Not my problem” he shrugged “How about I make it your problem?” I snarled “You think you can take me?” he laughed “I can kill you” I beamed “Try me” he gestured for me to attack, I did, letting loose a dragon’s roar followed by a brilliant flame “Flame of rebuke, let’s go” “Aye, sir..!” Blaze cheered, engulfing me in her trademark flames, which I ingested, letting loose another roar as scales appeared on my face, arms, and hands “Is that it?” the dragon growled, bringing a scaly fist down toward me, I backpedalled faster than he bought his arm down, lunging forward, igniting both fists in a whitish-golden flame, striking both down across his chest, forming an ‘x’ shaped scar “Eon Gem Dragon wing attack,” I spat, bringing a blazing heel down upon his crown “and talon!” I heard the resounding crack of his skull splitting open, “That’s your first dragon, well done Tesla” Blaze clapped her paws, applauding me as large amounts of blood poured from the dragons skull “No pulse?” I kicked one of the dragon’s spines, resulting in no movement from the dragon whatsoever “no pulse” “I reckon that head would go well mounted on your wall” Blaze laughed “You killed it…” Twilight gasped “Dragon slayer” I rolled my hand “besides, I was hungry, and annoyed, and I needed something to do” “You’re going to eat it!?” she shrieked “I’m an omnivore, and yes, yes I am” I clapped my hands together “Itadakimasu” “Chow” Blaze clapped her paws together, Twilight and her friends galloped at full speed as I tore out one of the dragons’ fangs, using said fangs as a crowbar to remove the scales, piercing a slab of the meat, using my dragon-flame breath to heat the flesh, eating it, one bite at a time “Give us a piece then” I handed her the fang, she nibbled a bit of the meat, quickly swallowing it “Spicy” “And savory, with a slight amount of mint” I nodded, munching away at the delicacy “if there a gryphons on Equis, we could probably hand this recipe to them” “Dragon-flame-grilled-dragon,” she laughed “hah, the irony!” “Ahem?” I turned around; Celestia, Luna and Cadance were stood there “Oh, hi” I waved, licking my lips “You said you wouldn’t kill a dragon” Celestia frowned “Unless I was annoyed, which I was, no thanks to tall green and gruesome here, but that’s over now” I smirked “We do not allow murder in Equestria” her eyes narrowed “And yet the creatures of the everfree do it all the time” I tilted my head “That’s beyond our control” she scoffed “And so am I apparently” I sat cross-legged before the large pile of gold, gems and jewellery that the dragon had left behind “besides, I was hungry” “How does that justify killing?” she scowled “When something gets hungry it hunts, it kills, and it eats; that’s nature” I shrugged. Handing Blaze another bite, which she all-but devoured “Go back a hundred million or so years and humans did it all the time, we still do it now, it’s called hunting, and it’s also a sport, only now we do it with semi-automatic weaponry” “You’re sick” she spat “I’m a human, what did you expect?” I sighed, taking another bite of meat, ingesting it with glee “So it’s nature that condemned this dragon to die?” she raised an eyebrow “It’s one of the laws of the universe” I tutted “it’s life, kill or be kill, hunt or be hunted, welcome to the proverbial jungle, Cellsy” “Noted” she sighed “very well, if you wish to do this so-called ‘sport,’ this ‘hunting’ I won’t stop you, just keep it within reason” “I’m not an animal, I know my limits” I huffed as they teleported away -=-=- “That was appetizing” Blaze and I let out a synchronized yawn as I carried the dragon down the mountain, leaving it on the edge of the forest as I walked back into town “So I heard you stopped the dragon at the mountain” a white unicorn with a spiky two-tone, blue mane and tail wearing magenta shades grinned “You could say that” Blaze laughed, the both of us having at least a third of the dragon “How’d ya do it?” she laughed “We ate him” I deadpanned, the three of us burst into sudden laughter “no really, I ate him” “You killed a dragon?” she gasped “What’s he taste like?” “Spicy, savory, and with a touch of mint” Blaze licked her lips rather fervently “Where is it?” she chortled “Can you even eat meat?” I blinked “I’m used to it” she waved a hoof dismissively “I still order those meatballs from Gryphus that Octavia still doesn’t know about” “Bitching” I smirked, leading her to the dragon carcass “Holy buck this is big!” she whistled “and you carried it here, by yourself?” “That I did” I nodded as I breathed a light dragon flame over the dragon, using the fang to cut a small slice off, handing it to her, fang included “This is amazing,” the alabaster unicorn cheered “it’s just as you said. Spicy, savory with a tad bit of mint!” “Should we be concerned that she can eat meat?” Blaze laughed “Vinyl!” someone screeched, glancing behind me I saw Octavia stood there, rigid, and livid, glaring at ‘Vinyl’ with pure hatred “you told me you stopped eating meat?” “I did” Vinyl gulped audibly “And I suppose that means that it’s Tesla’s fault?” Octavia hissed “Not entirely” I bit my lip as Vinyl finished the slice of meat, licking her lips as it went down her digestive system “And why’s that?” Octavia blinked “I got a rid of the local dragon problem, what happens to it then is anyone’s game” I shrugged “You’re eating it?” she gasped “Humans are omnivores” I flinched “Well I suppose I can let it slide just this once” she sighed “but you better clean yourself afterwards Vinyl Scratch, you hear?” with that she trotted away “Vinyl Scratch,” I smirked “Tesla,” she grinned, bumping her hoof against my fist “Nice to meet ya” “Likewise” I nodded, giving her another slice of dragon-flame-grilled-dragon-meat “This is absolutely delicious, it’s like when you work for your food, and you really work for it” blaze was gorging herself on her own Blaze-grilled slices “I know, it’s actually kind of awesome” I broke another fang off, carving out a steak, heating the scales with fire and then grilling the steak “That’s almost god-like” Vinyl gasped as I sliced it in half, giving her half, and blaze the other half, carving out a smaller steak, grilling it also, devouring it “How are we still managing to eat any more?” Blaze laughed “Magic” I chuckled, carving out three more steaks “good thing this isn’t on one of those TV cooking shows” “Just as well, dragonscale souffle “Scales aren’t edible, it’s be too much like eating glass” I shook my head “Let’s just eat” -=-=- “That was rather filling” Vinyl let out a yawn “I know, let’s just hope we don’t get any problems tomorrow” I laughed “you gonna clean yourself up then?” “Are you?” she purred “No” I chuckled “Neither am I,” Vinyl leapt at me -=- “That was fun” Blaze chortled as I rested myself against a tree down at the farm, staring up at the sky “What constellations can you see this time brother?” she smiled “There’s Leo, there’s Virgo, there’s Draco, and there’s the Phoenix” I pointed to each one in turn “And there’s Sagittarius” Blaze pointed toward the archer in question “Oh yeah, nice catch” I smiled “Tesla, this spot taken?” a rather dead voice sniffled, glancing beside me, I saw Vinyl stood there, her magenta shades on her horn, revealing a pair of lavender eyes, which were bloodshot “By all means” I patted the ground beside me, she lay down, tears in her eyes “What happened?” “She kicked me out, and now I’ll have to find somewhere else to live” Vinyl let her emotions out as she clung onto me “Easy, Vinyl, let your emotions out, it’ll be Ok” I cooed, draping my wings around her “How?” she wept “I’m at a loss at what to do here Tesla, I don’t know what I’m gonna do” “I’ll talk with her in the morning, Ok?” I smiled rather faintly “Ok” she sobbed, curling up on my chest “Goodnight Tesla” “Goodnight, Vinyl” I sighed chapter VIII changelingAs I sat on the edge of the stage in the now-empty theatre, on the following month I placed my rucksack beside me, rifling through the infinite space, having had it enchanted to hold an unlimited load, eventually finding what I wanted, and what I needed to use it Placing the especially made Pipbuck upon my left arm, hidden underneath the sleeve of my jacket, I turned it on, slipping the sleeve back over it as it clicked and let out a faint whirring as it activated, standing up and walking with my friends and family toward the main hall, rucksack closed up and slung over my shoulders “I trust that you’ll be joining us for breakfast, Tesla?” Cadance smiled as she skipped past me, stopping momentarily “Maybe” I sighed, she giggled, trotting merrily down the corridor, standing at the entrance to the castle, taking a glance at the Pipbuck attached to my arm, “Dawn of the Light-bringer” Blaze and I spoke in unison as the sun’s light basked the surface of Equis, not visible as it peeked over the horizon “Quite so,” Velvet Remedy smiled “she would’ve loved to have come here, toaster repairpony or otherwise “What was it they called you again in the wastes, a dragonoid or something like that?” “They called me a prodigy, the dragon-seer” I chuckled “now that I think of it, just how smart am I?” “Very,” Pepper nickered “or so I’ve been told” “You’d have to be smart to survive in the wastes, brother;” Blaze chimed “lest ye suffer an eternal damnation in an abstract, barren, hell” “Only with megaspells instead of hellfire and brimstone” I rolled my eyes “but it’s probably just as bad” “Will you allow us,” Celestia stood by my side, having apparently walked up from behind me “to see what you look like without the magic keeping your appearance up?” “Go ahead” I bit my lip, her horn flared, and four of my wings disintegrated, followed by both arms and my leg; replaced moments later by mechanical counterparts, my jacket now in ruins as scars were visible across my torso, the sleeve that hid the Pipbuck now missing “Now you see me for who I am,” my eyes locked onto hers as she gaped in horror at my new battered “I’m a right mess, and I deserve none of what you ponies give me, but you do so anyway, and I thank you for that, Celestia” “I’d never have thought;” she eyed me up and down “how’re you even alive!?” “Luck,” Blaze sighed “Tesla says he’s as lucky as a chocolate fireguard is useful, but we know better” “What’s that?” Celestia gestured toward the Pipbuck “It’s my inventory, and my Geiger-counter, among other things” I reached out to her, she took a step back “Tesla, I don’t think I can…” she exhaled sharply “I just need to think for a while, I’ll see you at breakfast” with that she teleported away, my form reverting to normal “That’s what you normally look like?” Littlepip gasped “Don’t get used to it, my dear Littlepip” I flinched, crouching down to her level, she suddenly lunged toward me, wrapping her arms around my neck “Don’t you ever go anywhere without telling us first; you hear!?” she lightly smacked me across the cheek, placing her lips against mine, standing before me, winking at me “I understand,” I nodded “come hell or high water, I’ll never leave any of you, ever, under any circumstances” “Thank you, my love” she smiled “Now if only we could find Blackjack-” Blaze was interrupted as I was knocked to the floor, held there by four metallic appendages “Hello Tesla” a white unicorn clad in black armour with barely any of her original parts showing with glowing orangey eyes smirked at me “How did you get here Blackjack?” I sighed as she let me go, “Same way you did, you didn’t just give Velvet a little of your power, Y’know?” Blackjack grinned “from what I hear, you’ve quite the herd” “We’re more than just herd-mates,” Littlepip nibbled on my ear, clambering onto my back as I crouched, stroking Blackjack’s Black and crimson two-toned mane “we’re lovers” “Isn’t that the whole point?” she laughed “So, what are you?” Pepper blinked “Cyber-pony, originally a unicorn,” Blackjack sighed “this is what happens when you bring an entire ship down on yourself and several others, to put it bluntly” “That, and taking a lot of fire” I nodded “Perhaps we can get that armour off, Blackjack” “Is that an invitation?” She raised an eyebrow “It’s a suggestion, unless it’s a part of you now” I smiled “The legs are my own, as are my wings,” she frowned “if you can return me to normal, now that I’m no longer fighting for my life, I’ll gladly repay you in kind” “I’ll see what I can do” I hummed -=- As we entered the dining hall, all eyes were on us as Blackjack sat next to me alongside Velvet Remedy and opposite Littlepip “What, is, that?” Twilight stared at Blackjack in apparent horror “Hello” Blackjack waved, Fluttershy and Rarity fainted “I think the question is not what, rather, but Who?” I chuckled “Indeed” Luna eyed Blackjack up and down “who art thou?” “Blackjack, or as I’m known as in the wastes; ‘Security’” Blackjack simpered “Can you remove your armour?” Celestia glanced at me, then toward Blackjack “It’s a part of me, which is why I asked Tesla to see if there’s a way to return me to normal, per se” she sighed, again “And you thought that here was a good a place as any?” Cadance nickered “I came here in search of my Alpha, so to speak” Blackjack nuzzled into me “and I found him” “You do realise he’s mostly machine,” Celestia raised an eyebrow “as are you, so it seems” “It’s not what people say, do, or seem to be that matters,” Blaze Blackjack and I smirked “it’s who they are that’s important” “Why is it, brother,” Blaze began “that wherever you go, you’re ridiculed, hated, and now, it seems, feared, for what you are?” “I don’t know,” I sighed “it’s getting annoying though” “One part dragon, three parts machine” Snowdrop perched herself upon my head once again “I do believe the quote is ‘one part brave, three parts fool’” Velvet Remedy smiled “Eragon reference if I’m not mistaken, Tesla” “That it is” I nodded “Tesla..!” Celestia was cut off as I stormed out of the room, followed by my family, friends, and Blackjack -=- “She really knows how to piss you off, does she not?” Blackjack glanced toward me as I reached into my rucksack, bringing out a set of a certain rollerblade, replacing them with my normal footwear “What, the heck, are those?” She laughed “Air trek, supposedly” Blaze smirked “They’re supposedly able to give one the ability of flight, even without wings” “But there aren’t any brakes” Pepper tilted her head as Blaze and Snowdrop landed by my side “Who needs brakes?” I grinned, pressing down with my feet as I leant forward, catching up in speed rather rapidly as I raced around the gardens, spiralling up the tallest tree I could find, turning and leaping toward the castle walls, figuratively soaring before I hit the stone wall, gliding up across the completely level surface, taking to the air as I practically rocketed from the roof into the skies above doing a triple backflip as I spun around, sliding back down the wall diagonally “That’s incredible!” Blackjack stared at me as I landed beside her and the others “That’s basic stuff” Blaze glimmered “you put those things on, and the whole world becomes your plaything, a giant, multi-levelled rad, as it were” “What’s all the commotion?” Celestia teleported in front of us alongside Twilight and her friends “Learning to fly, without using my wings” I chuckled “And that dreadful screeching?” rarity shuddered “Wouldn’t you like to know?” Blaze clambered onto my shoulder as I took off again, gliding across the ground, racing up the castle walls once more “Here, comes the boom,” she gleamed with a sly grin as I took to the skies a second time, leaping from my shoulder, spinning forward into a wheel-like formation, engulfing herself in her own flames, hitting the ground with a sickening crack, creating a sizeable crater “Blaze bomb!” “He’s actually flying,” Twilight and Rainbow Dash stared at me as I took off from the castle’s roof into the space above the gardens “How is that possible?” they blinked as I landed “Momentum,” Blaze laughed “put down enough pressure on those things and you can do anything” “Try doing an attack with them on” Celestia glanced down toward the ‘Air Trek’ “If you say so, princess” I shrugged, grinding the last word to spittle as I took to the sky one final time, igniting my hands and feet, “Suishō hasu, Karyu Ken,” I beamed, firing off Gatling-like punches, gradually slowing to a halt as I started to continuously flip forward, hitting the ground with the back of my feet, creating a ring of fire around me as I kicked the ground, creating another crater “Eigo Hoseki Ryu Kaiten Kagizume” “That’s quite impressive,” Twilight gawked at me, quickly shaking her head “Where did you get them?” “Alternate earth,” I shrugged “cheap too” “Spent ten years trying to get it right” Blaze quickly covered her mouth “How old are you?” Celestia’s eyes narrowed “Why do you care,” I snapped “last time I tried to talk to you, you ran, so why should I try again, knowing the result’s going to be the same?” “Because I love you” she bit her lip “Now you love me<” I scowled “when it’s all fun and games you say that you love me, but as soon as I mention anything to do with my past or what I’ve been through it all goes awry,” I glowered with unadulterated rage “with ponies like you; is it any fucking wonder Nightmare Moon exists?” I spat, changing to eon form, Pepper, Littlepip, and Velvet Remedy climbing onto my back, Blaze unto my neck, and Snowdrop unto my head, but not before slinging my rucksack over my shoulders, Blackjack flying alongside me as I left =-= “Too harsh,” Blaze chortled as we flew through the Everfree forest “I don’t care” I scorned as I entered the castle in the forest, gliding toward the throne room “all I care about is getting to Nyx” and there she was, as I entered the throne room, there, stood all her glory, teal armour and pitch-black coat with a royal blue mane and tail filled with stars, smiling down at me, was Nyx, my family and friends immediately made for the floor as I reverted to human form “I’ve been expecting you, Tesla,” Nyx smirked “have you come to redact your knighthood to the supposed ‘princesses’?” “I have” I nodded, walking up to her, having replaced the ‘Air Trek’ with my normal boots, drawing the Dawnbreaker, handing it to her as I bowed on one knee “Ah yes, the Dawnbreaker, or so I’ve heard<” she simpered, her horn glowing a brilliant sapphire as the light that echoed from the enchanted sword turned black as night “Now better known as the Duskfall,” she placed the blade against either shoulder “I hereby Dub you; ‘Sir Teslakana of the midnight Blaze” I felt a burning sensation as my wings were somewhat altered, glancing back, I saw that they’d also turned pitch-black “I’ve also given you half of my magic, changing it into something compatible for you, dragon slayer” she winked “Mayonaka no honō no Kishi” Blaze and I smiled as we marched into ponyville “That’s a mouthful and a half” “And the magic she gave me is making me feel numb” I cringed “It’s going to take time for your magic to match hers, just wait a bit, and see what happens” Littlepip smiled “Might as well” Blackjack and I rolled our eyes “You didn’t tell me you were allies with Nightmare Moon, tesla” “I think she prefers the name ‘Nyx,’” I chuckled “I came up with it because I don’t want her name to sound akin to that of an actual nightmare, or a monster” “Nyx is adorable, as a name I mean, Daddy” Snowdrop chimed “So it is” I smiled “Also your jacket’s changed colour” Pepper nickered, I glanced down at my jacket, it’d gone from a mildly coloured brown with golden trimming, to a vivid, dark, indigo colouration with black trimming “That’s interesting,” Blaze hummed “perhaps it’s to do with the magic input you received from Nyx” “Blaze, do you realize what we could do now?” I gave a smug grin “And risk destroying you r new home?” she blinked “don’t think so” “And here I’m usually the one who says that” I tilted my head ever-so slightly, since Snowdrop had, once again, perched herself there “now who’s up for waffles?” -=-=-=- The following morning, I slouched out of bed, quickly getting showered and dressed, walking down to the main hall, my friends and family joining me as I did so “So, ready to test out the newly upgraded spells, yet, brother?” “Upgraded?” Twilight, Spike, her friends –save Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie-, and the princesses appeared before me, trotting toward me “What does she mean, Tesla,” Celestia glanced at my wings and I also notice that your wings have changed in colouration, why is that exactly?” “Magic infusion” Blaze chortled “Where were thou yesterday,” Luna’s eyes narrowed “and why doth thy presence seem darker than before?” I raised an eyebrow “You didn’t,” Celestia stared at me “Tesla, you’re a fool; how much magic did she give you?” “I’m not saying a damn thing” I snapped “because if I do you’ll just try to vanquish her like you did the last time, isn’t that right, princess?” “I’m not going to do anything; I only wish to help you” she raised an eyebrow “That’s what he said” I muttered under my breath “And look what happened then” Blaze sighed as I walked with my friends and family out onto the arena “Feel like using magic yet, TK?” she smiled “I’m gonna to try something new” I smirked “That’s what she said” Blackjack laughed “So she did” I nodded, placing one arm out straight in front of me and the second bent beside me, firing the latter arm, both fists ignited and instantly pulling back, firing what seemed to be a sphere of black, fiery magic that cracked the far wall “Karyu no Higan” Blaze nodded “Not bad, but now let’s see what multiple attacks can do” “Metsuryū Ogi,” I grinned, my fists still blazing with a pitch-black flame “Yami Suishō hasu Karyu Ken” After the attack finished, there was nothing left of the far wall or the seats that were built behind it “Now that’s what I call firepower!” Littlepip Blackjack guffawed “Pun intended?” I smiled “But of course” she laughed -=- As I burst into the throne room of the castle in the Everfree, I saw Nyx stood there, staring down at eight familiar ponies in apparent fear “You have reduced Tesla to nothing but a shadow of his former self” Celestia snarled “how do you plead?” “I will gladly give my life for Tesla” Nyx bowed her head “do what you will, I will not resist your punishment, princess of the day” it was then that I noticed twilight and her friends wearing a set of rather intriguing jewellery, which shone as Twilight’s eyes glowed, I rocketed toward Nyx as a rainbow beam of energy arced toward the ceiling, and down toward her, using myself as a shield, setting myself alight with a pitch black flame The rainbow beam collided against my body, seemingly disintegrating as it rebounded to the far corners of the throne room “Is that it?” I clicked my neck “No wonder the megaspell from the crusader mainframe failed” “I can’t believe it,” Twilight gasped “why didn’t the elements work!?” “It’s only logical,” Celestia sighed “the elements of harmony always stay true to their creators and masters, the elements of nature, and as such, would never harm them, regardless of who the bearers of either sets of the elements might be,” she went on “you knew that, right?” “There’s nothing I know about my kind, as an eon, I know next to nothing other than the fact that I’m an element -or bearer of an element of nature-, besides, I only got here not a year ago” I shrugged “The elements of harmony were created by the eons as a somewhat weaker failsafe, in case there was such an event in which darkness swept across the country,” Celestia frowned “to think that you, of all ponies, would kneel before Nightmare Moon as her knight, the irony of it all” “Mayonaka no Honō no Kishi” Blaze perched herself atop my shoulder “Ore wo dare da to omotte yagaru?” I grinned “Which translates to what, exactly?” Nyx nickered “Who the hell do you think I am?” I smirked “Quite so” Luna’s eyes narrowed “We’re not leaving until Nightmare Moon is no longer a problem, to anyone” Celestia glared daggers toward Nyx “Didn’t you yourself allow her entry into ponyville?” I raised an eyebrow “That’s in the past, this is now” she snapped “First you take everything from me on earth, and now you’re trying it on again,” I glowered “there’s just no end to your tyranny is there?” I shook my head “I’m not doing this for me,” she looked hurt “I’m doing this for Equestria, if she’s not here, then the dragons, gryphons Minotaur’s and other inhabitants of Equis have nothing to fear” “No because they’ll be too busy running from your iron-handed rule,” I spat “I think Faust would make a much better ruler, but then, that’s my opinion” “How can you say such a thing,” Twilight screamed” I’d like to see you do any better!” “You would?” I blinked “Blackjack here’s the queen of the wastes, and I’m the leader of the dark Brotherhood, the companions’ guild the thieves’ guild and the champion to the dark gods of Skyrim known as Daedra, what you gonna do?” “You worship the dark gods?” Celestia scowled “One, I don’t worship them, I do their work for them,” I snarled “and two, not all that is dark is evil, simply misunderstood, like Nyx here” “Thou would allow her to roam free to do as she pleases?” Luna growled “Within reason, yes, I would,” I tutted “I would rather perish than see one of my beloved friends fall to the likes of you, Celestia, and you as well, Luna” “You dare defy us?” if looks could kill, It would have done just that “Just look around you, princesses,” I gave a sly grin “the people of the world are builders, but if you look deep into their hearts, you’d also find the power to destroy,” I went on I am that power, I am destruction, and I WILL destroy you, if need be” “You are an element of natured, Tesla,” Celestia scowled “we are elements of creation, that of which cannot be harmed by a minute power such as yours” “Zancrow said something like that, and he’s a flame god slayer, and look what happened to him!” Blaze laughed “Why would you go that far just for one pony,” Twilight frowned “it’s not logical!” “I thought you ponies were the ones who revelled in friendship, and yet you haven’t the slightest idea of the concept, illogical as it all may be,” I chortled “you talk to me about such things, I’ve only one thing to say to you, twilight Sparkle; you’re out of your league!” “But why,” she shook her head, gawking at me “why go so far as to risk your own life to protect your friends?” “Because I don’t want to lose anyone again,” I blurted out, flinched “Celestia’s the one who manipulated my life, and therefor separated me from the one being who made my life worth living, that’s why I’ll fight until I die,” I went on “if you so even as much as think as doing it again, it’ll be a downright bloodbath!” “He ain’t lying” Applejack looked at me dead in the eyes “Ah dun believe it, why’d ya do it Princess?” “I…” Celestia stammered; everyone in the room was staring at her as a snow-white figure walked up beside her; she gasped “Mother I-!” “I’m disappointed in you, Celly” Faust frowned “I warned you about delving too much time into Tesla and what he was doing, I could allow taking a peek, but changing him like that, possibly scarring him for life, how could you think to do such a thing ?” “I… I’m sorry, truly” Celestia glanced up toward her mother, then toward me “I think you’d better go to your room, Celestia” she raised an eyebrow, Celestia teleported out of the room, she turned to me, trotting toward me, stopping no further than a meter away from me “Tesla, I’m sorry for all the trouble she’s caused you, if ever you need anything, don’t be afraid to ask, Ok?” she winked “I can’t thank you enough” I bowed quickly “And as for you” Faust toward Nyx “you are free to do as you please, within reason, Nyx” “Thank you, Faust” Nyx glimmered “Are you an element of creation?” Snowdrop perched herself on my head “I am,” Faust nodded “I am the element of life; Celestia is that of light, and Luna, of Darkness” “I think I’ve an idea of what your element is, Brother” Blaze clambered up onto my shoulder “Sacrifice” “Too right,” Blackjack rolled her eyes “you sacrificed your mobility just to save a few foals in danger from a group of raiders,” she smiled “and once you got new limbs you did it again for Littlepip and her friends” “Ore wo dare da to omotte yagaru?” I reiterated “Indeed” Faust giggled “How long have you been standing there, your majesty?” Snowdrop “Long enough,” Faust smiled “and you don’t need to call me by my title, practical as it may be” “And as factual as it may be” I raised an eyebrow “You flatter me, truly” she giggled again “I’d hate to ask a lady her age,” I bit my lip but how old are you?” “Two billion years old” she flashed her eyebrows at me “why, you’re not going to try anything are you?” “Perish the thought!” I laughed “I’m offended, don’t you love me?” she gasped in fake/apparent shock “I was just going to say that you look good for your age, brilliant even” I sighed “I know what you meant Tesla” she quickly pecked me on the lips, winking at me “as for me looking good for my age, so do you” “I’m two-hundred years old,” I raised the other eyebrow “And I’m two eons old, no offense” she gleamed “You say that now, yet just try using the spell that reveals what someone actually looks like “If you say so,” she slowly nodded, her horn flaring a bright scarlet colour as she tapped it against my skull, my form changing to what I normally looked like, without magical interference “Well there’s somethin’ ya don’t see every day” Applejack whistled “Indeed” Luna eyed me up and down “thou art two centuries young, are you not?” “That I am,” I nodded “Why?” “You lied to us” Twilight frowned “Whether it be once century or two, either one is a geographical blink of an eye,” I shrugged “an instant, if you will, less than a second” “You’re…” Rarity stared at me in unadulterated horror “you’re a machine!” “Only in part, I’m still at least one-third dragon” I mumbled “See what I mean, hated, ridiculed and feared” Blaze spat “Just like humans, they fear what they don’t understand, and they hate what they fear” “We/I don’t fear you” Pepper, Blackjack, Littlepip, Velvet Remedy, Snowdrop, Blaze, Faust and Luna smiled, faintly as Faust’s horn flared again, my appearance returning to normal “That’s eight of you, what of the other eight?” I clicked my tongue “I don’t fear you, my little Eon Knight” Nyx pecked my cheek, her armour seemingly dissolving and becoming a part of her mane and tail “I take care of you, and you me, we’re a couple now, but, since you’re herding, I suppose I can share, but just this once” she nickered “Now I’m not sure whether to be worried or not” I smiled “Rest assured; I won’t do anything you don’t want me to do or say” she bowed quickly “That’s encouraging,” Blaze laughed “Although simultaneously sentimental” “And besides, I’m sure we can be better than humans” Rainbow Dash grinned “I’d like to see you build a warship that can travel faster than light itself” I smirked “Touché” her eyes narrowed as she gave a sly smirk “But I bet you can’t perform a sonic rainboom!” “If by that you mean breaking the sound barrier, then yes, I can” I shrugged again “Any eon can do so if they try hard enough” “That’s a lie!” she sneered “Its basic aerodynamics, and also, science” I exhaled sharply “Now, shall we make way to ponyville?” -=-=- As we walked/glided into ponyville, everyone present stopped what they were doing and bowed toward Faust and Luna, and stared in awe at Nyx “What,” I gleamed “can’t the two princesses of the night come homeward bound?” “In that case,” Pinkie Pie inhaled sharply as the entire area underwent a rather apparent change, from that of the main square of ponyville, to the abstract main hall of the castle “Congratulations!” “Weird,” I blinked “perhaps another time though” I walked away from the main hall, down several corridors and flights of stairs, ending in a hallway with several prison cells on either side, Snowdrop and Blaze sitting either side of me as I sat between cells “What’s the matter,” a slightly husky, feminine voice echoed from the cell behind my left side “did you take a wrong turn in life, or are you here of your own volition?” “I’m here because I wandered in the wrong direction,” I hummed, glancing behind me I saw what looked like Sapphire, only pitch black with a horn, cyan eyes and pale blue wings, complete with fangs “Who are you?” “I’m Black Beetle,” the being croaked “of course, down here, that doesn’t mean shit, not to Celestia, not to Luna, not to anyone, why?” “Because it sounds like I’m the only one who cares” I smiled, weakly “what’re you in here for?” “The guards found me unconscious outside the town they call ponyville, dragged me in here when I failed to cooperate” Black Beetle frowned “you’re not with them, are you?” “That depends on whose side they take in the upcoming storm” I sighed, again “So it does” she raised an eyebrow “who, or what, are you?” “I’m Tesla, a human, an eon, and a dragon slayer,” I held a hand through the bars, Black beetle shook it “You can slay dragons,” she blinked “how?” “Magic,” I winked “so, what happened, before you were found by the guards?” “I can’t remember much,” Black Beetle hummed “we were supposed to invade canterlot, take over the castle and capture Shining Armour; his love for Cadance would’ve fed our queen for generations to come, and then she would feed us with segments of that love, it is our lifeblood you see, we need it to survive, lest we perish, and fade to the dust, that of which we’ve built empires over, we thrive on emotions, but none greater than love” “You feed on love, like food?” I tilted my head “Exactly, without it, we starve, and our shells begin to crack, for without it, we are but mere insects to her majesty, but we all know of the respect and love she treats us with, and we love her back for it, even though we’re not supposed to” she gleamed “finally, someone who understands what we’re truly like, can you release me, please, I’d be indebted to you if you did” “Stand back” I stood upright as she backed against the far wall of her jail cell, I drew Duskfall, slicing through the rusted bars like paper, forming a circular-shaped hole, sheathing the blade afterward “Let me do the talking” I smirked as she clambered onto my back, wrapping her holed hooves around my neck “Alrighty then” Black Beetle nickered as we entered the main hall, the music that was playing stopped dead; all eyes were on us, or Black Beetle, to be specific “Is that a changeling?” one pony gasped “I thought they’d all been annihilated by Cadance and Shining Armour’s love” another spat “to Tartarus with it!” “Yeah, why should it deserve to exist?” a third snarled “You really are hated aren’t you?” I bit my lip “It is only natural,” Blaze climbed onto my shoulder “they fear what they don’t understand, and they hate what they fear” “We are not afraid of that, that thing!” a fourth pony screamed “bring it down here and we’ll show you how afraid we really are!” “Violence,” I spat “bullying, just proves my point, bullies often do what they do out of jealousy and fear, you are no exception” “What did you say!?” a fifth pony shrieked “I don’t hate Black Beetle, I love her, as I do all my friends and Nakama, which translates to ‘a friend that’s closer than family,’” I smiled softly as I glanced toward the bug-pony hybrid upon my back “if you can’t understand that, then I suggest you leave my presence, immediately” =-= “What was that about?” Applejack frowned toward Black Beetle as she and the rest of Twilight’s friends, Spike included, trotted toward me “Equality,” I frowned in return “clearly it doesn’t exist here on Equis?” “You mean the theory that everyone is equal and that Nopony is above or below anypony else?” Twilight blinked “It’s not a theory; it’s a practice, and a concept, much life your so-called ‘friendship’” Blaze snapped “Sure the idea’s not perfect and it has its flaws, but don’t we all at some point or another, we’re only mortal after all” “You speak with the wisdom of an eon, young one” Faust teleported into view beside us “and it is with a warm heart that I free this changeling from imprisonment, eternally” “Ya‘ll can’t be serious!” Applejack spat “I am but one changeling, what possible harm could I do?” Black Beetle cooed, nuzzling into me “cause another invasion?” at that moment in which she finished speaking, what seemed like a metaphorical/proverbial earthquake fused with a tornado swept through the room, the glass shattered as more changelings burst into the room, the main double doors sent flying alongside what seemed to be an armada of guards-ponies that of whom were sent sprawling across the floor “Well what do we have here?” a gravelly, mildly dark voice echoed through the room as a larger, meaner-looking changeling marched into the room beside a squadron of armoured changelings the larger one in question had a dark cerulean mane and tail with cat-like green eyes and slightly lobnger fangs “Black Beetle, what a surprise,” the large changeling smiled with apparent glee “and here I thought you’d been captured!” “I was, Tesla here saved me” Black Beetle nickered “I have to thank you, ‘Tesla,’” the changeling held out a hoof “Chrysalis, queen of the changelings” “Tesla,” I shook her hoof “Dragon slayer” “You can slay dragons,” she eyed me up and down with a stifled laugh, “how so?” “Magic,” I smiled “I’m assuming you’re here for her?” “That won’t happen” I turned around; Celestia was stood there, glowering at me “I thought I told you to go to your room?” Faust frowned “I cannot allow this creature to invade my kingdom a second time, mother” Celestia growled “Whose kingdom is it?” Faust raised an eyebrow “Yours, mother” Celestia lowered her head in apparent defeat “Oh, this is rich,” Chrysalis burst into a fit of laughter “shall we get some popcorn whilst you two argue?” “State your intentions, Queen Chrysalis” Faust gave a deadpan stare, no emotion in her voice whatsoever “I am here,” chrysalis winked at me “to do two things” “Name them” she smiled, faintly “Firstly, to free those of my kind you have held in your pitiful dungeons,” Chrysalis licked her lips as she stared at me “and secondly,” she turned back to Faust “to align a peace treaty with your lovable little subjects,” she continued “I surrender” “You, after all you have done, specifically to my niece, would dare ask for repentance?” Celestia spat “I think that blast has given you dementia, chrysalis” “If I may interject” I raised a hand “there’re a couple of things I’d like to add” “Go ahead” Faust smiled “Freedom is the right of all sentient beings, no matter how odd they may seem,” I smiled at Chrysalis, whose cheeks turned a bitter shade of red “and secondly, you feed on love, yes?” “We do” Black Beetle and Chrysalis smiled “Love is fleeting, but we must cherish it. Though it may change before our eyes, we can find solace in love as long as it is there,” I slowly nodded as more changelings marched through the door Twilight and her friends stood beside Celestia “that is all” “You’re too kind, Sir Tesla” Chrysalis nickered awkwardly “Then I accept your surrender” Faust smiled “welcome to Equestria” “Thank you, your majesty” Chrysalis quickly bowed to Faust, and then to me “we cannot thank you enough, you will always be a hero to the changelings, Sir Tesla” “Just Tesla works,” I chuckled “or TK, if you’d prefer” “Then we’ll be off,” Chrysalis laughed “Black Beetle, I’ll leave you in Tesla’s care, if that’s alright with you” “I’m fine with it” Black Beetle simpered “Then we’ll see you later, Sir Tesla” she nodded, leaving back the way she came, her army of changelings following her out “Don’t look now, but I think she loves you” Blaze chortled “Changelings know nothing of love, only how to destroy it!” Celestia snarled “That’s a lie!” Black Beetle yelled, standing beside me as she glared daggers at the solar goddess “we changelings lived in peace until you ponies came along,” she glared toward Celestia “we all got along nicely, but then sunbutt over there had to reign on our parade, almost literally!” she hissed “we changelings have lived with love since our creation by a certain deity, some may call it a curse, I call it a blessing, so if you think that we know nothing of it, I suggest you shut the fuck up!” “Owned,” Blaze chortled “Sunbutt just got her ass handed to her by a changeling, how’s that going to affect her?” “Need some ice for that burn?” I grinned “What would changelings know about love?” Twilight scoffed “One, probably more than you,” I smirked “and second, take it from someone who knows what they’re talking about” “Her majesty was right, you are too kind” Black Beetle laughed “I’m only looking out for my friends, something I have not seen happen thus far on Equis, not counting that of which has come from my own friends Nakama, and family” I shrugged “Who do you think you are,” Celestia glared “I am who I am, there isn’t a person or otherwise in the universe that can change that, save a scarce few” I raised an eyebrow “but you separated me from her, leaving me with the friends I have now “Do you have any idea what they’ve done to our kind, to my subjects?” she glowered “‘Subjects,’” I blinked “a tad close to the word ‘underlings,’ is it not?” I gave a smug grin “and besides, Blackie told me what happened, the apparent ‘invasion,’ as she called it” “And do you have any idea of what you did to us?” Black Beetle scorned “it’s because of you we’re grasping at straws just to survive, but that’s the difference between our species,” she scowled “we don’t care if we die, so long as it’s to continue the specie’s guaranteed survival, we don’t care if we do if it’s for the rest of the hive, we don’t care- no, I don’t care if I die, if it’s for my friends, my family, and my hive, I’ll gladly lay down my own wings for the greater good of my kind” she lectured “So if you think that violence and murder is going to solve anything, think again!” “But we can still kick your flanks!” Rainbow Dash slammed her hooves together “What did I just say about bullying?” I spat “it’s from fear and jealousy that behaviour like that should arise, if at all” “And what’d you know about it?” she tutted “Why don’t you ask your so-called god!?” I clenched my fists “I only wanted you to be with me again,” Celestia blurted out “Her shame revealed as worlds cross over” Blaze slowly shook her head “it’s pitiful, nay, it’s pathetic” “Just when I thought I wasn’t disappointed enough already” Faust frowned “Go back to your room, for the next week or two would be best” “I’m so sorry…” Celestia had tears streaming down her muzzle as she teleported out of the room “How can anypony put a single being through so much pain?” Littlepip stared at me in apparent awe and/or horror “It’s unbelievable!” “It’s tyranny” Blaze frowned,, turning her gaze toward Twilight and her friends “tell me, little ponies, how far would you go for someone, knowing that they’ve done that sort of thing to my brother, regardless of their being royalty?” “We…” Twilight began, biting her lip “I don’t, I don’t know” “You know the metallic bar-like objects that connect pieces of carpet underneath doorways?” she folded her arms, Twilight nodded “Tesla here got that instead of a cane, the sharp end to” “Where; exactly?” Black Beetle gulped audibly “Faust, if you would” I removed my shirt and jacket as her horn flared a brilliant scarlet in colouration, my mechanical limbs and scars returning once again as I turned, my back facing Twilight and her friends, glancing back toward them, Fluttershy fainted “That’s horrific!” Rarity gasped “I ended up in hospital for several months, unable to move my back in any way plausible all the while,” I hissed “that’s another thing you can thank your so-called ‘princess’ for” upon my back were several disturbing/off-putting scars, each one at a different angle, I quickly put my shirt back on “That’s cliché, but it’s what happened” I shrugged, again “there Ain’t no changing the past, no matter how much I may want to” “Ya’ll really have been through a lot haven’t ya?” Applejack sighed “Ah’m sorry, fer judging ya’ll before” “Do not judge, lest ye be judged” Blaze slowly nodded -=-=-=- “So, what’s this about again?” I yawned only having just woken up, stood in the corridor outside my room “You know what this is about,” Celestia scowled “ever since you came here, you’ve been attempting to dethrone me, well I tell you now Tesla, it isn’t working”! “Had I wanted you gone, believe me, it would’ve happened by now,” I rolled my eyes, stretching my limbs “besides, this world needs someone to light the way to the future, pun and cheesiness not intended” “Your sentiment is indeed noted, although that doesn’t change my thoughts on the matter” “You hate me, what I’m doing, how I’m doing it and about the changelings, are you not?” I tilted my head “What’s your point?” she spat “I’ve two pieces of advice for you, Celestia,” I sighed “let it go, and get over yourself” “What did you say!?” she bellowed “Guards!” nothing happened “what have you done?” “Whilst you were sulking in your room, Faust had the guards answer to her, and her alone, no matter how many times you call for them” I smirked “besides, this is something you can’t avoid, nor can you call for someone else to deal with it for you, you need to deal with it yourself, Princess” “And how would you suggest I go about that, human?” she glowered “I just said,” I exhaled sharply “Get over it, and let it go” “Are you trying to anger me, Eon?” she growled “Again, if I were to try to do that, I’d of done it by now” I shrugged, again “Later’s” I winked, walking down the corridor toward the main hall, Blackjack, Velvet Remedy, Littlepip following me there, Snowdrop perched between my horns, and Blaze stood on my shoulder, and Black Beetle clung onto my back “Who pissed in her porridge?” Snowdrop suddenly burst out laughing “Blaze,” I groaned “I haven’t taught her anything!” Blaze held her paws in mock surrender “Right, and I’m related to Mozart” I slowly nodded “Fine, maybe I taught her a few words, it’s not my fault if she just so happens to use them of her own volition!” she pouted, folding her arms “I just got an idea” I grinned “Tell me, tell me!” Blaze gleamed “‘Crystal lotus, flame dragon’s guardian angel’” I smirked “Cheesy, how does it work?” she grinned “I’ve no idea yet, but it probably involves the remaining Dawnbreaker and Duskfall blades that I’ve got” I shrugged “Neat, hope to see it soon” Littlepip smiled “As do I” Black Beetle placed her head on my other shoulder “We too, would like to see it progress” Blackjack and Velvet Remedy simpered “I’ll show you when it’s finished then” I smiled “till then I suppose we’ll have to wait, now who’s up for waffles?” “What’s a waffle?” Black Beetle blinked One does not simply ask what waffle is,” Blaze chimed “did I get that right?” “Perfect” I nodded “Seriously, what is a waffle?” Black Beetle tilted her head “One of humanities ‘finer’ creations” I licked my lips” “Amen” Blaze nodded “is that with or without the chocolate sauce?” “Again, you use a term I’m not familiar with, why is that?” she raised an eyebrow “You’ll find out when we get there” I winked As we entered the dining hall, I noticed Twilight and her friends already sat there, and Faust was sitting where Celestia usually was, the lunar and solar diarchs sitting either side of her “What d’ya know; pancakes instead of waffles” Blaze stifled laughter “Anything for thine little Sugarbear” Luna winked “Good morning to you too, my little Shmoopie” Faust simpered “ “How can you tolerate him as if he has done nothing wrong?” Celestia glanced toward her mother and sister “Because if he’d of done anything wrong, I would’ve told him so” Faust smiled “Much like Crystagia” I tilted my head ever-so slightly, Celestia glared toward me, teleporting out of the room “Quite so,” she smiled “I’ll have a word with her later, my love” “You’re what?” I blinked “Are we not committed?” she tilted he r head “When soaring through on the wings of angels…” Blackjack nodded toward me “Blaze through with the hearts of eons” I finished “Tenshi no hane no difensu ga kōtō suru to, nagai nengetsu no kokoro o kaishite Kasai” “Was that an anime reference?” Blaze blinked “Nope, just something we made up in the wastes” Blackjack and I gave a smug grin “You didn’t answer my question,” Faust giggled “I’ll most certainly think about it” I gleamed “I’ve a question, seeing as my brother won’t ask you directly, your majesty,” Blaze beamed from ear to ear “Are all winged unicorns such as yourself as beautiful as you are, or are the three of you just that lucky?” “Really, dear sister, you had to ask that, of all questions?” I grumbled “Well someone had to,” she tutted “besides, all we need now is an answer, Dear Brother of mine” “I’m flattered that you think such things,” Faust’s cheeks turned a bright scarlet, much like her horn when she used magic “it is our immortality that gives way to such traits, or, no doubt by your mind, gifts” “Being able to watch your friends family and loved ones die before your very eyes isn’t a gift,” I frowned “It’s a constant state of hell, you just have to learn to live with it” “You’re wrong, there’re four alicorns in Equestria,” Rainbow Dash Gestured toward Twilight, whose cheeks turned beetroot “Rainbow, you know you don’t have to treat me like a princess,” Twilight smiled “I think three four alicorns is enough already” Celestia appeared at her seat via teleportation “The hay we don’t!” Rainbow Dash glimmered “I’ll bet you could lead the guard better than he could!” “What’s the population of Equis?” Blaze grinned “Two to three-hundred million; why?” Luna blinked “All dead, within a week, I’d say” I clicked my shoulders “How,” Rainbow Dash scowled “there’s no way you could do that much in one week!” “Assign various fireteams to strategic points through the country, armed with standard MA37 assault Rifles, M6 sidearms and fragmentation grenades, then sit back and enjoy the fireworks” I shrugged “That’s not including the sniper rifles that have a range of roughly five miles, maybe further” “And also not counting the Magnetic accelerator cannons that could turn the nearest town into little more than timber and rubble” Blaze scoffed “And your point to this is what, exactly?” Celestia raised an eyebrow “Victory is secured, not from the throne, but from the front lines,” I sighed, again “I didn’t get to be a brigadier by pissing around on some mediocre chair in the middle of a ruined covenant citadel pretending to be all high-and-mighty,” I scowled “I got it by actually doing something with my life, we of the UNSC are like the changelings, we will fight and die for what we believe is right, our country, home and loved ones included, can you dare say the same, Celestia?” “And what of your metallic limbs?” I could tell she was refraining from screaming at me “Dismemberment isn’t a viable excuse to attempt to win the war, decapitation, however, might be” I gave a dark grin “You’re sick” she looked as if she was about ready to vomit “You didn’t answer the question” Blaze smirked “I can dare say the same, for you are not the only beings to experience war,” she sneered “ you are waging war in my wake, human<” she went on “whatever you have borne witness to, I have already seen and gotten over” “Try witnessing an entire city reduced to glass via excavation beam from a CCS-class battleship in orbit around the planet” I raised an eyebrow “Touché” she slowly nodded, her face now bearing an expression of slight horror “You say you’ve gotten over war, but you can’t get over the emotions and trials of a simple foot-soldier, or Spartan, in my brother’s case” Blaze spat “Like the ancient warrior?” Twilight blinked “Try, a half-tonne, heavily armoured, super-solider who’s humanity’s last best hope against extinction” I laughed “Thou weight half a tonne, but how do thy wings support such weight?” Luna blinked “I myself weigh around seventy to one-hundred kilos; it’s the armour itself that adds on so much weight” I simpered “Where is it?” Rainbow dash eyed me up and down suspiciously “Inventory,” I simply shrugged “If it weighs so much, how can you bear it’s weight in the first place?” Celestia raised the other eyebrow “Augmentation,” Blaze smirked “the Spartan candidates are enlisted into the program, and then mentally and physically augmented above any human-like standards, they become their own league of monsters, per se,” she explained “smart enough to crack this world’s smartest supercomputer, and strong enough to make holes through concrete, just try annoying my brother” “If you can do all this, then why don’t you?” she raised both eyebrows “Because I know my limits” -=-=-=- “Tesla,” Celestia stood before me as I turned around, Blaze stood upon my shoulder, Black Beetle clinging to my back, and Snowdrop perched between my horns “What is it princess?” I quickly bowed “You needn’t bow to me, Tesla,” she bit her lip “I,” she sighed “I was wrong, you are what you are, and I was a fool not to see that, I was stubborn, and refused to allow you an easy life here in your new home, and to make matters worse, I separated you from… her,” she had tears in her eyes “I do not ask for your forgiveness, I only want to know what you think of me, as a pony, do not let events gone by cloud your judgement of me, I judged you wrongly, and now I rightly bear the blame” “Well, you’re beautiful, like I said to Faust, you’re wise, loving, caring, and probably stronger than me, so there’s a start” I shrugged “You flatter me,” she smiled, faintly “but it’s not praise that I look for, it’s what you truly think of me, and I won’t leave until-” Princess Celestia, most powerful, all-knowing, all-wise pony, diarch of the sun, was slapped across the face “You’re a foo, but not for the reasons you think,” I rolled my eyes, shaking my head “I don’t hate you anymore, Cellsy, you’re my friend, and I love all my friends, you included,” I smiled “don’t blame yourself on something that’s long since passed, what would your sister think if she saw you now, no offense” “You truly are too kind for your own good,” she had tears streaming down from her bloodshot, lilac eyes “here,” she held out a hoof as whitish-golden flames encompassed it, I quickly ate the flames she provided “what can I ever do to repay you, Sir Tesla?” “Just Tesla; or TK” I smiled “Ok, she giggled “What can I ever do to repay you, Tesla?” “Live, that is all I ask of you, my little Dawnflower” I turned and quickly walked away “So, she’s finally ‘let it go,’ as you so kindly stated?” Blackjack laughed “When oaring through on the wings of angels,” Snowdrop nickered, standing beside me and the others at the arena “Wings of angels…” I mumbled, quickly snapping my finger and thumb “Snowdrop, you’re a genius!” “I am?” she giggled “Just stand back and enjoy the fireworks” Blaze chuckled ““Metsuryū Ōgi, Shiranui Gata, Guren Hōō Ken,” I bellowed, bursting into whitish-golden flames, just like the ones Celestia had given me, soaring skyward, “Yokugeki,” I grinned, igniting both fists as I did so, slashing my arms across in front of me, performing a forward flip, creating a whitish golden fireball around either hand, slamming the two great spheres together, “And Koen,” I boomed, landing beside Snowdrop and the others “Suishō Hasu, Karyu no Shugo Tenshi” i grinned “Using Celestia’s flames to use a crimson phoenix blade, followed up by a wing attack, and then a brilliant flame, that’s genius” Blaze smirked “It’s incredible!” Littlepip gleamed “You truly are worthy of your title, dragon slayer” Velvet Remedy smiled as Black Beetle clung onto my back, her hooves wrapped around my neck, Snowdrop perched herself upon my head, and Blaze clambered up unto my left shoulder as Black Beetle placed her head on my right “So you finally did it,” Blackjack chortled “The crystal lotus, Fire dragon’s guardian angel” “That we did,” Blaze clapped her paws together “What’s next?” “I’ve a few ideas,” someone from the crowds purred, glancing toward said crowds, I saw Faust, who instantly teleported before me, trotting toward me and planting her lips on mine, gradually parting “Stay around for a while, my love” she smiled, as Black Beetle, Snowdrop and blaze cambered back down to the ground “Why not” I pecked her horn-tip, she leapt at me -=-=- “Never knew you could use frosting and icing like that,” Blaze, Littlepip and Velvet Remedy stated in a monotonous unison “Neither did I” I shuddered “What happened?” Celestia giggled “I’m not sure I’m ready to tell anyone just yet” I felt sick “By the way, not that I’m complaining, but why are you here, not that I’m stopping you of course, it’s your kingdom, you may do as you please, princess” “Mother says she wants you as her king,” Celestia nickered “And you called me your little Dawnflower, Tesla,” she smirked “my little Firefly” “I am no king, only an eon, a human, and a dragon slayer” I winked “And her little Firefly” Blaze grinned “And your little Firefly, my little Dawnflower” I smiled “Thank you, My Little Firefly” Celestia simpered, pecking my cheek as her Lunar counterpart teleported into view, appearing right beside her “And what does that make us?” Luna raised an eyebrow “My little shooting star” I shrugged “Thou will always be our little firefly” she smiled “Teslakana of Earth” -=- “Tesla, there’s something I have to confess” Celestia bit her lip as we sat at the dining hall “You’re not the first human we’ve encountered in the past fifty or so years” “Let me guess, one of the bearers of the elements of harmony vanished and it took approximately two weeks to find her and get her back, therefore ruining any relationship they might’ve built with the creatures that resided in the location she was sent to?” Blaze grinned “Yes, how on Equis did you know?” she blinked “Internet” I shrugged “Kind of annoyed when I first read about it, but then I suppose there’s nothing I can do about it, is there?” “My little Dashie,” Crystal sat beside me alongside Blackjack, Littlepip, and Velvet, I nodded “damn” “Too right” Blaze bit her lip, glancing toward Rainbow Dash as Twilight, her friends, and Spike sat along the opposite side of the table, Rainbow Dash glared at her “On another note,” I winked toward Blaze “How’s Sombra been lately, returned to ice, or K.I.A?” “He hath been reduced to ash and dust, last we checked” Luan raised an eyebrow “Twenty quid says that Telsa here can make a better villain, or rather Bea batter villain, or at least sound like one” Crystal laughed “This should be fun” Rainbow Dash chuckled as I cleared my throat “Who goes there?” I growled in a rather guttural, somewhat level voice “The whole world shall kneel before the new Crystal Dragon King,” I continued, stopping “How’s that sound?” “You’d make a good actor,” Faust nickered “were it not for your angelic singing voice, or so I’ve heard” “That’s not even my best one” I glimmered putting on another guttural, more dark/grim/grave tone “This is not your grave” “How in the hay are you doing that?” Rainbow Dash stared at me in apparent horror “I’ve no honest idea” I shrugged “I just can, I suppose” “Well it’s honestly scaring the buck outta me!” she shuddered “And here Ah thought ya said that ya‘ll weren’t scared of anythin’” Applejack smirked “What changed?” “Nothing,” Rainbow Dash blurted out “Fear is not evil, it’s what tells you your weakness, and once you acknowledge your weakness, you may become stronger, kinder, and more gentle” I smiled -=-=- As Twilight and her friends took a tour of the castle in the everfree I heard Spike mumbling to himself as he ‘inspected’ a comic he was reading “You can return to the place you started when the Mane-iac is... defeated." Huh? "Take a closer look to join the adventure in this book, what does that even mean?” When I could see again, no thanks to a blinding light and a strange warping sensation, I felt, bigger, somehow “Holy personas, guys, you’re the power ponies!” Spike gasped at the sight of his now somewhat altered friends “As am I apparently” I clicked my neck, the resulting crack sounded rather metallic, almost mechanical “What am I?” “A giant awesome-looking robot,” Rainbow Dash eyed me up and down “that’s amazing!” “It is interesting, I’ll admit” Nyx hovered at the side of my now enlarged heard alongside Celestia, Luna, and Cadance, looking down at myself, I saw that I’d turned into a giant, crimson, mech, one with a face-like design on its torso, complete with boomerang-like glasses and fangs “I’m Gurren Lagann!?” I screamed “Where’re the others?” “We’re safe Daddy” Snowdrop’s voice echoed from inside my head as it opened at the top, the icy-blue mare hovering before me, flying back inside the cockpit “Yeah, there’s no harming us now that you’re like this!” Blaze chortled from inside my head as it re-closed “And Littlepip, Blackjack and Velvet” I blinked “In here” Velvet Remedy’s voice called out from inside my stomach area “So this is Gurren Lagann,” Blackjack whistled “impressive interior TK!” “I’d agree that it’s interesting” Littlepip giggled “How did they get here and where are they?” Twilight blinked as the face on my chest’s mouth opened, revealing the three unicorn mares at the secondary cockpit “That’s little awkward” “That’s Gurren Lagann!” Blaze cheered “Let’s go, brother!” “But what are we supposed to do, and where are we meant to go?” I tilted my head slightly “Ask the professional,” Rainbow Dash gestured toward Spike, who was dressed like robin from the world-famous comic series “He was reading a comic; my only guess is that we’ve somehow been transported inside said comic” Littlepip smiled “So all we have to do; is find and defeat the villain “So where are they?” I hummed, peering ve the rooftop we were stood upon, down at the base of the building opposite the one we’d been teleported to was a greyish/pale lavender ‘anthro’ mare with a vivid dark green ‘mane’ that stretched into mile-long tendrils that went practically everywhere “Who, or what, is that?” Blaze chortled “The mane-iac,” Spike stood on the edge of the skyscraper “the villain of what Littlepip called a ‘comic series,’” he spat “You need to get out more,” I laughed, leaping over the edge “Hold on!” I landed with a loud crash, creating a large crater, standing opposite the ‘Mane-iac’ “And so the hero approaches” the mare scoffed with a sly grin, holding a dark blue/indigo orb that crackled with what appeared to be lightning contained within it as she threw it at me, it cracked upon impact, and all of a sudden the world seemed more down to the scale I was used to “Damnit,” Blackjack spat “I was hoping that’d last a bit longer” “No matter,” I shrugged, creating my arm into a large drill, just like before “she’s the villain, we beat her, and then we go home, all of us” “I wasn’t always the villain you know,” the mane-iac scowled, walking toward me, using her tendril- like mane to old my friends against the walls, creating what seemed to be a blackish sphere around each of them, and another, large sphere around the two of us “now you’re mine, hero,” she grinned as her tendrils coiled themselves around my drill-arm, squeezing down on it, the drill shattered as she tied a tendril around each arm and leg, quickly removing my lower attire “What do you want?” I bit my lip “I have what I want,” she grinned, “you, my love” she coiled a softer, more gentle tendril around my balls, softly playing with them a bit, causing my erection to spring as she held me against the wall of the skyscraper “and now I want your sweet, sweet innocence, hero” “Tesla” I blurted out, her ruby/emerald eyes piercing into my soul “What,” she frowned “what are you talking about “My name, it’s Tesla” I shuddered as she took the end of my dick in another tendril, sliding it down to the hilt “Very well Tesla, state your name, it’ll make my revenge all the sweeter!” she laughed, I attempted resisting her binds, only to come up with failure after failure “Ah, ah, ah, you can’t escape now that I’ve got my prize, Tesla,” she wagged a finger at me, winking, as her eyes shone, a chair suddenly appearing out of nowhere as she forced me onto it, holding me down as she knelt before me “Suck or fuck?” she licked her lips “What?” I blinked as her grip loosened to absolutely nothing, her tendrils returning to her side as she sat in my lap “Suck or fuck, it’s a simple question, Tesla” she giggled, pecking my cheek “I’ve been a bad girl and you have to punish me, have your way with me, do as you see fit, I’m yours to command, my holy knight” pre began to leak out of the end of my length “you seem to have a leak, shall I fix that for you,” she purred, kneeling before me, taking my head into her maw, pressing her lips down on it, I placed a gentle hand on the back of her head, encouraging for her to go further “So you prefer oral, Ok then” she pressed her breasts against either side of my cock, bringing a soft, thin tendril around the lower-neck of my manhood, pressing her lips back around the head, twirling her tongue around it, pumping both her head and the tendril along my girth, pressing her mammaries against it like mild lavender cushions, I replaced my head gently on the back of her head, stroking her ‘mane’, hearing bolts of magic and fireballs being fired from outside the sphere, but nothing happened “They shan’t get to us now, I’ve used the powers of my own imagination to make that shield impenetrable to all but the hammer of the creator of the universe herself” The Mane-iac giggled, gently wrapping my balls in yet another tendril, placing her hands in my chest, keeping my in place as she slid her tongue along the base of my shaft “you taste salty, that is good, Sir Tesla” “Glad to help, I think?” I tilted my head as she took the other head into her mouth, deepthroating, quickly bobbing her head up and down, I kept her head down as I came into her, she gagged, managing to swallowing all that I had to give, I removed my hand as she came back up, licking her lips, and then using her tongue to lap up any remains “Have I been a good girl, Tesla?” she purred, climbing onto my lap, rubbing my dick against her folds “have I been good, or naughty, punish me anyways, I love the attention you give me, hero” she quickly hilted me on her entrance, letting out a gasp as she leant against me, placing her lips against mine, our eyes locking as our lids did the same, gradually parting “fuck me, boy, I want you to cum, and I want you to do it to the point where I scream, are we clear?” I nodded silently “Good” =-= As she bounded up and down on my lap, I gripped onto the sides of her hips, she grinned, pecking my cheek as she sped up even faster, placing her hands on my shoulders, I slammed into her, bucking my hips in sync with hers, repeatedly hilting her, pounding into her, continuously slamming my phallus into her cunny, bringing her down on me as I climaxed, filling her with white, hot, sticky, spunk She collapsed onto my slouched form, pecking my cheek once more “Punish me some more, Tesla,” she lifted me into the air above the couch, placing me on the ground as she bent her backside over the chair, pulling me against her my length prodding against her flankhole “Yes there,” she stared at me with apparent glee “fuck my asshole, ravage me until I am but a shell, yours to do with as you please, I-!” I silenced her by hilting her, yet again, grabbing onto her ass cheeks, pummelling her, grunting as I ‘plundered her plot,’ per se “Yes, fuck me!” she practically cheered “Have your way with me Tesla, see to it that I am broken into nothingness, see to it that I am your bitch!” I glimmered with a sly grin =-= After I’d filled her with what she seemed to be a considerate amount of love-juice, she handed my clothing back, I quickly put it on as I winked at her, the couch and spheres vanished as she cowered on the ground as my drill-arm returned, I held it high above me, winking again “Now what have you to say for yourself?” I grinned maniacally “Tesla, you’re alright!” Littlepip gasped, crowding around me alongside Twilight, her friends, Spike “Why wouldn’t I be,” I chuckled darkly “Gurren Lagann somehow got, shall we say, ‘put out of commission’?” “You still have the drill, do you not?” The mane-iac stammered “Touché” I nodded “I ask again, what have you to say for yourself?” “I…” she stammered, exhaling sharply “I only wanted to be noticed, be it by the power ponies, or by you, or even the smallest of significances, I just wanted to be acknowledged, I accept all punishment bestowed upon me, Hero” the drill-arm seemingly faded back to my arm “What are you waiting for!?” Spike growled “She’s the villain, she has to be defeated!” “Not all victory comes from fighting, little dragon,” I spat “she isn’t evil, just misunderstood, not unlike Nyx, just for a different reason” “And I still say that Nightmare Moon should be banished back to the moon” he scoffed “And perhaps you’d like to join her, wall lizard,” I snapped “the lack of air pressure in space would cause to your head to instantaneously explode as soon as you went there, the only reason Nyx is with us is due to magic, simple and pure magic, dark as it might be, it’s still magic,” I held out a hand “here, pull yourself up” “Thank you Hero,” the Mane-iac smiled, pulling herself up as she held onto my hand “Just Tesla will suffice,” I smiled “or TK, whichever you prefer” “Thank you, Tesla” she nickered “Now how about you show me what the rest of th world looks like?” Before I could state a response there was a blinding flash of light When I could see again, we were back in the castle a new, mild lavender mare with a vivid green mane and tail clung unto my back in place of Black Beetle “Hello Tesla” The mane-iac grinned “How in the hell did she end up here?” Blaze laughed “Magic,” I smirked “simple and pure, magic” “That it is” she sighed “What’re you holding?” Twilight gestured to my hand, I bought it up in front of me, a small, tennis ball-sized cobalt blue orb was held within my grasp “A Soul dew,” I blinked, glancing back to the Mane-iac “where did you get this?” “The closest museum” she shrugged “wasn’t even heavily guarded for Fornicating sake “Whose soul is it?" Blackjack gazed at the translucent sphere held in the palm of my hand “An eon’s soul,” I began to explain “when an eon dies, their body transfers itself into energy, per se, and that energy is transformed into one of these,” I went on “there’s probably a cache of them somewhere in Equestria” “That contains an eon’s soul,” The Mane-iac tilted her head, pecking my cheek” then you may keep it, seeing as I have ‘lost’ my powers, I no longer have any use for it” she nudged my back at th word lost, which probably meant she was refraining herself from using them “Here’s a question, how do ya‘ll suppose we introduce her to tha rest of Ponyville?” Applejack raised an eyebrow =-=-= “Remind me why we’re here again?” Blaze stood upon my shoulder, Snowdrop perched upon my head, and Black Beetle clung to my back as Littlepip, Blackjack; Velvet Remedy Twilight, her friends and Spike, Who was, as per the usual, stood on Twilight’s back and the Mane-iac stood by my side alongside Chilly Pepper “We’re here,” Rarity chided “to welcome Trenderhoof into Ponyville, as the ‘ponyville days’ festival doesn’t host itself “Rarity you were chosen to be the pony of ceremonies, so you’re the host” “This is sounding more and more like it’s straight out of a television programme designed for toddlers; oh wait, it is” Blaze gave me a ‘high-give,’ grinning from ear to ear “I know, right?” I stifled bursting into laughter “And Gurren Lagann is better because how?” Spike rolled his eyes “Because of two things,” I gleamed “one; its epic to the point where a beer and volcanic eruption are mandatory; and two…” “It’s got a fifty-two-point-eight billion light-year-tall mecha made of pure awesomeness and spiral energy!” Blaze chimed “That’s impossible!” Twilight stared at me “It’s Gurren Lagann, nothing is impossible,” I chortled “When soaring through on the wings of angels,” Snowdrop beamed “Blaze through with the hearts of eons!” Blaze and I grinned, bursting into a bright/vivid green energy, a bright flash of light, and everything seemed smaller “We told you!” Blaze, Snowdrop, Velvet Remedy, Littlepip and Blackjack burst into laughter as I looked down at myself, id, once again, become Gurren Lagann “Now how do I turn back?” another flash of light, and everything was back to scale “Now that’s awesome!” Black Beetle cheered as a tall, brown unicorn with a golden mane and tail stepped off the train with a dark green cardigan and two crossed-out orange diamonds as a cutie mark “That’s Gurren Lagann,” Snowdrop chuckled “It’s bound to be awesome” “So you can morph into a large crimson machine, interesting, the unicorn mumbled, writing down who-knows-what on a notepad “Is there anything else about you I should know?” “This is Tesla, a human, an eon, and a dragon slayer” Black Beetle chimed “You can slay dragons,” the pony snorted “I doubt that” “I’d like to see you do better” I raised an eyebrow “I don’t need to, I already have; I work for Equestria magazines writing down and contribute what I can, about the things I write about whenever and wherever I can” “And I work for the United Nations Space Corps, helping to defend scum such as yourself, against the covenant empire, have been doing so for the past hundred years, “ I spat “I’d like to see you stop a halo ring from firing, when the only ones who can are humans and forerunners” “Horseapples,” he scoffed “why would I listen to such conspiracy theories that obviously aren’t true, how do I know you’re not just a familiar summoned by the princesses to do their work for them?” “At least I’d be working for decent ponies, unlike you” I snarled “and they’re my Nakama, that means they’re closer to me than family, it’s not a concept trash like you would understand, but I’m saying at anyway,” I growled “go ahead say another word about me or they, may Faust have mercy because when I’m done there won’t be enough of you left to fill a can of beans!” he quickly boarded the train, I watched alongside Blaze with a sly grin as the train left the station “How can you say and do such things?” Rarity scorned “He asked for it, and we gave it,” Blaze shrugged “I think Tesla was refraining himself from doing something insane, weren’t you brother?” “Damn straight,” I glowered, walking with my friends away from the station “That bastard’s dead to me” “So you and the princesses are together now,” Twilight and her friends quickly caught up with me “how so?” “Divine intervention” Littlepip glimmered “You and Princess Celestia finally worked things out eh?” Rainbow Dash gave a smug grin “She’s my little Dawnflower” I beamed “You’re with Celestia?” The Mane-iac blinked “I guess I was a fool then?” “No, you just didn’t Brilliant Emerald” I winked “Is, that my name?” she gasped “It is, if you want it to be” I slowly nodded “I can’t thank you enough, Tesla” she bit her lip, tears in her eyes “You just did” Blaze smirked at me =-= After my next concert… =-= “That was phenomenal!” Vinyl cheered alongside Octavia “It’s called ‘keep holding on,’” I smiled “it’s a work of art, in my opinion” I winked “the one before it was called ‘firework,’ and the one before that was called ‘counting stars’” “We eight singers, that of which form the Eons Of Equis, cannot be outclassed by such beings as the ponytones, no matter the circumstances” Littlepip shared a laugh with me, Velvet Remedy, Blaze, Snowdrop, Blackjack, Chilly Pepper and Crystal “still feel like one of the ‘Glee cast,’ Tesla?” “Not as much, but the notion’s still there” I nodded “I see you’re still wearing those shades I gave you, Vinyl” “Darn straight,” Vinyl grinned “ever since you made them for me, the amount of ponies showing up at my concerts has almost tripled!” “I wish you luck, Vinyl” “And we you” Octavia giggled “Thank you, my little octave” I bowed quickly, she fainted “Did we do something wrong?” “She’s been waiting for you to say that for a year now” Vinyl laughed “So she has” I changed to eon form -=-=- “I bet they wanna see it” I hovered beside Crystal, glancing around at the now-filled crowds of the arena “Probably,” Crystal smirked, “Fusion?” “That’s the one,” I nodded, Blaze perching herself upon my head, my eyes shining with a brilliant snow-white glow as Crystal; and Blaze merged with me, “San no kyūkyoku kumiai” I grinned, Crystal and Blaze’s voice also fused with my own, as were our powers and stats “Moeru Hoseki den'atsu” my wings were now shining blades of an onyx-type colouration, being held in place by what looked like spiral energy, all four of them, that is, my claws now turning into more hand-like structure, lengthening slightly as my body erupted with a great crimson flame “Combine the powers of twin eons with an unceasing inferno;” Blaze seemingly grinned, “Moeru Kaminari Hoseki Ryū!” did I mention my overall size had practically doubled? “And this,” I beamed from ear to ear, both fists blazing with a rainbow-coloured flame, firing off Gatling-like punches, “is why you don’t annoy an eon, let alone two of them, Suishō Hasu Gurren Hoseki Ryu Ken!” “Didn’t know you could do that,” Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow as we sat at the dining hall Crystal hovering beside me as Blaze stood on my shoulder, everyone being in their usual places “Neither did we” Luna smiled “Perhaps now Trenderhoof will learn to keep his venomous trap shut” I smirked “Thou can combine, like Gurren Lagann?” she winked “Like it, but also, unlike it,” I tilted a hand “when I fused with Aero, the resulting power level was almost astronomical, he’s far stronger than I am, even with all my magical prowess and experience with the war” “But you said you head weapons that could level cities!” Twilight retorted “And Aero could do it in a minute, alone,” I shuddered “don’t annoy him, and definitely don’t mess around with his sister” “Who’s she?” Celestia smiled “That’d be me,” Crystal waved “How does that work?” Rarity blinked “I got lucky” I bit my lip “Indeed you did, but take note, my love, that you’re not the only one who got an ‘upgrade,’ shal we say, from Crystagia?” she grinned “What does that mean?” Cadance smiled “We’re both dragon slayers” crystal gave a sly smirk in my direction “I am Tesla’s equal in both his life and power and intellect, maybe more who’s to say, maybe Tesla’s met his match” “Pun not intended” Blaze laughed “Of course not,” she nickered “Tesla and I aren’t an item, we’re a couple, and I’m happy with just being his mate, even if he is herding, if that’s what he wants, I won’t stop him” she pecked my cheek “I’ll always be here for you, my little R- Eon” she nuzzled into me “You almost said something there, what was it?” Celestia smiled “It’s not important” Crystal frowned “So it isn’t she slowly nodded “Might as well say it,” I sighed “get it over with” “Are you sure, my love?” Crystal blinked, I nodded “Ok then, if you’re sure” “My name isn’t Tesla; it’s just a name I picked up for myself,” “Say what?” Rainbow Dash stared at me “Then what is it?” “It’s Rick,” I bit my lip “Rick Hawkins” “That’s both a bold and somewhat cute name” Faust simpered “it suits you, Sir Rick” “I’d rather this not get out, only to my friends, no one else” I mumbled “If that’s what you want, Tesla” Celestia raised an eyebrow “Rick ‘Teslakana’ Hawkins; sounds awesome” Blaze chuckled “but then, so am I” “Egotist!” I laughed “Human!” she rebuked “Ferret!” I grinned, changing to eon form “Big ears” she smirked “Rodent” I grinned “Stretch” she tutted “Midget” I folded my arms “Lanky” she clicked her tongue “Half-pint” I chuckled “At least I don’t have a permanent wing-boner” she huffed “That’s because of my solid bone structure, nothing else!” I scorned “And I suppose that means I can blame my own biology for my head lighting up, like so,” she unleashed a miniature axe-blade-shaped fire from the middle of her crown, diminishing it quickly after “I don’t bother with attacks that my kind’s supposed to use like dragon pulse and Luster purge,” I shrugged “I’ve my own series, thanks to Crystagia” “Whereas I don’t use the so-called ‘magic’ you do, I use what I’m supposed to use, Tesla” Crystal sighed “if you keep using it it’ll go to your hard, then who knows what’ll happen to you” -=- “So that’s what you used in the arena,” Brilliant Emerald blinked as we stood,hovered in the gardens “Dragon slayer magic?” “Pretty much” I smiled, scales appearing on my hands, arms and face, my fangs extending by all of whole millimetres, Ember appearing above me as my eyes turned to slits “And who is this?” Ember smiled “I’m Brilliant Emerald, Tesla’s servant, if you will” she bowed quickly as a low rumbling occurred, per se, from behind me “Here’s a theory,” I glimmered turning around to reveal an oh-so familiar dragon “Aero’s a dragon slayer “The other eon I trained?” Crystagia smiled “he is twice as strong as Tesla, but his platonic love for his sister clouds his judgement, leaving Tesla to overshadow him” “I’ll be damned” Blaze whistled “Is there anything else you may require?” she simpered as Crystal hovered beside me, Twilight, her friends, Spike, Celestia, Faust, and Shining Armour walked up beside me alongside an unfamiliar orange Pegasus with a cobalt mane and tail “That’s my brother in law you’re talking about” I grinned “And my brother” Crystal smirked “You’re betrothed,” Crystagia glanced at Crystal, then toward me “congratulations, the pair of you, may your love be able to reshape the world as you see fit” “Why don’t we do the same?” The Pegasus nudged Twilight’s shoulder “How many times do I have to tell you,” Twilight leapt onto my back “I’m not interested” “That’s a base-breaker” I chuckled “And who’s this?” Crystagia smiled down toward Chilly Pepper and Blackjack “I’m Pepper” Pepper giggled “And I’m Blackjack” Blackjack bowed quickly “It’s an honour to meet you Crystagia” “Please, any friend of my son’s is a friend of mine” She winked, glancing toward Ember “and you are?” “Ember, Tesla’s ‘guardian ghost’ per se” Ember smiled “Charmed” Crystagia let out a soft laugh “You’re the son of a dragon?” the Pegasus standing beside me gasped “You say it like it’s a bad thing,” I frowned “may only the truth and clarity come forth from thy trap lest you wish to keep having one!” “I meant no offense by it,” I held up his hooves defensively “it’s just that nopony on Equis as had a dragon fort a mother or father, other than the dragons themselves, it’s just unheard of!” “We don’t hear Natsu, Wendy, or Gajeel complaining,” Blaze and I shrugged, “Nor that of Igneel, Mettallicana or Grandeeney, the flame, iron and sky dragon kings and queen respectively, different world as it may be, it happened regardless,” I tilted my head “why’re you here anyway?” “I felt it when you used the spiral energy that was given to you when you gained your mechanical arm, Tesla” Crystagia smiled “I’m connected to you, remember, I know all that of which you do, no matter what it might be, or where you are, I will know everything about your actions on Equis” she passed me a two-three foot-tall crystalline block “open it” “What’s inside?” Crystal tapped the box, the sides and ceiling of said box disintegrated, revealing a notably sized ‘machine’ of sorts with a creamy silver coloured coat of metallic skin, a flacon’s beak-shaped head with six gems on its head, two one either side, which where a pearly white colour, the two above those were a bright emerald green, the ones above those were a vivid pink, and the one in the centre of the crown was an extraordinary golden primrose colour, with two-tod feet that seemed to be armoured, forming a type of ‘boot,’ so to speak the chest-piece being somewhat triangular, pointing down the centre of it’s cramped-looking Torso it’s arms tucked against its body, the small, slanted, rectangular holes in front of the gems seeming to be its eyes, the shrapnel like holes at the front of the beak-shaped head, which atop a thin, angular, neck, completed the figure “It’s…” she blinked “It’s ugly” Rarity gagged “It’s a Myr” Celestia smiled “the legendary architects of eons passed, if you do see one, be it in pieces in a rather expensive trinket shop, or complete like this, keep it, as they’re priceless artefacts” “I am more than an artefact, Celestia” The Myr snapped “I am a guardian of all that I am programmed to defend with my very core” “It’s talking!” Crystal leapt backward “Hello, eon, Tesla,” the Myr smiled “I am Mithryl, or just Myr, at your service” the metallic being bowed quickly “what would you have me do, Tesla?” “How do you know me?” “Because one-billion years past, is served you as your liaison, you’re first-lieutenant, and your assistant, an eon passes, and I still remain, as do my duties as your little helper” Mithryl chuckled awkwardly “What are you exactly?” Twilight eyed Mithryl up and down with apparent curiosity “A planeswalker, I can cut across dimensions in search of what my masters need or want, anywhere, anytime, anyhow,” Mithryl seemingly smiled, how she did it without a mouth I didn’t know, and knew better than to ask “How old are you?” Crystal blinked “Several-hundred-billion years-old, your human theories of the universe being so young is all faked, by us, to make sure you keep quiet about the end of your pathetic world” Mithryl scoffed “Where were you made?” Blaze snapped “Here, on Equis, before the time of ponies came to daw on Equis, or Eldus, as it was called back in the day of humans and Planeswalkers alike, we were a humble sort, but then the nameless one appeared out of the darkest corner of the planet, corrupting all of whom he came across, reducing them to shells of their former beings” “That’s impossible, as all records show that Equis is only three billion years old!” Twilight scorned “Nothing is impossible, little pony,” Mithryl gave a mechanical tut “I could lecture you about the dark truths of this world, but I doubt your rulers would take too kindly to it” “Best keep the talking to the professionals” Blaze smirked “That way, you don’t get your literary arse handed to you via cheap monologue” =--=--= “So, what’s this event called again?” Brilliant Emerald tilted her head “The Grand Galloping Gala, second one I’ve been to actually,” I sighed “let’s hope this one doesn’t go awry like the other one we heard about” “Too right” Blaze laughed as I hovered in the centre of the main hall of the castle, Blackjack, Littlepip, Velvet Remedy and Chilly Pepper sat upon my back, with Snowdrop perched upon my head, and Blaze lying along my neck “And what about you, Tesla,” Twilight and her friends trotted toward me “ “I would love to stay, but I’ve other things that need doing,” I smiled softly “Like what,” Rainbow Dash frowned “This is the most important event of the year in all of Equestria, don’t tell me that metallic thing that some dragon gave you is going to change that!” “I’ll live my life how I want to live it” I snapped “Besides, Nyx’s probably worried again, and that’s something I don’t want” “She’s Nightmare Moon,” she scowled “you- we don’t need her anywhere on Equis; she might as well go to Tartarus for all I care!” “What do we keep saying about bullies?” I sighed, beginning to walk toward the entrance of the castle, “some people just don’t change for the world, it’s no wonder he let you go” “What was that!?” she screamed, gliding around in front of me, glowering straight at me “you, take, that, back!” “Or what?” I raised an eyebrow “your hoof will break long before my heart, soul and sprit even so much as begin to flicker, violence will only lead to retaliation, which will only lead to a never-ending cycle of events, think before you act, Rainbow Dash,” I glided around her, “But that doesn’t mean I can’t try!” she snarled, I quickly soared out of the castle “Everfree castle,” Blaze exhaled sharply, I nodded “good, it’s getting tiring in Canterlot, and here’s hoping you find something interesting this time, eh Tesla?” “Here’s hoping” I nodded, flying toward the castle in the forest -=-=- “Tesla, what a pleasant surprise” Nyx chimed as I flew through the door to the throne room “I’ve someone for you to meet she says that she knows you rather well” she sidestepped, revealing a cyan blue quadruped creature with long diamond shaped ears with a crest made out the large diamond-shaped appendages, the one in the middle overlapping the two on either side of it the teal eyes and dark blue ear and tail tips –its tail being like one of its ears-, shining like a crystal as it glowed in the filtered light “Who’re you?” I tilted my head, Snowdrop, Blaze, Littlepip, Velvet, Pepper, Snowdrop, and Kiary glided to/landed on the floor beside me as the creature, identifiable to some as a Glaceon, slinked toward me “Don’t you recognize me, Aniki?” the Glaceon purred, licking her lips “Ellie,” Blaze and I gasped “What, how, when?” I stammered “how did you get here?” “I wished upon a star,” Ellie giggled “I asked to be united with my one, true love, and now I’m here, cheesy as it may seem, I’m with you now, Tesla, I love you, and I’ve been waiting so long to say that” “Ellie, I’m with Crystal, she may not mind, but I’m afraid-” “About what?” she blinked “we’re together now, and there’s nothing to stop me from having my way with you, except them” she nodded toward my friends “Will you accept my love, Tesla?” I reverted to human form, walking toward her, crouching down to her level “I will” I smiled “if you’re that insistent on being with me, then I can’t stop you, Ellie “Please, call me Winter” she winked “If that’s what you want, Winter” I nodded -=-=-=- “That was fun,” Winter panted for breath as she lay upon my neck, her head perched upon my own as I glided through the castle in canterlot, my friends walking alongside me with Nyx as we ended up in the main lobby “Same time tonight?” “Never knew you could use ice type move like that,” I chuckled “and yes, I suppose I could manage tonight” “Thank you, my love” she pecked my cheek as I glanced back toward her, nuzzling into my back, she then sat upright, allowing Snowdrop to perch herself on my head “And who might you be little one?” “Snowdrop” Snowdrop giggled “And I’m winter, one being in what seems to be a never-ending line of Tesla’s mates” she gave a soft laugh “Is that so?” I turned around, Twilight, her friends, Spike, on Twilight’s back, Celestia, Faust and Cadance were there, eyebrows raised “And how long have you known her, Tesla?” Celestia smiled “I met Winter, previously known as Ellie, a month or Two after Crystal,” I bit my lip “I can feel your love for Tesla resonating in leaps and bounds,” Cadance nickered “How long have you felt like this?” “Ever since he saved me, I’ve felt a bold love for him,” Winter gleamed “what I first thought to be infatuation, turned out to be love, and even Lyra said so” “Lyra’s Ok, I presume?” I glanced back to the Glaceon “She’s perfectly fine, she sent me here without a problem, said she’d send Angel next” “And when did she say she’d be able to do that?” I sighed “In the next week or so” she smiled “but until then you’ve me to deal with, almost literally” “That’s not exactly I’d expect Ellie to say” I blinked “I’m not ‘Ellie’ anymore” she purred “So you aren’t,” Blaze smirked “What d’ya reckon we should do Tesla?” “How am I supposed to know,” I grumbled as an unfamiliar object/being landed “Uncle,” Gracy Gloom cheered, nuzzling into me “I’ve missed you so much!” “And I you Grace, and I you” I smiled, as two guards-ponies were somehow flung past me, landing behind me “We are here, for the filly” a creamy yellow pony with a vivid scarlet mane and tail with sideburns and an eye-patch growled “Winter; I want you to take Grace and run” I growled “That I will” Winter smiled as she ran deep into the castle, Gracy Gloom galloping beside her, I quickly reverted to human form, walking between my friends and the newcomers “You want my niece, you go through me” I snarled “We are not here to fight; we are here to retrieve a necessary element to our ideals and plans” the stallion grumbled, behind him stood what seemed like an army of hooded figures, “step aside boy” “And if I were, to decline?” I snorted “Then we would need to be rid of you, however possible” he smirked, his horn flared a sickly green as an energy bolt flew toward me, followed by a wave of them, I gave a deadpan stare as they impacted against me, creating an explosion “moron” “Is this really a fire based spell,” I gagged as I inhaled the flames from the explosion “cause these are the worst flames I’ve ever tasted!” “That’s impossible,” he snapped as I finished eating the flames “You should be molten ash by now, how are you still standing!?” “Magic,” I grinned from ear to ear “Dragon slayer magic, to be exact” “In that case,” he scoffed as one of the hooded figures passed him a large mirror “try this!” “A mirror?” I tilted my head “how cliché” “Ok, I’ll admit that was a little pathetic” he facehooved “We are here, for the elements of harmony” “Why not go for Tesla here, he’s an element of nature, that of whom and which created the elements of harmony” Blaze patted me on the head “Is this true?” he turned to face Celestia” “He is, but he’s not going anywhere with you!” Celestia barked “Then our objective has changed,” the stallion huffed “you’re coming with us, by choice or by force, make your decision!” “I’ll go,” I slowly nodded “Good then we leave at once-!” “With my friends” I smirked “I’m not going anywhere with the likes of you, Metsuryū Ogi Shiranui Gata, Gurren Hōō Ken,” I leapt back, and then lunged forward, fully ignited from head to feet in whitish-golden flames, slashing my arms across in front of me as I charged into the army, Yō kūgeki,” I growled, performing a forward flip, creating two large spheres of golden fire in each hand, slamming them together “To Koen!” “Suishō Hasu Hoseki Ryū Shugo Tenshi!” “That was incredible,” Luna stared at me as I landed beside her and the others “Crystal lotus; Gem dragon’s guardian angel” Blaze and I chimed in unison as what I guessed to be the whole solar royal guard march the figures away, their hoods now tatters, revealing their changeling-like appearances, just like that of Sapphire “Looks like we found their so-called master” I lifted the stallions seemingly lifeless body “Turns out to be an old acquaintance” Shining Armour stood beside me, I suddenly glanced toward him, he nodded “he used to be a Sergeant for the royal guards, until his accident which cost him his wife, it was tragic, and his foals were put into foster care as he couldn’t retire in his former position, I’d heard rumours that he’d committed suicide due to post-traumatic-stress-disorder, turns out that they were half right” “Half right?” Blaze tutted “The Buckshot I knew is dead as far as I’m concerned, what with Sapphire’s appearance at Gracy Gloom’s home; he’s declared himself an enemy to Equestria” Shining Armour scoffed “Sapphire’s alright isn’t she?” I bit my lip “She’s continuing her sentence, as per your and Celestia’s request,” he nodded “why?” “Just curious, besides, he said that he needed Grace, Sapphire said that her master needed her, so there for, by the transitive property, it’s all Buckshot’s problem, not Sapphire’s” I smirked “How do you know all of this?” he suddenly burst into laughter, levitating the fallen guard onto his back “Logic, common sense, and a lot of NCIS” I gave a sly grin “I’m wondering what you’re going to do with those changeling-like beings” “What’re you going to do about it?” he raised an eyebrow “you involved yourself in this as much as I have, if that makes sense, you hold responsibility over Gracy Gloom, and I over the guard, and they over the prisoners, for now anyways” “I’ll do what I can to set things right, that doesn’t mean having them jailed, if they’re truly innocent, then I see no reason to keep them locked up” I smiled “You’re as wise as you are powerful” he chuckled “I’ll see you later, Sir Tesla”
chapter II continuityThe next morning I was awoken to a light prodding, opening my eyes I saw Vinyl, sat next to a rather disrupted looking Octavia “Morning” I smiled “I’m here to apologize for my behavior last night” Octavia sighed “I shouldn’t have treated you like that Vinyl, I know it’s hard for you to break your habits and I know you’ve been trying very hard, but when you saw the temptation you took it, and Tesla, I don’t blame you for being what you are, how can I?” “You mean it Tavi?” Vinyl blinked “I think we’ll stick with Octavia for now” Octavia giggled “Well, I was gonna crash with Tesla” Vinyl bit her lip “Do what you think is best” she shrugged “but I don’t think Tesla has an actual home yet, do you?” she turned her attention to me “I used to” I shrugged “Where..?” Vinyl blinked “The castle” I flinched “How in the…?” she gasped “what happened?” “The dragon happened” I avoided her gaze “And the princesses kicked you out because of it?” Octavia stared at me “I’m unsure of what to say” “I second that” Blaze nodded “And I third that” I raised my hand “Morning Vinyl, Octavia, Tesla” Applejack gave a faint smiled, I didn’t respond “Ya’ll are Ok, Stretch, the princesses did give us a rather graphic description on what ya’ll said, and how ya work, and whilst Ah’m not one-hundred percent Ok with it, Ah do respect ya’ll fer what ya do, as a species Ah mean” “You’re not Ok with it, then why not do something about it?” I cast a moment’s glance at her “Because…” she sighed “because Ah love ya”, I rolled my eyes, stood up, and walked away, Vinyl and Octavia in tow “Not interested” I stated frigidly, walking toward Ponyville “That was harsh” Blaze whistled “I’m not in a good mood” I frowned “And walking toward a town full of ponies like her is a good idea because how?” she laughed “Touché” I hummed glancing back toward the silver-and-white ponies following me “So what is it that you do?” “We’re musicians” Octavia smiled “Whereas Vinyl’s ‘hard-core’ techno remix is rather intriguing, some ponies prefer stringed instruments” “Which do you prefer?” Vinyl glanced up at me “I’m impartial to both” I shrugged “Fair enough” she smiled “So what do you do here?” “Nothing, as of yet” I sighed, finally arriving at Ponyville “Used to work at the farm” Blaze shrugged “Why’d such a refined, albeit strange, being such as yourself work there?” Octavia gasped “I know, right?” I laughed, just as Luna teleported into view right in front of me “Are thou, well?” Luna stood before me “Why?” I tutted “Your home in the castle isn’t being forfeited” she smiled “Please, come home” “I was home when I was with Crystal back at the isles” I spat “do what you will, but leave me out of it” “We’re sorry to hear that” she bit her lip, tears in her eyes “We shall Celestia of thy decision, farewell” “Dude, really? “Vinyl gaped as a scroll blinked into view before me, landing in my hands, it read Dearest Tesla You are hereby invented to play a part in the royal canterlot orchestra as per Celestia’s decision that was made prior to this letter being written, I hope this finds you well, my little eon Yours sincerely, Cadance XOX “I get to play a part in the canterlot orchestra?” I blinked “but I don’t know how to play!” “They heard you sing, remember?” Blaze lightly tapped my head “Either way, I’m not going” I shrugged “Why not,” Octavia gasped “I’ve been trying to get a part in the orchestra for ages now, and they let you in for your singing voice, now this I have to hear!” “Oh, it’s nothing special” I bit my lip “To Hay it isn’t; if they think you’re royal material, I want to know what it is that has their interests piqued” she smirked “Fine” I sighed “The burning desire to live and roam free, It shines in the dark And it grows within me You're holding my hand but you don't understand So where I am going you won't be in the end. Im dreaming in colours of getting the chance of dreaming of trying the perfect romance The search of the door, to open your mind In search of the cure of mankind Help us we're drowning So close up inside Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? How will the lights die down, telling us who we are? I'm searching for answers Not given for free you’re hurting inside is there life within me? You're holding my hand but you don't understand So you're taking the road all alone in the end Im dreaming in colours, no boundaries are there Im dreaming the dream we all seem to share In search of the door, to open your mind In search of the cure of mankind Well help us we're drowning So close up inside Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Why does it rain, rain, rain, down on Utopia? And when the lights die down, telling us who we are why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Oh, why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Now when the lights die down, telling us who we are Why does it rain?” I sang with Blaze, as a duet “That was amazing,” Octavia stared at me “it’s no wonder you got offered a spot at the orchestra with the voice of an angel!” “Now you’re over-exaggerating” I laughed “Am I?” she pointed behind me, turning around I saw what seemed to be the entirety of ponyville staring at me, bursting into applause and cheering “Thank you” I waved “I’ll be performing live at the orchestra when if and when I can” -=- “Do you do solo or band songs?” a brown earth pony with a cream-coloured mane and tail smiled when I got backstage “Duet” I winked, glancing up at Blaze “Then you’d better practice out there then” he gestured to the stage in the empty theatre “That I will” I nodded, walking to the stage, Blaze perched atop my head “What song first, Brother,” “Within Temptation” I grinned, clearing my throat, as did she I can't feel my senses I just feel the cold All colours seem to fade away I can't reach my soul I would stop running, if i knew there was a chance It tears me apart to sacrifice it all but I'm forced to let go Tell me I'm frozen but what can I do? Can't tell the reasons I did it for you when lies turn into truth I sacrificed for you you say that I'm frozen but what can I do? I can feel your sorrow You won't forgive me, but I know you'll be all right It tears me apart that you will never know but I have to let go Tell me I'm frozen but what can I do? Can't tell the reasons I did it for you when lies turn into truth I sacrificed for you you say that I'm frozen but what can I do? Everything will slip away Shattered pieces will remain When memories fade into emptiness Only time will tell its tale If it all has been in vain I can't feel my senses I just feel the cold Frozen... But what can I do? Frozen... Tell me I'm frozen but what can I do? Can't tell the reasons I did it for you When lies turn into truth I sacrificed for you you say that I'm frozen, frozen...” I sang with blaze in another duet “Core blimey” the pony from before whistled as he and the rest of the band sat in the crowd “I think you might have us beaten there mate” “You haven’t heard anything then” I laughed “You would not believe your eyes If ten million fireflies Lit up the world as I fell asleep Cause they'd fill the open air And leave tear drops everywhere You'd think me rude but I would just stand and Stare I'd like to make myself believe That planet Earth turns, slowly It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep Cause everything is never as it seems Cause I'd get a thousand hugs From ten thousand lightning bugs As they tried to teach me how to dance A foxtrot above my head A sock-hop beneath my bed The disco ball is just hanging by a thread (Thread, thread...) I'd like to make myself believe That planet Earth turns, slowly It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep Cause everything is never as it seems (When I fall asleep) Leave my door open just a crack (Please take me away from here) Cause I feel like such an insomniac (Please take me away from here) Why do I tire of counting sheep? (Please take me away from here) When I'm far too tired to fall asleep (Ha-ha) To ten million fireflies I'm weird cause I hate goodbyes I got misty eyes as they said farewell (Said farewell) But I'll know where several are If my dreams get real bizarre Cause I saved a few and I keep them in a jar (Jar, jar, jar...) I'd like to make myself believe That planet Earth turns, slowly It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep Cause everything is never as it seems (When I fall asleep) I'd like to make myself believe That planet Earth turns, slowly It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep Cause everything is never as it seems (When I fall asleep) I'd like to make myself believe That planet Earth turns, slowly It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep Because my dreams are bursting at the seams” Blaze and I sang again with Blaze doing the background vocals “That was almost god-like” a cyan mare with a brown mane and tail applauded me “Again, I reckon we can do better” Blaze lightly patted my crown Close your tired eyes, relax and then, count from one to ten, and open them. All these heavy thoughts will try to weigh you down, but not this time. Way up in the air, you're finally free, and you can stay up there, right next to me. All this gravity will try to pull you down, but not this time. “When the sun goes down and the lights burn out, then it’s time for you to shine; Brighter than a shooting star, So shine no matter where you are. Fill the darkest night with a brilliant light 'cause it’s time for you to shine; Brighter than a shooting star, So shine no matter where you are, Tonight. Whoa, Whoa, Whoa! Brighter than a shooting star So shine no matter where you are, Tonight. Gaze into my eyes when the fire starts, And fan the flames so hot, it melts our hearts. Oh, the pouring rain will try to put it out, but not this time. Let your colours burn and lightly burst, into a million sparks, that all disperse. And illuminate a world that'll try to put you down, but not this time. When the sun goes down and the lights burn out, then it’s time for you to shine; Brighter than a shooting star, So shine no matter where you are. Fill the darkest night with a brilliant light 'cause it’s time for you to shine; Brighter than a shooting star, So shine no matter where you are, Tonight. A thousand heart beats beat in time, and makes this dark planet come alive. So when the lights flicker out tonight, you gotta shine. When the sun goes down and the lights burn out, then it’s time for you to shine; Brighter than a shooting star, So shine no matter where you are. Fill the darkest night with a brilliant light 'cause it’s time for you to shine; Brighter than a shooting star, So shine no matter where you are, Tonight.” I sang once again with my sister “Getting better” the first pony slowly nodded “Time for the finisher” Blaze and I winked to one-another “Just a small town girl Livin' in a lonely world She took the midnight train goin' anywhere Just a city boy Born and raised in South Detroit He took the midnight train goin' anywhere A singer in a smoky room The smell of wine and cheap perfume For a smile they can share the night It goes on and on and on and on Strangers waiting Up and down the boulevard Their shadows searchin' in the night Streetlight, people Livin' just to find emotion Hidin' somewhere in the night Workin' hard to get my fill Everybody wants a thrill Payin' anythin' to roll the dice Just one more time Some will win, some will lose Some are born to sing the blues And now the movie never ends It goes on and on and on and on Strangers waiting Up and down the boulevard Their shadows searchin' in the night Streetlight, people Livin' just to find emotion Hidin' somewhere in the night Don't stop believin' Hold on to that feelin' Streetlight, people Don't stop believin' Hold on to that feelin' Streetlight, people Don't stop!” I finished the final song, the band was silent, my sister having done the female parts of the song and a duet at times “That was…” the mare gasped, “stupendous, marvellously done sir!” “Call me TK” I smiled “That I will,” she nickered, “TK” “I thought I heard something interesting going on” Celestia appeared at the door to the theatre alongside Luna, Twilight her friends and the small purple lizard from the party “you’ve the voice of an angel, Tesla” “And you two have the wings” she raised an eyebrow “Damnit” “Thou art truly gifted Sir Tesla” Luna smiled “one does not simply sing like that out of sheer want or need, how do you do it?” “Practice” I winked “Quite a lot by the sounds” Celestia smiled “Fifteen years” I shrugged “Any reason?” she chuckled “Pure boredom” I laughed “ironic really” “I know, right?” Blaze chortled “Think we can do another?” “Easily” I glimmered “Gonna be awkward though” You know the bed feels warmer Sleeping here alone You know I dream in colour And do the things I want You think you got the best of me Think you had the last laugh Bet you think that everything good is gone Think you left me broken down Think that I'd come running back Baby you don't know me, cause you're dead wrong What doesn't kill you makes you stronger Stand a little taller Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone What doesn't kill you makes a fighter Footsteps even lighter Doesn't mean I'm over cause you're gone What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stronger Just me, myself and I What doesn't kill you makes you stronger Stand a little taller Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone You heard that I was starting over with someone new They told you I was moving on, over you. You didn't think that I'd come back I'd come back swinging You try to break me, but you see What doesn't kill you makes you stronger Stand a little taller Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone What doesn't kill you makes a fighter Footsteps even lighter Doesn't mean I'm over cause you're gone What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stronger Just me, myself and I What doesn't kill you makes you stronger Stand a little taller Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone Thanks to you I got a new thing started Thanks to you I'm not the broken-hearted Thanks to you I'm finally thinking about me You know in the end the day you left was just my beginning In the end... What doesn't kill you makes you stronger Stand a little taller Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone What doesn't kill you makes a fighter Footsteps even lighter Doesn't mean I'm over cause you're gone What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stronger Just me, myself and I What doesn't kill you makes you stronger Stand a little taller Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stronger Just me, myself and I what doesn't kill you makes you stronger Stand a little taller doesn’t mean I'm lonely when I'm alone” I sang once again with my sister in yet another duet “That was phenomenal,” a blue pony with a dark blue mane and tail whistled, the whole band applauded me “well done Tesla!” “It’s nothing special” I chuckled “Isn’t it?” Luna smiled with apparent glee (pun not intended) “how about thou say that after the orchestra” “You say that like it’s going to be a challenge” Blaze boldly declared “Oh?” Celestia grinned “then I don’t suppose you’d like proving that, Blaze?” “Easy” I tutted “when do I start?” “I’ll have the guards tell of the upcoming event tomorrow, if you’re so sure” “How many songs per event?” I titled my head “Three, why,” Luna smirked “nervous are we?” “Just curious on how bad I have to wipe that grin from your adorable face of yours” “Princesses never are, and never will be adorable” she raised an eyebrow “Keep telling yourself that” I laughed -=- When tomorrow came, I was pacing on centre stage, waiting for the audience to gather “Nervous?” Blaze laughed “Impatient to win more like” I clicked my tongue, when the audience finally gathered, I noticed Twilight, her friends, the lizard, Octavia, Vinyl, the princesses, and Crystal “Ready?” I whispered, Blaze nodded “Duet” “When I see your smile Tears roll down my face I can't replace And now that I'm strong I have figured out How this world turns cold and it breaks through my soul And I know I'll find deep inside me I can be the one I will never let you fall (let you fall) I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all (through it all) Even if saving you sends me to heaven It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. Seasons are changing And waves are crashing And stars are falling all for us Days grow longer and nights grow shorter I can show you I'll be the one I will never let you fall (let you fall) I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all (through it all) Even if saving you sends me to heaven Cuz you're my, you're my, my, my true love, my whole heart Please don't throw that away Cuz I'm here for you Please don't walk away and Please tell me you'll stay woah, stay woah Use me as you will Pull my strings just for a thrill And I know I'll be okay Though my skies are turning gray I will never let you fall I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all Even if saving you sends me to heaven to fade” I finished the song, with Blaze singing the background vocals “I'm waking up to ash and dust I wipe my brow but I sweat my rust I'm breathing in the chemicals I'm breaking in, shaping up, Then checking out on the prison bus This is it, the apocalypse Whoa I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones Enough to make my systems blow Welcome to the new age, to the new age Welcome to the new age, to the new age Whoa, whoa, I'm radioactive, radioactive Whoa, whoa, I'm radioactive, radioactive I raise my flags, don my clothes It's a revolution, I suppose We're painted it red, to fit right in Whoa I'm breaking in, shaping up, Then checking out on the prison bus This is it, the apocalypse Whoa I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones Enough to make my systems blow Welcome to the new age, to the new age Welcome to the new age, to new age Whoa, whoa, I'm radioactive, radioactive Whoa, whoa, I'm radioactive, radioactive All systems go, the sun hasn't died Deep in my bones, straight from inside I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones Enough to make my systems blow Welcome to the new age, to the new age Welcome to the new age, to the new age Whoa, whoa, I'm radioactive, radioactive Whoa, whoa, I'm radioactive, radioactive” I sang again You shout it out, but I can't hear a word you say I'm talking loud, not saying much I'm criticized, but all your bullets ricochet You shoot me down, but I get up I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose Fire away, fire away Ricochet, you take your aim Fire away, fire away You shoot me down But I won't fall, I am titanium You shoot me down But I won't fall, I am titanium, I am titanium Cut me down, but it's you who had further to fall Ghost town, haunted love, Raise your voice Sticks and stones may break my bones I'm talking loud, not saying much I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose Fire away, fire away Ricochet, you take your aim Fire away, fire away You shoot me down But I won't fall, I am titanium You shoot me down But I won't fall, I am titanium, I am titanium Stone-hard, machine guns, firing at the ones who run Stone-hard, those bulletproof guns You shoot me down But I won't fall, I am titanium You shoot me down But I won't fall, I am titanium You shoot me down But I won't fall, I am titanium You shoot me down But I won't fall, I am titanium, I am titanium “ and again, forming three duets in a row, the crowd bursting into applauding as I finished, bowing with Blaze mimicking my movements artp my head, relinquishing the stage for the rest of the orchestra “That wasn’t that bad” Blaze cooed as we made it to the main hall where tables and chairs were set up with various food and drink refreshments laid out on said tables “Says you, I’ve got a bit of a sore throat” I coughed, downing a glass of somewhat freezing cold water “that’s better” “I thought you were meant to be the professional?” she laughed “I’m not perfect” I chuckled “Happy birthday, Brother” she nuzzled into me “Thanks Blaze” I sighed, sitting on the stairs with Blaze curled up in my lap “There you are” I turned around, Twilight and her friends were stood there, gleaming at me “Hello Sparkles” I smirked “I guess we owe Rainbow Five Bits then” Applejack laughed, I got up and left “What?” I walked out into the castle’s gardens, Blaze perched atop my head “First Celestia jokes about you’re parent’s death, and now they joke about your potential career” Blaze spat “it’s disgraceful!” “I know, right?” I growled, igniting my fists with a dark, emerald flame, “Suishō hasu Karyu Ken!” I fired Gatling-like punches toward the tree in front of me, leaving indents that went deeper and deeper with each hit, until it went all the way through, felling the large, wooden plant “Impressive” she whistled “Just letting off a little steam” I tutted =-= “So, did you get in?” Octavia smiled alongside Vinyl as I stood in the main hall, not two hours later, which was filled with the audience from the theatre “I’ve no idea” I bit my lip “What’s even better, is you did it without rehearsal!” she beamed “Good guy like Tesla doesn’t need to rehearse” Vinyl jokingly tapped my leg “Well yeah, who do you think I am?” I laughed “God” Octavia slurred “of music anyway, with a voice like that you could probably sing a lullaby to Celestia herself” “I wouldn’t exaggerate” I chuckled “I would” Blaze shrugged “No hell, you would” I simpered “So, feel like bucking?” Vinyl winked “Vinyl, you now I got to Tesla before you, so step aside” Octavia stated haughtily “Ah, but I got dibs on his junk, so there” Vinyl smirked “I’m sure I could do better” Octavia scoffed as I managed to ‘sneak’ away “That was insane” I laughed “I know, maybe you could have a three-way” Blaze chortled “Who with,” I turned around; Celestia and Luna were there, eyebrows raised “Vinyl and Octavia” Blaze glimmered “Her idea, not mine” I gestured toward the Quilava sat upon my head “I see” Celestia winked, now that I got a good look at her, she was beautiful, just as much as Luna “I know what you’re thinking, eon” ‘Fuck’ “Exactly” her horn glowed as we were teleported into a large, ornately furnished room “Did you think that Rose was the only one with her interests about you, human?” “I’m not sure if follow-” she pressed her lips against mine, her and Luna changing to what appeared to be anthroforms “Ok, now I follow…” =-=-=-= “Well, so that happened” Blaze burst into roaring laughter as I sat on the stairs in the main hall “Damn straight” I chuckled “What happened to you?” Twilight and her friends –plus the small purple lizard from before- stood before me, eyebrows raised “Divine intervention” Blaze and I shared a soft laugh “What’s that mean?” Twilight blinked “Should we?” Blaze glanced down at me “Nah; let them find out on their own” I chuckled, again, walking off toward the theatre -=- As I stood on centre stage, I saw Luna sat there on her own, smiling down at me like the lunar angel that she was “I don't want this moment to ever end, Where everything's nothing without you. I'd wait here forever just to, to see you smile, 'Cause it's true, I am nothing without you. Through it all, I've made my mistakes. I stumble and fall, but I mean these words. I want you to know, With everything I won't let this go. These words are my heart and soul. I'll hold on to this moment, you know, As I bleed my heart out to show, And I won't let go. Thoughts read, unspoken, forever in vow, And pieces of memories fall to the ground. I know what I didn't have, so I won't let this go, 'Cause it's true, I am nothing without you. All the streets, where I walked alone, With nowhere to go, have come to an end. I want you to know, With everything I won't let this go. These words are my heart and soul. I'll hold on to this moment, you know, As I bleed my heart out to show, And I won't let go. In front of your eyes, it falls from the skies, When you don't know what you're looking to find. In front of your eyes, it falls from the skies, When you just never know what you will find. I don't want this moment to ever end, Where everything's nothing without you. I want you to know, With everything I won't let this go. These words are my heart and soul. I'll hold on to this moment, you know, As I bleed my heart out to show, And I won't let go. I want you to know, With everything I won't let this go. These words are my heart and soul. I'll hold on to this moment, you know, As I bleed my heart out to show, And I won't let go” I smiled as I finished the song “Nicely done, Sir Tesla” Luna teleported down beside me, pecking, my cheek “Thank you” I pecked her back on the lips “my little Tsuki” “My little eon” she smiled “And you said that you weren’t adorable” I raised an eyebrow “We may have miscalculated in our statement” she giggled “Cute” I smiled “As is thy eon form, Tesla” she chuckled “Likewise” I smirked “We do not possess another…” she stared at me “oh, that” “I’m not complaining either way” I laughed “Do thou know how to play an instrument?” “Only a few songs on the guitar” I shrugged “That’s good enough” she simpered “Anything for You Lulu” I gleamed, she looked around the theatre, which was still empty, dragged me via means of levitation backstage, locked the door, locked the door and changed to her anthro form, sitting me down on one of the chairs, removing her lingerie, undoing my trousers and boxers, rolling them down to my ankles, slipping my har4dening cock into her mouth, bobbiung her head up and down, placing her hands on my legs as she did so “How does this feel?” she smiled up at me “Brilliant” I sighed “Then we shall continue” she licked her lips, deepthroating herself on my length, twirling her tongue around the head, her saliva running down my dick and over my balls as she pulled away,, turning herself around, slamming my girth into her sex, bounding up and down as I moved my arms around her curvaceous body, gripping onto her breasts “Oh yes, take us Tesla, make us thine own bitch!” she gasped as I bucked my hips against hers “make us beg for release!” she panted as I slammed my member into her tight little cunny, filling her with seed, pulling out once it stopped endlessly pumping into her until then “That was… incredible!” Luna exhaled sharply, placing her lingerie back on, pecking my cheek as I got re-dressed, teleporting out of the backstage as I walked with Blaze out onto the theatre, which was still empty, surprisingly enough “That was intriguing” Blaze smirked “Yeah, so it was” I chuckled, my vision fading as I collapsed onto my face on the hard wooden floor “I’m gonna sleep now…” -=-=- The following day, I staggered to my feet, barely managing to walk in a straight line toward the xit of the theatre “How do you feel?” Celestia smiled “Absolutely hammered” I groaned “Hammered?” she blinked “Smashed right out of my brains?” she tilted her head “Drunk?” “Oh...” she slowly nodded “you’ll have to forgive us for that, our magic levels are nigh immeasurable “That’s alright,” Blaze laughed “mating with two goddesses in a day will do that to a wizard, right brother?” “I need a drink” I mumbled “So you do” Celestia giggled “my little eon” “I’m not sure how to respond to that” I slowly shook my head, walking with Celestia to the dining hall -=- Once breakfast was finished, I sat outside in the stands of the arena alongside Twilight, her friends, the lizard, and the princesses “Maybe you just need to release some of your magic” Blaze suggested “How so,” I raised an eyebrow “Well, everyone knows that wizards such as yourself absorb magic from the atmosphere, right?” I nodded “well, my theory is that you absorbed too much yesterday and that’s why you feel like shit right now, pardon my lingo” “You’re excused” I mumbled, gliding down to the arena, inhaling sharply “Eigo Hoseki Ryu,” I exhaled a vast torrent of silvery/pearl coloured flames into the sky, eventually relenting “Hokou!” “How do you feel?” she smirked “Damn you a third time for being right,” I folded my arms “I feel perfect!” “Told ya so” she laughed “So you did” I chuckled “And,” she rolled a paw with a downright smug-as-hell expression plastered on her face “You were right, again” I sighed “Too right I was” she smirked -=-=- As I hovered beside Crystal, Twilight and her friends in ponyville, my ears started twitched, almost pulling me toward the mountain on which canterlot was built “Going somewhere?” Crystal laughed “Apparently” I chuckled as I came across a statue of a Pegasus filly with an icy-blue coat with a white mane and tail with a similar bluish colour in them “Well I’ll be damned, it actually happened” Blaze whistled “take it way Tesla” “You cannot see but your heart is pure I know you feel trapped In a dark world Some brush you off and call you weak but your name is snowdrop and one day they'll see If you hold fast and stand strong you'll discover who you are If you listen to the world at night you can hear the twinkling stars If you use love to guide your heart you are bound to go far You have the power to change the world being uniquely who you are If you hold fast and stand strong you'll discover who you are If you listen to the world at night you can hear the twinkling stars If you use love to guide your heart you are bound to go far You have the power to change the world being uniquely who you are If you hold fast and stand strong you'll discover who you are If you listen to the world at night you can hear the twinkling stars If you use love to guide your heart you are bound to go far You have the power to change the world being uniquely who you are” I almost echoed as I sang “Holy hay, that was awesome!” Rainbow Dash cheered as a massive beam of light from the statue rocketed up toward the heaven, a sudden flash of light later, and the statue had vanished altogether “Uh, Tesla” Crystal pointed toward my back, glancing behind me, I saw an exact replica of the statue, only as an actual pony, staring up at me with cyan eyes, a small smile adorning her face “Hell Daddy” the pony giggled “I’m Snowdrop” “Nice to meet you, Snowdrop, I’m Tesla, and this is my sister, Blaze” I gestured to the Quilava using my head as a rug “Hello” Snowdrop held out a hoof, which Blaze shook “I’m going to bed now, Ok Daddy?” “Ok, just try not to move about too much” I smiled “Ok” she smiled, clinging onto me as she slept “To Canterlot,” Blaze smirked “To Canterlot” I nodded -=- As I glided in through the entrance to the castle a scroll appeared before me You’re needed at the theatre… “Ok, fair enough” I shrugged as the scroll disintegrated, flying toward the theatre “I heard that I was needed here?” I smiled as the members of the orchestra stood before me, Octavia and Vinyl included “Luna tells us that you can play the guitar” Vinyl smirked, glancing toward Snowdrop “who’s the filly?” “Snowdrop” I smiled “How long have you been here?” Octavia blinked “A week-ish” I tilted a claw “So how is she here?” “Magic” I winked “Anyways, Luna’s told us that you know a song on the guitar” the cyan mare smiled “can you do it, for a solo-Op tomorrow?” “Most certainly” I called my hands together “when’s the event?” “At ten-o’-clock sharp” she winked “I’ll be there” “Red jumpsuit Apparatus,” Blaze smirked “Nope, Utopia” I grinned as Snowdrop wearily awoke “Hello Daddy” Snowdrop “Hello Snowdrop” I smiled as Blaze and Snowdrop switched places, with the filly on my head, and the Quilava on my back “Where are we?” she yawned “Canterlot royal castle, in the theatre” I smiled again “Canterlot..?” she stared at me “My home, to make it brief” I chuckled “I love you Daddy,” she mumbled, nuzzling into me “Regardless of what you might be…” -=- The next day, I sat on an ornately crafted bench in the theatre as my friends and the princesses sat in the audience “The burning desire to live and roam free, It shines in the dark And it grows within me You're holding my hand but you don't understand So where I am going you won't be in the end. Im dreaming in colours Of getting the chance Of dreaming of trying the perfect romance The search of the door, to open your mind In search of the cure of mankind Help us we're drowning So close up inside Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? How will the lights die down, telling us who we are? I'm searching for answers Not given for free you’re hurting inside Is there life within me? You're holding my hand but you don't understand So you're taking the road all alone in the end Im dreaming in colours, no boundaries are there Im dreaming the dream we all seem to share In search of the door, to open your mind In search of the cure of mankind Well help us we're drowning So close up inside Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Why does it rain, rain, rain, down on Utopia? And when the lights die down, telling us who we are Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Oh, why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Now when the lights die down, telling us who we are Why does it rain?” I sang with Blaze in another duet whilst playing the guitar that’d been made for me, standing upright and bowing, the audience burst into applause and cheering as I walked backstage with Snowdrop and Blaze, the former on the back of my head, the latter on my shoulder “That was amazing!” Octavia cheered alongside Vinyl as we stood in the main hall not an hour later “That was me doing a guitar duet with Blaze” I smirked “It’s like you were born sing do that song!” she glimmered “although I thought you couldn’t play any instruments” “Not the ones they use in an actual orchestra, unless they actually use guitars in the orchestra here” I laughed “They don’t, which is for the better I suppose seeing as how you’d shine above the rest of them” she giggled “Too right” Snowdrop whispered “Next time I’ll sing a different song” I winked “I’m sure you will, Celestia trotted toward me alongside Luna, Twilight her friends and the lizard, the latter of which was on Twilight’s back “I’m surprised, how did, you bring Snowdrop back?” “He sang” Snowdrop nickered “Oh,” Celestia raised an eyebrow “And how did that happen?” “Heck if we know” Blaze and I murmured “Daddy,” Snowdrop smiled rather faintly, I’m hungry” Celestia levitated a muffin toward me, I passed it to Snowdrop “thank you Daddy” “And you think you’re ready for that role, Tesla?” Celestia “Blaze, if you would” I smiled “Mayonaka Nikkō Ryū” Blaze chanted “What in tha hay does that mean?” Applejack blinked “Dragon of the midnight sun” I winked “I’d be honoured “to fight for you, princess” “And I’d be honoured to have you as our knight, Sir Tesla” Celestia smiled, magicking a gem out of nowhere “Here, this gem is enchanted to give it’s user unlimited magical power for what’s been tested to last forever” I took the gem as she handed it to me, eating it fairly quickly, feeling a sudden burst of magical energy radiate from within me, scales appearing on my face, arms and hands “So, permanent ‘Dragon Force’ then?” Blaze smirked “Seems so” I sighed “Are those scales?” Vinyl gasped “I’m a dragon slayer, if given enough of my element to sustain my magicka levels I enter what’s call ‘Dragon Force,’ the final, ultimate form of dragon slayer magic, said to be equivalent in power to that of an actual dragon, the power to utterly destroy everything,” I explained not that I’m going to” “But of course” she said as sultrily as she could “And I suppose you’d like help fitting your armour, Sir Tesla?” “Armour?” I chuckled “Don’t need, it, and besides, it’d have to be especially designed as such, I gestured to my twin sets of wings “And besides, I’m a mage, not a warrior” “They magic is thy blade and thy scales are thy armour” Luna raised an eyebrow “Thank you” I sighed “Thou art most welcome, Sir Tesla” she smiled “Dragon knight of the midnight sun” Blaze simpered ”Mayonaka Nikkō Ryū Kishi” I sighed “you’d think they’d change it a little” “I know, right?” Blaze grinned -=-=-=- the knighting ceremony, was fun enough “Tesla, come forth,” Luna called I marched forward, my armoured feet making loud thumps even on the carpeted floor. “Kneel” I went down on one knee “Tesla, do you swear to serve us, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, in all we say and command?” Celestia smiled “I swear to serve you, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, in all you say and command” I deadpanned “Do you swear to defend Equestria against all enemies from without and within?” she continued “I swear to defend Equestria against all enemies from without and within” I nodded “Do thou swear to come when needed to assist us in whatever we may require?” Luna glimmered; her sister shot her an odd look “I swear to come to you when needed to assist you however you may require” An odd thing to add. Her horn glowed brightly and came down to my shoulder at once as did Celestia’s on my other shoulder I felt a searing pain as two extra appendages sprung forth from my back and my canines extended into fangs as my eyes burned with the heat of a thousand suns going nova “Daddy,” Snowdrop leapt forth, clinging onto my as I coughed blood, wiping my mouth as I fell on my backside “I’m Ok, angel, don’t worry about me” I smiled “Your teeth, your wings, and your eyes, you…!” she gasped, clinging onto me “I love you Daddy” “I’m fine Snowy, don’t worry about me, it’s you I’m worried about” I stroked her mane “I love you too Snowdrop, don’t let anyone tell you any differently Ok?” “Ok” she gleamed; beaming up at me “your eyes are like a cat’s Daddy” she giggled “and your new wings are like that of an angel” I eventually managed to stretch my new wings, getting a decent look at them, the feathers of gold, silver and crimson blazing in the sunlight filtering through the windows “This should be interesting” I chuckled “So it should “Blaze quickly bounded forward climbing up my back and perching herself atop my head, staring down at me “Smile” I opened my mouth in a weak smile “Bloody hell, look at them gnashers, and the eyes too, you’re like a demon-angel, a Nephilim!” “A what,” Luna blinked “What is this ‘Nephilim’ thou speakest of?” “It’s a hybrid between and angel and a demon, they’re also said to be the sons of god in Abrahamic religions” I explained “I see” Celestia smiled “You’ve the voice and wings of a crimson angel, the eyes and fangs of a demon-based creature and the power of a dragon” Blaze chuckled “you’re a ‘thing’” “That I am” I nodded, staggering to my, feet Snowdrop perched herself on the back of my head and Blaze sitting on my shoulder as I did so “And you’re a little fire hazard” “Oh am I now?” she laughed “At east those fangs will give you an edge on that meat we’ve stashed away” “We already ate it remember?” I facepalmed “Did we?” she folded her paws “I don’t recall such an event happening, Tesla” “We did” I nodded, walking with the crowd and the princesses out of the throne room, and into the main hall “And it was with Vinyl, if you’d just remember” “So it was” She slowly nodded “I suppose you can find another one, right?” -=-=- As I sat atop the large pile of gems in another dragon’s lair atop another mountain, I bit into the meat that I’d especially cooked “Happy late Birthday” Blaze held up a thin slice of meat “Are you sure you’re Ok with this Snowdrop?” “I can manage” Snowdrop looked a little pale “I won’t do anything you don’t want me to” I sighed “I’ve been through worse” she faintly smiled “I see” I slowly nodded as Blaze gorged herself on the roasted dragon carcass “just let me know if there’s something bothering you” “Ok” she nodded as something behind her let out a yip “Hello” I smiled as a young, Snow-white wolf plodded toward me, sitting ion it’s haunches, as it stared at the meat I had in my hands “Here” I smiled, the wolf let out a yip, almost smiling as it devoured the meat, fervently licking it’s lips as I cut out another piece, devouring said piece also “You’re a hungry pup aren’t ya?” Blaze chuckled, the wolf let out an affirmative bark, wagging its tail as it sat beside me, nuzzling into me “Think I’ll call you… Ryōshi” I smiled, patting the wolf on the head, gleaming as it licked my hand like a sweet, pulling it away “Do you like that name?” the wolf barked “Ryōshi it is then, or Just Rio, are you a boy or a girl, one bark for the former, two for the latter” Ryōshi barked, twice “Now that that’s settled, how about coming with me?” she barked again, now definitely smiling as her tail wagged at record-breaking speeds -=- “Why do you have a wolf following you, not that I’m complaining?” Twilight sighed as I walked into town “I found her up in the mountains” I bit my lip “Have you been hunting again?” I shrugged “Really Tesla, the dragon kingdom finds out about this you could be executed” Ryōshi growled “so, what’s its name?” “Ryōshi, Japanese for ‘hunter’” I smiled “Of course” Twilight sighed “it’s in a wolf’s nature to hunt, what I want to know is what it was doing on its own” Ryōshi let off as series of yips and light barks “You were thrown out as the runt of the pack?” I blinked, crouching down, Ryōshi let out a saddening *yip* “Damn” “You understood that?” Twilight gasped “I had a few jobs handed to me by the RSPCA” I shrugged “What’s that?” she smiled “The Royal Society Protection against Cruelty to Animals” I sighed “And you worked with them for a bit?” Rarity eyed Ryōshi up and down “I daresay we’ve another Fluttershy on our hands” “Beg pardon?” I raised an eyebrow “Fluttershy can communicate with animals, and runs her own sort of sanctuary” Twilight simpered, Ryōshi and I shared a glance with blaze, the three of us suddenly bursting into laughter “Must you be so rude?” Rarity scoffed “Do you know what a Lynx is?” I rebuked, she shook her head “basically a wild cat about an inch or two shorter than you, and with almost sabre like teeth” “And you had a run-in with one of them?” Twilight frowned “Nope” Blaze grinned “Tesla here acted as a secondary vet, saved the darn things life” “That’s nothing short of amazing” Twilight hummed “How’d you do it?” “Secondary, not primary, I only helped” I chuckled “And yet you did it anyway” she raised an eyebrow, Ryōshi let out a delighted yip as I crouched down to her level, scratching her behind the ears, which she leant into “You’ve found a weak point, it seems” Celestia appeared via teleportation beside Twilight “Nah, I just know where to scratch” I moved my hand to around Ryōshi’s chin, she collapsed to the ground “Given a little time, you could be seen as the Alpha” Twilight “You don’t mean” I glanced toward Ryōshi, who let out a hum of apparent satisfaction “It could happen, and where’d you learn where to scratch?” she smirked “The Wareham forestry Commission had a dog, an Alsatian aptly named Willow” “That’s nice” she smiled again “Is it?” Blaze smirked “the same type of dog that lives with the forestry commission is the same type of dog that’s used by both police and military on Tesla’s home-world” “No..!” Rarity gaped, I nodded “They’re used as sniffer dogs to find illegal substances and as gundogs to scout ahead for any hostiles, even pincer movements, and they carry around camera so that the owner can see what they see” I explained “they’ve even used them in search-and-rescue operations for their keens senses, who’s to say Ryōshi here can’t do the same?” the wolf let out an excited *yip* “It wouldn’t be a first; we’ve done a similar sort of things for years now” Celestia glanced down at the snow-white wolf sat by my side, Ryōshi tilted her head “perhaps she could be of used to you, Tesla” “There’s only one problem” Blaze sighed “how the hell are you gonna stop her from following you into the theatre?” “Or from howling along with me when I sing” I laughed “It could happen” Celestia chuckled “Ok, Test song” Blaze” “I don't want this moment to ever end, Where everything's nothing without you. I'd wait here forever just to, to see you smile, 'Cause it's true, I am nothing without you. Through it all, I've made my mistakes. I stumble and fall, but I mean these words. I want you to know, With everything I won't let this go. These words are my heart and soul. I'll hold on to this moment, you know, As I bleed my heart out to show, And I won't let go. Thoughts read, unspoken, forever in vow, And pieces of memories fall to the ground. I know what I didn't have, so I won't let this go, 'Cause it's true, I am nothing without you. All the streets, where I walked alone, With nowhere to go, have come to an end. I want you to know, With everything I won't let this go. These words are my heart and soul. I'll hold on to this moment, you know, As I bleed my heart out to show, And I won't let go. In front of your eyes, it falls from the skies, When you don't know what you're looking to find. In front of your eyes, it falls from the skies, When you just never know what you will find. I don't want this moment to ever end Where everything's nothing without you. I want you to know, With everything I won't let this go. These words are my heart and soul. I'll hold on to this moment, you know, As I bleed my heart out to show, And I won't let go. I want you to know, With everything I won't let this go. These words are my heart and soul. I'll hold on to this moment, you know, As I bleed my heart out to show, And I won't let go” I finished the song, glancing at Ryōshi, who’d apparently fallen asleep “I don’t know what to say” I tilted my head as the pristine wolf yawned, stretching herself as she awoke “Isn’t that the song you did for Luna?” Blaze grinned “So it is” I nodded, Ryōshi smiled, giving my cheek a light lick, sniffing my jacket before tilting her head at me, licking her lips “I haven’t got any more on me Rio, sorry” her nose twitched as her tail started wagging, and with that she walked toward the previous dragon carcass, sitting facing me once we got there “Or, maybe I do, go ahead Rio” she grinned, turning and lunging at the somewhat fresh kill, tearing chucks out and devouring them “This is how wolves eat?” Twilight shuddered “it’s both curious and somewhat sickening” “They don’t exactly use cutlery Twi” Applejack chided “them wolves are feral beasts, nasty critters” Ryōshi let out a low growl “And yet for a feral beast she seems awfully capable of understanding the difference between a compliment and an insult” I smirked “Alright, but Ah still say the others are just the same” Ryōshi let out a slight *yip* “It seems she agrees with you” I chuckled again “And besides we’ve all got a little animal in us, who’s to say she’s an animal who found a little ‘angel’ on the inside?” “That’s rather poetic” Celestia smiled “It’s a possibility” I shrugged as Ryōshi dropped a large steak of meat at my feet, sat on her haunches, I sat cross-legged before her, heating the slab of meat with dragon-fire before eating it “It seems Twilight’s hypothesis on you being the alpha wasn’t wrong” Celestia chuckled “Am I the Alpha?” I chuckled toward Ryōshi, who let out a light bark, lying in front of me, placing her head on a foreleg as I ate “I think that’s a yes” Snowdrop giggled “As do I,” Blaze grinned, “Tesla the Alpha-wolf” “You’d have to be barking mad to consider it” I gleamed “Paws for thought eh, Tesla?” she laughed “You’re bark’s worse than your bite” I smirked “Is it?” she raised an eyebrow “Here’s another question, how’re you going to get her to Canterlot and back?” “Shite” I cursed “hadn’t thought of that, unless you allow wolves on your railway systems?” “We might have to make an exception” Celestia nodded “Fair enough” I chuckled, again, finishing off the slab of meat that Ryōshi had given me “thanks girl” Ryōshi let out a rather cute *yip* “I think that means ‘You’re welcome’” Blaze laughed “So it does” I smiled -=- As Spike, Rarity and I wandered through the area to the southeast of Ponyville not a month later, Blaze sat on my shoulder, Snowdrop perched on the back of my head, and Ryōshi walked with me “So why’re we out here again?” Spike shot Blaze a glare “We’re collecting gems to use for my dresses, and a special surprised for you, Tesla” Rarity chimed as Spike pulled a small red wagon “Thanks, but I can already smell the gems from here” I smiled, throwing a tennis ball that Twilight had bought for me, the ball landed in a soft mound of earth, which was kicked up as Ryōshi caught the ball “Now dig, girl” and dig she did, using her claws as shovels, revealing a small pile of gems “And return” she bounded back to my side, I threw the ball again, which bounded a bit before rolling to a stop, Ryōshi chased after it “back a bit” I gestured for her to come closer to me, she did, walking toward me “stop” she stopped “dig” she dug another small hole, revealing another pile of gems “How is it that you can smell them?” Rarity blinked as spike collected the gems, placing them in the wagon “As a dragon slayer, I have enhanced senses, such as scent and hearing, like the ability to hear someone over there talking to himself” there was a rustling of leaves as a misshapen dog-thing fell out of a nearby tree, wearing a red jacket with a collar around its neck, said collar had a diamond shaped topaz hanging by a small metal ring “How you find me?” the being gaped, staring at me in horror, Ryōshi let out a threatening growl toward the creature “I can hear you,” I smirked “and smell you” I covered my nose “you could use a bath” the creature quickly dug a hole under ground “What was that?” Spike blinked “Whatever it was, it’s probably not happy that we’re hunting for gems” I frowned “Spike, hang on to that wagon, Ryōshi, lay low” Ryōshi dipped her head in preparation as I bought a clenched fist down on the ground, causing a grade six-point-eight on the Richter scale, grinning as the earth shook as the misshapen dog re-emerged from underground by the tree along with two others, one small and pale brown, one large and a mild grey colour “What you want?” the medium-sized creature growled, Ryōshi snarled back “What’re you doing spying on us?” I snapped “We keep post, these are our mines” he scowled “you see those mountains, I pointed westward “in the caves at the peaks of those hills lies masses of gems, if that’s what you want, go there, if not, they’re ours” “We don’t dig upward, but we’d like them anyway” he grinned “And in exchange,” Blaze folded her arms “what do we get for helping you?” “You say there are two, yes?” I nodded “then you keep one” “Why don’t you just dig to the base and climb the rest of the way up?” Snowdrop offered “Ok” the creature shrugged, tunnelling underground “Dumbasses” I tutted “there’s probably another dragon in those caves by now” “Their loss” Snowdrop shrugged “Amen” I nodded “have we got enough gems?” “We should do, if not we can just return for more” Rarity smiled, taking the lead with Spike as we wandered back to ponyville “You had a run-in with Diamond dogs?” Twilight chuckled as Spike, Ryōshi, Blaze, Snowdrop and I sat in the library alongside Twilight’s friends “Diamond dog, like the album?” Blaze chortled “I don’t get it?” Spike shrugged as Twilight glanced at the lizard “There was a music artist called David Bowie who released an album called ‘Diamond Dogs’” I explained “I see” she giggled as I glanced toward Spike “So, what are you?” I tilted my head “I’m a dragon” Spike smirked “Albeit, a baby dragon” Twilight nickered “I’m not that young!” Spike retorted “In pony years” she raised an eyebrow “I’m technically an infant” I shrugged “I know how you feel, mate, I’ve got another billion years ahead of me, give our take eighty or ninety years” “So, what’s that in human years compared to eon years” Rarity smiled “your age I mean?” “Just under a year in eon years, eighty in human years” “How is that possible?” Twilight’s eye twitched “Biology” I shrugged “Tell me, EVERYTHING!” she demanded, magicking up a pen and notepad =--=-=-=--= “Tesla, you’re next event’s tomorrow” the cyan mare from the orchestra smiled as I stood in the theatre with my new ‘family’ “What’s with the wolf?” “She’s my friend, say hi Ryōshi” I smiled, Ryōshi let out a light yip “She’s beautiful, for a wolf” she hummed “I never got your name” I smiled back “Beauty Brass” she winked, walking out of the theatre “be ready for tomorrow!” “That I will” I nodded -=- When tomorrow came, and I stood with my family on the stage, there were several series’ of mutterings being passed from pony-to-pony, all of them about Ryōshi, I cleared my throat, they stopped, all facing me “This time, I wonder what it feels like To find the one in this life, the one we all dream of But dreams just aren't enough So I'll be waiting for the real thing, I'll know it by the feeling The moment when we're meeting, will play out like a scene Straight off the silver screen So I'll be holding my breath, right up 'til the end Until that moment when, I find the one that I'll spend forever with Cause nobody wants to be the last one there Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares Someone to love with my life in their hands There's gotta be somebody for me like that Cause nobody wants to do it on their own And everyone wants to know they're not alone There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere There's gotta be somebody for me out there Tonight, out on the street, out in the moonlight And dammit this feels too right, it's just like de ja vu Me standing here with you So I'll be holding my breath, could this be the end? Is it that moment when, I find the one that I'll spend forever with Cause nobody wants to be the last one there Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares Someone to love with my life in their hands There's gotta be somebody for me like that Cause nobody wants to do it on their own And everyone wants to know they're not alone There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere There's gotta be somebody for me out there You can't give up, (when you're looking for) a diamond in the rough (cause you never know) When it shows up, (make sure you're holding on) Cause it could be the one, the one you're waiting on Cause nobody wants to be the last one there And everyone wants to feel like someone cares Someone to love with my life in their hands There's gotta be somebody for me, oh Nobody wants to go it on their own And everyone wants to know they're not alone There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere There's gotta be somebody for me out there Nobody wants to be the last one there Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere There's gotta be somebody for me out there” I sang, with blaze singing the background vocals “I'm so high. I can hear heaven. I'm so high. I can hear heaven. Oh but heaven, no heaven don’t hear me. And they say that a hero could save us. I’m not gonna stand here and wait. I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles. Watch as we all fly away. Someone told me that love would all save us. But how can that be, look what love gave us. A world full of killing, n' blood-spilling that world never came. And they say that a hero could save us. I’m not gonna stand here and wait. I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles. Watch as we all fly away. hi-igh-igh! Now that the world isn't ending, it's love that I’m sending to you. It isn’t the love of a hero, and that’s why I fear it won’t do. And they say that a hero could save us. I’m not gonna stand here and wait. I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles. Watch as we all fly away. And they're watching us (Watching Us) They're watching us (Watching Us) as we all fly away. And they're watching us (Watching us) They're watching us (Watching us) As we all fly away, (Yeah) Yeah. And they're watching us (Watching us) They're watching us (Watching us) As we all fly away (Yeah, yeah. Whoa-oh)” I sang, Blaze once again doing the background vocals “How the hell did we wind up like this? Why weren't we able, to see the signs that we missed And try turn the tables I wish you'd unclench your fists, and unpack your suitcase Lately there's been too much of this But don't think it's too late Nothing's wrong, just as long as You know that someday I will Someday, somehow I'm gonna make it all right but not right now I know you're wondering when (You're the only one who knows that) Someday, somehow I'm gonna make it all right but not right now I know you're wondering when Well I'd hope that since we're here anyway That we could end up saying Things we've always needed to say So we could end up staying Now the story's played out like this Just like a paperback novel Let's rewrite an ending that fits Instead of a Hollywood horror Nothing's wrong, just as long as You know that someday I will Someday, somehow I'm gonna make it all right but not right now I know you're wondering when (You're the only one who knows that) Someday, somehow I'm gonna make it all right but not right now I know you're wondering when (You're the only one who knows that) How the hell did we wind up like this? Why weren't we able, to see the signs that we missed And try to turn the tables Now the story's played out like this Just like a paperback novel Let's rewrite an ending that fits Instead of a Hollywood horror Nothing's wrong, just as long as You know that someday I will Someday, somehow I'm gonna make it all right but not right now I know you're wondering when (You're the only one who knows that) Someday, somehow I'm gonna make it all right but not right now I know you're wondering when (You're the only one who knows that) I know you're wondering when (You're the only one who knows that) I know you're wondering when “I finished the song, Blaze doing the background vocals for a third time running as the crowd burst into applause and cheering, relinquishing the stage for the rest of the orchestra “That was amazing Daddy!” Snowdrop cheered “Glad you think so angel” I sighed as Ryōshi did her business under a tree behind a bush in the gardens “I know so” she giggled “No guitar this time?” Blaze laughed “Not this time” I sighed as Ryōshi returned to being by my side “maybe next time, right Ryōshi?” the wolf let out a gleeful *yip* “I was half expecting her to take a crap right in front of you in the theatre” Blaze smirked “Nah, I’ve trained her well” I smiled “So you have” Vinyl appeared beside me alongside Octavia “What’s her name?” “Ryōshi, which translates simply as ‘Hunter’ in Japanese” “You mean neighponese?” she laughed “Call it a similarity between our worlds” I smiled “So it is” Octavia eyed Ryōshi up and down “she’s a rather elegant being, for a wolf where’d you find her?” “Somewhere in the mountain range, alone” Blaze sighed “She the runt huh,” Vinyl raised an eyebrow “Unfortunately, I met her after I’d ‘incapacitated’ shall we say, another dragon “You didn’t” Octavia went a little pale “She had her fill, and I had mine, that’s all I care about” I shrugged “You roguish bastard,” Vinyl chortled “you did it again didn’t you?” “Celestia herself said she’s alright with it so long as we keep our ‘limits’ set” I winked “She mentioned me?” she gasped “No, but I’m sure I can come to a compromise” I grinned “This is awesome” Vinyl drooled as she, Snowdrop, Ryōshi, Blaze and I sat around the dragon-flame-grilled dragon carcass juts on the edges of the everfree forest, eating away at it, save Snowdrop “May I try a bit, Daddy?” Snowdrop stepped forward “If you want” I sighed, handing her a small piece of meat, which she ate, a curious expression on her muzzle at first, which turned into a look of sheer delight afterward “This’s amazing!” she chimed “Told you so” Blaze smirked, I shot her an odd look “what?” “You’re too assertive, Blaze” “And your too unassertive” she grinned as my ears twitched “You hear that?” I raised a hand, dropping what I was doing and standing upright, Ryōshi’s nose rapidly twitching as she ran off along the edge of the forest, eventually letting out a faint bark as I ran after her with Snowdrop and Blaze at me heels When we caught up with Ryōshi, there was a brownish-grey unicorn with a chocolate brown mane and tail lying there, quivering in fear Being as careful as I could, I crouched down to the pony, that of whom was covered in bruises and cuts “It’s alright; I’m not going to harm you” I cooed, placing a gentle hand on the pony’s side, she flinched, but eventually relaxed as I gently stroked her fur, lifting her head, snapping her eyes shut as they came into contact with mine “It’s alright, I won’t hurt you, Mage’s honour” “You mean that..?” she sniffled, tears streaming down her cheeks as she opened on eye, then the other “I don’t harm those who don’t ask for it” I nodded “do you have a name?” “Littlepip” she gulped audibly “Where are you from?” I smiled, weakly “Las Pegasus” she croaked “Blaze, get Twilight, stat” I glanced at the Quilava sat beside me “Roger that!” Blaze saluted toward me, bounding off toward Ponyville “She can talk?” Littlepip giggled softly “that’s strange “That’s my sister” I chuckled “she’s as strange as they get around her, almost” “You look nothing alike” she smiled “We get that a lot,” I sighed “her parents were killed by poachers “I’m sorry to hear that” she blinked “your eyes are funny” “Being knighted will have that effect, especially if it’s from both princesses simultaneously” Snowdrop nickered “You’re her knight?” Littlepip stared at me, raising an eyebrow “you’ve also got fangs “I don’t bite, unless it’s on my food” I smiled “You’re actually kind of cute” she laughed “That’s twice I’ve heard that since I came here not even a month ago” I rolled my eyes “Tesla?” I glanced behind me, Twilight, her friends and Celestia with Blaze as my sister bounded up beside me “Blaze says you found something “That’d be me” Littlepip mumbled “Where’d you come from?” Twilight gasped “Las Pegasus” Littlepip bit her lip “and I don’t want to go back” “Why not, I’d of thought it to be luxurious” Rarity blinked “That’s upper-Las Pegasus” Littlepip sighed “it’s not important” “It is if it involves one of my subjects” Celestia raised an eyebrow “I’m sorry; I just don’t know who to talk to about it” Littlepip exhaled sharply “Try talking to me about it” I smiled “What?” she blinked “Just try, see if it works” “Alright” she shrugged “It all started when I was a filly, since my dad died, my mom’s been taking care of me, well, she used to, before she went elsewhere, said I wasn’t important enough, threw me into an orphanage, I was both angry and heartbroken at that, and when they’d had enough they kicked me out, I had to steal and beg just to get any food, drink or sleep, and that’s not even the least of it” “What do you-?” she glanced toward her flank, were dried bloodstains were showing on her rump “That’s…” I shook my head “That’s unbelievable!” Blaze growled, not at me but at the story Littlepip had shocked us with “You had to do that, just to get by?” my eye twitched, I shook my head “come on” I held out a hand “What’re you doing?” Littlepip sat on her haunches, flinching as she did so “Getting you out of here” I smiled “But, what, about you?” Celestia blinked” “Being a knight means I protect, and serve,” I simpered “it means that I do what I feel is right,, and that’s what I’m going to do,” I turned to face Littlepip “come on, let’s go” “Alright then” Littlepip shrugged, collapsing as soon as she tried to walk “Here,” I changed to my eon form “climb on” “What?” she blinked “Climb on, I can carry you” I glanced back toward her “If you want me to” she sighed again, climbing on, gently wrapping her hooves around my neck as Snowdrop perched herself on my head, and Blaze on my neck “And where are we going to get this money to pay for her from?” Blaze pointed out “When do I get paid?” I blinked “Tomorrow, if my estimates are correct. Which they usually are,” Blaze smirked “but first we need to get to the hospital” “That we do” I nodded, gliding toward said hospital -=- When we got to the hospital, a snow-white pony with a light pink mane and tail walked up to me in a nurse outfit “What’s the nature of your emergency?” the pony smiled, I turned around “oh, come right this way, I’ll have somepony look at her right away!” I followed her into a vacant room, setting her down on the bed as Blaze climbed down my back and onto the floor “Thank you…?” Littlepip raised an eyebrow as I reverted to human form “Tesla” I held out a hand, which she shook “Thank you, Tesla” she smiled “I owe you my life” “You owe me nothing” I chuckled “But I do” she retorted with a slight frown, and an also slight tint of anger in her voice “I told you everything and you still act as if it didn’t happen, so to speak, who are you exactly?” “An eon, a human, and a dragon slayer” I shrugged “You can kill dragons?” she nodded toward me “for real?” “I can easily bring an equestrian dragon flat on its backside” I tutted “An ‘equestrian’ dragon, Tesla,” Twilight frowned “With all do respect, it’s just that the ones from Earth and Earthland tend to be more, you know, draconic, killer, ferocious, intimidating, not some massive thirty-to-fifty-foot hulking wings gecko” “Spikes not a gecko!” she snapped “And he’s not exactly Igneel either” I rolled my eyes, again “Who,” she blinked “Fifty-feet-long fire-dragon king” I laughed “he’d easily beat all the dragons on Equis and get out relatively unscathed, from what I’ve seen so far” “I’d hate to meet him then” Littlepip nickered “He’s harmless unless you annoy him” I smiled “it’s just the booming voice you have to get by, other than that unless provoked, he won’t do anything to harm or bring harm to anyone” “He doesn’t sound that bad” Rainbow Dash scoffed “That depends on the perspective” I tilted my head ever-so-slightly “So it does” Celestia smiled =-=-= Once Littlepip was out of hospital, I headed to canterlot, once there, I stood in the theatre “Tesla,” Beauty Brass handed me a questionably large bag that clinked with its content when she passed it to me “Here’s your pay for your work, and a little extra in it for the effort” she winked, walking from the castle toward the city, stopping and glancing back toward me “next event is tonight at nine, Ok?” “Ok” I nodded “What do you do here in Canterlot?” Littlepip blinked “Tesla’s a solo singer for the orchestra” Blaze smirked “Oh,” Littlepip blinked, glancing up at me “I’d heard of a new member, I’d never of thought it’d be you, Tesla” “Surprise” I clicked my tongue as a familiar eon glided toward me “I was wondering where you were, Tesla” Crystal grinned, glancing at the bag “what’s in there “My pay for being a part of the orchestra” I gleamed “You do music now?” she laughed “No, he sings” Snowdrop giggled “And who might you be?” Crystal blinked “Snowdrop she held out a hoof, which Crystal shook “Crystal,” Crystal raised an eyebrow toward me “magic?” “Magic” I nodded “So, you sing now?” “Look who’s talking” I stifled a laugh “Oh the irony” she sighed, gazing toward Littlepip, glancing back at me “who’s she?” “I’m Littlepip” Littlepip smiled “And you’re Tesla’s marefriend?” “We’re married, but it’s an open relationship” Crystal winked “Ah, Ok” Littlepip slowly nodded -=-=- “ Here I am This is me There's nowhere else on earth I'd rather be Here I am It's just me and you Tonight we make our dreams come true It's a new world It's a new start It's alive with the beating of young hearts It's a new day It's a new plan I've been waiting for you Here I am Here we are We've just begun And after all this time Our time has come Yeah here we are Still goin' strong Right here in the place where we belong Oh it's a new world It's a new start It's alive with the beating of young hearts It's a new day And a new plan I've been waiting for you Here I am Here I am Yeah Here I am This is me There's nowhere else on earth I'd rather be Here I am It's just me and you Tonight we make our dreams come true Oh it's a new world It's a new start It's alive with the beating of young hearts It's a new day It's a new plan I've been waiting for you Oh it's a new world It's a new start It's alive with the beating of young hearts It's a new day It's a new plan I've been waiting for you (Waiting, waiting waiting) Here I am Here I am Right next to you Suddenly the world is all brand new Here I am Here I am Where I'm gonna stay Now there's nothin' standing in our way Here I am This is me” I finished the song with Blaze on my shoulder and Snowdrop perched upon the back of my head and Littlepip by my side and Ryōshi sat opposite her as I sat on the bench with a guitar in my lap “And another,” Blaze whispered “Blaze, sound the bugle” I mumbled “Sound the bugle now - play it just for me As the seasons change - remember how I used to be Now I can't go on - I can't even start I've got nothing left - just an empty heart I'm a soldier - wounded so I must give up the fight There's nothing more for me - lead me away... Or leave me lying here Sound the bugle now - tell them I don't care There's not a road I know - that leads to anywhere Without a light I fear that I will - stumble in the dark Lay right down - decide not to go on Then from on high - somewhere in the distance There's a voice that calls - remember who your are If you lose yourself - your courage soon will follow So be strong tonight - remember who you are Ya you're a soldier now - fighting in a battle To be free once more -Ya that's worth fighting for” I finished the second song forming a duet with Blaze “You can´t take me! Yeah Got to fight another fight, I gotta run another night Get it out, check it out I'm on my way and I don't feel right I gotta get me back I can't be beat and that's a fact It's OK, I'll find a way You ain't gonna take me down no way Don't judge a thing until you know what's inside it Don't push me, I'll fight it Never gonna give in, never gonna give it up no If you can't catch a wave then you're never gonna ride it You can't come uninvited Never gonna give in, never gonna give it up no You can't take me I'm free Why did it all go wrong? I wanna know what's going on And what's this holding me? I'm not where I supposed to be I gotta fight another fight I gotta fight with all my might I'm getting out, so check it out You're in my way Yeah, you better watch out Ooh Come on Don't judge a thing, until you know what's inside it Don't push me, I'll fight it Never gonna give in, never gonna give it up no If you can't catch a wave then you're never gonna ride it You can't come uninvited Never gonna give in, never gonna give it up no You can't take me I'm free Oh Yeah I'm Free” I finished my third song as ponies started cheering and applauding me as I bowed, placing the guitar on the bench “Another job well done” Beauty Brass shook my hand as I stood with my family and Littlepip in the main hall “I try my best ma’am” I smiled “Just call me Brass” she nickered, trotting off toward the theatre “Well I’ll be damned…”
chapter III love?The following day I awoke from my place under a tree in the gardens, standing upright, I clicked multiple parts of my skeleton “Good morning Tesla” Littlepip wearily stood upright on all four hooves, blinking as she did so, Snowdrop perching herself on my head, as per the usual, Blaze also sat on my shoulder “What’s for breakfast?” “Pancakes, with any luck” I drooled over the thought of having a proper breakfast, the previous meals I’d had in the castle not counting for personal reasons, if any at all “Looks like I was right” I smiled toward Littlepip as she sat beside, Ryōshi sat on the floor between us “So you were, brother, so you were, pass me the syrup” Blaze grinned “I know what you’re going to do, sister” I grumbled “It’ll be fun” she winked “Says you” I mumbled “I do say so” she smirked -=- As I wandered through the aptly named ‘everfree forest,’ I started whistling the tine to Owl City’s ‘Fireflies’ “So, what’re we doing?” Blaze sat on my shoulder “Exploring” I smiled “In this place, really,” she sighed “are you sure that’s wise?” “I only know that someone has to do it, map the area out, as it were” I shrugged, wandering into a cave, Ryōshi following is in, Snowdrop trotting along at her side “What in the heck is that?” she pointed at a rather odd-looking tree of sorts, with five main branches, each one with a stony orb at the end of them with even odder indents, each shaped like a lightning bolt, apple, diamond, balloon, butterfly respectively, with a six-pointed star indent in the middle of the tree “I’ve no idea, but I can’t help but feel like I’ve seen it somewhere before” I tilted my head ever-so slightly “And now you’re hallucinating, great” she laughed as I changed to eon form, my chest symbol pulsating with a prismatic glow as I neared the tree Suddenly six beams of energy shot out of me, each one aimed at one of the indents, triggering a blinding flash of light When I could see again, I was lying on a bed in a dust-ridden castle “You’re awake, that is good” Nyx teleported beside the bed as I sat upright, having been reverted to my human form, Celestia, Luna, Twilight, her friends, Spike, who was on Twilight’s back, Ryōshi, Snowdrop and Blaze crowded around me alongside Littlepip, Blaze and Snowdrop leaping beside me on the bed What happened?” I blinked “You’ve ascended, just like that of the previous eons” Nyx gleamed “Ascended?” I blinked again “I’m not sure that that’s even possible” “It’s possible” Celestia hummed “Tesla I realize that there’s a few things I haven’t told you” “Do tell” I sighed, shaking my head “There wasn’t just one human here, there were many, each independent and completely reliant on him or herself, until one day, they stumbled across something that could’ve bought about the end of Equestria, and the world” Celestia exclaimed “they found darkness; a being of pure hatred an malice, frozen in time by a spell, which they triggered, which brought about the greatest war Equis has ever known” “Sounds like the forerunners, but please, go on” I nodded “At first it seemed like the humans ability to work together to reach a common goal, united under a single banner, might work, but then setback after setback, and then they fell, nation by nation, country by country, that’s when they thought of you; the eons, and so they began to work, trying to find a failsafe for the shadow creatures, it took many a day and night of blood, sweat and work, but they got there eventually, creating an antibody that would fight against the darkness, and, eventually, rid the world of it, but they did so at a cost, themselves, for you see, they, along with us, won the war, but at a cost, for each eon held an element; the power of which was so potent, so lethal, that it killed them as soon as it was activated, the elements in overall may have worked to stop the oncoming storm, but there was a much bigger, more evil threat, one who’s name we do not speak under any circumstances, who transported the eons to your world, Earth, ridding them of either their eon abilities, or their memory of the sub-species, we barely managed to defeat the nameless one, but it cost us one of our own, one sapphire storm, I’m sure you can take it from there” Celestia lectured “I see” I frowned “and you expect me to believe that, logical and true as it may be?” “I don’t expect you to believe it, but please, at least give us a chance” Celestia pleaded “I don’t know” I hummed “give me time to think about it, and then I’ll see whether or not we’ll go on with it” “So, what happened to the weird tree thing?” I tilted my head Celestia sighed “Only one who bears an element can activate it like you did and on that level,” Celestia bit her lip “you’re an Element bearer” “Tesla,” Twilight gasped “YOU’RE an element!?” “Apparently so” I nodded “But an element of nature” Celestia began, looking a bit shocked “I thought those had died out millennia ago” “Is there something ya know, Princess?” Applejack smiled “Long ago, long before Nightmare Moon, there were six other elements, the elements of nature, these, along with nature itself, were the most powerful weapons in equestria, even more so than the elements of harmony, to think that Tesla could be one is…. Extraordinary” Celestia smiled widely “the elements of nature have been used only twice before, both times they had to sacrifice one of their own to do so the price for their power is so high” “Daddy’s going to DIE if he uses his element?” Snowdrop lunged at me, crying into my shirt “please don’t die daddy!” “I won’t, don’t worry about it, my little snowflake” I smiled, weakly “Promise me!” she cried “Promise me that you won’t die!” “I promise not to die, in fact, I’ll pinkie promise not to” I grinned following through, performing the necessary action for a pinkie promise, four times, having learnt said actions from Pinkie Pie “Thank you Daddy,” she cheered, gripping me as tightly as I could “I love you…” “I love you too, Snowy, I love you too” I hugged her back “You know what this calls for!?” Pinkie pie somehow teleported us to the centre of ponyville, where Ponies rushed out of their homes to greet us as said party was already prepared and set for us, somehow, said ponies stopped in their tracks as soon as they noticed me “How?” I glanced toward Twilight, who shook her head as I steadily got to my feet “I tried for a week to understand how she does it, all I got was a rather painful headache” Twilight sighed “That being said,” Blaze hummed why do you have fourth set of wings, Tesla?” “What?” I glanced back toward my wings, quickly noticing an extra set of whitish-golden wings “well Damnit” “I think you look rather seraphic” Celestia winked “Try flying” Luna smiled; I did, starting with the top pair, gradually hovering above the ground, and then the second pair, gaining slight altitude, then the third pair, getting a little higher, then finally, the fourth pair, getting even higher, then landing “Impressive,” Blaze smirked “now try all at once, brother” “That I will” I nodded, flapping my wings in unison, gaining a much higher altitude, gradually landing again “All you need now is to be able to tuck the lower ones away” Snowdrop giggled “Or to somehow fuse them” I shrugged “Blaze, get me my welding kit!” Rainbow Dash shuddered “You don’t care for your wings?” Rarity raised an eyebrow “I do, just not as much as I should” I chuckled “Speaking of wings…” I positioned my wings to look like a warrior-esque angel, pulling twin Dawnbreaker swords from the inside pockets of my jacket “How,” Twilight blinked “how did you just do that?” “Hammer-space, the ability to pull items into, and back out of, nowhere” I explained, wielding the swords accordingly “Holy hell,” Blaze whistled as she stood in front of me, eyeing me up and down “Didn’t know you could look that awesome, all you need is the armour, and you don’t do armour, do you?” “How, when, why and what?” Twilight nodded toward one of the swords “One, because I can, two, around thirty years ago, three, again, because I can, and want to, and four, they’re called Dawnbreaker” “How aptly titled, they shine like thy sun, dear sister” Luna smiled “So they do”, Celestia simpered as I sheathed the twin swords “How did you find Snowdrop anyway?” “My ears work like magical dowsing machines when I’m in eon form” I laughed “That’s explain a lot,” Blaze smirked “So, what do ya reckon you can do, what with being an element and all” “I’ve no idea,” I blinked “perhaps we’ll find out eventually” “Perhaps, perhaps not, that is for us to decide, though, isn’t it?” she glimmered “Aye, it is” I nodded -=-=- As I stood in the centre of a now rather exquisitely Ponyville not a month later with Twilight by my side levitating a clipboard with Spike sat on her back, I glanced around the large town “What’s going on here?” I blinked, standing beside Crystal Snowdrop and Ryōshi “The ponytones are visiting Ponyville” Twilight nodded toward Rarity who was stood beside Big Mac and two unknown ponies, one was a tall, slightly gangly cobalt earth pony with a dark blue mane and tail, and the other was a creamy-pearl coloured earth pony with a multi-toned red mane and tail, all four of them stood on a stage with a small crowd of ponies stood before them, Applejack standing beside the pony who I’d leaned was her brother “Rarity’s with the ponytones?” Blaze tilted her head as she stood on her hind legs on my shoulder “Apparently, I didn’t know either until today,” Twilight shrugged as the Ponytones started singing “the pony between rarity and Big Mac is Toe-Tapper, and the one opposite him is Torch Song” “Good to know,” Blaze hummed, we both grinned like a pair of idiots “are you thinking what I’m thinking?” “Singing contest, wouldn’t be much of a contest” “I don’t know, they’re said to be the best in Equestria” Twilight giggled “That’s because you haven’t heard my brother sing his heart out before” Blaze cackled with laughter “What’s goin’ on over here?” Applejack marched toward us “Blaze thinks Tesla could beat the ponytones in a singing contest” Twilight laughed “Well, Ah suppose ya‘ll could try, but it’d be difficult” Applejack nickered “And that’s when I said that you’ve never heard my brother sing his heart out before” Blaze chortled “Call a doctor, because this’s going to be heart-rending,” Crystal smirked as we took centre stage “Iris?” “Iris,” I nodded “you know the lyrics?” “I still remember when you sang them to me on our wedding night, sir Knight” she laughed “Any time you’re ready” Torch Song raised an eyebrow as she and the other Ponytones “And I'd give up forever to touch you, Cause I know that you feel me somehow. You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be, And I don't want to go home right now. And all I can taste is this moment, And all I can breathe is your life, And sooner or later it's over, I just don't want to miss you tonight. And I don't want the world to see me, Cause I don't think that they'd understand. When everything's made to be broken, I just want you to know who I am. And you can’t fight the tears that ain't coming, Or the moment of the truth in your lies. When everything feels like the movies, Yeah you bleed just to know you're alive. And I don't want the world to see me, 'Cause I don't think that they'd understand. When everything's made to be broken, I just want you to know who I am. And I don't want the world to see me, Cause I don't think that they'd understand. When everything's made to be broken, I just want you to know who I am. And I don't want the world to see me, Cause I don’t think that they'd understand. When everything's made to be broken, I just want you to know who I am. I just want you to know who I am. I just want you to know who I am. I just want you to know who I am” I formed a duet with Crystal, our voices synchronizing, almost melding into one as we sang to our hearts’ content “That was…” Toe-Tapper blinked “almost extra-terrestrial, you two are amazing!” “Would you like to join us, and travel Equestria?” Torch Song stared at me in apparent awe “Nah, Tesla and I would rather stay here, at home” Crystal pecked my cheek “That’s right, we’re a stationary group, us” I nodded “What’re you called?” Rarity tilted her head “The Eons of Equis” I gleamed “Catchy,” Crystal giggled “where’d you get the wings?” “I got deemed an element of Nature by some random magical tree” I shrugged “As is normal with you, my love” she winked “Ain’t that the truth” Blaze grinned as Snowdrop, Littlepip, and Ryōshi stood beside me “Smile for the camera!” A pony with an old-fashioned camera glimmered, snapping a photo of my family, Littlepip and Crystal, galloping off into the distance “Well there’s goes the local media” I laughed “Have we got time for another?” Snowdrop giggled, having learned from me, the lyrics too almost every song I knew “We should have” Rarity nodded “Go for it, dear” “Lifehouse, Daddy?” Snowdrop giggled, perching herself on the back of my head, as per the usual “You know the one” I smiled “You were always hard to hold So letting go ain’t easy Im hanging on but growing cold While my mind is leaving Talk, talk is cheap Give me a word you can keep Cause you’re halfway gone and Im on way And Im feeling, feelin feelin this way Cause Im halfway in but don’t take too long Cause Im halfway gone, Im halfway gone I'm halfway gone...I'm halfway gone... You got one foot out the door And choking on the other Always think something more Is just around the corner Talk, talk is cheap Give me a word you can keep(you can keep) Cause Im halfway gone and Im on way And Im feeling, feelin feelin this way Cause you’re halfway in but don’t take too long Cause Im halfway gone, Im halfway gone If you want me out, then Im on my way And Im feelin, feelin feelin this way Cause you’re halfway in, but don’t take too long Cause Im halfway gone, Im halfway gone (wohoww wohoww) Im halfway gone, Im halfway gone (wohoww wohoww) Now Im halfway gone, Im halfway gone Don’t take too long Don’t take too long Cause Im on my way If you take too long Cause Im halfway gone and Im on way And Im feeling, feelin Im feelin this way Cause you’re halfway in but don’t take too long Cause Im halfway gone, Im halfway gone If you want me out, then Im on my way And Im feelin , feelin feelin’ this way Cause you’re halfway in, but don’t take too long Cause Im halfway gone, Im halfway gone (wohoww wohoww) Cause Im halfway gone, and Im halfway gone (wohoww wohoww) Cause Im halfway gone, yeah Im halfway gone” I finished the Trio with Snowdrop, Blaze singing the background vocals, the small crowd of ponies stood before us, ponytones included, starting to cheer, whistle and applaud “That was truly spectacular!” Rarity gleamed “you’ve taught her well dear, perhaps you could perform at Canterlot “We already do” I grinned “So you do,” she smiled “Silly me, perhaps you’d be so kind as to sing one more time?” “Snowy, Crystal, Europa” I gleamed “From Agincourt to Waterloo Poitiers and then Anjou The Roses War, the Hundred Years Through battlefields of blood and tears From Bosworth Field to Pointe Du Hoc Stalingrad and the siege of York The bloody turf of Gallipoli Had no effect on the killing spree Bannockburn to Austerlitz The fall of France and the German blitz The cruellest of atrocities Europa's blood is borne of these Heaven help in all our battles Heaven see love, heaven help us Bolsheviks and feudal lords Chivalry to civil wars Fascist rule and genocide Now we face the rising tide Of new crusades, religious wars Insurgents imported to our shores The western world, gripped in fear The mother of all battles here Heaven help in all our battles Heaven see love, heaven help us Avant hier, avons être Déja demain, (nous) sommes éclairée All glory, all honour Victory is upon us Our saviour, fight evil Send armies to defend us Empires built, and nations burned Mass graves remain unturned Descendants of the dispossessed Return with bombs strapped to their chests There's hate for life, and death in hate Emerging from the new caliphate The victors of this war on fear Will rule for the next thousand years All glory, all honour Victory is upon us Our saviour, fight evil Send armies to defend us Europa, Europa Find better days before us In kindness, in spirit Lead us to a greater calling Europa, Europa Find better days before us In kindness, in spirit Lead us to a greater calling Leningrad, Berlin wall March on Rome, Byzantium's fall Lightning war, Dresden nights Drop the bomb, end this fight! Never again!” I sang, with Snowdrop and Crystal forming a duet to make up the background choir “That was marvellous!” Torch song and Rarity fainted “Right in the feels,” Blaze laughed “Nice work there, brother!” “I try, I really do” I smiled, walking with my family, Littlepip, Ryōshi and Crystal back to Twilight and Applejack “Ah guess ya could win then” Applejack tipped her hat slightly “emphasis on could of course “Wouldn’t want to make I too easy” Blaze stifled laughter “Seriously,” I blinked “at least give them a fair chance, Blaze” “Oh all right” she sighed “but if I see so much as a single slip-up I’m calling the riot police” “There aren’t any riot police in Equestria, we have royal guards instead” Twilight chucked “JJB sports, two-thousand looters can’t be wrong” Blaze burst into sudden roars of laughter “Too right” Crystal chortled “Weird” Twilight slowly shook her head as I, with my family, walked to the train station, paying for the journey to Canterlot “So, what’re we gonna sing next?” Blaze clapped her paws together “Anything we want to really” I shrugged “you want to join us Littlepip?” “I’d be honoured” Littlepip gleamed “And so let it be written, so let it be done” Crystal beamed -=-=- Days passed, and Littlepip became the fifth ‘member’ of our so-called musical ‘group’ “We good to go,” Beauty Brass glanced toward Littlepip, who nodded “then let’s show Equis what we can do!” I marched out with Littlepip by my side opposite Ryōshi, Snowdrop on the back of my head, and Blaze sat upon my shoulder, the audience stared at Littlepip for a moment, before glancing back at the rest of us “Just a small town girl Livin' in a lonely world She took the midnight train goin' anywhere” I sang followed by Littlepip “Just a city boy Born and raised in South Detroit He took the midnight train goin' anywhere” she sang perfectly, passing the role onto Snowdrop “A singer in a smoky room The smell of wine and cheap perfume For a smile they can share the night It goes on and on and on and on” Snowdrop chorused, gesturing to Blaze “Strangers waiting Up and down the boulevard Their shadows searchin' in the night” we then joined as one “Streetlight, people Livin' just to find emotion Hidin' somewhere in the night Workin' hard to get my fill Everybody wants a thrill Payin' anythin' to roll the dice Just one more time Some will win, some will lose Some are born to sing the blues And now the movie never ends It goes on and on and on and on Strangers waiting Up and down the boulevard Their shadows searchin' in the night Streetlight, people Livin' just to find emotion Hidin' somewhere in the night Don't stop believin' Hold on to that feelin' Streetlight, people Don't stop believin' Hold on to that feelin' Streetlight, people Don't stop!” we sang as a quintet “next song” I grinned “Close your tired eyes, relax and then, count from one to ten, and open them. All these heavy thoughts will try to weigh you down, but not this time. Way up in the air, you're finally free, and you can stay up there, right next to me. All this gravity will try to pull you down, but not this time” I sang, passing the lyrical baton to Littlepip “When the sun goes down and the lights burn out, then it’s time for you to shine; Brighter than a shooting star, So shine no matter where you are. Fill the darkest night with a brilliant light 'cause it’s time for you to shine; Brighter than a shooting star, So shine no matter where you are, Tonight Whoa, Whoa, Whoa!” Littlepip sang like an angel, gesturing toward Snowdrop “Brighter than a shooting star So shine no matter where you are, Tonight Gaze into my eyes when the fire starts, And fan the flames so hot, it melts our hearts. Oh, the pouring rain will try to put it out, but not this time. Let your colours burn and lightly burst, into a million sparks, that all disperse. And illuminate a world that'll try to put you down, but not this time” Snowdrop and Blaze formed a duet as they continued the song, gleaming from ear to ear “When the sun goes down and the lights burn out, then it’s time for you to shine; Brighter than a shooting star, So shine no matter where you are. Fill the darkest night with a brilliant light 'cause it’s time for you to shine; Brighter than a shooting star, So shine no matter where you are, Tonight. A thousand heart beats beat in time, and makes this dark planet come alive. So when the lights flicker out tonight, you gotta shine” Crystal chorused, “When the sun goes down and the lights burn out, then it’s time for you to shine; Brighter than a shooting star, So shine no matter where you are. Fill the darkest night with a brilliant light 'cause it’s time for you to shine; Brighter than a shooting star, So shine no matter where you are, Tonight” we finished the song as a quintet for the second time running “And again” Littlepip exhaled sharply as she began the next song “This time, I wonder what it feels like To find the one in this life, the one we all dream of But dreams just aren't enough So I'll be waiting for the real thing, I'll know it by the feeling The moment when we're meeting, will play out like a scene Straight off the silver screen So I'll be holding my breath, right up 'til the end Until that moment when, I find the one that I'll spend forever with” she chimed with a tone akin to that of a goddess “Cause nobody wants to be the last one there Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares Someone to love with my life in their hands There's gotta be somebody for me like that Cause nobody wants to do it on their own And everyone wants to know they're not alone There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere There's gotta be somebody for me out there” Crystal glimmered “Tonight, out on the street, out in the moonlight And dammit this feels too right, it's just like de Ja vu Me standing here with you So I'll be holding my breath, could this be the end? Is it that moment when, I find the one that I'll spend forever with Cause nobody wants to be the last one there Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares Someone to love with my life in their hands There's gotta be somebody for me like that Cause nobody wants to do it on their own And everyone wants to know they're not alone There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere There's gotta be somebody for me out there” Snowdrop and Littlepip formed a duet singing in perfect unison “You can't give up, (when you're looking for) a diamond in the rough (cause you never know) When it shows up, (make sure you're holding on) Cause it could be the one, the one you're waiting on Cause nobody wants to be the last one there And everyone wants to feel like someone cares Someone to love with my life in their hands There's gotta be somebody for me, oh” Blaze and I continued as she sang the background vocals Nobody wants to go it on their own And everyone wants to know they're not alone There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere There's gotta be somebody for me out there Nobody wants to be the last one there Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere There's gotta be somebody for me out there” we formed a third quintet as the song finished There was awkward silence as a hush fell over the room, before the audience stood on their hooves in unison, bursting into cheering, whistling and applaud “They’re better than the ponytones!” I heard someone yell “Not quite” I laughed As we stood in the main hall, Ryōshi having had her midday walk around the castle, Twilight and her friends, Princesses included, trotted up to me “That was phenomenal!” Twilight gleamed “That’s what happens when you really try to do something you like doing,” I grinned “I’ve also got an idea for a song for the next event” “The way you worked was almost harmonious, where did you learn to do that?” Rarity batted her eyelids at me “Practice” I winked “What’s the name of the song?” Littlepip glanced up at me “Dreams of an absolution, it’s got two versions, the one is sing is probably better suited for a beginner, no offense” I chuckled “None taken,” she smiled “I’m just trying to get passed this feeling I’m getting” “What’s it like?” Blaze raised an eyebrow “Like I can do anything,” she whistled “it’s like I’m barely in control of myself!” “That’d be the adrenaline” I smiled back “think you need a glass of water to help you calm down, first time’s always the weirdest” “Thanks” she sighed, “Eons of Equis,” Celestia raised an eyebrow “what made you pick that name for yourselves?” “Just the facts I’ve been given in my stay here” I shrugged “I see, well I wish you luck” she winked “Thank you, princess” Littlepip nickered “Please, call me Celestia” Celestia simpered “Alright Cellsy” Blaze chuckled “Is your sister always so jovial?” she raised the other eyebrow, removing her mane from covering her face “I am what I am, ain’t nobody changing that!” Blaze laughed “Sot it’d seem” Celestia nickered “Well, it’d appear that you’ve a heart of fire, like your name would most certainly suggest” “And an attitude to match it” Snowdrop giggled “So I have, but you don’t mind, do you Tesla?” “I don’t, seeing as how I’m used to it” I rolled my eyes “First you end up on an alien planet with me, then you find some weird crystalline tree thingamabob, then you find out that humans existed on Equis, and combated a ‘great-and-powerful’ evil, what’s next, you and Cellsy being lovers in one of your previous incarnations?” “That’d be possible, however slim the chances are, be it impossible or otherwise, right?” I glanced at Celestia, who simply re-raised an eyebrow “oh bugger” “Looks like I was right again!” Blaze burst into a fit laughter “So you were,” Celestia pecked my cheek, staring right at me, as if gazing into my soul “”I hope you know how much I’ve missed you, Tesla” “But, why don’t I have any memory of you?” I tilted my head “Thou were poisoned with a hyper-lethal venom, thy other option was death in thine sisters’ arms, or to come back later, as thou have, Tesla” Luna explained “And thy wings along with thee, thou great eon” an awkward silence washed over the great hall as all eyes turned to face the princesses, Crystal and I “He’s an eon,” I heard one pony whisper to another “like in the legends?” “It seems to be the case” the other pony whispered back “though I heard they had sabre like-wings and could break the sound barrier” “So, we’re looking at a living legacy here?” the first pony muttered “I should hope so” the second pony nodded, both staring in awe as I changed to my eon form “And there it is!” I quickly changed back -=-=- “So, what’s with the stuffed animal?” I nodded toward an odd, slightly pony-shaped stuffed animal with buttons for eyes, one of them hanging by a thread as we sat in the library during a winter storm, sipping my hot chocolate drink “Oh, Smarty Pants?” Twilight blushed, wrapped in a blanket and scarf “Really,” Applejack laughed “I got used as a teddy bear, so I can’t complain” I shrugged “And thou were a good pillow too, thine little Sugarbear” Luna nuzzled into me “Even if a fifth of my weight resides in my skeleton,” I raised an eyebrow “We can assure thee that thou make a most comfortable headrest” she pecked my cheek “Score,” Blaze cheered “Nice work Tesla!” “I wasn’t trying anything” I blinked “So, how’d ya do it?” Rainbow Dash grinned “Do what?” I tilted my head “Snag the princesses, duh!” she shook her head as if it were the most obvious answer to man and pony alike “Rainbow Dash,” Twilight snapped alongside Rarity “I’ve no idea” I bit my lip “You must have some memory of that event, at least?” Twilight stared at me “Ya’ll heard the princess,” Applejack sighed “he was poisoned, and the only options he had were being sent tah Earth or dying the Celestia’s arms, personally, ah think ya made the right choice pardner” she smiled at me “And should the memories, or lack thereof, drive me insane, what then?” I frowned “Perhaps we can solve that” Luna lightly tapped her horn on my head as it flashed a deep, royal blue colour Suddenly, memories burst from places in my mind that since been disused, causing my head to throb and ache with pain as I clutched onto it, as if it was going to explode, gritting my teeth in agony After ten or so minutes, the pain eventually subsided, and I let go of my head “Art thou alright, Tesla?” Luna bit her lip as I shook my head, glancing at everyone in the room “I’m…” I blinked “I’m fine,” I sighed “just a little headache” “One-billion year’s-worth of memoires and you complain of a ‘slight headache’?” Twilight chortled “you’re insane!” “That’s the idea!” Blaze patted my head “Always a rollercoaster ride with you, ain’t it, brother?” “That it is” I nodded “Are you Ok, Daddy?” Snowdrop clung onto me “I’m Ok now Snowdrop, don’t worry about me” I chuckled “But you were in pain!” she stared up at me with nothing but sadness in her eyes “I’m fine, Snowdrop, don’t worry, Ok?” I smiled “Ok, if you say so” she hummed -=-=- At the next orchestra event in the theatre, I stood with my family, Ryōshi, Littlepip and Crystal on centre stage as I began the song “Hey, girl, you know you drive me crazy one look puts the rhythm in my hand. Still I'll never understand why you hang around I see what's going down” I ended the beginning as Littlepip picked up from where I left off “Cover up with makeup in the mirror tell yourself, it's never gonna happen again you cry alone and then he swears he loves you. Do you feel like a man when you push her around? Do you feel better now as she falls to the ground? Well I'll tell you my friend, one day this world's going to end as your lies crumble down, a new life she has found” Littlepip chorused, passing the baton to Crystal “A pebble in the water makes a ripple effect every action in this world will bear a consequence If you wade around forever, you will surely drown I see what's going down. I see the way you go and say you're right again, say you're right again Heed my lecture” Crystal sang with a voice of a seraph “Do you feel like a man when you push her around? Do you feel better now as she falls to the ground? Well I'll tell you my friend, one day this world's going to end as your lies crumble down, a new life she has found. Face down in the dirt, she said, ‘This doesn't hurt,’ she said, ‘I finally had enough’" Face down in the dirt, she said, ‘This doesn't hurt,’ she said, ‘I finally had enough’"” “One day she will tell you that she has had enough It's coming round again. Do you feel like a man when you push her around? Do you feel better now as she falls to the ground? Well I'll tell you my friend, one day this world's going to end as your lies crumble down, a new life she has found. Do you feel like a man when you push her around? Do you feel better now as she falls to the ground? Well I'll tell you my friend, one day this world's going to end as your lies crumble down, a new life she has found. Face down in the dirt, she said, ‘This doesn't hurt,’ she said, ‘I finally had enough’" we finished the first song as a group, bowing quickly “They say that life would be its hardest in your teenage years Well, some of what they say is really true They say that life will come and find you when your heart is new I don't believe it from the mouths of fools So hang on, hang on We got a million different ways to see our emotions We got a million different ways to trick our heads to bring us down We got a million different colours to see in the ocean But every time I analyse it plays a trick upon my eyes I'm lost I'm finding my way back to my dreams (Whoa) I'm finding my way back to my dreams (Whoa) Living in a world that only takes from you Makes you want to give in and give up (Don't give up) But soon you realize that you are not alone Innocence disguises what you love So do what you love We got a million different ways to see our emotions We got a million different ways to trick our heads to bring us down We got a million different colours to see in the ocean But every time I analyse it plays a trick upon my eyes I'm lost I'm finding my way back to my dreams (Whoa) I'm finding my way back to my dreams (Whoa) Hold on to the things that keep you young Nothing lasts forever, gone is gone ('Til we find our way) Don't be so hard on yourself There will always be a chance to make it better Things will get better We got a million different ways to see our emotions We got a million different ways to trick our heads to bring us down We got a million different colours to see in the ocean But every time I analyse it plays a trick upon my eyes I'm lost I'm finding my way back to my dreams (Whoa) I'm finding my way back to my dreams (Whoa) I'm finding my way back to my dreams Back to my dreams” we sang the hole song as a quintet, taking a moment to collect our breath before the next song “The burning desire to live and roam free, It shines in the dark And it grows within me You're holding my hand but you don't understand So where I am going you won't be in the end. Im dreaming in colours Of getting the chance Of dreaming of trying the perfect romance The search of the door, to open your mind In search of the cure of mankind Help us we're drowning So close up inside Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? How will the lights die down, telling us who we are? I'm searching for answers Not given for free You're hurting inside Is there life within me? You're holding my hand but you don't understand So you're taking the road all alone in the end Im dreaming in colours, no boundaries are there Im dreaming the dream we all seem to share In search of the door, to open your mind In search of the cure of mankind Well help us we're drowning So close up inside Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Why does it rain, rain, rain, down on Utopia? And when the lights die down, telling us who we are Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Oh, why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Now when the lights die down, telling us who we are Why does it rain?” we sang again as a quintet, glancing amongst ourselves, nodding to one another as the audience stood and clapped their hooves in applaud “As an extra, here’s that song I promise a few friends of mine a few days back” I waved toward Celestia “(every night, I stay awake I find my reflection And every night, I rethink my past mistakes I dream, of absolution) In the nightlife, do you see what you dream? All your travels, are they of what they seem? Look around you, then you may realize All the creatures saw with the light And i might know of a future But then you still control the past Only you know if we'll be together Only you know if we shall last. (in the nightlife) In the nightlife, do you still feel your pain Or the valour you waited never came? If you were evil, would you go change the past? And a faux paux with one last chance. And i might know of a future But then you'd still control the past Only you know if we'll be together Tonight. 'cause every night I will save your life And every night I will be with you 'cause every night I still lay awake And i dream of an absolution 'cause every night i will make it right And every night i will come to you But every night it just stays the same In my dream of an absolution (in the nightlife) In the nightlife, do you see what you dream? All your triumph and all you'll ever be Look around you, then you may realize Happiness lies trapped in misery And who knows what of a future We can all try to change the past Only you know if we'll be together. Tonight. 'cause every night i will save your life And every night i will be with you 'cause every night i still lay awake And i dream of an absolution 'cause every night i will make it right And every night i will come to you But every night it just stays the same In my dream of an absolution 'cause every night i will save your life And every night i will be with you 'cause every night i still lay awake And i dream of an absolution 'cause every night I will make it right And every night I will come to you But every night it just stays the same In my dream of an absolution (and you'll see) (why you'll be) (and you'll see) (all you can know) 'cause every night (every night) And every night (every night) And every night (night) I will dream (i will dream) And you'll see That this is my dream (and you'll see) That every night, i will always dream And every night And every night And every night I will dream...!” Crystal, Blaze, Snowdrop Littlepip and I sang together whilst Blaze sang the background vocals, the crowd once again clapping their hooves in applause “That was incredible!” Octavia gazed at me alongside Vinyl as we stood in the gardens, Ryōshi having her midday exercise “It’s what we do” Littlepip smiled “So it is” Vinyl slowly nodded “so I heard you and Celestia used to be together?” “That was…” I sighed “that was almost impossible to explain” “I’ll bet, you’ve only been her for two months at best!” she laughed “Vinyl!” Octavia snapped, Vinyl’s laughter ceased almost instantly “Sorry” Vinyl chuckled “It’s alright” I smiled “Besides, I’ve a few questions for her anyway” “Like what?” a soothing, almost motherly voice spoke Turning around, I saw my friends stood before me, Celestia standing at the front alongside Cadance “What happened when I left?” I smiled, albeit, faintly “Luna and I were heartbroken, the whole country descended into darkness, and Discord was released through all the chaos that ensued thereafter” Celestia bit her lip “Discord?” “The lord of chaos, none other than moi” a serpentine creature with the horns of both a goat and a gazelle, the head of a grossly disfigured pony, beard of a goat, wings of both a bat and eagle, the tail of a dragon and the arms of a gryphon and lion, and the fang of a snake ‘popped’ into existence before me “Wow, the creators of the universe fucked up when they made you; didn’t they?” Blaze whistled “Now, now, no need for such hostilities” Discord reached out to touch Blaze, but I grabbed his arm “Touch her, and I beat you like a runaway slave” I hissed, he quickly retracted his arm “Touchy” he flexed his fingers “Where’d you get this one from?” he glanced toward Celestia “Question is, what are you?” I frowned “A draconequus” Discord held out a hand, I raised an eyebrow “Joy buzzer” I smirked, he flipped his hand, revealing a button strapped to his fingers “How did you..?” he blinked “Psychic” I Littlepip frowned “If he’s the god of chaos, why keep him around?” “I’m almost offended by that” Discord chuckled darkly “We need him, after all, Chaos and harmony are two sides to the same bit, or coin, however you prefer” Cadance nickered “Just like sausages and Bacon” Blaze drooled slightly “So I heard you got knighted, well done my boy” Discord clapped his hands in applaud, resulting in an electric shock coursing through him “He usually like this?” I raised an eyebrow “Not always, he can be quite nice if you get him in the right mood” Cadance smiled “Uh-huh” I tilted my head at the strange, almost alien creature hovering before me “and I suppose you’d know about the eons?” “The eons?” he burst into laughter “why I know things that Celestia couldn’t tell you even if she wanted you to!” “Like?” I frowned, already not liking the draconequus’ tone “The fact that they were treated as slaves” he tilted his head back at me “honestly, you should’ve seen it, no wonder it was so easy for me to get out of that accursed stone prison-!” he was sent sprawling via reverse-roundhouse kick “He dun half talk shit, doesn’t he?” I grinned “He’s not lying” Celestia bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes “Told you so” Discord sighed, hovering beside me “I can tell you things you wouldn’t here anywhere else, Tesla, my little eon” “Like what?” Blaze snapped “The location of sapphire storm, perhaps?” he clicked his claw-tips together” “That’s in the past” I scoffed, turning and walking away, Littlepip, Ryōshi and Snowdrop following me back inside the castle “Is it?” he raised an eyebrow “And I suppose it’s also ‘in the past,’ that Celestia here’s been manipulating your entire life up until your arrival here?” he went on “Beside your wife of course, you can keep her all you want” I stopped dead in my tracks, turning around “Go ahead, tell him Celly, tell him how you did the unthinkable to his love-life” “And he’s not lying, I assume?” I frowned as Blaze clambered down to the floor, bursting into flames “I’m sorry…” Celestia was full-on weeping at this point, tears cascading down her face like waterfalls “She’s the one who separated you from…” Crystal gasped, the flames around my fading to thin air as I held her back “what’re you doing?” “Violence won’t get us anywhere” I scowled “and I think we’re through with negotiations” “But she,” Crystal glared at Celestia, then stared at me “are you right in the head?” “That’s always been the question, hasn’t it?” I sighed “Let’s just go” I turned and left, Blaze climbing back onto my shoulder, Snowdrop also perching herself on my head as Ryōshi and Littlepip followed me with Vinyl and Octavia into the theatre, beginning to sing when I got there “I used to rule the world Seas would rise when I gave the word Now in the morning I sleep alone Sweep the streets I used to own I used to roll the dice Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes Listen as the crowd would sing "Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!" One minute I held the key Next the walls were closed on me And I discovered that my castles stand Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing Roman Cavalry choirs are singing Be my mirror, my sword and shield My missionaries in a foreign field For some reason I can't explain Once you go there was never Never an honest word And that was when I ruled the world It was the wicked and wild wind Blew down the doors to let me in Shattered windows and the sound of drums People couldn't believe what I'd become Revolutionaries wait For my head on a silver plate Just a puppet on a lonely string Oh who would ever want to be king? I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing Roman Cavalry choirs are singing Be my mirror, my sword and shield My missionaries in a foreign field For some reason I can't explain I know Saint Peter won't call my name Never an honest word But that was when I ruled the world I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing Roman Cavalry choirs are singing Be my mirror, my sword and shield My missionaries in a foreign field For some reason I can't explain I know Saint Peter won't call my name Never an honest word But that was when I ruled the world” I sang, completely solo, as I sat on the edge of th stage “What’s the beef?” Vinyl sat beside me “I had a girlfriend who I loved with all my heart a few years before I left with Crystal,” I began “and then my dad decides that enough is enough, but it turns out, it was all Celestia’s doing, and my dad had the nerve to call me selfish, hah, the irony” “That’s…” Octavia glared “who’d do such a thing “I’d rather live my billion-year life as a recluse than go through what I’ve been through, only to find out what I just have” I placed my had in my hands, eventually sitting upright again “but that would mean I don’t get to feel the way I do when I’m around my friends” “Cheeky” Crystal lightly jabbed my shoulder, pulling me to my feet “shall we?” “Might as well” I nodded “When she was just a girl She expected the world But it flew away from her reach So she ran away in her sleep Dreamed of para- para- paradise Para- para- paradise Para- para- paradise Every time she closed her eyes Whoa-oh-oh oh-oooh oh-oh-oh” I sang, beginning the song “When she was just a girl She expected the world But it flew away from her reach And the bullets catch in her teeth Life goes on It gets so heavy The wheel breaks the butterfly Every tear, a waterfall In the night, the stormy night She closed her eyes In the night, the stormy night Away she flied” Snowdrop chirped as she sang “And dreamed of para- para- paradise Para- para- paradise Para- para- paradise Whoa-oh-oh oh-oooh oh-oh-oh” Crystal chimed “She dreamed of para- para- paradise Para- para- paradise Para- para- paradise Whoa-oh-oh oh-oooh oh-oh-oh. La, la, la, La, La, la, la So lying underneath those stormy skies. She said oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh. I know the sun must set to rise This could be para- para- paradise Para- para- paradise This could be para- para- paradise Whoa-oh-oh oh-oooh oh-oh-oh. This could be para- para- paradise Para- para- paradise Could be para- para- paradise Whoa-oh-oh oh-oooh oh-oh-oh” Littlepip sang yet again with the voice of a goddess “This could be para- para- paradise Para- para- paradise Could be para- para- paradise Whoa-oh-oh oh-oooh oh-oh-oh. Oo-oo-oo, oo-oo-oo, oo-oo-oo Oo-oo-oo, oo-oo-oo, oo-oo-oo” we all sang as another quintet, forming a group hug afterward “Another masterpiece I see?” Octavia smiled “We do our best” Snowdrop smiled “At least you try, I don’t what music you or Octavia make, but the Ponytones just don’t count as music to me, Y’know?” Vinyl rolled her eyes, perching her shades on the top of her horn “Noted” Littlepip smiled “I’m honoured to be with Tesla and his musical talents” “You haven’t heard me play the guitar” I winked “Touché” she slowly nodded as I picked the guitar from backstage, sitting on the bench, starting to play “The burning desire to live and roam free, It shines in the dark And it grows within me You're holding my hand but you don't understand So where I am going you won't be in the end. I'm dreaming in colours Of getting the chance Of dreaming of trying the perfect romance The search of the door, to open your mind In search of the cure of mankind Help us we're drowning So close up inside Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? How will the lights die down, telling us who we are? I'm searching for answers Not given for free You're hurting inside Is there life within me? You're holding my hand but you don't understand So you're taking the road all alone in the end I'm dreaming in colours, no boundaries are there I'm dreaming the dream we all seem to share In search of the door, to open your mind In search of the cure of mankind Well help us we're drowning So close up inside Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Why does it rain, rain, rain, down on Utopia? And when the lights die down, telling us who we are Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Oh, why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Now when the lights die down, telling us who we are Why does it rain?” I sang with Snowdrop, Littlepip staring at me, slack-jawed “That was beautiful” Littlepip had tears in her eyes “ “Just like you then” I smiled as she sat beside me “Looks like somepony’s made it to second base” Vinyl burst into laughter as Littlepip leapt at me, pressing her lips against mine, clinging onto me “I love you” Littlepip pecked my cheek, sitting beside me on the bench “Do you love me” “I could get to learn to, wouldn’t take much, putting into consideration you ponies seem to be” I laughed “Thank you, my love” she nickered “Third base” Vinyl smirked again “Vinyl!” Octavia snapped “What,” Vinyl shrugged “Tesla got himself a marefriend, we should be happy, congrats T” “TK, if you would” I chuckled “TK?” she blinked “Teslakana” I raised an eyebrow “Ah, I gotcha” she laughed “And this time, I won’t let some puny god get in the way of my friends” “She can move the sun!” Vinyl stared at me “Actually, when she was with me in Ponyville once, it raised itself, all thanks to gravity” I smiled “Explain” she tilted her head “Just imagine a giant, lit match head, that represents the sun, and imagine Equis too be a coin, and the moon to be a smaller coin the coin spins on its axis around the giant match head, and the smaller coin orbits around th larger coin, and that’s how night and day progress” Blaze explained “You don’t have anyone do it where you’re from?” Littlepip blinked “Nope, it’s all done by means of physics” Crystal chimed “How do you mean?” Octavia raised an eyebrow “Imagine spinning a full bucket of water over your head, now, if you stop, you get wet right?” both musicians nodded “If the earth slows down even a little, all human on earth, including the planet itself are reduced to cosmic dust, if that, it’s the same principle really” “That’s got to be horrible, knowing you can die like that at any given time!” Littlepip gasped “There’s hundreds of ways humans could go extinct within the next century or two, several of which involve asteroids and/or meteors” “But we needn’t worry since you’re here, with us, right Daddy?” Snowdrop smiled “Correct” I nodded “How do you put up with it?” Vinyl blinked “With what?” I tilted my head ever-so slightly “Being betrayed by the princess herself” she spat “surely you feel some form of hate toward her for doing that, right?” “I do, I’m just that good at hiding it” I frowned “Damn” she whistled as we walked out of the theatre, but not before I returned the guitar backstage “So, you’re the one who’s been killing my subordinates?” a massive blood-crimson dragon with white underbelly scales and spines stood before me in the arena, Twilight, her friends Spike, and the princesses stood behind me “Teslakana, Eon, human, Dragon slayer, what more do you want?” “I hope that titles is from your world, puny creature” he growled “May I know your name, Dragon?” I raised an eyebrow “Dragon emperor Grandoa, ruler of the dragons of Equis” he snarled, baring his teeth at me “An eon against a fully grown dragon, this should be interesting” Blaze smirked “You dare fight me!?” Grandoa roared with laughter as Snowdrop, Littlepip and Blaze hurried beside my friends, scales appearing on my face, arms and hands as they went “This should be fun, too long have I waited for a challenger worthy of your title, Teslakana of Equestria” “The battle between monsters begins!” Blaze cheered “Genso Eigo Ryu,” I inhaled sharply, exhaling a vast torrent of whitish-golden flames “Hokou!” “Not bad, that actually tickled” Grandoa laughed as I shot up above him spinning as I formed a drill-like pattern, encase from head to toes in flames as i rocketed down from the sky “Genso Eigo Ryu Rasen-Shadan!” I growled, piercing through the scales on the back of his neck “Well, that certainly stings a bit” he grinned as I landed in front of him, bringing down a claw, knocking me into the ground, bringing down the other one, the other, then the other, continuously beating away at me for five minutes straight “Is that it?” I clicked my neck as I staggered to my feet, followed by my shoulders, and then my knuckles “How?” he blinked “Ryu, no Dakara!” I chimed, both fists ignited as I fired Gatling-like punches at his chest and stomach “Genso Eigo Hoseki Ryu; Suishō Hasu Karyu Ken!” as the hits progressed, I noticed a few scales falling from his underside onto the ground as he clung onto said underside, falling flat on his face “You just!?” Twilight gasped as Octavia and Vinyl trotted up either side of me “I haven’t won, by a dragon slayers terms, however, I can see this battle going unceasingly, so I propose a draw” I held out a hand as Grandoa stood back up again, eventually leaning down to get on eye-level with me “Agreed” Grandoa shook my hand with a light claw, “you are definitely worthy of the title of ‘Dragon Slayer,’ Teslakana of Equestria, we shall meet again, soon” And with that he flew off “You went hoof-to-hoof against the dragon emperor and survived?” Twilight gaped, her expression eventually returning to a normal one “what was that last attack anyway?” “Genso Eigo Hoseki Ryu; Suishō Hasu Karyu Ken,” I smiled “Which translates into your language as elemental ‘Eon Gem Dragon Crystal Lotus; fire dragon fist’” Blaze whistled, clambering unto my shoulder as Snowdrop perched herself on my head “why not just call it an ‘Elemental Gem Dragon Gatling Lotus’?” “Touché” I nodded “That makes four times I’ve been right about something?” she smirked “Five actually, not counting back one Earth” I sighed “And the ferret strikes again” Celestia gave a weak smile “You don’t have the right to talk about my family like it’s nothing” I spat “Tesla, I don’t know what to say” she slowly shook her head “That’s probably because you shouldn’t” Vinyl snapped “What right do you have to decide who Telsa falls in love with, who died and made you the ruler of all that exists, tell me Celestia, who!?” “Tesla, you…?” Celestia held a hoof to her mouth “Her shame revealed as worlds crossover” Blaze held her head high, glancing at me “you alright, TK?” “I’ll be fine” I scoffed “I’ve got you and Pip with me, and Snowdrop, what more could I want?” “Your scales are showing” she smirked “I know, I just don’t really care,” I exhaled sharply, almost sighing “at least I can hope that she’s safe, wherever she is” “As do I” Snowdrop chimed “And me” Blaze patted the side of my head “As well as I” Littlepip placed a gentle hoof on my leg, smiling up at me, I crouched down to her level, Snowdrop and Blaze climbing down to the ground in the process, gently stroking Littlepip’s mane “I love you, Tesla” she smiled “And I you, my littlepip” I smiled, she gasped, beaming from ear to ear, pecking her horn, triggering an almighty wave of energy to rip through me, sending my flying “Daddy,” Snowdrop soared up to me, landing beside me as my vision faded to black
chapter IV revalationsI awoke with a searing pain coursing through me, my vision rather blurry at first, gradually clearing “He’s awake!” I heard someone yell as my friends and family rushed into the room “What happened?” I blinked “You were hit with a blast of magic that almost split you clean in half” Celestia bit her lip “That’s what I get for being a dink” I chuckled, flinching as my chest ached “I wouldn’t recommend moving for a while, my love” Littlepip was in almost hysterics, tears cascading down her face like reverse geysers “I almost killed you” “You did nothing of the sort, neither of us knew what was going to happen, well, at least I didn’t” I rolled my eyes “This is what you get for dabbling in magic beyond your comprehension” Blaze laughed “Six times now” I tutted “Glad to see someone’s keeping count” she raised an eyebrow, sitting beside me “What was the surgery like then?” I sighed “We had to repair everything” Celestia’s face turned a light pink tinge “be it the insides of either your mind or body, we had to go through everything, just to keep you with us” “Thank you, Celestia” I smiled “You needn’t thank me,” she nickered “thank Littlepip, she hasn’t left your side once, ever since your little revelation to her eight months ago” “Six months?” I blinked “I hope they kept my position in the orchestra” “I have requested that they do so, so you needn’t worry” she smiled “Thank you, Littlepip, I grinned “ for keeping faith if nothing else” “You don’t mind that you almost-” I held a finger to her mouth “You could’ve but thanks to Celestia and the others, you didn’t, so there is nothing to forgive, nor is there anything to feel sorry for, you’re a great mare Littlepip, don’t waste it on feeling sorry for yourself” I gleamed, glancing toward Celestia when’s the earliest I can get out of here?” “Not for another two months I shouldn’t think” Celestia raised an eyebrow “planning on rushing off with her in your arms, are we?” “Maybe” my eyes darted from one side to the other “Tesla,” I glanced toward her again “I’m sorry, for making you go through that, truly, if there’s anything I can do for you, I will” “A cowardly action can be righted by a brave one, so there is nothing to forgive” I riddled “Have you been playing on your laptop?” Blaze smirked, folding her arms “Yes as a matter of fact I have” I grinned “speaking of which, where is my bag anyway?” “You mean this?” Celestia levitated forth my rucksack, clockwise in design, much like my clothing “At least, it’s safe” I sighed again as she set it beside me opposite Blaze as my sister climbed down the bed “why can’t I feel my leg?” “About that” Twilight giggled nervously as Blaze lifted up the lower end of the bed covers, revealing a mechanical left leg “That’s actually not that bad-!” I blinked as she lifted the side of the duvet revealing a mechanical arm also “-Shite…” I bit my lip as she returned the duvet to normal “so, that happened “You’re not worried by it?” Littlepip tilted her head “It is a little weird, but I suppose I can get used to it” I smiled as she sat beside me on the bed “Then so can I” she pecked my cheek “My little TK” “My littlepip” I gently stroked her mane “I assume that my attire has all but been obliterated “No, we managed to save that, barely” Celestia released a breath I guessed she hadn’t known about holding in “Rarity managed to copy the style to make repairs to it, I hope you find them to be what you usually wear” “Speaking of which, you weren’t supposed to be awake for another three weeks at least” Cadance giggled “Surprises like the ones I do stop life from being dull and boring” I smirked “So they do” Luna nickered “we hope thou know that the orchestra has donated two million bits to your wellbeing and persons, Tesla” “Next thing you’ll be is that you can recite the whole credits list For Gurren Lagann” I chuckled, albeit, somewhat painfully -=- Five minutes later -=- “Damn” I blinked “We hath also taken the liberty and time out of our schedule to enchant your arm with the ability to perform one of these ‘Giga Drill Breaker’s” she giggled “And I thought I couldn’t like you anymore” I shook my head “We art most flattered, Sir Tesla” she winked “Next thing is…” she magicked up a pair of Kamina’s ‘Gurren Lagann’ glasses, donning them “Curse me and my immobility, temporary as it may be” I grumbled “Why?” she smirked “Anata Wa watashitachi ga watashitachida, wareware wa ten no janai, wareware ga daredearu ka omoimasu. Kyū Yoru hakobi-te, Tesura” “Jesus Christ!” Blaze burst into erratic laughter “There’re two of them!” “Anata ga to shinji do~uon shinjinai, kono wasuremasen, Tsuki o Kiki, watashi o shinjiru Tsukide wa, shinjiru Tsuki o shinjite inai” I gleamed from ear to ear “No, no you didn’t!” Blaze laughed “Yes, Blaze, yes I did” I smirked “Ore Wo Dare Datou Omotteiru” “Enough with the quotes,” she grunted “Alright, just for now, sister” I beamed =-=-=-= The two months passed slower than I wanted them two, and with time, I’d been able to move again, and my newly repaired clothes had been left on the side of the bed, which I quickly got into, they felt like-brand new “Are thou well” Luna smiled, sitting beside me on the bed before the nurse returned to see if I could leave “I’m almost perfect” I draped a wing around her as Littlepip sat opposite her, draping a wing around her also, how do I use this?” I lifted my mechanical arm “Just will it, and it shall appear, without damaging thy attire” Luna pecked my cheek “Maybe later” I chuckled “Of course she nuzzled into me as the nurse returned, the same one as from before, when I’d helped Littlepip “You appear to have no complications, if you’d like to sign here we can let you go” she smiled, I quickly signed the note on the clipboard she was holding “Thank you sir” she giggled, trotting merrily out of the room as I left the hospital with Snowdrop, Littlepip, Ryōshi, Blaze and Luna following me out, Blaze on my shoulder and Snowdrop upon my head, as per the usual as I walked out into the mountain city of canterlot -=- “And here he is!” Pinkie Pie held up a microphone, gesturing toward me as we entered ponyville’s town square “He’s alive, after that blast of magic!?” one pony gasped “ felt it from all the way down here, so it must’ve been horrible” “I wouldn’t know, seeing as I wasn’t conscious for six of the eight months I’ve been in hospital” I shrugged “Tesla,” Octavia galloped toward me,, stopping within mere inches of me “are you alright?” “All the better for walking out of the hospital in one piece” I smiled “You’re hand, your wings..!” she gasped, taking a few steps back “are you Ok?” “I’m fine, well, as fine as a technical bioorganic human can get” I bit my lip “What happened to you?” she slowly shook her head, all eyes were on me “I got hit with enough energy to rip me into shreds, and somehow, I remain” I spoke, morbidly “How…?” she blinked “Magic” I sighed, stretching and examining my wings, which were also mechanical “well that’s new” “We’re sorry this had to happen to thee” Luna avoided my gaze “Wasn’t anyone’s fault” I shrugged “no one could’ve prevented it, really, it’s like a fixed point in time that can neither be altered nor removed from reality” “It was touch-and-go at several points” she had tears welling in her eyes “Luna, I don’t want you to feel sorry for having to witness what I was put through in that hospital, I want you to feel glad that I’m alive, and we’re together, try to focus on that, Ok?” I gave a faint smile “And so we will” she pecked my cheek as Littlepip teleported onto my back, her arms loosely wrapped around my neck as she placed her head on my shoulder, pecking my other cheek, nuzzling into me, teleporting back down as we walked into the area of the already-happening party “So, what’s it like, being an alien in love with a pony?” Vinyl smirked “Vinyl,” Octavia scorned “How can you rack up the nerve to ask such a thing!?” “It’s alright, it’s actually a rather good question,” I chuckled “it’s a little odd, but then so am I, so I suppose it’d work” “Very odd” Littlepip laughed “So, what’re you going to do for Nightmare Night?” Vinyl raised a suggestive eyebrow “Nightmare Night, what’s that?” I tilted my head ever-so slightly “It’s basically where you dress up for fun and gain sweets by scaring other ponies” Littlepip chortled “An apt way to explain it” Octavia facehooved “So, it’s like Halloween then” Blaze smirked “Tesla can just go bare chest, act like the terminator” “Blaze I’m not going to have reports of fillies and colts going into a mental breakdown just because of a prank” I scowled “You ruin my fun” she shrugged “You’re fun would’ve gotten me in prison, at the least,” I tutted “besides, where am I going to find a mechanical exoskeleton?” she grinned “Don’t you dare!” “I wouldn’t, I’m just wondering if we can’t get a potion or spell f some sort to do it for you, temporarily of course” she smirked “I did not need that mental image” I shuddered “Your mind, not mine” Blaze shrugged “So it is” Luna raised an eyebrow “Perhaps we shall participate, like last year’s event” “It’d be great if you did, princess” Pinkie Pie bounded over toward us, leaping up and down on the spot “What’re you going to Be Tesla?” Pinkie Pie nickered “I’m not going as anything,” I shrugged “haven’t got anything to wear, other than what I’m wearing” “That’s not true,” she giggled “Rarity’s been hard at work, designing something for you!” “Then I might as well take a look at it” I smiled “where’s Rarity?” “At canterlot, still working on your costume’s designs with the-” a lavender hoof quickly covered her mouth “With who, exactly,” I glanced toward Luna, who shrugged “one oddity after the next on Equis, honestly” “Ain’t that the truth” Blaze nodded “So what’re you going as?” I turned my attention to Twilight, who winked “Secret,” she giggled “As is yours by the sound of it” “Tell me about it,” I chuckled, again “so what’re you going as, Pinkie?” “I haven’t decided yet, maybe a dragon, maybe an alligator, or maybe I could do a bit of both!” “Too much coffee” I facepalmed “I don’t drink coffee silly, if I did that I’d be hyperactive and doing all sorts of crazy stuff!” she laughed “That… that’s rather worrying” I took a mildly large step in the other direction as she burst into laughter, bounding away in the direction of the gingerbread house “That’s rather disturbing,” Blaze shuddered “cute, and yet disturbing, who votes we test to see if she snorts cannabis?” “Blaze,” I snapped “I’m sure they wouldn’t allow illegal drugs to be, well, legal “Except in Cambodia” she smirked “Seven times now” Snowdrop smiled “Then how do you explain her seemingly unceasing state of hyperactivity; and without coffee nonetheless!” Blaze laughed “It’s a mystery, to be sure” I hummed “You know the line, Tesla?” she winked “I’m not a unicorn; I don’t have a horn, unless you mean the one down south, and unless you’re lit-” I stopped myself “Wrong,” she grinned “you were about to say Littlepip, weren’t you?” “Mind your own business” I smirked “That’s not, a ‘No’” she burst into roaring laughter “And it isn’t a ‘yes’ either” I grumbled “You wouldn’t mind me doing that,” Littlepip gaped, staring at me in apparent wonder “really?” “Bugger” I muttered =-=-= “Note to self,, never pronounce a typo” I muttered, having been whisked away to the library and back, both before and after raunchy ‘super-happy-fun-times’, I say on a bench next to the fountain “So, you have mechanical limbs, it’s like Fullmetal alchemist all over again” Blaze chortle “Doth, thou want us to sing the theme tune?” Luna smiled as she sat next to me opposite Littlepip, both smiling at me “if so; opening one, three, or four of Fullmetal alchemist Brotherhood?” “You two are the perfect beings” I stared at her in amazement, glancing toward Littlepip “Thou flatter us” their cheeks turned a crimson tint as Littlepip nibbled on my ear for a moment “I try” I smiled as Celestia trotted up to us “Is there a valid reason as to why the three of you were making that much noise earlier?” Celestia smiled “Well ya see, when a man and a woman love each other-!” I quickly stopped Blaze before she went too far “I’m not mad, just curious” Celestia smiled, sitting beside Luna “I don’t want you to be afraid of my royal status, my love” “That’s what they all say” Blaze patted my head, Celestia magicked up my guitar, somehow, from absolutely nowhere “Perhaps you’d like to play the town a song?” she smiled “Maybe I would” I smiled, walking with her and the others over to an aptly placed-and-crafted stage, sitting on the stool that was placed there as practically the whole town stopped what they were doing and walked over to the stage as I sat beside Littlepip, Luna and Celestia “The burning desire to live and roam free, It shines in the dark And it grows within me You're holding my hand but you don't understand So where I am going you won't be in the end” Littlepip stared the song beautifully “Im dreaming in colours Of getting the chance Of dreaming of trying the perfect romance The search of the door, to open your mind In search of the cure of mankind” Blaze continued, smiling with absolute glee as she did so “Help us we're drowning So close up inside Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? How will the lights die down, telling us who we are? “Luna chorused with the voice akin to the goddess that she was “I'm searching for answers Not given for free you’re hurting inside is there life within me? you're holding my hand but you don't understand So you're taking the road all alone in the end Im dreaming in colours, no boundaries are there Im dreaming the dream we all seem to share In search of the door, to open your mind In search of the cure of mankind Well help us we're drowning So close up inside” Celestia chimed alongside Snowdrop “Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Why does it rain, rain, rain, down on Utopia? And when the lights die down, telling us who we are. Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Oh, why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Now when the lights die down, telling us who we are Why does it rain?” we finished as a septet The crowd remained silent, before a wave of cheering, applaud and whistling was directed toward us “And certain people say that I have the voice of an angel?” I glanced toward the princesses “Would you like us to actually try next time,” Luna smirked, I stared at her “what?” “I think brother’s going into a mental breakdown” Blaze laughed “I am not!” I chortled “Notice how you instantly denied it” she folded her paws, Luna raised an eyebrow “Alright, so they have amazing singing voices, what else is new?” I grumbled “Other than the mechanical limbs, who’s to say?” Blaze shrugged “More Fairy Tail crossovers?” “That gives me an idea” I grinned “I don’t even want to think about what’s going through that warped mind of yours TK” Blaze shuddered “See if we can’t get the royal canterlot orchestra to compose renditions of the soundtrack” I grinned “Can you get the notes?” she tilted her head “I can try” I shrugged -=-=- After a few months of practicing, the orchestra was finally ready to play “Which one are we doing, sir?” one of the cellists sat at the front-middle of the orchestra “‘A Blaze that burns evil hearts’” I smiled “I know you can do this” “Thanks” he sighed, the audience behind me as they began to play The rendition was almost perfect, if not absolutely so, the orchestra managing to successfully match the instrumental, note for note As the song finished, the audience was silent, as if registering the music in their minds, before applauding the orchestra “We did not know that you knew that particular ‘Anime’” Luna smiled as I stood with my family alongside Littlepip, Twilight, her friends, Spike and the princesses, Cadance included “I’ve seen all six-hundred episodes” I raised an eyebrow “Only four-hundred” she smirked “I won’t spoil anything for you” I winked “Could thou use ‘Ryujin no Koen’?” she raised an eyebrow “Probably” I shrugged, again “ “‘Combine together the flames of a dragon and a God,’” Blaze grinned, “’Dragon God’s brilliant flame’” “Episode one-hundred-and-five, if we aren’t mistaken” Luna nodded “Sister, I believe you’ve been spending too much time on Tesla’s ‘laptop’” Celestia giggled “I don’t mind” I smiled “Then perhaps we could watch the rest of the series together?” Luna nickered “Why not?” I smiled =-=-= Not a week later and another orchestral piece had been composed an played, much to the shock-and-awe of the audience “How do you do it?” Twilight smiled “My knowledge of certain pieces of music helps, somewhat” I chuckled “The Fairy Tail soundtrack is one of the best that’ve been released,” Luna smiled “As composed by Yasuharu Takanashi” “That it is” I nodded “You two; Really,” Blaze laughed “Wonder if you can still use magic on your metallic arm” I lit a fireball on th end of the mechanical limb “So you can” -=- When Nightmare Night arrived, I stood with Blaze on my shoulder and Snowdrop perched on my head wearing an especially crafted set of armour, with Nyx by my side alongside Littlepip, Ryōshi and Luna “Why am I wearing this again?” I facepalmed “Rarity insisted that thou wear the armour that she designed at the armoury with Black Hammer” Luna smiled “and even though thou don’t use armour, we think it looks quite, shall we say ‘Epic,’ on thee?” “Thank you, My little Tsuki” I smiled back “Thou art most welcome, Mayonaka Nikkō Ryū Kishi” she giggled “The new wizard in armour,” I chuckled “seriously I look like Endymion in this!” “Yoroi majutsu-shi” Littlepip nickered “So, what’re you going to do,” Blaze patted my shoulder armour with her feet “Sing, get a few snacks, scare the living shi-” “Language” I butted in “Well sorry, Sir-Bossy-pants” she tutted “but seriously, what’re we going to do?” “Well it’s not like I can show off what I can do, without doing significant damage to the town” I sighed As Twilight and her friends trotted up to me I heard someone cheering as two slightly disfigured colts stampeded past me, only for Twilight and her friends, with Spike, the small, bipedal lizard, or, as Twilight had borderline-scolded me, baby dragon, on Twilight’s back “Where’re they going?” Twilight blinked “Might as well follow them” I mumbled, walking with Twilight and her friends toward a large crowd “Behold, the great and powerful Trixie!” a mild blue unicorn with a purple wizards hat and cape, both with stars and moons scattered on them, cheered as several small fireworks launched behind the stage she’d set up “the greatest unicorn to ever live!” she went on a s a mustard yellow unicorn with a pale blue mane and tail and a short, stocky pale blue unicorn with a short, spiky ginger mane and tail glimmered at her performance “Someone, please get her outta here before she humiliates herself” Applejack and Rainbow Dash groaned “Whilst I do believe she should relinquish the stage for our dear Tesla, I believe we should at least give her a chance to show us what she can do” Rarity smiled, nudging my leg with a sultry smirk “I do believe we have some neighsayers in the audience!” Trixie croaked “If you’re so powerful, why don’t you do some proper spells?” Rainbow Dash frowned, folding her arms “I’d like to see you do magic, Pegasus” Trixie spat “I don’t need to,” Rainbow Dash stuck her tongue out at Trixie “I’ve already done TWO sonic rain-booms!” “Whatever that is” Trixie laughed, turning her attention to me, I glared at her “what have I done for you to give me that look, biped?” “You claim to be the best unicorn to ever live, yet all I see Is a scared little child” I deadpanned “if you were really the best unicorn to ever live, you’d be in canterlot, or in one of the major cities, not in a place like ponyville, no offense Twilight” I glanced at the lavender unicorn stood at my side “None taken” Twilight winked “And what of you, biped?” Trixie smirked “why are you in this wretched dump?” several ponies started to voice their opinions, I silenced them with a raised hand “If it’s a wretched dump, like I said, you wouldn’t be here, and, if I may ask, if it’s a wretched dump, why’re you here?” I grinned again “To show off of course, Duh!” the yellow unicorn stated toward me as if it were the most obvious answer on the planet “A true wizard shouldn’t need to feel the urge to ‘show off,’” I growled “a true wizard would be out adventuring across the country using his powers to help others, not for his own pathetic personal gain” “That’s your opinion?” Trixie cackled with laughter “you’re thicker than you look!” “And you have no actual knowledge about what magic really is” I snapped “clearly you lack discipline, and therefore grace, I’ll be in the library, should you wish to learn more” I glimmered “And what victories could you possibly have to your name?” she spat “I’m a dragon slayer, and I’m only the fifth strongest in the guild” I folded my arms “Very well” Trixie nodded; tutting to herself; turning her attention to the crowd “is there anypony here who wishes to see us test our might against one another?” Several ponies in the crowd cheered, several more nodded, several even more beamed with ecstasy “then it shall be so, in the everfree forest, in twenty minutes, be there, Biped, or forfeit!” By the time she’d packed up her things and left with the two unicorns, Twilight and her friends gaped at me “Tesla?” Twilight placed a gentle hoof on my leg “Yes?” I sighed, looking down at her “Are you really that annoyed by her?” Rarity blinked “To be frank, I hope there aren’t many ponies like her in this world” I frowned “You mean unicorns?” she blinked “No, I mean arrogant cocky immature stuck-up morons, who’ve not the faintest clue about what they could really do with themselves, if they had the aptitude” I clenched my fists “I’d no idea you’re so sensitive about magic like that” Twilight held a hoof to her mouth as I crouched down, placing Scootaloo on the ground “Take our time getting here did we?” Trixie smirked beside the two unicorns as I entered a clearing with her small caravan parked at the opposite edge “If you’re so powerful, attack me already” I snarled, fists blazing with a crimson fire as she charged up her horn, which lit up with a cyan glow as a flurry of magical energy bolts darted toward me “Is that it” I yawned as the darts collided against me all at once, creating an explosion “I wouldn’t laugh, biped!” Trixie cackled with laughter, only to be caught short as I inhaled the flames of the explosion, all but bolting them down, exhaling a large torrent of blood-red fire into the sky, sighing as I turned back toward the three unicorns, Trixie looked horrified as I slowly made my way toward her, knocking the other two aside as they charged at me “Please, stay away!” she screamed, as I reached out a hand, only to gently stroke her mane “Now you see; there’s always someone better” I smiled, weakly “I’m sorry!” Trixie cried, tears streaming down her face “I didn’t mean to gloat, I only wanted to be noticed” “Come here” I smiled again, wrapping my arms around her as she draped her hooves around my neck “you silly thing” I chuckled “if you wanted help, all you needed to do was ask” “I need some time to think” she sniffled as I let her go “Alright then” I nodded, walking back to Ponyville Once I was back at Ponyville “Tesla” Celestia gave me a look of concern as she, Luna, Twilight and her friends trotted up to me “She’s fine” I shook my head, sitting on the edge of the stage “just a little shaken is all” “What did you do?” Celestia blinked “I played her game, I showed off, cheap pyrotechnics, to put it simply” I clicked my shoulders “Will she be alright?” Twilight it her lip “If she’s as brave as she is arrogant, she’ll be fine” I smiled “That really grinds your gears doesn’t it?” Rarity hummed “People like that give us wizards a bad rep” I deadpanned “Besides; she wanted me to show off, so I did” “Thou art truly a devious one, Tesla” Luna smiled, sitting next to me “You mentioned something about being the fifth strongest in the guild, who’s the strongest?” Rainbow Dash smirked “Either Gildarts, or Guildmaster Makarov” I tilted a hand “So, the guild acts as a second family?” Celestia raised an eyebrow “It can do” I nodded “it’s a place where kids can go if they have nowhere to call home, it can be a place where aspiring mages can learn magic or earn enough to keep themselves alive, or it can be an endless adventure, hence the name, ‘Fairy Tail’” “That’s an interesting concept” she chuckled “It’s also a way of life” I raised an eyebrow “Ya’ll humans are weird” Applejack laughed “I know” I smiled “So what do we do about Trixie?” Rainbow Dash tilted her head, sitting next to me, opposite Luna “Search me” I sighed “to be honest, there’re one or two wizards like her in Fiore, but they’re easy enough to deal with that I don’t even bother” “You’ve seen ponies like Trixie before?” Twilight blinked “And as wizards?” “Not very successful wizards, but I’m afraid it’s true” I rolled my eyes, smiling as Littlepip sat beside me, with Blaze still sat on my shoulder, and Snowdrop perched on my head -=- “I’m sorry for showing off” Trixie bit her lip, I said nothing, merely folding my arms as I sat cross-legged on the ground “I shouldn’t have done what I did, and I request, no, I implore that I be your student!” she bowed her head, tears streaming down her muzzle “I don’t know what to say” I blinked “I don’t really know that much outside of dragon slayer magic“ “You have a right go at her and then turn around and say that?” Twilight laughed “Stick to what you know” I shrugged “Perhaps I could teach both of you” she nickered “I can teach myself” I tutted “Speak for yourself” she smirked “I just did” I blinked, steadily getting back to my feet, turning my attention to Trixie “So what magic can you use?” “Basic telekinesis, a few weak fire spells, and magic bolts” Trixie stammered “Well it looks the two of you’ll be learning as a duo” Twilight nickered again “have fun!” Two weeks had passed since Trixie and I had started learning magic outside of our usual perimeters, and to be honest, I didn’t feel like I was getting anywhere, sure I’d mastered all the spells like basic elemental spells and telekinesis, but other than that, nothing But I suppose that’s what I get for not being able to stop thinking about a certain winged unicorn, or as Twilight had taught me, alicorn; my mind alight with thoughts of the lunar goddess, it was almost unbelievable how many times a day I thought of her “Trixie believes that she has progressed” Trixie smiled gleefully at me in the library “This is basic stuff, you’re bound to progress” I sighed “Well sorry” Trixie frowned “Are you two arguing again?” Twilight giggled “We’re not arguing” Trixie and I spoke in unison glancing at each other, smirking “She’s right behind me isn’t she?” I grumbled, Twilight nodded as Luna appeared beside me “Greetings, Sir Tesla” Luna smiled, nuzzling into me “what’re thou doing?” “Studying,” I blinked “didn’t ever think I’d say that” “Wouldst thou likest to go out for dinner sometime,” she bit her lip “With thine sister?” “Why, are you saying that you’re not good enough?” I raised an eyebrow “because we all know that’s an absolute lie” “How’re you getting along with telekinesis?” Twilight sat before me “Don’t really need it but I’m learning anyway,” I sighed with Snowdrop sat opposite Trixie, Ryōshi sat next to her, with Blaze perched upon my head “Why not?” she blinked “A little handy spell called ‘Purple Flare’” Blaze smirked “Show me” she raised an eyebrow, I sat cross-legged on the floor, generating a fireball around my hand, reaching toward the book I was reading, and what appeared to be a tendril-like arm sprouted from the blazing sphere, closing the book and passing it to Twilight “That’s amazing!” she placed the book back on the floor, staring at me “Where did you learn that?” “We learnt a thing or two from the guild” “Blaze ignited her paws with miniature fireballs as somewhat ‘spiky’ almost blade life flame sprouted from her head, bursting into flames “What on Equis?!” Luna blurted out “I named my sister after her namesake ability” I grinned “So I see!” Twilight laughed “Just wait until Celestia hears about this “Until she hears about what-?” Spike glanced toward the now well-ignited blaze “That’s awesome!” “It helps” Blaze glimmered (pun not intended) As we stood outside of the castle in the arena, I breathed whitish-golden flames over the now flaming Quilava, who inhaled them with gusto, scales appearing on her legs, arms paws, feet, and face as her canines extended into fangs as wings sprouted from her back, those of which were akin to a dragon’s as she lout out a powerhouse roar that caused th ground itself to almost-literally tremble “That’s incredible, truly, where did you learn it?” Celestia stood in apparent surprise at Blaze’s new winged form “Blaze was low on energy at one point so I gave her a bit of mine,” I chuckled “the result is what you see before you now, the aptly named ‘Inferno’” “You didn’t think Tesla was the only dragon slayer here did ya?” Blaze cackled with laughter, inhaling sharply, tilting her head toward the sky as she perched herself on my head, and then exhaling an enormous torrent of fire into the sky “Karyu No Entei!” “Fire dragon’s flame emperor” I raised an eyebrow “Sounded good at the time, brother” she smirked, moving down to my shoulder “Fair enough” “So, ya’ll are a dragon slayer?” Applejack glanced toward Blaze “Don’t let my size het the best of you, I can put down a dragon just as easy as my brother” Blaze grinned “But you’re only as big as spike!” Rarity blinked “Alright, get Grandoa back here I’ll kick his ass in a minute flat!” she snapped “Or, we could see if there’s another dragon nested nearby” I facepalmed “That too” she simpered “But I don’t think your girlfriend would be too happy with it” “Touché” I sighed as she extended and retracted her wings a few times “Who exactly are you referring too, Brother?” she rolled a paw “Who do you think?” I exhaled sharply “Thank you, Tesla” Littlepip stood by my side “You’re quite welcome” I smiled, my ears twitched, as did Blaze’s “You hear something?” I glanced toward th winged Quilava on my shoulder “Don’t I just, it’s like the wind itself is being split in two,” Blaze shook her head as a pale brown Pegasus with a grey-scale mane and tail wearing an explorer’s hat and jacket with a compass rose cutie mark and magenta eyes landed before me “So, you two are what’s causing the influential disturbances of magic in Equestria,” the Pegasus frowned “I need to ask you to stop” “What’s wrong with a little fire?” I raised an eyebrow “You may not notice it but I can, the whole flow of magic in the atmosphere’s going crazy!” she scowled, I blinked, closing my eyes, ‘feeling around,’ as it were, with my other senses, the atmosphere felt thick, somewhat tangible, as if it were a dull, gloopy liquid “That’s new” I clicked my tongue “And it’s like that all over equestria, which is why I need you to stop,” she sighed “If you’re a Pegasus, how do you know what the magic’s like in the atmosphere?” I tilted my head “I was born here, that’s how,” she borderline-snapped “ever since you came here the atmosphere’s turned somewhat darker, almost like death itself where resurrected as a living being” “Yeah, no,” I spat “my power is akin to that of fire, as is Blaze’s, so how can it be me?” “Fire,” she deadpanned, I ignited both fists “So I see, then I was wrong about you..?” “Tesla” I held out a hand, which she shook “Daring Doo,” she smirked “Who’s the winged ferret?” “I’m a Quilava,” Blaze frowned “And my name is Blaze” “An apt name for such a creature” she raised an eyebrow “Where’s Spike?” I blinked “He left for the great dragon migration” Twilight smiled “we’re tempted to go with him, but his specie’s tradition is that they go alone “Tesla’s one-third dragon” Blaze smirked “Why don’t you go then?” Rarity smiled “I’ll bet you’ll have lots to tell them” “Yeah; and maybe when can find Crystagia whilst we’re at it” Blaze smiled “Who?” Daring Doo blinked “An elder, crystal dragon; one who gave me my abilities via gemstone, making me a second generation dragon slayer” I explained “But if you’re to find any sort of lead as to where they are, surely you’d want to go” “No thanks, I’m content in knowing that she’s fine” “She?” Twilight grinned “I’ll bet that she didn’t just give you your abilities, Tesla” “Fine, I’ll go” I grumbled” “Do we get to go with you?” Snowdrop and Littlepip pleaded, giving me their best –puppy-dog eyes “I don’t mind if you come with me, I just don’t want you getting hurt” I smiled “Thank you, Tesla” Littlepip cooed -=-=-=- When we got to the large –nay, humungous crater- there were dragons everywhere “This is as far as I can go” Celestia gave a faint smile as I slid down the side of the crater with Littlepip and Ryōshi, Snowdrop rested upon my head with Blaze flying beside me “What are you supposed to be?” a crimson dragon with golden underbelly scales and wings stepped forward alongside a white dragon with lilac spines and scales, a magenta dragon with purple scales and spines, and a dark brown dragon with gunmetal coloured-horns “Need your friends to back you up to face me?” I grinned “What?” he snapped “Don’t you know that ponies aren’t allowed here, this is dragon territory!” “And yet we’re still technically in Equestria” Blaze smirked “Who do you think you are?” he snarled “Teslakana, Wizard, Dragon slayer” I cracked my knuckles “Don’t make me laugh!” he chortled “I think this guy’s got a screw loose” the white dragon spat “As if an alien could beat a dragon, especially one so small and fragile-looking!” “Least I’m not a winged gecko” I tutted “now, where’s Crystagia?” “How do you know that name?” all four of them went pale “She’s my foster mother; and my magic tutor” I scowled “now, are we going to comply or do I have to get you to kneel?” “You, get us to kneel, to you!?” the magenta dragon cackled insanely “You really do have a screw loose!” “I warned you” I inhaled sharply, exhaling pitch-black flames at the small group “Why do these flames hurt?” the crimson dragon screamed in agony “there’s no way you could kill us!” “I won’t have to if you tell me where she is” I growled “You don’t have the guts!” I smacked him right in the jaw, sending him sprawling “Don’t I?” I glared at him as he crawled to his feet “Alright,” he blurted out, staring at me in apparent horror “We’re sorry, just don’t kill us, please!” “Better” I spat “Piss me around again and I’ll send your jaw flying away” “So, you want to know where she is?” the white dragon eyed me up and down “what are you?” “A human, an eon, and a dragon slayer” I smirked “I think we’d better get Grandoa” the magenta dragon stared at me, gesturing for me to follow them Once we entered the wider section of the crater, there stood Grandoa, in all of his prime “Do you seek me out to fight once more?” Grandoa grinned down at me, bringing himself down to eye-level with me “I honoured you with a fight; perhaps you could honour me with a few answers and directions” my eyes narrowed “Speak, human, what is it that eludes you?” he nodded “Do you know the one named Crystagia?” the whole crater practically gasped in surprise, Grandoa not included “I may do, why?” he frowned “She’s the one who took me in when nobody else would; I want to know where she is so I can show my gratitude I bowed on the ground before him “please, I implore that you tell me, where is she?” “Your dedication to the legendary dragon is noteworthy, but I’m afraid that I can’t help you” he sighed “You must know something” I stared up at him “I do, but I’m afraid for what’ll happen to your wellbeing should you go through with it” he grumbled “I don’t care if it kills me, I just want to say thank you, even if it costs me my body and mind, I’ll sing it out with my heart and soul!” I bellowed “Very well, I shall teach you of how to locate Crystagia” he laughed, his eyes glowing as they locked onto mine “do you, perchance, know, the dragonsong?” “No, she disappeared before she could teach me” I shook my head, tears streaming down my face” “Then I shall teach you” he stood upright, beginning to whistle a rather slow tune, mimicked him, cupping my hands against my lips as I did so “try again, without your hands” he chuckled “If you say so” I nodded, whistling the tune that he whistled “Now try to whistle it a little faster, and vary the pitch a little more” he nodded I tried again “Good, now you know the first part, onto the second” he smiled =-=-=-=-= When I returned to canterlot, I fell back on the grass in the shade below a nearby tree “Tesla, you’re back” I sat upright, the princesses were stood there with Twilight and her friends “Afternoon” I smiled “Likewise” Celestia glanced at my wings “you changed them?” “Grandoa said that if I were to be a slayer of dragons, I need to at least have the wings of one” I chuckled “I heard what you said” she bit her lip “about Crystagia, I must say I’m shocked“ “Igneel has a human son, as does Mettallicana,” I shrugged “they both use fire and iron dragon slayer magic respectively” “But for a dragon to have a human son at all is unheard of, even in the times of old!” Luna stared at me in awe “I guess I’m one of a kind” I gleamed “Literally!” Blaze and I shared a laugh “I didn’t think you’d be able to master such an art as the Ryū kyoku” “The dragonsong,” Celestia gaped “Grandoa taught you that legendary spell!?” “It’s a spell?” I blinked “mind you, some spells do use incantations” “And this is one such spell, you could call down the greatest dragons from ages past with that song, I trust that he taught you how to use it appropriately?” she raised an eyebrow “I’m still wondering what to do with it, he said that I’d know who to summon and when, but he didn’t say where or how” I sighed “The dragonsong will take care of that, all you need to do is use your willpower to forge the dragon you need from the grave” she slowly shook her head “I would never of thought for this to happen to you, Tesla, be careful, what you hold in your very being now could wipe out the whole of Equis if its misused” “The whole planet,” Blaze whistled, whereas I stared at her “just how strong are these dragons?” “They are almost gods in their own right,” Luna began “anger even one of them and it’d be like signing thine own death warrant, they’d kill you in a second, and for such reasons, there was held, a moot, to determine whether the dragons were to be reverted into the state they’re in now, or to keep their borderline divine power, knowing that their anger could bring the world crumbling down around us all” she went on “now do thou understand thy risks of having thy spell?” “I understand,” I nodded “but that most’ve been a lot of power to sacrifice in order to save Equis, I mean a Giga-tonne “You don’t know the half of it” Celestia sighed “but that’s a story for another time” “I have one more question I’d like to add in” I bit my lip “Go on” she smiled, faintly “Did the dragons’ energy get used in transforming the humans into the eons?” I flinched “You said yourself that you’re one-third dragon;” she gave a mournful look “does that not answer your question, human?” “Thou hath always had that part of you ever since you became an eon, thou just need a way to release it, safely” Luna smiled “And how would I go about doing that,” I clicked my neck “preferably without killing all who live on Equis, they have as much right to be here as I do, after all” “You are noble; that much is apparent” Celestia smiled “I just care about my home, as any sentient being should” “No transformers quote?” Blaze patted the side of my head, her scales, wings and fangs receding into her small body “Freedom is the right of all sentient beings” I grumbled “There’s a good dragon” she grinned, turning her attention to Celestia “so what happens when these dragons are apparently ‘summoned’ by the song?” “Our memory is vague at best,” Luna shook her head “forgive us but we have forgotten” “Guess there’s only one way to find out” I sighed, again “Not that I’m going to do it here, of all places” “I wouldn’t push your luck, if it’s as legendary as they say it is, I’d try it elsewhere, away from any major populated areas” Littlepip smiled “Or any of the smaller ones either” Snowdrop giggled “May we have access to the archives, to study on the matter?” Littlepip sat beside me “You may, however I may not be wholly be held responsible for what you find, Littlepip” Celestia gave a slight nod “Then that settles it then, thanks Cellsy” I smiled “There is one thing I may’ve forgotten to add,” Celestia declared as I walked into the castle with Ryōshi and Littlepip at my side, Snowdrop still perched upon my head “when you became an eon, both the first time one billion years past, and the second time a few years ago, you had the soul of a dragon implanted in you, one with unimaginable power, but, like your willpower, it will only be as strong s you are, and we both know what you’re capable of, Tesla” “Thanks for the tip” Blaze and I waved as I walked to the archives -=-=- As I sat in the archives, reading books I’d found about the dragons of old, I couldn’t help but feel somewhat nostalgic That was, until I found a certain page on a certain book… “This…” I dropped the book I was reading, staring at the depiction of a legendary, elegant-beyond-belief dragon, one with small, prismatic, crystalline spines growing in rows along its back and down its tail, ending in a trident-blade- tail-tip, with glowing sapphire eyes and a snow-white coat of scales with silvery-pearl coloured underbelly scales “what is this?” “Judging by the look I’d say it’s Crystagia,” Blaze whistled “never thought she looked like that!” “Guess I’m going to have to use the song sooner than I’d hoped to” I bit my lip “Crystagia, the size, element, and origins of this mythic dragon are all but unknown at best,” Blaze read aloud “many have spent their lives searching for her in an almost epic quest for her secrets, but so far not one being has been reported sighted again” she went on “it is ill-advised that anyone go searching for her, as there have been reports of constant, unceasing wails and scrams wherever many an adventurer seem to have passed away” she finished “My mom’s not a murderer!” I growled, slamming the book shut, marching out of the “We know that, but the rest of Equestria seems to think differently” Littlepip nodded as we marched out of the archives, and down to the main hall, and from there to the arena “Are you sure you want to do this?” Blaze bit her lip as I picked a long blade of grass from the ground surrounding the arena, holding it in my hands like a grass whistle “There doesn’t appear to be another way to go, Blaze, I’m sorry” I began to play the dragonsong, the clouds swirling in spirals as I did so, great bolts of thunder and lightning clashing through the sky, and the reek of death sprung into the air as a large, decaying dragon burst from the ground, though somehow managed to come forth without damaging anything “What is it that you need; greenhorn?” the dragon bowed before me “Do you know of anyone named Crystagia?” I inhaled sharply “Aye,” he nodded “many an adventurer seek her counsel, none ever make it to her alive, be it fate or simple misfortune,” I glared at him “why do you ask, newbie?” “She took me in when nobody else would, she cared for me like one of her own, acted as a mother would, and then she just vanished, not so much as a ‘goodbye,’ or ‘see you later,’ she just left” I snarled “Ah yes,” he blinked “I am sorry to hear that, but I can’t help you, though I know of someone who can” “Who?” I clenched my fists, holding onto my hopes as tightly as I could “You want to speak to Faust, and unfortunately, and this is assuming my history is correct, she died several centuries ago” the reanimated corpse sighed “it seems fate has struck you as the unlucky type, greenhorn, is there anything else that I can do for you?” “If she’s dead,, then I’ll just have to bring her back, just like I did snowdrop” I frowned “Are you sure,” he smirked “Faust is a god, an alicorn, she has more magical prowess than the current three princesses combined, and is just as wise and caring, are you sure you want to go down this road, I’d hate to sound too cliché, but if you start, there is not stopping the events that will unfold, be they next year, or even tomorrow “I don’t care about the future, I just want to see mom’s smile again” I snapped “So be it,” he nodded “what you’re going to need is in the castle in the everfree, I shall give you the other half of what you need, what you do from here on is of your concern, not mine…” =-= As I stood in the castle in the everfree on the following day, I walked up the stairs in the main hall, walking through the winding corridors until I reached a set of double doors, Ryōshi and Littlepip having followed me all the way, whilst Snowdrop and Blaze were sat on my head and shoulder respectively “This is it” I sighed, pushing the double doors open, walking into the room “So, this is where it all begins” Blaze whistled “in an ancient castle on a quest to give our gratitude to an ancient dragon, neat” “Indeed” I hummed, lifting the pillowcases on the king-sized bed, revealing twin pendants, one black, the other white, fitting the two together; I found that they made the yin-yang symbol Opening the drawers; I found a set of footwear, the exact same type as the princesses wore, alongside a torque-like necklace, s well as a crown similar to Celestia’s only with a large diamond in it Placing the jewellery on the floor in a position I’d expect to find it in a coffin, I bit down on my finger, drawing a little blood, letting it drip over the armour “We’re doing alchemy now?” Blaze laughed “Just sit back and watch” I glimmered, clapping my hands together, slamming them against the wooden floor, looking on as arcs of cyan lightning encircled the accessories, floating into the air as a skeleton faded into being, eventually followed by the musculatory and circulatory systems, the nervous system, as well as the organs, followed by the skin and fur, and then the burgundy mane and tail, and finally her teal eyes, her wings and horn, landing on the floor as the jewellery, which had silver fleur-de-lis markings, as did the crown, fitted onto her, almost clicking into position “Welcome, human, to my room, and I assume there’s a reason you’re here?” the alicorn raised an eyebrow “You do realize you’ve been dead for quite a while?” Blaze folded her arms; I shot her a glare “Sorry” “How long have I been gone?” the winged unicorn blinked “I’d say one millennia, maybe two” I shrugged “I’ve only gotten here last year” “So, the humans have returned,” she had a hopeful look in her eye “are they returning to Equis to rule as Tesla once did, and why do you look an awful lot like him?” “I can’t answer that because I honestly don’t know” I bit my lip, my back suddenly feeling lighter “Your wings have disappeared,” Littlepip gasped as I glanced behind me, my wings, or four of them, had vanished, their remains lying in bits and pieces on the floor “I still have a set or two, so I don’t mind” I smiled, turning back to the snow-white alicorn “perhaps you’d like to join us, we’re heading back to canterlot anyway” “Is Celestia Ok,” she gasped “are my daughters well?” “They’re fine” I smiled “you needn’t worry” “Thank Concordia” she sighed with relief -=- “What…” Celestia and Luna gaped at me with apparent surprise “What is the meaning of this illusion, Tesla?” “This is no illusion, Princess, she’s really here” Littlepip smiled “Then it’s really you, mother!” Celestia burst forth, leaping into a loving embrace of the red-haired alicorn “I missed you so much!” “And I you, my little Celly, and you too Lulu” the alicorn draped her wings around the two sisters “I’ll leave you three to catch up” I smiled, walking into the gardens, relaxing under the shade if a tree “You really did it Daddy,” Snowdrop nuzzled into me as she curled up in my lap “you really ought Faust back?” “It’d appear so, my little snowflake,” I smiled “I’m sorry for scaring you with that accident” “It’s Ok,” she giggled “I know that it’d take more than that to keep you down daddy, you’ve beaten dragons, and got toe-to-toe with the emperor himself, and to top it all off, you’re an element of nature, an all-but forgotten force of Equis that’s apparently more powerful than the elements of harmony themselves” “And that I am” I nodded sacrificing one set of wings to bring her body back, and the other for her magic, I’d say it was a fair trade-off” “What’d you consider to be a challenge?” Blaze smirked, again “If it can’t cause great harm or kill you, you don’t get the title of dragon slayer” I shrugged “Seems fair enough,” she nodded “what do you think of the new mare in town?” “I just hope she’ll be Ok when she gets word of what’s happened since her passing” I “As do I” Littlepip hummed “she’s said to have died nearly three millennia ago, and yet she looks younger than you, no offense “None taken, after all, I’m around a century old, give or take a decade” “So, what was with the apparent trade-off?” she blinked “It’s alchemy’s most basic principle;” I smiled “to obtain, something of equal value must be sacrificed” “It’s the law of equivalent exchange, or the equilibrium constant, however you prefer” Blaze chuckled “That sounds simple enough” Littlepip nickered “It is, that’s why it’s so dangerous, for inexperienced alchemists” I lay on my back, with Blaze on my chest, and Snowdrop on my stomach “So when do you think Faust’s going to be accepted into the society?” Blaze grinned “Wouldn’t take much, with her being a goddess and all” I sighed, again “You think so?” she raised an eyebrow “I can’t help but feel like an overly-clichéd villain trying to bring about the end of the world with what I’ve done” I hummed “That’s because, with all things considered, probably could with the depth of what we’re trying to do, what you’re trying to do” Littlepip gave a faint smile “but I’m sure you’ll know what to do when the time comes “Speaking of clichés” I laughed “Leave her be, Blaze” I exhaled sharply “Tesla”, I sat upright, Blaze moving back onto my shoulder as I did so, the princesses as well as Faust were stood before me, frowning “We believe you have some explaining to do” Celestia’s eyes narrowed “and why’re you’re wings missing?” “Alchemy” I blurted out “And what did you think you were going to accomplish by resurrecting our mother?” she scowled “I hope you realise the gravity of what you’ve done here today, Tesla” “Please, let him speak” Faust spoke with a motherly tone, placing a gentle hoof on her daughter’s shoulder “I do realise the gravity of the situation,” I bit my lip, glaring toward Celestia “why didn’t you tell me Crystagia was a murderer?” “What are you talking about?” Celestia stared at me “It’s all there in the archives,” Blaze snapped “how many an adventurer have suffered similar ill-met fates trying to find Tesla’s foster mother, that was bad enough, but having it written out in such a way that it makes her seem like she’s the one doing it, who the hell do you think you’re dealing with here?” “I only wrote it that way to stop others from risking their lives trying to find her!” Celestia yelled, quickly covering her mouth with a hoof “And unwittingly, you separated Tesla here from his apparent foster parent, I thought better of you, Celestia” “But mother I-!” “To your rooms, the both of you” Faust snapped, they left without a word, teleporting away “I’m sorry for any inconveniences that they may’ve caused you, my love” “What?” I blinked “Before I apparently ‘died,’ you and I were inseparable” she smiled “The ‘king and queen’ of Equis, as it were” “You can be my queen anytime you want, you’re gorgeous” I gleamed “I’d be honoured” she bowed, walking with me as Snowdrop perched herself back upon my had, with Ryōshi and Littlepip by my side as we walked “Celly tells me you’re quite the singer, care to sample a song?” Faust giggled as we stood in the theatre, passing me the guitar from backstage “Now I’m the one who should be honoured, my queen” I quickly bowed, sitting on the bench, beginning to play “The burning desire to live and roam free, It shines in the dark And it grows within me You're holding my hand but you don't understand So where I am going you won't be in the end. Im dreaming in colours Of getting the chance Of dreaming of trying the perfect romance The search of the door, to open your mind In search of the cure of mankind Help us we're drowning So close up inside Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? How will the lights die down, telling us who we are? I'm searching for answers Not given for free You're hurting inside Is there life within me? You're holding my hand but you don't understand So you're taking the road all alone in the end Im dreaming in colours, no boundaries are there Im dreaming the dream we all seem to share In search of the door, to open your mind In search of the cure of mankind Well help us we're drowning So close up inside Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Why does it rain, rain, rain, down on Utopia? And when the lights die down, telling us who we are Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Oh, why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Now when the lights die down, telling us who we are Why does it rain?” Snowdrop, Littlepip, Blaze and I sang a s a quartet alongside a fifth member whose voice came from nowhere “Hello, Tesla” Crystal smirked, hovering right in front of me “Hey Crystal” I waved “How’re you today?” “In all our sixty years together, I think that’s the first actual greeting you’ve given me” she laughed “You two are together?” Faust blinked “We’re married, but I keep having to tell Tesla that it’s an open relationship” Crystal sighed, turning her gaze towards me “Alright, what did you do this time, nearly cause the end of life as we know it again?” “I guess you could say that” I rubbed the back of my head “How’d you do it this time?” she sighed “Tesla used the dragonsong” Blaze chortled
chapter V Remedy“The what-song, now?” “Dragonsong, I was taught how to use it by Grandoa” I explained “Ah yes, the dragon emperor, is he well?” Faust nickered “He’s fine” I nodded, leaning the guitar against the wall “his temper’s as hot as the flames he breathes” “He’s always been like that, I’d even consider him a brother of mine” she chuckled “How old is he?” Littlepip smiled “He’s been around for six-hundred rotations of the moon” she winked “He’s ancient,” Crystal whistled “it’s no wonder Tesla barely managed to come out on top!” “Indeed” Faust nodded “he is the only remnant of the dragons of od who still exist, amongst a select few” “And would Crystagia be one of them?” I bit my lip, again “She would, her location however, I cannot tell you,” she frowned “unless of course, you would lay down you r life for those who you care about” “Gladly” I tutted “that’s the thing about the Fairy Tail guild, we look after our own, even if it should cost me my life, I’ll find a way to defend all who I care about” her horn glowed for a split second, she smiled “It seems that you’re being perfectly honest with me,” she sighed “very well, I can tell you of her location, but first” her horn flared a bright crimson colour “just in case, I’ve soundproofed the room, now, without further ado, your mother resides in the scarlet hills, beyond Equestria’s borders “I thought you said your mother died?” Crystal folded her arms “My actual mother did,” I nodded 2Crystagia acted as a mother figure toward me, and just like a mother would, she did all she could for me, watched me as I stumbled, praised me when I did something good, and warned me when I did something that she didn’t see as right” I continued “and then she vanished, just like that” I snapped my fingers “and now I’m on the journey of my life to find her” “Sounds cliché, but I’ll roll with it, if only for you, my love” she pecked my cheek as a great rumbling echoed throughout the castle “I think we’d better see what that was” “Agreed” Faust and I quickly marched with the others at my side as ran through the castle, and out into the gardens, only to bear witness to one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen, period” “Is that” I gaped, quickly spotting the form of a legendary-looking, elegant-beyond-belief dragon, one with small, prismatic, crystalline spines growing in rows along its back and down its tail, ending in a trident-blade- tail-tip, with glowing sapphire eyes and a snow-white coat of scales with silvery-pearl coloured underbelly scales “Crystagia!?” Twilight and her friends galloped out of the castle, only for fluttershy to run back in at the sight of the apparent living-legend before us, the only key difference was the whitish-golden claws that the dragon had, a small one above its snout, and two from the corners of its head, all thee glowing like topaz’s “Hello son” the dragon cooed, coming down to eye-level with me “how’ve you been?” “You, I, we…” I stammered “I missed you mom” I nuzzled into her “Ok, now that’s weird” Blaze laughed “I’ve missed you so much…” the dragon known as Crystagia gently nuzzled into me “And to see my son as a grown dragon slayer, too…” “I’ve missed you too mom,” I smiled, “but when, how, why?” “I felt an unknown presence enter Equis atmosphere, what’s more is I felt a familiar type of magic flow throughout the planet, I held onto my hopes that you’d come to find me, and when I heard the dragonsong, I had to come, and look at who I found” she had tears in her eyes, quite unexpected for a dragon “You don’t have to get so emotional” I bit my lip “but how did you hear the song if you’re possibly in another country?” “A mother always knows what’s best for her son” Crystagia smiled “I would’ve been honoured to meet your original mother, how she saved your life at the cost of her own is rather noble, for a human, don’t you think?” “For a human” I smiled as she lay in an arc around me “So, the book that’s in the archives labels you as a murderer, is that true?” “Blaze,” I snapped “that’s enough!” “No, you need to hear it” Crystagia sighed, her voice sweeter than honey “I was so frustrated at the thought of being away from you for too long, and the apparent ‘excuses’ weren’t enough for Celestia, so I acted out, I’m sorry” “You were frustrated at being away from your only son for longer than expected, that’s enough to make anyone annoyed I suppose, and so there is nothing to forgive” I placed a gently hand on her chest, the course feeling of her scales rubbing under my skin as I lightly massaged the area was somewhat awkward “Thank you Tesla” she smiled, staring at me with her gleaming sapphire eyes “you’ve no idea how much it warms me to hear that” “It’s the least I can do, mom” “So let me get this straight, she’s your adoptive mother?” Rainbow Dash stood at the front as Twilight and her friends stood before me as I sat myself against Crystagia’s stomach area, Spike sat on Twilight’s back “And the one who taught me Dragon slayer magic” I nodded “How is such a thing possible?” Twilight raised an eyebrow “You take of spike, do you not?” Crystagia smiled “That’s different” Spike gagged “She hatched you, that makes her your mother,” Crystagia laughed softly “I can feel whenever a new dragon is born, an old trait from an old dragon like me” “That’d mean that-!” “I felt it when you became an eon,” Crystagia nodded “you have the soul of a very ancient, very powerful dragon within you my son, use it wisely” “A dragon’s soul, an eon’s heart, and a human form, that’s cultural diversity right there” Blaze laughed “Careful Blaze, you can also use dragon slayer magic” I scratched the Quilava behind the ears “So I do” she leaned into the scratch “Tesla, you’ve a sister” Crystagia winked “I know- wait, what?” I blinked, staring at her “You’ve a sister” she smiled “I’ll be right back, just wait here” and with that she flew back to where she’d come from, disappearing in about all of three seconds “Holy fudge” I whistled as she returned, landing beside me with a small, quadruped dragon in her arms, once again lying in an arc around me as the dragon, who was pitch-black in colour with silver scales and spines with a blade-like tail tip with silvery/pearl-white horns, hid behind Crystagia “Go on, he’s your brother” Crystagia smiled as the dragon slowly made his way over to me, stopping every so often “Brother?” the dragon glanced back to her as she pointed to me “Yes, brother,” she nodded “go on, he won’t hurt you” “He doesn’t look like a dragon” the small reptile chuckled, I flapped my wings “in part” “He has the soul of a dragon; and the heart of an eon, his form maybe that of a human, but rest assured, I wouldn’t have him any other way” “Would you rather I take a draconic look?” I smiled, the small fem-dragon nodded, I triggered dragon force, my canines extending a little as scales appeared on my face, arms and hands “You activated it by yourself!?” Twilight gasped “I never said what generation dragon slayer I was” I smirked “I’m third generation, blaze is first gen” “Third gen dragon slayers can activate it simply by willing it” Blaze explained “Whereas first generation slayers need to get extra power from an external source” “Dragon, slayer,” the small black dragon quivered “I won’t kill my only family simply because I can” I rebuked, she sighed, standing beside me, feeling the scales on my hand “As voiced by Todd Haberkorn” Blaze spoke almost mysteriously “Actually I’m voiced by Vic Micogna in ‘the series’” I winked “That’s all I’m saying “Wouldn’t want to reveal too much, Tesla” Blaze chortled “I’m well aware of your antics on Earth, Tesla” Crystagia giggled “Vic Micogna, really, Tesla,” Blaze guffawed “It was either that or Travis Willingham” I shrugged, turning my attention to the young dragon beside me “So, how old are you, little one?” “Fifteen,” the dragon smiled, climbing up my arm and standing on my shoulder “you?” “Eighty,” I smiled “So, what’s it like, being reunited?” Faust nickered “Fantastic” I laughed “I should hope so” she simpered as Celestia and Luna trotted from the castle, walking toward us “You know what this calls for!?” Pinkie Pie leapt to ridiculous heights as she bounded up and down “A PARTY!” All of a sudden, an entire crowd of ponies appeared alongside the other necessary ‘parts’ to a party, none of the ponies seemed to mind Crystagia’s presence, nor that of the other dragon perched on my shoulder “What were to happen, should a dragon enter ‘Dragon Force’?” Spike raised a claw “Nothing much, they’d just gain more power in both magic and might” Crystagia shrugged “But Tesla’s part dragon” Twilight retorted “how is he able to use it so well?” “I’m one-third human, one-third dragon, and the rest is human” I sighed “that’d probably be the answer to your question” I turned my attention to the dragon on my shoulder “do you have a name?” “I’m Kiary” the dragon gleamed “Hello Celestia,” Crystagia snarled “I see that you still rule, so I can trust that all is well?” “Shall we see if a dragon slayer can truly kill a god?” I winked toward Kiary, who shrugged “How could a dragon slayer defeat a god?” Spike frowned “it’s impossible!” “I dunno, Natsu managed to beat the hell into Zancrow fairly easily” I grinned “Hey TK,” Pinkie Pie threw a guitar into the air “catch!” “And I suppose you want me to sing?” I sighed, holding the guitar as I caught it “If you would,” Crystagia smiled “show an old dragon a thing or two about music” “The burning desire to live and roam free, It shines in the dark And it grows within me You're holding my hand but you don't understand So where I am going you won't be in the end. Im dreaming in colours of getting the chance of dreaming of trying the perfect romance The search of the door, to open your mind In search of the cure of mankind Help us we're drowning So close up inside Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? How will the lights die down, telling us who we are? I'm searching for answers Not given for free you’re hurting inside is there life within me? You're holding my hand but you don't understand So you're taking the road all alone in the end Im dreaming in colours, no boundaries are there Im dreaming the dream we all seem to share In search of the door, to open your mind In search of the cure of mankind Well help us we're drowning So close up inside Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Why does it rain, rain, rain, down on Utopia? And when the lights die down, telling us who we are why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Oh, why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Now when the lights die down, telling us who we are Why does it rain?” I sang with Blaze, Littlepip and Snowdrop as a quartet alongside Crystal, who hovered beside me, opposite Kiary, playing the guitar as best I could throughout the whole song “A masterpiece, truly worthy, award-winning even” Crystagia glimmered “That’s nothing,” Littlepip smiled with apparent glee “Tesla managed to compose one of the greatest pieces of music I’d ever heard” “A blaze that burns evil hearts, I trust?” she beamed “How did you..?” Littlepip blinked “I know all of Tesla’s antics as if they were my own” she chuckled “how he managed to do it I’ll never know” “Royal Canterlot orchestra” I shrugged “with their help I managed to do it, barely” “What were to happen if you, say,” Spike waved a claw “I dunno; had to fight Discord?” “Well, has anyone read ‘Ignis Draco Nocturna’?” I grinned “It’d be like that but only a slight amount easier” “How about another song,” Twilight smiled “Just for us” “As you wish” I nodded “I've been watching you stumble Through the darkest night Let me tell you It's gonna be alright I can see you've been trying but Your wings got clipped Been waiting in line but Your turn got skipped” Blaze began the song, gesturing for Snowdrop to follow “I'll be there when you need me I'll be there when you call Yeah I'll be there to catch you when you fall Know that I'll never leave you Out here on your own I'll be the lights that guide you home” Snowdrop chimed, winking at me “Been a long time coming Feelings for you My hearts been skippin' a beat Maybe two Right now you're weak but But you'll be strong I know where there's a place That you belong” I sang with Littlepip, draping a wing around her “I'll be there when you need me I'll be there when you call Yeah I'll be there to catch you when you fall Know that I'll never leave you Out here on your own I'll be the lights that guide you home” Crystal chorused perfectly with the voice of an angel “I don't know if you want me Or if you care But even if you don't I'll be there 'Cuz when I'm beside you My soul burns bright Let me be the one Let me be your light” Snowdrop and Blaze formed a serenaded voices sweeter than honey “I'll be there when you need me I'll be there when you call Yeah I'll be there to catch you when you fall Know that I'll never leave you Out here on your own I'll be the lights that guide you home” i continued the song with Littlepip “Now I know you've had problems We could solve 'em We could make it through Tried and true We could fight 'em off, all of 'em We could make it through a brighter day, anyway Gettin' by another way So I guess I'm trying to say I wanna be the lights guiding you through the night When things get dark, when you don't know what's right I wanna hold your hand, and tell you that you can So don't worry, it's gonna be alright” I sang again, solo this time “I'll be there when you need me I'll be there when you call Yeah I'll be there to catch you when you fall Know that I'll never leave you Out here on your own I'll be the lights that guide you home” Blaze, Littlepip, Snowdrop, Crystal and I sang as a quintet finishing the song “And again” Blaze chortled “Did you break your wings When you fell from grace When you came from heaven To this darker place” I cooed in song “Did you watch me fall From the clouds on high See the glimmer of tears Streaming from my eye” Snowdrop chimed “I think I bruised my soul Climbing back from hell But if you're here to change me Then it's just as well” I continued “Your scars run deep But darling they will fade They told me to fear you But I'm not afraid” Littlepip serenaded this time “Don't hold back We're here right now There's nothing left here to keep us out, oh As different as The day and night I'm starting to feel like this is right and You're the memory I can't erase You're the part of me I can't replace You're the angel that loved me somehow And you're the demon I can't live without” snowdrop and I formed a duet “I'm the crossroads king In this wretched land You found me a mess But I'm a better man” I chorused “I could see it hidden Right from the start 'Neath your jagged bones Was a beating heart” Blaze sang “And that heart is yours Or what I have left So take my secrets Take them off my chest” I went on “That's why I'm here I've been broken too So maybe you can fix me And I'll fix you” Crystal winked “Don't hold back We're here right now There's nothing left here to keep us out, oh As different as The day and night I'm starting to feel like this is right and You're the memory I can't erase You're the part of me I can't replace You're the angel that loved me somehow And you're the demon I can't live without” I added with Littlepip “Welcome to my universe Touch me now and break my curse You'll be mine and I'll be yours So let's live life in reverse Back to basics, back in time Meet you halfway in the sky Breaking mirrors, smashing through I don't need luck when I'm with you “Eternity can wait You're my afterlife For once in my existence I see the light We've got it all, we've got it all Right here We've got it all, we've got it all Right here” Blaze and Crystal added even more to the song “Don't hold back We're here right now There's nothing left here to keep us out, oh As different as The day and night I'm starting to feel like this is right and You're the memory I can't erase You're the part of me I can't replace You're the angel that loved me somehow And you're the demon I can't live without” Littlepip, Snowdrop and I sang as a trio, ending the song “That was amazing!” a golden-yellow Pegasus with a fiery golden mane and tail with amber eyes applauded as she hovered down in front of me alongside a cyan Pegasus with a white mane and tail and an icy blue Pegasus with a dark blue mane and tail with emerald eyes “perhaps you’d like to create a theme tune for us?” “Who are you?” I tilted my head “We’re the main trio of the aerial acrobatics performers known as the Wonderbolts” she smiled “I’m spitfire, and this is Soarin’ and Fleetfoot, but most just call her ‘Echo’” “Never heard of you” I folded my arms “I wouldn’t expect you to, you are, after all, a human” she nickered “Says the talking pony” Blaze retorted “Noted” Spitfire nodded “would you be able to give us a theme?” “Based on the fact that you’re Pegasi, and what you do, I think so” “‘Take to the sky’?” Littlepip gleamed, I nodded “Shipwreck in a sea of faces There's a dreamy world up there Dear friends in higher places Carry me away from here Travel light, let the sun eclipse you 'Cause your flight is about to leave And there's more to this brave adventure Than you'd ever believe Birds-eye view, awake the stars 'cause they're all around you Wide eyes will always brighten the blue Chase your dreams, and remember me, sweet bravery 'Cause after all those wings will take you, up so high So bid the forest floor goodbye as you race the wind And take to the sky (you take to the sky) On the heels of war and wonder There's a stormy world up there You can't whisper above the thunder But you can fly anywhere Purple burst of paper birds This picture paints a thousand words So take a breath of myth and mystery And don't look back Birds-eye view, awake the stars 'cause they're all around you Wide eyes will always brighten the blue Chase your dreams, and remember me, sweet bravery 'Cause after all those wings will take you, up so high So bid the forest floor goodbye as you race the wind And take to the sky (you take to the sky) There's a realm above the trees Where the lost are finally found So Touch your feathers to the breeze And leave the ground Birds-eye view, awake the stars 'cause they're all around you Wide eyes will always brighten the blue Chase your dreams, and remember me, sweet bravery 'Cause after all those wings will take you, up so high So bid the forest floor goodbye as you race the wind And take to the sky (You take to the sky) (You take to the sky)” I sang alongside Littlepip, Crystal, and Snowdrop with Blaze singing the background vocals, as per the usual “Have you got anything, I Dunno, faster?” Echo rolled a hoof “Faster?” she nodded “alright then” “I can't see, cause it's burning deep inside. Like gasoline, a fire running wild. No more fear, cause I'm getting closer now. So unreal, but I like it anyhow. I go faster and faster and faster and faster and faster and faster and faster. I can't live in a fairy-tale of lies. And I can't hide from the feeling cause it's right. And I go faster and faster and faster and faster for love. And I can't live in a fairy-tale of lies. I can feel that you've mesmerized my heart. I feel so free. I'm alive, I'm breaking out. I won't give in, cause I'm proud of all my scars. And I can see I've been wasting too much time. I go faster and faster and faster and faster and faster and faster and faster. I can't live in a fairy-tale of lies. And I can't hide from the feeling cause it's right. And I go faster and faster and faster and faster for love. And I can't live in a fairy-tale of lies. I can't live in a fairy-tale of lies. And I can't hide from the feeling cause it's right. And I go faster and faster and faster and faster for love. And I can't live in a fairy-tale of lies. A fairy-tale of lies” I sang with Crystal “Any better?” I smiled “Better” Spitfire nodded “Got anything else for us?” “Just the one” Littlepip Glimmered “‘Hero’” “I'm so high. I can hear heaven. I'm so high. I can hear heaven. Oh but heaven, no heaven don’t hear me. And they say that a hero could save us. I’m not gonna stand here and wait. I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles. Watch as we all fly away. Someone told me that love would all save us. But how can that be, look what love gave us. A world full of killing, n' blood-spilling that world never came. And they say that a hero could save us. I’m not gonna stand here and wait. I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles. Watch as we all fly away. Hi-igh-igh! Now that the world isn't ending, it's love that I’m sending to you. It isn’t the love of a hero, and that’s why I fear it won’t do. And they say that a hero could save us. I’m not gonna stand here and wait. I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles. Watch as we all fly away. And they're watching us (Watching Us) They're watching us (Watching Us) as we all fly away. And they're watching us (Watching us) They're watching us (Watching us) As we all fly away, (Yeah) Yeah. And they're watching us (Watching us) They're watching us (Watching us) As we all fly away (Yeah, yeah. Whoa-oh,)” we sang again as a quartet, with Blaze once again singing the background vocals, and with me playing the guitar the whole way through “That there’s our second theme tune” Soarin’ chuckled “Then so be it, Tesla, we’ll see you later, maybe” Spitfire nodded, flying with the other two of into the distance “That was…” Twilight blinked “Different” “So what happened with you and that other dragon in the crater?” Rainbow Dash folded her arms “It’s just what happens when you annoy a dragon slayer” I shrugged “Be it a full-grown dragon-King or someone like him, the advice I give is all the same, don’t piss me off” “Too right,” Blaze chortled “you’d beat him senseless within a matter of minutes; I’ve seen it when you go all-out brother, once you snap, there’s literally no stopping you!” “That’s,” Applejack blinked “that’s impossible!” “And yet the whole point of Gurren Lagann is to show that nothing is impossible” Blaze face-pawed “I know, right?” I laughed “So what powers does your character have in ‘the series’?” she smirked “Same ones as I have here,” I beamed “the ability to go anywhere and any-when, and dragon slayer magic “They actually allowed that on the show?” she guffawed with a constant roar of laughter “Just wait for the fan-art fanfiction, songs, and everything that comes with an awesome character, whatever it is thou art talking about” Luna grinned “Caught red-handed!” Blaze chortled, again “We believe you two have some explaining to do” Luna raised an eyebrow “You know what a play is, entertainment,” she nodded “just imagine seeing that on an electronic screen, that’s essentially what a television is, and guess what one of the programmes is on said television” “No..!” she gaped “You, watch us?” Twilight looked appalled “Not you-you, but an alternate, fictional-you,” I bit my lip “if that makes any sense” “Who made this ‘programme’?” Celestia giggled “A human named Lauren Faust” I flinched “So, it’s a matter of convenience?” she smiled “It would appear so” Blaze nodded “Then we have nothing to worry about” she laughed “And thou asked to be on this ‘programme’?” Luna blinked “I don’t know what I was thinking” I held my head in my hands “Just like when you apparently ‘Stumbled’ into the Equestrian wasteland,” Blaze chided “you barely came back alive, brother, I know you were trying to do what you could, bet when all you have is magic with no armour other than the clothes on your back, what can you so?” she went on “it took a heck of a lot of magic to get arid of the scars and bullet-holes, and an awful lot more to remove everything else, maybe you ought to think twice before doing something that reckless, right, Tesla?” “Equestrian wasteland, what’s that?” Twilight frowned “Alternate Equestria, post-apocalypse” I avoided her gaze “even the air you breathe has even the slightest amounts of radiation due to the use of megaspells” “And you ran headlong into it” Blaze folded her paws “Dumbass” “You mean you got injured,” Faust blinked “how badly?” “Both arms and a leg, alongside countless plasma burns and bullet wounds” I bit my lip “Seriously, never bring magic into a gunfight, ever” “How did you survive?” Celestia looked shocked, to say the least “I may or may not have used purple flare to bring an entire wall down on someone” I nodded sideways “Purple flare?” she raised an eyebrow “It’s a telekinesis-like spell, sister,” Luna explained “he creates an arm of fire which he then uses to hold onto objects and, apparently, bring walls down on ponies” “Ponies?” Celestia frowned “Alternate Equestria” I rebuked “it wasn’t really yours anymore, considering all that’d happened” “Explain” her eyes narrowed “Basically, a Giga-tonne of explosives was bought down on canterlot, irradiating basically the whole of Equestria, and since the sky had been closed up by the Pegasi, the radiation was trapped “How is that possible?” she stared at me “Megaspells” I simply shrugged “There may have been a few ponies I was trying to defend in the process of bringing wall down on said ponies” “Velvet Remedy and Calamity” Blaze nodded “I was there, remember?” “So you were” I sighed “it’s lucky you weren’t hit by anything” “Or just convenient” she chuckled “Or both” she smirked “Fight and defend for the ‘light-bringer,’ eh Tesla” “Who’s the ‘light-bringer,’” Twilight gleamed from ear to ear “is it me?” “I can’t say” I stared at the ground, strumming the guitar a few times “We all have our secrets Tesla, if you think that we shouldn’t hear them, after what you’ve apparently been through, I won’t stop you” she smiled, faintly “Arigato” I winked “Thank you, in Japanese” Blaze smiled, glancing toward me “Shall we?” I nodded “I watched them change before my eyes Destinies rearranged to my surprise I tried so hard to make amends But my mistake has separated my friends White turned to blue, and blue to white Harmony rewritten out of sight What can I do to bring you back My Technicolor world has faded to black” I sang, solo “Wake up now and see the truth I'm here to show the world to you The way it was meant to be So follow your destiny This twisted future isn't right Let's bring the real you to the light I'm going to make you realize So open your eyes” Snowdrop and Littlepip sang as a duet “I've made mistakes and failed before But somehow this time it's something more Broken your life and who you are I'm afraid I've left a terrible scar But apologies won't save me now It's up to me to restore you somehow I'll bring you back your memories piece by piece restoring harmony” Blaze and I continued the song “Wake up now and see the truth I'm here to show the world to you The way it was meant to be So follow your destiny This twisted future isn't right Let's bring the real you to the light I'm going to make you realize So open your eyes” we sang as a quintet “I've got to find a way To make this all okay I've got to find a way To fix my own mistake Oh, but I promise to succeed But I know you're still in need I know you have been misused And you're probably confused But there's not much I can do The cure is within you So hold on tight And open your eyes” Littlepip and I formed a second duet “Wake up now and see the truth I'm here to show the world to you The way it was meant to be So follow your destiny This twisted future isn't right Let's bring the real you to the light I'm going to make you realize So open your eyes” Crystal chorused “Wake up now and see the truth I'm here to show the world to you The way it was meant to be So follow your destiny This twisted future isn't right Let's bring the real you to the light I'm going to make you realize So open your eyes” we sang again as a quintet, the crowd of ponies stood behind Twilight and her friends applauding and cheering as we ended the song “Aviators; open your eyes” Blaze clapped her paws “So it was” I clicked my neck “How do you get them to sing these songs?” spoke a soothing voice from nearby, turning in said direction, I saw a black-as-night unicorn with a snow-white mane and tail with zigzag gold and crimson highlights with dark sapphire eyes smiling at me “Velvet?” I chuckled “you’re here now?” “That I am” she giggled “Always a pleasure, Teslakana” “Just Tesla will suffice” I smiled “So it will, Tesla” she nickered” I trust you had no trouble getting here?” “None at all” I smirked “Who are you?” Littlepip tilted her head “I’m Velvet Remedy” she held out a hoof “Littlepip” Littlepip smiled “Shall we?” Velvet Remedy winked at me, I nodded “I'm so high. I can hear heaven. I'm so high. I can hear heaven. Oh but heaven, no heaven don’t hear me. And they say that a hero could save us. I’m not gonna stand here and wait. I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles. Watch as we all fly away. Someone told me that love would all save us. But how can that be, look what love gave us. A world full of killing, n' blood-spilling that world never came. And they say that a hero could save us. I’m not gonna stand here and wait. I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles. Watch as we all fly away. hi-igh-igh! Now that the world isn't ending, it's love that I’m sending to you. It isn’t the love of a hero, and that’s why I fear it won’t do. And they say that a hero could save us. I’m not gonna stand here and wait. I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles. Watch as we all fly away. And they're watching us (Watching Us) They're watching us (Watching Us) as we all fly away. And they're watching us (Watching us) They're watching us (Watching us) As we all fly away, (Yeah) Yeah. And they're watching us (Watching us) They're watching us (Watching us) As we all fly away (Yeah, yeah. Whoa-oh.)” I sang with Velvet Remedy as Blaze sang the background vocals, as usual “That was amazing,” Littlepip blinked “why don’t you join us?” “I’d be honoured” Velvet Remedy smiled “So, you had all that happen to you, and you never told me about it?” Crystal folded her arms, frowning at me “You’re a right piece of work, you know that?” “We did what we had to” Blaze deadpanned “defend the light-bringer, escort her to the ‘SPP,’ make sure she’s safe once there, and let fate take care of the rest, there was nothing else we could do” “You could’ve brought me with you!” she snapped “Too risky” Blaze replied “we- Tesla, didn’t want you getting hurt, so he went alone, with me” “And yet he went with you, why?” she snarled “Blaze has proven herself, battle-capable, whereas I don’t want you getting hurt, as she said,” I sighed “If you want to fight, fine, just don’t do it in the Wastelands” “Alright,” she rolled her eyes “But you owe me, matey” “I’m sure I do” I shuddered “Are you two together?” Velvet Remedy tilted her head “We’re married,” Crystal exhaled sharply “fortunately Tesla won’t meet another like me” “Tell that to Littlepip” Blaze mumbled “Oh, have you two, shall we say, bedded?” she scowled “That’s our business, isn’t it?” Littlepip frowned “What?” Crystal glowered “It’s our relationship, Tesla doesn’t need some moody freak to be following him around all day,” Littlepip spat “in fact; I’d say he’d be better off without you altogether!” “You; take; that back!” Crystal lunged toward Littlepip, creating a fireball around her claws, I quickly changed to eon form, using myself as a shield as Crystal hit my chest symbol, a solid crystalline-alloy shaped like thin-wide upside-down delta arrow, which cracked, releasing a torrential wave of energy toward the eon, sending her flying through one of the castles windows I collapsed, Kiary and Littlepip rushing to my side “Has anyone got any gemstones!?” Blaze yelled, Celestia magicked/ teleported in a pile of gemstones, which I quickly devoured, the cracked gem in my chest sealing itself as the energy from the gems coursed through me “That’s better” I cracked my knuckles “Never hit Tesla’s chest-piece, it’ll explode with enough energy to destroy an entire city” Blaze smirked “What’s it made of?” Twilight glanced at my chest symbol “Solid energized crystalline alloy” I grinned “I’m sorry for calling her a freak” Littlepip bit her lip “I’ve heard worse insults from worse people” I shrugged, twitching my wings, she climbed onto my back, Snowdrop perching herself on my head “You have a crystal, sticking out of you?” Rarity was almost in hysterics “Non-reactive, high explosive, standard issue” I laughed “My little eon” Littlepip nuzzled into me “My Littlepip” I glimmered like an idiot “My little human” she simpered as Crystal re-appeared through the broken window, looking rather battered “It’s either her or me, make your choice” Crystal pouted, somehow still hovering “I think it‘s obvious then” Littlepip and I stifled a laugh as I reverted to human form, Littlepip nuzzling into me as I sat, cross-legged, draping a wing around her, pecking my cheek, sitting in my lap, placing her arms on my shoulders, and pressing her lips against mine, Velvet Remedy quickly sitting beside me, pecking my cheek as we parted “What?” Littlepip blinked “Tesla and I are lovers” Velvet Remedy giggled “Fair enough,” she shrugged, turning her attention toward me “so you’re herding then?” “If I feel like it” I winked, they shared a grin, gleaming at me with somewhat killer intent as their horns started glowing, dragging me by the arms via magic into the castle, all the way into one of the guest rooms -=- “Double Kill!” Blaze chortled yet again as I walked into the main hall alongside Velvet and Littlepip “I’d say so” Velvet Remedy winked at me” Didn’t know a cyborg could do that” “I prefer the phrase, ‘biomechanical entity’” I laughed as we practically marched out into the gardens “So you do” Blaze clambered onto my shoulder as Snowdrop perched herself on my head as soon as she spotted me “Hello Daddy” Snowdrop nuzzled into me “Hello Angel,” I smiled “How’re you?” “I’m fine, thank you” she giggled as I noticed a banner hung between two trees that read ‘Congratulations Velvet, Littlepip and Tesla!’ “Looks like they heard you” Velvet laughed “Kind of hard not to,” Rarity, Twilight and her friends trotted toward me, mixed expressions being sent from each one of the ponies that stood before me “must you honestly create that much racket?” “That’s just half the fun of it” Littlepip clung onto my back, gently wrapping her arms around my neck as she placed her head on my shoulder “My little eon” “My Littlepip” I smiled “Ain’t no other pony gonna be my little filly” “Ahem?” Velvet nickered “Other than you, of course” I chuckled =-=-=-= As I stood with Twilight and Applejack at Sweet Apple Acres, Littlepip and Velvet Remedy also at my side, and with Spike atop Twilight’s back, I sighed, with Snowdrop atop my head, and Blaze upon my shoulder “Thanks fer helping me with this Twi” Applejack smiled “Ah made a bet with Big Macintosh that Ah could buck more apples, if Ah win, he gets to walk down Stirrup street in one of Granny Smith’s girdles” she nickered “Amusing” I gave a weak smile “And happens, should you lose?” “Then Ah do the same” she shuddered “Seems fair enough” Velvet smiled” But what if he hears about us helping you?” “He won’t mind” Applejack chuckled “he’s stronger than Ah am, but Tesla’s stronger still “Darn straight!” Littlepip cheered, I changed to eon form; she leapt onto my back as Blaze lay along my neck “So this is ponyville,” Velvet hummed “how peaceful” “There ain’t anywhere else in Equestria like it” Applejack exclaimed “Unless ya’ll are from an alternate world or somethin’” she glanced toward me “Earth’s nice, but it’s no Garden of Eden” I shrugged “And the wastelands aren’t any better” “The isles weren’t bad” Blaze yawned “They’re the best part of it all” I smirked “Aye, so they were” she nodded “Your home, I assume?” Littlepip sat beside Velvet on my back “My old home” I sighed “not that it matters now that I’m with you two” “What about Luna?” Twilight raised a hoof “If she wants to join, then I don’t have any right to stop her,” I laughed “I’m merely her night, her sword and shield; she’s a princess and/or goddess of the moon and stars” “You’re her knight?” Velvet Remedy gasped “Tsuki No Ryu” Blaze nodded “What does that mean?” she blinked “It means ‘Lunar Dragon’” I smiled “I would’ve been on a few quests for her, had I not been put out of commission, not that I’m blaming anybody” “How long did that last?” Kiary raised an eyebrow as she sat perched on Littlepip’s back “Eight months” I shrugged “I’ve had worse” “How can ya‘ll have had worse than that? Applejack frowned “I don’t want to talk about it” I avoided her gaze, biting my lip as I stared at the ground “Not even a little,” Twilight blinked, I shot her a glare “Sorry…” “I don’t talk about my personal life, except that of my mother, and even then it’s only to those who I can trust” I frowned “Sounds cagey” Twilight nickered as a light amount of snow began to fall from the skies above, Spike belched a light green fire, a sealed scroll appearing from said fire “Dear Twilight, Littlepip, Velvet and Tesla,” Spike read aloud as he held the letter in front of him “you are hereby invited to the Grand-Galloping Gala later this month, please show the tickets provided to gain entry to the castle, I hope to hear more from you, yours sincerely, Princess Celestia, P.S. Luna says ‘Hi’” “That was nice of her” Littlepip smiled “Much has changed in the past thousand years,” I folded my arms “that much is obvious, even for a dimension-hopper like me” “And you think you could do better?” Applejack scowled “That ain’t what I meant,” I blinked “I just said that there’s been change, I’ not trying to imply anything” I grumbled as Spike held up five golden tickets “And they’re even in gold, how cliché” Blaze rolled her eyes “It goes on to say that Discord will be attending” Spike shuddered “Why would the princess allow the lord of chaos himself to attend?” Applejack “Judgement,” I tutted “she wants to prove to everyone that he’s not who he used to be, I’ve seen it happen before, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t” “Either way, we’ll tell him what maul told us, and what you told Red-Eye” Blaze smirked “Which was?” Littlepip gleamed “Slip up, and I gut you like a fish” Blaze and I spoke in unison “Do ya have tah be so barbaric?” Applejack’s eyes narrowed “But for every barbaric presence in the world, there is also an opposite,” I smirked, glancing up to the icy blue Pegasus atop my head “Right Snowy?” “Right, Daddy” Snowdrop smiled “Your shadow to my light” “And my fire to your ice” I winked “Could you get any sappier?” Spike gagged -=-=- As the night of the gala approached, I walked out of the castle’s armoury, clad in the armour that’d been given to me upon my being knighted, the two Dawnbreaker swords sheathed on either side of my hips, Ryōshi stood by my side “That’s amazing!” Velvet Remedy eyed me up and down alongside Littlepip “It’s a gift from Luna herself” I clicked my shoulders, Blaze clambering up onto my shoulder as Snowdrop perched herself back unto my head as we walked into the main hall of the castle, and from there to the gardens “I must say you wear your armour well” Discord smirked as he popped into view right in front of me “Slip up and I gut you like a fish” I smirked “Noted” he raised an eyebrow as Twilight and her friends appeared before us, all dressed for the gala “Not bad” Discord glanced at each of them “I’d almost call them stupendously designed” I rolled my eyes, focusing on my wings, beaming as feathers began to appear along their lower parts “now that’s magic” he gave a sly grin “I try” I smiled, walking back into the castle, Littlepip and Velvet following me to the throne room “I see that you managed to make it,” Celestia smiled “I apologize for any inconveniences that I might’ve caused you, Tesla” “I’m only here because I thought it’d be nice to take up your offer,” I shrugged “other than that I would’ve gladly spent another day working at Sweet Apple acres” “You’d rather work there than be with your friends?” she raised an eyebrow “We’d be with him in whatever he may choose to do” Littlepip placed a gentle hoof on my leg, as did Velvet “He’s our Alpha, and that of Ryōshi” “Speaking of which,” Blaze began “where’s tesla’s rucksack?” Celestia magicked/teleported my rucksack beside me “Thank you” she smirked as I slipped it on, turning and walking out of the room “Element of magic, yet she ain’t got trash on Natsu or any other dragon slayer I can think of” Blaze gave a sly grin as we walked into the main hall “I know, right?” I laughed like an absolute maniac “it’s as if they expect her to do something she’s clearly not capable of” “Expect who to do what?” Twilight and her friends spotted me from across the hall, walking up to me, eyebrows raised “Well, with the apparent ‘lord of chaos,’ he would’ve had his rear handed to him within around twenty minutes, if not seconds” Blaze glimmered with apparent glee “Who, Tesla,” Applejack glanced at me, eyes narrowed in apparent irritation “Not tah sound negative or anything but Ah know he can beat a dragon, but Discord, really?” “You’d be surprised” Velvet Remedy winked at me “Tesla beat him once in the wastelands, I’ve no doubt that he could do it again with little to no effort” “I’ll bet Twenty bits that she’s lying,” Rainbow dash smirked, I shot her a glower “What?” “If you wish to keep having a mouth I’d recommend shutting it” I grinned “How about you prove that you can do it then?” “Alrighty then” I gleamed toothily “Blaze get me a can of you-know-what” “Will do” she saluted me, climbing into my bag, climbing back out as I walked outside onto the arena, sipping the contents of the can as I went “What is that?” Velvet Remedy blinked, gesturing toward the can “A type of stimulant” I simpered as ponies began to flood the stands, Twilight, her friends, Spike and the princesses included “Stand well back, and watch the mayhem” they did so, standing at the edge of the arena, Snowdrop and Blaze included “So I hear you wish to challenge me?” Discord laughed as he popped into view in front of me “What of it?” I spat, clicking my neck, shoulders, knuckles and ankles “I think it’s humorous, how you think you have a chance of beating me” he chuckled as a third, wicked-looking set of wings sprouted from my back, piercing through the armour as I removed it “You would” I tutted “Are there any rules I should know about” he sighed “No teleportation or anything of the sort, flight is allowed” I grinned sadistically as scales appeared on my face, arms and hands, horns also sprouting from my head as my fingernails extended into claws “Starting now” Discord lunged at me, trying to land a hit, I blocked it, twisting his arm behind his back, grabbing onto both of his wrists, slamming my foot down onto his back, dislocating both arms as I gave a hard tug on them “That didn’t take long” I kicked him right in the stomach, sending him sprawling across the arena floor “God of chaos, are we sure that’s your title, Discord?” I burst into whitish-silver flames, slowly walking toward him as he righted himself, apparently/magically popping his arms back into place, letting out an unearthly roar as I charged at him “Suishō hasu Karyu Ken,” I chortled, releasing a wave of Gatling-like punches at him, most hit him, but not all of them, due to his serpentine figure “And; Tsuin Ryujin no Koen!” I created a pitch-black fireball in one hand, and a silver one in the other, clashing the two together as they collided with the draconequus, the resulting explosion sending him flying into the air, third to first degree burns covering him from tail-tip to snout “and finally, the roar” I inhaled sharply, exhaling a mild grey torrent of flames toward the lord of chaos, clapping my hands together as he smashed into the ground “Tatakai no tame kansha, Discord” “He actually did it…” Rainbow Dash gaped toward me in apparent awe and/or horror as I I walked back to Littlepip and the others “Why do you have horns now?” Velvet Remedy giggled “‘Double Dragon Force,’” I began “it gives the user incredible power for a certain amount of time, but the side effects can be horrendous” “You beat Discord!” Littlepip cheered “when do the horns and claws recede then?” and just like that, the horns receded into my skull, and the claws reverted to normal fingernails “You just did alone what they nearly failed to do as a team,” Blaze burst into a fit of laughter “case in point about what I said about the Twilight not matching any dragon slayer I know of’ thing” “How strong is he!?” I heard someone from the crowd shriek as we walked back to the gardens I collapsed under the shade of a tree, cringing as I felt the strain of the forced magic work its way through me “Does it hurt?” Littlepip bit her lip, I nodded, gritting my teeth as the strained parts of my body attempted to heal themselves “It puts quite the strain on Tesla, even a shortened use of the hidden ability can hospitalize him” Blaze explained” There was the one time he hit an opponent hard enough that the muscles in his arms literally shredded themselves to pieces” “And thus is another life lesson,” I smiled, faintly “the great joy of life is doing what people say you cannot do” “How much have you progressed, since we first met?” velvet stared at me “quite far by the sounds of it” “How’d you get here anyway?” Littlepip glanced at the charcoal-coloured mare “Tesla gave me a glimmer of his teleportation and/or dimension-hopping abilities” Velvet smiled “And that’s how you got here?” she tilted her head, Velvet nodded I didn’t think it possible,” Twilight and her friends, princesses and Spike included, trotted toward me “to think that a lone being could beat Discord, and like that no less!” “You’d of thought that he’d at least give him a chance to retaliate” Rarity mumbled “How long did it take?” I glanced toward Blaze “One minute and twenty three seconds approximately” the Quilava perched on my shoulder grinned “Tesla, you awakened your dragon soul” Celestia stared at me “And here I thought it was just another hidden magical ability” I chuckled “Nay, ‘tis quite the powerful spell, as thou hath witnessed against Discord first-hoof” Luna raised an eyebrow “how did thou manage it?” “Just take one of these” Blaze held a can between her paws “the only downsides are the sugar crash, possible heart attack, eventual death, near imminent chest pains and impatience, amongst others” she sighed “you really should stop drinking these you know?” “And how else would you suggest using the new ability?” I tilted my head “Ask that I use the ‘Flame of Rebuke’ whilst using normal ‘Dragon Force’?” she suggested “Wouldn’t work, the first time it would, but after that you’d only be adding duel to the fire, pun intended,” I smirked, she glared at me “sorry” “Those things can kill you?” Twilight gasped “They can make your heart do a proverbial backflip,” I shrugged “probably explains why they’re so cheap” “It would also explain the silver flames,” Blaze sighed “the energy from the liquid and caffeine gets converted via catalyst into actual fire, magical properties included” “Tsuin Ryujin no Koen,” “Cadance raised an eyebrow also “Honestly, Tesla?” “Twin dragon god’s brilliant flame” Blaze grumbled “you really do push yourself a little harder than you should, brother” “And that was without using Dragon’s Apparition” I sat against the tree trunk “Dragon’s-what now,” Applejack blinked “What in tarnation?” “I’ll explain later,” I simpered “ “If you’d have used that, I think a few members of the crowd would’ve had either had heart attacks or fainted,” Blaze face-pawed “or both” “That’s half the reason I didn’t use it” I nodded “Just how powerful can dragon slayers get?” twilight shuddered “That remains a mystery, even to us” Blaze folded her arms “I suppose it could go further, who knows, perhaps there is such as a dragon-god slayer” “Here’s hoping anyway” I smiled “But first you’d have to pass through dragon-king slayer” she shook her head “you’re impossible, TK” “And you’re a little fire hazard” I gleamed “And you’re going to end up killing yourself at the rate of danger you go through, and the severity of said danger” she tutted “Please, tesla, for us, don’t do it anymore” Littlepip sat beside me opposite Velvet, both staring at me with their best puppy-dog eyes, no way was there any hope for anyone to beat that “Anything for you two, My Littlepip and Remedy” I draped a wing around each of them “Thank you, Tesla” Velvet pecked my cheek, nuzzling into me, so did Littlepip as i curled my wings around them, my third set of wings seemingly fading into thin air “you mean more to us than you could possible imagine, our love, our heart, our Alpha” Ryōshi bounded up to me, giving me a series of licks on the side of my cheek as she sat right in front of me “How’ve you been girl?” I scratched Ryōshi behind the ears, she gave a light-hearted *yip* as a reply “That’s good” “But what of the light-bringer;” Celestia tilted her head “What of your little escort mission with her?” “She’ll be fine,” I smiled “She’s got the light of an actual god shining down on her, after all, destiny is what you make it out to be” “What do you mean?” she blinked, I raised an eyebrow at her “oh” “You consider us gods?” Luna simpered “If you’ve immortality along with the potential abilities that I’ve seen and heard of, I suppose I might as well” I shrugged “And what have you heard?” Celestia nickered lightly “That you took out no less than a country’s-worth of enclave soldiers armed with nothing short of nukes, more or less” I grinned “Let’s not forget the usual weather forecast for the wastelands either,” Blaze grinned “cloudy with a chance of rain, gunfire and bloody dismemberment, and, in your case, a storm of hellfire” “This so-called ‘storm of hellfire,’ just so happened to clear the skies of radiation and reveal the sun, moon and stars once again” I smirked “Metsuryu Ogi Kai; Gurren Me-en” Blaze rolled her eyes “I know all too well, brother, and I also know of how it drained your magic energy for about a whole month, maybe even two” “Three, actually” I bit my lip “And it was a rather interesting change of perspective, living without any magic in me for a while” “You cleared the skies, of all of Equestria by yourself?” Rainbow Dash deadpanned “impossible” “‘Double Dragon Force’” I clicked my back “and didn’t I already say that anything’s possible, RD?” “But, you cleared all of Equestria, how is that possible, it’s against all laws of science!” Twilight argued “Give enough firepower and you can melt or burn through anything and everything, even the skies and heavens themselves, trust us, we know” Blaze gave a sly grin “and to be honest, Tesla’s flames don’t give of smoke and/or fumes of any kind, so they’re safe, they all are, every living being in the wastelands is free of taint and radiation, as did the light-bringer” she went on “Tesla and I cleared the skies above, and the Light-bringer cleared away the ground below “I still don’t see how it’s possible” Twilight shook her head “Says the talking pony” Blaze beamed “I think we could’ve done that reference when we got here, Sister” I chuckled “So we could have” she nodded, Snowdrop perched herself on my head as I stood upright, Kiary on my neck, and Littlepip and Velvet on my back as I changed to eon form “Are you sure you’re Ok?” Cadance gave a weak smile as I rolled my shoulders “We’ll be fine” Velvet pecked the back of my neck, staring down at me “why didn’t you use the weapons given to you in the wasteland, my love?” “With dragon slayer magic, you can save ammunition, and it’s easier to tell if they’re no longer, shall we say, ‘a bother to anyone’?” I spoke icily “Now that’s cold” Blaze laughed “ironic enough for you, brother?” “Quite so” I smiled, faintly “besides, I wanted to use something other than what I’ve been using for the past fifty years” “Explain” Celestia’s eyes narrowed slightly “I said I was a brigadier for the UNSC, I wasn’t joking” I frowned “And they use firearms?” she raised an eyebrow “Anything from your standard issue Model-six sidearm toa magnetic accelerator cannon, that of which could level a small town” I nodded “That’s barbaric!” Rarity spat “It’s called war for a reason, the human-covenant war, to be exact, what was going to be a quick and decisive win, turned into thirty years of hell” I scowled “How old are you?” Twilight blinked “Eighty-odd” I smiled “fifty of which have been spent trying to save humanity, the rest on the matter is classified, ten years in the wastelands, and twenty on earth, and the final one here, almost a year anyway” “What’s the date?” “The seventeenth of December” Luna titled her head “why?” “No reason” Blaze and I smirked =-=-= “So what’re you doing for hearth’s Warming?” Twilight smiled “I’ve no money on me, so I can’t get anything at the moment,” I tilted my head “Speaking of which, where is it anyway?” “In the castle’s treasury, with your name on it” Twilight smiled as Spike at on her back, and Velvet and Littlepip on mine as I hovered in the centre of Ponyville, Snowdrop once again perched on my head as a type of pony-made winter cap “And it’d probably take a day for the train to get there” Spike raised an eyebrow, Blaze,, Snowdrop, Littlepip, Velvet Remedy and Twilight all face-pawed/hooved “I can fly, Spike, it’s not going to take more than five minutes at best” I laughed “Hold on!” and with that I soared as fast as I could go without anyone falling off, flying toward the castle, slowing down as I glided through its double doors “Where to now?” “That way” Littlepip’s horn glowed for a brief moment, pointing down a nearby corridor “Very well then” I smiled, flying down said corridor, eventually finding myself at a set of double doors, opening them, finding a large- nay, massive earthy-brown bag which was tied at the top with a substantial amount of rope, with a label on the rope that read out my name “How much do you need?” Blaze smiled form atop my neck “How much don’t I need?” I chortled “Touché” she nodded as I carried the bag back to ponyville, albeit, with somewhat notable difficulty “How many bits are in that thing?” Applejack nickered as she trotted toward me “Enough for a lifetime, I should think” Littlepip laughed “Or three” I winked “or maybe a small family” “You flatter me” she blushed “No, you flatter us” Velvet giggled “So, who wants to test out the drill that you’ve been given?” Blaze chimed “Later” I sighed “Honestly, you get too worked up for your own good” “Don’t I just?” she smirked “So, what’ll you do with it?” Applejack nodded toward the large brown bag underneath me “Just a bit of this and that” I nodded sideways, lowering myself down as Littlepip and Velvet remedy hopped down to the ground “We’ll be off whilst you get what you need, Tesla” Littlepip winked as she and Velvet wandered toward the library “How’d ya get those two anyway?” Applejack smirked “I’ve no idea” I mumbled, feeling my wings stiffen, turning hard-as-iron “Dammit” “Wing-boner,” Blaze laughed “I didn’t think that as bein’ possible if ya’ll have wings like blades” Applejack chuckled “Who’s got a wing-boner now?” Rainbow Dash glided down beside Applejack, Blaze pointed down toward me “How?” “Heck if I know” I shuddered “It just happens” “Sure it does” she gave a wicked leer, slowly nodding all the while “Oh, shut up” I laughed, carrying the large bag over to the nearest shop
Chapter VI The devil insideAs hearth’s warming arrived, and I sat at the piano in the theatre, Snowdrop and Blaze sat atop the piano, I began to play “He'd watch the snow fall Pretending it all Would go away On hearth's warming day He thought life all for not But in this season he forgot The mess he'd made It would all fade away But none of it changed the fact He was broken and still alone Until he walked by a store window And a pink figure waved hello” I sang, beginning the song “He said he felt his heart leap Like it been asleep With that sparkle in her eyes He could barely breathe And so he tells the story Of that pink pony Who changed his life One hearth's warming eve” Snowdrop chorused “He went inside the store As she opened the door He wondered why This mare caught his eye They sat down for a while As they talked he would smile Until he told Her he was all alone But she wouldn't let him feel abandoned Because no one should spend the holidays alone They spent hearth's warming together Making memories he'd never let go” Blaze chimed “He said he felt his heart leap Like it been asleep With that sparkle in her eyes He could barely breathe And so he tells the story Of that pink pony Who changed his life One hearth's warming eve” Snowdrop and Blaze sang as a duet “Thirty two years down the road He had let the past go But he hadn't forgotten That beautiful mare from years ago In a hospital room His last hearth's warming he knew He'd never see her again That dream would never come true But then from the hall He heard her call That sweet familiar voice She found him after all She said "I never forgot The day you walked by the shop I've spent these thirty two years Looking for you non-stop" Tears came to his eyes As she stood by his side Until he had to say goodbye And promised to stay” I added, smiling at the audience as they sat, staring down at us as we performed “He said he felt his heart leap Like it been asleep With that sparkle in her eyes He could barely breathe So this is the story Of that pink pony Who changed his life One hearth's warming eve” we sang as a trio, finishing the potential masterpiece -=- I stood with my family, Ryōshi, Littlepip and Velvet Remedy in the main hall, Twilight and her friends trotting up toward us “Where did you get that song from then?” Rarity batted her eyelashes at me “Aviators” Blaze smirked as Snowdrop perched herself on my head “they’re an amazing musical artist, with an almost god-like potential” “Speaking of Hearth’s warming, what’d you get?” Littlepip nudged my leg “These,” I reached into my jacket, handing Littlepip and Velvet remedy a glassy, translucent sapphire sphere “I hope you like them” “What are they?” Twilight gazed at the orbs “Soul dews, that of which an eon turns into after they die, either by natural causes or otherwise” I smiled “and I believe I can bequeath them to you, Littlepip, and Velvet Remedy” “They’re beautiful,” Littlepip exclaimed “You found these in the wastelands, didn’t you?” Velvet sighed “I cleaned them of radiation, yes,” I nodded “took a while, having to use that sort of delicacy is a little irritating, but it’s worth it in the end” “And you’re just giving them away, to us?” Littlepip gaped at me, I nodded “I feel like I can trust you with them, after all, trust is the anvil on which friendship is forged” I glimmered “I love you, my little Remedy and Littlepip” “We love you too, Tesla” the chimed, leaping at me, knocking me to the ground, pecking either cheek, nuzzling into me as I eventually sat upright, “And what, about the rest of us?” Rainbow dash raised an eyebrow “Ask Celestia” I winked, draping a pair of wings around both Littlepip and Velvet remedy “But what about Nightmare Moon-err, Nyx” Twilight giggled “What about her?” I tilted my head “Well for one, she’s been worried sick about you,” she smirked “and for another,” her smirk turned to a look of worry “Ponies have started to worry about her return as the tyrant she was, they’re afraid of what she’s going to do” “Fear is not evil, it shows you your weaknesses,” Blaze gestured for me to continue “And once you know your weaknesses, you can become stronger, kinder, and gentler” I finished “You’re calling us weak?” Rainbow Dash glowered at me “Not at all, fear is natural, and it lies within us all,” I sighed “for instance, I’m worried about what’d happen to me should I lose my friends, family and loved ones, I can admit it, and that’s what fear is, Rainbow, it’s a part of everyone, no matter how much that person or thing might try to hide it” “That’s rather philosophical” a regal, angelic voice called out from behind me Turning around, I saw the three princesses stood beside Faust, all smiling at me “I only said what I know,” I shrugged “besides, I learnt a lot from being in a guild” “So you did,” Celestia smiled, turning her lilac-coloured gaze toward Twilight “Come, I believe it’s time to see what Tesla had in store for you, pun not intended” As they walked out through the double doors at the front of the room, I felt a pang of guilt “You’re wanting to get them more, aren’t you, brother?” Blaze sighed “Sort of, it’s just that I wish I could be better than I am, personality-wise” I grumbled “How can you hope to do that?” Velvet Remedy nickered “you’re an incredible person, and I fail to see how you could be any better” “What did you get them?” Littlepip chuckled “I melded the gems from the dragon’s lairs using superheated dragon-fire into a series of statuettes,” I shrugged “it’s no big deal; I even made for one for the two of you” “For us,” Littlepip blinked “Tesla, you’re spoiling us!” “Am I?” I smiled “Not that we mind” Velvet Remedy pecked my cheek, leaping onto my back as I changed to eon form, as did Littlepip, Snowdrop once again perched on my head, and Blaze on my neck “How big are these statuettes?” Littlepip smiled “Around the same height as me” I bit my lip, flying toward the entrance of the castle, Ryōshi following me out, only to find Twilight, Spike, who was sat upon her back, her friends and the princesses stood before me, staring at each of the especially crafted statues “You melded gemstones together to make these?” Littlepip and Velvet Remedy hopped back toward the ground safely landing on all-fours, trotting toward their crystalline replicas “That I did” I nodded as their gaze altered between the statuettes and me “They’re incredible,” Rarity and Twilight gleamed “But how do we move them?” “I can teleport them” Faust smiled “Don’t worry, I can have them down to your homes within the next minute” and so she did, teleporting with each of them to each location, returning once the last eight remained, that of Remedy, Littlepip, Vinyl, Octavia, Celestia, Cadance, Luna and Faust =-=-= “You really are a piece of work, you know that?” Blaze cackled with insane amounts of laughter “Tell me something I don’t know” I chuckled, turning around, I saw Vinyl, alongside Octavia, both gleaming at me “You had to add wings?” Octavia smirked “It felt appropriate at the time;” I smiled “considering most ponies I know are like angels, so I thought I’d give you the wings of one” “You think I’m an angel,” Octavia blushed, whereas Vinyl burst out laughing “I’m flattered, honestly Tesla!” “And what’s with the weird glasses, not that I’m complaining” Vinyl gestured toward the Gurren Lagann-styled glasses I’d made on the statue “I just thought that with the wings and horn that it’d compliment your figure” I quickly reverted to human form, covering my mouth with a free hand “What,” she grinned “my ‘figure,’ am I that interesting?” “I could probably make a set of them for you” I avoided her gaze “That’d be great, thanks Tesla” she leapt at me, pressing her lips against mine as she wrapped her arms around my neck, eventually parting,, landing back on the ground beside the silver mare named Octavia “When could I get them?” “Right now if you want” Blaze smirked, standing on her hind legs on my shoulder, grabbing an armful of gems from my bag, laying them out before me , the two of us breathing fire over them , melding them into the boomerang-shaped shades that also appeared on Vinyl’s statuette, and on a certain anime character… “Now we just wait for them to cool down a little” I smiled, holding the shades into the sunlight, they’d come out as a crimson shade of red, pun not intended “So,” Octavia giggled “I assume that these are our Hearth’s Warming Eve gifts?” “That they are,” I nodded “They’re amazing,” Vinyl whistled “How long did it take to craft each one?” “Around an hour,” Blaze waved a dismissive paw “Tesla was quite insistent on finishing them on time for today” “And we thank you for it, Tesla” Octavia smiled as Littlepip and Velvet stood either side of me, leaping onto my back as I changed back to eon form “Are the three of you, together?” “Yep” Littlepip gleamed “We’re a trio, to put it in musical terms” “So you are” Octavia nickered as a scroll flashed into existence before my eyes, I caught it, opening it, it read; Dearest Tesla, Come alone… The rest was apparently directions to a certain room in the castle “Blaze, take care of Snowdrop, Ryōshi; stay here” I winked, Littlepip and Velvet staring at me as I once again reverted to human form, leaping to the ground as I did so, walking into the castle, following the directions given on the letter Tesla,” Cadance exclaimed, lying across the bed in what appeared to be an anthro form “So glad you could make it” “What’re you doing?” I backpedalled, only to come back-to-wooden surface as she locked the door behind me using her magic “Shining Armour’s nice and all, but from what I’ve heard, you’ve got the potential to do better, my dear sweet eon” she ‘explained,’ her voice sweeter than glazed honey “Now come, Tesla, give me thy love…” -=-=- As I staggered out of the room, I managed to keep myself walking until I reached the gardens “What happened?” Velvet Remedy and Littlepip gawked at me with a look of mild concern “I think someone’s going to get a right seeing to, let’s leave it at that” I grinned like an idiot “Like who?” Littlepip blinked “We shall see, my littlepip, we shall see” I smiled =-=-= Around a month later, I was on the receiving end of the so-called ‘captain of the guard’ as I sat with Littlepip and Velvet Remedy either side of me as I ate breakfast “Does anyone mind telling me why Cadance is acting differently?” Shining Armour scowled at me “That depends on how one were to define ‘different’” Blaze sighed “Where is she anyway?” “That’s what I’d like to know” he grumbled “She had an urgent matter to attend to, and as such, cannot join us this morning” Celestia winked at me “Why do I feel like I’m missing the punch-line of this somewhat outrageous joke?” Shining Armour glowered at me “And you think I’m to blame,” I raised an eyebrow “As if I’d do such a thing, sure I may have beaten discord within an inch of his life, and I may’ve saved a few dozen ponies in the wastes, but meh, I can handle a little disdain” “See to it that u stay away from her,” he snarled “she’s mine, and I don’t want an alien anywhere near her” blaze burst into a fit of laughter, I quickly followed her “And you think being like an over-protective five-year-old is going to solve anything?” I chortled “I’m the captain of the guard” he snapped “Brigadier of the United Nation Space Corps” I sighed “Really, how about you try stating something new if you’re going to try to one-up me, pony” “I’ve led an army against all that is evil in Equestria” he smirked And I’ve stopped the Halo rings from firing, saving your sorry rear in the process,” I glared at him “if one were to fire the ark, all seven halo rings would fire, relinquishing al life in the universe, nothing larger than a cat, would survive” I heard someone do a spit-take at that “you are swimming in my wake, little pony, whatever you have done in the past, us humans can double it, and then triple it!” “Very well then” he grunted “but I must insist that you leave Cadance alone” “Fair enough, but what if she decides to come with me anyway, should she choose to?” I tilted my head ever-so slightly, seeing as Snowdrop was, as usual, perched there “Why would she do something like that?” he burst into abrupt laughter “When you see an anti-war protester, smile, shake his hand, then wink at the girl next to him because she knows she’s dating a pansy” Blaze smirked “So be it,” he chuckled -=- “Nice work there Blaze” I glimmered “No problem-o, Brother” Blaze laughed “Though I think I know where you went last month, at least now we do” “Cadance joined our little herd?” Velvet remedy whispered “Apparently” I shrugged “I’m just as surprised as you are” “About what,” I spun around; Cadance was stood there, in her anthro form, wearing a crimson dress that went down to her knees, wearing a cobalt necklace with a teal/aquamarine gemstone attached to it “Hello Tesla” she giggled, glancing around, before pinning me to a nearby tree, pressing her lips against mine, gradually parting, and then winking at me “Love you” she cooed as she reverted to her pony form with a glow of light “Ahem,” Shining Armour galloped toward us, looking quite annoyed with me “What do you think you’re doing!?” “Now Shiny, I’m sure that I can explain this-!” Cadance began only to be interrupted “Don’t say a word,” Shining Armour blared, “we’re married, and yet I find you flirting with this, this…” “Eon” I finished for him “Shut up you!” he glowered at me “now I know why Cadance’s been acting off lately, and it’s all because of you!” “Please Shiny, can’t we work this out?” Cadance bit her lip, Shiny, however, thought differently, raising a hoof as he hobbled toward her, and he would’ve hit her, had I not dived in and blocked it, clenching down on his stump-ended appendage “Lay so much as a finger on her, as you are now, and I’ll make you wish you’d of died” I hissed “And go and tell your subordinates what huge failure you’ve been whilst you’re pissing yourself in the middle of praying to your impudent god”, he quickly slipped out of my grasp, galloping at full sprint back into the castle, the smell of urine lacing the air as he ran “Tesla, you-” I turned around and pressed my lips against that of Cadance’s, smiling at her as I stroked her mane afterward “Hush, my dear Cadance, all will be well, just you wait” I simpered “Tesla,” she whimpered, clinging onto me with both her arms and wings “Don’t ever leave me” “I wouldn’t dream of it,” I draped my wings around her back, and my arms around her neck as we shared a warm embrace “although if you’re the princess of love, does that mean I’ll have to be prepared every time we consummate our love?” I chuckled “I won’t do anything you don’t want me to do, my prince” she cooed, pecking my cheek as she let me go, and I her “You’re a prince!?” Littlepip and Velvet Remedy shrieked “Technically,” I nodded “I’m a knight, a prince, and you’re the best things to happen to me since sliced bread” they blinked “it means you’re the best things to happen to me, period” “And you us, Tesla, and you us” Cadance smiled “You’re my little TK” “And our little eon” Littlepip and Velvet chimed as I heard footsteps from behind me Turning around, I saw Twilight, her friends, Spike -on Twilight’s back-, Shining Armour, and Celestia “You’ve upset my brother!” Twilight snapped “Wow, and even my siblings aren’t that arsehole-ish,” I blinked “no offense Blaze” “None taken, TK, none taken at all” Blaze laughed “Cadance; explain yourself” Celestia spoke calmly, and somewhat sternly” “It’s simple,” Cadance winked at me “Shining Armour’s good and all, but from what you said about him, I had to see it for myself, add that to the things we’ve seen that he can do, I’d easily have him over anypony” Twilight glared at me “And the threats were at all necessary, Teslakana?” Celestia turned her attention toward me “I don’t care who or what it is, you have a g at me, fine, you can do as you like with me, I’ll just shrug it off, but you think about harming my friends, family and loved ones, and I’ll do everything in my abilities to make your last seconds of life a living hell” I glared dagger5s at the armour pony by her side “You’d go that far!?” Twilight screamed “I’d tear this country apart if I’d of thought that it’d help” I deadpanned, she shuddered “And now you’ve declared yourself a threat” Celestia’s eyes narrowed “Who’s to say you wouldn’t do the same,” I raised an eyebrow “maybe not as harsh, but say something were to arise that require d your immediate attention, something that put every one of your oh-so dear subjects at risk, what then?” “I would try to negotiate” she scolded me “And if that doesn’t work in any way shape and form?” Blaze folded her paws “Then it’d be war” she stated icily “And now you know what it’s like whenever someone threatens my Nakama” I growled “Nakama?” she blinked “It means comrade,” Blaze began “someone who you’d do anything to protect, even if it cost you your very life, without question, no matter what, it can also be translated to mean friends that’re closer than family, as it means to Tesla here” she went on “Do you have any Nakama, princess?” “I’d never of thought…” Celestia stared at me “That doesn’t surprise me” she spat “I beat a god once, and if you don’t tell your little captain to put his leash on, I’ll do it again” my eyes stung as they turned to slits, or so I’d been later told “I’ll get on it” Celestia teleported out of view, taking Shining Armour with her “Friends that’re closer than family,” Rainbow Dash snorted “who’s ever heard of such a thing?” “The heart wants what it wants, who’re you to say any differently?” Blaze snapped “Love is but a chemical, we give it meaning by choice, and isn’t it said that it’s our choices that define us?” I tutted “Poetic, at best” Rarity nodded “but you can’t just go around threatening Twilight’s brother like that” “I said it once I’ll say it again,” I sighed “I don’t care who or what it is, you have a g at me, fine, you can do as you like with me, I’ll just shrug it off, but you think about harming my friends, family and loved ones, and I’ll do everything in my abilities to make your last seconds of life a living hell” “Even us?” Littlepip, Cadance and Velvet stood in a line, a hopeful look in each of their eyes “Especially you” I smiled “I’m honoured that you feel that way about me” Cadance sat beside me “ “This is going to result in my being mobbed by the local media, isn’t it?” I grumbled, she gave a slight nod “Nothing I can’t handle” “How so,” Rarity raised both eyebrows “I’ll tell you when it happens” I smirked =-= sex is coming up, for the end press CTRL+F “sex is over” Seeing as Velvet and Littlepip were in Ponyville, as were Twilight and her friends, Cadance guided me to her ‘chambers’ “What’re you doing?” I blinked as she changed to her anthro form, sitting me down on the bed, removing her dress, revealing a set of black lingerie, which she also removed, throwing the whole lot down the side of the bed “Just making myself comfortable, she giggled, locking the door, walking over to me, sitting in my lap “Why don’t you do the same?” “Public indecency” I shrugged “Ah, but we’re in private right now, we can do anything we want” she cooed “Anything, we, want” I bit my lip “Don’t look so worried, if the event should arise, I’ll defend you with my life, isn’t that what Nakama do?” Before I could say anything, her horn had flared a cyan colour, my attire disappearing for a brief moment before reappearing as a neat pile by the side of the bed “And they’ve been keeping this from me,” she whistled, tracing a gentle hand around my muscular structure “what naughty princesses those two are, but more about them later” “If you say so” I chuckled “I do say so” she nickered, removing herself from my lap, kneeling on the floor between my legs, tracing her tongue along the base of my shaft “they didn’t tell me it was salty though, Celestia you little rascal” I shuddered “Oh,” she gleamed “you like this?” I nodded “well then, allow me to indulge myself a bit” she twirled her tongue around the head of my cock, causing me to flinch at the amount of pleasure racking throughout my body as Pre leaked from the tip, which she quickly devoured “Salty” she winked, taking the whole darn thing into her maw, pressing her lips down on it, sealing it in her mouth “Holy…” I mumbled as she sandwiched my dick between her voluptuous breasts, slowly bobbing them up and down along with her head, constantly twirling her tongue around the head, slurping on it as she went, swallowing any seed that was unlucky enough to be fire prematurely, removing herself from my nether regions, lying on her front on the bed, her head on the pillow as she raised her rump high in the air “Fuck me,” she moaned as I knelt behind her, lining my manhood with her sex, sliding it in as I held her ‘flanks,’ pumping my member in and out of her cunny, causing her to groan “faster,” I sped up a little “Harder” she bit her lip as I hilted her, letting out a low moan, slamming into her as seed filled her tight little cunt only slowing down as it flowed through my urethra, and into her metaphorical depths, sliding out of her once finished “Now do me in the ass,” she wiggled her ass at me “in eon form” she winked “As you wish M’lady” I nodded, changing to eon form, prodding the head of my eonhood at her pucker, sliding it in as she released another moan, speeding up as I pumped it in and out of her flankhole, still clinging onto said flanks, circling my claws around her cutie mark, eventually moving as a blur, almost, as I fucked her, bucking my hips against hers, grunting as I repeatedly hilted her, lightly smacking her ass “Yes, spank me,” she screamed I’ve been a very bad girl,” I smacked her again “harder!” ad again, harder this time, more seed firing through my length into her tailhole, quickly sliding it out and hilting her tight little cunt, filling said orifice with sticky, white, hot spunk “That was incredible” Cadance sighed as she lay on her back on the bed “I could make it better” I suggested “How could you-?” she was cut off by me, jamming my tongue into her dripping wet vagina “Oh, Gods, that’s amazing” she shuddered my tongue danced around the insides of her entrance, pressing it against her clit, releasing a slight waterfall of her juices to leak “Sweet Mother of faust you’re good at this!” she panted “That’s nothing” I grinned, placing my lips around one of her nipples, and my hand around the other, tweaking it whilst I sucked on the other, she quickly placed her hand on the back of my head, keeping me there “By the heavens,” she moaned “don’t stop, my love” I smirked (Sex is over) -=-=- “Have fun?” Blaze stood on my shoulder as Snowdrop sat on my head “Not half” I mumbled as Littlepip and Velvet Remedy stood at my side, sitting with me as I placed myself against a nearby tree “I noticed that you arrived in your eon form,” she smirked “Do anything exciting?” “I might’ve used enough calibre to make the world’s greatest prostitute green with envy” I whispered, winking at her with a sly grin “Oh really?” she gleamed “What did you do, exactly, I could hear the two of you from here” “Gave the princess of love a crash course in eating out” I deadpanned “You really pick your poisons, dontcha?” she laughed “I like to think I know what I’m doing” I smiled “So you do” I turned around, Twilight, her friends, save Fluttershy, Celestia, and Shining Armour were stood there alongside Cadance, who bounded over to me, pecking my cheek as she sat beside me “Cadance tells me that the two of you engaged in coitus, alongside some other interesting concepts” Celestia raised an eyebrow “One-hundred-and-one uses for the human tongue” I grinned “How do you do it?” she smirked “How do you think?” I shrugged “Humour me” she winked -=- “That’s the last time I’m doing that” I frowned, once again sat under a tree in the gardens on the following day, Littlepip and Velvet remedy sat both in front of and beside me, Cadance sat on the other side “You didn’t seem to mind doing it with us” Velvet Remedy winked rather flirtatiously at me “You’re my Little Remedy; of course I’m not going to mind” I smiled “Let’s just hope they don’t hold a moot and make you their new royal breeder, eh Tesla?” Blaze simpered with a wicked leer “Aye,” I grumbled “that’d be the death of me for sure” “How so,” Littlepip pecked my cheek “Well, Celestia and Luna are what, three-thousand years old, they’ve got a lot more experience than I have, so there’s that, and the fact that their insides feel like heaven” I quickly shook my head “sorry” “It’s Ok, you can take us anytime you want, my love” Velvet slurred, placing her lips against mine, slowly parting “you’re our little eon after all” “I forgot to mention something” Cadance giggled “I asked for a divorce, when they asked why, I mentioned you; it’s either that a few ponies are interested in you, or they know not to anger you, Tesla” “Are you suggesting something?” I raised an eyebrow “Not at all” she nickered “Though I think there’re more than a few ponies after you now” “Good to know” I blinked “When she said a few, I thought she meant ‘a few’ as in five, maybe six or seven” I grumbled, walking toward Sweet Apple Acres, half a dozen ponies following me there as Velvet Remedy, Littlepip walking by my side as I removed my jacket when I got to the farm, placing it on a nearby branch, starting to work, getting the apples from the trees into the containers, and then carrying the containers to the wagons “This is not ‘a few’” “Give ‘em a show, eh Tesla?” Blaze winked, standing on the branch on which I’d placed my jacket “No, Blaze, just no” I sighed “I’m not a stripper” “Not even just this once?” she placed her paws together, giving me her best puppy-dog eyes “Fine” I rolled my eyes, removing my shirt, placing it on the branch Now that I thought about it, it was rather hot “Mornin’ Stretch,” Applejack eyed me up and down as she trotted toward me “Working here again?” “The concerts not until next week” I shrugged, placing another pair of containers down on another wagon “that all of them?” “Looks like it pardner” she smiled with apparent intent “Though Ah think ya’ll are gonna have a might bit of trouble Gettin back” she gestured to the now three-dozen ponies stood before me at the entrance of the farm, only to have them board onto the wagons “Not at all” I laughed, triggering ‘Dragon Force,’ pulling the carts toward Ponyville, Velvet and Littlepip walking by my side as I hauled the wagons into the market, Applejack soon joining them thereafter “You managed to pull them all the way here?” Velvet Remedy blinked “Never question my skill” I chuckled “So we won’t” Littlepip smiled =-= Later that week, I stood in the gardens of the castle with Littlepip Velvet Remedy, and Cadance, Blaze and Snowdrop having taken a tour of the castle “So, what should we do?” Littlepip smiled “I have an idea” Cadance purred -=- “That was fun” Velvet Remedy whistled “Too right,” Littlepip panted for breath “when you said one-hundred-and one uses, I thought you were joking!” “What’re you doing?” Blaze smirked “Nothing much” I clicked my neck “orchestra waiting for me?” she nodded “Let’s go then” “What’re you going to sing this time, not that I’ve heard you sing before?” Cadance smiled “You’ll soon see, my Dear Cadi” I smiled, Velvet Remedy and Littlepip sat beside me on the bench as I began to play my guitar, the audience fell silent “The burning desire to live and roam free, It shines in the dark And it grows within me You're holding my hand but you don't understand So where I am going you won't be in the end. Im dreaming in colours Of getting the chance Of dreaming of trying the perfect romance The search of the door, to open your mind In search of the cure of mankind Help us we're drowning So close up inside Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? How will the lights die down, telling us who we are? I'm searching for answers Not given for free You're hurting inside Is there life within me? You're holding my hand but you don't understand So you're taking the road all alone in the end Im dreaming in colours, no boundaries are there Im dreaming the dream we all seem to share In search of the door, to open your mind In search of the cure of mankind Well help us we're drowning So close up inside Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Why does it rain, rain, rain, down on Utopia? And when the lights die down, telling us who we are Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Oh, why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Now when the lights die down, telling us who we are Why does it rain?” Velvet Remedy, Snowdrop, Blaze, Littlepip and I sang as a quintet “What shall we do for a second song brother?” Blaze winked “I know the one” I smiled “The stars lean down to kiss you And I lie awake and miss you Pour me a heavy dose of atmosphere Cause I'll doze off safe and soundly But I'll miss your arms around me I'll send a postcard to you, dear Cause I wish you were here” Littlepip and I began the song “I'll watch the night turn light blue But it's not the same without you Because it takes two to whisper quietly The silence isn't so bad Till I look at my hands and feel sad Cause the spaces between my fingers Are right where yours fit perfectly” Blaze almost sang with the voice of the perfect being “I'll find repose in new ways Though I haven't slept in two days Cause cold nostalgia chills me to the bone But drenched in vanilla twilight I'll sit on the front porch all night Waist deep in thought because when I think of you I don't feel so alone “I don't feel so alone I don't feel so alone” Velvet Remedy chorused As many times as I blink I'll think of you tonight (Tonight, tonight, tonight...) I'll think of you tonight” Snowdrop chimed, Blaze once again singing the background vocals “When violet eyes get brighter And heavy wings grow lighter I'll taste the sky and feel alive again And I'll forget the world that I knew But I swear I won't forget you Oh if my voice could reach back through the past I'd whisper in your ear: “‘Oh darling I wish you were here’” we sang again as a quintet “And again” Littlepip nickered “This time, I wonder what it feels like To find the one in this life, the one we all dream of But dreams just aren't enough So I'll be waiting for the real thing, I'll know it by the feeling The moment when we're meeting, will play out like a scene Straight off the silver screen So I'll be holding my breath, right up 'til the end Until that moment when, I find the one that I'll spend forever with” I started the song “Cause nobody wants to be the last one there Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares Someone to love with my life in their hands There's gotta be somebody for me like that Cause nobody wants to do it on their own And everyone wants to know they're not alone There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere There's gotta be somebody for me out there” Velvet Remedy added to the potential masterpiece “Tonight, out on the street, out in the moonlight And dammit this feels too right, it's just like de Ja vu Me standing here with you So I'll be holding my breath, could this be the end? Is it that moment when, I find the one that I'll spend forever with” Blaze continued further “Cause nobody wants to be the last one there Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares Someone to love with my life in their hands There's gotta be somebody for me like that Cause nobody wants to do it on their own And everyone wants to know they're not alone There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere There's gotta be somebody for me out there” Littlepip and I formed an almost god-like duet, as if our souls themselves were resonating from one-another “You can't give up, (when you're looking for) a diamond in the rough (cause you never know) When it shows up, (make sure you're holding on) Cause it could be the one, the one you're waiting on Cause nobody wants to be the last one there And everyone wants to feel like someone cares Someone to love with my life in their hands There's gotta be somebody for me, oh” Velvet Remedy, Blaze and Snowdrop sang as a trio with the voices of angels “Nobody wants to go it on their own And everyone wants to know they're not alone There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere There's gotta be somebody for me out there Nobody wants to be the last one there Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere There's gotta be somebody for me out there” we finished as a third quintet, the audience slowly beginning to stand on their hooves, clapping said hooves in applause “That was phenomenal” Cadance glimmered “So it was,” a familiar tall cobalt pony with a dark blue mane and tail, Toe-Tapper, stood beside Torch Song and Rarity alongside Twilight, her friends, Spike and the princesses “I must ask,” he raised an eyebrow “Are you trying to upstage us?” “Pun intended?” Blaze laughed “Maybe” he frowned “Answer the question” “If I were to do that, it’d be solo, not as a quintet” I rolled my eyes “You think you can do better than us, on your own?” Torch Song spoke rather haughtily “I know so” I know you, who are you now? Look into my eyes if you can't remember. Do you remember, oh? I can see, I can still find You're the only voice my heart can recognize But I can't hear you now, yeah. I'll never be the same I'm caught inside the memories, the promises our yesterday’s when I belong to you. I just can't walk away 'cause after loving you I can never be the same. And how can I pretend I've never known you? Like it was all a dream, no. I know I'll never forget the way I always felt with you beside me and how you loved me then, yeah. I'll never be the same I'm caught inside the memories, the promises our yesterday’s when I belong to you. I just can't walk away 'cause after loving you I can never be the same. You led me here, then I watched you disappear. You left this emptiness inside and I can't turn back time No, stay! Nothing compares to you. Nothing compares to you. I can't let you go, Can't let you go. I can't let go. I'll never be the same, not after loving you, not after loving you, no. I'll never be the same I'm caught inside the memories, the promises our yesterday’s when I belong to you. I just can't walk away 'cause after loving you I can never be the same. I can never be the same. I will never be the same. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. I just can't walk away. No, I can't walk away from you” I snag alongside a familiar, soothing voice, glancing behind me, I saw Crystal hovering there, looking rather upset about something “I just came to say that I’m sorry for what I did, I shouldn’t have acted out, at all” Crystal bit her lip “We all lose control at one point or another Crystal; you are of no exception to that rule, welcome back” “Thank you, Tesla” she smiled “You’re welcome” I sighed “just try not to do it again, Ok?” “Ok” she chuckled “How about another song, just for us” Littlepip smiled “you and Crystal could do a duet “Baby I Think We Both Know It's Gone Wrong, Wrong, Wrong And I Know You Don't Think We Can Carry It On Baby I Think We Both Know It's Gone Bad, Bad, Bad Think Of All The Good Times We Had Driving To Your House Member When We First Met Dancing' On A Friday Night Under The Moon Light Talkin' Till The Night Was Gone In The Back Of My Truck With The Radio On” I sang, beginning the timeless classic, still playing he guitar, as I’d somewhat conveniently carried it with me “Then That Ol' Song Comes On Together We're Singin' Forever We're Singin' When That Ol' Song Comes On Together We're Singin' Forever We're Singin' That Ol' Country Song Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah” Crystal and I formed a duet “Baby I Think We Both Know It's Alright, Alright But How Could I Forget What You Did That Night Baby You Told Me You Loved Me In Tennessee Where We Were Gonna Live But Now You've Done A Few Things That I Can't Forgive Driving To Her House Tellin' Her You Love Her Lying On A Friday Night Ring In Your Pocket Lying To Me All Along In The Back Of Your Truck With The Radio On” Crystal sang “Then That Ol' Song Comes On Together We're Singin' Forever We're Singin' When That Ol' Song Comes On Together We're Singin' Forever We're Singin' That Ol' Country Song Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah” we formed another duet “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah” Then That Ol' Song Comes On Together We're Singin' Forever We're Singin' When That Ol' Song Comes On Together We're Singin' Forever We're Singin' That Ol' Country Song Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah” “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah” Crystal and I formed one final duet as we ended the serenade “Me and Tennessee, really?” Blaze chortled “Sounded good at the time” I shrugged “So did reading MLD, Right Tesla?” Blaze smirked “How was I to know what the ending was like?” I frowned “Sappy” she slowly nodded “you really pick your poisons dontcha?” “So I do,” I smirked “Do you think we could join together at one point?” Toe-Tapper smiled “It could work, but we’d have to switch songs a little bit, pun not intended” Little pip nickered “But of course,” I chimed -=- As I sat with Littlepip, Velvet Remedy, Twilight and Spike in the library, I glanced at the book Twilight was reading “What’re you going to attempt this time?” I smiled “A basic Summoning spell” Twilight smiled, her horn flaring a bright magenta colour as a vortex of pitch-black magical energy appeared between us, said vortex released a momentous amount of energy in a wave-like motion, creating a blinding light When I could see again, I saw what I guessed to be an anthro pony with a white mane and rabbit suit, complete with ears, with pointed horns between her ears, smiling at me rather sultrily with a pink bow-tie and bright red eyes, her crimson coat gleaming in the sunlight that filtered through the windows as he Blood-red-cutie mark shone in the sunlight, that of which was a love-hear with devil horns which complimented her devil-like wings “Hello, master” the being spoke “I’m Chilly Pepper, a succubus, and your personal slave” “I thought you said this was a basic spell?” I glanced toward Twilight as the succubus pecked my cheek, tracing a light hand around my chest area “I don’t get it, I researched the entire set of notes thoroughly, and repeatedly” Twilight blinked, glancing between her books and the being who was now attempting to undo my pants “Please stop that” I mumbled “Ok, Master,” Chilly Pepper giggled, her tiny fangs glimmering like snow-white icicles, turning her attention to Twilight “the reason your spell failed was that Tesla has a larger amount of willpower in him, just waiting to be released alongside his magic that’s also stored within his body, mind, and soul, plus he’s stronger in general, kind of cute too” she pecked my cheek again “Have you a normal form?” I grumbled, she changed to an apparent pony form with a flash of light, minus the suit and ears, and with a long, slender devil-like tail “Do I not please you in that form?” she blinked “it’s just that I don’t want to be surrounded by awkward stares when I go outside, assuming you’re going to be with me now” I shrugged “love the forms though” “Thank you, Master” “I’m Tesla” I sighed “Thank you Master Tesla” she bowed “Just Tesla will suffice, I’m eighty, not eighty-million” I chuckled “Thank you, Tesla” she smiled “I wonder how you’re going to explain this to the princess” Spike drooled at the sight of the crimson ‘mare/devil’ curled up in my lap “That’s what I’m worried about” Twilight bit her lip “Just say it was an accident, and the explain the rest when she gets here,” I smiled “leave the rest to me” “She’s beautiful, for a succubus” Velvet Remedy hummed “I’d heard legends that they’d mate with you until they eventually suck out your soul, and then rut you senseless anyway” “I love you Tesla,” Chilly Pepper mumbled “Do you love me?” “I love every one of my friends,” I smiled “including you” As we walked out of the library, Chilly got an awful lot of stares “Told you” I sighed as Celestia appeared in a bright flash of light “What is this… thing?” Celestia’s eyes narrowed at the sight of Pepper “Explain” “I was trying a summoning spell, and then there was a vortex of magical energy and then a bright flash of light and then, she appeared” Twilight gestured toward the crimson she-devil-mare stood beside me “And the reason you summoned a being of tartarus?” she scowled at Chilly “she does not belong here, she needs to go back, and she needs to stay there” “I won’t go without Tesla!” Chilly snarled, baring her fangs at the solar princess “And I won’t let you take one of my friends away from me, I’m not having a repeat of that happening again” I growled, triggering ‘Dragon Force’ “Explain” Celestia frowned at me “I had my whole, life, world and heart torn to shreds, all in one event, that was seventy years ago, and I refuse to allow it to happen again!” I glowered at her, my fangs growing slightly as my nails turned to claws, and horns sprouted from my skull “I see” she slowly nodded “then I shall leave the demon to you, Tesla, if I hear that you’ve let her do as she pleases, and that she’s caused any form of chaos, she goes back, are we clear?” “Not, allowing it, to happen” I reiterated “ever” “I won’t cause any trouble if that’s what you’re thinking” Chilly Pepper spoke up, almost nervously “I’d never do what my master won’t allow me to do, his word is the law of my life, and it shall be so long as I can see the sun as it burns brightly above the horizon” “If you insist” Celestia scowled, vanishing via teleportation “A demon, really?” I blinked “You can talk,” she giggled “you’ve grown horns!” “I’m part dragon” I shrugged “And I’m part devil” she winked slyly at me “You entered ‘Dragon Force,’ and then ‘Double Dragon Force’!” Blaze stared at me “It appears that my emotions are the key to my power” I studied my nails and wings with great curiosity “curious, almost demonic, and yet it’s pure dragon slayer magic” “You can slay dragons?” Chilly simpered “I can, and if I have to, I will” I stated frigidly “Fair do’s” she gave a cute giggle “by your word, Master- I mean, Tesla” “So how old are you?” Spike sighed with a dreamy look in his eyes as he gazed at Chilly “On Equis, less than twenty minutes, in general, I am as old as the realm I used to inhabit, I am a timeless chorus, join your voice with mine, and sing victory, everlasting!” she and I spoke in unison toward the end of the sentence “You know devil script?” she blinked “That’s what that is?” I blinked “I was just quoting the Gravemind” “He’s the founder of the ancient textures” she stared at me “What others do you know?” “Time has taught me patience, basking in a new freedom; I know all that I possess” I growled in my impression of the Gravemind “Dude, that’s creepy” Spike shuddered “Perhaps we could form a duet?” Chilly nickered “Perhaps we could,” Littlepip “or maybe you could join us, we need a seventh member to or band!” “You play music?” she blinked “We sing, I play the guitar,” I sighed “it’s a work in progress” “Perhaps you could teach me, master?” she batted her eyelids at me “Perhaps I could,” I nodded “and I will” -=-=- “Are you serious?” Crystal burst into laughter before our next ‘gig’ “you want her in our group?” “You haven’t heard her sing” I winked “Very well then,” she sighed, turning her gaze to the crimson mare “What’s your name?” “Chilly-Pepper, but master calls me ‘Pepper’” “Master?” Crystal grinned “I was summoned by the purple one known as Twilight’s spell” she shrugged “So I see, and he asked for it?” Crystal nodded toward me “No, I simply came of my own volition, after all, we succubi need masters to rule over us, lest we go mad” she giggled “Good to know” Crystal shuddered as we crowded the stage, placing the guitar on the bench, Littlepip and Velvet Remedy sat either side of me, Pepper sat in front of me , Snowdrop and Blaze positioning themselves on my head and shoulder respectively as the audience took to their seats, al staring at Pepper in somewhat apparent confusion “Shall we?” Velvet smiled as Crystal hovered beside her, I nodded “Just a small town girl Livin' in a lonely world She took the midnight train goin' anywhere” I began the song “Just a city boy Born and raised in South Detroit He took the midnight train goin' anywhere” Chilly Pepper chorused, her voice, ironically enough, like that of an arch-angel “A singer in a smoky room The smell of wine and cheap perfume For a smile they can share the night It goes on and on and on and on” she continued Strangers waiting Up and down the boulevard Their shadows searchin' in the night “Streetlight, people Livin' just to find emotion Hidin' somewhere in the night” Snowdrop chimed as she added to the song “Workin' hard to get my fill Everybody wants a thrill Payin' anythin' to roll the dice Just one more time” Velvet Remedy and Littlepip sang as a duet “Some will win, some will lose Some are born to sing the blues And now the movie never ends It goes on and on and on and on” Blaze and Crystal formed a second duet “Strangers waiting Up and down the boulevard Their shadows searchin' in the night Streetlight, people Livin' just to find emotion Hidin' somewhere in the night” Snowdrop, Blaze and I serenaded, almost “Don't stop believin' Hold on to that feelin' Streetlight, people Don't stop believin' Hold on to that feelin' Streetlight, people Don't stop!” Pepper, Snowdrop, Blaze, Crystal, Velvet Remedy, Littlepip and I completed the song as septet “When I see your smile Tears roll down my face I can't replace And now that I'm strong I have figured out How this world turns cold and it breaks through my soul And I know I'll find deep inside me I can be the one I began the second song “I will never let you fall (let you fall) I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all (through it all) Even if saving you sends me to heaven” Snowdrop chorused as Pepper sang the background vocals “It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. Seasons are changing And waves are crashing And stars are falling all for us Days grow longer and nights grow shorter I can show you I'll be the one” Blaze and Crystal chimed together “I will never let you fall (let you fall) I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all (through it all) Even if saving you sends me to heaven” Littlepip sang with Velvet Remedy serenading the background vocals “Cuz you're my, you're my, my, my true love, my whole heart Please don't throw that away Cuz I'm here for you Please don't walk away and Please tell me you'll stay woah, stay woah” I sang, solo “Use me as you will Pull my strings just for a thrill And I know I'll be okay Though my skies are turning grey” Pepper sang her heart out, her wings giving off a blinding light as they changed from devil-like wings, to those of an angel, although their colour remained the same “I will never let you fall I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all Even if saving you sends me to heaven I will never let you fall I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all Even if saving you sends me to heaven” we sang a second time as a group “And here’s the third song running” Blaze declared as I sat on the bench, my friend snad family crowding around me as I began to play the guitar “The burning desire to live and roam free, It shines in the dark And it grows within me You're holding my hand but you don't understand So where I am going you won't be in the end” Chilly Pepper chorused “I'm dreaming in colours Of getting the chance Of dreaming of trying the perfect romance The search of the door, to open your mind In search of the cure of mankind” Littlepip and Velvet Remedy formed a duet, both smiling at me as they sang “Help us we're drowning So close up inside Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? How will the lights die down, telling us who we are?” Snowdrop and Blaze formed another duet I'm searching for answers Not given for free You're hurting inside Is there life within me? You're holding my hand but you don't understand “So you're taking the road all alone in the end I'm dreaming in colours, no boundaries are there I'm dreaming the dream we all seem to share In search of the door, to open your mind In search of the cure of mankind Well help us we're drowning So close up inside” I sang with Pepper, it was as if our hearts had touched, and were now resonating off on-another “Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Why does it rain, rain, rain, down on Utopia? And when the lights die down, telling us who we are Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Why does it have to kill the ideal of who we are? Oh, why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia? Now when the lights die down, telling us who we are Why does it rain?” we sang a third time as a septet, bowing before the audience, who clapped their hooves in applaud as we marched from the stage, to the backstage area, and from there too the main hall “That was amazing!” Octavia gaped at me, then glanced toward Pepper “who’s she?” “I’m Pepper” Chilly Pepper smiled “Octavia” she raised an eyebrow as Twilight, her friends and the princesses trotted toward us “I didn’t know succubi could sing that well” Twilight glimmered, all eyes were on us, I heard faint whispers being passed back and forth “I didn’t know she could sing that well” Twilight face-hooved “She’s a succubus?” Rainbow Dash glowered at Pepper “like one of those demon-things that hunts you down and ‘does the nasty’?” “But her wings don’t match” Cadance blinked “We’re all like angels with a little demon on the inside, maybe she’s a demon that found a little angel on the inside?” I suggested “Thank you, Tesla,” Chilly Pepper smiled “You said that once, about The ghoul in the wastes, the one who was still alive and very much sane” Velvet chimed “She had her mind intact, what was left of it anyhow” I sighed “For a Succubus, you’ve the voice of an angel” Twilight smiled “ “Don’t I just?” Pepper nickered “She’s one of the demons from Tartarus?” I heard someone yell “Get her out of here!” another pony screamed “We don’t want one of her kind here!” a third one jeered “get her out!” “Just keep it up” I mumbled, clenching my fists, scales appearing on my arms, hands and face “What’re you waiting for, someone call the guards!” a fourth pony snapped “That’s enough!” I bellowed, a burst of energy washed over me, a seemingly holographic dragon made of pure energy and fire appeared above me, my eyes shining like suns, my canines extending into fangs as I let out an unearthly roar “Now we’re going to allow her to live an everyday normal life, just as anyone else would, and we’re going to do it without question, are we clear?” everyone in the room nodded “Good” I sighed, my teeth, eyes, face, arms and hands returned to normal as I let out a sigh “Dragon’s apparition” Blaze grinned “Gets shiv done” “That it does” I nodded as the holographic dragon faded from view “It’s a little tiring though” “That was incredible!” Pepper gasped “How did you do it?” “Simple, and yet somewhat advanced dragon slayer magic” I glanced around the room, all eyes were on me, rather nervous eyes, at that “That was overkill” Velvet Remedy shuddered “I did not mean to scare you, Velvet, nor you, Littlepip, Snowdrop” I bit my lip “It’s alright Daddy, you did what you had to” Snowdrop smiled “Yeah, you don’t let anypony mess with your friends, ever” Littlepip gleamed “That was both amazing and yet somewhat terrifying” Luna blinked “remind us, not to annoy thee” “Noted” Celestia and I nodded “But I must ask, was such an action necessary?” Celestia raised an eyebrow “For every action in the world, there is always an equal reaction” Blaze sighed “besides, you know what Tesla said about his friends, about how he’d defend them with his life if need be” “So you would” she sighed “then I shall leave you for today, Tesla” with a flash of light, she vanished “I hate having to do that” I sighed “And I thought you were awesome before!” Rainbow Dash laughed, Twilight shot her a glare “what, he beat discord single-hoofed, who else can do that other than the princesses?” “Always fighting” I mumbled, walking with Velvet, Littlepip, Chilly Pepper, and Ryōshi out of the castle, standing in the gardens “I’ll bet it’s what the eons of old did as well, in their war against all forces that might’ve been related to the antagonist of that era” I lay on by back under the shade of a large Oak tree “I’ll bet” Blaze nodded “and I’ll bet that they didn’t have to put up with the amount of hatred and prejudice that your little Pepper was on the receiving end of, either” “I’m used to it” Pepper shrugged “Us demons of tartarus are used to the insults, curses and abuse that we’ve received for the past two billion years” “Two billion,” I blinked “how old are you?” “A few hundred years, the old tartarus was destroyed in a great civil war between the demons of what can only be described as hell; and the succubi of that same area” she sighed “There’s a reason Celestia doesn’t mentioned it to anyone, even her beloved sister, and my kind is a part of that reason” she had tears in her eyes “You can let your emotions go you know, you don’t have to try and act tough when I’m around, I won’t laugh, and I won’t think any less of you for it” I smiled, sitting upright “Oh, Tesla,” She burst into tears, clinging onto me, draping her wings around me, as I did with my wings around her “It’s over now, Pepper, you’re free now” I smiled, faintly “I’m glad for it,” she cried “I’m glad I’m free of that pit, I’m glad I had the chance to come here, and I’m glad I met you, you’re an amazing person Tesla, don’t let anyone tell you differently!” “That’s it, let it all go,” I cooed “it’s going to be alright” “Thank you Tesla,” she sobbed, tears cascading like Luke-warm waterfalls down her cheeks, and down my shoulder “thank you so much for loving me like you have” “It’s Ok” I smiled, stroking her mane “I won’t leave you or any of my friends or family for anything, unless I absolutely most certainly have to, you’re my Nakama, which means you’re closer than family to me, and that I’ll do anything to be with you” “And I you, Master,” she sniffled “And I you, with all of my pitch-black heart” “I’d say it’s onyx” I gave a weak chuckle “Thank you, Tesla” she smiled faintly, letting go of me, pecking my cheek “do you know what us Succubi feed on?” “Love?” I took a wild guess “Lust,” she gave a weak grin “Ravage me tonight, my love" And so I did
chapter VII spirit songAs I awoke the following morning with a stiff back, I felt something lying on my chest “Wakey, wakey, my little devil” I smiled as Chilly Pepper rolled onto the ground, stretching as she awoke “Hello handsome,” Pepper smirked “Have fun yesterday” “Not half,” I exhaled sharply “Didn’t know you could do that, my Little Pepper” “I can do anything your heart desires, Master Tesla” she winked flirtatiously at me “Don’t toy with me” I deadpanned, quickly grinning like an idiot “I won’t do anything you don’t want me to do” she smiled “And thanks to that I have no feeling in my legs;” I laughed, changing to eon form “hop on” “That I will” she smirked, leaping onto my back as Littlepip perched herself on the back of my neck =-= As we flew down to ponyville, Velvet Remedy also sat on my back, Snowdrop lay atop my head, and Blaze lay cradled in my arms, I heard someone screaming Rushing toward the library, I burst through the front door, only to find Twilight sat on her haunches, staring in apparent horror at a large mess on the wall, the mess turned out to be thick, bold, blood red writing, which also looked like it was written in blood, reading out ‘I’ve had incest with my brother’ “Have you now?” I glanced toward the lavender mare, who looked at me with a look of meixed fear and terror plastered over her muzzle “Well at least it can’t get worse, right?” Blaze and Chilli Pepper giggled nervously “Who said that it couldn’t get worse?” I sighed, staring at one of the walls in the carousel boutique that was run by and owned by Rarity, the same blood-red letters appearing on the walls which read out, ‘I’ve watched my sister have coitus with my parents’ “I may have miscalculated” Blaze hummed, bounding up and taking a small sample of the crimson liquid, tasting it “Blood” she bit her lip “it’s actually blood” “It’s appalling, that’s what it is!” Rarity snarled almost uncharacteristically “Well I know it can’t get any worse at the farm, right?” Blaze giggled weakly “Ok, Ok, I was wrong again” Blaze grumbled at the sight of snow-white fluid that trailed down the side of the barn at Sweet Apple acres that read; ‘I wish I could have him all to myself’ “Although this one isn’t as bad in context, it’s the stuff it’s possibly made of that makes it awful” Snowdrop observed “Indeed” I turned around, Cadance Celestia and Luna stood before me “Now do you see why she needs to go back?” Celestia frowned “Why, what’d you end up with?” Blaze smirked “I’d rather not say” she raised an eyebrow “Although you yon the other hoof, Tesla, you got one that was rather, interesting” “I already know, somewhat” I bit my lip “what if it’s a test, to see if people can see one-another’s worst parts, and still see if they can look past them?” “Explain” her eyes narrowed “A friend is someone who can see you for who you are and know what you’ve been through, and still tolerate you, maybe even love you for it, who’s to say that it’s actually happening now?” “I see” Celestia slowly nodded “I’ll be in the town square in ten minutes, see you then” “Well, what do ya’ll reckon?” Applejack stood by me with a bucket of paint and a brush “If this is what Celestia and I think it is, it won’t come off, let alone be painted over” I hummed “Aww come one, of course it’ll come off; we just have tah try!” she giggled, walking toward the wall, attempting to paint over the white writing,, only for it to fade instantly as it came into contact with the substance “Well Ah’ll be it doesn’t work!” “Told you so” Blaze laughed “Cellsy said she was meeting everyone in ten minutes in the square, we should probably go” “So what’s your message then?” Applejack smirked “Probably something family-based” I mumbled “And Rarity?” she nickered “Apparently she’s watched her sister have coitus with her parents” Blaze bit her lip trying to stifle laughter “And Twilight?” Applejack burst into a roar of laughter “Apparently had sex with her brother” I chuckled “Well that’d be the day” she rolled her eyes “Ah know he’s a right decent pony, but to go that far, when he’s her brother?” As we reached the square, I was met with a rather frightened-looking Twilight, a rather annoyed Rainbow Dash, a dishevelled Rarity, and a flat-haired Pinkie Pie “So what’d you get on your wall then?” Rainbow Dash suddenly grinned “Dunno, I slept outside” I shrugged “I can imagine what it is though” “Citizens of ponyville,” Celestia began, standing on the stage in front of the town hall “As most of you can tell, there is a dark force at work here, one who seeks to spread lies about each and every one of you, do not listen to it, for it is the voice of darkness, and as such, should and will be vanquished from our minds, and all of equestria” “Wrong,” I mumbled “It’s not a lie the writing just shows our darkest secret, and the truth about who we are, friends are those of whom who accept that and the rest of who you are, and learn to live with it, perhaps even respect you and possibly love you for it,” I went on “Say what you want, but the writing’s quite literally on the wall” Blaze finished for me, several pairs of ponies began to discuss amongst themselves about the writings “And I suppose you have a better idea?” Celestia raised an eyebrow “Never thought I’d get to say this oh-so accurately,” I sighed “get over yourself, if you let one tiny error in another being cloud your better judgement of them, then where will your s-called magic of friendship, love and tolerance be then, it’s a attest, don’t you see, it’s to see if you can truly live united under a single banner, or in this case, roof,” I smiled “if we let things like this get in our way then our bonds will never progress, let alone be forged at all, don’t let some pathetic writing in your home get in the way,” I went on “now, who’s going to attempt to get past this little blip?” a wave of hooves were raised as everyone present raised an arm “Didn’t know you could manage to lead people whilst using an anime quote, brother” Blaze chortled “upcoming song?” “Why not?” I gleamed, flying into the sky “My best friend gave me the best advice He said each day's a gift and not a given right Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind And try to take the path less traveled by That first step you take is the longest stride If today was your last day And tomorrow was too late Could you say goodbye to yesterday? Would you live each moment like your last? Leave old pictures in the past Donate every dime you have? If today was your last day Against the grain should be a way of life What's worth the prize is always worth the fight Every second counts 'cause there's no second try So live like you'll never live it twice Don't take the free ride in your own life If today was your last day And tomorrow was too late Could you say goodbye to yesterday? Would you live each moment like your last? Leave old pictures in the past Donate every dime you have? Would you call old friends you never see? Reminisce old memories Would you forgive your enemies? Would you find that one you're dreamin' of? Swear up and down to God above That you finally fall in love If today was your last day If today was your last day Would you make your mark by mending a broken heart? You know it's never too late to shoot for the stars Regardless of who you are So do whatever it takes 'Cause you can't rewind a moment in this life Let nothin' stand in your way Cause the hands of time are never on your side If today was your last day And tomorrow was too late Could you say goodbye to yesterday? Would you live each moment like your last? Leave old pictures in the past Donate every dime you have? Would you call old friends you never see? Reminisce old memories Would you forgive your enemies? Would you find that one you're dreamin' of? Swear up and down to God above That you finally fall in love If today was your last day” Blaze, Littlepip, Velvet Remedy, and I sang as a quartet as we landed down by the fountain “You Truly are amazing” Celestia smiled “doing what I couldn’t, and just like that?” “Age makes us loud, but also wise” I shrugged “To paraphrase Norik” Blaze nodded “Indeed it does” Celestia nodded sagely Suddenly, as series of bursts of light, radiated from each and every building in Ponyville, beams of snow-white light erupting through the roofs, yet somehow not damaging them, all arcing down and hitting me with full force, forcing me to black out =-=-=-= As I awoke, I looked around the room, Littlepip, Velvet Remedy, Chilly Pepper, Twilight, her friends and the princesses were all stood there, softly smiling at me as I sat upright “What happened?” I clicked my neck “You were hit with an immense amount of magical energy; that of which had an opposite polarity to the magic that sustained the writing on the walls of everypony’s home in Equestria” Littlepip smiled “we didn’t know whether you’d wake up or not” “Wait, all of Equestria,” I blinked, looking down at my former mechanical arm, only to find that it’d been returned to a normal flesh-and-blood appendage, as had my leg “Yes, your limbs have been returned to their previous states due to the magic we’d managed to harness from the explosion,” Celestia smiled also “although we’ve only managed to ensnare a glimmer of what now courses through your veins, Tesla” “A glimmer?” I blinked “I need to stop giving supposedly inspirational speeches” “And you need to stop monologuing” Blaze smirked as she sat atop my shoulder “So I do” I clicked my shoulders, followed by my back, and my wrists “So, when can I get out of here?” “Wheatley said that you could leave as soon as you awoke” Littlepip pecked my cheek “So I guess we can leave” When I got outside, there was an almighty cheer as what I’d guessed to be the entire town clapped their hooves as they applauded me “What?” I blinked “They consider you their hero, wear the title well, Teslakana” Luna smiled “Tesla’s no hero” Blaze smirked “he is what he is, there isn’t any changing that, and trust me, almost everyone who’s met him has tried, al ending in a rather sour failure” “You think that’s sour, try barbecue sauce” I grinned “just add vinegar, tomato ketchup, brown sauce, and a teaspoon of sugar” “I’m not doing anything of the sort!” she grinned “your kitchen-wise concoctions nearly ended up with me in the hospital” “You ended up with a bad case of ‘wind valley’” I rolled my eyes “It felt like my bowels were going to explode!” she argued “how you can call that food is beyond me!” “What’s ‘Wind valley’?” Twilight nickered “It’s where you can’t help but pass wind, usually lasts a day or two” I explained, turning my attention back to the quilava on my shoulder “And my sausage rolls aren’t that bad, sister” “Ah’m guessing that’s meat-based?” Applejack sighed; I nodded “How do you humans manage it?” “I thought you were going to say stomach it, that would of made a pun worth sinking your teeth into” Blaze chortled “Cringe-worthy puns at their best” I facepalmed, as did everyone else who was present “Not sure how to digest that, are you?” she gleamed “Ok, that’s enough” I mumbled “Alright, I’ll stop” she sighed “But the memories of these puns will forever eat away at your sanity” “I said stop” I growled “Alright, that was the last one” she glanced at me awkwardly “It’d better be” I shook my head “Someone woke on the wrong side of the hospital bed” she smirked, looking up at the top of my head “Someone’s horny” “What?” I felt the top of my head, only to find there were indeed horns there, I quickly glanced behind me, there was a third pair of wings tucked just under the other two “It… it’s ‘Double Dragon Force’” I blinked “Not Quite, young Eon” Celestia smiled “When you absorbed that energy, albeit with slight difficulty, you newfound power somehow became literally attached to your actual physical form, what happens when you use that ability again is anypony’s guess” she explained “In all fairness you should be feeling rather light in comparison to usual” “Metsuryū Ogi Kai; Gia Sekando” Blaze chuckled “Indeed” I smirked “how long was I out?” “A month” Celestia hummed “we don’t know how much power you put into your attacks, but Discord’s still in the royal Canterlot hospital “And now you see why you shouldn’t annoy a dragon slayer” Velvet Remedy smiled as Kiary perched herself between my horns “I guess the part of you that’s dragon has grown significantly larger” “And so have your senses no doubt” Pepper smiled “And that’s not counting the ghost that’s been appearing in your room every night, watching over you like a guardian angel” “Really?” I glanced toward Blaze, who nodded “That things been with you since you went out like a m light, I think it might be related to the dragonsong” Blaze folded her arms “She hasn’t said much though” “She?” I suddenly felt sick “She’s a dragon, even more reason to suspect her as part of your legacy as an eon, Tesla” Cadance smiled as a ghostly figure of a brilliant emerald dragon faded into view before me, her golden underbelly scales, horns and sapphire eyes gleaming in the sunlight “Hello, Tesla” the dragon smiled “You’re the dragon who’s been keeping an eye on me?” I tilted my head ever-so slightly “I am,” she nodded “my name is Ember, as I was never able to conjure a proper Dragonflame worthy to be used in battle, so I stuck with it,” she went on “now, shall we?” “Do what?” I blinked “Practice our spirit combination” she rolled her eyes “I see you’re new to the whole concept about spirit unity?” “A little” I grinned, placing a hand out before me as she morphed into a jade-coloured vortex that reshaped itself into a bright green orb, pressing said orb into my being, Kiary taking flight as I was overwhelmed with incredible energy “Now, we may fight and work as one” Ember and I grinned in perfect unison “It’s actual spirit unity?” Twilight eyed me up and down as Ember’s ghostly form appeared above me “I’d read about it, but I didn’t think I’d ever see it in person, they’re completely merged now!?” “Indeed” Celestia nodded “Tesla and Ember are fused now, in being, spirit, and all other attributes, even their heartbeat and breathing are as one” “Tsuin tamashī, Ryū tamashī” Ember grinned down at me “Quite the ability, wouldn’t you say?” “I’ve a feeling it only gets better from here on in” I gleamed “Quite so, this ability is like mastering a ‘Lightning Flame Dragon mode’” she nodded “What?” I blinked “I may have failed to mention something, whilst I failed to master fire, I honed and perfected my powers with that of the thunderstorms that rage through the heavens” Ember smirked “Needless to say, that I am a Lightning Flame Dragon” “Now that’s more like it,” Blaze glimmered “Elemental diversity for once” “A ‘Lightning-Flame dragon?’” rainbow Dash stared at me, and then toward Ember Twilight blinked “how is such a thing possible, Celestia?” “It is possible, through great amounts of time and effort, for a dragon to use an element other than fire, it’s either that or they’re born with it” Celestia smiled “and it would appear that Ember is no different “What kind of elements?” Littlepip stood beside me alongside Velvet and Pepper “there have been sightings and scenario’s where iron, lightning, poison, even the skies themselves have been used in dragon magic” Celestia’s eyes narrowed slightly “And then there’s Crystagia, the Gem dragon” Blaze smirked “Quite so” she nodded “Tesla’s foster mother, Crystagia, is a unique dragon, perhaps one in several generations, perhaps rarer still” she continued “to hear of a gem dragon, ironic as th title is, is legendary, the stuff of myths and folklore themselves, she’s a regal dragon, Tesla, you’re actually rather lucky” “You know Crystagia?” Ember stared at me in apparent awe “She’s my foster parent,” I beamed “do you know her, Ember?” “She’s the one who let me hone my skills as a lightning flame dragon and she’s is the only dragon in existence thus far; who has mastered every possible element in dragon magic” Ember pondered “to think that you’re her son is nothing short of almost impossible!” “And here I thought things couldn’t get any weirder” Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes as the party slowly picked itself up “If you think it’s weird now, just wait,” I laughed “allow me to try something,” I raised my arm above my head, concentrating my energy into it, with an almost blinding glow the lower half had morphed into a large, silver-coloured drill, which set itself alight as I concentrated further, shortly followed by lightning bolts that encircled the flames “Metsuryū Ogi, Ryu No Tamashī, Giga, doriru, burēkā!” I cheered charging into the sky as the drill began to spin at breakneck speeds soaring into the sky, creating an incredible explosion of rainbow-coloured flames “Dragon slayer magic combined with spiral energy, that’s a new one” Blaze whistled as I landed before my friends and family, Kiary perching herself on my other shoulder as Snowdrop lay atop my head, as per usual “So, you’re like a shaman, you command the spirit of the deceased?” Twilight gaped at me “Two things, Twilight Sparkle, I do not ‘command’ anyone, no matter who they are or what the circumstances may be,” I frowned, then grinned like an idiot, again “and two, where on Equis do you get this information!?” I burst into a constant fit of laughter “I read books of course,” she nickered “I do live in a library after all” “So you do” I sighed “And here I thought I was going insane” “As if you aren’t already?” Blaze raised a smug eyebrow “Touché” I simpered, my arm now back to normal as it hung freely by my side “How did you know that you’d kept your ability with your arm?” Twilight nickered “I guessed” I shrugged as an unearthly rumbling escaped me “What was that, an earthquake?” Cadance blinked “More like my stomach” I stifled a laugh “What I wouldn’t give for Barbeque ribs right now…” “How are these made exactly?” Celestia raised an eyebrow “Don’t toy with me woman” I deadpanned, m she vanished for a moment, returning not five minutes later with a large amount of succulent-looking -what appeared to be- ham in her magical grasp, said ham was laced with what smelled like barbeque sauce “Damn, she’s god at this;” Blaze smirked at me with a sly leer “isn’t she Tesla?” my stomach let out another rumble “I think that says it all, really” “You can’t exactly blame me, I’ve been out for six months, seven including this one, and through all that I haven’t eaten anything whatsoever” I frowned “Never get between a dragon and his next meal” Twilight sweat-dropped “Basically” I nodded as Celestia handed me the meat, complete with leg bone sticking out of the end, beginning to eat away at it “Where’s this from?” “The gryphon kingdoms, I take it you like it?” Celestia raised an eyebrow “They really do make a good ham” I smiled “What’s ham?” Applejack blinked “What’s this from?” I stopped, momentarily “Pig,” Celestia raised the other eyebrow “Why?” “Then it’s either ham or bacon, depending on how you make it” Blaze smirked “Everything’s better with bacon” I nodded “Amen” she nodded as I finished off the meat, disintegrating the bone with Dragonflame “So when do we start practice then?” “On what?” I tilted my head slightly “Our new octet, duh!” she lightly smacked me on the cheek “you really are dense aren’t you?” “Depending on how one would define such a word, then maybe” I exhaled sharply “So who can see you then?” I glanced up toward Ember “All of them, but it appears that they’re transfixed on your party right now, only sharing a moments glance with me” Ember nickered, almost “T’would appear that I’m not the one who matters right now, Tesla” “And, to quote Admiral Preston Jeremiah Cole, let me show you what one puny human can do!” Blaze grinned “Too right” I smiled, walking toward the so-called ‘party’ “Yo Tesla, glad you could make it!” Vinyl trotted toward me alongside Vinyl “Who’s the dragon?” “I’m Ember,” Ember smiled “Tesla’s guardian ghost” “A ghost,” Vinyl blinked “you look real enough to me” “That’s because I’m allowing others to see me for what I am” she let out a giggle “Ok, but why’ve you got horns?” Vinyl stared at the top of my head “I’m part dragon, it’s only fitting I have the scales, horns, wings and flame-based magic of one” I smirked “That’s awesome!” she cheered “So, we heard that you saved the town, more or less” Octavia nickered “Did I?” I glanced toward Celestia, she smiled “Learn something new every day, eh Tesla?” Blaze laughed “So we do” I chuckled -=-=- As I flew around the area near Cloudsdale, I found a single, massive, stone pillar with a mansion built onto its annex, and it looked abandoned “Is anyone in here?” I knocked on the door, only to have it swing open due to a sudden breeze as Littlepip and Velvet Remedy landed safely on the ground “Apparently not,” I frowned, my nose twitching as I flew into what appeared to be the main lounge, finding three ponies’ bodies in a small pile, two female, one male, two adults, one fill, all a mild greyish colour with darkish-pale bluish manes and tails, the filly’s eyes opened, staring at me in awe “Hello there” I smiled, putting on the softest voice I could manage “Who are you?” the filly quivered I all-too obvious fear “I’m Tesla” “I’m Snowdrop” Snowdrop simpered “Littlepip” Littlepip smiled “Velvet Remedy” The charcoal-black unicorn mare beside me gave a soft smile “Chilly Pepper” Pepper nickered “And I’m Blaze, Tesla’s adorable little sister” Blaze laughed softly “But you look nothing alike” the filly blinked her cat-like irises staring at me apparent curiosity “I’m her adoptive brother, her family was killed by poachers” I sighed “Oh,” the filly’s eyes lower to what I’d assumed to be her parent’s unmoving forms “Mommy and daddy aren’t breathing, are they going to be Ok?” “They’ll be fine, as they’ll always be watching over you, no matter where you are,” I gave a weak smile “What do you mean?” she gasped “May I have a look at them, I promise on my honour as Luna’s knight not to do anything to them” I smiled, she nodded, I placed my head against the mares’ chest, then the stallions, shaking my head toward Velvet Remedy, who bit her lip “I’m sorry” I avoided the filly’s gaze “About what, they’re Ok aren’t they?” she had tears in her eyes “They are, in a way, they’re watching over you, as they always have and always will, from heaven” I flinched “NO!” the filly burst into tears, hitting my chest with all the force she could muster “they’re not dead, they’re not!” she cried, nuzzling into her parent’s bodies “They’re hearts have stopped beating, and so has their breathing, I’m afraid there’s nothing I can do” “So what should I do?” she wept “I do not know the answer to that, but you could either stay here, or you could come with me, I know it sounds awkward, but I’ll give you the best of what I can offer, knight’s honour” I saluted her “Can I have minute to say goodbye to mommy and daddy?” she whimpered, wiping away her tears “Take all the time you need” I bowed quickly, exiting the lounge, Blaze in my arms, Snowdrop atop my head, and Littlepip, Velvet Remedy alongside Pepper upon my back as I hovered at the entrance to the castle/mansion-like building, the filly eventually joining us, perching herself on my neck “I’m ready, let’s go” there was no emotion in her voice “Then we’re away” Blaze and I spoke in unison, nary a trace of neither happiness nor sadness on our voices “Where are we going?” The filly whispered, monotonously “To see Celestia and Luna” I frowned as I flew into the castle, knocking on the doors to the throne room “Enter” a rather authoritative voice called from the other side of the large double doors “And who is this?” Celestia raised an eyebrow as I entered the throne room “I’m Gracy Gloom” the filly atop my neck mumbled “can you help me?” “Where are your parents?” Celestia seemed shocked, to say the least “Dead” she sniffled, Celestia glanced toward me “I don’t know what happened to them, I just found her lying with them in the house” I explained “We see, and who were thy parents?” Luna hummed “Night Shade and Moon Heart” Gracy Gloom bit her lip “Lieutenant Night Shade?” Celestia stared at the pair of us “I’ll send a letter to Shadow Swift as soon as I can, you needn’t worry Gloom” “Thank you Princess” Gloom gave a very small, rather faint, smile “And what of you, Tesla, now that you’ve brought her here, will you take care for her and love her as a father would?” “I don’t know if I can,” I sighed “I want to make sure she’s safe, but I don’t know if I can take care of another” “A difficult choice; that much is certain” Luna hummed “Thou could leave her here with us, our guard would take care of her like she was one of their own, and the maids and servants that work around the castle would act as her brothers and sisters, per se” “‘Maids and servants,’” Blaze spat “Tesla and I prefer the term Nakama, that way; it doesn’t make us sound like power-hungry tyrannical scum-balls” “I noticed,” Celestia smiled “shall you leave her with us, or take her with you?” “What do you think Gloom?” I glanced toward the filly “Stay with me, or live with them?” “I’ll go” Gloom glided down to the floor, standing between Celestia and Luna “Goodbye Uncle” she smiled s I lowered myself down to give her a hug, shortly followed by a peck on the gorehead “I’ll see you later, Gloom” I smiled, turning around and gliding out of the room, raising a finger and thumb claw into an ‘L’ shape as I left, Blaze doing the same with her paws ==-=-== “We had to do the salute,” Blaze laughed as we stood in the centre of Ponyville “I thought it fitting, I’m a Fairy Tail wizard, she called me a family member, ergo, by the transitive property; she’s a fairy Tail member also” I shrugged “That makes sense” Littlepip giggled “So you’re her uncle now?” Pepper smiled “If that’s what she wants me to be, then that’s what I’ll be” I smiled back “And that’d make me her aunt” Blaze chuckled “And me her sister” Snowdrop simpered “Looks like, our little family just keeps on growing” she smirked “So it does” Velvet Remedy nickered “you’re a noble eon, Tesla, even if you attempt to deny it, what you’ve just done will possible resonate throughout Equestria for generations, by saving one pony, you affect many, and they, in turn, could turn around and change the hearts of everypony” she went on “you’re a special eon, not because you’re one of the only two that I know, but because of what you’re like on the inside, and not your draconic legacy or your human originalities, I mean who you are in there,” she pointed toward my chest “your heart is that of gemstone, and your soul is that of diamond, your mind is like that of the sea, calm, crystal clear, and your form is that of the wind, ever-changing between your eon and human halves, I love you Tesla, as does Littlepip, and Possible Pepper also, and we[‘re proud of it, you say that it’s our choices that define us,, and I say you’ve made an excellent one, my love” “That calls for a Carlsberg” Blaze laughed as I glanced around, noticing that Pinkie Pie had, somehow, set up another one of her apparently infamous parties throughout the large town, and that Twilight and her friends, save fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, were staring at me in apparent curiosity “So it does” I smiled as Twilight and her friends trotted up to me “What’d you do this time?” Applejack nickered “Save a filly’s life” Snowdrop squee’d “What?” Twilight blinked as Ember appeared above me “Tesla travelled to a seemingly abandoned tower held in the sky by a pillar of stone, once there he found a lone filly, held by her parent’s bodies” Ember explained “Where is she now?” Rainbow Dash blinked “She’s with Celestia,” Pepper giggled “Tesla wanted her to be safe, and knew that he couldn’t take care of everyone he so happens to save, so he made an arrangement with the princesses, so she now lives in the castle, with the guard, maids and servants taking care of her” “That’s noble of you” Twilight gleamed “how did they die?” “Twilight,” Rarity gasped, apparently horrified that her friend could ask such a thing “that’s very rude you know, I’m sure the poor filly’s been scarred, possibly worse even!” “Even so, it’s a fair question” Blaze shrugged “When we got there, it seemed like they were sleeping, even if it was in what appeared to be the lounge area, that’s when we found her, Gracy Gloom, tucked under her parents wings, as if they were trying to shield her from something” “What if they were, and whatever kill them had returned?” I blinked “We need to move!” as soon as I’d finished talking I set off for the pillar of stone, which was an absolute bastard to find “Here we are” I muttered, flying into the lounge, the corpses of Gloom’s parents hadn’t moved, naturally, I spotted a hooded figure take-off up the stairs, chasing after him as he made his way into one of the bedrooms “Who are you?” I scowled; creating twin fireballs in either hand, the figure bristled “I said,” I snarled, the fireballs doubling in size “who are you?” “I am not important, I was only sent here to ensure the retrieval of an item,” the pony scoffed “and that’s all you get, for now” a quick dart of fiery magic removed the being’s hood, revealing a cyan, pony-like head with fangs and silvery eyes “So, the plot thickens, now that you’ve seen who I am, but have no name to go with it, what will you do?” “I can bring the house down, pillar, foundations and all, and I will if you don’t give me some answers” I snapped “Very well, have your resolution” the cyan pony/.bug hybrid removed her cloak completely, revealing more of herself to me, she had insect-like wings with holes in them, her tail, and her legs “What are you?” I frowned “A new species, created to deal with any threat that my dear lord sees that could topple his hopes and dreams and turn his desires into mere ash” the being spoke haughtily “Well, aren’t you going to arrest me?” “I’m a knight, not a guard” I tutted “And if this is a conspiracy theory, I must say it’s rather intriguing…?” “Sapphire Star” the ‘new species’ winked “take me whilst you can, Tesla, but you just wait, everything you know will crumble before your eyes!” she went on “but I’m glad you think that of master’s plans, my little eon-!” I quickly knocked her unconscious with a swift chop to the back of her neck, my ears pull-ing me toward a drawer, Opening said drawer, I found a rainbow-coloured, pearl necklace; each one of the pearls giving off a prismatic glow, I then carried the cyan being over my neck as I flew back to the castle once more -=- “And what is this being that you bring before us this time, Tesla?” Celestia smiled “Blaze pointed out the theory that whatever killed Gloom’s parents might’ve returned, I went back and found her, looming around the upstairs area, searching for this” I held out the necklace I’d found, Celestia took it with her magic “We remember this” Luna’s eyes narrowed as she studied the jewellery piece “We gave it to Night Shade and Moon Heart in hopes that they’d use it when the time came, now, however, it may never happen” “What does it do?” Blaze smirked “Vanquish evil using sacred light” Celestia smiled “Cliché” she rolled her eyes “Where am I?” the Sapphire Star steadily got to her haunches “In my castle, in my kingdom,” Celestia spoke calmly, yet with the anger of a thunderstorm “you stand accused of the deaths of both Night Shade and Moon Heart, how do you plead?” “Guilty” Sapphire gave a wicked smirk “Explain thyself!” Luna glowered “It’s simple, master is making way for a new, brighter, and better Equestria, and then the rest of Equis shall be liberated, none shall be left behind when our Great Journey begins, that is our lord’s promise, and it shall be fulfilled!” “Either you start making sense, or I use what I’m assuming is your chitin to make a small set of light armour for Snowdrop and Blaze” I snarled “It’s all rather easy,” Sapphire laughed manically, eventually calming down, if even a little “Once Master finally gets that necklace, he’ll be able to do the impossible, and make it all the more of a reality,” she continued “the liberation of Equestria is but a small step in his march to glory, do what you will with me, but rest assured, where one of us falls, another seven shall arise!” she chimed “don’t you see, this world is corrupt, we need a better leader, not just those with the ability to move the Celestial bodies, but those with the ability to shape the universe as they see fit” “And you don’t care who gets hurt, maimed or worse on your little parade through hell?” I growled, picking her up, slamming her down to the floor by her neck “assuming we let you out alive; that of which I’m not really inclined to do at this point, just so you know, you can tell this oh-so high-and-mighty ‘lord’ and tell him that if even so much as flinches out of line, I will personally see to it that his remaining days, dreams and nightmares on this planet are those of fear, cowardice, weakness and anything else that he fears most, are we clear?” “Yu think master fears death,” Sapphire burst into laughter “he lives for the kill, much like a wolf lives for the hunt, and when he doesn’t get what he wants, he too, will personally see to it that he gets his way” “I’m not asking for thinks to go my way,” I glowered at her “I’m asking for things to go the right way” “And so they shall,” she sighed with apparent amusement “you really are dense, aren’t you Tesla?” “I’m also the one who’s contemplating whether to crush your thick skull or not” I raised an eyebrow “Do what you will toward me,” she shrugged, almost “but, it’s as I said, you interrupt his plans and he’ll come down here himself to deal with you, can you really handle that, Eon?” “I’ve defied gods and demons, and slain dragons bigger than your level of arrogance,” I laughed “I think I can handle a strange, bug-pony hybrid” “Changeling” she smirked “or rather, Neo-Changeling” “Call yourselves whatever you want, you’re all part hug, and they all burn the same” I shrugged, letting her go “Now that you’re finally released from your otherwise humorous captivity, somewhat,” Celestia stifled a giggle, then frowned “Now, changeling, what do you want?” “I want nothing more than for master’s plan to come to fruition” Sapphire rolled her eyes “”What you do with me is of your concern, not mine” “Then it’s to the dungeons with you until I can find a better use for you” she spoke icily, the guards at either side of her throne quickly escorted Sapphire from the room “Tesla,” she smiled “I believe we owe you a commendation” “Simply doing what I can for my country” I shrugged, Littlepip, Velvet Remedy, and Chilly Pepper landing on all fours on the pristine floor as I reverted to human form “Your country,” she raised an apparently amused eyebrow “Explain” “Equestria’s my home now, has been for the past year,” I smiled “Can’t have conspiracies about a possible tyrant queen running about, can we?” “Those words mean more to me than you could realise, Sir Teslakana” she bit her lip, as if trying to hold back tears of either sadness or joy, I knew not which “By your word, Princesses” I bowed quickly, turning around and walking with Pepper, Littlepip and Velvet out of the room “Oh, and Tesla,” Celestia called out from her rightful throne as I opened the door, I turned my head to face her “I love you” “Noted” I winked as I left the throne room -=- “She loves you?” Blaze blinked, as if I pondering for a moment, before continuing, “I wonder how long she’s withheld that, or when it started” “Probably the same time that Crystagia arrived,” I hummed “or the time when I mentioned her, think about it, a lone wanderer searching every place he can find in a quest to find his parents, just to see their smile again” “It’s almost tragic,” Littlepip bit her lip “Quite so,” I nodded “I think her admiration, let’s call it’ of you only grew when you saved the town,” Velvet simpered “only then did she realise what she was feeling, in its purest of forms” “Poetic, almost,” Chilly Pepper smiled “What’re you going to do about it?” “Dignis Solis*” I shrugged “So be it,” Blaze smirked “you cheesy ferret!” “Is this another case of the pot calling the kettle black?” “No it’s the pot calling the kettle a racist” she grinned from ear to ear “Fair do’s” I shrugged “Ahem?” I turned around; Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Celestia, and Cadance were stood before me, eyebrows raised “Blaze,” I sighed “Yes brother?” the quilava smirked “Thank you” I groaned “No problem TK” she laughed “Is there nothing wrong with love?” Celestia raised an eyebrow “We didn’t say there was” Blaze gave me a sly grin, I simply looked the other way “Then you shouldn’t mind me doing this,” Celestia walked forward, standing within mere inches of me, placing her lips against mine, her lilac eyes staring into mine with the warmth and caring I’d come to expect from her, gradually parting “Well?” she raised an eyebrow,, smiling as I eventually raised gentle hand to her cheek, running my fingers through her somewhat ethereal mane, letting my hand rest by my side, pecking her cheek “I must say that was rather relaxing,” she smiled as I slouched against a nearby tree, sitting against the trunk, lying next to me with her head in my lap, staring up at me with her bright pinkish eyes “you could get a job down at the spa, were it not for your musical career” “Could do; but I’ve a family to take care of,” I smiled “Besides, how on earth did I get lucky enough to end up on Equis in the first place?” “That’d be because of me,” she sat upright, staring right at me, a look of apparent concern in her eyes “when Discord said that I was responsible for everything in your life, I was,” she flinched, as if expecting to be hit “I’m the one responsible for your reclusive nature, I alone am at fault for causing you to be the way you were” she bit her lip “I only wished for you to return here, to be with me, together forever” she finished “Whilst I am annoyed that I had to go through that, I’m thinking it was worth it, after all,” I clicked my neck, each vertebrae making a loud cracking sound as I did so “without it, I wouldn’t have met any of you” “You’re kind, considerate, and noble,” Velvet Remedy smiled “Tesla, I’m honoured to be with you” “As am I” Littlepip pecked my cheek as she sat beside me, Chilly Pepper sat beside her as velvet Remedy curled up in my lap “And me” Pepper smiled “All of us in general” Kiary chimed as she sat upon my shoulder, Blaze “And me, Daddy” Snowdrop smiled from atop my head, as per the usual “I might as well join the bandwagon and agree with them” Blaze rolled her eyes “So, how’d you manage it this time?” Rainbow Dash smirked “Heck if I know, hell if I give a damn” I clicked my tongue “Then you admit your love for me?” Celestia blinked “I love all my friends” I smiled, again “That’s not what I meant-!” I silenced her by pressing my lips against hers; she blinked “fair enough” “Princess,” Shining Armour galloped out of the castle, running toward us, only to come to a screeching halt “I’ve received reports of an Ursa appearing in Ponyville, and that you’re to be summoned immediately!” he panted for breath, Velvet Remedy clambered to her hooves as she stood beside me as I pulled myself to my feet “This should be interesting” Rainbow Dash grinned -=- As I glided down toward Ponyville, I quickly -and instantly-, noticed a large cobalt blue bear that appeared to be made of stars and the energy of the cosmos bound into a physical entity Said entity was busy destroying the town “Well like she said, let’s make this interesting!” I glimmered, my friends and family landed beside me along with the princesses as I reverted to human form, bursting into flames “I believe this would be a good time to test our spirit unity” Ember appeared beside me in her usual ghostly form, gleaming “Likewise” Celestia and I smiled, holding my hand out as Ember diminished in a miniature whirlwind, morphing into the same spherical shape as before, which I then implanted into my chest, a sudden burst of energy causing my wings to extend “Modo Raien Ryū” with a second burst of energy I found myself encompassed in whitish-golden flames and golden-primrose lightning as I bolted toward the Ursa, firing Gatling-like punches once I was close enough “Raien Ryū no Hoseki-Ryū ken!” I boomed, striking the bear possible hundreds of times, maybe thousands even, forcing it to practically slide backwards along the ground away from Ponyville “And now, the finisher” Ember and I smirked in unison as I generated a sphere of fire in one hand, and a sphere of lightning in the other, bringing the spheres down as they doubled in size, crashing them down onto the Ursa, creating an explosion fit for a battlefield of the gods “Raien Ryū no Gakkotsu!”** The Ursa shone with a bright light as it seemingly exploded into millions upon millions of tiny star-like shards of what I assumed to be energy “That was amazing!” Rainbow Dash gleamed as she and the rest of Twilight friends, the lavender mare herself included, galloped up to me, save Fluttershy, who stood in the crowd that burst into cheering as I landed before them, Ember de-fusing with me as I did so “That was truly magnificent, such a brilliant display of your magical prowess,” Rarity glanced toward Twilight “no offense Twilight” “None taken Rarity, I’m sure I couldn’t have done it myself like Tesla did” Twilight nickered “But I didn’t,” I gestured toward Ember who was busy staring at something behind me “Uh, Tesla, you might want to re0-check for damage” Ember pointed to the area behind me Turning around, I saw a large crater on the edge of Ponyville, one which had arcs of lightning jolting from one area to the next “It would appear that thou hath gone, how would thou say, ‘Overkill’?” Luna giggled as she, Celestia, and Cadance trotted toward us casually alongside my other friends and family “Indeed,” Blaze smirked as she clambered up onto my shoulder “one does not simply use such a spell without causing large amounts of damage to the immediate vicinity” “I’m just hoping I didn’t do any significant damage” I bit my lip “None that I can see” Snowdrop smiled as she sat atop my head “That’s good” I exhaled sharply, feeling a little numb “I’d say our unity worked at approximately eighty-percent,” Ember ‘reported’ “The next time we use it, it should be at least ninety,” she smiled “any sign of numbness you may be feeling is due to your nerves being rebuilt in order to withstand the voltage” “How can your own magic hurt you like that?” Twilight blinked “Lightning as it may be” “Because the air around a thunderbolt burns at around forty-five-thousand degrees” I explained, sort of “But I still don’t get why your nerves would be affected?” she tilted her head, Spike mimicking her as he sat atop her back “Because the brain delivers messages via electromagnetic pulses to the nerves and the areas of the body, anywhere from the horn-point down,” I smiled “that’s why I’m feeling, well, actually, I can’t feel anything, physically speaking” “So ya’ll are a Lightning Flame dragon now?” Applejack giggled “Ah thought dragons could only have one element” “It is possible, although extremely rare, that, under certain criteria, a dragon can gain another element,” Celestia smiled “Like Gajeel the Iron-shadow dragon slayer” “He ate shadows?” Twilight blinked “How does that work?” “Magic” I facepalmed “And here we were told that she’s the element of it” Blaze slowly shook her head as she held it in her paws “I don’t know everything!” Twilight frowned “You don’t?!” Rainbow dash chortled “Brother, I’m no longer surprised about why there’s a drinking game based on this series” “Neither are we” Littlepip and I rolled our eyes -=- “Remind me why we’re out here again?” Velvet Remedy all-but staggered out of the train as we made it to what I’d been briefed as Appleoosa “We’re here; ‘cause Mah cousin needs help with a few buffalo that’re causing a right ruckus around his orchard!” Applejack frowned “And he thought it’d be a good idea to make a town in the middle of the desert?” Blaze grumbled “Not that I can feel the heat, nor can Tesla, and nor can Kiary” she gestured to me, and then to the dragon laid across my head like a rug “What’s yer point?” Applejack scowled “If someone were to so much as drop a lit hatch-head, the whole town would be reduced to ash, that’s how dry the air is” Blaze grunted “do they not teach you environmental and/or biological technicalities in pony-land?” “Now wait just a minute!” she glowered at the quilava sat on my shoulder “That’s mah home ya’ll are talkin’ about!” “And mine too, but I’m not going mental about it, and my life here means as much as anyone else’s should,” I glanced toward the orange pony “It’s not a problem if you don’t make it into one, AJ” “Welcome to Appleoosa!” a yellowy-golden earth pony wearing a Stetson hat and a brown jacket, or so I thought, with a fiery golden mane gleamed at me from ear to ear “Yer a sorry-looking bunch” he eyed me up and down “what in the hay are ya meant to be, some summoning spell gone wrong or somethin’?” “See what I mean, not letting it affect me” I turned to face Applejack “I may be rambling about it but I’m not throwing a right hissy fit about it” “He’s mah cousin” Applejack glared daggers at me “Alrighty then” I slowly nodded “Ah take it yer insulting me fer a reason?” the pony raised a dangerous by his standards- eyebrow “Case in point” Littlepip laughed “You said something about a buffalo problem?” I stifled a laugh “They’ve been here a while now, longer than Ah have actually,” he deadpanned “why?” “I help friends of my friends,” I shrugged “just tell me where they are and I’ll be on my way to solve everything” “Ya’ll think ya’ll are strong enough to deal with them?” he burst into a fit of laughter “He beat the dragon king!” Kiary screamed the golden-yellow pony stopped “Ya’ll are joking, right?” he blinked, I sighed, igniting both hands with a crimson flame “So ya aren’t, Mah bad, pardner, they’re due east of here, in the hills,” he gestured to the nearby hills on the outskirts of the desert village “Sorry fer doubting ya” “I’m used to it” I clicked my knuckles, walking through the town, climbing up the steep slope, only to arrive on the edge of what looked like a native Indian encampment, complete with tepee’s “Who goes there?” a large, dark brownish buffalo stood before me, complete with Indian headdress and war-paint, and a dozen more surrounded, Velvet, Pepper, Littlepip and I as we entered the village “We wish to negotiate peace with the natives of the village at the feet of these hills” I smiled, faintly “We too have tried, but to no avail, tell their sheriff Silverstar that if he doesn’t move the trees by hoof, we’ll remove them with force” the ‘chief’ scowled “I’ll pass on the notion, if anything” I nodded When we got back to the village, my friends, alongside Applejack’s cousin, and a new, light-ish brown pony with a black Stetson and a silver marshal’s badge complete with a bandanna and jacket with a black moustache stood before me “Well?” Applejack frowned “He’s giving us the option of either we move the trees or he’ll apparently come down here and do it himself” I sighed “We’ve already told him we can’t,” the newcomer stamped his hoof on the ground “we’d simply be doing it all for nothing “Oh for crying out loud” I grumbled, flying into the sky, looking around the orchard, hovering above him, you can easily move the edge of trees from the left side over to the right, you wouldn’t be ruining anything, or is your earth pony pride thicker than your skull?” “Give me one reason I shouldn’t have you arrested!?” he glowered at me as I landed “Well for one, I’m a knight to the princesses, and two, I’m the only one here who can take care of them, properly” I pointed to the hills behind me with a thumb “First ya‘ll claim to be strong enough to beat the buffalo, and now ya’ll are claiming to be one a knight?” the golden yellow pony spat “Don’t be ridiculous” “Would you like for me to level everything within the vicinity to the ground as proof?” I grinned at him rather wickedly “On second thought,” he gulped audibly “Ah’m Braeburn” “Noted” I scoffed, turning to walk away “I suppose I’ll have to do this myself, Littlepip, Velvet, Blaze and Kiary, stay here,” I smiled toward the quilava on my shoulder “and should he try anything on either of the two, Blaze, you know what to do” When I got back again, this time from roasting the buffalo tribe, I saw Braeburn standing awkwardly close to Littlepip, attempting to nuzzle into her, only for her to take a large step back as Velvet Remedy tried to intervene “What on Earth do you think you’re doing!?” I bellowed as I soared toward them, kicking him in the jaw, sending him flying “Ah told him what’d happen if he did somethin’ like that” Applejack sighed “And yet you let him do it anyway?” Littlepip gritted her teeth, blinking as I crouched before her, stroking her mane “I’m sorry Tesla” she stood on her hind legs, draping her arms around my neck, placing her head on my shoulder “You’ve nothing to apologize for, you haven’t done anything,” I glanced toward Blaze “and you, I thought I asked you to defend them!” “I’m not that strong,” Blaze held up her paws defensively “and besides, we did say that the whole place could be reduced to ash at the drop of a match” “So I did” I bit my lip “Thank you Tesla” Littlepip gave a weak smile as she let me go, pecking my cheek as I pecked her horn “for being there when I needed you, cheesy as it might sound” “If and when you need me, just ask, and I’ll be there, that’s a promise and/or guarantee o can give to all of my Nakama” “That’s Mah cousin ya’ll just sent flying!” Applejack boomed “I’ll defend those who I care about, with my life, mind, heart, body or soul, bet it a common pony or otherwise” I tutted as Braeburn came stumbling through the door of the building I’d sent him soaring through the window of, sitting on his haunches beside his cousin “Why do you continue to act like that?” Littlepip bit her lip, I raised an eyebrow “I meant no offense, I’m simply curious to where you get the urge to fight as you do” “I failed once; I refuse to do so again” I slowly shook my head “That’s more than fair enough” she stared at me, unblinking as she wrapped her arms back around my neck “that’s far more than just fair, my little eon” “My Littlepip” I draped my wings and arms around her, holding her close -=-=- On the day that’d been aptly called ‘Heart’s and Hooves day,’ I was, as per usual, sitting underneath the shade of a tree in the gardens, only for certain grey pony to sit on my lap, somehow changing to an anthro form, with a lavender dress, bunny ears and arms stockings that went just passed the elbow as she pecked my cheek, quickly removing her entire attire “Fuck me, big boy” Octavia purred -=+=- Later that day, I staggered into the main hall of the castle “Note to self,” I shuddered “when they want something, they’ll get it” “I thought she nearly gelded you!” Velvet Remedy chuckled “Who?” I turned around; Vinyl was stood there alongside Octavia, who winked at me with a devious grin, I raised an eyebrow “No…!” Vinyl turned to face the silver mare “Tavi, why’d you do that?” “Hey I’m not complaining,” I laughed “she just, and almost, lost control of herself, nearly” “Who’s not complaining?” I turned around again, Celestia stood there alongside Twilight and her friends; save Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie “Nice work brother, I think she heard you” Blaze chortled “No, really,” I rolled my eyes “I have to say your way of work is rather, interesting” Celestia smiled softly “I’m only wondering if you can do it again” ‘Fuck’ “Precisely” she giggled ‘Did you just-?’ “Read your mind?” she raised an eyebrow with a sly smirk “Our bond has been opened as far as it can go, my love” “Don’t toy with me” I grinned “Oh,” she smiled “what’re you going to do?” “You’d be surprised,” I walked up to her, gently holding the sides of her face, placing my lips against hers “My little sunflower” “My little eon” she nuzzled into me, changing to her anthro form, draping her arms around my neck, and her wings around my back as she placed her lips unto mine, slipping her tongue between my lips, intertwining it with my own, gradually parting “I love you so much, it’s unbelievable” “Just take it easy, my little Dawnflower” I smiled “That’s what we should be telling you” Vinyl burst out laughing “Happy Heart’s and hooves day,” Twilight nickered “I’ve got something I’d like to say to you, Tesla” “And what is it?” I smiled “I envy you,” she blurted out, suddenly flinching “I’ve seen your power and abilities with magic, and I have to say, I admire you, for it, love you even” “Loving someone for their abilities or status isn’t love,” Blaze snapped “if anything it’s a hope that you’ll be as good as them someday, right TK?” “Depends on the circumstances,” I shrugged “right, I’m off to the theatre” Once inside the theatre, Crystal having joined us on the way there, I stood with Littlepip, Velvet and the after-mentioned eon on stage as the audience began to filter in through the door, beginning to sing with Blaze and Kiary one ach shoulder, and Snowdrop lying atop my bead, situated between my horns “I've been watching you stumble Through the darkest night Let me tell you It's gonna be alright I can see you've been trying but Your wings got clipped Been waiting in line but Your turn got skipped” I began the serenade “I'll be there when you need me I'll be there when you call Yeah I'll be there to catch you when you fall Know that I'll never leave you Out here on your own I'll be the lights that guide you home” Snowdrop and Blaze sang together “Been a long time coming Feelings for you My hearts been skippin' a beat Maybe two Right now you're weak but But you'll be strong I know where there's a place That you belong” Littlepip chorused “I'll be there when you need me I'll be there when you call Yeah I'll be there to catch you when you fall Know that I'll never leave you Out here on your own I'll be the lights that guide you home” Velvet Remedy chimed with the voice of a thousand angels “I don't know if you want me or if you care But even if you don't I'll be there 'Cuz when I'm beside you my soul burns bright Let me be the one Let me be your light” Kiary sang her heart out from the perch that was my left shoulder “I'll be there when you need me I'll be there when you call Yeah I'll be there to catch you when you fall Know that I'll never leave you Out here on your own I'll be the lights that guide you home” Crystal, Littlepip Snowdrop and I sang as a quartet “Now I know you've had problems We could solve 'em We could make it through Tried and true We could fight 'em off, all of 'em We could make it through a brighter day, anyway Gettin' by another way So I guess I'm trying to say I wanna be the lights guiding you through the night When things get dark, when you don't know what's right I wanna hold your hand, and tell you that you can So don't worry, it's gonna be alright” I sang, solo “I'll be there when you need me I'll be there when you call Yeah I'll be there to catch you when you fall Know that I'll never leave you Out here on your own I'll be the lights that guide you home” Crystal, Velvet Remedy, Littlepip, Snowdrop, Blaze, Kiary, Pepper and I sang as an octet “Next song, from TGC” I chuckled “Just a small town girl Livin' in a lonely world She took the midnight train goin' anywhere” I cooed beginning the second song “Just a city boy Born and raised in South Detroit He took the midnight train goin' anywhere” Littlepip winked at me, continuing the (sort of) serenade “A singer in a smoky room The smell of wine and cheap perfume For a smile they can share the night It goes on and on and on and on” Blaze and Snowdrop formed a duet, as usual “Strangers waiting Up and down the boulevard Their shadows searchin' in the night” Velvet Remedy chorused “Streetlight, people Livin' just to find emotion Hidin' somewhere in the night” we sang as an octet for a second time “Workin' hard to get my fill Everybody wants a thrill Payin' anythin' to roll the dice Just one more time” Crystal sang with glee (pun not intended) “Some will win, some will lose Some are born to sing the blues And now the movie never ends It goes on and on and on and on” Littlepip Velvet Remedy and Pepper formed a trio, smiling at me as they sang “Strangers waiting Up and down the boulevard Their shadows searchin' in the night Streetlight, people Livin' just to find emotion Hidin' somewhere in the night Don't stop believin' Hold on to that feelin' Streetlight, people Don't stop believin' Hold on to that feelin' Streetlight, people Don't stop!” we sang as an octet for a third time “And now for something, completely different” I shuddered “No, don’t you dare!” Blaze gasped, but snowdrop had already begun to sing “Boy meets girl You were my dream, my world But I, was blind You cheated on me from behind So on my own I feel so all alone Though I know, it's true I'm still in love with you” Snowdrop chimed “I need a miracle, I wanna be your girl, Give me a chance to see, That you are made for me, I need a miracle, Please let me be your girl, One day you'll see, It can happen to me” Littlepip went red in the face as she serenaded “I need a miracle, I wanna be your girl, Give me a chance to see, That you are made for me, I need a miracle, Please let me be your girl, One day you'll see, It can happen to me It can happen to me Miracle” Velvet Remedy smiled at me with a rather dreamy look plastered on her face “Day, and night I'm always by your side Cause I know for sure My love is real my feelings pure So take a try No need to ask me why Cause I know it's true I'm still in love with you” Crystal smirked at me with a knowing grin “I need a miracle, I wanna be your girl, Give me a chance to see, That you are made for me, I need a miracle, Please let me be your girl, One day you'll see, It can happen to me I need a miracle, I wanna be your girl, Give me a chance to see, That you are made for me, I need a miracle, Please let me be your girl, One day you'll see, It can happen to me It can happen to me Miracle, Miracle” Snowdrop, Littlepip, and Pepper sang with Velvet “And continuing the apparent ‘spirit’ of Valentine’s Day,” I nodded toward Snowdrop “And I'd give up forever to touch you, Cause I know that you feel me somehow You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be; And I don't want to go home right now” I began to thong as a duet with Snowdrop “And all I can taste is this moment, And all I can breathe is your life, And sooner or later it's over, I just don't want to miss you tonight” Crystal sang with an apparent softness in her voice “And I don't want the world to see me, Cause I don't think that they'd understand When everything's made to be broken, I just want you to know who I am” Velvet Remedy chorused “And you can’t fight the tears that ain't coming, Or the moment of the truth in your lies When everything feels like the movies, Yeah you bleed just to know you're alive” Littlepip sang with the voice of a dozen arch-angels “And I don't want the world to see me, 'Cause I don't think that they'd understand When everything's made to be broken, I just want you to know who I am” I continued the song with Crystal and Blaze, the three of us singing to our hearts content “And I don't want the world to see me, Cause I don't think that they'd understand When everything's made to be broken, I just want you to know who I am And I don't want the world to see me, Cause I don’t think that they'd understand When everything's made to be broken, I just want you to know who I am I just want you to know who I am I just want you to know who I am I just want you to know who I am” Blaze, Littlepip, Velvet Remedy, Pepper, Crystal, Snowdrop, Kiary and I finished as another octet, bowing for the audience as they got to their feet/hooves, applauding us as we left the theatre via backstage -=-=- “Where on Equis did you get that third song?” Rainbow Dash gagged “And here I thought you ponies liked these sorts of events and/or holidays” I blinked “Too mushy” she shuddered “At least you didn’t sing it, brother, that’d be hilarious” Blaze laughed “That’s just as much of a love song as ‘Lights’ is” I frowned “‘Lights,’” Celestia raised an eyebrow “The first song I sang” I smiled “That’s a love song,” Twilight smirked “As is ‘Your guardian angel’ right Daddy?” Snowdrop giggled “Which one of your songs is that?” Cadance nickered “The one I sang with Crystal when I first got here” I sighed “Never a dull moment when we’re around, eh?” “Too right,” Crystal chortled “Alright, name one other love song that you can sing, right here and now” Cadance grinned “Did you break your wings When you fell from grace When you came from heaven To this darker place” I sang “Did you watch me fall From the clouds on high See the glimmer of tears Streaming from my eye” Littlepip added singing like a goddess “I think I bruised my soul Climbing back from hell But if you're here to change me Then it's just as well” I chorused with relative ease “Your scars run deep But darling they will fade They told me to fear you But I'm not afraid” Velvet Remedy smiled dreamily at me as she serenaded “Don't hold back We're here right now There's nothing left here to keep us out, oh As different as The day and night I'm starting to feel like this is right and You're the memory I can't erase You're the part of me I can't replace You're the angel that loved me somehow And you're the demon I can't live without” Snowdrop and Blaze formed yet another duet “I'm the crossroads king In this wretched land You found me a mess But I'm a better man” I sang, solo “I could see it hidden Right from the start 'Neath your jagged bones Was a beating heart” Pepper serenaded, again “And that heart is yours Or what I have left So take my secrets Take them off my chest” I continued the song with almost apparent pride “That's why I'm here I've been broken too So maybe you can fix me And I'll fix you” Snowdrop chirped “Don't hold back We're here right now There's nothing left here to keep us out, oh As different as The day and night I'm starting to feel like this is right and You're the memory I can't erase You're the part of me I can't replace You're the angel that loved me somehow And you're the demon I can't live without” I sang with Crystal and Blaze as a trio “Welcome to my universe Touch me now and break my curse You'll be mine and I'll be yours So let's live life in reverse Back to basics, back in time Meet you halfway in the sky Breaking mirrors, smashing through I don't need luck when I'm with you” I sang, again, solo “Don't hold back We're here right now There's nothing left here to keep us out, oh As different as The day and night I'm starting to feel like this is right and You're the memory I can't erase You're the part of me I can't replace You're the angel that loved me somehow And you're the demon I can't live without” Littlepip and Velvet Remedy sang as the perfect duet “Eternity can wait You're my afterlife For once in my existence I see the light We've got it all, we've got it all Right here We've got it all, we've got it all Right here” Snowdrop and Pepper formed a third duet “Don't hold back We're here right now There's nothing left here to keep us out, oh As different as The day and night I'm starting to feel like this is right and You're the memory I can't erase You're the part of me I can't replace You're the angel that loved me somehow And you're the demon I can't live without” Littlepip, Velvet Remedy, Blaze, Snowdrop, Pepper, Crystal, Kiary and I formed one final octet for the day “‘Angels and Demons,’ as sang by Feather and Aviators” Blaze chimed =-=-=-= “This should be fun” Crystal smirked as I stood in the arena, my family and friends, including Twilight, her friends, Spike, and the princesses stood alongside Faust sitting beside her as what seemed like an army of the royal guards best and brightest “Live weaponry is allowed, only non-fatal blows permitted,” Celestia raised an eyebrow “begin” within a moment the archers drew back their bows, firing a wave of arrows toward me “One against an army and that’s the best you can do,” I tilted my head, flapping my wings in order to create a sudden burst of wind, which, surprisingly, threw the arrows astray, and as the swords-ponies charged toward me, the archers redrew their bows “not bad” I smirked, drawing the twin Dawnbreaker swords, crossing them in front of me as I crouched “Nitōryū Iai: Rashōmon!” one moment I was in front of the guards, the next, I was behind them, sheathing the twin enchanted blades as a sudden wave of air gushed toward me from behind as a few dozen of the guards fell, unconscious, the rest turned back to face me, wounded by the attack, but not yet defeated Now I just had the rest to deal with “Where did you learn that?” Shining Armour frowned “Nowhere important” I smirked as I turned to face him and the remaining portion of the army I was facing “I’ll ask again when I beat you” he spat, charging at me, twin swords raised high, bringing them down “Is that all you can do?” I yawned, stopping the twin swords with a single hand, the swords blocked between the index, ring, and middle fingers “How,” he blinked, trying to move the swords, only to be met with failure as I threw them aside “How can you do that?” “Gotta be strong if I am to keep the title of ‘Dragon Slayer’” I glimmered, the archers redrew their bows a second time, the unicorns that were present, Shining Armour included, set the arrowheads alight “that won’t work” I stifled a laugh, inhaling the flames from the arrows, exhaling a torrent of whitish-golden flames that encompassed the guards “Eigo Hoseki Ryu Hokou!” “Is that all you’ve got?” Shining Armour steadily got to his feet, as did those who could, the rest seemingly unconscious “If I were to do more, you’d be dead” I gave a deadpan stare “Give it your best shot!” he yelled, staggering as he did so “Metsuryū Ogi; Shiranui Gata,” I beamed with intent, crouching down and forming a circle around me with my arms, generating a large pillar of fire as I bolted upright again, and out of the pillar, came an enormous sphere of whitish-golden flames that partially resembled the sun “Dai Enkai; Ryu-Entei!*” “That’s incredible!” Luna stared at me in awe “But I’m afraid we’re going to have to stop you there,” Celestia smiled “we don’t know how much magic you put into that orb, so we can’t let this fight progress, ending it in a draw” “Fair enough” Shining Armour gulped audibly, gawking at the massive fireball I held above me, which dissipated, causing a sudden rush of wind to burst in all directions =-= “How long have you been able to use that last attack?” Velvet Remedy smiled as lunch was served and we were sat around the dining table “A few decades” I shrugged “I chose not to use it in the wastelands due to the highly irradiated and possible oxygenated air; that of which would’ve made the resulting explosion over more, well, explosive” “Great Flame Commandment, Dragonflame emperor” Blaze whistled “Been a while since I’ve seen that go off in someone’s face” “Quite” I smirked “I take it that it’s your strongest attack?” Cadance nuzzled into me “It’s one of them,” I nodded “the others being Suishō hasu Karyu Ken, another being lightning flame dragon roar, and the other being twin dragon god’s brilliant flame” “Why name it ‘twin dragon god’s brilliant flame’?” Luna blinked “You and Celestia are, in all technicalities, gods, and I’m at least one-third dragon, so, put the two together” I raised an eyebrow “Thou flatter us” she smiled “would thou be interested in coitus?” “You don’t beat around the bush do you?” I stared at her “Pun intended?” she nickered, I heard several ponies choke on their food as a few more did a spit-take “Someone’s getting a little ballsy” Blaze chortled “Stop dicking around” I slowly shook my head “This is rather incon-seeded” Celestia nickered “That’s a rather premature joke” Velvet Remedy laughed, all eyes were on us now that we’d started “This is a rather lengthy line of puns, isn’t it?” I simpered “It seems that quite a list of jokes has been erected” Celestia’s cheeks went a light pink tinge “Thinking of these puns is getting rather hard” Pepper giggled “I’ll bet it’s not the only thing” Crystal lightly punched my shoulder “you can run; you’ll just die tired” “Really?” I sighed “You started it” she shrugged "Sort of” I tilted a hand “Sort of?” she raised an eyebrow “what’s that supposed to mean?” “Never mind,” I rolled my eyes “Thought so” she grinned
Chapter IX Royalties“So, let me get this straight,” Sapphire sat before me as I stood beside Crystal, Velvet Remedy, Littlepip, Blackjack, Winter, Twilight, her friends, Spike, and Shining Armour in the throne room, the princesses and Faust stood opposite her “if I behave myself, I can go free?” “That’s the basics of it, yes” Shining Armour rolled his eyes “Then I choose to stay with him,” she pointed a hoof toward me “what did you say your name was?” “Tesla” I facepalmed “Then I’ll choose to stay with you, Sir Tesla,” she bowed, her neck dipped slightly as she slowly made her way toward me, sitting beside me “may you guide me to a happy life, should you want to” “Why wouldn’t I,” I smiled “you’re my friend now, Sapphire, we’re supposed to take care of each other, Blaze is not doubt going to comment on how cheesy I’m being, but in all honesty, I don’t care,” I went on “you’re my friend, my Nakama, and there isn’t any changing that now that Buckshot’s been dealt with” “Where is he?” she stared up at me, Blaze stood on one shoulder, Kiary sat on the other, Snowdrop perched upon my head, and Black Beetle clung to my back “In prison, and now that he’s been sent there to spend a length sentence for his crimes, you’re free” Celestia smiled “Why?” Sapphire blinked “You were his foot-soldier, but not his partner, and therefore, you share no common record of treachery,” Shining Armour gave a flat stare “you and the others of your kind that were with him at the time of his capture, are free to go, if you still wish to follow him, or attempt to get him back into the real world, then we’ll have no choice but to stop you” “I myself would never do such a thing, scout’s honour,” she nuzzled into my leg “but there are some that might, I can tell you who, if you’d allow me” “All possible help would be appreciated” he smiled, walking with her toward the dungeons “Cheesy” Blaze blurted out “See if I care” I rolled my eyes “I’m glad that we managed to solve that case without the use of unnecessary violence, not counting your newly demonstrated ability via use of your magic” Celestia glanced toward me “Where’s Grace?” Winter chuckled “She’s in her room, with one of the guards looking after her” “Cadance smiled “you really do all you can for those of whom you care about, Rick” “That I do,” I nodded “when’s the funeral?” “I’m sorry?” she raised an eyebrow “Can’t leave them up there forever, unless we remake the house into a cemetery of sorts” I sighed “Something’s got to be done about it” “Then you’re the leader of the project” she giggled “have fun” “What- I…” I blinked “fine,” I sighed “suppose I might as well do something with the cash I still have left from hearth’s warming” “You bought something else?” Twilight smirked “That’s for me to know and for you to find, literally” “Where is it?” Rainbow Dash gleamed “It’ll come to you eventually,” Blaze laughed “So how much do we have left, of the two-million we were given?” S “I’ve no idea” I shrugged “at least it’s going to be put to good use,” I simpered “and if I’m going to be the head of the project, I’ve one thing to request about its design, if I may” “Name it, my little eon” Celestia smiled “Make it fit for a king, if not a god” I glimmered “Explain” she raised an eyebrow “I meant no offense, it’s just that I can tell that Gracy Gloom’s an amazing pony, even if I’ve only been with her a short while, I can tell she could have the potential to be an absolute star,” I bit my lip “to be what I couldn’t be, to do what I couldn’t do, to think and feel what I daren’t try, she’s got the ability to do as she pleases, so long as it’s within reason, she could become almost legendary if she tried, and you know what, so could Snowdrop” I changed to eon form “You spend too much time on your laptop, brother, I think the cheesy monologuing is beginning to eat away at your sanity level” Blaze chortled “I have a sanity level?” I blinked “That’s debatable” she grinned “Damn right it is” I beamed like an idiot as we began to make our way to the main lobby “Alright Tesla, what are you on and how much?” Crystal folded her arms “My love for my friends is my drug, and I’m probably addicted,” I blinked “Ok, now I see your point” “Good, then shut up” she slowly shook her head “lover-boy” “Only to- god Damnit” I grumbled “Tesla, what’s that?” Twilight pointed toward my lower half, I glanced down, between my tail feathers, was a small, bold, blue flower “When did that get there?” I spoke in unison with Blaze “Oh for Fu-!” “Language” Blaze grinned “now where’s there last time you remember having a good roll in the hay, or, in this case, flowers?” “That was with me, if I’m not mistaken,” Vinyl and Octavia trotted toward me, smiles as radiant as the sun spread across their faces “Howdy Tesla” “How did you do it?” Crystal grinned “I might’ve been somewhat abrasively requested to use my eon form,” I glanced about the room “I tried, but she kept on insisting that I do so” “Lucky bastard” she whistled “ So what you fuck horses now?” “Ponies, and mind the language dear, please” Rarity shuddered “You, her, what,” Crystal glanced between me and Rarity “Nah, too high maintenance,” I laughed, Rarity blinked “that was a joke Diamond” “Diamond?” she fainted, landing on her side with a light *thud* “Strike,” Blaze guffawed “Six points!” “Two for the precision, two for the timing, and two because you’re awesome, Daddy” Snowdrop nickered, Kiary and Blaze now on my neck and back respectively, Black Beetle now perched on my upper-back “Make it seven, seven’s awesome” I hummed “Yep, he’s insane” Crystal grumbled “Aren’t I always?” I shrugged “Well, there was that one time you put a nicely baked cod into a chocolate sandwich” she nodded sideways “And don’t forget the time you dipped a nacho into whiskey” Blaze shuddered “And instead of using bread and butter with tomato soup like normal people, you use a chocolate sandwich” Crystal sighed “Tesla, you’re a freak” “I’m your freak” I raised an eyebrow “Love you too” she winked, pecking my cheek “Thanks dear” I smiled “If there’s any more mushiness I’m gonna go nuts!” Spike let out a groan of frustration “One could easily fix that in a multitude of ways” I stifled a laugh “how so?” he blinked “Like Blaze said, it’ll come to you” I winked “Tesla…” Crystal groaned “I wasn’t gonna do anything!” I held up my claws defensively “I’m pulling that thing out,” she frowned, grabbing hold of the flower, pulling it from its nested position between my tail feathers “Feel any better?” “I don’t feel any different” I tilted my head ever-so slightly “Make a compliment” she shrugged “Celestia, Luna,” I turned to the solar and lunar goddesses “you may have the most irritating, most aggravating job in the universe, and you may well be the most beautiful, but that doesn’t hold a candle to the love I hold for you, Crystal” I glanced toward the eon at my side “if I’d have to choose between loving you and breathing, I’d use the last of my breath to say how much I love you” “That’s overkill” Blaze burst into a fit of laughter “There may or may not have been something I neglected to mention when you became an eon, my love” Crystal’s face was a deep crimson “Eons, both male and female, go through a certain phase, or change, in their behaviour, usually lasts a years or two, maybe three” “And there isn’t a cure?” Celestia eyed me up and down “Not that I know of” Crystal shrugged “in all honesty I’ve never seen it happen before, not until now anyways” “So it’s like heat?” Rainbow Dash gave me a smug, ear-to-ear, grin “Basically” she smirked “I only know what I’m telling you from a rumour I heard from Lyra, apparently it’s been known to drive an eon clinically insane” “I already am” I raised the other eyebrow “Sort of” “So, Tesla’s going to be more enamoured than usual?” Twilight tilted her head, Crystal nodded “this should be interesting “Any compliments for me?” Octavia smiled with a sly wink “Your music sounds like it was made my angels” I bit my lip “And so does your singing” she nickered “And this is supposed to last for a year?” Celestia glanced toward the ruby eon “The longest recorded ‘heat,’ so to speak, from what I’ve heard, is ten years, maybe eleven, maybe even longer” Crystal exhaled sharply “Meh, I’ll live” I shrugged “It’s not that I’m worried about,” she avoided my gaze “this could have a permanent effect on your personality, perhaps even change who you are, indefinitely” “‘Could’ doesn’t mean ‘will,’” I tutted my personality may change but I’ll still technically be me” “No,” she gulped audibly, placing a gentle claw on my cheek “now you won’t, you’ll be a different you, completely changed from the one I know and am proud to call my eternal mate, Tesla” “So, we’ve got how long exactly before you change back?” Vinyl blinked “On average, a year and a half” she sighed “This should be fun” Vinyl Rainbow Dash and I gleamed “Wonder how it’ll affect thy singing” Luna hummed everyone stared at her “What, we art most curious to see how Tesla shall fare in an event that will make use of his angelic voice” -=-=- After the song, -=-=- “That was moderately different” Crystal stared at me “For instance, your tone is now more variable, and as such, is able to perform different songs better, who knows, your pay check might be double at your next gig” “Only then, it’ll be four five songs, not one, maybe even six” I grinned “Whatever you say Mr Fahrenheit” she slowly nodded, re-folding her arms “It was one time,” I frowned “how, was I to know what’d happen?” “You sang, whilst drunk, when I was there, right next to you” she raised an eyebrow “Hey, a drunken mind speaks with sober heart,” I blinked again “I just did it again, didn’t I?” “Yes, yes you did” Blaze smirked “not that it’s wrong, by any means, it’s just strange for you to be acting like this” “What if I promised not to try and scare you shitless?” I laughed “It wouldn’t exactly mean much,” she shrugged “But I’ll take it, for now” “Every little helps” I chuckled “Except for the prices of said shop, they’re horrendous” she gave a sly simper “But of course” I sighed =-= “When is my next gig anyway?” I went about work at Sweet apple acres, Blaze on one shoulder, Kiary on the other, Black Beetle clung onto my back, hooves wrapped around my neck, and Snowdrop perched upon my head, Twilight, her friends, Spike, the princesses, save Luna, and Faust also stood by me alongside Winter “You do gigs now?” a somewhat familiar, chirpy voice replied Turning around, I saw a slightly smaller eon hovering right in front of me “Angel?” I blinked “how did you-?” angel interrupted me by planting her lips against mine “That’s for making me wait, you silly little human” she giggled “Lyra got you here didn’t she?” I smiled “That she did,” Angel stifled a giggle “Equestria?” “How’d you figure?” she pointed toward Snowdrop “Fair enough” “Isn’t life grand?” she pecked my cheek “More like convenient” I smiled “Speaking of which, where’s Crystal, and Ellie?” “Ellie, you mean Winter?” I nodded toward the nearby Glaceon “Ellie,” Angel soared toward Winter “you’ve… changed!” “That I have” Winter chuckled “But I’m not the only one” she nodded back toward me “What happened?” Angel sighed “Tesla’s going through what crystal labelled as a type of ‘heat’” Blaze smirked “Ah yes, the mental inferno” she laughed “first one I presume?” I nodded “I wish you luck, my pet” “Ya’ll are her what now?” Applejack chortled “It’s a sentiment, nothing more” Angel frowned “Even so, that’s not a term that gets used lightly around these here parts” she raised an eyebrow, adjusting her Stetson slightly “And Ah suppose ya’ll meant it in a way that’d be calling him yer ‘precious,’ or somethin like that?” “Not one for words of praise?” Angel and I simpered “Why talk when ya‘ll can act?” she shrugged “Because if you act without build-up or warning you’re likely to get your rear handed to you, you have to have some form of fall-back, per se,” I sighed “if you don’t talk, you don’t get anywhere, and if you don’t get anywhere, how can your love for that other person progress,” I linked “Damnit!” “And what would ya‘ll do if ya’ll were a mare, and you were in that position?” she grinned from ear to ear “You tell me, you’re the mare here, err, mares” I flinched “Ah’ve never been one fer letting mah emotions flow like that” she shrugged again “Ah was wondering if ya had any advice on the sort, from a stallion’s perspective” “I’m no pony” I raised an eyebrow “But ya’ll have the carrot and apples right?” she smirked “I’m not sure how to answer that” I blinked, she gleamed “I mean I have them I just want to say it without sounding awkward” “How old do ya think Ah am?” she raised an eyebrow “Same answer” I bit my lip “Because ya don’t want it to sound awkward?” she nickered, I nodded “fair enough Pardner” “How old are you again?” Angel eyed me up and down, purring slightly “One-hundred-and-ninety” I winked “You look rather good for your age” she nodded “That makes the two of us” I gave a sly grin “You flatter me” she giggled “Two of us,” Applejack frowned “‘Us’ being you two” I quickly blurted out “Thanks Tesla, ya’ll really know how to treat a mare” she laughed “No, I’m just trying to be nice” I exhaled sharply, carrying twin containers loaded with apples to a nearby wagon, and repeating the process of ‘picking,’ carrying and placing for most of the day -=- When evening fell, and the last emptied wagon returned to the farm, I sat on a barrel beside the banner at the entrance, staring up at the stars in the sky “Didn’t know you were that strong, Mr muscle” Angel smiled; “look at you now, a hundred years ago I’d never have said that you’d be the one to change my life, now look,” she went on “so what’s your profession, warrior, knight, hero, herald?” “Knight,” I winked “and also a darn good singer” “Ah yes, I’ve all but forgotten how soothing that certain sing you sing is to me,” she sighed with apparent relief “Sing it to me, eon-boy” -=- After the song -=- “That was amazing,” she cooed, pecking my cheek as she pulled second barrel beside the one I was perched on, changing to her anthro form, sitting next to me, pecking my cheek “Oh how I’ve waited for this, just you, me and the stars above that light the heavens” “Who said you needed to wait?” I quickly shook my head; Ryōshi sat beside me also, sitting in the ground beside the barrel “Quite so,” she giggled, planting her lips unto mine, gradually parting “How do you do it?” a small purple biped made it’s may onto my shoulder “Do what, Spike?” I chuckled “Love someone” he shrugged “I’ve tried all I can to get Rarity’s attention, but she just seems to ignore me, all the time” “That’s what I meant when I said she was high maintenance, she’s focusing on making herself stand out, to be honest it’s almost working,” I chuckled but anyway, you want her attention, my advice would be to give her a gift or something, I reached int my rucksack, set between Angel and myself, bringing out a small statuette from said rucksack, handing it to him “What’s it made of?” he blinked “Chrome-diamond alloy, or so I’ve been told” I smiled “you can give that to her in the morning, or you can rush over there now, just don’t mention me, Ok?” he rushed off without a word “Well, well, well, being a little Romeo, are we?” Angel laughed “Just trying to help” I tutted -=-=- The following morning, I awoke under the shade of a tree near the entrance of the farm, Ryōshi lying by one side, and Angel at the other, Snowdrop lying on my chest, blaze on my stomach, Littlepip and Velvet Remedy opposite Ryōshi, and Blackjack opposite angel, both groups sitting upright as I pulled myself to my feet, slinging my rucksack over my shoulders “Morning everyone” Angel yawned “Morning, the rest of us more or less grumbled, Ryōshi let out a grumble as we made our way into Ponyville “Did anyone catch that racket coming from the boutique last night?” Rose walked passed with her friends, winking at me as she went by “How can we not?” her pink friend with the pale/lime green mane and tail gagged “to think that a baby dragon of all things; could do that with a pony, it’s ludicrous!” “What happened?” I tilted my head slightly, returning it to its original position as Snowdrop perched herself there “The local dragon, Spike, as you may or may not have heard, mated with Rarity” she shuddered “I’m Daisy by the way” “Tesla” I shook her hoof “Yes, Rose’s told us about you, the wayward eon, if I’m not mistaken” she nickered “you wouldn’t know about last night’s events, would you?” “No, except that I’m at least one-third dragon” I raised an eyebrow “We didn’t mean to cause offense” Rose gasped, quickly bowing “You needn’t bow” I sighed “I’m just a friend, not a ruler, nor a king” “So Spike did the nasty with Rare’s huh?” Applejack suddenly appeared beside me “So we’ve heard,” Rose rolled her eyes “So Tesla, what’s going on in your little perspective of Equestria then?” “Not much, just everyday run of the mill” I shrugged “Has anypony seen Spike?” Twilight trotted toward us “Check the boutique” Daisy nickered “I think you’re little dragon’s grown up a little” “Spike,” Twilight marched off toward the boutique; we quickly followed her there as she stormed into the lounge of the elegant place of residence, I silently walked in, not wanting to be blamed for the door being knocked off its hinges, literally “Spike-!” Twilight stopped herself, her eyes turning to pinpricks as she laid eyes on the couch, Spike was there, around a foot taller tall than usual, with his head laid back and his hand on the back of rarity’s head as she sucked him off “Spike!” she bellowed, the dragon quickly glanced toward her, his eyes turning to the size of a needle’s end, staring at Twilight in absolute terror “Twilight,” Spike stammered this… this isn’t what it looks like!” “What is it then?” she growled fiercely “Uhh,” he gulped audibly, glancing toward me, I shrugged “I… don’t know?” “Wrong answer” she glowered, her horn flaring a bold magenta as she and Spike were teleported from the room -=- “She’s gonna row at me isn’t she?” I sighed as we, minus Rarity, Rose and her friends stood/ hovered in the centre of ponyville “I wouldn’t worry about it” Angel burst out laughing “Got it on camera” Blaze passed me a video camera that she’d no doubt gotten from my rucksack “Blaze, you’re a gem “But what if Luna goes on your laptop and finds this?” she raised an eyebrow “We’ll delete it from my profile, and set it to log me out of basically every website on the internet” I shrugged “Good enough” she sighed “Wonder what the couch felt like” I slowly nodded “I wonder what she felt like” Angel shuddered “Les,” I blinked “Bi” she winked “Only for you though” “That’s not exactly reassuring” I gagged “I’m just saying” she shrugged “So you are” I exhaled sharply “What happens now?” Littlepip looked like she was about to cry from laughter “Follow me” I smirked, walking with my friends and family to the library, placing my ear against the door “I don’t care if you are the right age for it, you don’t just leave and don’t come back without telling me first!” Twilight’s voice boomed from within the library “It was one time!” Spike sounded like he was crying “I thought you ready for that sort of thing; you’ve proven me wrong, goodbye Spike” Twilight ;’s footsteps came close to the door, to which I leapt back, as Spike was flung out of the door onto his back on the dirt “What’re you doing here?” she growled, glaring daggers at me “Are you Ok?” I bit my lip “Peachy,” she spat “I’ve just watched one of my friends perform oral coitus with my former son, how do you think I feel!?” “Pissed off?” I suggested “Quite so,” she hissed “now, I ask again, what, do you want?” “I’m just wondering what happens to Spike now” I shrugged as the small dragon made his way up my back, perching himself on the back of my head “You two do what you want,” she scoffed “I’ve had it with him” she slammed the door shut “Well that was awkward” Snowdrop hummed as Blaze stood upon one shoulder, and Kiary sat atop the other, “Does this mean I get to be with Rarity?” Spike tapped two claws from either hand together “In a way,” I shrugged “go for it little guy” he quickly leapt from my head to the ground, sprinting toward the boutique “Time, for a beer,” I exclaimed “but I’m not sure where r how though, and that’s even assuming they’ve got beer here at all” “Oh I’m sure they have,” Blaze clapped her paws sarcastically “Here’s hoping she doesn’t find out, eh?” “You what,” the library door suddenly swung open as an enraged Twilight knocked me on my back, glowering at me with enough force to figuratively kill a dragon, I, unfortunately, was part dragon “You, did, what!?” “Who’s to say I did anything?” I flinched “If I find that you’re the one who did that to my little spiky wikey, I will, end, you” she hissed “Do what you want” I shrugged “your magic and might will fail long before my body will yield to any kind of damage” she hit me, straight in the jaw, I heard the bones in her hoof crack “see what I mean?” she limped away, tears streaming down her face as she magically closed the door behind her =-=-= As we sat around a tree at the park, I stared at the ground; I was picked up by the collar “Would you mind explaining yourself?” Celestia frowned as she stood me on my feet; I stared at her, a look of pure guilt and emptiness upon my face as I looked away “He asked for advice, I gave him advice” I mumbled, her eyes narrowed “Indeed you did, but I think the gift was unnecessary” she scowled “How was I to know what’d happen?” I bit my lip “I’m not a psychic, I can’t tell what’s going to happen and when, unless I absolutely know for certain about it” “And Rarity’s reaction?” she aimed her horn at me “Completely out of my control,” I held out my arms at my sides “strike at me if you must, I won’t retaliate, do what you will, I won’t stop you, Princess Celestia” “Then I shall speak to Rarity about the matter” she nodded, teleporting out of sight “Tense!” Blaze laughed walking with me as I slowly and gradually walked at a snail’s pace toward the main square of town When I eventually got to the main square, what seemed to be the whole town was stood before us, all frowning at me with looks ranging from disbelief to uncertainty to disgust “Stay here” I walked forward, sitting cross legged right before the crowd “have at me then, ponies” =-=-=- After what felt like an hour, the last blackjack was thrown, hitting my skull, bouncing off and landing on the ground behind me “Daddy,” Snowdrop galloped at full throttle toward me, clinging onto me as she sat in my lap, blood trickling down my body from various points around my torso and skull “Why daddy,” she cried as tears cascaded like great waterfalls down her muzzle as she buried her face in my jacket as Twilight, her friends, Spike, who hid behind Rarity, Celestia, Cadance and “Because violence solves nothing, even in the bloodiest of wars, so if they want to hit and kick at me with all their might, let them, I’ll just shrug it off,” I gently stroked her mane, pecking her forehead, setting her on the ground beside me, steadily getting to my feet “ “Is that all you ponies can do?” Blaze laughed as I burst into flames, scales appearing on my face arms and hands “I’ve told you twice, I’ll say it again, my body, spirit and soul will outlast all that you do to me, equine,” I growled “come them, have your resolution” “I’d never of thought of my little ponies to be able to do this,” Celestia stared at me in apparent horror “the very thought of it eludes me to no end!” “Even so, here I stand,” I clicked my shoulders “not such innocent little ponies now, eh Cellsy?” “Tesla I…” she mumbled “Just go back to your throne, princess” I snapped “continue to pretend that you know what’s going on and what you’re doing, whilst outside your castle doors and borders lies a very hostile, very different world,” I glowered “it’s called reality, you might want to get used to it!” “How is he still standing?” Applejack gaped “Willpower,” I scoffed “you can try and convince them that I am of no threat, but you cannot change another’s opinion, time is need for such things to occur, Celestia,” I went on “and time, is not something I would like to waste any more of on you” I swiftly turned around and walked back toward the park -=-=- Once at the lake, I sat by the lake, looking at my reflection, only for an eon-like figure to appear beside me “Who did this to you!?” Crystal screamed “Crystal, it’s not important, I-” “Not important!?” she shrieked “you’re my mate, have been for the past century of course it’s important!” “Violence won’t solve anything, Crystal,” I sighed “I know that, you know it, everyone knows it, but they did it anyway” “And that’s why it’s bad!” she glared knives at me “What do we say;” I gave a faint smile “people fear what they don’t understand…” I rolled my hand “And hate what they fear” she sighed “fine, but just this once!” “Good enough for me” Blaze rolled her eyes as “And me,” I muttered as a familiar set of ponies appeared not far from me on the lakes reflection “piss off” “We just want to talk,” Twilight frowned “And you haven’t done enough of that already?” I snarled “it’s all you ponies is talk about your pathetic hardships and trials, try having your entire life heart and world crumble before your very eyes within about an hour, all at once!” “You’re still on that?” Celestia blinked “Tesla, I’m sorry I-!” “You’re what!?” I blared “you’re sorry for being a selfish bitch and leaving me scarred, for a good thirty or so years, is that what you meant to say?” I head tears of unadulterated fury streaming down my cheeks, feeling light-headed also “Tesla, I…” she stared at me in quite apparent misery “I understand” she quickly teleported away, it was then that I was on fire, per se, the flames having set the grass around me alight, I quickly put it out “Anyone else?” I scowled; Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie almost instantaneously vanished “What have you to say for yourself?” Twilight spat “That depends,” I shrugged “what do you want to hear?” “I want you to apologize” she scowled “Words are inadequate, actions are necessary” Blaze tutted “Very well then” she winked, turning around and lowering her front end to the ground “have at me” “I’m not doing that,” I frowned “Then apologize” she snapped herself around, glaring straight at me “And how do you expect me to do that?” I tilted my head “Perhaps it should be you ponies apologizing, not the other way around,” Crystal snapped “Tesla does something wrong and you immediately leap at him for it, now look at him!” “Why?” Twilight growled “You do this, when I try and help your little local dragon, you go mental” “Then I apologize for directing my ire at the wrong pony,” she nodded, turning to face Rarity “well?” “Tesla gave the gift,” Rarity gulped audibly as she was cornered against a nearby tree “But you engaged in the act” Twilight’s eyes narrowed “I’m sorry, I just wanted to show my appreciation!” she blurted out, flinching as she quickly covered her mouth with a hoof “And you couldn’t do that any other way?” Rainbow Dash slammed her hooves together “I’m sorry, it was late, I wasn’t thinking straight and I… I just don’t know anymore” Rarity began to cry as she slowly trotted back toward the boutique “I need to be alone for a while” “Angel!” Crystal chimed, high-fiving the eon by my side “Sup girlfriend?” “Not much, just taking care, or attempting to care for Tesla, that’s all” Angel chuckled “Aren’t we all?” Blaze laughed “Why?” Snowdrop sat in my lap, clinging onto me “why let them do that to you?” “Because violence won’t solve anything, if they think otherwise, that’s their problem, not mine,” I smiled faintly “I won’t let them near you Snowdrop, you’re my little snowflake, and there isn’t anything in the universe that could change that” “And what am I then?” Angel smiled “You’re my little angel,” I glanced toward Crystal “and you’re my little guardian gem” “And you’re our little Eon” Crystal winked “And my little knight” “You’re a knight now,” Angel blinked “how did that happen?” “I requested for it to happen,” I beamed “my little shooting star’s incredible, after all” “I’ll bet she was” Blaze grinned “didn’t know you could do that, Tesla” “Tesla did the nasty?” Angel smirked “three days here?” “Two, actually” I mumbled “Get you, fuck-machine,” she chortled “anyone else on the go?” “Besides Littlepip, Velvet, Vinyl and I, not much” Pepper giggled, gesturing toward the two mares who were sat by my side “Where’s Vinyl?” Angel tilted her head “At her club no doubt,” I rolled my eyes “or in canterlot with “Octavia” “Done her as well?” she smirked, I shrugged “anyone else?” “Princess Cadance” Blaze grinned “Two princesses?” she gasped “you rowdy little bugger!” “But you’re still all mine; you hear?” Crystal pecked my cheek “I’m yours as you are mine” I nodded “Good,” she smiled “Then I suggest we consummate our love, post haste” “What?” -=-=- “So that happened” Blaze laughed on the following day, smiling as the sun blazed away in the sky, nary a cloud in the sky “Indeed” I clicked my tongue “perhaps next time shall not be so… publicized” “What does that mean?” she blinked “It means that he doesn’t want to have to do it in public” Snowdrop nickered “Right, Daddy” “That’s correct, my little snowflake” I smiled “If you didn’t want to do it in the park, why not ask to do it elsewhere?” Blaze smirked “I think we’ve got bigger problems” Littlepip nodded toward a crowd of ponies stood in front of a stage set up at the front of the town hall, stood upon the after-mentioned stage was a brown pony with a combed black mane and tail, wearing a maroon tie with a dark blue suit and/or collar with a dollar sign for a cutie mark “I bring you together now,” the pony frowned at me “to help relinquish a threat that has long since gone unnoticed,” he smirked “ do speak, of course, about Tesla, the wayward eon, as some of you have grown to call him as, I ask you to stop this, for he is a threat to Equestria, and to all of Equis” “You’ve no proof!” a small, alabaster unicorn filly with a lilac and pink mane spat as she climbed onto the stage, glaring daggers at the stallion “Oh, and what have you to say about him, little foal?” “He’s the nicest pony I know, he even gave us an allowance out of the salary he got by working down at Sweet Apple acres, he protected us from a pack of manticores, and he still, and I love him for it!” the crowd gasped “that’s right ponyville, I’m not afraid to say it out loud, I love Tesla!” Sweetie Belle chimed “Do you see now, fillies and gentlecolts, why this threat must be purged, lest he corrupt anypony else?” thee stallion spat, there was a shared mumbling amongst the ponies that were present “We’re with Sweetie Belle!” a familiar orangey Pegasus with a magenta mane and tail stood beside a yellow filly with a scarlet mane and tail with a pink boy in her mane “More of you?” the stallion laughed “go on then, have your resolution” “Tesla’s the nicest pony we know, and we were there when he defended us, risking his own life for ours, even if he mightn’t make it back alive” Scootaloo beamed toward me, all eyes were on me for a moment, before returning to the quartet of ponies upon the stage as I landed beside the trio of fillies “and if you can’t see that, then you’re just as bad as you make him out to be” “What did you say?” he growled “You heard us;” Applebloom snapped Tesla’s our friend, an’ we ain’t letting one o’ our own go like that!” “By defending him, you’re no better than he is” the stallion snarled “And you’re any better by staging an event about it,” I laughed “people fear what they don’t understand, and they hate what they fear, and bullies are usually afraid or jealous of what their would-be victims have,” I raised an eyebrow “like you for instance” “Yeah,” Scootaloo gleamed “you’re just a bully picking on Tesla because you know he’s better than you” “That’s not true!” he glowered “Say or think what you want, your measly, pitch-black heart doesn’t lie to anyone” I deadpanned, turning to face the crowd “Citizens of ponyville, and all of Equestria, think of me what you will, I won’t stop you, do with me what you like, but mess with my friends and I will defend both myself and they,” I continued “I love my life and home as much as the next person, or pony, in this case, and I don’t think we should be stopped by such trifles as this, I think we should be united, working and living together, thriving with our bonds as radiant as the sun, and if you agree with me, you’ll stop listening to this pony and his foul lies, we’re only mortal” I bowed, relinquishing the stage, which was followed by a round of applause and cheering from that resonated the towns-ponies as the three fillies followed me toward Sweet Apple acres “That was amazing,” Sweetie Belle clambered onto my left shoulder as Applebloom climbed onto the other one “That was psychological warfare, in a sense” Blaze chortled “Tesla here just used what he knew against the stallion in question, simple really” “Filthy Rick giving ya a hard time,” Applejack leant against the barrel beside the entrance to the farm “he did that to Twilight when Spike first hatched, an’ when Twilight bought Spike with her to Ponyville, it’s a shame really,” she sighed “how’d ya manage it?” “I told him the facts of what was happening,” I smirked “that shut him up” “Congrats pardner, ya’ll managed tah keep quiet about somethin’ if only temporarily” she nickered “How many ponies were there?” “Ah’d say the whole o’ Ponyville,” Applebloom cheered “More or less” “Well Ah’ll be darned, nice work Stretch” she laughed “though ya might want to turn around” I did so, the stallion was stood there, legs shaking as he stared at me in half anger, half fear “I’m warning you,” his voice nearly cracked “leave Equestria, and I won’t sue you out of town” “Freedom is the right of all sentient beings,” I snapped “and you would do well to remember to not meddle in the fairs of the dragon, for thou are crunchy and taste good with ketchup” he sprinted off as fast as he could “Ooh rah!” Blaze chortled “Will someone ask him if he wants any ice for those burns,” I grinned “It’s demeaning “How’re ya feeling, after earlier an’ all?” Applejack bit her lip “Believe me, I’ve had worse” I clicked my neck, crouching down, allowing the two fillies on my shoulders to climb down to the ground “So, what’re ya doin’ down here if ya’ll don’t my asking?” she smiled “Here’s as good as anywhere I suppose,” I sighed as Crystal and Angel glided toward me “Besides, I don’t think I’ve any more problems, for now” “But Celestia split you and yer special somepony!” she gaped “I’m going to do what I told her to do when she was angry with me,” I shrugged “get over it” “But she’s the one who made yer early life on Earth a living Tartarus!” Applejack stared at me in apparent awe “And I could easily do the same with anyone who I so chose to do such,” I raised an eyebrow “I just choose not to, because I’m better in that regard” “Ya thing ya‘ll are better than a princess?” she frowned “Only in the regard that I can easily forget about what happened, but not the people involved” I smiled “ “Wouldn’t take much if that’s what she does for a living” Crystal spat “If she wants to get to my little human, she’ll have to pry him form our cold, dead, claws” Angel growled, Blaze nudged the back of my head as she stood upon my shoulder, I turned around, Celestia, Twilight, her friends were there with Spike “Is that how you feel, Tesla?” Celestia bit her lip “It’s how we feel, not that you care about any of Tesla’s friends, do you, Princess?” Crystal snarled “Harsh, but noted, regardless” Celestia gulped audibly “What do you want, pony?” Angel scowled “I’m here to apologize for all that I may have done that you consider wrong, Tesla” “And if I were, to decline?” I raised the other eyebrow “I’ll do anything,” she flinched “please, I just want once chance to be with you again” “What do you mean ‘again’?” Angel frowned “Basically, eons and humans used to live on Equis one billion years ago, but they got too powerful, so they stripped themselves of their power and sought other worlds, hence, Earth, what I don’t get is how I was sent there, and reverted back to being an infant, in all sense of the phrase, with no memories of my previous life or possible conquests” I explained “Giggidy” Blaze gleamed “Probably” I mumbled “And you and her were apparently loves during that previous life, I presume?” Crystal tutted as Faust teleported beside Celestia “So I have been told” I hummed “I can show you if you don’t believe me,” Celestia had tears in her eyes at this point; I simply shook my head “Aren’t I your little Dawnflower?” “Is this about your previous being here?” Faust rolled her eyes, glancing toward me, when I nodded she sighed, turning to face Celestia “I told you this would happen, Celly “Alright, I’ll leave you be, on one condition” Celestia stared at me right in the eyes “kiss me” “Not this again…” Faust groaned as her daughter trotted up to me, leaning in as she planted her lips against mine, gradually parting, her eyes locking with mine, I felt bad for having to hate her like this, I even said that I’d let it go so why hadn’t I? “Well?” Celestia gave a weak smile; I blinked, taking a step backward “I’ll think about it,” I tilted a hand “Thank you, Tesla,” she stepped forward, but then stopped herself, giving a light giggle “What do you think you’re doing?” Crystal lightly tapped my shoulder “I want to, in all honesty go through with it, I just don’t want to go through all the bad parts” I grimaced “I can assure you that I won’t allow such things to happen, princess’s honour; was it?” Celestia nickered “I hereby promise you, as a princess, not to wrong you in any way, no lies, no secrets, nothing of the sort” she smiled “That’s what everyone on Earth said, more or less; look where I ended up then” I grumbled “Then I hand my crown to you, as I’ve no idea on what to do” she had a look of pure misery upon her muzzle “You can keep your crown and title, I’ve no need for such things” I sighed, again “Then what am I to do?” she blinked “Live” -=-=- “I can’t believe they call ‘the stare’ intimidating!” Blaze guffawed from atop my shoulder “It’s intimidating to them, at least” I shrugged as Kiary sat on my other shoulder; and snowdrop lay atop my head “Says the human with a pony atop his head” Twilight smirked as she, her friend, spike, Celestia stood beside Blackjack, Littlepip, Velvet Remedy and Pepper “Two words,” I smiled “Dragon’s apparition” “I shudder every time it’s used,” Blaze grimaced “not that I’m afraid or anything!” “Of course not, sister,” I chuckled “one would be hard-pressed to find anything that scares you, of all beings” “Ya‘ll are talking about what happened in Canterlot when they started insulting Pepper?” Applejack blinked, I nodded “how do ya do that anyhow?” “Magic,” I grinned “Ain’t that a might overkill?” she raised an eyebrow “If you want a dragon slayer to do something overly destructive, make him mad” Blaze laughed “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you mad,” Velvet Remedy stared at me “at least, not properly anyways” “That’s a little scary” Twilight took a large step backward “I have, and even I’m scared by it” Blaze flinched “Even if you did end up depleting your magic energy for about a month, maybe two” “Again,” Celestia tilted her head “how are you able to do such things?” “You don’t want to know what I’m capable of” I growled “And yet I think they already do, eh Tesla?” Blaze grinned as she nudged the side of my head “Touché” I slowly nodded “I don’t get it” Snowdrop blinked “I’ll tell you when you’re a little older” I sighed =-=-=-= As night fell, I snuck into the library, hopefully unnoticed, taking a book from each shelf and creating a somewhat complicated structure out of them, adding more and more books much like one would with blocks if they were using Lego As I finished the structure, ii added a book from my inventory to the top, standing it upright, taking pictures with a camera, also from my inventory “What’s going on down here?” Spike appeared at the bottom of the stairs, I quickly placed a finger over my mouth, Ne nodded, grinning from ear to ear at the sight of the newly-made ‘book-fort’ taking my book off the top of said fort, beginning to read it as I sat against the wall in which the fort was built against the makeshift walls surrounding me “How long did this take to build?” he chuckled “An hour or two maybe,” I shrugged “what time is it?” “Six in the morning,” he laughed as a familiar lavender mare stumbled down the stairs, took one look at me, then spike, then the fort, and then screamed “What do you think you’re doing!?” Twilight blared “Making a book fort?” I shrugged “They were in perfect order,” she raged “and you ruined it!” she ground her teeth “what were you even doing here in the middle of the night anyway?” “I thought this was a public library?” Spike tilted his head, Twilight shot him a glare “Sorry…” “How did you get in?” Twilight scowled “In-tru-der window?” I gave a weak smile “Very funny” she huffed “now put the books back where you found them,” I gave her my best puppy-dog eyes “now” “You have to admit, this is kind of funny” Spike chuckled “Fine, but only for a few hours,” Twilight placed her head in a hoof as she sat on her haunches “Celestia knows how many of those books are limited edition copies” “So am I” I shrugged, she glowered “Alright, geez” “C’mon Twilight’ it’s just a few books” Spike shrugged Twilight slowly turned to face him, steam almost literally billowing from her ears “Just a few books,” Twilight hissed, “A normal library’s collection is ‘just a few books’ this is a collection of ancient tomes and masterpieces from ages past, how can you say such a thing?” Whilst all this was going on Blaze had strolled into the library alongside my friends and family, all sitting around me as I bought out a bottle of Pepsi, opening it, raising it in the air “To librarians, for without them we’d be lost in a sea of knowledge” I smiled, sipping the fizzy drink “That’s…” Twilight blinked, gaping at me “that’s the most romantic thing I’ve heard from you, almost” she trotted toward me, making her way through the open space between the walls of the for, sitting beside me, pecking my cheek “So what is this exactly?” Blaze glanced about the book-laden structure “A fort, to put it simply,” I smirked “Nicely built, it might hold off a missile,” Blackjack laughed “that is, if the missile is an oversized pillow” “Twilight dear we heard you scream and-!” Rarity stopped alongside the rest of Twilight’s friends, staring at me in apparent awe alongside Littlepip, Velvet Remedy and Pepper “What is this contraption?” “A bookfort” Twilight smiled as she placed her head on my shoulder “And how did it take the two of you to do this?” she nickered “I did it, spent all night doing it” I grinned “You broke in?” she gasped “Rare’s, somehow Ah don’t think it’s possible ah break into a public library” Applejack chortled “What’s that you’re reading?” Twilight glanced down to the book I was reading “Game of thrones,” I smiled “first published in nineteen-ninety-six, then televised in twenty-eleven, there’re seven books in total” “And you have the set?” she winked “You can have them if you want,” I shrugged “Oh no,” she quickly shook her head “I could never do that, keep them, they’re yours” her cheeks turned a light pink “though I’d be honoured if I could read one” “Just a mild warning, the language used is enough to make the guy from the ‘Tourette’s cat’ video green with envy” Blaze glimmered “Is it that bad?” Twilight bit her lip as I handed her the book “It’s not how bad it is, but rather, how it’s used,” I exhaled sharply “it’s an adult fiction, so to speak” “I’m twenty” she raised an eyebrow “Really, you look sixteen,” I blinked “guess those wings work wonders, eh?” “I’m not a foal anymore!” she gave a mischievous grin “You’re my little filly,” I smiled, pecking her horn “you’re also my little bookworm” I simpered as Ryōshi burst through the door, skidding to a halt at my side, lapping my face with tender licks “How are you Rio?” I smiled, Ryōshi let out an excited *yip* “that’s good to hear, and you’ve been where exactly?” she quickly walked out of the library, I got up and followed her, and all who were present followed me, all the way to a cave in the Everfree as Snowdrop clambered up unto my head, and Kiary and Blaze on either shoulder, having rendezvoused with me as we went “What’s that stench?” Rarity gagged “I think there’s your answer I pointed forward, both fists ignited, revealing a pile of corpses all manticores “How in the hay,” Rainbow Dash gasped “how did she beat all these manticores?” “It’d appear as though our little Ryōshi’s quite the apex hunter and predator, as her name suggests” I smiled, again “But wolves are supposed to hunt in packs;” Twilight argued “there has to be a matriarchal system, lest they starve” Ryōshi let out a sudden bark, bringing a large section of manticore leg over to me, dropping it at my feet, sitting on her haunches, staring up at me “What was that about a system?” Blaze laughed as I burned the fur off using my dragonflame, cooking it and eating it with mild satisfaction “Thanks Rio” Ryōshi let out a rather merry bark, following us back to ponyville, skipping alongside me “I wonder when she’ll consider you a mate” Blaze grinned “Not going to happen” I frowned “Why not, you did it with Crystal” she tilted her head “Crystal’s an eon; and so am I” I shrugged “And what of Cadance?” she smirked “Let’s just say that most ponies here are more decent then most humans I know” I deadpanned “And what, of Celestia?” she raised an eyebrow “Let her run her kingdom how she thinks is best, but let her know that Ulfric Stormcloak’s doing a better job elsewhere” I spat “I could lead a revolution, I simply choose not to” “How so, Teslakana of Earth,” I turned around, what seemed like the whole of ponyville was stood there, staring at me “You saw it when I came into town, reference not intended, and the sun raised itself, she was with me, Luna, and Cadance and the bearer of the elements, alongside my friends and family, were you not wandering through Ponyville when that happened?”, most of the ponies there either muttered their responses or nodded in agreement “back where I’m from, the Earth goes around the sun, and the moon goes around the Earth, and judging by the look of things, the same rules of physics apply to Equis, you see, the gravitational pull keeps the moon and planet in place and their momentum is what keeps them spinning around one-another” I continued the ‘speech’ “if we are to live by the same routine every single day, what good will come of it, we’ll be following the flow of the river, and much like history, the river repeats itself, time and again, and how boring would that be, why not spice up your lives a little with a bit of change, I know it may seems scary at first, but just think about the possibilities, they’re endless, as is my love for my home and all who reside here, that is all, now whose with me?” there was an almighty cheering as hooves were both stomped and clapped in applause, I bowed “thank you, my friends thank you all” -=-=- You did what!?” Celestia spit out her tea as we sat at the dining hall, staring at me in half anger, half awe “Blaze technically started it, I just added fuel to the fire” I took a bite out of my sandwich “Tesla, you’ve created chaos; that of which I cannot fathom how you created nor why nor what with” she frowned “Was it not Preston Jeremiah Cole who once infamously said ‘allow me to show you what one puny human can do!’?” Blaze folded her arms “That it was” I nodded “Tesla, I’ve no clue what to say, I think it’d be best if you left” Celestia bit her lip, I did, walking out of the room with Blackjack, Littlepip, Velvet and Ryōshi walking alongside Pepper and I -=- “Well that lasted a while” Blaze glanced around ponyville, Snowdrop once again perched on my head as she and Kiary stood/sat on either shoulder, most of the townsponies present either smiled or waved at me, some even bowed “That depends,” I tilted my head slightly “who do you want as a ruler,” I called out, almost yelling, everyone stopped what they were doing, quickly forming a crowd before me “do you want someone who wastes their time raising the sun and moon, that of which is raised and lowered anyway due to gravity, or do you want someone who’ll actually try to get things done, if so, raise or stomp you hoof, the crowd ushered forth a stomped hoof from each of them, whilst others raised their hooves “if you want someone who actually cares, raise or stomp your hoof,” again, half the crowd stomped their hooves, whilst others raised theirs “if you want someone to care for you like a friend would, repeat the process” they did “and finally, if you want someone who’ll gladly do whatever it takes, whether it be in their power or not, to help you in any way, raise your hoof” and again, they raised and stomped their hooves “Thank you, everypony” I bowed as they let out a cheer, eventually going back to their objectives, I turned around and waved toward the castle, laughing to myself as I felt a slight shudder, taking a nice long walk through the forest, when I returned, my eyes gave way to the sight of a rather interesting event “Please, my little ponies, you have to believe me-!” “You’re nothing!” Celestia was silenced by a seemingly irate pony “just leave while we still let you” Am I not your princess any longer?” Celestia was crying, flat-out sobbing, tears streaming down her face “Tesla’s our ruler now, he said he’d do everything you couldn’t, and we know he’ll stick by his word, much like he does his friends!” another townspony snapped “Tesla did this?” she gasped “He’s our king, your nothing but his bitch!” a third snarled “and I’m not afraid to say it aloud, I quickly found myself standing between the crowd and the princesses “What do you think you’re doing?” Celestia wept “Hey, a king’s got to look after his subjects; and even more after his friends and Nakama,” I smirked “and besides, did you not, at one point, say that you’d hand over your title and your crown?” “I did but-!” “She admitted it!” Blaze laughed, turning on my shoulder to face the crowd “do you not hear that, fillies and gentle-colts, she’s retiring” there was an almighty cheer that erupted from the crowd, Celestia sighed, removing her jewellery, teleporting it away as she stared at the ground in apparent shame “Treat them well” Celestia sniffled “Best finish any paperwork you’re in the middle of, I won’t be doing any,” I grinned “I’ll be too busy actually getting out and giving a damn about my new friends and subjects, or Nakama, because the word subjects sounds like ‘underling,’ or ‘slave’ to me, and that’s something I can’t stand, ever” “Then I’ll do it for you, as your steward” she gulped audibly, teleporting away “Are there any rules, King Tesla?” on pony gleamed like an idiot as I turned to face the crowd, Blaze turning on my shoulder accordingly “Use language as foul as you want, so long as you’re not around foals I’ve no problem with it, don’t kill, rape, steal, or anything of the sort, don’t think of me as a king, rather, as a friend, and last but not least, have fun, and do what you more or less want, other than what I said just moments ago” I rolled my eyes “Fair enough” he shared a laugh with the others, walking and talking with themselves in pairs as they dispersed “So, what is thy first order of business as thine king?” Luna stood beside me “You’re not going to try and stop me?” I blinked “Nay, we hath grown somewhat tired of the same old routine for countless millennia, and we are most curious to see how thou cope as king of Equestria, King Tesla” she smiled “Might as well tear down the castle then, build something that’s going to be beneficial to everyone in the country, or the nearby towns and cities at least” I sighed “That’d be thine home” she raised an eyebrow “Alright, we keep the castle, but by the nine, at least change the throne room into something beneficial” I simpered “Why the throne room?” she tilted her head “Thrones are for gods and/or tyrants. I claim to be neither” I glimmered “keep the glass windows though, remind people of history, lest we repeat it” “We’re beginning to like thee already, as a king, rather than an eon” she giggled “Think of me as a friend, rather than a ruler” I pecked her cheek “Then we will gladly lay down our own life for thee, thou hath proven thyself capable of great leadership, even in a small town such as this” she nodded toward the plaza “And I you, my little shooting star” I nodded “And what of me?” Cadance stood opposite Luna “Do what you want, as I am not a king, rather, an ally,” I winked “one who hopes to unite all of Equestria under a single banner, that is, if you haven’t already” “We have, but now you must reunite them, as a country” she nickered “What’s going on?” Crystal glided toward me alongside Angel “Tesla’s the new king of Equestria” Cadance giggled “How in the fucking hell did you manage that?” Crystal laughed” Pardon my language” “Don’t worry, it’s legal” I chuckled “What,” she chortled “you mean to tell me that you made foul language, of any sort, legal?” “Basically” I nodded sideways “And I suppose you’ve yet to reunite the country again?” she smirked “I’ve lead armies, why not ponies?” I glanced toward Luna “No offense” “None taken, thine king” Luna smiled “Well, I suppose some type of speech is in order?” I grumbled “I’m afraid so” Cadance smiled “show us what you can do, Tesla” -=- As I stood on the balcony overlooking the gathered townsponies of both canterlot and Ponyville, I began my so-called speech, ponies from the local media having joined the crowds “Citizens of Equestria,” I smiled “Once I stood among you as a friend, now, I still stand among you, and still as a friend, an ally, you may treat me however you like, for I have no inferiors, no underlings, no subjects, only friends allies and loved ones, as well as my family,” I went on “and with Celestia as my new steward, and Blackjack Littlepip and Velvet Remedy as my thanes, I stand before you, as a changed being,” I continued “I once thought that I wasn’t fit for this title, now I need your help to prove me wrong,” I sighed “Discord roams amongst us a free being, also as an ally, if you wish to change that, then that is what I shall do, if you want something done, all you need do is ask, and I shall do all I can whether it’s in power or not, I’ll try nonetheless, for I am but one being I may be weak, I may be stupid, but by the nine, I’m not going to try and change both myself and the country, both for the better, now some of you may be wondering if I’m worthy to rule, and I’m honestly asking myself the same question , I shall leave up to you to decide, should you choose that I am unworthy, I will pass my rule onto Faust and Luna, just say the word, and it shall be done, this is my promise, and I hope to see it fulfilled, regardless of what happens, today Equis will hear our roar as we march through the streets and show the world what we can do!” There was silence for a moment, before one pony began clapping his hooves, then another, then another, and then there was a great wave of applause as ponies below started whistling and cheering -=- “There is still the matter of what to do with Buckshot’s followers” Shining Armour bowed as he trotted toward me “Have them integrated into the royal guard,” I smiled “and send them my regards while you’re at it” “And should they choose to resist?” he raised an eyebrow “We improvise” I clicked my tongue “the changeling army has fallen in line with us, as allies, why can they not do the same?” “We’re allied with the changelings?” he blinked “Chrysalis surrendered to us when she came searching for Black Beetle, I pointed a thumb toward the changeling clung onto my back “That doesn’t seem like them” he frowned “no offense, my king” “None taken,” I simpered “it is most likely because they are low on food and other resources, if it were up to me, and there weren’t another option, I’d use logic and do the same, she is wise, but not reckless” “And how would you explain her storming this castle before?” he tilted his head “Desperation” Blaze shrugged from atop my shoulder “she was reckless then, but not now, which is why she attacked Canterlot, it was an act of desperation that brought her here, and it’s an act of wisdom that she surrendered to us” “So be it, I’ll have a few of my best sent down there along with me” he bowed, quickly galloping out of the main hall where I stood alongside my friends and family “You’ve a strategic mind about you, Tesla” Cadance nickered “It comes with being in the UNSC, and the stormcloak rebellion, and so-on and so-on” I waved a dismissive hand “You must have a lot of stories then” she giggled “That I do,” I nodded “Like there was that one time we may or may not have gotten smashed and ended up causing a lot of chaos” “Smashed,” Luna tilted her head “please define” “Drunk” I grumbled “how long did they say it lasted again?” “A week-ish, maybe two” Blaze laughed “you did most of it though, brother!” “What happened?” Twilight and her friends, minus Fluttershy trotted up to me, Spike walking alongside them, almost as tall as they were, his spines growing slightly taller, the spike in the end of his tail growing somewhat sharper “I don’t want to talk about it,” I grumbled “the fact that it happened is bad enough” “What happened?” Twilight grinned “Tesla did the nasty with a Hagraven” “A what,” Cadance stifled a laugh “A combination of woman and bird gone horribly wrong” she patted the side of my head “I guess anything’s possible when it comes to alcohol” Twilight blinked, her expression turning to a wicked grin “How was she?” “I wouldn’t know, I was basically unconscious” I shuddered “That’s creepy” Spike shuddered “You don’t know the half of it” Blaze beamed “So what happened then?” Rainbow Dash chortled “Not much” she shrugged, again “wasn’t much else that happened that’s worth taking note of” “Other than the fact that Tesla got-!” I quickly covered her mouth; she shook my hand away, diving into my rucksack, bringing out a pale copper ring with a diamond in it “Is that a wedding ring?” Crystal glided toward me alongside Angel “Shit” I swore “Too right mister” she grinned “I mean, you crazy son of a gun, how much stupidity were you fuelled by when you considered that as an option?” “Not sure how to answer that” I bit my lip “Let us rectify that” Angel gleamed the two of them dragging me by my arms toward one of the spare bedrooms by my arms
Chapter X; RanaThe following morning, I stood upon the balcony with my friends and family alongside Twilight her friends, minus Fluttershy, Spike, Crystal, and Angel, Cadance, Celestia, and Luna included along with Black Beetle “Got anything new?” Blaze smirked “A few things,” I smiled, extending the first set of wings out either side of me, concentrating as they turned harder than steel, glowing with a bright white light “Steel wing” she blinked “well I suppose you are a flying type now, Tesla” “A shield made of thy wings,” Luna commented “and we assume that this is lighter than an actual shield?” “Probably” I shrugged “I could probably turn it into an actual way of fighting” “Roku-yoku keishiki” Blaze slowly nodded, I flexed the newly morphed ‘steel-wings’ “What else can you do?” Crystal winked “seeing as how you’ve grown an extra set of wings “That remains to be seen” I grinned, concentrating further, all six of my wings now shining with a radiant glow until the light reached blinding point as I oared into the air my top and middle wings fusing and becoming around three times larger, a set of armour suddenly appearing upon my being alongside a halo-like crown that hovered above my head “Steel Dragon Seraph” “Right, now he’s overpowered” Angel laughed “Am I,” I chuckled, landing before her and the others “I didn’t realize, Dear Angel” “Quite the charmer, eh brother,” Blaze chortled “Care to get any cheesier?” “Indeed” I smiled, drawing both Duskfall and Dawnbreaker, striking a pose with my newly changed wings “I am the Alpha and Omega; the beginning, and the end, I will unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the waters of life, freely” “You quoted the Bible, really?” she guffawed “Revelation; twenty-one-six” I bowed slightly, flying back into the air, Black Beetle clung onto my back, Blaze and Kiary sat upon my shoulders, Snowdrop perched between my now slightly longer horns “Now Equis, allow me to show you what one lone human can do, when united with his Nakama!” I roared, literally, feeling the air itself almost quaking, placing my hands together, the Duskfall and Dawnbreaker seemingly melding into one almighty sabre “Part Dawnbreaker…” Twilight blinked “Part Duskfall…” Luna finished “They combine together into one!” Rarity and rainbow Dash stared at me “The Starblazer” I gleamed “was this staged or are we really being that cheesy?” “That was all without acting, Starblazer” Cadance laughed, my wings returning to normal all of a sudden, my armour and crown fading along with them, the energy of which melding into what appeared to be a rainbow coloured gem, I quickly pocketed it, the Starblazer having de-fused back into its original parts, which slid back into their sheathes “Looks like you can only use it for a certain amount of time” Blaze observed, climbing upon my shoulder as Kiary perched herself on the other, Snowdrop clambering unto my head “Honestly Tesla, you overwork yourself with your abilities, one day you’re going to end up possible crippled, or worse” “Daddy’s not going to die!” Snowdrop snapped “I didn’t say he was,” Blaze blinked “I was merely implying that he could end up grievously injured from his usual antics” “You’d be surprised what I can do, Dear sister” I grinned “No, I don’t believe I would, brother” she smirked, I raised an eyebrow “ok maybe a little” “I may have omitted falsities about having only two forms though, somewhat” I glimmered, changing to a somewhat different form “How in the hell..?” Crystal stared at me, or rather, my new form, which had a black-and-gold-trim colour scheme, golden-crimson wings and all “You thought I was joking when I said I was the alpha and omega, I wasn’t telling a complete lie” I spoke with a rather stern tone “Alphamon…” Blaze suddenly chortled “That’s incredible/Amazing!” Rainbow Dash, Twilight and Rarity chimed “How did you get that form?” Angel blinked “When the original Alphamon regressed to his earlier stage, I took the coding from his being, his DNA, if you will, and now, I’ve got all of the looks, powers and abilities he had, only with dragon slayer magic” I explained “Even the blade?” Blaze stared at me “Even that” I nodded “Now you actually look like a king!” she guffawed “Quite so” Luna eyed me up and down “And you’ve been hiding that away from us for how long?” Celestia’s cheeks turned a rosy tinge as she stared at me in somewhat apparent awe “A century, maybe a century and a half” I shrugged “time is beyond human comprehension, even in its most basic of principles” “Tia’s in love, it would appear” Luna gleamed “I fail to think so, sister” Celestia smiled “I’m merely interested in our king’s new looks, that’s all” “Noted,” I slowly nodded, “and whilst I do hold some negativity of sorts toward you, Celestia, I find myself unable to hate you, and thus, I redact my royal status, and wish to live as a knight, in your honour and service” I bowed before her “So you’ve just gone and quit, just like that,” Blaze spat “you had the country in you grasp, brother, you could’ve done anything, been capable of anything, if only you’d have done it, and here you are, bowing before the one who ruined everything you held dear!” she scolded me as I stood upright “What’s happened in the past, cannot be changed, even by me,” I tilted my head slightly, as Snowdrop was still lying there “and secondly, mercy isn’t a sign of weakness, but of wisdom, sister, and courage is not knowing when to take a life, but rather, when to spare one” “Damn you and your BIONICLE/movie references!” she laughed “I know, right?” I chuckled, “Having somepony like that as a knight?” Rarity gasped “you really do overwork yourself, Sir Tesla” “But what about a weapon,” Cadance raised an eyebrow other than your magic, you’re unarmed” “And yet I still maintain the most powerful weapon known to Earth,” I rolled my eyes “the human mind” “How so,” Celestia blinked “Well, so far, we’re the only recorded species in the galaxy to make nuclear weapons capable of bringing an entire country to little more than ash and rubble” I shrugged, again “and that’s not counting the large hadron collider that could basically create a large black hole and end the solar system as we know it” “Why would you create something like that?” Twilight blinked “Because it’s what humans do,” I smiled, somehow managing to do so without a mouth “progress on Earth is only made by a bunch of morns experimenting with certain things to see the results of their objectives, and earth’s full of morons” I went on “I reckon if it weren’t for people like Stephen Hawking and Albert Einstein, we’d be deep sixed already” “What’s that mean?” Rainbow Dash blinked “We’d basically of driven ourselves to extinction” I sighed, reverting to my normal human form “and that’s not counting all the wars we’ve had” “Didn’t someone make a song out of that?” Blackjack smirked “Europa- Globus” I nodded “Didn’t we sing that as a duet?” Blaze laughed “That we did,” I grinned “care to try it again?” =-= As I stood on centre stage with Littlepip, Velvet Remedy, Pepper as Crystal and Angel sat in the audience, Snowdrop, lay atop my head, Blaze and Kiary on either shoulder, and Ryōshi sat by my side, I began to sing the last song for the day “From Agincourt to Waterloo Poitiers and then Anjou The Roses War, the Hundred Years Through battlefields of blood and tears From Bosworth Field to Pointe Du Hoc Stalingrad and the siege of York The bloody turf of Gallipoli Had no effect on the killing spree Bannockburn to Austerlitz The fall of France and the German blitz The cruelest of atrocities Europa's blood is borne of these (Heaven help in all our battles Heaven see love, heaven help us) Bolsheviks and feudal lords Chivalry to civil wars Fascist rule and genocide Now we face the rising tide Of new crusades, religious wars Insurgents imported to our shores The western world, gripped in fear The mother of all battles here (Heaven help in all our battles Heaven see love, heaven help us Avant hier, avons être Déja demain, (nous) sommes éclairée) (All glory, all honor Victory is upon us Our savior, fight evil Send armies to defend us) Empires built, and nations burned Mass graves remain unturned Descendants of the dispossessed Return with bombs strapped to their chests There's hate for life, and death in hate Emerging from the new caliphate The victors of this war on fear Will rule for the next thousand years All glory, all honor Victory is upon us Our savior, fight evil Send armies to defend us Europa, Europa Find better days before us In kindness, in spirit Lead us to a greater calling Europa, Europa Find better days before us In kindness, in spirit Lead us to a greater calling Leningrad, Berlin wall March on Rome, Byzantium's fall Lightning war, Dresden nights Drop the bomb, end this fight! Never again..!” Blaze and I sang as a duet, with Kiary and Snowdrop filling in the background vocals -=-=- As we stood in the main hall once again, Littlepip, Velvet Remedy and Pepper stood by me alongside Crystal and Angel as Twilight, her friends, Spike, the princesses, and Faust trotted toward me “That was quite the performance, Sir Tesla” Faust raised an eyebrow “But you’ll have to tell me where you got the idea of becoming king from” “You said I was you king, and you, my queen, so I acted upon what I knew; and what I’d been through” I shrugged, yet again “it wasn’t hard to put the two together” “And you quit, because why?” she raised the other eyebrow “Because as much as Equestria may want it, I am no king, as there are no true kings,” I hummed “only tyrants, gods, renegades, liars, lords and honest men” “Game Of Thrones?” Blaze beamed “Quite so,” I nodded “You would have been incredible” Faust slowly shook her head “and you threw that chance away, you silly eon” she giggled “I hereby dub you Prince Tesla, and Sir Tesla of Equis, my love” “What’s this I hear about a new knight?” the same orange Pegasus as before huffed as he, Shining Armour, and Prince, blueblood marched toward me “he hardly looks even royal guard material, are you sure you want him as your knight, your majesty?” he smirked toward Faust “I’m quite certain about what I want and where and when I want it, sergeant Flash Sentry” she winked at me “And as a prince no less, this, I cannot allow, no matter the circumstances” Blueblood spat “Looks like I’ll have to do it again” I sighed, changing to Alphamon form with a shining light, wings armour and all “hit me with your best shot, even as one being , you three could not hope to defeat me, ponies” I glanced toward Faust “no offense, my queen” I bowed “Ah yes, Celestia told me of this form, and its legendary appearance,” She nickered “it suits you, my dear Knight” “By your word, your majesty” I nodded, standing upright “And here I thought mares have it easy” Flash Sentry” “I wouldn’t know” I scowled, pointing my arm out to the side, waving it in all four basic directions, pulling a large black-with-golden-trim blade out of practically nowhere, pointing it at him “your comment before, would you care to repeat it?” “Holy living Buck!” Shining Armour burst into laughter “Kyukyono senjin Ouryuken” I grinned, somehow managing to do so without a mouth, again “Ok, I take it back!” Flash Sentry looked as though he’d shit himself “Thank you” I frowned, the blade fading from view, disintegrating even “Why’re you so sensitive toward mares?” Blueblood raised an eyebrow “other than Aunty Celestia and Luna, they bear no significant element to our lives” “Mares; or females in general?” I cracked my knuckles “Generally” he shrugged “Oh you poor fool,” i chuckled “did no one tell you where foals come from?” “I care not for foals” he snarled “Open your mouth and shut your eyes and I’ll give you something that’ll make you wise” I smirked, reverting to human form, again, “I don’t see what you’ll be able to do, he shrugged, closing his eyes and opening his mouth as I bought a gender stone out of my pocket, shoving it down his throat, his eyes snapping open as he swallowed the gem “Dumbass” I shook my head as his mane and tail lengthened, and his figure became somewhat slender, the suit he was wearing somehow transforming into a dress fit for a queen “What have you done to me!?” he/she screamed, his tone changing to that of a mare’s “Call it a change of perspective, Bluebelle” I laughed “Change me back!” she demanded “Not unless you start being nice, period” I smirked “Why would I do that,” Bluebelle snapped “commoners and mares are the lowest forms of life on Equis” “Is that the pot calling the kettle black?” I folded my arms “or a racist?” “I demand that you change me back, human!” she growled “Say please” I chortled “Never!” she scowled “Then no” I shrugged “How about I make you?” she scoffed “Inn your present state, there’d only be two ways of doing that, and you won’t do either one” I gleamed “I believe the correct phrase is, ‘checkmate,’ is it not?” “What’re the conditions you’ll change me back?” she sighed “I think you know” I grinned “You will never reduce me to such atrocities!” Bluebelle glowered “Take your time” I waved a hand, walking away with the others who were present, Save Shining Armour and Flash Sentry “That was awesome!” Rainbow Dash guffawed as we stood/hovered in the gardens “It was what came natural” I shrugged, yet again “Where’d you get that thing anyway?” Crystal raised an eyebrow “Equestrian wastes” I smiled “the things Raiders do…” =-=-= As I stood with my friends and family in the main hall on the following day, I was approached by a familiar pony “Bluebelle” I nodded “I’ve tried being nice for all of the past twenty-four hours, and nothing’s changed” Bluebelle frowned “what’s the other option?” I quickly looked around; we were the only ones in the room “You really want to know?” I raised an eyebrow “Obviously!” she grunted “Admit that you were wrong,” I frowned “admit that females have as much a place in the universe as anyone else” “I’d never do such a thing,” she scorned “as nice as I may have tried to be, I will never go back on my word-!” I quickly grabbed her by the horn, pulling her to a well-hidden place behind the arena, throwing her on the dirt, turning to my family and friends “Go back to the castle, wait for me there” they nodded, Snowdrop, Kiary and Blaze clambering down to the ground, jogging off with the others back to the castle “What do you want with me?” Bluebelle snapped, I scoffed “What do you think,” I rolled my eyes, sitting beside her against the stone wall, turning her so that she was sat on my lap, pressing my lips against hers “What’re you thinking-!?” I planted my lips on hers again, her eyes turned half-lidded as she draped her arms around my neck, quickly removing her dress after she let go, parting her mouth from my own, quickly undoing my lower attire, running her tongue along the base of my shaft, sticking the head in her mouth, pressing her lips down on it, taking it in, inch by inch until only my balls remained “I’m yours” she purred, turning on an axis, I quickly dived my tongue into her depths as she twirled her tongue around the head of my shaft, pressing her lips against it as she bobbed her head up and down upon my length, suckling at it like a lollipop, eventually removing herself from it altogether with a *pop* turning her head, facing me, groaning as I twisted and danced my tongue inside her depths, gradually parting my oral muscle from her sex, she turned to face me “Take me, Lord Tesla” she groaned, slamming her cunny down around my dick, bounding her hips up and down as she forced her lips against mine; wrapping her arms around my neck as I gripped her by the flanks, thrusting my hips in sync against hers, hilting her again and again “that’s it, fuck me, I’ve been a bad girl!” she moaned as I pumped my seed into her depths, almost screaming as I came, removing herself once it stopped No, not yet” she panted for breath, raising her flank in the air as she lifted her tail, lowering her front half down to the ground I needed no invitation, kneeling behind her, prodding the end of my still-erect member into her flankhole, sliding it in, she moaned as I did so, shuddering as I hilted her, slowly sliding my cock in and out of her tight tailhole, slowly picking up speed, eventually moving as a blur, her eyes rolling into her head as I fucked her, moving faster and faster, gripping her flanks, slamming into her, she screamed as I fired more sticky, hot, white, spunk into her, quickly pulling out and hilting her tight little cunt instead, pumping my manhood into her sex without second thought, only pulling out when it stopped “That was…” Bluebelle gasped for breath “incredible, thank you, my lord” “You’re welcome” I winked as she put her dress back on, and I, my lower section of clothing “Same time tomorrow?” she purred “Why not?” I shrugged, walking with her back to the castle; she then galloped toward her room when we got there -=- “Problem solved?” Blaze smirked as she and Kiary stood on either shoulder, Snowdrop once again lying atop my head “I believe so” I nodded “So what happened?” Luna blinked as we sat at the dining hall, Faust, Twilight, her friends, minus Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy, and Spike included “Call it, an epiphany,” I smirked “What’d you do?” Shining Armour blinked “I solved the problem,” I laughed “what else?” “How?” Celestia raised an eyebrow “That’s for me to know and you to find out, my little Dawnflower” I winked as Ryōshi sat Between Littlepip and I, Pepper sat next to her, whilst Velvet Remedy and Blackjack sat opposite me “I see” Faust slowly nodded “care to demonstrate?” “What?” I blinked “It’s a simple request” she shrugged “I just asked you to demonstrate your tactics for getting our new princess to apologize, Sir Tesla” all eyes were on me “Are you sure we can’t do this later?” I gulped audibly “We could, but I’d rather get it over with” she smirked “So, if you don’t mind?” she rolled a hoof “You didn’t…” Twilight stared at me as I slammed my head against the table “Well this is a first” Cadance blinked “So it is” Faust, alongside the princesses, glanced from me to Bluebelle, and then back again “have fun did we?” “Somewhat” Bluebelle winked at me, I changed too eon form, flying out of the room, Snowdrop Blaze and Kiary following me “You actually did it?” Blaze blinked as I hovered in the space behind the arena “really?” “Seemed like a good idea at the time” I bit my lip “Next thing is you’ll be, wanting to do me” she flashed her eyebrows at me “I don’t engage in coitus with my relatives” I deadpanned “Neither do I,” she rolled her eyes “although, I am curious as to see what you and Cadance did in that room of hers, with your tongue” “Not happening” I snapped “Tesla?” I turned around; Celestia was stood there, a perplexed expression plastered upon her muzzle “What is it Cellsy?” I sighed; she stood beside me, pecking my cheek “I don’t blame you for what you did; though I am wondering why you did it in that way,” Celestia giggled “tell me, Sir Tesla, what were to happen if I were to disappear?” “The country would descend into chaos, your sister and niece would go mental as would Faust I imagine” I tilted my head slightly “Let me rephrase the question, what would you do if I were to suddenly disappear?” she bit her lip, staring at me with her beautiful lilac eyes “I don’t know,” I raised an eyebrow “a knight cannot function without a lord, lady king queen or another being of royal power, and so my title would be forfeit, as would my heart” “Tesla,” she suddenly planted her lips on mine “that’s what I was hoping you’d say!” “What’re you talking about?” I blinked, placing a gentle hand on her cheek “I’m your knight, and as such, it is my sworn duty to protect you and all you hold dear, be it with my life, or otherwise, so don’t you talk of disappearing whilst the sun still needs to rise, my little Dawnflower” “I…” she blinked, staring at me, slack-jawed “I don’t know what to say, I was going to say that I wanted a foal with you, just in case I did disappear” “If that is what you want” I smiled, pecking her cheek =-=-=-= “Two weeks,” I grumbled “two weeks, and I still can’t feel my legs” “That’s because she’s a princess” Blaze giggled “she’s bound to be a little rowdy, for instance, when was the last time she had coitus?” “That’s a personal question” I berated her “Half a billion years ago, with your past self, I do believe, Sir Tesla” Celestia gave a soft smile “How much ‘pent up’ is that?” Blaze smirked “Are we doing this in terms of physics or actual emotion?” I simpered “Both” she shrugged “Then a metric fuck-tonne” I rolled my eyes “You were at it for seven hours straight, how come your nuts aren’t whistling ‘oh come all ye faithful’?” everyone present at the dining table either choked, on their food, spat out their drink, or just stared at the Quilava positioned on my shoulder “One does wonder” I nodded “How can you ask such a thing!?” Rarity gasped “Because it’s Blaze, being Blaze” I laughed “Is that even possible,” Twilight tilted her head, everyone in the room stared at her “what, I was curious?” “You apply enough physics in the right way and anything’s possible” I stifled a laugh “Did you hear about the human who stole a four-point-six-million quid solid gold vibrator?” Blaze grinned, everyone’s gaze turned back to Blaze “he forgot the charger “He’s a bit of a cunt then” Blackjack deadpanned, suddenly breaking into a wicked grin” “Either that, or he’s dicking about” I nodded sideways “he’s got a bit of a ballsy attitude either way” “Must you use such foul language, bad puns aside?” Rarity gagged “I don’t see what the problem is,” I shrugged “there used to be, and probably still is, a street in London called Gropecunt lane” “There’re several, actually” Blaze corrected me “spread over the country” “Pun not intended?” I chortled “Not at all” she smirked, again “why, are you cumming onto me” she flashed her eyebrows at me “I said before that I don’t fuck relatives” “But what of your Nakama, friends that are closer than family?” she raised a paw “Closer than family doesn’t make them family,” I frowned, gradually relenting “although I suppose they’re the only family I have, other than you and Snowdrop, no offense to anyone” “None taken” Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Celestia and Faust smiled in unison “I guess that says a lot, right Daddy?” Snowdrop nickered “I suppose so” I smiled -=-=-=- “Do I smell freshly baked muffins?” Blaze grinned, drooling slightly upon my shoulder, my friends and family in their usual places on and around me, “Most likely,” I rolled my eyes “then again, considering it’s you, anything’s possible” “Damn straight” she grinned, bounding off into a nearby confectionery, the same one, I noticed, as when Applebloom saved me those muffins “Looks like I was right” Blaze clambered back up my shoulder, passing me a muffin, taking a nibble out of hers “How did you pay for these?” I raised an eyebrow “I mentioned you, and they insisted they’re for free” she shrugged “I’m not to be used as a means to get free baked goods, Blaze” I grumbled “You are now,” she smirked, munching away at her muffin “chocolate chips and all!” “Please Daddy?” Snowdrop gave me her best puppy-dog eyes “Fine, anything for my little Snowflake” I chuckled, walking into the confectionery, alongside my friends “Well if it isn’t the knight in Shining Armour” a light/cyan blue mare with a two-tone pink mane and tail wearing a pink apron of sorts giggled as we entered the shop “How may we serve you, Lord Tesla?” “Just browsing” I smiled, noticing a long table with Celestia in the middles, sitting either side of her were Twilight, her friends, and Spike, Rainbow Dash apparently absent “What’s going on here?” “Princess Celestia’s come to ponyville to make an announcement, so I’ve heard” she eyed me up and down “love the choice of attire, Sir” “Thanks” Blaze smirked “what’s that?” she pointed to a birdcage attached to a metal pole via hook-and-loop connection “That’s Princess Celestia’s Phoenix, Philomena” she smiled “by the looks of it, it’s coming close to rebirthing” “It’s in one of its death cycles?” I raised an eyebrow, she nodded “I’m afraid what ponies will say or think when they see it fall to its ashes” she sighed “Hey, a phoenix is the only living animal in existence, to my knowledge, who can turn it’s dying ember into a full-on blaze of glory” I chuckled “Well, I suppose we’ll just have to wait and see” She shrugged, pouring the solar goddess a cup of tea, sliding a plate of baked goods onto the table as Celestia winked at me “Except for the fact that she’s magically disappeared” Snowdrop gestured toward the now-empty bird-cage “So she has” I nodded, all eyes turned to face the cage, turning and walking out of the shop, I quickly spied what looked like Fluttershy galloping off with the nearly dead bird on her back, retreating toward her cottage “What should we do?” twilight and her friends rushed up beside me “We wait,” I shrugged “the phoenix is nearly dead, it’s cycle’s probably already begun” “So we wait for it to die?” she gasped “Basically,” I shrugged “Velvet and I have already seen one or two phoenixes, the thing that makes this one special is because it belongs to our princess” “That a bit cruel, don’t you think?” Rarity raised an eyebrow “The phoenix will rebirth itself, as all of her species do, from a dying ember, to a blaze of glory” I sighed “I wasn’t referring to Philomena” she raised the other eyebrow “Touché,” I nodded “but then again, you send your ‘lessons’ on friendship to Celestia, so why not one on life?” “So, we wait?” Twilight sighed, sitting on her haunches “That we do” I nodded -=- Two hours passed, and I noticed a large crowd of ponies stood around the fountain “Blaze, blade of grass, now” I smirked, she clambered down, picking up the longest blade of grass she could find, clambering back unto my shoulder passing it to me “What’s going on?” I stood at the back of the crowd “There’s a strange bird atop the fountain, my lord” a pony smiled at me, faintly “Let’s see what I can do about that”, they parted, leaving me, my friends alongside Twilight and her friends along with Spike to walk through the crowd Atop the fountain, Philomena stood, perched with a sickened look “Looks like I’ll finally be able to do it,” I smiled, beginning to play a melody of sorts with the blade of grass, the after mentioned phoenix slowly closed her eyes, falling to the ground, set aflame and turning to a pile of ash in the process, the crowd gasped, as did Twilight and her friends “You killed it!” one of the ponies from the crowd gaped “Did I?” I burnt the grass blade, setting my hand alight, crouching down and placing it near the pile of ash “come on Philomena, show us a real blaze of glory” the ash swept itself up in a miniature tornado, and, in a sudden ball of flame, a newly rebirthed phoenix emerged with a blinding light as the flames around my hand dissipated, I stood upright, Philomena perching herself on my arm, preening the feathers between her wing and her sides “Never have I seen such a thing” I turned around, Celestia stood there in front of both the crowd and Twilights friends “Phoenix Song” Velvet Remedy “Tesla used it on Pyrelight in the wastes once, somehow refilled her with energy in the process” “Indeed” Celestia smiled “I owe you one, Sir Tesla” “You owe me nothing,” I rebuked, somewhat merrily, holding my arm out “I believe this belongs to you?” Philomena stretched her wings, as if to take off, turned her head to face me, her emerald eyes almost gazing into my very soul, and then flattened them back against her sides “It appears that she trusts you enough to stay with you, my dear knight” Celestia simpered, Snowdrop stood beside me, Blaze lying atop my head, and Philomena perching herself on my shoulder “Ok, so we have a talking ferret-thing, a dragon, and a phoenix, and then there’s the human and/or eon and/or dragon entity, this is like a really bad fiction” Blackjack laughed “Who’re you calling a ferret?” Blaze raised an eyebrow “I’m a Quilava” “Same difference” she shrugged “Why I ought to…” Blaze mumbled “Do what?” I glanced up toward my adoptive sister “You don’t want to know” she grumbled “Chances are her steel will outlast your flame, sister” I grinned “But, if I can get it hot enough, it could melt through anything, isn’t that what you said,” she smirked, again “that if a fire is powerful enough it can burn through anything?” “I didn’t limit it to just physical fire, Blaze” I rolled my eyes “Oh, Kokoro no Chikara then,” she laughed “Quite” I nodded, noticing a hooded figure standing far behind the crowd, staring at the ground as she dug at it with a silver-and-grey striped hoof “Who’s that?” I nodded toward the figure, everyone present, other than Twilight, her friends, Spike, Celestia, my friends and family took one look at the figure, then quickly rocketed into their homes, slamming and locking the doors behind them “Well that was rude” I frowned, the hooded figure glanced in my direction, nodded,and walked into the forest “Was that out of fear, or mistrust?” Snowdrop blinked “Most likely the former, judging by the smell in the air” I gagged “I hope that’s fear” Blaze shuddered “It is, just in tangible form” I mumbled “let’s go” I began to walk toward the forest, my friends and family walking beside me “Where are you going?” Twilight blinked “Where do you think?” I scoffed “I’m going to talk to it, her and/or him” “There might’ve been a good reason they’re afraid of the pony though” she argued, walking alongside me with Celestia, her friends and Spike “Pony,” I glanced toward her “what kind of pony has stripes?” she blinked “if anyone was paying attention to the being, or what it was doing, they’d have noticed stripes on its leg” “Like a zebra?” Blaze glanced down toward me “It’s a possibility” “But Zebra’s come from Africa, what’d one be doing here in Equestria?” she frowned “Is tourism outlawed, here?” “Well, not, but it might be” she shrugged “Freedom is the right of all sentient beings,” I sighed “and besides, I keep telling you that fear isn’t evil” “It’s what shows you your weakness” Rainbow Dash hovered down toward us “And once you know your weakness, you can become stronger, kinder, and gentler” I nodded “Do we have to quote Gildarts?” Blaze grunted “You don’t have to come with if you don’t want to” “Nah, I’d rather stay,” she grinned “oh, and avoid the blue flowers up ahead” “I know, I know” I hovered over a small clearing of cobalt flowers “You’re scared of a few plants?” Twilight glimmered “Beware, beware you pony folk, these leaves of blue are not a joke” I laughed “What in the hay does that mean?” Rainbow Dash frowned “You’ll find out later, should you choose to stroll on through them” I shrugged, sure enough, they trotted through them, save Celestia and Rainbow Dash, who flew over them, as did Blackjack and Snowdrop, landing by my side “Is that where it lives?” Twilight pointed toward a house carved out of a large, mangled tree trunk “Could be,” I nodded “might as well find out” I walked with her and the others to the window, the hooded figure, now no longer hidden by a cloak and hood, now revealed as a zebra mare with a Mohawk chanting in an unfamiliar language “What’s she chanting?” Applejack shuddered “it’s creepin’ me out!” “Let’s see, tribal masks, potions on the shelves, which’re also stacked with what look like alchemical ingredients, speaking in an odd language, and the fact she’s from Africa, what d’ya think Tesla, herbalist?” Blaze smiled “Most likely,” my eyes narrowed slightly “but why the digging?” “Maybe she was searching for something” Snowdrop suggested “And so there’s theory A” I slowly nodded “Either that or she buried something and came back to retrieve it” Littlepip shrugged “And theory A; Revelation B” I smiled “definitely a herbalist, or an alchemist” “Not in the sense we’re used to, eh Brother?” Blaze laughed “Not at all” I chuckled as the door to the hut opened, and the zebra stood before us, eyebrow raised “Standing by my hut would not be wise, as you’re one of the strangest beings that has been seen by zebra eyes” the mare tilted her head slightly “Forgive our abrupt arrival, we just wanted to welcome you to Ponyville” I smiled, holding out a hand “Tesla” “Zecora is my name, and potions and rhyming are my game” the Zebra now known as Zecora, shook my hand with a smile “Like witchcraft?” Rainbow dash frowned, slamming her hooves together “Never judge a book by its cover, but rather, by its punctuation and grammar” I scowled “Thank you, Tesla, for your help,” Zecora smiled at me, frowning toward Rainbow now what is it you want, little whelp?” “What was that?” Rainbow glowered at Zecora “I think there’s been a misunderstanding” I bit my lip, turning toward the cyan Pegasus “just because she’s different, then you automatically assume she’s evil?” I snapped “if that’s the case, what do you think of me!?” she blinked “You’re Tesla, you’re a human, an eon, and a dragon slayer,” she grinned “you’re awesome; way more awesome than anything I can do,” she glimmered “You’re a Lord for Faust’s sake, isn’t that enough?” “I asked you what you think of me, not what you know” I raised an eyebrow, again “I just did” she blinked “So you did,” I rolled my eyes, exhaling sharply “and I’m far different from you ponies, as is Zecora, in her own way, look what happened to me, who’s to say she can’t do better?” “She’s a Zebra!” she gestured angrily toward the striped mare “And I’m an alien, in a way,” I shrugged “checkmate” “Why are you so insistent on helping others?” she growled “Because isn’t that what friends do?” I folded my arms “And aren’t you meant to be the element of loyalty, Rainbow?” “At least I know my limits!” she glared daggers at me “As do I” I sighed “they’re just broader, somewhat” “Let me guess, your ex-marefriend again?” she smirked “At least I’ve bloody well had one!” I roared, she suddenly gasped staring at me in half awe half fear, and a little bit of sadness, soaring back the way we came “Tesla, calm down” Blaze almost commanded; I deeply inhaled, and then exhaled “good, now let’s continue, shall we?” “We shall, would you care to stay, for I feel it might keep the forest creatures at bay” “They’re of little problem to me” I shrugged, again “Then I bid the farewell, and as for you, may your heart stay pure and true,” she winked at me, walking back into her hut “See, no problem” I smiled “If you say so” Twilight sighed, beginning to make our way back to ponyville -=- “I assume the hooded figure’s been taken care of?” the stallion from the stage a few weeks back smirked “She has, but not the way you think it has,” I grinned “You dealt with her the way any monster would, Tesla,” he spat “you are a monster after all, are you not?” “I’m a knight, a human, an eon, and a dragon slayer, so there’re a few things I can do” I smirked “You, a knight,” he chortled “don’t make me laugh!” “Aren’t you already?” I blinked “Touché, human” he slowly nodded “So what’s happening with her then?” “That isn’t really for me to decide, as I cannot force my will onto another being, as I refuse to be so, obtuse, as it were” I scoffed “Celestia?” I turned to face the alicorn mare “She will live under my protection under the same conditions and rules as everypony else, you needn’t worry, Tesla” Celestia smiled “And you don’t mind that she’s a technical immigrant?” The stallion frowned “I love all my subjects the same way Tesla cares for his friends,” Celestia smiled faintly “whether they’re born abroad or within my kingdom, I cannot control, Filthy Rich” “And Tesla here?” he gestured toward me with an angered hoof “He is my thane; and my knight, should you have a problem with that, you’ll have to take it up with him” she pecked my cheek “You see me as I could be, had I a heart of darkness, not one of light, you’re an idealist,” I rolled my eyes “What could you do to me, you’re just one being!” he snapped, Blaze, and Kiary quickly disembarked, clambering down to the ground, Philomena took to the sky flying in circles above us, I changed to ‘Alphamon form’ “touché, once again you have bested me, somewhat” it was then that I noticed the particularly large crowd behind him “Hi” I waved a hand, giving off an invisible smile, the crowd gasped as one, single entity, slamming to the ground; bowing “You don’t have to bow, least of all to me” I facepalmed “When a royal knight facepalms, you know you’ve failed” Blaze laughed “Indeed” I grumbled “But I am just a knight, there isn’t a ‘royal’ in the title, sister” “I wouldn’t be so sure, Sir Lord and/or Prince Tesla” she grinned “Tempted to throw in a Gurren Lagann reference in there” I clenched my fists “Episode eleven?” she sighed, I nodded “I think we’ve had enough references for a couple of months, Brother” “Fair do’s” I smiled as Crystal and Angel appeared before me, gliding down toward me “Well look at you, Tesla” Crystal gleamed “battle ready, are we?” “Aren’t we always?” I tilted my head “Touché” she nodded, rearing her arm back and striking my chest as hard as she could, I heard bones crack as she held her claw, biting her lip in pain “What’s that armour made of anyway?” “That much is unknown to me, as of yet” I shrugged -=-=- I stood in the arena in ‘Alphamon form,’ Flash Sentry having challenged that my armour would break long before he would “If you’re ready” I yawned, he charged at me, rearing both arms back and hitting me with both simultaneously, I didn’t so much as budge an inch, he spun around and landed a kick to the side of my head with a hind leg, then the other one, the whole guard was watching, but that of Celestia and Luna, as he brought both forearms down, hitting me with both hooves on the crown of the armour, his bones giving way with a sickening *crack* “Why, won’t, you, just, move!?” he spat out each word in-between hits “You use physical strength, not realising the hidden power that most, if not everyone possesses, Sergeant Flash Sentry” I smirked, somehow “I don’t get it,” he hovered before me, clad in the golden armour that all of the solar goddess’s guards wore, now dented from the damage he’d delivered to himself “what on Equis are you talking about?” “Your guardsmen colleagues would do good to listen to me now,” I grinned “with your physical strength, you could move pebbles and wagons, but if you set your whole body and mind to in, and wish for it with all your heart, you could topple mountains!” for instance,” I raised my hand in front of me, a vivid, light green circle appearing before it “Digitalize of soul!” wave after wave of green, eon-shape-headed beams of energy came forth from the circle, covering the entire arena, Flash Sentry just barely managing to avoid them by taking to the sky “Class dismissed” I reverted to human form, walking toward the gardens -=-=- “Since when, were you able to do that?” Crystal laughed “Since I got the form” I shrugged as we stood on the edge of the forest alongside my friends and family, all were in their usual places on and around me “Fair do’s” she smirked as we walked/glided into the forest “You hear that?” I stopped, raising my hand as a loud moan resonated from elsewhere in the forest “Sounds like someone’s having fun” Blaze laughed quietly “Sounds like it” Crystal stifled a laugh as another; louder moan rang out from the forests depths “Should we investigate?” Snowdrop bit her lip “Tesla,” a third, even louder still, moan erupted from the same location “oh Seraphimon be damned I need you inside me now!” “Don’t tell me…” I groaned “Tesla,” Crystal folded her arms “who was that?” “She said Seraphimon, so there’s only one person it can be,” Blaze guffawed “And who might that be?” Crystal raised an eyebrow “Ranamon’s back!” she chortled “Shut up and run!” I bolted toward ponyville, my friends quickly following me “What’s going on?” Rainbow Dash blinked as she glided down beside me as I stopped running, catching my breath in the park “You don’t want to know,” Blaze smirked, patting the side of my head “Nor hell a fury like a female in heat, eh Tesla?” “Someone in ponyville giving you a problem?” she grinned “Nope,” Blaze shook her head “Rana” “I guess I’ll have to ask Twilight about it” she shrugged, soaring off toward the library “Whatever that woman does to you, you deserve” Crystal gave me a smug, ear-toear grin “Woman,” Blaze burst into a fit of laughter “nah she’s a monster girl!” “That depends on the perspective” I shrugged “She your little fan-girl,” Angel aww’d “She’s my little Ocean Gem” I quickly covered my mouth “She’s an ocean based entity then?” Blackjack now joined in with the somewhat apparent running gag “This ought to be interesting for us then” just then, Twilight and her friends, minus Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, trotted toward us “Rainbow Dash says you’ve a mare problem of sorts” Twilight glanced toward Crystal, then Angel, and then toward mare “Who is she, Tesla?” “I’m under no obligation to tell you anything” I mumbled “Then I guess we’ll find out when we drag you back to the forest then” Blaze grinned “Fine” I rolled my eyes, walking with all others present back toward the forest “Tesla?” a slightly faraway voice echoed throughout the forest, “Tesla!” I called out getting ever closer as its angelic tone calmed me, somewhat, I walked through the thick underbrush ahead of me, coming face to face with a familiar being, it’s skin was a mint green/pale teal, and it was as tall as I was, human in shape, with shell-shaped helmet and lower-arm protectors and a teal vest, all of which had rubies in them, her eyes shining like blazing garnets I the rays of sunlight that burst from the canopy, her attire of choice as a pale blue vest-type piece of clothing that went down to just above her knees doubling as a shorts and miniskirt, sort of, the part of her that completed the image, was the dark/mild cobalt hair that went down to above her waist, the silvery necklace that sported a radian emerald in it, and finally, the mild blue ankle band-type object above her bare feet “Tesla!” the figure grabbed a hold of me, via arms that seemingly came from nowhere, taking a hold of my collar, shoulders and wrists, dragging me to her, her plump breasts squishing against my chest as she pressed her lips against mine, her somewhat salty taste and texture briefly overwhelming me as she draped her arms around my neck, eventually letting me go, staring at me straight in the face “I’ve been looking for you Sugarbear, where’ve you been Hun?” “Places” I winked, pecking her cheek, she giggled, placing her hands in mine “Now don’t go tellin’ me you got yourself committed to another Mon, my love, we’re just gettin’ reunited after all” “Why would I?” I laughed nervously “you are my little Ocean Gem after all” “That I am, and you’re my little Alpha, my love,” she licked my cheek come on, I found a beach nearby that’d be perfect for just the two of us!” And so she dragged me all through the forest until the texture under my feet went from stiff as iron to light as a feather as sand passed under my boots, Snowdrop, Blaze and Kiary having long clambered/glided to the ground “Well, aren’t we gonna have a lil’ fun?” she removed her clothing, save her helmet and armour, diving into the water, I quickly removed everything other than my boxers, diving in after her, when I surfaced, I came face to face with all who were present with me at the park, alongside Celestia “Bugger” I cursed “Indeed” Celestia smirked “I’m not beautiful enough for you?” Crystal folded her arms, I quickly changed to eon form, diving back underwater, going as deep as I could, Ranamon quickly going after me, only to be pulled back to the surface by means of magic, turned around to face Celestia and the others “Who is she, Tesla?” Angel giggled, I struggled, only to end up with failure “Try as you might, you can’t break free” Twilight sighed, I tutted “Like hell I can’t” and just like that, I was pulled back under “I thought you said you weren’t committed!” Rana scowled “Keep your voice down” I whispered, she nodded, albeit, reluctantly “I’m only committed to you,” I muttered “and to you alone, my little Ocean Gem” “Darn straight you are,” she folded her arms “if I find you with another Mon, imma smack you one, ya hear” “Why on god’s green earth would I do that?” I laughed, quickly covering my mouth “Good, now rest easy,” she whispered, placing her arms out either side of her “I command these waters, sweetheart, and I order them to heal you, my little Alpha” she winked as a rush of energy coursed through me “Who’s she?” I turned around; Crystal was there, eyebrows raised, not looking at all amused “Fuckberries” I swore as she surfaced, flying back toward the shoreline “Just leave her to me Sugarbear, she’ll be gone before ya know it” Rana pecked my cheek “there ain’t no Mon who’s laying so much as a finger on my beloved!” “We can hear you y’know?” Rainbow Dash laughed “Trouble with the natives?” she laughed “that part of you never changes, my little Alpha” she waved her hand in a circle, I rushed to the surface, appearing above the ocean in a sphere of water “Explain, yourself” Celestia frowned “Now” “It happened before I met you, there’s nothing you can do to stop that,” I scowled “leave me be, pony abomination” “Am I not you’re lover?” she looked at me with a look of fear “Are you?” I shrugged, diving back underwater “What’s she moaning about?” Rana spat “Pony issues” I scoffed “best leave her be; before she tries to imprison you on the moon” “She can do that?” she blinked “at least I’ll have the memories of you, Tesla” “And I you, Rana” I placed my lips on hers, she placed her hands in mine as our tongues intertwined “Where shall we go to, Sugarbear?” she giggled rather cutely “Anywhere you want, my dear lady” I bowed “I want you, right here and now, to swear your loyalty to me; and no one else” she folded her arms with a sly smirk “I hereby swear my fealty and loyalty, to you, Rana, my little Ocean Gem,” I nodded “and I also to come to aid you in your time of need, my love” “Good,” she laughed “I hereby dub you Sir Tesla of Aquarius, my dear oceanic knight” =-=-= In human form, I surfaced again, there was no one there, nothing remained but the sand, sun, sea, and our clothing, Rana surfaced beside me “They’re gone,” Ranamon huffed “now we can get some TLC time, if you catch my drift” she purred, tracing a hand around my chest as she draped the other around my neck “Pun intended?” I chuckled “Anything for you sweetheart,” she cooed, swimming with me to the shoreline, sitting beside me as the sun began to set over the horizon, turning the sky a fiery reddish orange “Ain’t it beautiful?” “Not as much as you, the one with hair as soft and free flowing as the sea and the air that surrounds its vast area” I smiled “Thank you, Sir Tesla” she giggled again, her tone as soft and melodic as harmony itself “but I must thank you for coming with me here, alone I hope” “It’s nothing” I waved a dismissive hand “not like I had better things to do” “Precisely” she smirked, pecking my cheek, leaning into me as the sun set, completely vanished over the horizon, replaced by the silvery-whitish glow of the moon and stars high above us “tell me who’s the prettiest, fairest and most beautiful out of them all” “That’d be you, your grace” I bowed quickly “And don’t you let anyone else tell ya differently!” she spoke haughtily “I’m yours as you are mine, my little Alpha” “I am yours to do with as you so please and/or wish to do,” I slowly nodded, kneeling and bowing before her “Good little Eon” she stroked my head as I turned onto my back, lying beside her “Do any better and I’ll have to reward you for it!” “Thy gratitude is enough, milady” I smiled “Oh now I’m gonna have tah reward ya!” she chortled, and so she did -==-==- I awoke the following morning to find myself staring up at the stars, being prodded “Tesla,” Luna raised an eyebrow as I stared up at her “we believe we have much to discuss, little human” “No, we don’t,” I nuzzled into Rana as her hand moved over my chest, nuzzling aback into me, pecking my cheek in her sleep “just let me go to sleep, Luna” “Not until thou tell me who she is, and what thy plan is now that thou art no longer welcome into ponyville, Sir Tesla of Aquarius” She frowned “I have a plan, but I’m going to need a little help” I bit my lip “We do not wish to help thou, human” she spat “Rana” I smiled, she blinked “her name’s Rana, she’s a close friend” “Judging by thy dreams last night, we’d say that thou art much closer than mere friends” Luna’s eyes narrowed “Ok, Ok,” I gulped audibly “I met her on another world, how she got here is beyond me, believe me, if I knew a way other than my own abilities, I’d tell you” I noticed her horn was glowing “Go on” she raised the other eyebrow “We were meant to go on a trip somewhere, but something rather dire came along and stopped us,” I sighed “And what would that be, Eon?” she gave a faint smile “We were enemies, her former masters wouldn’t hear of our relationship, let alone approve of it” I glanced toward Rana, who was mumbling in her sleep, something about protecting me, apparently “So what did thou do?” Luna rolled a hoof, as if to encourage me, her horn still glowing “Her masters found out, and they beat her within an inch of her life, or at least they would’ve if I hadn’t of defended her to the bitter end, so to speak” I smiled “they said that I could have her, they didn’t want anything to do with anyone who had love in their heart, or so they told me in a grim tone,” I went on “and so we went on the formerly postponed trip, and I think she enjoyed every bit of it as much as I did” I finished the Romeo-and-Juliet-esque tale “Thou art telling the truth, Sir Tesla, we shall see the pair of thee in the morning, Sir Tesla, Rana” she bowed as she teleported away -=-=- When the actual morning came, I bolted upright, Rana sat beside me, giggling as she pecked my cheek “Ya went out like a light after our fan last night, ya know that?” she laughed “Anything for my ocean princess,” I kissed her hand as she raised it she gently placed my back on the soft, cool sand “Hush now, quiet now, my Sugarbear “Daddy,” Snowdrop burst forth from behind me, landing beside me, thank Christ for the fact that I’d thought to put my boxers back on after last night’s activities, and Rana, her clothing “Daddy,” Rana frowned “I went to her gravestone, sang a little song and before I know it she’s on my back calling me Daddy” I gave a nervous grin “Just so long as you’re nut engaging in our little reward with ponies, I don’t care what happens” she shrugged “Celestia’s redacted your ban from Ponyville Daddy,” Snowdrop climbed atop my head as I sat upright “she’s also convinced Twilight and her friends to let you go also” she gestured behind me “That’s a rather ugly creature” Rarity gagged as I turned to face her and the others “Says the talking, miniature horsey” Rana huffed “This ‘horsey’ is about to kick your flank if you don’t quit it with the attitude!” Rainbow Dash scowled, slamming her hooves together “Let Tesla go!” “I’m Tesla’s as he is also mine, ain’t there no changing that!” Rana spat “What have you gotten yourself into?” Twilight raised an eyebrow toward me, I shrugged “Hell if I know damned if I care” I sighed “And what’s with the shells?” Rarity shuddered “trying to make a fashion statement are we?” “At least my hair’s the way other people like it” Rana rebuked, nudging me with a gentle shoulder “We so happen to like it the way it is” Twilight retorted “it’s different from others, that’s what makes it stand out more” “You manage having different mane styles, but if a sentient being that’s different comes along, you go mental, why is that?” I raised an eyebrow in return, gently stroking Rana’s hair “Well aren’t we a little specist,” Rana spat “can’t ya handle a little variety with your life girlfriend?” “I can handle plenty!” Rarity scowled “Next thing you’ll be telling me is that ya make dresses for horses” she laughed “We’re ponies, and yes, I’m an expert fashionista, Foul creature” Rarity snarled rather un-ladylike “Case in point, quadruped” she waved a dismissive hand “Besides, I’d have more fun with Tesla here than all of you can in the world!” “Yeah, Luna told us about that” Twilight shuddered “Tesla, will you come with us, with her, or stay here?” “My little Alpha can make his own choices thank you purple,” Rana scoffed “And on that note,” I exhaled sharply “if the rest of ponyville is going to be as you are now, I think I’ll stay here, with Rana” “Then we’ll stay too” Twilight sat on her haunches “You are still Princess Celestia’s knight, Tesla, and a lord, be lucky that she’s kept your titles, and your place in society” “That slug’s a princess,” Rana blinked, who’d of guessed it?” “What’d you say!?” Rainbow Dash blared “She may control that huge light in the sky, but I control all the world’s oceans and waterways,” she smirked “one simple flick of the wrist and you’ll be six feet under, horsey” “Is it magic?” Twilight blinked, her friends stared at her, as did the newly arrived Celestia, who stood behind her alongside Cadance “I heard that you’ve been having interesting dreams, Tesla” Celestia frowned “What of it,” Rana cooed, leaning into me, placing her hand on my chest “Tesla can’t help it if he’s interested in me can ya Sugarbear?” “Not at all” I smiled, turning to face the solar princess “so how do you suppose we get past this?” “Well, for a start, the citizens of ponyville are waiting for your arrival, and are curious to see Rana here,” she nodded toward the ocean princess “and I’m waiting also, for our foal” “When in the heck did that happen,” I blinked “Snowdrop, do I do anything in my sleep?” “Not that I know of daddy” she shrugged “Huh, weird,” I tilted my head, setting it upright again as she perched herself there “When did that happen?” Twilight, and everyone else present, stared at Celestia in confusion “Apparently my little Alpha got raped in his sleep” Rana scowled “So I did” I nodded, quickly getting dressed, changing to eon form “climb on” “What?” she blinked “May the lady ride a dragon?” I smiled “May I?” she glimmered, climbing onto my back “might as well see what this ‘Ponyville’ place is” “Oh you’ll love it; it’s quiet, peaceful, and friendly beyond what should be possible” Twilight gleamed “So are we, if left to our own devises” I shrugged, flying into and through the forest, Twilight, her friends, and the princesses following me, eventually winding up at Ponyville, where a large crowd had gathered, Pinkie Pie appeared from nowhere, somehow setting up one of her infamous parties within an instant “I didn’t get to throw her a ‘welcome-to-Ponyville-please-don’t-destroy-us-with-a-giant-tsunami’ party!” Pinkie Pie laughed “There’s no water around, and where there’s no water, I’ve no real power” Rana hummed “ “I could protect you, milady” I smiled, glancing back toward her “Thy assistance is noted Sir Tesla” she giggled, stroking the back of my neck with a gentle hand, which I leant into “you’re my Alpha, my eon, and my somewhat noble steed” I snorted, she laughed “Case in point” “He can by my noble steed anytime,” someone from the now-ongoing party sighed, staring at me rather dreamily “Are ya herding or somethin’?” Rana blinked, I shrugged “guess I’ll have tah get used to it then, just make sure you only treat them with less than half of what you used to give me, Ok, Sir Tesla?” “Rick,” I smiled, she blinked “my name’s Rick, Tesla’s just a nickname I made for myself”, my ocean princess” “So it is, do you have a last name?” she almost purred “Hawkins” I nodded “Well then, I guess there’s a lot of change that we’re going to have to go through, Sir Hawkins” she gave a heartfelt smile “Or is that Lord Tesla?” “Just Tesla should suffice, your majesty” I bit my lip “So it does” she smiled again, patting the back of my neck, tracing a light finger down my spine, I shuddered “Does my little Alpha like that?” she raised an eyebrow “I do” I gulped audibly “Now why act like that,” she sighed dreamily “there’s no shame in admitting your feelings for me, is there?” “Of course not your grace” I bowed quickly “Then say it” she began to lightly massage the backs of my shoulders “I love you, truly, with all my heart, Princess Rana” I smiled “And I you, my little Hawk” she clicked her neck, followed by her shoulders -=-=- As the party continued, my friends, Blackjack, Littlepip, Velvet Remedy and Chilly Pepper, with Blaze on Blackjack’s back, trotted toward me “How’d you get here anyway?” Blaze tilted her head, frowning at me, glancing toward Rana “I wished to be with my beloved, with all my watery heart,” Rana held a hand over her chest where her heart was “So, it’s the same as me then?” Blackjack and Velvet blinked, staring at each-other, blinking, then bursting into laughter “It would appear so” Celestia smiled as she stood beside me “Whilst I’m not quite ready to forgive you, brother, I suppose I can live with another being for now” Blaze rolled her eyes, grinning “so what part of her did you fall in love with first TK?” “Her personality, then her hidden beauty, and finally, her as a whole” I winked ”She has beauty,” Rarity scoffed “That’ll be the day!” “Everything has beauty, not everyone sees it” I shrugged “Renders your job as a fashionista redundant, does it not, horsey?” Rana winked toward Rarity “I can still make other ponies look like princesses compared to you!” she huffed “Looking like a princess, and being one, are two different things, pony” Rana wagged a finger dismissively “That may be true,” Rarity scorned “but that doesn’t mean I can’t try!” “Gurren lagann reference, brother?” Blaze smirked “Tempted, but I won’t, not yet anyhow” I shook my head “Do you do everything she tells you?” Twilight raised an eyebrow “I could ask you the same thing about Celestia” I turned to face her and her friends “I do it because it’s what’s right!” she stamped her hoof “And you do it to remain loyal to her, yes?” Rana tilted her head, Twilight nodded “Then we are the same, in that regard” I hummed “But Celestia’s not a tyrant” she rebuked “Neither is Rana” I frowned “Tread lightly, pony, anger either of us, and you may end up either roasted or drowned” “At least Celestia’s kind, loving and caring” Twilight huffed “So are we, when left to our own devises” I reiterated from earlier “though your behaviour warrants nothing of the sort” “Alright,” she slowly nodded “what would it take for you to be nice again?” “You get what you give,” Blaze blurted out “Bold words for a creature so small” Rarity scoffed “Bold, but true,” Rana smirked
chapter XI; IlonaIt was on what the ponies called ‘Summer Sun celebration,’ that I found myself back at the beach, Rana at my side along with my friends and family as we sat on the soft, cool and somewhat refreshing sands “Why’re we here, when we could be enjoying the events taking place in Ponyville/” Littlepip blinked “This is better, you can relax, swim, do what you want, all under a blazing sun and sapphire sky with the gentle ocean waves by your side” I smiled “We could make a campfire?” Velvet Remedy gave a faint smile “In the middle of the morning,” I laughed “maybe later, my little Remedy” “And we get to spend the day with you, Sugarbear” Ranamon sat right beside me, draping an arm around my neck, placing her other hand on my chest, gently “And I you, my little Ocean Gem” I pecked her cheek “So where’s the sun?” Blaze nodded toward the thick “Allow me” I smiled, taking to the sky, raising my arms either side of me, releasing a sudden wave of energy around me, that of which gradually cleared the cloud-line, clasping my hands together, staring toward the sky, I smiled as I hovered down to the ocean’s surface, gliding toward the beach “FLCL reference, really, brother?” Blaze “Why not,” I shrugged “how else did you expect me to do it, Blaze?” “I don’t know, maybe a little less dramatic?” she laughed “Alright then Sister, maybe next time I’ll add a little of my flame to it?” I chortled “Or your sword” she smiled “Or both” Snowdrop nickered “Indeed” I nodded “I don’t mind what you do, as I’ve said before, my little Alpha” Rana smirked -=-=- As I turned to leave, in eon form, Snowdrop atop my head, Blaze atop Blackjack’s head and Rana riding upon my back I saw Crystal hovering by the beginning of the forest “Is this it then?” Crystal raised an eyebrow “are we finally at the moment where we part ways, Tesla?” “We never were,” I bit my lip “Crystal, please, i’d do anything for my friends, that includes you, and Angel also” “Then why say it?” she frowned “am I not your little Gem anymore, Rick?” “You’re my little gem, and Rana’s my little ocean gem” I flinched “What type of gem?” she smirked “You’re a ruby, she’s a sapphire” I grimaced “I’ve been your little Ruby for all this time, so what am I to do when I find her riding you like a stallion?” she grinned “Not that I mind of course, Celestia and Luna were awfully insistent on letting you go without any trouble, so what choice did I have but to agree?” “You can do what you want, Crystal, I won’t stop you,” I hovered toward Ponyville, Crystal flying alongside me, my friends quickly following us “Well, I have to agree the change in scenery is nice enough” Rana smiled “I’m pretty sure there’s a lake near the farm” Crystal raised a smug eyebrow “Maybe later,” she shrugged -=- “So what’s this movie that Hasbro thought about doing again?” Blaze laughed “It’s called ‘Rainbow Rocks’” I shuddered “basically it involves we-know-who going back to the other ‘location,’ let’s call it,” went on, rolling my eyes “and as far as I’m concerned, it’s just as bad if not worse than the original” “Why?” she blinked “It’s murphy’s law of movies that the sequel is garbage, and the third is the best of the three,” I grinned “and besides, according to Hasbro, the term ‘rock,’ as in music-wise ‘rock,’ can be defined by a simple hand gesture, how ridiculous can humans get?” “Please explain” she raised an eyebrow “Basically, there’re two sides to everything, one light, one dark, one good, the other bad, there’re both negatives and positives to everything, there isn’t a single item, being, or term that can be defined that simply” I explained “‘rock’ was made in the eighties, to my knowledge, and, as they say, nineteen-eighty-four wasn’t meant to be an instruction manual!” (I hope you’re taking notes Hasbro!) “Makes sense” Rana smiled “there’s always a deeper, more sophisticated way to everything, be it the basic elements that make up the universe, or something as complicated as love, there’re always two halves to it Sugarbear, and I think ya deserved somethin’ for that” “No need, your grace” I simpered “you do enough by merely being in my presence, milady” “Wonder if you’ll be there” Blaze hummed “you did request to be in -and were placed in-, the series, after all, Tesla” “That’d be cringe-worthy” I shuddered again “I’d ask them to have me removed from the show in the cheesiest way possible, but I’m you busy caring for you lot” “Talk about cheesiness, brother,” Blaze winked “and while you were away I passed Applejack one of those stones you have” “You did what?” I yelled “Don’t worry, I snuck out through the window before she even noticed me” she held up her paws defensively “And I suppose we should go to the farm then?” I sighed, gliding toward Sweet Apple acres, my friends quickly following me there “What happened to ya’ll, Applejack?” Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo stood in front of her brother, staring at him/her in awe “Ah’ve no idea Applejack shrugged, now with a longer mane and tail and a much slender build, with a n ample set of breasts above her crotch “Ah just woke up like this, that’s all Ah know” “What’s going on?” I flew toward the pair of farm-ponies “Mah brother’s turned into a sister!” Applejack gulped audibly “it wouldn’t happen to be one o’ yer gems would it pardner?” “I only did that to show Blueblood a change of perspective, you can blame my sister on this one” I pointed toward the quilava “But it’s your gem” she raised an unamused eyebrow “I wasn’t here when she did it, was I?” “Too busy with me,” Rana pecked my cheek as I glanced toward her “Isn’t there anyway in Equestria to solve this?” Applejack bit her lip “not that Ah don’t blame ya, Blaze” “We’ll just have to wait for it to pass through her system, if that doesn’t work, it’ll probably be melted by her stomach acids and fuse with them” “Say what now?” Scootaloo blinked “Basically, if it doesn’t come out of her other end, she’ll most likely stay like that” Blaze flinched “So ya’ll are tellin’ me that Blaze made my brother a mare, and now she might not make it back, so tah speak?” Applejack hissed “To put it briefly,” I nodded “This is not how in wanted to spend the day” Rana clambered down to the ground as I reverted to human form, “It’s no problem, Applejack,” Big Mac smiled “after all ya’ll said that you wanted him fer yerself, didn’t ya?” “Since when have I said that?” Applejack snarled “Since it appeared on yer barnyard wall” she shrugged “If you don’t want him I’ll have him, being a mare and all” Sweetie Belle clambered onto my shoulder, pecking my cheek as she sat there “Now what’d Rarity say about that?” Applejack scoffed “She doesn’t have tah know” Applebloom purred “Besides; we still owe Tesla one fer those bits he gave us last year” I was quickly dragged away by the trio of fillies into the farmhouse, once there, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo undid my lower attire, sliding said clothing down to my ankles, undoing the laces on my boots, completely removing the lot, Applebloom’s eyes glowed as her form changed, sitting me down on the bed, beginning to climb down my body, placing kisses on my neck as she leant into me, kneeling on the floor as Sweetie Belle locked the door, placing her ample breasts either side of my hardening cock, gently sliding them along the sides of my length, pressing her lips down on the neck, twirling her tongue around the head as she bobbed herself up and down “Ya’ll like this?” Applebloom winked at me as she pulled herself away, I slowly nodded, gently stroking her mane, she giggled, taking the head into her maw as Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo’s forms also changed to ones of similar dimensions, particularly around the chest area, placing their lips on either side of my dick, sucking it like a sweet, Sweetie Belle switched places with Applebloom, The farmpony then proceeded, with Scootaloo, to coil their tongues around my balls as Applebloom took my manhood to the hilt, I shuddered, gently placing my hands on her and Applebloom’s mane “What’d you like next?” Sweetie belle smiled dreamily as her two friends stared up at me,, having pulled themselves away, I shrugged “Alright then” she nickered; Scootaloo and Applebloom slammed their cleavage together around my member, Sweetie belle taking the head into her mouth, pressing her lips around it as she twirled her tongue around the tip, gagging as I filled her with seed, pulling away, letting the lasts of it trail down her chest “Mah turn, Pardner” Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo removed themselves as Applebloom sat in my lap, lifting herself up slamming her tight little cunny around my phallus, gasping as I hilted her, sliding herself along my shaft, eventually picking up speed, taking hold of my shoulders as I gripped onto her flanks, bouncing up and down on me endlessly, pressing her lips against mine Feeling myself readying for another burst, I bucked my hips in sync with hers, hilting her again as I painted her inner walls white, she almost screamed as I filled her with sticky, hot, white spunk, collapsing onto me, pecking my cheek as I stopped loading her with fluids, sitting on the edge of the bed as Scootaloo lay on her back on the bed, I rolled my eyes, prodding the head into her sex “Not there” Scootaloo grinned; I blinked, prodding it into her flankhole instead, sliding it in, she gasped as I hilted her, slowly sliding my dick in and out of her, gripping my flanks as I sped up, eventually moving as a blur, pulverising her plot, hilting her each and every time, and as I did so, she shuddered, groaning each time also “Buck…!” she moaned as I plundered her tailhole relentlessly, grunting as I fucked her what appeared to be senseless, pulling out to the head and hilting her with each thrust, gritting my teeth as I hilted her again, flooding her anal passage with my juices, quickly pulling out and slamming it into her tight little cunt, almost overflowing her cunny with spunk, continuing to pump into her until it stopped “That was incredible…” she mumbled as she rolled to one side, Sweetie Belle quickly took her place, pulling me so my cock slid into her nether’s “Do me in your other form, please/” she gave me the most adorable look I’ve ever seen, period “Just for you, my little Belle” I nodded, pulling out of her, changing to eon form, slowly sliding my now enlarged length into her glory hole (first time I’ve called it that BTW!), eventually meeting the point where it couldn’t go any further, gradually beginning to pump it in and out, slowly but surely gaining speed “Harder” she practically begged me, and so I went harder, beginning to plunder her little fuckhole “faster,” she moaned, and so I went faster also, moving as a blur, she clenched her fists on the bed sheets as her eyes rolled into the back of her head, I smiled, sliding my dick out of her cunny, and prodding her pucker with it “Yes,” she grinned rather sadistically, staring down at the area between her legs with obvious merriment/hope “Buck me,” she grabbed a hold of my cock, slamming it into her flankhole, pushing it in as far as it could go, I felt myself release a burst of energy from within as I came a fourth time, filling her rear entrance with my sperm, I quickly pulled out, sliding my manhood in and out of her sex, flooding it with my juices, collapsing on the bed beside her “Thank you, my little eon” she giggled, falling asleep beside me as Applebloom lay beside me, and Scootaloo opposite her =-=-=-= “What happened, that was so important that my dear sister couldn’t join me yesterday?” Rarity tilted her head as Twilight, her friends, minus Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, Spike and Celestia stood before me, my friends, Applebloom Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo “Ah’ll tell ya” Applejack frowned “Yer sisters a mighty big fan of Tesla’s” “And..?” Rarity blinked toward Applejack, who merely raised an eyebrow “No,” she gasped “not my little Sweetie Belle, not in a million years!” “We’re awfully sorry” Sweetie Belle sat on one shoulder, and Applebloom on the other, Scootaloo clung to my back as my friends and family, including Black Beetle, stood beside me, Snowdrop lay atop my head between my horns, as per the usual “We just wanted to show Tesla how much we appreciate what he did for us” “It was a few bits” Applejack and Rarity scorned “Money, paper and metal, simple material, love, however, is both timeless and priceless,” Blaze gagged “don’t make me say that again” “And you didn’t do anything to stop them?” Celestia raised an eyebrow “How do you someone from loving, let alone three of them?” I shrugged “That’s not what I meant” she frowned “It’s our fault, really” Applebloom hung her head in shame, as did the other crusaders, standing by my feet in what appeared to be sadness “Whilst I do believe you are coming of age, I do not think it wise to perform acts like that just yet” Rarity sighed “Just tell me, Ok Sweetie Belle?” “And Ah dun mind it much either, just say tha word and I’ll make sure granny don’t find out, Right Applebloom?” Applejack winked “Ya’ll really mean it?” Applebloom gasped, Applejack nodded alongside Rarity, she quickly clambered up my back, perching herself on my shoulder “I didn’t know they were fans” Twilight blinked “It’s only the most obvious thing in the world,” Blaze grumbled “she winked at tesla when he gave them the coins, she was the first to defend him from that other stallion, and she’s been the same since he got here, haven’t you noticed?” “She even left him those muffins at the confectionery when he gave them said coins” Pinkie Pie popped up from absolutely nowhere “Mrs Cake told me so” “Didn’t know you were good with foals?” Twilight smirked; I glanced toward Snowdrop, changing to eon form “You hear that Snowdrop, I’m not good enough for you” I laughed “The hay you aren’t,” she scowled “you’re an eon, a human, and a dragon slayer, you’re a hero; you’re MY hero, Daddy, and nothing’s going to change that, not even a god could stop the love I hold for you!” “Wait, what-?” I blinked as she turned me around so that I was hovering with my back facing the ground as she set herself just below my head, taking hold of my cheeks, pressing her lips against mine, gradually parting, setting herself back atop the crown of my skull as I righted my self “I love you Daddy” she giggled “I’m not doing it with my own daughter” I glowered “that goes against my morals” “Morals?” she blinked “My sense of right and wrong,” I rolled a clawed hand “Oh,” she blinked “I’m sorry, I just thought…” she began to cry, I quickly reverted to human form, sitting cross-legged on the ground, bringing her into my lap as she buried her head in my chest, tears cascading down her face “Snowflake, it’s going to be Ok,” I stroked her mane, draping my wings around her “if you really want it that much, then I won’t mind, but you just need to tell me beforehand, Ok, angel?” “Ok” she sniffled, pecking my cheek “my little Hero” she giggled, Scootaloo sat on my lap next to her “I’m…” Scootaloo inhaled sharply, slowly exhaling “I’m adopted…” “And your parents don’t care about you I presume?” she nodded “well then, assuming I’ve got my title and freedom about me along with my powers, risks and responsibilities, I hereby adopt you, Scootaloo” “Thank you!” she cheered, lunging at me, wrapping her arms around my neck, nuzzling into me as she perched herself on my shoulder “Hey, you’re family now; that means you look after me, and I you, the same goes for all my Nakama, Ok?” “Nakama,” she blinked “what’s that mean?” “You’re a friend who’s closer than family” Snowdrop held out a hoof, Scootaloo bumped it, albeit, reluctantly “I-I don’t know what to say…!” Scootaloo blinked as Applebloom perched herself on my other shoulder “Then it’d probably best to say nothing,” Blaze smirked “Words are inadequate, actions are what’s necessary” “Another cheesy quote, sister?” I smirked “I got it from you, of all places, wise-arse” she retorted, clambering onto Blackjacks head “Next thing you know is I’ll be acting as you do as well as speaking as you do” “Don’t you already?” I tilted my head slightly “you’re speaking in perfect English” “Actually I’m speaking in my own language,” she laughed “it’s just the eon part of your brain that’s translating it as such” “That’d imply that I was always an eon,” I blinked “And that’d mean that, by the transitive property...” I stared at Celestia, who nodded “Well doesn’t that put a wrench in the works?” Blaze chuckled “And I’m guessing we’re also going with the clichéd ‘your-mind’s-always-been-that-of-an-eon-it’s-only-the-change-that’s-reawakened-it’ option, aren’t we?” I sighed “I’m afraid so” Celestia giggled softly “Well that’s just great” Blackjack mumbled “Can we get a bit of backstory whilst we’re here?” Celestia quickly explained everything about the eons of ages past; nobody said anything whilst she spoke with a gentle, motherly voice “Tesla was the commander of the eons of old?” Littlepip stared at me “and yet he can barely manage day-to-day life” “I try to take life one day at a time, but sometimes they gang up and all attack me at once” I grinned, my rucksack teleporting into me as Celestia’s horn flared a bright primrose colour, I opened it, reaching into it and pulling out a pitch-black/deep purple and light/vivid green colour glassy orb “That’s quite the unique soul dew,” Celestia observed “where’d you get it?” “The Lunar Isles, Earth,” I smiled, holding the gem in my hands, standing upright “I’ve always thought, that since eons souls go into these hems when they die, that it’d be possible to reverse the process?” “That’s insane,” Blaze scorned “even if it were possible, they’d just die again within the few seconds in which, they were released from the stone!” “But what if it could happen?” I shrugged slightly “Can you hear me?” a faint voice echoed from the soul dew “You can talk?” I stared at the oddly coloured orb in my hands “I can, but I’m not sure for how long,” the sphere held in my hands somehow gently shook itself “please, I need you to release me” “Say what now?” I blinked as Crystal and Angel flew down toward me, hovering beside me “Just focus your energy into me, the rest should solve itself,” the soul dew commanded “I fear the version and/or form of me you meet in mere minutes won’t be the old me from ages past, farewell, commander Tesla” I focused my energy through my arms in through my hands and into the soul dew, causing it to shine with a blinding light “I’m Ilona by the way…” the voice faded, as did the light, and an eon gently landed in my arms, one with purple where there was usually red or blue, and a dark grey rather than white, her body marked with golden markings, and her ears had strings that had small hexagonal gemstones attached to the end, her forehead symbol a bright green love-heart shape, and her chest symbol that of a golden triangle with another green heart within, her tailfins ending in a bright golden-yellow “We’d best get her to a decent place to sleep” Celestia smiled, her horn flared again, teleporting us to the castle, specifically, what I assumed to be a spare bedroom “I don’t recall an eon called Ilona, perhaps it’s possible she’d either died, or was elsewhere when the war took place” she simpered as I sat on the edge of the bed, Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo sitting beside me “She looks a might bit odd, dontcha think Twi?” Applejack raised an eyebrow toward the lavender mare “I’d rather not judge somepony we don’t even know, we’ve only just met her, after all” Twilight smiled “You’re learning” Blaze stood beside me, opposite the crusaders as I draped my wings around Ilona, holding her close as she wearily opened her eyes, where anyone else would have whites around their eyes, hers were a dark olive green, and her pupils were black “Dada,” Ilona reached up to me with both arms, I smiled, resting her against my chest, her head placed upon my shoulder as she nuzzled into me, my wings still draped around her like a blanket “Dada” she smiled weakly as I used my arms as a cradle, she glanced toward Crystal who was hovering before me “Mama” she tilted her head “Oh my god…!” Crystal held her claws over her chest staring at Ilona in apparent awe “She’s beautiful, Ilona’s her name/” I nodded “she’s our little Ilo, Tesla” “Ilo,” Ilona pointed toward herself, blinking “me, Ilo?” “Yes, you are my little Ilo” I bit my lip, pecking her forehead, she let out a cute giggle as I tickled around her neck and stomach, a baby’s milk bottle appeared before me, hovering above Ilo with a cyan blue glow, I took a gentle hold of it, Ilona took hold of the end, sucking on it, feeding herself with it “I didn’t sign up for this,” I mumbled as Twilight and her friends stifled giggles and laughter “No, but we’re here regardless” Crystal pecked my forehead, and then Ilo’s, the latter of whom let out a gleeful smile “I don’t think I’ve ever seen this side of you, Tesla” Celestia raised a smug eyebrow with a sly grin “I can be hell on Equis; or an arch-angel from heaven, your choice” I smiled “Why?” Crystal blinked “I’m using myself as a social experiment, to show that people are only a problem if you make them into one” I winked “And so you have, my little wayward eon” Celestia nickered, standing beside Crystal alongside Cadance as Ilo pushed the bottle away, I placed it on the bedside table, rocking her to sleep, she went out like a light, quietly snoring away, it was cute really “You know what this calls for?” Pinkie Pie quietly cheered, somehow not managing to literally ‘wake the baby’ as it were, “A party!” still Ilona didn’t awaken “What’s with the odd earrings?” Rainbow Dash gestured toward the string that hung from Ilo’s ears “They’re a part of who she is,” I smiled and they look cute on her” “Mushy enough for you, brother,” Blaze gagged, “seriously, I can’t take much more of this” “You may want to exit the room then” I chuckled, pecking Ilona’s forehead, holding her close, my wings once again draped around her like a blanket, she did, bounding out of the room, disappearing down the corridor, quickly followed by Rainbow Dash -=-=-=-=-=- As the years passed, I got stronger, and became a better parent, as did Crystal, and Celestia and Cadance gave us quick and easy tips on how to raise a new-born as best they could, not knowing that much on how to raise an eon On the thirteenth year, I was awoken by a light prodding Sitting upright, I saw Ilona sat beside me, letting out a soft giggle, Crystal still asleep by my side “What is it Ilona?” I yawned “I just wanted to say good morning Dad” she giggled, opening the curtains, letting in a burst of sunlight her learning how to fly came as quickly as her speed when she was actually in the air “I love you, Dad” “I love you too Ilo,” I smiled, pecking her forehead “And I always will, my little Eon” “What time is it?” Crystal yawned; stretching as she awoke “Good morning honey” she pecked my cheek “Eww” Ilona gagged “Mom, don’t do that when I’m here!” “If you say so dear,” she chuckled, pecking her daughter on the forehead “We love you, Ilona” “I love you too mom, but please, don’t do any of that kissy stuff in front of me” Ilo shuddered “I won’t do anything you’re uncomfortable with” I winked “Nor will I, you’re our special eon, Ilona, nothing’s going to change that, not now, or ever” “Watch the mushiness level Crystal,” Blaze smirked, sat beside me on the bed “I might just faint “Good morning Auntie Blaze” Ilona smiled with a small wave “And to you, Ilona” Blaze nodded “Now who’s up for breakfast?” I smiled “Me!” Ilona glimmered, raising a claw into the air “Come on then” I smiled, she flew with Crystal and I as we walked from the room down to the dining hall, Blaze climbing unto my shoulder as we walked, entering the great hall “And here they come now,” Celestia smiled as Crystal and I quickly found a trio of empty seats, Ilona sitting between us “So this is Ilona, daughter of Tesla and Crystal” Luna smiled “we are pleased to meet thee, Lady Ilo” “Who’re you?” Ilona blinked “We are Princess Luna, guardian of the night, herald of dreams and nightmares alike” Luna smiled “we hath heard much about you, young Eon” “We,” Ilona tilted her head “Forgive us, Ilona,” Luna nickered “we hath gotten used to using the ‘ye olde’ way of speaking, we find it hard to change our speech patterns to the ones thou use” “How old are you?” she gave a faint smile “Two-billion years young, last we checked” Luna winked “So this Is Ilona,” Faust smiled as she sat in the seat at the end of the table “I’ve been waiting to meet you, Ilo” “How do you know me?” Ilo blinked “Word spreads like wildfire throughout equestria that our fabled eon princes has a daughter” Faust smiled “Different as you may be, you’re still royalty to us, dear Ilona” “I’m honoured” she covered her mouth as yawned “Fabled,” Blaze laughed “you speak of Tesla like he’s going to somehow change the fate of Equis!” “That’s what he managed to do before,” Celestia casually sipped her morning tea as if nothing out of the ordinary was happening “he fought against the shadows of Equis, leading an army of millions across the surface of Equis, be it on land, over the seas, or high above in the clouds, victory was all but certain,” she went on “there’s probably something in the archives that gives the vague details of the events from ages past, then again, there might not be, I cannot say for certain, but I’m sure there is” “Then that’s what we’ll do” Crystal smiled -=- As we browsed through the archives, I found a book as thick as my arm, I carefully slid it out of the shelf; it had the word eon etched into the thick, earthy-brown cover in gold leaf, dotted with tiny gemstones of all sorts, it was also wrinkled like a prune, most likely having been there for ages on end “Found something” I smiled, slowly opening the book, beginning to read as Crystal hovered by my side, reading it with me “So there used to be a pony on level with the eons,” Crystal smiled as we glided toward the main hall, Ilona lay atop my back, holding the book in place Snowdrop perched upon my head, and Blaze, my neck “I find tha hard to believe” “Starswirl the bearded, really,” Blaze guffawed as she stood upon my shoulder, Ilona sitting beside me on the steps in the main hall “what kind of name is that?” “Says the being who’s named after her ability” I chuckled as Twilight appeared alongside Spike, marching up toward me, Rainbow Dash quickly following her as did Rarity and Applejack “Starswirl the bearded is the wisest, strongest unicorn known in the recorded history of Equestria,” Twilight snapped “I’d like to see you do better!” “‘Recorded history,’” I used my claws as quotation marks “meaning there was probably someone better before that time” “Impossible,” she scoffed “Starswirl was theorizing time travel before he died, I fail to see how anypony can do better “Tesla can travel to anytime; and anywhere in reality,” Blaze shrugged “besides, there’s a type of magic back on Earthland where they practise what’s known as the ‘Arc of time’” “That can’t be true,” Twilight huffed “there’s not a being in the universe that could beat Starswirl” “Challenge accepted” I smirked “though I think it’s redundant, really” “Why?” she frowned “Well, like Blaze said, I can warp to any specific point in reality, and I have dragon slayer magic, as well as Gurren Lagann, and the Giga-drill-breaker also” “Don’t forget ‘dragon’s apparition’” Blaze smiled “And that as well” I nodded “And Alphamon” she smirked “That also,” I rolled my eyes “And ‘Dragon Force’” she laughed “You’re still not as good Starswirl” Twilight scorned “Who said I needed to be,” I shrugged “I do what I think is right, be it for my friends, family, or otherwise, some ancient corpse of a so-called ‘mage’ isn’t going to change that!” “How…” she glared at me “how dare you!?” “I dare because I exist, that’s who I am, after all” I smiled “tell me, what do you believe magic really is?” “It’s that irreplaceable moment that ya’ll spend with yer friends, and no matter what ya do, ya’ll can’t make it tha least bit awful” Applejack smiled with apparent glee “What about you, what do you see magic as?” Twilight smirked “It doesn't matter if you say the true origin of Magic is ‘Darkness,’ It doesn't matter if you say that it’s ‘Light’ either’” I smiled “Magic is alive. Its place changes over time and it grows along with us. Magic is anything you can think of. It can be felt in infinite ways... as light, as darkness, as red, or as blue and it is living freely, together alongside the Fairy Tail guild” I stifled a laugh, beginning to re-read the book I had set in my lap “That’s complicated” Ilona smiled “Indeed” Celestia stood before me, smiling “I trust you’re doing well, Tesla” “I am, and so is Ilona, aren’t you, my little eon? “I’m alright, Dad” Ilo smiled as my friends and Scootaloo trotted up behind me, Scootaloo clambered onto my other shoulder “Hello Dad,” Scootaloo gleamed, nuzzling into me “Hello my little rising comet” I pecked her on the forehead, draping my wings around both her and Ilona, Black Beetle clinging onto my back, wrapping her arms around my neck as she did so “and of course, my little changeling also, can’t forget my friends now, can we?” “But of course not,” Luna approached, standing beside Celestia, her mane now a mild blue that went down to her shoulders, here tail sharing the same colour “One mustn’t forget who they share close bonds with, especially ones as close as yours, Sir Tesla,” she winked “doth thou, likest our look?” “Why wouldn’t I, you look rather cute with your mane like that,” I smiled, she blushed, her indigo cheeks turning a mild lavender “Thou art both fabled and armed with a tongue of silver, Sir Tesla” she giggled “we love thee will all of thine heart, truly” “You don’t need to constantly call me by my little, just Tesla, or Rick, either one works” I simpered “But what of thy royalty?” she blinked “There’re only two types of people thrones are made for, gods and tyrants, I don’t want, or claim to be, either one” I raised an eyebrow, continuing to read “you’re the latter f the two, Luna, you deserve every bit of respect, love and admiration you get, I’m just a human, an eon, and a dragon slayer with a wife and kids, and a few great friends that’s all” “We have never heard such compliments before,” she blinked, staring at me “thou truly art a kind being, Tesla” “Never heard such a compliment,” I grinned “now that, I find hard to believe, you’re an amazing pony, Princess Luna, more than I think you, or anyone else, may care to realize, my little Tsuki”, I quickly placed the book by my side as she leapt at me, wrapping her arms around my neck, I hugged her back, placing one hand on her back, and stroking her mane with the other, the two of us eventually parting, pecking her cheek as she stood before me “We have to thank thee for thy heart-speak, Tesla” “Heart-speak,” I blinked, Celestia smiled “We were using magic to see if your heart was as honest as your words” Celestia smirked “That’d also mean that you’re telepathic” I grumbled “Quite so” Luna nickered “Here’s a question, what happened to the bag of bits you had?” Blaze pated the side of my head “It was returned to the treasury” Celestia raised an eyebrow toward me “And yet it has no guards, meaning that it’s magically linked…” I trailed off, staring at the twin goddesses, who merely grinned simultaneously “Damnit” “They attempt has been noted, any further attempts without first telling us will result in prosecution,” Luna slurred, changing to anthro form, sitting in my lap “and then thou will get punished, most harshly, our dear Eon” “Knowing Tesla he’ll try just for the punishment” Blaze chortled, I tilted a hand “I don’t get it?” Ilona titled her head “You will someday,” I sighed “just you wait, Ilo” “When will that day come?” she smiled “Sooner or later, we’ll see, my little Firefly” “How’s that possible, didn’t Celestia call you her little Firefly?” Blaze grinned “Not that I recall,” I slowly shook my head “must have hit your head or something, dear sister” Luna placed her lips against mine, draping her wing around me “Must you do that?” Ilona gagged “Thou will learn to live with it soon enough” she smiled “I’m not sure I will” Ilona bit her lip “I’m sure there’s a quote that could be used here” Blaze smirked “Not all that is dark, is evil, just misunderstood” I shrugged “Tesla, since our banishment, we turned as a filly, and nopony wanted to have us as thou have thy friends, but as time passed, our form returned to normal, and ponies began to fear our turning back to Nightmare Moon, and so we were an outcast, but thou do not fear us, nor do thou ridicule us, or hate us, why is that?” “I do none of those things, as I have little to no reason to” I glimmered “you’re not a monster, you’re not deserving of hate or resent that others may give you, you’re my little shooting star, Lady Luna-!” she quickly planted her lips upon mine “Will thou engage in coitus with is?” she blushed, Celestia grinned “And you’re sure there’s no other way to show your gratitude?” I blinked “Nay, we are not familiar with the concept of gift-giving” she raised an eyebrow “Really?” I gave Celestia a flat stare “I thought it to be interesting to see what it’d be like if the situation ever arose” Celestia shrugged, turning to face her sister “I do believe it’s time we spoke, in private, come on Lulu” “We shall see thee later, Sir Tesla” Luna reverted to her pony form, trotting away with Celestia, winking back toward me as she went “You lucky devil,” Shining Armour stood beside me, having apparently come from nowhere alongside Cadance “How do you get such a way with words Sir Tesla?” “I just try to be nice, I guess” I shrugged “Bullshit” Crystal chortled “you know what you’re saying and when and how you’re saying it, don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to, mister” “I’m not up to anything,” I frowned “I’m just trying to make her return back to Equestria that little bit more bearable” “Says the bee to the hornet” she folded her arms “That doesn’t even make sense!” Ilona stared at me -=- “I beg your pardon?” I stood Princess Luna’s chambers on the balcony the lunar mare once again in Anthro form “We asked thee if thou would be interested in being our royal pet” Luna smiled, her mane still as it was earlier as we sat on a pair of deck chairs set under the light of the stars and moon “Do I have to?” I mumbled “Thou don’t have to, as co-ruler of Equestria, I cannot and will not force you to do something you’re not comfortable with, Sir Tesla” she giggled, standing up, moving toward me, straddling my lap, just as a knocking came from the door as it opened, revealing Celestia, who merely raised an eyebrow “What’re you doing, Luna?” Celestia facehooved “We are making Tesla comfortable for the night, Tia” Luna placed her hands on my chest “thou are comfortable, right?” “I’m trying to figure out a way of saying that I’m not complaining without sounding awkward” I bit my lip “Thou just did” she nickered, tracing a finger around in a circle on my chest, drawing it down my stomach, poking at my crotch “how would thou like us to begin, my dear Knight?” “I ask again,” Celestia sighed, trotting toward me, standing beside us “What’re you doing, Lulu?” Luna ignored her, choosing to undo her lingerie, discarding it as she collapsed onto me, placing her hands on either side of my head, pressing her lips against my own, our tongues dancing together as I placed one hand on her rear cheek, and the other on her back, gradually parting, staring at one another “Do you mean to discard all that I’ve taught you?” Celestia frowned lightly “Not at all, Tia,” Luna gave a soft giggle “we’re technically gift-giving, as it were, she at in my lap, pecking my cheek “Thine gift to thou, Tesla, is us, use us as you will, for we are thy own from here on, for all of the rest of your days” I fainted -=-=-=- When I awoke, I bolted upright, Snowdrop immediately perched herself on my head, and Blaze and Kiary stood on either shoulder, quickly noticing I was still in Luna’s chambers “What in the fudge happened?” I mumbled as Twilight, her friends, Spike, The princesses, Ilona, Crystal and my friends “You fainted dude” Rainbow Dash laughed “Do you need any water, something to drink?” Celestia smiled “I’ll be fine” I blinked “If you say so” she simpered “Know that we’ll always be here for you, Sir Tesla” “I know,” I smiled back “Not every day you get a goddess to give you a somewhat mild striptease, eh brother?” Blaze smirked “Blaze, shut up” I groaned “Can’t appreciate quality attention when you get it, Tesla?” she grinned “I appreciate it just fine, now please, be quiet” I frowned “Alright, geez, who the hell, crapped in your cornflakes?” she held up her paws defensively “I don’t eat cereal, Blaze” I glanced toward the quilava “Pancakes then” she folded her arms with a smug grin “Fair do’s” I nodded “You’ll never guess what Ilona, our little angel, asked me last week, before you collapsed” Crystal chimed as she sat beside me on the bed, Ilona sitting in my lap “What is it you need?” I smiled, pecking Ilona on the forehead “Can you teach me magic?” Ilona flinched “You want me,” I began, somewhat startled “to teach you magic?” “If you could, I don’t mind if you can’t, Dad” she shrugged “I had a little difficulty controlling my magic when I first got it, and I was ten years older than you are now,” I hummed “are you sure you want this?” “If I have to wait, I will, I just can’t wait to use magic as I’ve seen you use, Dad” she smiled with glee “Do you know, what my magic is referred to as?” I raised an eyebrow “Fire magic?” she tilted her head, an innocent expression plastered on her face “Dragon slayer magic” I corrected her “Sounds cool enough” she smirked “Eons are dragons, in part” I deadpanned “Oh,” she blinked “now I’m not so sure, is there anywhere I can learn normal magic?” “Define ‘normal’” I laughed” Just try closing your eyes, she nodded, closing them “now try and imagine a source of energy that’s hidden within you, and try to moving it about a little “I can feel it” she exhaled sharply “Good, now try and take it in a claw” she nodded, a small ball of silver energy appeared around her claw “now keep that going, and pen your eyes” she smiled, staring down at the sphere “That’s my magic?” she gasped the ball of silvery magic flickered a little “ “Keep that feeling, Ilo” I winked “I could barely hold a flame for a few seconds, let’s see how long that sphere lasts” “I don’t know if I can” she bit her lip “Just believe, Ilo,” I smiled “believe in the idea that you can do anything, and eventually it just might become a reality” “I can do this,” she inhaled through her nose, exhaling through her mouth “I’ve got my family beside me, I can do this” the size of the silver sphere double instantly, she repeated the process, and another sphere appeared around her other hand, roughly the same size, the flames turning a bright whitish-silver colour “That there’s light magic, not flame” Applejack smiled “It’s both,” Celestia raised an eyebrow “It’s got both the softness of the light of the sun, and a slight intensity and heat of a warm flame, Our young eon’s a hybrid-based wizard” “What’s, ‘hybrid’?” Twilight blinked “It’s where a unicorn, or a spellcaster of sorts, can use two elements of magic, or two types of magic, either separately or simultaneously, they’re as rare as blaze diamonds, and seldom appear in Equestrian history, but I’ve a feeling we know one already, Twilight” Celestia smiled “Starswirl the bearded,” Twilight gasped “he was a hybrid unicorn?” “he was, but that’s not who I meant” she nodded toward me “What?” Twilight blinked “How?” “Lightning-flame dragon, remember?” Blaze laughed “There’s another we know of, isn’t that right Blaze?” I rolled my eyes, the spheres around Ilo’s hands faded “Gajeel Redfox, Iron dragon slayer, shadow iron dragon slayer, to pe precise” she nodded “damn good wizard too” “I prefer the term ‘mage,’ if you don’t mind” I shrugged “Just because we went there, doesn’t mean you should think about it any further” she mumbled “Touché” I slowly nodded “Will you tech me more, Dad, or will I get tutored by someone else?” Ilona giggled “I’ll try” I nodded “anything for my family, after all” “So who’s this Starswirl character?” Crystal blinked “A legendary unicorn whose talent magic and wizardry is as legendary as the spells he wrote” “He literally made his own magic?” Blaze whistled, Celestia nodded “that’s impressive” “Indeed it is, it’s been several centuries since we saw him last” Luna spoke quietly, and calmly “his passing was one of Equestria’s darkest hours” “And he didn’t have anyone to pass this magic onto?” Kiary raised an eyebrow “His student, Clover the Clever, was a feisty unicorn with a talent that rivalled his,” Celestia nodded again “and so a bond was formed, Starswirl created spells, and Clover learnt them, albeit, eventually, the two worked in unison most of the time, working through long days and sleepless nights, when he passed away, she was his living legacy, an heir to his long-lost, but never forgotten magic, so to speak even now, there’s a scarce amount of unicorns using that very same magic, studying its algorithms, attempting to perfect it,, but most are confused by its complexity” “So, what magic can I learn here?” Ilona smiled “That depends, what do you want to learn?” she gave a faint simper “I like the warmth of the flames I can make, but I feel myself radiated toward light magic also, so I don’t know which path I should pursue” Ilo hummed “I’m assuming I must create a near perfect balance between the two, if I am to combine them?” “That is correct,” Celestia raised an eyebrow, glancing toward Ilona, then at me “she’s wiser than her age would suggest, she takes well after her father, Tesla” “I’m two centuries old” I facepalmed “And yet you can talk and act as if you’re as old as we are” she shrugged, again “You’d make Starswirl proud, I can tell, just by looking at your magic aura, and why, when and where you use it, that you’re a great mage, my dear knight, and I know that’d you’d make a good teacher of magic, if it were another magic other than the one you gained from Crystagia” she went on “you’re an extraordinary being, Tesla, don’t let anything or anypony tell you differently” “Where’s my rucksack,” I asked after a brief period of silence, said rucksack appeared in a flash by my side; I opened it, reaching around, pulling out a staff with a light-ish-pale green orb at the end claw-like curve-pieces holding it in place “I bequeath this to you, Lady Celestia” “What is it?” Twilight stared at the staff “The staff of Magnus,” I frowned “made to dispel magic anomalies, might need a little altering” “Where did you get this?” Celestia smiled “An alternate world” I simply smiled “It’s magnificent,” she teleported it away “I’ll have to study it later, thank you for the artefact, Tesla” “I only wish that it be kept safe, if people were to find out about is true power, your- no, our home, would no longer be safe” I grimaced “Then why give it?” Luna frowned “Because I feel like I can trust you, Lady Luna and Lady Celestia” I smiled “I’m a lady now?” Celestia smirked “You’re smart and beautiful, and wise as well as caring, so there’s that” I smiled “I’m flattered” she winked, Snowdrop passed my goggles, which had a cracked lens “Now isn’t that a shame,” Crystal sighed “those were your best ones, too” “I think we can get them refitted” Celestia hovered the goggles over to her, the glow around her horn intensifying for a split second, passing them back to me afterward “That’s handy” I turned the goggled around, the now-repaired lens reflecting the sun with a blinding shine to it “It’s a simple spell” she smiled -=-0-=- The following morning, I opening my rucksack, bringing out the full set of clockwise regalia, quickly putting it on, replacing it with my normal clothes, the goggles included “Are you trying to impress somepony?” Celestia smiled as I stood on the balcony, overlooking most of Equestria, Snowdrop perched atop my head, Kiary and Blaze stood on either shoulder, my friends staring at me as I stood there with a familiar solar goddess “Who’s to say,” I shrugged lightly “I could be doing anything” “That’s dangerous” Blaze shuddered “I know” I smirked “There is, however, a problem that’s going to arise, should you walk around ponyville wearing that” she tutted you know how those mares keep staring and winking at you as you go by?” I nodded “They’re most likely going to jump your bones if you war that, brother” “That’s their lack of self-control, not mine, Blaze” I laughed “It’ll be your privates being as sore as anything though, though I doubt you’d complain” she grinned “If someone’s intoxicated in any way, I feel it demeaning to do that sort of thing, you know that, sister” I frowned “I bet twenty bits that your actions are gonna say otherwise” she beamed “Fifty,” I grumbled “Two-hundred,” she winked suggestively at me “Deal” I shook her paw “I must say that you two get on rather well, even if you are talking of rutting my subjects” Celestia raised an eyebrow “You act as if it’s no big deal” I quickly covered Blaze’s mouth “What you do with them, I cannot hinder, I can only warn, or try to help,” she sighed “do try and control yourself” “If I couldn’t do that, I wouldn’t have made the bet with Blaze” I raised both eyebrows “You forget who I am, Lady Celestia” “I have not forgotten that you are a being capable of some of the greatest achievements Equis has ever seen, probably greater than that” she nickered “Good day to you, Milady,” I bowed, turning and walking with my friends through the castle, the maids and servants who I passed in the corridor either stopped and stared or tripped over whatever it was they were carrying, turning to face me as I went about my day “It’d appear that you’re drawing quite a bit of attention to yourself, Brother” Blaze folded her arms “You owe me two-hundred bits” I chuckled “We’re not in ponyville yet, TK” she rolled her ruby eyes -=- When we got to ponyville, most, if not every single pony there, stopped what they were doing and stared at me “Teslakana, Where on Equis did you get that,” Rarity gasped as Twilight and her friends somewhat ‘jogged’ toward me “it’s simply divine!” “You’d be surprised of what I can do, if I have the right resources, Rarity” I winked “How much did that cost?” Twilight eyed me up and down “A few handfuls of gems” I shrugged “this is proper clockwise, by the way” “That’s clockwise?” Rarity stared at me “I have to go” she rushed off toward the boutique “Where’s she off to?” Kiary tilted her head “Probably off to try and recreate the set of attire that Prince Tesla’s wearing” Twilight glimmered, all eyes in the town were suddenly on me “He’s a prince?” one pony gaped “I’d never of imagined” another pony hummed “I’d heard he’d stepped down from being king, but he’ll always be our little ruler” every pony present broke into cheering “Now, you owe me, sister” I mumbled “Not yet I don’t” she wagged a paw “Why does she owe you?” Twilight blinked “I made a bet with Blaze that I’d be able to control myself whilst here in ponyville, and vice versa” I raised an eyebrow “I see” she giggled “and, who’s winning” “Tesla, by this much” Kiary made a small gap between her claws as a familiar, creamy-white pony with a magenta-ish mane and tail trotted toward me, I crouched down to her level, stroking her mane, she quickly batted my hand away, practically lunging forward, wrapping her arms around my neck, planting her lips on mine, sliding her tongue into my mouth, the two oral muscles dancing together, gradually parting “I love you” Roseluck giggled, pecking my cheek, galloping away as if nothing happened “Fine, you win, how much do I owe you again?” Blaze grumbled “Two-hundred bits, I do believe” I smirked “And where am I meant to get that amount of money from?” she frowned “Should’ve though about that before you made the bet” I sighed “ “Fine” she quickly bounded away “You bet her two-hundred bits?” Rainbow Dash blinked “She said twenty, I then replied with fifty, then she finished it with two-hundred” I shrugged “She’s lucky, why didn’t I get the chance to do that?” a mare from the crowd mumbled “Oh dear,” Kiary glimmered “Looks like you’re the at the epicentre of attention now, brother” “So it would seem” I laughed -=-=-=- Where’re we going again?” Blaze grunted from atop my shoulder “Rainbow Dash wants to see where A.K. Yearling lives because she wants to know when the next Daring Doo book’s going to be published” Twilight sighed as we walked through an unknown forest “Speaking of books, thank you for the ‘Game Of Thrones’ book, it was a rather captivating read” “Keep it”, I’ve already read all seven” I smiled “I might ask to read them later” she winked as we came across a clearing with a seemingly abandoned house in the centre “This is where she lives?” Rainbow Dash blinked “None of you find this to be borderline-stalking?” Kiary frowned “Whilst I do believe it is such, I think we should give Rainbow a chance” Rarity tilted her head “Never meet your heroes, they’ve a tendency to let you down” Blaze deadpanned “How would you know?” Rainbow Dash glared at the Quilava atop my shoulder, glancing toward me, I raised an eyebrow “oh,” she blinked “darn” “Is that her?” Twilight nodded toward a pale gold pony with a grey cloche, red framed glasses and a magenta shawl, whistling as the pony entered her house “That’s her!” Rainbow Dash darted toward the door of the house “That pony has no sense of decency, nor any patience” Crystal folded her arms, tutting as she shook her head as we followed the cyan mare into the clearing as the golden pony opened the door “And what is it you want?” the pony sneered “Rainbow Dash wants to know when the next book’s being published,” I bit my lip “And what of you?” she raised an eyebrow as she eyed me up and down “you’re obviously not of this world, who are you?” “I’m a friend on a field trip, but most call me Tesla” I chuckled “And I suppose you want to know also?” she frowned “I’ve books to read whilst you write, so I have patience aplenty, Yearling” I smiled “At least you’ve a sense of decency about you, Tesla, I shall remember that when I add you to my next book” “I’d be honoured” I bowed quickly, a sudden wind bought, knocking her glasses away also, Twilight and her friends gasped in unison “You’re Daring Doo?” Rainbow Dash gaped “What of it?” Daring Doo snapped “you’ve obviously gone to great lengths to interrupt me as I was about to continue writing my next book, the one after that of which would’ve featured our wayward princes that stands beside you, ‘Rainbow Dash’” she ground the name to spittle “Well, I think it’s about time I took my leave, Miss Doo” I nodded, turning around and walking back toward Ponyville, Kiary, Blaze and I raising our hands/paws in an ‘L’ shape, Snowdrop doing the same with her hoof to some extent, Crystal following me alongside my friends “Did I, or did I not say ‘never meet your heroes’?” I clicked my neck as we arrived in ponyville “You did, she just didn’t listen” Crystal rolled her eyes “not surprising, considering what she’s like,” she sighed “that Rainbow Dash’s going to end up in quite a bit of trouble sooner or later, and I don’t want to be there when it happens” “I know, right?” Blaze chortled “but in all seriousness, did we have to do the salute?” “I thought it’d make things interesting,” I shrugged “Says the one wearing clockwise” she raised an eyebrow “Don’t judge me” I frowned “I wasn’t, I was merely commenting on your choice of attire” she smirked “Thinking of the author we just met, the remote location shows that she wants respect for her privacy” “And thus is the reason George R.R. Martin and Stephen King never reveal their real address, to anyone, under any circumstances,” Crystal laughed -=- When Twilight and her friends returned, Rainbow Dash was gliding softly through the air, a saddened look upon her face “I knew it was a bad idea” Twilight sighed, Rainbow frowned at her “Why’d you leave?” she glanced toward me “If someone doesn’t points out that I’m intruding on their property, that’s good enough of a reason to leave” I raised an eyebrow “if she wants me to leave, then I will gladly do as she asks, even more so seeing as I’m a knight” “How so,” Crystal blinked, smirking at me with a wicked leer “A knight’s duty is to protect and serve the rulers and their subjects, is it not?” I winked “I can’t believe somepony who’s never even heard of her gets featured in her next book, and I get nothing!” Rainbow Dash growled at me “I’ve been a fan of her books for ages” “Rainbow Dash, it’s only been two years” Twilight rolled her eyes “Same thing!” her cyan friend snapped “So, just because you don’t get something you want you instantly throw a tantrum and start acting like a child, is that how this is going to play out, because I tell you now, that’s not going to get anyone anywhere” I scowled “And people tell you, of all people, to grow up, brother” Blazed grinned “I know, right?” I smiled, beginning to walk back where I came from =-= When I made it back to the author-pony’s house, I noticed her stood between the door and three other ponies “Where is it?” one of the trio snarled “we know you have the ring, Miss Yearling” he frowned “Like I’d tell you bozos anything” Daring Doo spat, before they could utter a response I rushed behind them, performing a reverse-roundhouse kick to the middle pony’s side, sending him colliding with the being on the left, Snowdrop, Blaze and Kiary stood beside Crystal and the others , having leapt/climbed/glided from me to the ground before I lunged forward “Who are you?” the pony of whom still standing glowered “Sir, Prince and Lord Rick ‘Teslakana’ Hawkins; saviour of the Twilight, herald of the light, guardian of the sacred star of the Daedra, and protector of Equestria and all her inhabitants, save you three,” I grinned as the other two clambered to their hooves “be sure to carve that into your hearts when I send you packing!” scales appeared on my arms, hands and face, and as I let out a powerhouse roar, an apparition of a large crystalline dragon appeared above me “Did I mention dragon slayer?” the three ponies took one look at me, then the apparition, quickly sprinting away with their tails between their legs, it was then that I noticed Daring Doo stood there with a wicked grin, holding a quill and notepad “I believe they shan’t bother you any longer, miss Yearling” I bowed quickly “Thank you, Sir Tesla” she bowed, eventually standing upright “I believe I shall add those lines to your character in my next book” she nickered “didn’t know you were part dragon” “Maybe that’s a little extra you may add, but that’d be your choice, as I cannot force you to do what you may not wish to do” I shrugged Suddenly a large monkey-like creature with a long head and tail with a hand on the end burst through the trees to the side of us “Why am I being told of my subordinates evident failure?” the creature boomed “Maybe if they were better at their job you wouldn’t be so disappointed, bigfoot” I scoffed “You dare challenge me, the mighty Ahuizotl?” he blared “I dare, for I exist, I think, therefore I am” I beamed “Teslakana, Fairy Tail wizard, and Defender of Crystagia “How do you spell that?” Daring Doo, tilted her head “C-R-Y-S-T-A-G-I-A” I simpered “You take notes as your friend is about to meet his certain doom?” Ahuizotl raised an eyebrow, a solid uppercut to the jaw quickly shut him up, followed by a forward flip and a heel bought down upon his skull “Suishō Hasu Gurren Hoseki Ryu Ken!” I roared, firing Gatling-like punches toward his torso, fists blazing with a whitish-golden flame, sending him flying back through the forest “You beat him!?” Daring Doo gasped “Why not?” I shrugged “‘Dragon Force’ utilizes power that’s comparable to that of an actual dragon, Ahuizotl, clearly isn’t any match for a dragon” “Send word to Celestia that I wish to have my belongings moved to Canterlot, she’ll know what to do” “It shall be done” I nodded -=-=- “So, Daring Doo, or A.K. Yearling, wishes to move to canterlot?” Celestia smiled “I think I can manage that, I’ll send a small amount of guards to have her belongings bought here as soon as possible” she nodded toward a nearby guard, who galloped from the room “You’ve done well to bring that bit of news to me, Sir Tesla” “Just doing my job” I smiled “So you are” she nickered “you are dismissed, unless you’ve something to talk about?” “Nothing at the moment, Princess” I shook my head, turning and walking from the room, wandering into the main hall, just catching sight of around twenty unicorns clad in golden armour that all of Celestia’s guards wore sprint through the entrance of the castle “How’d you do it?” Crystal laughed, Ilona draped her arms around my neck as she place her head upon my own, using me as a form of locomotion, apparently “I live, I make friends, and I act upon the words that I speak, what more do you lot want?” I rolled my eyes “What was that about?” twilight and her friends trotted into the room, walking toward me “If by ‘that’ you mean the guards taking chariots toward due northwest of here, then I can’t tell you” I winked “Why not?” she tilted her head “Because it’s not my place to say, and I’ve not been told that I’ve been authorized to tell anyone” I shrugged, again “I’m Shining Armour’s sister” she gave a flat stare “And I’m the princess’s knight” I tilted my head slightly “I’m sorry but you’ll have to ask them if you wish to gleam any information about the current events, Sparkles” “Maybe I will” she pouted somewhat cheekily, walking with her friends toward the throne room “Is she going too like what you and the author pony have done?” Crystal grinned once they were out of earshot “Probably not, Rainbow Dash will probably be herself and go ape-shit and pester her to no end, in which case I’ll be asked to file a restraining order, assuming they exist here on Equis” I laughed “Most likely” she chortled “And assuming that happens, what’d transpire afterward?” “Anything can happen at any time, Crystal;” I tilted a hand “time is beyond comprehension, even in its most basic principles “This should be amusing” she stifled laughter =-=-= As the last chariot landed by the balcony, a trio of guards worked to carry Daring Doo’s belongings to her room “It feels good to be home” Daring Doo sighed “did you know I was born, raised and taught in Canterlot, Tesla?” “Learn something new every day” I blinked “I hope you enjoy your stay, Miss Doo” I quickly bowed “Call me Daring, everyone who’s close to me does” she smirked “And who’s that?” I bit my lip “You,” she winked “there ain’t nopony else comes to mind, Sir Tesla, have you read any of my books?” “I’ve been able to read a few” I tilted a hand “And I’ve been able to add you, your lines, and your characteristics to my latest masterpiece, your majesty” “Call me Tesla, or Rick, whichever you prefer” I smiled “Ahem?” I turned around, Twilight and her friends were stood there, Rainbow Dash glaring at me as if I’d done something I was going to regret later on “May I help you?” Daring Doo raised an eyebrow “Rainbow Dash wants to know, again, when the next book’s going to be published” Twilight grumbled “I’ve already told you that it’s going to be another while yet before I complete it, I’d say another two months, at least” Daring Doo facehooved “But I can’t wait that long!” Rainbow Dash grunted “And this is why I’ve a wider range of books in my inventory, if I’m waiting for a sequel of one to be completed; I read another, one of a different series” I sighed “that way, I’m not waiting as much as I am having fun reading” “I do read other books!” she spat “Like what,” I folded my arms “and other books of the same series don’t count, disregarding J R.R. Tolkien’s books” “Hey, Twilight, can I borrow that book he gave you?” she quickly glanced toward her lavender friend “I might be able to if Tesla will allow it” Twilight shrugged “What’s the age range on your books?” I turned to face daring Doo “Foals to mid-teenager, why?” the pale-golden mare blinked “Thought so” I slowly shook my head “the ‘Game of Thrones’ series is more of an adult fiction, you wouldn’t last two pages in comparison to what I’ve read in ‘Daring Doo’ series, no offense” “None taken” Daring Doo shrugged “my work’s not the best in the world, but it’s there on the list somewhere, probably” “I’d hope so” I chuckled “wouldn’t want bad reception to a well-written book, would we?” “Because you’re in it?” she raised an eyebrow “Because I think you’re a decent author,” “I smiled “not the bets, but by no means the worst, I’d say you’re the fourth best I know” “Who’re the other three?” Twilight blinked “Chris D’ Lacey, J R.R. Tolkien, and George R.R. Martin, in reverse order” I simpered “The ‘Game of Thrones’ boobs are the best books you’ve read?” Twilight gave a flat stare “Shortly followed by ‘Lord of the Rings,’ and ‘The Last Dragon Chronicles’” I nodded “And who’s fifth?” Daring Doo smirked “Dereck Landy” I unfolded my arms “Skulduggery Pleasant is the best detective series I’ve read, period” “Of course” she sighed “books for young foals will always pale in comparison to detective books” “I said yours were better, Daring,” I raised an eyebrow “besides, I stopped interest those books as soon as I read them” “Could I read them?” Rainbow Dash prodded the tips of her hooves together, her eyes darting from side to side “If I can find them, Thor knows the infinite space my inventory has” I laughed
chapter XII; complicationsAs I trekked toward the castle in the forest, my friends walking alongside Twilight and the others, Spike and Celestia included, I quickly changed to eon form, My ears rapidly twitching as Kiary and Blaze scrambled onto my back, my eyes narrowed as Blaze sniffed the air “Ok, what reeks of death?” Blaze folded her paws “You feel that too huh?” I frowned “Damn right I do,” she glowered “looks like your old man’s back, somehow” I lowered myself to the ground “Snowdrop, Kiary, stay here, I’ll be back soon” I gave a faint smile “Ok Daddy” Snowdrop giggled, climbing down to the ground alongside Kiary and Blaze, I quickly reverted to human form, and then changed from that to Alphamon “We going all out then?” she clicked her neck sand paws “Most likely” I nodded as she clambered onto my head, soaring toward the castle, bursting through the doors to the throne room, only to find “And who might you be?” the figure stood opposite me spat, he had a dark green unzipped jumper with jeans and hiking boots with a black shirt, reeking of death as a shadowy aura surrounded him “Tesla” I quickly got into a defensive position “Is that so?” he snarled “I can’t recall ever meeting you before ‘Tesla,’ perhaps you’d like to make your acquaintance?” I reverted to human form, fists blazing “Ah yes, now I remember “he eyed me up and down “the wayward son I never cared for, your mother would’ve been fine if she hadn’t of wasted her life on you Y’know” “She didn’t waste it, she sacrificed it” Blaze snarled “and what, might I ask, would you know of love, I doubt you’ve even got a heart!” she burst into flames, standing beside me suddenly enveloped in a blinding light, her form growing to at least thrice her usual size , the light suddenly shattering like glass , revealing her in all her evolved glory “You’ve changed..!” I grinned “More on that later, now we deal with him,” she growled “got any ideas?” “Blaze bomb” I glimmered “I don’t think that’ll work anymore, brother” she laughed, clicking her neck, the ‘ring’ around the back of her neck suddenly exploding into flames “We move as one then?” “As one” I nodded, we lunged forward, fists/paws blazing as we began the assault “Tai No Hoseki Ryū Hokou!” I unleashed a torrent of flames alongside my now grown-up sister, eradicating the darkness around my former parent, followed by a series of Gatling-like punches “Hoseki Ryū Ken,” we yelled in unison, both performing a forward flip and bringing our heels down on his skull “Kagizume,” we leapt back, both concentrating as rings of fire formed around or feet, creating borderline-enormous fireballs at the tips of our fingers/paws, charging forward slamming them together “and Brilliant Giga-flame!” we gleamed as the being disintegrated to ash, if that, -=-=- “So, what happened,” Twilight stared at Blaze as did everyone else who was in sight “Nothing important” Blaze and I smirked “She’s grown, how?” Rarity blinked “That’s classified” Blaze wagged a paw “Though my personality remains the same, much to Tesla’s glee, my form has been, shall we say,’ altered’?” “No heck it has!” Rainbow Dash laughed “How much stronger are you now?” Celestia smiled “At least double, Princess” Blaze raised an eyebrow, inhaling sharply, tilting her head upward; exhaling a large torrent of fire into the sky, sighing as she turned to face me “Am I your noble squire, Brother?” she grinned, now that I looked at her, she seemed to be slender than most Typhlosion’s were “What’re you staring at?” “You’re my sister, I think that’s enough” I rolled my eyes “Oh,” she stop up on her hind legs, staring at me right in the eye “and what if I were to ask for more, eh Tesla?” “That depends on what you want,” I raised an eyebrow “for instance-”she leapt at me, knocking me on my back, using her paws to pin my arms to the ground, her ruby eyes staring at me with a laser-like focus “You don’t get it, Tesla” she purred, licking the end of my nose “I want you, I don’t care if it’s right, wrong, legal or otherwise, that just makes it more fun,” I tried to move, she easily stopped me “if you so much as think of moving, and I kick your nuts into your stomach, possible or otherwise, clear?” I quickly nodded “good, now just lie there and let me do all the work, my little eon” =-=-= “I thought you said you didn’t engage in coitus with your relatives?” Twilight smirked “Technically that was my doing, not his, so I think his mental state can remain as normal” Blaze4 sighed at me with a dreamy expression “Don’t even think about it” I frowned “I wouldn’t think of anyone, and isn’t I t about time you checked on Gracy Gloom?” “Who,” Crystal simpered “A foal that we managed to save” I sighed “You saved her; I just stood on your shoulder, as I always used to do” she rebuked “You still owe me two-hundred bits” I folded my arms “I think the sex more than made up for it” she winked “Speak for yourself…” I mumbled “You enjoyed it and you know it” she beamed “Oh, shut up” I pouted “Make me” she gleamed “and I know what you’re thinking of doing, Tesla, and I can say, it’s not a bad idea” she slammed me back-first against the nearest building, standing on her hind legs, planting her lips on mine, shoving her tongue into my mouth, twirling it around mine “Once was enough” I grumbled “Once is never enough if you’re like me, Tesla” “Speaking of crude activities, has anyone ever actually calculated how long your ‘Mini-me’ is when you’re in eon form?” crystal raised an eyebrow, everyone stared at her “Probably not, but that doesn’t mean we can’t” Blaze smirked “That wasn’t a challenge, Blaze” I shook my head “Just change so we can get this over with” she patted my shoulder, I changed to eon form, she immediately used her tongue to orally assault my nether regions, my dick springing out into her maw, she quickly pulled away “I’d call that a foot long,” she grinned “you got an impressive set of meat and veg on you, Tesla” “Unintentional of course” I bit my lip as she leapt onto my back, turning me around so that I was facing upward, sliding my length into her depths “not again…” -=-=- “That’s twice; twice you’ve been used as a sex object” Crystal smirked “Bite me” I frowned again as we stood/hovered in the main hall of the castle in canterlot “Maybe I will,” she grinned “but it won’t be a bite I can assure you, my love” she winked “You can’t catch a break, can you Tesla?” Cadance nickered as a mint green unicorn with a mane and tail of the same colour with white highlights trotted toward me, gleaming from ear to ear “I’m Lyra the unicorn held out a hoof, which I shook “and I’ve something I’d like to both ask; and something I’d like to confess” “Go on” I smiled “I love you,” Lyra blurted out, flinching “I’m fascinated by humans, though mostly I was ridiculed for my beliefs, but now that you’re here, we can finally show the Ponies of Equestria what you’re like, truly!” “And your question, what is it?” I tilted my head “Will you do me?” she lowered herself to the ground, biting her lip, tears welling in her eyes “I just want to see if ponies and humans are sexually compatible “Sure, why not,” I shrugged “I mean I’m inclined to do anything at this point” “Thank you, your majesty,” she picked me up in a primrose aura of magic, carrying me through the castle, closing and locking us in one of the spare bedrooms -=-=- “Three times,” Crystal smirked as I literally dragged myself into the throne room “three fucking times” “Pun intended?” I collapsed onto the arm red carpet, Celesta teleported down to my side, changing to her anthro form, kneeling, placing my head on her lap as she turned me on my back “What cruel fate has befallen my dear knight this day?” Celestia spoke in a calming/soothing, motherly tone “Nothing I can’t handle, princess” I slowly raised a hand, gently running my fingers through her mane, placing it carefully on her cheek “what curse has befallen Equestria to have such beautiful princesses?” “What curse has befallen Equestria to hand us a knight fit for the high hall of heaven?” she raised an eyebrow, holding my hand in hers, I found her delicate touch to be rather calming, needless to say, placing it on my chest, “or is it a gift that you’re here with us, Sir Tesla, living in Equestria, treated as you should be, with me, together” she smiled “Guards, you may leave us” the guards-ponies in the room quickly trotted out, grinning at me like an idiot as they left “now,” she simpered, staring down at me, her normally lilac eyes now with a tint of scarlet in them “what can I do for you?” she began to stroke my hair with a gentle hand “What do you want to do?” I shrugged “Just relax,” she gleamed “just for once I’d like a day where I don’t have to worry about the safety of my friends, one day where all I had to do was look after you, my dear Rick” “Looks like someone’s got a fantasy” Crystal grinned, raising an eyebrow toward me “Indeed” Luna smiled “Come, I believe we have a bit of fun to be getting on with” she smiled, lifting me onto her back with her magic, draping my arms around my neck, holding my legs up with her hands, carrying me to her chambers, my vision fading to black =-=-=-=-= “Wakey, Wakey wise-ass” Blaze grinned from ear to ear as I sat upright , standing alongside my friends and family “What happened?” I blinked, letting out a yawn as I stretched “You fell asleep” Celestia sat beside me, her form unchanged “you’ve remained undisturbed for three whole days, so I asked for Luna and Cadance to take over until you awoke, Rick” she smiled “Three days huh?” I clicked my neck, followed by my shoulders, Snowdrop leapt at me “Are you Ok, Daddy?” Snowdrop gleamed “I’m fine Snowflake, don’t worry about me, it’s you that I should worry about Ok?” “Ok” she beamed As I stood in the gardens, my friends and family stood at a distance as I burst into flames tensing my muscles as a great pillar of flame enveloped me, reaching the heavens above, scales appearing on my arms, hands and face, my wings also growing additional scales as well, my horns lengthened slightly as my fangs did also, my eyes becoming slits (or so I’d later been told), “‘Dragon Force,’” Blaze whistled “looks like Tesla’s found a way to upgrade it even further” “So it would seem” Celestia smiled, the pillar of fire instantly dissipated as I turned to face her, bowing on one knee “rise” she winked, turning her attention to Crystal “quite the charmer, isn’t he?” “Tesla does that,” Crystal shrugged as I stood upright “it’s in his nature” “Pun intended?” Snowdrop laughed “Quite so” she smiled “How long d‘ya reckon this one’s going to last?” she grinned “my bets are on a week “I’d say a month, at best” Blaze raised an eyebrow “And I don’t care” Snowdrop stood atop my head, having perched herself there “even if his form and abilities may vary like the wind itself, he’ll still be my daddy, and my hero” as she finished speaking, a crown-like halo appeared above my head, and my wings flashed with a blinding light, if only for a brief moment, turning a brilliant whitish-golden colour “Ryū oki tenshi” Snowdrop and I gleamed in perfect unison -=-=- As I flew around the edges of ponyville in eon form, my friends and family either upon my back or walking alongside me, the bearers of the elements, spike included, my ears bean to twitch, pulling me toward a clearing about the size of the average bedroom, pulling me down to the ground, the pull becoming more and more forceful with each second, literally dragging me underground A torch quickly lit up on either side of my a now dimly lit corridor that looked spiral-shaped “Well this is interesting,” I whistled, the ground above me fading from view, allowing the light of the sun and the air from above to come pouring in “How long has this been here?” Spike climbed down, quickly followed by the others “By my guestimate, ages” I rolled my eyes, leading a makeshift expedition into the darkness below, torches lighting up and fading as we went by “Or eons even!” Crystal laughed; I raised an eyebrow as we came across a thick, heavy intricately carved doorway “And how do we get this open?” as soon as I said ‘open’ the door slid open, sliding into the ceiling, revealing an enormous chamber, one with butter-yellow stones that shone with the radiance of a star, the walls and floors had symbols that formed letters and worse alongside depictions, not unlike those on the caverns on the Lunar isles “So you have, at last, arrived, Sir Tesla” a pony at the opposite edge of the cavern, she had a black/indigo coat, and a long mane and tail that, like Celestia’s, Luna’s and Nyx’s blew softly in an invisible breeze, that of which had what looked like galaxies slowly spinning inn them, her eyes were a brilliant yellowy-golden colour, her smile was as warm as a summer’s breeze “Who are you?” I frowned, my friends and family leaping safely to the ground, quickly reverting to human form “I’m Lulania, or as you’d recall, Shannon Perry” the mare giggled as the princesses teleported beside me “Hello, Rick” “Prove it” I folded my arms, she raised an eyebrow “You used to wait for me in the reception are of the college we went to, remember?” she smiled “and that we used to announce our love in front of basically anyone who’d listen; is that enough, my love?” everyone stared at me “Yeah I’d say that does it” I laughed “ “She, Lulania, creator of all that exists, is your ex-marefriend?” Celestia raised both eyebrows “She what,” I felt pale, glancing toward Celestia, then back toward Lulania, who winked “I am the creator of the universe; some might say that I am god,” Lulania giggled “I created all that exists, and I shall crate all that will exist in the future, no matter how near or far and will continue to do so for the rest of my days” she smiled “But that would mean…” I stammered, her form changed to that of a woman in her late teens, with dark brown hair that went down between her waist and her shoulders, pale blue eyes, a black shirt, a bright pink jacket, a pair of jeans and black shoes with a ring on the appropriate finger “I’ll be damned” “‘Everything you do, you do it for her’,” Blaze whistled “did you not say that once, brother?” “That I did” I slowly nodded “but I only met you not even two centuries ago, how can you be the creator of humans?” “Because I created your old self, the one who led the eons across Equis, and I am that of which merged it with that of who you are today” Lulania gleamed “I wished to see how you’d cope with a new form with no memory of your past,” I frowned, she sighed “believe me Tesla, what I felt was real, as was what you felt, our love burned with passion, but was cut short by we-know-who” she flashed her eyebrows at me “I see that my great-grand-aunt still lives then?” Cadance smirked “You’re what!?” Blaze and I gaped “She’s our grandmother” Luna smiled “did Faust not tell you?” “Nope” Blackjack pursed her lips “So this is her, is it?” Velvet and Littlepip stood either side of me beside Blackjack “Not bad, you got good taste TK” Blackjack laughed “But that would mean that…” I trailed off “Time travels faster here than it does on earth, and besides, I travelled back in time, had Faust, and then travelled back,” Lulania shrugged “and then she had Celestia, Luna, and, by the transitive property, the being you call ‘Nyx’” “Well there go my morals” I rolled my eyes, turning and marching out of the room, my friends and family following me out of the cavern, up the staircase, and into the forest, when the town was out of eye-and-earshot, I let out a deafening fusion of both a scream and a roar, scales rapidly emerging on my hands, arms and face, my canines extending slightly, a great pillar of blood-red flames encompassing me, my vision fading to black =-=-=-= As my vision blurred, I found myself lying on the ground, the sun’s rays beaming down upon me Sitting upright, I saw my friends and family sat round me, all with worried looks plastered upon their muzzles “What happened?” I mumbled, slowly shaking my head “You went AWOL,” Blaze shuddered “you went on a complete rampage, if it weren’t for our combined strength; you’d be halfway across Equis by now,” she sighed “I’ve never seen you that angry, brother, I can only imagine a glimmer of what you’re feeling right now “Where are we?” I fell back on the ground “I don’t know, you didn’t stop, so we had to physically knock you out” she shrugged, I steadily got to my feet “And the others?” I bit my lip “They ran as soon as they saw you, I don’t think you’re going to be welcome in Ponyville for a while now Brother” “Alright, where did I go, east, north, west, or south?” “East” Snowdrop perched herself on my head as Kiary landed on my shoulder “Then we go southwest to get to Nyx” I declared, wandering in the direction I hoped would land me back with Nyx, my friends and family following me as I went -=-=-=-=- After a day’s trek through the forests and plains of Equestria, I found myself entering the castle in the forest “Hello Tesla” Nyx smiled as I marched into the throne room “Greetings’ your grace” I bowed quickly “I must say I’m both flattered by your manners; and impressed by the magic you expelled over the last week” she nickered “Heard that did you?” I avoided her gaze “Hard not to, my dear Knight,” she smiled “best use that power for good from now on then, Rick,” I gave her and odd look “Crystal visited me whilst you were tearing the country apart, quite the name, Rick Hawkins” “Thank you, I think” I tilted my head slightly “Save your thanks for later, because of you, barely over a third of the Everfree forest exists” she raised an eyebrow “what’ll you do now, Human?” “What can I do?” I sighed “You may live here with me for as long as you like, I will not stop you from your rest, my little eon” she hummed “although I must commend you on returning to me, for I fear that Ponyville would not yet be ready to accept you back within their borders, not yet anyhow” “I understand their fear of me, for my new power isn’t without risk, milady” I exhaled sharply “So be it…” -=-=-=- A month passed, and I’d like to think that Nyx and I became somewhat closer in that time “Shall you be leaving now, my knight?” Nyx smiled “I’ll be back, most likely sooner than we think” I chuckled “Farewell, Rick” she bowed as we left the castle, raising a hand, finger and thumb in an ‘L’ shape as I walked through the forest “She wasn’t joking when she said a third” I blinked, the rest of the forest that I’d yet to walk through was reduced to ash , burnt and mangled branches, and the rotting leaves that’d yet to fade to dust “You went overkill, what more do you want?” Blaze shrugged as we progressed through the charred forest As we approached ponyville, barely anyone looked up to so much as glance at me, only shudder as they went passed, or merely nod toward me “I wonder how Twilight’s doing” I shook my head “She’s been quiet, hasn’t come out of the library, not since the incident last month” Roseluck trotted toward me, alone “how’re you doing, Hon?” “I’ll live” I tilted a hand “What about the others?” “They haven’t been around that much either” she sighed “Rarity keeps overly obsessing herself with her work, more so than usual,” Applejack’s been downright livid, Rainbow Dash barely visits anymore, Fluttershy’s in the hospital after having a heart attack, and Pinkie Pie tried to kill herself, so that’s basically the events of the past month” “And the princesses?” I flinched “Cadance’s horrified, and Luna and Celestia daren’t say a word, or so I’ve heard, and Faust’s been rather sombre also” she shrugged “No matter what you may think, you’re not to blame for this, Lord Tesla, you were but a pawn in fate’s hands in the chess game of the gods, so to speak” “Thank you, Roseluck, good day to you” I bowed quickly, walking with my friends and family to the library, finding my rucksack outside Reaching into my inventory, I quickly found the ‘Game of thrones’ book series, stacking them into a pile on the doorstep, closing the rucksack, slinging it over my shoulders, knocking in the door, and then walking away “You just left them there?” Blaze glanced toward me as we walked “She read the first one, so she might as well read the set” I mumbled “ “And now that they’re more or less scared shitless about you, what’ll you do?” she raised an eyebrow “I’ve no idea” I muttered “I never wanted to harm anyone, I was just angry about being lied to like that” “So angry that you destroyed two thirds of the forest?” she quickly covered her mouth, nobody appeared to pay attention to her words other than me “you’re a strange one Tesla, Y’know that?” “I don’t care, I just want…” I trailed off “I just want...” I stammered “I just want it to be how it was when I came here…!” I clenched my fists “Tesla?” I turned around Twilight was stood there, her purple eyes now bloodshot as Spike stood beside her, gulping audibly as he stared at me “Leave me be, before I break something else” I grumbled “I’m not here for that” she sniffled “I understand your anger, I can feel your pain, but I can only imagine a glimmer of it, Applejacks declared her love for you as soon as you left, Fluttershy fell to pieces, and Pinkie Pie went, well, insane, that’s as best as I can describe it” “What of Rarity?” Blaze glanced between me and Twilight “She’s totally lost it, and I mean gone completely off the deep end” Spike shuddered “And Rainbow Dash?” Blackjack raised her eyebrows “Barely visits anymore because she’s afraid that you’ll kill her” Twilight stared right at me in the eyes “This is because of me” I collapsed to my knees “if I hadn’t of discovered that cavern, if I hadn’t found Lulania-” “Nopony could’ve prevented what happened, Tesla” Twilight stated rather boldly “you’re the Twilight dragon, the Hakumei No Ryu no Kishi, remember?” she placed a gentle hoof against my leg “you’re our knight lord and saviour, cliché as it might be, it’s a fact of life, wherever danger may arise, the Lunar dragon will be there to defeat it, right Tesla?” I changed to eon form, my friends and family quickly leaping onto my back, I nodded “Wherever there is evil I shall be there to knock it down” I gave a faint smile “I believe the term is ‘I will be there to smack it down,’ brother” Blaze laughed “Same difference” I shrugged “So it is” she rolled her eyes “what’ll you do now?” “That depends on what can be done, and what needs to be done” I frowned -=-=-=-=- It took a lot of work, but Pinkie Pie eventually cheered up and was allowed from the hospital, although her beaming smile wasn’t as bright as it had been, and I doubted that it ever would be again “Can you check on Fluttershy for me, I’ve a cyan Pegasus to handle” I glanced toward the pink mare, who nodded thoroughly “No problem-o Ricky!” she almost cheered, bounding in gaits toward the hospital “Now, about Rainbow Dash” Littlepip sighed “where do we start?” “Canterlot” I simply smirked “We’re visiting the princesses?” she blinked “Daring Doo” I corrected her, gliding to the mountain city, my friends and family all aboard my back, Blackjack flying alongside me Knocking on the door of the author-pony, I was met with a soft smile from the pale golden mare “Is there something I can do for you, milord?” Daring Doo bowed “Do you have it?” I winked “The books,” she titled her head, I nodded “I do, but they’re the first copies, but I’m sure I can make an exception for you, Rick” she handed them to me “Thank you” I smiled, pecking her cheek, her face immediately flushed a deep crimson as I glided out through the entrance of the castle, and toward the library, knocking on the door to said library “Hello” Twilight opened the door only slightly, poking her head through, I could smell the raw fear that leaked through the gap between the door and the frame “what do you need?” I handed her the books “You’ll know who to give these to” I smiled, she nodded, closing the door behind her as she took the books into the library, followed by a muffled conversation behind the door to the literal treehouse, I turned and flew away, gliding somewhat aimlessly toward the forest Once there my ears began to pull me toward a certain cave When I was at the innermost section of the cave, the tree of harmony, or so I’d learnt it to be called, shone with an almost blinding light it’s form and/or shape rapidly changing to one of a four legged form, like that of a pony As the light faded, I saw a tall, pony, or what looked like an oddly-shaped unicorn with a swan-like neck, one with cloven hooves, a pure, snow-white coat with sapphire eyes and a lilac mane and tail with Twilight’s crown, only with six gemstones, one an eight-pointed star, connected at the top, and another five along the frame each a different colour/type, with what looked like bright pink daisies in her mane and tail, the mane of which was styled in a type of bun, her horn tipped like a tuning fork, the shorter point sticking up behind the longer one, her cutie mark was a six-pointed star-shaped flame with white on the inside, and a lilac-y-pinkish colour along the edges, her mane also had the small pinkish beads I’d also seen on the tree hanging from it’s mane I immediately bowed on one knee, having reverted to human form, by friends and family stood beside me, Kiary stood upon my shoulder, and Snowdrop perched upon my head “Hello, little ones” the being spoke in a beyond-motherly/angelic tone, smiling at me “you may rise, I am not your ruler, I am merely harmony, and as such, I have taken note of your acts this past year, Element of Nature” her horn flared, releasing a wave of bright white energy that rushed over me and out through the mouth of the cave “I have now returned all as it was before your little outburst, Human” she smiled “I am to accompany you, Nature, for you have displayed act of chaos, that of which needs to be observed by its characteristics and audacity, so to speak” she went on “now, shall we take our leave, Nature?” “We shall, milady” I bowed quickly, standing upright, walking with my friends and family alongside the being of Harmony out of the cave, and out of the forest “We felt a huge tremor from the Everfree forest-!” Twilight galloped toward me, her friends reluctantly following her “who on Equis is she?” “It is of no surprise that you do not recognize me, Element of Magic” the newly transformed tree of harmony smiled “You’re…!” she gasped “I am the unison of harmony, the combined power, speed and magic of your elements put into a single being” Harmony slowly nodded “What’d ya’ll do this time pardner?” Applejack simpered “Nature has done nothing, the rumbling and the forest returning to its once wondrous state is my own doing and mine alone” Harmony winked at me “I, Harmony, have reversed the chaos caused by nature, as it is in my nature,” she giggled “pun not intended” “How did you change into that form?” Twilight eyed harmony from horn-to-hoof-tip “Magic, isn’t that your element, Twilight Sparkle?” she tilted her head slightly “go on, tell your princesses that I have arrived, we have much to discuss, little one” Within the blink of an eye, the princesses, Faust included, stood before me, stationed between Twilight, harmony and I “It would seem as though you‘ve done the irreversible, little eon” Celestia raised an eyebrow “So it would” I bit my lip “I don’t believe we’ve met,” Harmony smiled, holding out a hoof “I’m Harmony, you majesty” “You needn’t call us by our title” Celestia smiled, faintly, “Just call me Celestia, Harmony” “And who might you be?” Harmony glanced toward Cadance “I’m Princess; Mi amore Cadenza” Cadance held out a hoof, Harmony shook it, somehow, a loud/deafening roar rand through my ears from behind me Turning around I saw a massive, mild purple bear with sabre-like fangs and a twelve pointed star upon its head that shone like the sun “It’s an Ursa Major!” Twilight gasped “from what I’ve read even an alicorn would have problems defeating one” “How will you fight it, Nature?” Harmony turned with me to face the monster, glancing toward me “You expect me to fight, after all that’s happened to me and my friends as of late?” I spat “and people dared to call me thick” “Then how do you expect to be rid of it?” she raised an eyebrow “Fine, but I expect you to let me know if I go overkill” I frowned “I shall aid you in this fight” Ember appeared, fading into view beside me, fusing with me in spirit unity “Modo Raien Ryū” Blaze observed with a calm expression “Not that I’ll need to use it” I shrugged, Snowdrop and Kiary glided to the ground as I raised my arm above me, the energy I had stored within it morphing it into a large drill with a sudden flash of light, as I concentrated further, the drill increased in size fivefold “Giga…” I used my flame-based magic as a means of propulsion to launch myself at the bear, the drill and I spinning as one “Drill…” my speed doubled with each second I flew at the monster-sized creature I bought forth a clenched paw which was broken through with ease “break!” I burst through the bear’s chest area with a thundering explosion, landing on the ground behind it after a triple-forward-flip, the drill reverting to its normal size, my arm also reverting to normal, the bear shattering like a massive glass window, it’s shards disintegrating as they fell “How in the bucking hell did you do that!?” Rainbow Dash blared, quickly covering her mouth with a rapidly-placed hoof “I simply converted my magic energy to spiral energy, then used that to amplify the drill’s size and power” I shrugged “So you did,” Harmony nickered “a rather interesting way to take down such a large creature” “And now I feel light headed” I mumbled, shaking my head, staggering a bit as A familiar draconequus popped into view before me “What do you want, Discord?” I sighed “I’m just here to say hello to my polar opposite” The no doubt self-acclaimed ‘lord of Chaos’ held up his hands defensively “Discount John De Lancie” Blaze face-pawed “Indeed” I smirked “Beg pardon?” He raised an eyebrow “It’s a joke, nothing special” I shrugged, Snowdrop and Kiary perching themselves back on my head and shoulder respectively “Then you won’t mind telling me?” he folded his arms “And possibly end the universe here-and-now?” I laughed “don’t think so, chimera” “Where’s the fun in not trying?” he shrugged “Because I actually give a shred of a damn about someone other than myself” I scowled “Touché, eon, touché” he slowly nodded as Ember appeared above me in her usual ghostly form “That was amazing, how’d you do it!?” Ilona clung onto my, wrapping her arms around my neck “A bit of spiral and magic energy melded into one” I smiled “I could feel the explosion from the wave of magic that gave you those mechanical limbs, human” Discord smirked “quite the charmer, aren’t we” “If you’re trying to annoy me it’s not exactly working,” I spat “I beat your sorry ass once, I can just as easily do it again” “I’d like to see you-!” I quickly lunged at him, knocking him on his back, Dawnbreaker held against his neck “If you’re going to boast, I’m the wrong person to do it to, scum” I snarled “Noted” he audibly gulped, I huffed, sheathing the Daedric blade, standing upright as he hovered back above the ground “but you do realize I’m Faust’s honorary son?” “What?” I snapped, glowering at him “I’m Faust’s honorary next of kin, only with chaos rather than life itself” he gave a smug grin “she didn’t tell you?” “Then that’d mean…!” Twilight glanced toward Celestia” “We are his sisters also,” Celestia sighed “although we don’t see it as that, at least, I didn’t” “Not even going to ask” I held up my hands, as if to block an oncoming insult, or attack “Then that’d make you…” Littlepip glanced between me and the ‘lord of Chaos’ “I would rather die than be related to such trash” I scoffed, turning around as I heard footsteps, the figure walking toward us was an alabaster alicorn -no taller or shorter than Cadance-, with a navy mane and tail with a black crown and necklace akin to that of Celestia’s “oh no way!” “Is there something wrong, father?” the alicorn, now obviously a female tilted her head, it took all I had in me to keep myself from screaming “Nothing much” I bit my lip, walking with my friends and family toward the castle in the Everfree changing to eon form, gliding on as they leapt upon my back =-=-= As I arrived at the castle, flying into the throne room, Nyx gazed at me with a worried expression “Are you well, my dear Knight?” Nyx gave a faint smile “I’m as good as I’ll get, for now” I hummed “Perhaps I can make it better?” she winked, pecking my cheek “Maybe, but I’d rather be with you than they, for the moment” my honorary passengers landed safely on the ground, Snowdrop remaining on my head as I reverted to human form, draping my arms around her as she did me her wings “How may I assist you, my love?” she purred “Live” I chuckled “Everything I do, I do it for you, Rick” she smiled “Likewise, Princess” I quickly bowed “Please, call me by the name you gave me, my dear Knight” she nickered “By your word, Nyx” I nodded “What of Celestia and the others, grown tired of them have we?” she gave a playful, and somewhat suggestive, smirk, winking “I care not for royalty, save three” I rolled my eyes “you, my dear Nyx, Luna, and Faust” “You’ve no idea how much it warms me to hear you say that” she glimmered “Just say the word, and it shall be done” I bowed “You’re quite the charmer aren’t you,” she planted her lips on mine “I may have to give you a gift for your admirable loyalty, Rick” “Thy gratitude is far more than satisfactory, milady” I smiled =-=-= The next day, next week, after much super-happy-fun-time with Nyx, I staggered toward ponyville, managing to stumble across the town before the sun even rose, my friends and family wearily following me, Snowdrop and Kiary in their usual places “What’s going on?” I found Twilight and her friends, minus Pinkie Pie, stood/hovering outside the aptly named ‘Sugarcube corner,’ or so I’d been told “Pinkie Pie’s not been seen since two days ago” Twilight yawned “Are we sure we need to do it this early, Celestia hasn’t even raised the sun yet!” Rainbow Dash grumbled “She doesn’t need to, you were all with me when she was by my side and the sun raised itself, right?” I shrugged “What’s your point?” she glared at me “Don’t fuck around with gravity” I rolled my eyes as Twilight knocked on the door, which immediately swung open, revealing the pink earth pony mare in all her hyperactive glory, quickly pulling us inside “What is all this?” Twilight glanced about the room, which was filled with piles of variously coloured stones “I need help taste testing these rock-candies for when my sister comes to ponyville today!” Pinkie Pie chirped “It looks almost literal, the candy I mean” Blaze laughed “It is” she giggled, I picked one from the nearest pile using ‘Purple Flare,’ breaking it in half with my teeth, crunching it to dust, then swallowing it “Not bad” I nodded, finishing the fruit-flavoured pebble “You can eat those?” Rainbow Dash blinked “I can eat any type of gemstone you can think of, Rainbow,” I smiled “be it ranging from sapphire to onyx, or ruby to diamond, I can bite through it like Spike can, if not easier” “And you’re sure you shouldn’t be picking her up from the station?” Twilight turned her attention to Pinkie Pie, who was stuffing herself with the multi-coloured rocks “I will, I just need to make a few of these into necklaces!” the fuchsia haired pony cheered -=- As we stood near the lake by/on/around a red-and-white checkered blanket, with Twilight opening the basket “So where’ve you been for the past week Tesla?” Rarity asked, glancing toward me with a comically large magenta hat covered in crystal-clear gemstones “Out” I lay on my side in eon form, my family and friends lying around me, noticing a few of the crystals from her hat had fallen into the basket, picking one up and biting into it, devouring it my eyes slowly moving from side to side “it’s got the transparency of a rock crystal, but the quality of feldspar, and the taste of an emerald” I quickly hummed “strange” “It was a diamond,” she deadpanned “and I thank you for eating it before I could re-use it, Tesla” she sighed as pinkie Pie trotted over the hill toward us “She’s coming now, I told gummy to stay with her in case she got lost” Pinkie Pie leapt from hoof-to-hoof, everyone apart from my friends, family and I stared toward the hill she’d bounded from “She’s not as fast as I am though” she giggled “Few people are, unless you count Arrancar” I chuckled “they can travel at the speed of sound itself, wherever and whenever they wish to do so, merely by thinking about it” I clicked my neck, placing my head on the cool, soft grass, my gaze turned toward the somewhat distant mild grey figure slowly making its way toward us, eventually stopping, within mere inches of us, stopping to stare at a pebble, sniffing it curiously “Sedimentary, the pony, a mare with a grey coat and a darkish/pale lavender/purple mane and tail hummed “A geologist then,” I raised an eyebrow “Indeed” she gave a faint smile “are you interested in earth sciences, strange creature?” “Somewhat,” I shrugged “And your chest item, it is gemstone?” she stared at my chest symbol, as if her gaze was transfixed to it “Pure, clean and simple, straight from Crystagia” I nodded “Interesting,” she raised an eyebrow “I’m Maud and you are?” she walked up to me, holding out a hoof, which I gladly shook “Tesla, or Rick, depending on your choice” I smiled “Have you studied any of Florence Bascomare’s works?” she tilted her head “Never heard of them” I shrugged, “I do know various gemstones and their different characteristics, however,” “Quite,” she gave another faint smile “would you be interested in joining me later?” she winked “I hear the fields to the south of here are littered with gems” “The only gems there’re the ones guarded by the Filthy Diamond Dog, the ruffians” Rarity scorned “Not that they’d want to, Meanwhile Tesla was going AWOL, well, let’s just say they won’t be bothering anyone anymore,” Blaze laughed “he heated the earth around their little underground home to the point where it practically melted, they came up to see what was wrong, saw Tesla, then ran as fast as they could, those who chose to fight were turned to all but the faintest remains of ash” “You can control fire?” Maud blinked; I nodded, setting my claws aflame “it seems that you are not without surprises, Rick, what else can you do?” “Where does the list start?” Blaze prodded my neck with a smug grin “You can talk?” she blinked again “you have some interesting friends, Rick” “She’s my sister,” I grinned “How so,” Maud “My original family was killed by poachers, it wasn’t a pleasant sight” Blaze hummed “but then Tesla took me in and cared for me, much like an older brother would!” “Shouldn’t that be a ‘loving father,’ rather than ‘older brother’?” she gave me a rather perplexed look “Blaze has too much pride in her to allow such a thing to be possible, right, dear sister?” I beamed “Too right!” Blaze chortled “And you’re named blaze, why, exactly?” she raised the other eyebrow, the ring around the back of Blaze’s neck lit with a bright crimson flame “I see, a fire based animal, interesting, what else can you do, Rick?” everyone stared at me, I quickly reverted to human form, Snowdrop and Kiary taking their usual places upon my head and shoulder respectively “Where does the list start?” I smiled “What are you?” she eyed me up and down “A human, an eon, and a dragon slayer” I shrugged “there isn’t that much else to say, really” “Interesting” she slowly nodded “and you can use magic, I assume, Rick?” “That I can,” I conjured a flame in either hand “Fire,” she blinked “Sort of,” I tilted a flaming hand “it’s more a crystalline fire than a normal flame, technically speaking” “How can you have crystalline fire?” Rainbow Dash frowned “You’d have to ask Crystagia” I smirked “You mean the legendary Crystal dragon?” Maud blinked “you know her?” “She’s both my magic tutor, and my foster parent” I gave a weak smile “she’s incredible” “That she is, I saw her flying overhead on her way here, I assume that was to meet you?” she smiled “That it was,” I nodded, again “I’ve only ever heard of her in the legends our parents used to tell us as foals, myths and fairy-tales of a mystic crystal dragon, capable of bringing Equis to its knees,” she stared at me, beaming “you truly are an interesting being, Rick, am I to assume that you’re from another world?” “I am,” I bowed quickly, turning my attention to Pinkie Pie “they used to teach you about Crystagia, Pinkie?” “I never really paid attention to it,” the pink mare shrugged with a grin “I mean, what kind of dragon would your mom be if she were a mass murderer?” she giggled “Quite” Snowdrop simpered “Crystagia’s not a murderer nor a thief or a villain in general, she’s on our side, right, Daddy?” “Right” I smiled as a great the earth rumbled, I glanced behind me Crystagia was arced around me, smiling down at me “Hey mom” I gleamed “Hello, my son” Crystagia cooed “I hear you’ve been somewhat chaotic, as of late, would you mind explaining that?” I quickly explained the events of the past two months, without telling anything personal “So,” she raised an eyebrow “you found the hall of the ancients then?” “That’s what it’s called?” I tilted my head ever-so slightly “it reminds me of the cavern on the lunar isles” “Let’s not get started on the ‘familiar’ status you received” Blaze smirked “Familiar, you mean like a summoning spell?” Twilight’s expression quickly turned from one of confusion to a wicked grin “I somehow got warped with Blaze to another world, can we drop it now?” I frowned “besides of which, it hasn’t a thing to do with the current conversation” “You didn’t seem to mind back then, so why now?” my sister gave a smug grin “Because my fire magic doesn’t affect an actual salamander, s I couldn’t really do much, and I wasn’t going to risk hurting it anyway” “You apparently didn’t care about what happened afterwards” she shrugged with a wicked leer “I could hear you down the hallway “With a Salamander,” Twilight shuddered “Really?” “No, the lizard was just someone else’s familiar, one of which was strong enough to carry me down the hallway whilst walking on its hind legs alone” I grumbled “Damn things fast” “Didn’t she give you something afterwards, an egg, was it not?” Blaze tilted her head “You’ve no idea how many jokes I could make out of that one line” I smirked “He actually admitted it!” Blaze chortled “in fact, I saw you carried all the way to the third floor, to a certain mage’s room; I do believe she asked you to, ‘light her fire,’ was it?” “She uses fire in a similar way I do, that’s all” I scoffed, taking my rucksack from my shoulders, reaching around inside it, bringing out a large crimson/blood red egg with golden zigzag patterns running along its surface, placing it in my lap, both hands blazing as I placed them on its sides, draping my wings around it “That’s no egg that I’ve ever seen” Blaze and Twilight spoke in almost-perfect unison “The egg of a salamander is quite different from that of a dragon” Crystagia explained “for instance, noticed how it’s slightly bigger, and yet an adult salamander will grow to about twelve feet, and will learn how to use its flame-based attacks as a child, be careful Tesla, this might be your greatest challenge yet” the egg started to crack “Here it comes!” Rainbow Dash stood before me alongside the others as the egg burst open with a flash of crimson flame, revealing a lizard-like creature with stocky horn-like appendages on the sides and angles of its head, its light jade eyes like slits, it’s scales a pale scarlet colour, and it’s underside was a bright golden colour, the flame on the tip of its tail burned with a bright glimmer as it stared up at me, curled up in my lap, it measured to around a foot long from snout to the flame on the tail-tip “Isn’t he cute” I smiled “You’re seriously, seriously, warped, brother” Blaze laughed softly “Although it is a little adorable, for a lizard” “Salamander” I corrected her “Same thing” she shrugged, the salamander in my lap gave a little cough, followed by a fireball sprouting from its mouth, which quickly faded “He needs a name, now that he’s trying to find his hidden flame” the dragon behind me smiled “Scarlet” I smiled, gently stroking the lizards head, Scarlet gave a light purr Blaze raised an eyebrow “didn’t Kirche name hers Flame?” “I thought it fitting” I smiled, glancing down toward my new friend “do you like the name, Scarlet?” Scarlet nodded, softly nuzzling into me, licking my hand as I scratched underneath her chin, her tongue was course, like sandpaper, and almost serpentine, I smiled “I don’t think I’ve ever seen an actual salamander,” Twilight held out a nervous hoof toward Scarlet, who sniffed it, then nuzzled it quickly, clambering up my chest and hanging on my empty shoulder, nuzzling into me again as Twilight magicked a quill and paper out of nowhere, writing something down, and then teleporting it elsewhere “I wonder how the princess will react to having such an interesting creature allied with another” Maud hummed -=-=- When we made it to canterlot, entering the throne room, having been allowed entry beforehand, I took notice of the newer alicorn from last week stood beside the princesses “I heard that we’ve a new species being introduced into Equestria,” Celestia glanced toward Scarlet, then back to me “is this true, Tesla?” “Perhaps,” I shrugged “Is that a salamander,” Luna blinked “They’ve not been seen for countless millennia!” “So Scarlet here’s a borderline legend then?” I chuckled “It would appear so” the new alicorn smiled, I glanced toward her, she flinched, I rolled my eyes, turning my attention back to Celestia “Where did you find her?” Celestia smiled “I got her as an egg from a friend” I bit my lip “Interesting” she cats a moment’s glance toward the mare beside her, then looked back toward me “I’d like to introduce you to your past self’s daughter-” I turned and left, my friends and family quickly following me as did the alicorn that was beside Celestia “Father,” she exclaimed “I’m not related to you in any way, shape or form, and I’ve no reason to be, or want to be as such” I scoffed “But you…” she had tears in her eyes, I shrugged, walking on toward the main hall, once there, I found Crystal alongside Ilona “What’s with the lizard?” Crystal smirked “This is Scarlet,” I smiled “She’s somewhat cute” she nodded “Where’s Rana?” “Most likely down at the beach” I sighed “Hello, Dad” Ilona smiled “Hello, Ilo” I simpered again as Twilight and her friends trotted toward us “Tesla,” Rainbow Dash hovered before me “I… I…” she grumbled “why is this so hard to say!?” “Take your time, Rainbow” I smiled “I love you!” she blurted out, quickly covering her mouth “Why now?” I frowned “Well, she can’t tell you if you’re tearing across Equestria now, can she?” Crystal laughed “I love all my friends, especially my family, so I can reciprocate the feelings anyone has for me” I glimmered “ “What about me?” Applejack smirked, stepping forward “Ah’ve no doubt that Twilight mentioned mah actions when Tesla went AWOL, and mah words” she winked “I may’ve heard something on the matter,” I lightly scratched Kiary’s horns “I’ll have to think about it though” “Do what ya’ll feel is necessary, Pardner, Ah won’t force ya tah do somethin’ ya don’t want tah do, isn’t that what you do?” “Tesla” Blaze prodded my side, standing on her hind legs “you know about the theory that your magic, like Natsu’s, goes up everytime you fight,” she winked “why don’t we see if there’s a way to prove that?” “Your magic level increases every time you use it?” Twilight blinked “Think of it as a muscle,” I smiled “the more it’s used, the stronger it gets” “Makes sense” she shrugged “So how strong was it when you started using it?” “Meager, if even that” I exhaled sharply “And yet you’ve probably enough power which equals Celestia!” Rainbow Dash laughed, Twilight and Applejack glared at her “That’d be an exaggeration” I tutted “I may’ve beaten a god slayer, but that doesn’t mean I have equal power to that of which their would-be tutors possess” “There’re god-slayers?” “And there’s also devil slayers and demon slayers, though the only ones I can think of are the nine demons of Tartarus” I hummed “How much power do you need for that sort of magic, your magic?” Pepper smiled “Depends on the element of magic and the size and type of dragon you want dead” I spoke rather morbidly, Shining Armour trotted beside me friends “I’ve a proposition straight from the princesses” Shining Armour smiled, albeit weakly “She’d like you to show a few of the guard what you can do without weapons or magic” “Not a wise choice” Blaze tutted “ “She knows how strong you are, and yet she insists on this event taking place” Blaze tutted as she stood with my friends, family, and Scarlet, on the edge of the arena as Flash Sentry stood opposite me “Her majesty wishes to test your eon friend” Shining Armour smirked “If you say so” I scoffed as the orange Pegasus before me lunged forward, I struck my arm out, hitting him square between the eyes, sending him sprawling, when he got onto his feet, he fell, puking, collapsing onto his side, his eyes half-lidded, a trio of ponies carried him away, as Shining Armour walked onto the arena floor “Last time we fought you had to concentrate,” the guard captain grinned “shall we repeat past events or have I gotten too good for you?” I darted forward before he could react, performing a karate chop to the back of his neck, knocking him to the ground, unconscious =-=-=-= “That was hardly any challenge” I clicked my neck “That’s because half o’ the guard that ya’ll fought were hospitalized!” Applejack laughed “I told her it was pointless” Shining Armour shook his head “it appears she’s got an agenda for you, Sir Tesla" “So this is the borderline legendary hero everypony’s talking about,” A white mare with a lavender mane and tail with white highlights giggled, standing beside a cobalt blue stallion with a dark phthalo blue mane and tail, both of them unicorns “I’m Twilight Velvet,” she held out a hoof, which I shook “And I’m Night Light” the stallion smiled, also shaking hand-and-hoof with me “Mom, Dad?” Twilight gasped “We came to see the event, but also to see how you’re doing, our dear Shooting Star” Twilight Velvet simpered “Isn’t that what you called Luna?” Blaze smirked “That it is” I nodded “And what do you propose to do, should a crisis arise all of a sudden?” Celestia teleported beside me alongside Cadance, Luna and the being that’d been called my daughter “I’ll do what I can, believe me, but even I can’t save an entire world or country from a threat that prove itself to be impossible to fight” I shrugged “You’re a little arrogant, but not enough to the point where you believe that you can fight and expect to win, no matter what or who it might be against”, that is good” she smiled “Everyone has flaws, be it on strength, knowledge or otherwise,” I raised an eyebrow, setting my hand alight, reaching toward Scarlet, who inhaled the flames with apparent glee, licking my hand as the last of the flames vanished down her throat, nuzzling into me “Just one thing you ought to know, princess” “And what’s that?” Luna raised an eyebrow “Never tell em how to do my job” -=-=- “Well that went rather well, or so I’d say” Blaze blinked “I think my legs are about to give” I staggered a little, collapsing onto the grass by the lake, my friends, family and Scarlet crowding me as I changed to eon form, lying on the ground, noticing a crystal-clear gemstone, identical to the one from Rarity’s hat, merely lying on the grass, I quickly ate it “It’s nice out here” Velvet pecked my cheek, quickly followed by Littlepip “Relaxing also” “So it is” I nodded, placing my head against the lush, green grass “Equestria truly is a land of beauty” “Quite so” Kiary hummed “sometimes I wonder what it’d be like if I hadn’t of met you, brother” “Best not think about it, Kiary,” I smiled “you don’t know what might happen if you do, sister” “Thank you, Rick” she let out a soft giggle “Crystagia always said you were the night of her life” “Since you’re a knight of Luna, and both Nyx and Celestia, you’re like this world’s equivalent of Takanuva!” Blaze laughed “Almost” I smiled “I just need the powers of actual dark magic, not just dark fire, and to not be driven insane by it, cliché as that might be” “I wouldn’t be so certain, you have a little magic given to you by the solar goddess herself, I think that should be enough to counter any dark thoughts that come to mind” she shrugged “Perhaps, but who’s to say, has there ever been a recorded being on Equis that uses both pure light and dark elements of magic, or is it just a fleeting dream?” “You paraphrased Igneel?” she guffawed “That I did” I grinned, Ilona lying beside me, placing her form against mine, nuzzling into me as Scarlet lay atop my neck “I didn’t expect to find you here, Tesla” a strikingly familiar Pegasus wearing a green jacket and cloche with a compass rose cutie mark smiled, her magenta eyes beaming at me, her greyscale rainbow mane and tail shimmering in the sunlight as she lay beside me on her front, letting out a yawn “So, what’re you up to?” she winked “Just relaxing,” I clicked my neck “you?” “It appears we have something in common,” she gave a suggestive grin “I’m here for the rest of the day to lay back, and relax, right before I release the books tomorrow” “I thought you did” I tilted my head “Those were limited edition copies, the first books to be; shall we say; ‘Beta-tested’?” she raised an eyebrow “The actual copies have yet to be published, you’ve given your cyan friend quite the artefacts, so to speak, Tesla” “I’m just here to wind down from the events of late” I sighed, trying not to think of the newly ‘repaired’ forest “I must say that the being of harmony that Celestia told me about was interesting” she smiled “I might add her to my next book, if she’ll allow me” “I’d be honoured,” Harmony teleported beside me “I’ve heard of your borderline legendary stories, Miss Doo, I would gladly allow you to add me to one of your novels” “Tomorrow it is then, when I get to work on my next story; and my next adventure” Daring Doo gleamed, Harmony teleported away, she turned her attention to me “so I hear you have quite the singing voice, perhaps I should add that to your list of abilities as one of my characters?” “Make of me what you will, just don’t make me too much of a hero,” I laughed “Thor knows I don’t need that kind of attention” “Or maybe you do,” Blaze shrugged “maybe it’d change people’s minds about you if the foals find out first, and then their parents read it, and soon everyone’s reading it, and then they think of you as their lord and saviour once more” “See, that’s what I mean,” I frowned “I’m not a lord, nor saviour or a king or a prince, I’m me, simple and true, me, that is all I am, and all I wish to be, indefinitely” “Not even a little better?” she smirked, Scarlet belched a tiny flame “I just wish to remain the way I am, if there were any changes I want to make, it’s to stop being so…” “Chaotic?” she suggested with a slight shrug “Basically,” I nodded “I’m sure Harmony can fix that,” she smiled “Maybe” “Aren’t you going to give me a test song?” Daring Doo raised an eyebrow “Pardon,” I blinked “I wish to bear witness your singing capabilities for myself, Rick” she flashed her eyebrows at me -=- After the song, -=- “That was incredible,” she stared at me “and you did it in perfect unison with your friends also,” she went on, her expression turning from one of shock-and-awe to one of mirth “I now see why you were accepted into the Royal Canterlot Orchestra, Rick” she scooted closer to me, shuffling, little by little, raising her rear half into the air, stretching her wings, laying one over me as she lay back down again, I blinked at the sudden gesture, turning back to face her, she placed her lips against mine as my head turned, winking as we separated “What’re you doing?” I stared at her “Do you believe in love at first sight, Rick?” she purred with a sly grin “What’re you getting at?” I frowned, lightly; I know my limits with (potential) celebrities “I love you, my fair Eon” she smirked; I blinked “do I have to spell it out for you?” I shrugged “ever since Twilight and her friends led one another, and you, to my now-former home, I’ve been captivated by your somewhat elegant form, your pitch-black and Snow-white scales and perfect topaz-like eyes, and that’s just your physical being” she practically swooned “you’ve also got magic unlike anything I’ve ever seen or heard of that’s borderline starswirl-level, and you can soar like the greatest of eagles!” she shuddered in apparent ecstasy, fervently licking her lips, grinning at me with somewhat-malicious intent, leaping at me, rolling me onto my back as she lay atop my chest, drawing her tongue in a long, wet, line up my aerodynamic form “Make love to me, Rick” she almost commanded “I’ll make it worth your while, believe me I will” “Are you sure you don’t want to talk about this?” I attempted to move my arms, but she pinned them with her forearms, shaking her head at me “I feel I’ve done enough talking for one day, Rick,” she sighed with lust lacing her voice in a thick sludge “now, how's about I tame that inner dragon that I've heard is hidden within you?
chapter XIII; anon“I thought we agreed that you came here yesterday to relax?” Blaze smirked as I found myself at the lake once again on the following day “Well, since it was interrupted yesterday I thought we might as well try again,” I shrugged “besides, I’ve got all the time in the world, almost literally” “So you have, now would you put that away?” she gestured to the portrait/flag I was making “it’s demeaning, even for you, brother” “Shan’t” I grinned, finishing the image, which was that of Celestia, folding it up and placing it in my inventory, just as Rainbow Dash glided toward me, landing by my side “We need your help, ponyville’s under attack!” The cyan mare blurted out, quickly taking to the sky and soaring toward the town When we got to the town, there was a mass of ponies being carried toward the hospital, some being laid out on stretchers that were placed outside the large red-and-white building, IV drips, heart monitors, blood packs; almost every medical instrument imaginable was etched into the somewhat morbid sight before laid before me “What happened?” I bit my lip as Shining Armour galloped toward me “Manticore attack, we’ve no idea why, or how, it just happened,” he frowned “Where were you?” “Bet lucky that Rainbow Dash found me at all,” I snapped, he quickly nodded “where’s the manticore?” “The beast lies dead on the edge of the Everfree forest,” he sighed “we’ve never seen behaviour like this from that forest, not ever” “And the injured, what of them?” Blaze stood on her hind legs “The worst are a pair of foals, a colt and a filly,” he averted my gaze “the colt has a missing I, a severely damaged leg, and a few other minor injuries, roughly an eighth of the town is being treated, there’re nurses and doctors from all f Equestria coming to our aid, pun not intended” “I believe I might have something to aid your cause” I smiled, crouching down as I set my rucksack in front of me, revealing a series of large, corked, glass vials with a scarlet liquid in them “hand these out, dose by dose, to the most injured” “What are they?” he undid one of the corks, blinking as he took in the fruity scent of the healing potion “Healing potions, I’ve also got a few for magic and stamina also, should you need them” “I shan’t ask you where you got them, merely thank you for your generosity” he bowed quickly, levitating the vials over to a group of nurses and/or doctors “Will they work on ponies?” Blaze whispered “I can only hope so,” I sighed “a single dose of those potions should, assuming they work, fully heal the one who’s using them” I noticed Twilight and her friends carrying Applejack toward me “Howdy Pardner” Applejack laughed softly “Don’t suppose ya’ll got one o’ them potions you’ve given Shining Armour would ya” she fell on her side as she tried to walk toward me “Poison,” Twilight nodded “this should work” I handed her a small cube-shaped, crimson vial with a thin neck and a cork, she quickly downed the reddish liquid, dropping the vial as she stood upright, hopping from hoof-to-hoof, a wide grin spread across her face “Thanks Stretch, Ah owe ya one!” she laughed -=-=- About a month later, most of the ponies, those of whom had been injured in the strange attack by the manticore, were relieved of their hospitalized status, the colt and filly I’d heard from Shining Armour however, were not so lucky, still lying unconscious in their hospital beds “You’re a hero, Daddy,” Snowdrop glimmered “you’re my hero!” “I’m me, nothing more, nothing less” I shook my head “But you saved an eighth of the town!” she rebuked “do you not feel the slightest bit of positivity from what you’ve done?” “Her-o, Her-o, Her-o,” I turned around, what seemed to be the entirety of ponyville, save the two still in hospital, were chanting and cheering, whilst others whistled, all of whom stomped their hooves as they chanted “We’re just lucky you had those potions on your being at the time” Kiary simpered “There’s not a thing such as luck, only skill, convenience, and coincidence, or lack thereof” I raised an eyebrow “So be it” she nodded as the princesses appeared via teleportation alongside Twilight, her friends, Spike, and the other alicorn “I do believe my brother’s got something to show you, Princess Celestia” Blaze smirked as I retrieved the folded-up ‘image’ from my inventory, handing it to her “This…” Celestia stared at the portrait, having unfolded it “how long did it take you to make this, Tesla?” “About a week” I shrugged “Made one for each of you actually, princesses” I handed out the portraits to each of the princesses “This’s incredible” Cadance gleamed “The artwork is magnificent, almost godlike!” Luan exclaimed “tell us, Sir Rick, how doth thee make such works?” “I practice” I shrugged “take that how you will, Lady Luna, I will take no offense to any words you may wish to speak that come to mind” “Charmed” she giggled “Thou truly hath a way with words, Sir Rick” “How can we, as a country, repay you for your help during last month’s sub-level crisis?” Celestia smiled “Do what you feel is necessary” I shrugged =-=-= As I walked toward Sweet Apple acres alongside my friends family and Twilight and her friends, minus Applejack, with spike following quickly behind I noticed a billboard sign with an image of Applejack beside Applebloom standing beside her, the latter of whom appeared in her apparent anthro form, -Applejack standing as what looked like a anthro form, with a crimson bandana shirt that kept her ‘assets’ in place, a brown jacket and emerald eyes, a brown short skirt and earthy brown boots that went as he as wellingtons also, winking at the viewer-, with large bold red letters that read out ‘best sister in Equestria for rent; 350 bits a week, “Borderline prostitution; me thinks,” Blaze burst into a guffaw of laughter “Remind you of anything?” I stared at her; she rolled a paw, as if to suggest something, I blinked, nodding “She may be good, but she’s no Ellie Goulding” I winked “Not sure if creepy or not…” she shuddered “Says the one who practically had her way with me like a sex-addled rabbit on Viagra” I raised an eyebrow “Touché” she grumbled “So what’re we going to do about that sign?” she nodded toward the billboard “That depends on who’s complaining,” I tilted my head ever so slightly, she smirked “she’s right behind me isn’t she?” the only reply I received was a what felt like a finger running down my spine, I shuddered greatly, collapsing to my knees, and then flat on my face “Damnit” “So stretch, how do ya’ll like the sign and the offer involved?” Applejack laughed “It’s interesting, I must say” I turned onto my back, Scarlet Kiary and Snowdrop stood beside me “but I’ve already got a sister, besides, Nakama translates to ‘friends close than family’” “Ah was hoping ya’ll would say that” she beamed “before I could react she’d tied me up and started dragging me toward the farm, pushing as much of my weight downward as I could, she stopped, turning back to face me “Ya’ll are a heavy one Sugarcube” she chuckled “I’m using non-violent resistance” I shrugged “Would ya rather we did it here and now?” she raised an eyebrow “I came here to see how things were, not to be gelded” I laughed “Who said Ah was gonna do anythin’ of the sort?” I blinked “Ah’m joking!” she started dragging me again, harder this time “Ah love ya Tesla, and Ah’m not letting ya’ll go until I get that out o’ mah system, got it?” she glanced toward me with a sultry grin, I nodded After she’d pushed me upstairs and locked the door behind her as she entered the room, she removed her Stetson first, placing it on the bedside table, removing the string from her hair, letting it fall freely, throwing her jacket over the Stetson, quickly removing her boots, placing them next to the table opposite the bed, undoing her belt and throwing it aside, grinning at me as she lowered her skirt, revealing her slightly moist snatch, undoing her bandana shirt, discarding it beside her, then undoing the rope that bound my arms and ankles “So, how do ya want us tah start?” she purred, removing my jacket and shirt first, piling them neatly beside me, standing me upright, undoing my lower attire, removing my boots and trousers without incident, I bit my lip as she almost instantly slid my boxers down around my ankles “Sweet Luna,” she gasped as my fully erect member shot upward, pre dripping from the end “Ah know it was big, but not this big, ya’ll got yerself a fine set o’ jewels there Sugarcube” she nickered, running her tongue along the base of my shaft, I shuddered as she pressed her lips around the head, twirling her tongue around it, pulling away for a second, staring up at me “Ya’ll like this pardner?” she gleamed, I slowly nodded “Well it’s about tah get better she pulled me over to the bed, swung me around, planting me down on the bed with my back against the duvet, slamming hers hips against mine, my cock hilting her insides, she gasped, exhaling sharply, beginning to bounce up and down atop my crotch, pinning my arms down with her hands as I tried to move them “We’ll have none of that now, pardner, ya’ll just let me do all the work, ya hear?” she grinned -=-=-=- I sat beside Applejack on the bed in her room, draping a wing around her, pecking her cheek as she leant into me on the day after “Ah don’t know about ya’ll Sugarcube, but Ah’ve had tha time of mah life with ya today” she nickered, her form unchanged “Wassup, lovebirds,” Blaze marched into the room -=- “Did you have to barge in like that?” I hummed, glancing toward Blaze as we sat beside and/or nearby my friends and family, alongside Twilight and her friends, Spike included, as we took the train to the Equestria games, a pair of gryphons, both female, by my guess sat on the opposite side of the train to me, one was white with black eye-shadow/eyeliner, the others was black and white with dark grey eyeliner and silver claws, the former with silvery eyes, the latter, with chocolaty brown, and both, were staring at me curiously “Did she have to tie you up and drag you to the farmhouse?” Blaze glanced toward Applejack “Alright, Ah guess Ah got carried away,” Applejack sighed “question is what’re you gonna do about them gryphons that’ve been eyeing ya’ll up like caramel on a candy apple?” she nodded toward the gryphons, who looked away, whistling to themselves as I cast a moments glance toward them, stopping and returning to staring at me once I looked back “Looks like they’re a might interested in ya Pardner” As the train pulled into the station and the passengers disembarked, myself and the others included, the gryphons following us out also “So, were and we, and why are we here?” Kiary simpered as a light snow began to fall, Scarlet shivered, quickly devouring the flames around my hand as I held up a blazing fist, sucking them in like a figurative vacuum cleaner, giving a tiny belch after she devoured them “Were here to see Shining Armour training the crystal ponies for the Equestria games” Twilight smiled, leading us through the bustling crystalline city that I’d been told was the crystal empire “and you’re not allowed to eat anything, even if it is made of gemstone” she grinned “The thought had crossed my mind, Twilight, but I think I can refrain myself from chewing my way through a building or two,” I flashed her a wicked grin “maybe” “Twilight,” Cadance chirped as we entered the castle “I’m so glad you could make it” it was then that Cadance and her lavender friend decided to do what I’d thought at the time to be the strangest thing I’d seen thus far on Equis “Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake, clap your hooves and do a little shake!” Cadance and Twilight chanted in unison, skipping from one hoof to the other, covering their eyes and then revealing them again and then turning and raising their flanks into the air, lightly shaking them, giggling hysterically as they turned back to face one-another “This is normal?” I glanced toward Applejack, whose form remained unchanged from the events in the farmhouse “Just fer these two, Sugarcube” Applejack smiled “How odd” the black, white and silver gryphon giggled, turning her attention to me, holding out a claw “I’m Natalya, this is my friend, Irma” I shook their claws/hands “We’ve been looking for you for a while, Tesla” “You know of me then,” I smiled “by legends and stories or news and placements of events?” “Both” Irma smirked “We’ve heard of both your physical and magical prowess as well as your abilities and characteristics, Grandoa told our king much about you, Tesla” “We’re interested in seeing what you can do for ourselves” Natalya smiled “in whatever context that may be taken, dragon slayer” she licked her lips rather fervently, I quickly turned my attention to Cadance “What about the games?” Blaze grinned “They’re not for another year, and I need twilight and her friends to make sure that the games inspector gets a warm welcome” Cadance nickered “You can count on us princess,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed “I’m sure I can” she gave a soft laugh, turning her attention toward me “Now, I trust that I can leave you to your own devises without worry of you sinking your teeth into any buildings?” she raised an eyebrow “Why would I eat someone’s house?” I chortled “not only is it rude, it’s an invasion of privacy and unsanitary, and it’s almost impossible” “Tesla, you’ve got the magic of a dragon, and the possible attitude to match, and you’ve most likely got the appetite of one as well” Blaze gleamed “That’s not entirely true,” I mumbled “you talk as if I can’t control what I do,” she raised an eyebrow “Ok, so one time I go berserk, that’s all”, she stared at me, flatly, before breaking into a wicked leer “You’re right, you can control everything you do” she laughed “although you can’t control who ends up dragging you down the road and having their way with you for three days straight!” “Alright, you tell me what I was supposed to do, oh-so wise sister of mine” I frowned “Well, let’s see you could, oh, I don’t know” she tilted her head, rolling her eyes “At least attempt to fight back, you’re not going to get very far if you do nothing but let it happen to you, brother, especially if the case should arise that it ends up with the wrong person…” she trailed off, gaping at me “Don’t tell me you do chivalry!” she gasped, I raised an eyebrow in return “oh, you cheesy bastard” “This is like a type of gag,” Snowdrop chimed “Here’s the setup” “Well, well, looks like ya learn somethin new every day” Applejack laughed “Why didn’t ya’ll just burn the rope with yer magic, sugarcube?” everyone stared at me, Cadance blinked, as did Irma and Natalya “And here’s the gag” she smiled “Where’s the fun in that?” I shrugged “Bitches be crazy” Blaze shuddered “That they be” I nodded “Tesla, you just admitted you were into BDSM” Twilight quickly covered her mouth with a hoof “No, I said that there’d be no challenge in making it easy for an escape, not my sexual preferences” I facepalmed “If you say so” she gave a smug grin as Cadance teleported in a large scroll, when she unrolling it, it went from the ceiling to the floor “Ten quid says that half of this is filler; and that my brother could type the rest on his laptop in the correct formatting” Blaze tutted “Twenty,” I grinned “How can you say such a thing,” Cadance gasped “this goes back to the founding of the Equestria games!” she exclaimed “To say such things is blasphemy, treason even!” Mithryl’s gems shone for a brief moment, before fading slightly as she stood atop my sister’s back “It may be treason, but what would you do, should Tesla to put himself between you, your guards and Blaze, you’re powerless to stop such an act, from the energy levels I’m picking from your atmosphere, you’d need to be at least tenfold the power you have now to even so much as lay a scratch on the eon boy” “Who’s ever heard of a princess who can’t defend her subjects?” Blackjack chuckled “It’s like Metru Nui all over again” I rolled my eyes, turning and walking with my friends, family, Irma and Natalya out of the castle -=- “You need to stop watching those movies on YouTube, brother” Blaze laughed once we reached ponyville via train, the conductor insisted that since I was technically royalty, I could go for free, I insisted otherwise “So I do” I sighed, Irma and Natalya blinked, crouching down by the lake, bringing my laptop out of my rucksack, opening Microsoft Word ©, beginning to type away on the bet that Blaze said I could ‘easily manage’ “How can you say such a thing to the princess?” not even six hours had passed and I was in the editing procedure as Twilight and her friends stood beside me, I cast a moments glance at them, returning to my work “I dare because someone has to, Twilight Sparkle” I hummed, inhaling via my nostrils, and then exhaling through my mouth “You don’t have to be rude about it” Rarity huffed “Leave, now” I frowned, clenching my fists “What’re you gonna do?” Rainbow dash slammed her hooves together “You know full-bloody-well what I can do, so I’d suggest stopping before that’s aimed anywhere” I gritted my teeth “I thought you acted in chivalry,” Twilight raised an eyebrow “And I’m supposed to do that whilst barely refraining myself from going AWOL, how, exactly?” I spat, she “I ask this for your safety, please, leave now” she nodded “Come on girls” she bit her lip as they turned and left, I quickly saved and closed the six-hour long document, closing my laptop, sliding it back into my rucksack “What was that about?” Littlepip blinked “I don’t want to talk about it,” I sighed “although it might as well be told,” I went one “whilst wandering the wastes, I gained companions just as close to me as you, and then I did just as I did when I left Lulania, I went berserk, took down several dozen raiders alongside a hundred slavers, Blaze had to tell me what happened, just as before,” I bit my lip “I woke up in a nearby abandoned hospital with mechanical limbs and a few synthetic organs and muscles, including my heart” I vowed to myself that I’d never harm another friend, ever” “What he says is True, Calamity and Xenith were penultimate members of our little gang of heroes, until something just ticked inside of Tesla, and he went completely uncontrollable” “You happy hearing that?” I turned to face the area beside me, Twilight and her friends were still there, with the princesses, save Luna “That’s why you asked us to leave-?” “I don’t want to hear anything from you, Rarity” I cut the alabaster unicorn off “Tesla, calm down,” Blaze frowned “you going mental again isn’t going to help anyone, Ok?” I sighed “good, now I don’t care if the Talon mercs labelled you as a mini-god or whatever they called you, you’re my brother, and if you go AWOL like that again, we’re all going to have problems, Ok?” “Laughing and singing one moment, borderline sociopathic the next, is it a form of schizophrenia, or can a pony actually survive being torn in two directions so severely?” Blackjack stared at me “It’s ironic, really,” Twilight began with a smile “you have so many friends, family, and loved ones, but when the idea or thought arises that you might harm, or bring harm to one of them, you turn borderline insane,” she simpered “please, help us to help you by letting us know and understand what you’ve been through, Rick” I collapsed onto my back, staring up at the sapphire sky, Scarlet curling up on my chest, staring at me with apparent curiosity “So it is,” I clicked my neck “and that’s not counting what else happened in the wastes” “Why, what happened?” Celestia blinked “I found a crusader mainframe, one with ponies in cryo-stasus,” I bit my lip, again “they were diseased, suffering, something had to be done to try and help them” “No…” Twilight slowly shook her head “please tell us you didn’t!” “I placed their consciousness onto a data bank and/or drive of sorts, and then planted that drive into the ‘SPP,’ where their spirits now reside, in peace; free of all illness and affliction” I exhaled sharply “may the gods show mercy for my actions” “That’s a good thing,” Applejack smiled, sitting beside me “if ya managed tah save them, ya’ll are a hero” “I had to kill them in the process,” I frowned “their bodies are breaking down as we speak, their minds, souls, spirits and hearts are immortal, however” “If they’re safe though, then that’s a good thing” she patted my head as I sat upright “ya saved them, Pardner, there ain’t any other way o’ saying it” “I prefer the term ‘paragon’ myself” Blaze shrugged, I stood upright, Scarlet now back on my shoulder, slinging my rucksack over my shoulders as I put it on “I believe I’ve a bone to pick with you, Tesla” the familiar figure of Ahuizotl burst from the treeline of the Everfree forest “Really,” I blinked turning to face Blaze “have I met him before?” my sister shook her head “You’re the one who dared to defy me when I was to battle Miss Doo” the alienating being known as Ahuizotl snarled “What do you want, freak?” Blaze snapped “Well aren’t we the pot calling the kettle black?” he raised an eyebrow “Ah yes, now I remember, you threatened Daring, then I sent your sorry ass flying through the treeline!” I laughed “Quite,” he rolled his eyes “now, I’m assuming you have this, ‘Sacred Star’ you mentioned, I’d like to see it, if you may” he held out the hand on the end of his tail “Sacred Star,” Twilight stared “what star?” “You’re not getting Azura’s Star” I growled “And the ‘herald of the dawn’ title you mentioned, I suppose I’m not getting that either?” Ahuizotl folded his arms “You mean this?” I unsheathed the Dawnbreaker “What magnificent craftsmanship” he eyed the daedric artefact like it was a piece of candy “where did you get this little gem?” “Somewhere I know you can’t go,” I beamed “Skyrim” “Indeed” he grinned “I’ll get those gems one way or another, believe you me human” he stormed off “Tesla, what is Azura’s star?” Twilight stood beside me alongside Applejack, I crouched down, placing my rucksack in front of me, unzipping it, retrieving the daedric artefact in question, and handing it to her “It’s beautiful!” she exclaimed, turning it like a wheel with her magic, then rotating it sideways, flipping it over the reveal the other side “Don’t break it,” I chuckled “I assume you can take care of it?” “You’re letting me have it?” she gasped “thank you,” she glimmered “oh, the amounts of notes and research I could get with this… this… artefact!” “It’s not like I need it” I shrugged “keep it if you want” she pecked me on the cheek, galloping toward the library at full throttle with the star held delicately in a magenta aura -=-=- “So, Christmas, got any ideas on what to do?” Blaze yawned “I think Rarity’s already made plans,” I nodded toward Twilight and her friends as they walked toward me, all six of them in anthro forms dressed in red and white Christmas costumes “Now the only problem you have is the castle not having a chimney” she grinned “Who said I was going to be at the castle?” I laughed “Ah take it ya’ll like the costumes Rarity made fer us?” I raised an eyebrow “Ah’ll take that as a yes” she pecked my cheek “We got a sleigh an’ everything ready for you and Crystal to pull as well” “You’re not fitting me with any type of reigns, Jackie, period” I sighed, her face went a beetroot shade of red “Celestia’s hosting a play in the theatre at canterlot tonight” Twilight smiled, eyeing me up and down “Clockwise again?” “That it is,” I nodded “shall we be going then?” -=- As we walked through the castle, once the play had ended, and into the main hall, I found myself alienated “They re-enacted ‘A Christmas carol’?” Blaze blinked “But if they’re going to have someone who acts as the ghost of Christmas yet to come, because in one version he looks like the grim reaper,” I cleared my throat “at least have him sound the part” I spoke in a rather husky tone, as if I the lord of the dead was using me as his vessel “Have I mentioned how freaky it is when you do that?” She gave a deadpan stare “Not recently, why?” I chuckled “That’s a mighty dark tone ya’ll took there pardner” Applejack guffawed “I reckon I could do better” I shrugged “Ah know ya can” she winked “How about a rodeo before we turn in for the evening?” “Why not both,” Blaze smirked, which resulted in my being dragged by both Rainbow Dash and Applejack to the nearest spare bedroom -=-=- “Mornin’ pardner” Applejack yawned, walking with me to the dining hall “Where’s Rainbow Dash?” Twilight blinked sitting around the table our friends and family whilst breakfast was being served “She’s still tuckered out from yesterday” Applejack laughed “How do you do it, brother?” Blaze grinned with a sly smirk “If I knew that, I’d of told you by now” I smiled “Well somepony needs to wake her up to let her know that her invitation to the Wonderbolts is arriving today” “The who now?” Blaze did a spit-take, bursting into laughter “The Wonderbolts,” she raised an eyebrow at Blaze, glancing toward me “They’re an elite squad of Pegasus ponies who perform aerial acrobatics and demonstrations, they perform at Cloudsdale every now and then, they also attend the Grand Galloping Gala, usually” “So they’re like the ‘Red Arrows’ then, only not as good, yes?” Blaze laughed “How so?” Celestia nickered “The events are staged, all of them, if there’s a race; it’ll most likely be deliberate who wins,” I sighed “I went to a Bournemouth Air show when I was around fourteen, they had the ‘Red Arrows,’ and a few other means of aerial locomotion, including a few Harrier jets” “Oh, and perhaps you’d like to prove that you can do better?” Rainbow Dash appeared at the double doors, grinning from ear to ear “If I went at full speed, not caring about my passengers, I could get from here to Ponyville in the space of about five or ten minutes” I smirked “Is that with or without you breaking the sound barrier?” Blaze tilted her head in an act of curiosity “Without” I shrugged -=-=- “So where’re we going?” I sighed, flying alongside Rainbow Dash, Angel and Crystal, with my friends and family upon our backs, Blackjack flying alongside us also, Blaze having to take the balloon with Twilight and her friends all but Applejack of which were in their normal/pony forms “To the academy of course,” Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes as we arrived at a runway, various ponies, all Pegasi doing some sort of flying or training exercise “Looks more like a pathetic excuse for a boot camp,” Blaze bounded up beside me alongside Twilight and her friends as Crystal, Angel and my own passengers disembarked “Is this seriously the best they can do?” “Tesla, I didn’t expect to see you here!” the familiar figure of Spitfire jogged toward us, beaming “I’m assuming you’re here to see how the new recruits can do?” “Somewhat” I winked, reverting to human form, Scarlet and Kiary stood/perched on either shoulder as Snowdrop lay atop my head, tucked cosily between my horns “I see we’ve a new recruit as well” she glanced toward Rainbow Dash, who saluted her “get to the barracks on the double!” the cyan Pegasus rocketed toward a large fortress-like building far in front of us -=- About an hour passed before the new recruits/cadets formed a line along the runway “Well look at what we got here” Spitfire spoke in a strict tone, I stifled laughter at the thought of a pony trying to imitate an actual drill sergeant as she walked up and down the line in front of them “Yes ma’am!” the line of ponies chanted in unison “So you lot think you got what it takes to be an elite flyer, huh?” she raised an eyebrow “£yes ma’am” they chanted again “Well let me be perfectly clear,” her tone was calm as a summer’s breeze, before turning to what she deemed threatening “you don’t!” she snapped, prodding a pale lavender Pegasus with an insistent hoof “if you had what it took to be an elite flyer you’d already be a Wonderbolt!” “I’m sorry how is this meant to be at all threatening?” Blaze bust a gut laughing before I did, I quickly joined her “Like, compared to an actual drill instructor, your nothing!” “Can you name anyone better?” Spitfire frowned “Colonel Ackerson” Blaze and I grinned “Five minutes is all he needs to have you broken and battered, curling up; crying like a little schoolgirl” “Touché” Spitfire slowly nodded “I can certainly try my best though, thanks Tesla” “Call me Rick, my friends and family do” I chuckled “As she attempted to bend the new cadets to their weakest points, some of them in tears, other shaking with apparent fear, there was only Rainbow Dash and one other left to be ‘lectured’ as it were “What’s your name, Private?” Spitfire snapped at the opal Pegasus with a golden mane and tail “Lightning Dust Ma’am” the Pegasus smirked “Think you’re hot stuff then, huh?” Spitfire scowled “Try me Ma’am” she grinned “Oh, this one’s got balls, I like that” Blaze laughed maniacally “Just for that, everypony do fifty circuits, now!” Spitfire blew her whistle “I’ll see you in ten minutes” Lightning Dust winked toward me, taking off around the circuit, taking first place, right in front of Rainbow Dash, who easily caught up with her, I was too busy laughing until my sides hurt with Blaze and the two other eons who’d joined me on the way to the ‘academy’ “What’s so funny?” Twilight blinked as she stood beside Spitfire “I could list at least five people who do a better job than golden Glory over there” Angel chortled “Gunnery Sergeant Hartman being one, I presume?” I laughed “Quite” her laughter steadily died down “Alright, how could you do better, to be intimidating I mean,” Spitfire raised an eyebrow “ “Two words,” I grinned, scales appearing on my face, arms and hands “dragon’s apparition” I inhaled, letting out an almost deafening roar, a large dragon appearing above me, eventually fading as I stopped “Sweet Celestia, now if only I could do that,” she beamed “it’d get them working at a much faster rate, where do I get it?” “I don’t think a pony could become a dragon slayer, not a true dragon slayer anyhow” Blaze shrugged “That’s what it’s called?” Spitfire blinked “where’d you get it?” “Crystagia, the gem dragon empress” I gleamed “You got dragon slayer magic, from a dragon?” she tilted her head “how does that make sense?” “There was a war between dragons and mages, some dragons sided with the humans, but some humans did the opposite, siding with the dragons, using the magic given to them by said dragons to put an end to all dragons, thus the term ‘dragon slayer’ was created” I explained “at least that’s what Crystagia told me” “That’s what she said” Blaze smirked “Quite so” I nodded When the cadets finally landed after being scared borderline-shitless, Rainbow Dash and Lightning Dust Trotted toward me, the former had a smug grin plastered on her face the other, a look of pure amazement “What was that!?” Lightning Dust screamed “Metsuryū no Maho” Blaze laughed “Guardian angel, Daddy,” Snowdrop patted the top of my head, “please?” “Might as well,” I nodded, she smiled, Taking Scarlet with her as she and Kiary landed beside Crystal, bursting into whitish golden flames, completely enveloped in them “Metsuryū Ogi, Shiranui Gata; Gurren Hōō Ken,” I roared again, launching myself into the air like a blazing spear, filtering the flames to my hands and feet, performing a forward flip, slashing down with my heels and fists “Kagizume to, Yokugeki,” I grinned, performing another flip, “and finally,” I growled, creating an earthy brown fireball in one hand, and a brilliant golden one in the other, slamming them together, Hoseki Ryū no Koen!” “How long did it take you to think of that?” Crystal gave an insane grin when I landed beside her and the others “Not too long,” I shrugged “ “Uh, Tesla” Rainbow Dash pointed toward the sky, I blinked, looking skyward, quickly noticing the circular ‘wave’ of prismatic energy tearing through the air above us “Ya’ll just performed yer own ‘Sonic Rainboom’” Applejack whistled “Did ya’ll mean to do that pardner?” “Not exactly” I blinked, staring up at the on-going wave of energy “We told you that eons could break the sound barrier” Blaze laughed “I don’t think that’s it,” Twilight’s gaze altered between me and the energy soaring above us “I think you’ve just used enough magical energy to create a type of sonic rainboom, but without breaking the sound barrier, how that’s possible, I’ll have to ask Princess Celestia” “Suishō Hasu, Kōryu no Shugo Tenshi” I glimmered “Crystal lotus; gem dragon’s Guardian angel” Snowdrop gleamed, perching herself atop my head, Scarlet and Kiary returning to their places upon my shoulders, Celestia, Faust, Cadance, and the alicorn that’d been labelled as my daughter immediately appeared via teleportation before me, staring at the wave of energy in the sky, and then back down toward me “I felt a sudden disturbance via a type of magical output, so I came to investigate” Celestia raised an eyebrow “what did you do this time, Rick?” “Crystal lotus; Gem Dragon’s Guardian Angel,” I bit my lip “I’m just wondering how on earth I managed to conjure up an earthy brown flame, if only for a moment” “You’re an eon, you’re magical aura will change colour depending on the one you feel most connected to” she smiled “So who’s that then?” Crystal smirked at me with a sly grin “You said it was an earthy brown, yes?” Blaze beamed; I nodded; she grinned, shoving me toward Applejack, who wrapped her arms around my neck, placing her lips on mine, pecking my cheek as she parted “Ah’m flattered ya’ll feel that way about me pardner,” Applejack winked “care tah give me a lift home?” I nodded, changing to eon form, she giggled, climbing onto my back, just below my neck, Littlepip Velvet Remedy and Pepper leaping into place behind her “May the lady of Earth ride the dragon” I grinned borderline maniacally “we’ll see you next week, Dashie!” I waved as I took off, Scarlet now on Blackjacks head, and Kiary, her back, flying alongside me as I glided toward ponyville, Blaze, Twilight and her friends, Save Rainbow Dash, taking the balloon back to the large town “So, Ah’m a lady of Earth now?” Applejack traced a light finger along the side of my neck “Don’t distract the driver” I smirked, lightly holding onto her legs “Ah’m just asking a simple question” she laughed “I see you as my Nakama; the same can be said for Twilight and her friends” I smiled, again “personally, I’m honoured to have met you, Applejack, you’re a level-headed, type, that of which contrasts my insanity perfectly” “Are ya’ll sayin’ that opposites attract?” she beamed at me with a smug look plastered upon her face “I’m merely stating that I love you, Lady of the Earth” my cheeks turned a deep crimson “It’s really us that should be honoured ta meet ya, Rick, not tha other way around” she nickered “think ya’ll can go a bit faster?” “Why, is this speed not satisfactory?” I smiled “Alright, just a bit lower though” she gulped audibly, I nodded, lowering down toward the ground only for a squadron of gryphons to shoot up from the treeline, all armed with either crossbows or spears “What have we got here?” a gryphon with navy blue and whitish-golden feathers folded his arms, hovering right before me “Just passing through” Applejack patted my neck “That’s an interesting mount you have there” he grinned at me “is it sentient?” “Why wouldn’t I be?” I laughed “So, you’re an eon,” he frowned “we’ve heard much of your kind from our king, more on that later though, you give us the girl, and we let you leave alive, I sped off at full throttle past him, flying between two gryphons armed with crossbows, getting wings peppered with bolts, screaming as I plummeted, barely managing to fly in a straight line “Which way to ponyville?” I grimaced “Keep goin’ straight!” she pointed ahead of me, and so I flew on, using only the most evasive of manoeuvres to avoid being skewered -=- When Ponyville finally came into my sights, I went as fast as I could, my underside sliding against the ground as I crash-landed, Applejack and the others climbing/clambering to the ground, just barely managing to get back up into a hovering position, Twilight and her friends quickly galloping toward us “Tesla, are you-!?” Twilight cut herself off, staring at the bolts stuck in my wings “I can’t feel my wings” I mumbled, falling back to the ground, my vision fading to black -=-=-=- When I awoke, I bolted upright, my wings stinging as I did so Looking back toward said wings, I saw that they were in bandages, tucked against my back “Well that’s a bummer” I mumbled “Awake are we?” I looked to the side of me, Celestia, Twilight, her friends, save Applejack, my friends and family were stood near the side of the bed alongside a large gryphon with earthy brown feathers and a scarred beak “I’m here, not to start a fight with you, Tesla” the gryphon raised an eyebrow “merely to apologize for last week’s inexcusable actions” “Apology accepted” I grinned “Explain” he smirked “You can do what you want to me, but lay a finger on my friends, and we’re going to have a few problems” I gleamed “Nurse Redheart said you could remove your bandages when you awoke, Twilight gleamed” “Fair do’s” I smiled, removing the bandages restraining my wings, stretching them as the strands of fabric fell to the bedside -=- As The gryphon, who I’d been told was the king, also known as Blackbeak, flew off toward the horizon, I stretching my wings again, now no longer bound by the white walls of the hospital “Ah’m glad ya’ll are alright, Rick” Applejack, her form still unchanged from the incident on the farm, placed her hand in mine, pecking my cheek “Wouldn’t want one o’ mah Nakama to go down that easily” “Try flying,” Snowdrop perched herself atop my head, I nodded, hovering above ground, using only the top set of wings, then the middle, then the lower set, landing with a soft *thud* on the lush grass-laden earth ion which Ponyville was built “And Daddy,” I glanced toward her as she gazed at me with an apparent sense of utter bliss “it’s good to have you back” “Thank you, my little Snowflake” I smiled, Crystal Angel, and Ilona gliding down toward me “So I heard you got ambushed” Crystal raised an eyebrow “The king may’ve come here to apologize, and I may’ve accepted said apology, but I’d like to see them try again” I grinned “Nonetheless, you got yourself injured, and because of that, I’m going to have to keep an eye on you, Rick” she folded her arms, sharply exhaling “I also heard that you found a way to break the sound barrier, somewhat” “It’s not that big of a deal” I waved a dismissive hand “It’s a very big deal,” Twilight exclaimed “it’s got to be the biggest magical event since Starswirl’s passing, probably even more so!” “And I know someone who ate the flames of a god slayer, and then used them against said god slayer” I shrugged “You have god slayers?” Celestia looked a little worried, whether it was for herself or her sister, I knew not which “Zancrow; the flame god slayer, Orga; the lightning god slayer, and finally Chelia; the sky god slayer” I raised an eyebrow “Says the one who can access ‘Modo Raien Ryū’” Blaze laughed “So can Natsu, just anger him and see what a true dragon slayer can do” I smirked “What do you mean when you say what a ‘true’ dragon slayer can do?” “it is only the first generation dragon slayers that’re considered to be true dragon slayers, second or third generation mages aren’t worthy of such a title, apparently” I rolled my eyes “Personally, I can’t see the difference; you’re a damn good mage and/or dragon slayer either way” Blaze spat “you’re the son of the Hōseki ryū kōgō, the Gem Dragon Empress, you’ve a marefriend, dare I say the word, you’ve a home in canterlot, or down with said marefriend if you two so wish, you’ve also got family here, personally, I wouldn’t worry about titles, brother” Blaze grinned “Thank ya kindly, Blaze,” Applejack tipped her ha in somewhat apparent respect “Meh, you’ve got my blessing, should you need it” Blaze beamed, staring at me with a wicked grin plastered on her face that went from ear to ear “But Tesla’s already married to me” Crystal blinked “surely he can’t…?” “I’m not entirely sure what the rules on such things are, but I see no wrong in going through with it” Rarity winked at me “Tesla can be wed to as many as he wants,” Celestia smiled “there is a rather disproportionate ratio of mares to stallions in Equestria after all”, as soon as she finished speaking, it was then that a large crowd formed in less than a blink of an eye, all mares “Oh, fuckberries,” I groaned “How’s that chivalry o’ yers gonna work now pardner?” Applejack lightly punched me on the shoulder “I’ll think of something,” I bit my lip, changing to eon form, my friends taking their usual places upon my back, Applejack climbing into the same place as before as I soared toward the lake, turning invisible on the way, landing by the crystal clear water, Applejack and the others climbing off, the former of which sat by my side as I lay by the body of water “Ya’ll didn’t tell me you could turn invisible,” Applejack laughed “Ah’ll have tah remember that tha next time ya’ll are running fer yer life from tha local heat wave” “Aren’t you bothered by it?” I tilted my head “Ah’ve got a different period to the others, twilight and Rainbow Dash also,” she nickered “why, worried Ah’ll rape ya in yer sleep?” “Well, taking your strength and my refusal to hit females into account, yes, yes I am” I bit my lip, again “Ah wouldn’t do anything ya’ll don’t want me tah do” she scratched the part behind my ears; I found myself leaning into the scratch, almost purring as I did so “What’s this, found a weak point have Ah?” she smiled, pinching the tip of my ear, I yelped, quite literally, shuddering as she massaged it between her finger and thumb “I wonder if anyone’s going to be jealous that you got to me before they did,” I hummed “Probably,” she sighed “Ah’ve had quite a few suitors mahself, turns out they were only after me for mah ‘Element Of Harmony’ status,” she placed a hand on my back “But Ah doubt you’d do that, yer too dedicated to yer friends tah do such a thing, right , Pardner?” she glanced down toward me, I lifted my head, staring at her right in her beautiful emerald eyes “I would never do anything to intentionally harm, or bring harm to, my friends, family, loved ones, and Nakama, that includes you, Lady of the Earth, Knight’s honour” “Thank you, Rick, really, Ya’ll have no idea how much Ah’ve wanted to hear ya say that,” she pecked my cheek, suddenly leaping on me, rolling me onto my back as she sat on my chest, I rolled her off me, she took me with her, causing the two of us to roll into the lake “Looks like Ah’ve gotten a little damp” she chuckled, removing her attire, discarding it at aside on the bank beside the lake, walking into the lake until the water was up to her chest, pulling me with her “how about a rodeo Sugarcube?” “There they are!” I heard someone yell from behind me, shortly followed by a stampede, I quickly turned invisible once again “Applejack, why are you, y’know?” Lyra stood at the front of the mob of mares “Ah’m taking a swim, can’t Ah have a little privacy?” Applejack frowned, floating so the water came up to her neck “And why’re Tesla’s friends and family with you?” Roseluck stood beside Lyra “Tesla trusts them tah be independent, ya’ll can’t keep babying them for their whole lives now can ya?” “I don’t believe you” Lyra’s horn flared a bright primrose colour; and all of a sudden I was up to my neck in lukewarm water in human form “So there you are, Tesla” Roseluck purred “we’ve got a few things we’d like to discuss” “Can’t it wait?” I quickly covered my mouth with both hands “Not really” Lyra grinned “What is it?” I grumbled “The mares of ponyville have been, shall we say, discussing with one-another, about you,” she winked “we’d like to join your herd, Tesla” “All of you?” I blinked, she nodded “Sorry, I can’t look after that many ponies, I think I’ll stick to the scarce few that I’ve now” “We’ll be back, should you wish to change your mind, human” Roseluck flashed her eyebrows at me as they marched off “Well that was anticlimactic” I released a breath I hadn’t realised I was holding “Take ‘em off Pardner” Applejack placed a hand on my shoulder, I blinked; she rolled her eyes, carefully yet quickly removing my jacket and shirt, followed by everything else I had on me, discarding it at the bank, placing them beside her clothes, leaping at me,, forcing me onto my back on the bank, planting her lips on my own, tracing her finger in a circle on my chest, tracing it down my stomach… -=-=- “Holy shit…” I mumbled as I lay beside Applejack in my eon form, my length slowly sliding back into its sheath “that’d be illegal, in an actual rodeo, me-thinks” thankfully, if anyone were to witness our conversation, Applejack had re-dressed herself “Ya’ll didn’t seem tah be complaining, legal or not” she smirked “I’m not paid to complain, Lady of the Earth” she winked, her form changing to that of a human, one with fair skin and about a foot taller than before, wearing earthy brown jeans and the same open-front brown leather jacket, complete with the same bandana bra/shirt, and the Stetson hat to finish the picture “Which one do ya’ll prefer?” she changed to between her human and anthro forms, her smile a sincere, and somewhat cute one “The first form’s cuter, but the other one’s got more beauty to it, so I’d say that they’re even” I shrugged “Then what’d happen if Ah were tah do this?” she raised an eyebrow, undoing the string that kept her hair bound, letting it fall freely as she sat beside me “Then it’d prove what I just said,” I stared at her “and here I thought you were beautiful before” “Thanks Sugarcube” she smiled, pecking my cheek =-=-=-= “Lady of the Earth” I bowed quickly having just beaten what took two princesses to defeat, the entity known as king Sombra “Ya don’t have tah call me that Y'know” she smiled “I find it works better than just ‘Applejack,’ no offense” I bit my lip “Call me Jackie” her cheeks turned a rosy, pink tint “Ah find it uncomfortable to be called a lady” “As you wish, Jackie” I nodded “I thought you said it took both you and Princess Luna all your power to defeat him and seal him in ice?” Twilight glanced toward Celestia, who nodded “It would appear that Tesla’s power is immeasurable,” Celestia smiled “that of which cannot be rivalled be neither my sisters power, or my own” “And it only grows larger and larger each time he fights” Blaze smirked “That’s impossible!” Twilight snapped “Celestia and Luna are the most powerful ponies on Equis” “Not forgetting Faust are we?” Kiary simpered “Second most powerful, she corrected herself “Second most powerful ponies, I’m not a pony, remember,” I sighed, changing to eon form, Applejack climbed unto my back “and since when did this become a battle for power?” “That was a rather anticlimactic battle” Blaze hummed “shall we do lunch?” my stomach let out an unearthly growl “I’ll take that as a yes =-=-=-= When we got back to ponyville, I noticed a familiar brown unicorn with a golden mane and tail with a green cardigan, staring at the pony-turned anthro passenger sat upon my back “Holy Celestia…” he breathed, drooling “Sorry pardner, Ah’m already spoken for” Applejack patted my lightly on the side of my neck, seeing as Snowdrop had once again perched herself between my ears “What’ll it take” his gaze turned toward me “More than what you’ve got; believe me” I glimmered “my friends, family and Nakama are my religion, so to speak, may the Daedra have mercy on those of whom try to either harm them or take them away, for mercy shall not be mine that day” he quickly galloped away “Cryptic” Blaze laughed “You know as much as I do, Blaze” I gleamed “So I do” she chortled “Where do you get these forms anyway,” I blinked, glancing back toward the pony/human upon my back as she changed to her human form “not that I’m complaining” “From yer laptop thingy,” Applejack smirked “ya’ll have some interesting stuff on there, pardner” “It’s not really my responsibility for what you find on it” I shrugged “So it isn’t” Celestia giggled “but it’s humorous nonetheless” “You do know that’s an invasion of privacy?” Blaze smirked “not that Tesla’s complaining” “So then, if he’s not complaining, where’s the problem?” Rainbow Dash gave a sly grin “Touché” she nodded “So, I heard you had an interesting time at the lake?” Twilight raised an eyebrow “We sure-sugar did” Applejack laughed “So how did that go?” she smirked “Their bonding is their business, not ours, Twilight, honestly” Rarity shook her head “Did you have to make a double reference when you fought back then?” Blaze grinned “I felt that it might work, so I used it” “And you quoted the new Daring Doo book” Rainbow Dash hovered beside me “Actually, I said it when I first met Ahuizotl, Daring Doo has merely integrated it into her stories” I shrugged, again “Ah wonder if Ah could, under circumstances, use magic the way you do, Rick” Applejack patted my back, I reverted to human form as she clambered to the floor “I think nine’s enough” I chuckled “Nine?” Twilight blinked “Natsu, Wendy, Gajeel, Cobra, Laxus, Sting, Rogue, Blaze and I” I nodded “I wonder what an earth dragon slayer would be like” Blaze folded her paws “Well, fire’s more of an offensive magic, whereas iron is defensive, and sky is supportive,” I explained “so it’d mostly be defence” “And how would one become a dragon slayer?” Snowdrop smiled “One of three ways,” I began “you can either be taught by a dragon, or have a dragon lacrima implanted into you, or both” “And you had both?” Celestia grimaced “I won’t lie by saying it wasn’t painful” I shuddered “imagine your entire magic network being dissolved and then rebuilt again on a molecular level, repeatedly” “Hey, no pain no gain,” Blaze gave a sly smirk “quite literally as well!” “An’ that’s why ya’ll don’t want me to use magic?” Applejack smiled, draping her arms around me, placing her head on my shoulder “Thank ya’ll, Rick, but Ah know that Ah can handle it, pardner” “If that’s truly what you want, then I won’t stop you, I can only warn you about what you’ll have to go through” I pecked her cheek -=-=- “So, you wish to learn dragon slayer magic?” Crystagia stared down toward Applejack with an expression of curiosity “If it’s alright with you, your majesty” Applejack bit her lip, her form changed, now in her anthro form “What generation would you like to be,” she gave a faint smile “first, second, or third?” “Third,” Applejack spoke boldly, and with a firm tone in her voice “So it shall be,” Crystagia’s eyes shone like snow-white suns as a crystal generated from apparently nowhere “And your element of choice, little one?” “Whatever should suit me best,” Applejack gleamed, glancing toward me, I shrugged as she took the crystal, which seemingly morphed into her skin, a spark flashed between the gemstone and her chest, and then she collapsed “Will she be alright, mother?” I caught Applejack before she hit the ground “She has much change to go through, my son,” Crystagia cooed her DNA itself will be altered to match her new abilities, she will become, what the ponies call, a Pegasus” “What element will she be?” Snowdrop tilted her head, resting upon my own “That is for her mind to decide, not my words” the dragon smiled “never in an eon have I seen someone so determined, other than you, to learn such power, Rick” I felt something lightly pressing against my hand, removing it, a pair of honey-white wings spread forth from her back, having pierced through her jacket “She’s ascended, just as Tesla has” Celestia smiled =-= A week passed without any sort of movement from Applejack, and I’d long since moved her to one of the spare bedrooms in the castle Knowing it was only a certain amount of time until her awakening, I placed my rucksack beside me, sifting through the contents, finding my laptop fairly easily, typing away at the rewrite of the ‘Equestria games’ scroll that Cadance had shown us in the Crystal Empire “What’re ya doin there, pardner?” my gaze darted toward the bed, Applejack was sat upright, smiling at me “You know the comically long sheet Cadance showed us at the Crystal Empire?” she nodded, “I’m rewriting it, the only problem is I don’t have a printer, which means I can’t show Celestia, Cadance or Luna” “Ah’m sure ya’ll could ask them” she nickered, pecking my cheek “Ah love ya Tesla, but don’t let ya think that Ah’ve grown any softer!” “Of course not, my little Jackie” I smiled “Mah little Ricky” “Her little what now,” I turned my gaze toward the doorway, Twilight, her friends, Spike included, the princesses and Shining Armour stood there, eyebrows raised as Crystal, angel and Ilona flew into the room “Didn’t know you took pet names Tesla?” Blaze stood beside me “So long as I don’t mind, I haven’t got a problem with it” I shrugged “Alright, my ickle Human” she gleamed, I raised an eyebrow “you’re right, that failed” “The things I put up with that emanate from you, sister” I shook my head “At least I’m not calling you a crazy hobo” she smirked “Touché” I nodded “Ya’ll are insane” Applejack laughed “You made your lady laugh, there’s one achievement for this week, right brother?” she grinned “That’s eight times now, I do believe” Snowdrop chimed from atop my head “Nine actually, my little Snowflake” I rolled my eyes “My little Human” she giggled “My little snow angel” I smiled “Touché” she nickered “my little guardian angel” “This could technically go on forever, thou I’m sure you the two of you will each need your own dictionary to do so” Crystal aww’d “Don’t give us ideas” Snowdrop and I smirked “So, about mah new abilities…” Applejack smiled “How do Ah use ‘em?” “I’m sure Crystagia and I can improvise something” I smiled, again -=-=(+)=-=- It took about two months, but Applejacks magic came along brilliantly As we glided walked to Sweet Apple Acres, Twilight and our friends by our side, Snowdrop atop my head, and Applejack stood in her original pony form atop my back “AJ,” Applebloom bounded toward us Applejack hopped from my back to the floor as I lowered myself to the ground “Yer an alicorn!” “So Ah am, bloom, so Ah am” Applejack smiled, draping an arm around her younger sister, followed by a wing “How in the hay…? The red pony known as Big Mac stared at Applejack, and then toward me, I shrugged “well, ain’t that great,” he sighed, noticing the circular crystal embedded in his sister’s chest that glowed with a soft blue aura, walking back toward the farmhouse, coming back around five minutes later with an elderly bright green mare with a whitening mane and tail with orangey eyes and polka-dot orange scarf “Well now Dear, Ah heard ya’ll have become a goddess” The aged mare spoke with a calm considerate tone, turning her attention to me “Ah’ve yet tah thank ya for all ya’ll have done fer us, Applejack’s told me much about you, young‘un” “Just doing my job” I smiled, casting a glance toward the stallion stood beside her “If Applejack says ya’ll are alright, then Ah don’t mind in the slightest” he smiled, which I found rather disturbing “Thanks, I guess” I blinked, raising an eyebrow -=- “So, what’re you doing?” I stood beside Applejack, my friends, family and Sweetie Belle, Kiary, Scarlet, and Snowdrop propped in their usual places upon my head and shoulders “Sapphire Shores’ Equestria wide tour begins in Canterlot next week,” Rarity stressed “If I am to manage such a feat of work, I’ll need to have it done by the day after tomorrow at the latest” she exhaled sharply “Could I ask a favour of you, Rarity?” Sweetie Belle glanced between me and Rarity “I suppose so, it depends on what it is” Rarity smiled “Then you can help me with the show for tomorrow night?” the dressmaker’s little sister squee’d “Sweetie Belle, I’m behind schedule as it is,” Rarity sighed “I don’t know if I can” “I understand” the alabaster filly sighed, moping off “Then again, I suppose I could manage it, if I had a few other ponies working with me” she rolled her eyes, Sweetie Belle leapt at her “Thank you; you’re the best sister ever!” Sweetie Belle chimed “I can argue with that” I smiled “Ooh rah!” Blaze laughed “Wasn’t referring to you, Blaze” I grumbled “Oh?” she raised an eyebrow “then who do you mean?” “Who else?” I shrugged “Ah yes, the human” she slowly nodded “Sorry to hear about that” “Not your fault” I sighed, “I’ll see you later, Rarity” I turned and vacated the boutique, Sweetie belle clambered up onto my shoulder, I stopped as she pecked my cheek, climbing back down, continuing to walk into the town plaza “How did she die?” Applejack quickly bit her lip, covering her mouth with a hoof “Negligence” I frowned “and I was powerless to do anything about it, may she eternally rest in peace” “Who’re we talking about?” Rainbow Dash glided down toward me “Nobody important” I shrugged “Horseapples,” Applejack smirked, changing to her anthro form, placing a hand on my shoulder “anypony who’s important to ya is important tah me, right Pardner?” “Fair do’s” I smiled “How goes the magic training?” “It’s coming along fairly well enough” she conjured a bright emerald-green flame in her hand “But Ah don’t care about that, Ah care about you, Rick, and Ah’ve told mah family that Ah want tah move in with ya, if that’s Ok with you” she winked “Do what you will, I won’t stop you” I smiled -=-=- As I stood in Alphamon form on the hill near the castle in Canterlot, wielding the Ouryuken blade, I lifted it high on the air, turning it so that it was pointing downward, planting it into the earth, reverting to human form, Scarlet Snowdrop and Kiary landing/clambering into their usual positions as I walked away, my friends and family walking beside me “You’re just gonna leave it there?” Blaze tilted her head, I raised an eyebrow “oh, I see, best leave it be then” “Are you well?” Celestia trotted beside Luna and Cadance “In suppose it can’t get any better” I smiled “That’s great” she glimmered “I’ve been talking with your daughter, the one of which you seem to be ignorant towards, her name’s Starry Skies, and she’d like to apologize for whatever it is she’s done” she sidestepped, revealing the alicorn in question, who slowly made her way toward me “Hello, Father,” Starry Skies gave a weak smile, holding out a hoof, I jerked forward, draping my wings and arms around her “I’ve missed you, father, ever since you vanished an eon ago, I’ve been wandering and waiting for your inevitable return” “Yeah, inevitable” I Blaze glanced toward Celestia “no need to remind us of that particular fact, Sky” “And you are?” Starry skies blinked, staring at Blaze “Blaze, Tesla’s oh-so adorable adoptive sister” she winked “What are you?” Starry skies tilted her head “A Typhlosion” Blaze smirked “I’ve been all across Equestria, and not once have I seen such a strange being” she hummed “I’ve been with Tesla throughout his travels all across the universe, and I’ve only seen a talking pony once before” Blaze shrugged “So I guess we’re even” -=- Once Starry Skies had joined us on the way back to Ponyville, Applejack galloped toward me, leaping atop my back as I hovered in the town square in eon form, changing to anthro form, sitting upon the area between my neck and back “Where have ya’ll been, sugarcube?” Applejack smiled “Canterlot, I had some things to deal with” I bit my lip “I apologize for not telling you beforehand” “That’s alright, so long as ya’ll are safe” she simpered as a rather pungent scent made its way into my nostrils, I quickly shook my head, but that only made it worse “What’s that stench?” Blaze shuddered “You smell it as well then?” I grimaced “Kind of hard not to” she rolled her eyes “But I think it’s coming from her” she pointed toward a creamy-yellowish mare with a two-toned blue mane and tail, all other ponies who might, or not, have been present quickly dashed into their homes, locking the doors behind them “It’s always the same…” the mare mumbled, tears in her eyes, glancing toward me, leaping about a foot in the air, revealing a large set of ‘assets’ around her crotch, quivering in fear as she ever-so slowly made her way toward me “Hello..?” she whimpered “Good morning,” I smiled she flinched “Is there a good place we could talk,” she borderline-whispered, I nodded “alone?” my friends and family quickly dismounted as I reverted to human form, Applejack standing beside me “You changed,” she quickly blinked “but that’s not important, I need you to take me somewhere, and quickly!” I crouched down, allowing her to climb onto my back, with her hooves wrapped around my neck Once she’d guided me to a specific, and rather remote, region of ponyville that was well-hidden from the rest of town, she fetched a bucket from nearby, placing it just under her sizeable breasts “I need you to milk me” she blushed profusely, her face turning a beetroot colour, I shrugged, crouching down and doing so without much thought to my actions, each squeeze brought a elongated moan of bliss as she shuddered with each torrent When I was done, the bucket had overflowed twice over “Thank you…” she muttered, “I’m sorry for the possible pain you must’ve been in” I bit my lip, again “Oh no, it’s not a problem, really” she waves a dismissive hoof “I’m not normally this reckless, shunned as I may be for being so… different, from other ponies” “I’ve been there” I hummed “so what do you do?” I sat beside her “I owned a now-abandoned dairy in Trottingham called the Milky Way, like my name” she suddenly gasped “Oh my gosh, I didn’t even tell you my name before that. My name is Milky Way, What’s yours?” “Tesla, or Rick, whichever you prefer” I held out a hand, which she shook rather daintily “Huh, that’s not the name I would have guessed, but it’s a nice name,” Milky Way smiled “So, what brings you here?” “I wasn’t bough here by choice, per se, but by prophecy” I winked “I can tell you later if you’d like” “So, you’re a supposed mythical hero who’s going to change everypony’s lives in Equestria?” she laughed “I can tell already that you’re the better type of person, err, pony,” I chuckled “would you like to tag along with me, Milky Way?” “I’ve not got many friends, but I’d love to, Rick” she giggled “Why?” you ask. “You seem nice. It’s because you’re a serial killer, isn’t it?” I grinned, she laughed “No, it’s because of…well…look at me.” She was obviously referring to her ‘mounds’ “These aren’t natural; I guess that scared a lot of ponies off,” She looks at you. “You think I’m strange too, don’t you?” “No, not at all; you seem like a perfectly normal pony, aside from them” I glanced down for a second “But, it doesn’t bother me, Miss Way,” I went on “if anything, they make you unique, in a way” “You’re just saying that to be nice” she winked “I’m being who I am” I smirked, you can come out now, Blaze” the bushed behind us rustled as my friends, family, Blaze also included, appeared from the hedge-line behind me as I glanced in said direction “You were watching us?” Milky Way started to fret” “Kind of, we wanted to see where you’d go with your privacy” Blaze shrugged “That’s rude” I frowned “Can’t blame me for being who I am, just call me curious George” she flashed her eyebrows at me -=- “So, did ya’ll have tah take so long?” Applejack smirked “Forgive the delay Jackie” I quickly bowed, Milky Way now clung unto my back “And who’s this?” she raised an eyebrow “I’m Milky Way,” the newly acclaimed milkmare waved a nervous hoof “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Jackie” “Call me Applejack” she glanced toward me, then back toward Milky Way “But…” Milky Way blinked, glancing toward me as she placed her head upon my shoulder, then back toward Applejack “I don’t understand…?” “Rick an’ I are lovers” Applejack winked at me “but he’s herding, so it don’t really matter tah me who he chooses, so long as he tells me before-hoof” “The, perhaps I could…” Milky Way stammered, gulping audibly as her face once again turned beetroot “What’s going on?” Milky Way literally leapt into the air, I quickly turned, flew up and caught her mid-ascent “Did ya have tah do that Rainbow?” Applejack frowned at the cyan Pegasus mare who laughed till her sides no doubt hurt, before staring at Milky Way “So, who’s the new mare in town?” Rainbow Dash blinked “I’m Milky Way” Rainbow Dash took one look at Milky Way’s ‘private area,’ then burst out laughing “What’s so funny?” I growled, she immediately stopped, stifling laughter as I landed, placing the milkmare back on the ground as carefully as I could, to which, she climbed back onto me back, placing her head upon my shoulder “It’s just that a mare with ‘assets’ like those is, can Ah say, rare, to put it frankly” Applejack smiled “I heard there was a new pony in town,” Pinkie Pie seemingly invented earth-pony-teleportation just to appear before us, glancing toward milky way and making a loud, elongated gasp, before galloping off toward the library “Now ya‘ll are in fer it” Applejack laughed “I don’t get it?” Milky Way blinked “She’s basically going to throw you a supposedly named ‘surprise party’” I rolled my eyes “Not a surprise anymore, brother” Blaze laughed as Starry Skies appeared via teleportation =-= When we made it to the library, the door creaked open slightly with the breeze, the inside of the treehouse was pitch-black, I edged my way in alongside Starry skies, Applejack and the others Suddenly, the lights flicked on and practically the whole of ponyville appeared at once, cheering out loud; “Surprise,” what seemed to be the entirety of the town’s populace gleamed, Milky Way apparently choosing now of all times to have a heart-attack as Pinkie Pie bounded around us in a circle “Were you, surprised, were ya, were ya, were ya?” she glimmered, Milky Way nodded “That’s good, it means I’m still as good as ever!” “That’s great” Milky Way fainted, I quickly caught her before she could fall “It’d appear that the guest of honour has stage fright, of sorts” Rarity hummed as she, Twilight, and Fluttershy trotted toward me “You can take her to the spare bedroom” Twilight led the way up the stairs, I quickly followed, laying the milkmare down on the bed in the after-mentioned room “I wonder where she got those” Rarity glanced toward Milky Way’s ‘assets’ “she’s not a normal pony, that’s for sure” “Neither is Snowdrop” I glanced toward the filly laying atop my head “I’m not?” Snowdrop looked hurt “You’re my little snowflake; that alone makes you different” I smiled “And what, about me?” Applejack stood beside me in her human form, pecking my cheek “You’re my little Jackie; that alone should be enough” I bit my lip for the third time in two hours “So it is,” she giggled, reverting to her anthro form, Snowdrop quickly vacated both herself and my goggles from my head, placing them back over Applejack’s Stetson as she planted it upon my skull “Cowboys and clockwise, now there’s a duo for the ages” Blaze rolled her eyes “Didn’t know you were into fashion, dear sister” I laughed “There’s a lot you don’t know about me because you’ve never asked” she tutted “And I never ask because I respect your privacy, Blaze” I smirked “if only you could do the same” -=-=- “Why’re we here again?” Blaze stretched her back, standing on all fours as we stood outside the ponyville spa “I thought Tesla could use the relaxation” Rarity giggled “So you say, but I’ve an idea that I know where this is going” she shrugged as we walked into the spa “Good morning sir,” earth two ponies, one pink with a blue mane and tail, the other , blue, with a pink mane and tail, bowed as they trotted toward us I’m Aloe” the pink mare winked “And I’m Lotus, the blue spa-pony flashed her eyebrows at me “How may we serve you, milord?” “Just browsing” I glanced toward Blaze, who gave a sly/smug grin in my direction “Well, any friend of Rarity’s is a friend of ours” she nickered cutely “would you like the normal, or the V.I.P?” “I don’t mind,” I shrugged “Right this way then” Aloe smiled, guiding me to a ‘back room’ “you’ll need to remove your clothes for this sir” she blushed, I rolled my eyes, removing all but my shorts, she gestured to a bed, which I lay on my back as she bought two others on either side of it “Please lay your wings at your sides, sir” I did, she stood on her hind legs, smiling at me “So, what is this, just five minutes or- oh, god…!” I moaned as she lightly kneaded the joints in my wings, moving along the edges of the feathered appendages, smiling again, she moved to my other wings as Lotus started on my other wings After what felt like eternity, the spa-ponies relented, standing beside me “Please turn onto your back, sir” Lotus winked, I smiled, rolling onto my back “Oh, it appears our customer quite enjoyed the wing massage” Aloe nodded toward the evident bulge in my boxers “Well, sister, we do say that pleasing the customers is our top priority” Lotus turned to face me, making a series of quick glances toward my nether regions “What would you have us do now, Milord?” “Your spa, you do what you want, my little Lotus” she leapt at me, standing above me with her hooves pinning my legs and hands, pressing her lips against mine “I’ll have to go all the way then won’t I?” she grinned =-=-= As I staggered out of the spa, Twilight, her friends, alongside my friends and family and Blaze, walked with me to the plaza “I think that went rather well” Blaze glimmered toward me with a sly smirk “Speak for yourself” I grinned, Snowdrop, Scarlet, and Kiary aboard their usual places, Milky Way stood beside me opposite Blaze “Says the one who looks as though he has trouble standing upright” Twilight laughed “And I feel as though I’ve just lost half a tonne” I rolled my eyes “Also, you smell” Blaze gagged, I lifted my collar, inhaling via my nostrils, I smelt of a mixture of berries and fruits “As if I didn’t have enough problems already” I mumbled “I know, right,” she chortled “now you’re gonna have a mountain of ponies after you” “Cliché” Snowdrop yawned “Isn’t it just?” Blaze sighed “Well at least it can’t get any weirder” Snowdrop, Kiary, and Scarlet quickly clambered onto my neck as I changed to eon form “Ok, I take it back, it got weirder” I grumbled, standing by my friends and family as Vinyl stood at a set of turntables in an what appeared to be a human form, with similar shades to the ones she usually had, a white shirt, jacket and shorts, along with purple laced trainers and leggings with a pair of stylised headphones “Nothing we’re not used to, right brother?” Blaze rolled her eyes “Quite” I simpered “Thought her music’s not bad, I have heard better” I reached into the pocket of my clockwise jacket, wearing the earphones, turning the IPod on to the ‘Fairy Tail Theme,’ walking with Blaze and the others to the lake, sitting above the water, using my wings to hover as I used purple flare to collect spheres of water, throwing them about the air above me, catching and twisting them into various shapes and sizes, creating a second pair of arms of fire, doubling the amount of concentration needed to mould the water into the way I wanted it, closing my eyes as I imagined the water flowing as a fluidic/metallic substance, before slamming the four spheres into one above me, letting it fall into the lake, inhaling, then exhaling as I repeated the process When I finished, I unplugged my earphones, turning my IPod off, looking toward the bank, Twilights friends were stood there with Celestia, staring at me, eyebrows raised “Training concentration, I do believe” Blaze sighed “How is the water not evaporating?” Twilight blinked as I glided toward her and the others “Purple flare” I smiled, walking back to ponyville, where vinyl was still blasting her music via comically large subwoofers, making the tables that were laden with snacks and refreshments and other party-based foodstuffs quake “Someone’s cranked up the bass, I see” Blaze simpered “So,” Celestia smiled “what’s this I hear about you getting a V.I.P spa?” It’s not what you think, believe me” Blaze shuddered, glancing toward me “can you feel your prunes yet, brother?” I shook my head “Not your average massage then?” Celestia giggled “ “Clearly” she laughed “Clockwise, because the usual spartan and/or UNSC uniform is just plain tacky” “Though the rest of their military isn’t” I raised an eyebrow “UNSC, and/or any other planet Earth-based military translates to, mess with democracy and we’ll smack you hard enough that your ancestors will feel it, Semper Fi” “Now that we’re back, what do you propose we do?” she let out a stifled yawn =-=-= When I awoke, it was in eon form, with Vinyl and Octavia either side of me and Rainbow Dash lying upon my stomach/chest area, and with Black Beetle arched over my neck “Well this is fun” I mumbled, carefully removing the changeling from my neck, placing the cyan Pegasus on the ground also “What happened?” I sat by the lake, staring out over the crystal clear body of water by my family and Blackjack, seeing as Velvet Remedy and Littlepip still asleep elsewhere “You got drunk, most of ponyville ended up riding you enough to make a rapidash on Viagra jealous” Blaze laughed “Also, you smell of… actually, I don’t want to know what that is” “That’s easily solved” I dove into the water, shaking myself about, before returning to the lake “That’s better” she sighed as we made our way back to ponyville, the citizens now beginning to awaken, steadily making their way to their homes “That was quite the party, Rick” Twilight giggled “What’d I do this time?” “You sang, whilst drunk,” Blaze sighed “Again” “And then collapsed, at which point Rainbow Dash thought you’d make a nice bed” Twilight nickered “And to whom did I sing, Lady of Magic?” I blinked “Damnit” “You sang to us, quite nicely too” she chimed =-=-= As we, and by ‘we,’ I mean Blaze, Snowdrop Scarlet, my friends, and I, alongside Twilight and her friends, Spike and Celestia included, sat by the lake once again, Crystagia landed before us, causing the earth itself to rumble “I have heard of you victory over the dark king known as ‘Sombra’” Crystagia smiled “congratulations are in order, but first, I must give unto you the gift that ember wields, as she has gone abroad to the dragon lands to be with Grandoa “A second element,” Blaze blinked “Not quite” the legendary dragon gave a soft laugh “the power over all elements, slightly at first, but progressive, and, given the right training, almost perfect” “I don’t understand” I blinked “how can a single being have power over every element” “With great amounts of discipline and training, my dear son” she smiled “Crystalline dragons, -that of which I am the sole surviving member-, have a naturally untapped magic energy source that gives them access to eventual mastery over multiple elements, and, if you use it right, two or three or more at once,” she continued “if you are to fight powerful enemies such as the anomaly, I expect you do use the correct polarity and level of magic” “That’s like a mega-hybrid!” Blaze laughed “Indeed, but, the transformation of Rick’s magical ‘vessel’ let’s call it, shall be most painful” she hummed, glancing toward me “are you ready?” I nodded “then I shall bequeath these powers to you, my son” a crystal appeared before her, seemingly fading into view, I touched it Suddenly, the gem ‘fused’ with me, and I collapsed to the floor, screaming out in pain, clawing at the earth as I writhed in agony “Try to focus on what you’re fighting for, Rick, that should hopefully be enough to spur you on” Crystagia cooed as my eyes felt like they were blazing with the heart and heat of a sun gone nova The pain lasted for what felt like hours, before I fell limp, lying on my back on the grass “Tesla,” Blaze nudged my side, “Hey, encore, encore!” her nudges became gentle shoves “come on Telsa, you’ve been through worse than this right?” clicked my neck, blinking, pulling myself upright, shaking my head “You had to do that, of all references?” I laughed “There is one thing I should point out” Crystagia ever-so lightly nudged my back with a knuckle “those skills of elements other than you had from the start, will be more effective against you, you’re weaker to all but fire” she continued “how you use your newfound powers, however, is up to you” “More than two elements,” Twilight gasped “how is such a thing possible?” she glanced toward Celestia “It’s happened once before, and only once, but we do not speak of it” Celestia frowned “there was one such human who attained such power from another dragon, but he fell astray, using his powers for chaos and treachery rather than good and harmony” “You remember it like it was yesterday, that is good” “How is a mad-pony with powers like yours a good thing?” Twilight frowned also “Those who forget history, are always condemned to repeat it” Element of magic” I sat, cross-legged, moulding a ball of fire between my hands “Once again you speak with wisdom that betrays your chronological age” Celestia smiled “Let’s just hope you don’t get too overpowered” Blaze patted my back with a grin “He’s got the power of what could surmount to a dragon-god within his very being and soul, I think he’s powerful enough as is” Blackjack guffawed “I am not a god,” Crystagia smiled “and neither is Tesla, we merely have the powers that may be considered equal to that of a god” “Being god means true immortality, being god means having to bear the burden of knowing and watching your friends die whilst you’re powerless to do anything about it, god means having to live with it, eternally, and thus is why I neither wish, nor claim, to be a god” “It’s merely a burden we have to bear” Celestia stared at the ground with a sullen look upon her face “I do not feel sorry for you out of pity, but respect, I can only imagine a small glimmer of what you’ve been through” I flinched “What secondary element do I start with?” I glanced up toward the dragon towering above me “Whatever element you’re most comfortable with, Gemstone salamander” Crystagia gleamed “Dark-fire’s cliché as is, lightning-flame’s already been used by another “Tsuchi-Hono,” Blaze smirked “Teslakana, the one and only Earthblaze dragon slayer” “Sounds too awkward” I hummed “What about Spiral energy?” Snowdrop chimed as she once again perched herself atop my head “It’s a type of energy, that’s for certain, but I don’t think it counts as an element,” I clicked my tongue “I had to transfer part of my magical energy into spiral energy in order to even use it, that being said, I can use Gurren Lagann without the after-mentioned transfer, so it’s not out of the realm of possibilities, My little snowflake” “I love you Daddy” she cooed “And I you, my little snowdrop” I smiled “If you ever need me to help with your training, just use what you have, Rick” Crystagia smiled, taking to the skies, soaring overhead and eventually out of sight “She’s referring to the Ryū kyoku, isn’t she?” Blaze rolled her eyes “So it would seem, Dear Sister” I smiled -=0=- At the end of the following week, I, my friends and family walked with Applejack, Applebloom, Granny Smith and Big Mac down a path that I didn’t know existed I opened my mouth to say something, when a pony in crutches hobbled past us, followed by a small crowd of ponies that seemed to have one sort of ailment or another “Where in the hay are they goin’?” Applejack blinked “Well, we might as well find out” I shrugged, walking with her and the others, following the crowd “What in tarnation?” she blinked at the sight of a large circus tent with all sorts of decorations “Looks like someone’s compensating for something” Blaze laughed as we made our way toward the tent When we got into the tent, there was a wheeled musical instrument of sorts, the crank of which was turned in a dark green aura as two ponies, both a creamy yellow with red-and-white manes began to sing As they finished their song, they stopped dead in their tracks, staring at me in apparent surprise, then toward Blaze, and finally, toward Blackjack “What do we have here Flam, two anomalies and a cyber-pony?” the one on the right gave a snarky grin “It’d appear so, Flim,” the other unicorn smirked “have you come to bear witness to our remedies that’re capable of anything?” “So am I,” I deadpanned “I can do anything because I believe in my capabilities, and those of my friends and family, can you say the same, little ponies?” I frowned “besides, you’re cure-all tonic’s just a mixture of apples and other fruits” I gestured toward a table at the far side of the tent that had an assortment of fruits and a juicer of sorts with empty vials with labels on them, I turned to face the crowd behind me “If you want your ailments or illnesses to vacate your being, so to speak, go to the hospital, and the believe in what they can do, believe in their capabilities, just as I do, if we are to lower ourselves to something as low as a lie in the form of simple fruit juice then our minds and hearts will never progress, if you are to be well again, all I ask is that you believe!” I gleamed -=- After receiving several rounds of applaud and cheering from the crowd, I left with my friends and family in tow “Honestly, they spread lies through an as-of-yet unknown liquid, who do they think they’re fooling” Blackjack scowled “I’ve cards that’re worth more than they are” I spat “You still have them on you?” Velvet Remedy blinked, I nodded toward a deck-case I had attached t my belt “Oh,” she smiled “I see they’ve survived the radiation of the wastes then?” “Good thing too,” Blaze patted my back “wouldn’t want them to decay now, would we?” As I sat, leant against a tree in the park with my friends and family, I took out my deck from the case that was strapped to my belt “So, what’ve you got?” Blaze seemingly pulled a small metal tin from nowhere “Shall we play?” “Seems like a good way to pass the time” I shrugged, sitting opposite her as we set our decks on the ground before us As we played game after game, I noticed of Twilight stood nearby, clearly having been there for a while “And finally, I use my Hieratic dragon of Asar to attack, ending the game” I smiled “Looks like it’s seven all” Blaze shook paws/hands with me “I’ll get you next time, brother” “What’re you doing?” Twilight trotted up to my side, staring at the cards we had played, levitating one to get a closer look at it “It’s a game” Blaze smirked “a rather addictive one, regardless of how complicated it is” “It looks complicated” she giggled “how long have you been playing?” “In general, or since you watched us?” I grinned; her cheeks turned a rosy pink tint “In general” she nickered “Since I was eight-ish” I shrugged “ “What about that one” she gazed at the ‘Junk Synchron’ “what’s a ‘tuner’?” “It means that if it were to be used, or to tune, as it were, another, non-tuner monster, I could synchro summon” I placed the hieratic dragon of Nebthet and junk synchron in play to the graveyard, placing a third, more powerful card, into play, she picked the two discarded monsters with her magic, then look between them and the new card; Stardust Dragon; carefully “So a three-star card and a five-star would make an eight star card?” she blinked “Precisely” I nodded “or you could use four level two’s, or two level four’s, or a level six and a level two, or a level seven and a level one card, the stars mean the cards level” “And what about these, she placed the two cards back onto the graveyard pile, replacing them in her grip with the two cards I had face down below the stardust dragon, “Those’re spell cards, used to either empower your monsters that you have in play, or to help you in general “And this one?” she picked up a third card, glancing between it and the other two “It’s a trap card, they’re used to either help you by defending your cards from being sent to the graveyard pile, or to stop you opponent from doing what would otherwise lead to victory “What’s this then?” she placed the three cards back onto the field, picking up my deck “That’s the deck, when the game starts, you take five cards from the top, and when your turn starts, you take an extra, also from the top in what’s called your ‘draw phase’” “And what happens after that/” she tilted, placing my deck back on the ground “The ‘Standby phase,’ which isn’t important unless a card effect(s) mentions it,” I smiled “then comes the main phase one, where you can summon or set, monsters, spells, and traps, setting a card means playing it face down, like so” I flipped stardust dragon face-down, she nodded, I smiled, continued the lecture “then comes the battle phase, now, if I are the first to start a game, you cannot attack, but your opponent can, when it comes to their turn, monsters in defence position like so,” I flipped stardust dragon face-up, side facing toward me and Blaze “if a monster attacks a defending monster, the opponents life points don’t reduce, unless a card effect says otherwise, but if an attacking monster beats another, the loser’s life points get reduced by the difference” “I think I understand,” Twilight mumbled “what happens if the cards when they’re ‘destroyed’?” “They get sent to the discard pile,” I simpered “or as it‘s known by many, if not all, the graveyard pile” “Why do spells and traps go to the graveyard?” she blinked “It’s just how the game works I suppose” I shrugged “Never fully understood it myself, but I suppose they’ve to go somewhere once they’re either used or destroyed” “Seems fair enough,” she gave a faint smile, “could you teach me how to play?” =-=-= “That’s four games,” Blaze smirked “I told you that it’s addictive” “Could I perhaps keep the deck?” Twilight bit her lip “Sure,” I smiled, pecking her cheek, she leant into me, sitting beside me “My little Stardust Dragon” she giggled “My little Endymion” I smiled, draping a wing around her, placing my cards into the case -=-=- As I was sat under the shade of a tree in the park days later, I felt a nudge “Happy birthday” Blaze pulled a face-down card from behind her, no doubt from her own inventory, handing it to me “Thanks blaze, I flipped it over as she gave a smug grin Hieratic sun dragon overlord of Heliopolis Rank: 8 Attribute: Light ATK: 3000 DEF: 2400 “Where on earth did you get this?” I blinked “A game shop down the road from where we used to live” she winked “Whatcha got there TK?” Rainbow Dash landed beside me “Just a part of a card game from where I’m from” I smiled “That’s kinda cool, for a card” she looked the card over “Why’s it shiny?” “It means it’s rarer than others” I reached inside my rucksack pulling out my laptop, opening it, “Apparently we have internet here” Blaze observed the tiny plug-like symbol on the bottom of my screen “Let’s see how much this’s worth” I smiled, accessing said internet, using the obvious search engine, typing in the card’s code into said search engine: GAOV-EN048 “Forty-five quid,” Blaze whistled “and I got it out of a pack of nine for three-fifty-seven each per-pack” “That’s quite a bit of money just for a card,” Rainbow Dash stared at the screen “what’ll you do with it, since there’s only one in the whole of Equis, it’s almost legendary!” “Then I’ll guard it with everything I have to” I laughed “sounds crazy, to guard something so basic as a card with my life, but since Blaze gave it to me, I think I can work with it” “I’d keep it in the treasury if I were you, that way, if it’s ever removed, the princess will know about it as soon as it happens” she grinned “That’s a good option, but I’d rather keep it on me, that way I’ll know if it goes missing, or gets stolen” “Or you could give it to me,” she gleamed, I stared at her “what, I’m the element of loyalty, I look out for my friends, isn’t that what you do?” “If a little more severely” Blaze chortled, patting my back “Tesla put away the SS-45” “Fine…” I mumbled, placing the firearm I’d just reached for back into my rucksack “You ruin my fun, sister” “No, I’m just making sure you don’t go AWOL and blow someone’s head off” she rolled her eyes “Alright, touché” I tilted my head “So, what’d you get for your birthday?” Rainbow Dash “I’ve got all I need” I placed the new card into my pocket “besides, I’m glad to see at least two people remembered” “Happy birthday Tesla” Blackjack and my other friends and family beamed “Well, I suppose one of Pinkie Pie’s Parties is in order” Blaze sighed “that mare has no self-control whatsoever” “Did someone mention party?” Pinkie Pie chose now of all times to appear out of nowhere “It’s the Rick-meister’s birthday” Blaze patted my neck, Pinkie Pie practically teleported away, running at literal breakneck speeds toward the town “See, what’d I, tell ya, no self-control” Blaze laughed “That’s because it’s Pinkie Pie we’re talking about here, she’s gonna do what she feels she’s gonna need to do to make others smile” Rainbow Dash laughed as a grey Pegasus with a yellow mane and tail landed before me, placing a small pile of letters by my side, pecking my cheek and flying off “Looks like Derpy’s got a thing for you” Rainbow Dash smirked “She the local mailmare?” I smiled as Snowdrop climbed atop my head, Scarlet and Kiary clambering onto my shoulders “She’s the best mailmare we have, if a little clumsy, that’s how she got the name ‘Derpy’ her real name’s Ditzy Doo” “Cute” Blaze nodded As I walked through ponyville, I once again encountered the silver mare with the golden mane and tail, who hovered up to me, placing her hooves on my shoulder, placing her lips against mine “Why can’t you kiss me like that?” I heard a mare in the background snap toward the stallion beside her “Somepony’s gonna score” another pony whistled “That’s a lucky mare…” a third pony sighed “And adorable to boot!” a fourth pony gleamed “So this is how many ponies you’ve been in a relationship with?” Black Beetle deadpanned “I don’t mind” Derpy giggled, handing me a muffin, pecking my cheek again, and flying into the nearby confectionery “Not very subtle, but I suppose love is what it is” I grinned “What, she your little silver angel or something?” Kiary smirked “Just wait for her to knock you out via blunt instrument to the noggin,. Followed of course, by a course of super-happy-fun-times, not that you be complaining about any of it the following morning, right?” Blaze guffawed “Right- Damnit!” I frowned “And the cat’s outta the bag!” she laughed -=-=- “Why did we do this again?” Blaze handed me a hammer and chisel, having worked with me to carve a sentence into the outside walls of the castle next to the front gates/doors that read ‘follow either your heart or your ruler, one will lead to borderline-tyranny, the other, to freedom’ “I thought it’d be fun” I returned the hammer and chisel to my inventory, walking into the castle “So what’re we doing today then,” she smiled “you already posted the ‘Calling All OC’s’ blog on a certain few websites, a bold move, might I add?” “I’m just waiting to see how many people sign up for it” Kiary smirked “As am I” Littlepip simpered “I just hope it doesn’t cause a rift in space-time to tear all across Equestria and the chariot of thunder blazes through at the speed of light” “What in the actual hell are the chances of that happening?” Blaze laughed “You’d be surprised, sister” I cautioned “Would I now?” she knocked on the door to the throne room once we made it through the castle “Enter” we entered the throne room, my friends and family walking beside me as we did so “Tesla,” Celestia smiled “I’ve a quest for you to do, if you can call it that” her smile vanished as quickly as it appeared “I am yours to command, Lady of the sun” I bowed “I may have to reward you for that when you get back” she gave a faint grin “Save it for later, just tell me where to go and what I need to do, princess” I smiled “Indeed” she quickly nodded “I’ve gotten word that a rebellion is occurring in Africa somewhere, seeing where I’m going with this?” “You want me to stop it?” “Not quite, I want you to find common ground between the two sides, even the playing field, as it were” she tilted a hoof “By your word” I quickly bowed again “if I may ask, how, do I get there, princess?” “I’ve arranged a ship and a regiment of the finest guard in Equestria” “That’s what she said,” Blaze laughed, I shot her a glare, “sorry” “How long do you expect this to take?” Velvet Remedy smiled “A week, maybe two” Celestia frowned lightly “I must ask that you remain here, as I doubt Tesla will wish to see you harmed, My little ponies, and dragon” she glanced toward Kiary, who saluted her, Scarlet blinked, climbing onto Kiary’s head as the small dragon glided to the ground, Snowdrop pecked one of my horns, climbing down to the ground “I request that I go with Rick,” Blaze stood on her hind legs “someone’s got to make sure he doesn’t mess up, after all” “Agreed” Celestia giggled “Come on then Rick-y bow, let’s go” she chortled, marching out of the throne room, I sprinted after her =-=-=-= When I came back, not a month later, it was being carried by Blaze, barely awake, let alone conscious as Blaze jogged through the castle on all-fours, bursting into the throne room “Tesla,” Celestia, and Luna “Are you alright?” Celestia changed to her anthro form, having galloped up to Blaze’s side, carefully picking me up, laying me on the floor “I’m fine” I smiled, gently placing a grazed hand on her cheek, “No,” she shook her head, tears in her eyes “you’re not,” “No, really, I’m fine” I let my arm drop to the ground, pulling myself upright, albeit, with great effort “I just need to rest a little “Tesla, you’re bleeding” she frowned, removing my upper sections of clothing; that of which had a series of holes where I’d been cut with a sharp object and/or weapon, my stomach and jest had large bruises here and there “And what of the guard I sent with you?” she eyed me up and down with a look of nothing short of horror “Murdered by the natives” Blaze darkly informed “We… I can’t believe it,” Luna, apparently correcting herself, “what of you, how did you get out alive?” “I told them that Equestria doesn’t want any more to do with it, to which they agreed, after doing this to me” I gestured to my injuries “How could you let them do this to you?” Celestia had tears cascading down her cheeks “Because they’re not worth the trouble of killing” I mumbled, her horn glowed with a pulsating primrose aura as a bucket of water and sponge appeared alongside a roll of bandage and tape, as well as a pair of scissors, she carried the items in her magic as I sat cross-legged on the ground, dipping the sponge into the water and placing it against my wounds, I bit my lip “I know it might sting, but it’ll be alright soon” she cooed in a lullaby voice, massaging the cuts with the dampened sponge, washing them clean, placing the bathroom utensil back in the bucket, the water of which was a mild scarlet, applying the bandages as I raised my arms, cutting a bit of tape from the roll, using it to stick the end of the bandage down, lowering them again once she patted my shoulder, sitting beside me “Have I told you that I love you recently?” I smiled “Not to my memory, Rick” she giggled, pecking my cheek For the split instant that her eyes were shut and her lips pressed against my cheek, my eyes averted to her plump breasts, my gaze quickly returning to that of hers as she parted, Blaze of course, seemed to notice this “Here’s a thought,” Blaze gave me the most wicked/evil grin I’ve ever seen her give anyone “marshmallow bazookas” “What’s a bazooka?” Luna blinked “A type of weapon, it’s a type of rocket launcher, supposedly” I explained “It’s also one of many slang terms for someone’s cleavage, Blaze gave my head a hard nudge, forcing it down into Celestia’s chest “Well, brother, any result?” I glanced toward Celestia, who merely raised an eyebrow “How can you think such a thing Blaze?” I corrected my axial position, sitting upright again “it’s crude, to say the least” “Says the one who chanced a glance” she smirked “Not saying that I was, but just in case, what’re you doing looking at me in the first place?” “Because I’m your sister, and I care about you, hell, I’ll even go as far to say that I love you, as a family member” she grinned “Lucky” I rolled my eyes, blinking, she beamed from ear to ear with a sly smirk as a hand landed on shoulder “So, you’re interested in my form are you?” Celestia almost purred, I edged my gaze toward her, she giggled, pecking me on the lips “well, I’ve always been curious about something myself, with your eon form, to be exact” “It’s a decent foot long, if that’s what you’re asking” Blaze deadpanned “Oh,” Celestia glanced toward Blaze, then back toward me, leaning in, whispering, “then let’s see how many inches I can take” “My bet’s on eight and a half” Blaze smirked “Damn your Vulcan hearing” I cursed “I know, right?” she grinned “Someone’s been paying a little too much attention to Skykain’s internet profiles” “So we have,” Celestia draped an arm and a wing around me “Come, I do believe you need your rest, my dear knight” she pecked my cheek again “We didn’t get these forms from your laptop, we got them from you, and the other humans who remained behind after the war” she went on “it is the following from, that I’ve gotten from your laptop,” she finished, her body glowing a bright, blinding light, which gradually faded, revealing a human figure with Celestia’s hair colour, a golden breastplate wearing a vest with sleeves that covered her arms, arms and hands, also with angelic robes and boots which covered the bottom end of tights that went to just above her knees , with a sun-shaped brooch connected at the hip that kept it all in place, beside the breastplate, and a ‘sash’ of sorts that went around her waist trailing behind her like a multi-coloured tail, the item of which the same colour as her hair, with twin golden bracelets on her wrists with an amethyst in the centre of the breastplate, and a crown atop her head, the rose quartz necklace that hung around her neck completed the picture “Holy shit” Blaze burst into a chortle, cackling with laughter “Pun intended?” Kiary laughed “No, but it’d help” she guffawed “But that would mean that…” Blaze glanced toward Celestia, then toward me “You guys fucked, didn’t you?” she gave a smug grin “Probably” I sighed “It’s a possibility” Celestia stifled a rather cute giggle as I was knocked flat on my face, lying on my front as an unknown being lay atop my back “I see Cadance found her way to you then?” Blaze smirked, again “So I have” Cadance giggled, standing beside me as I got back to sitting cross-legged on the floor “you’ve returned, albeit injured, would you like help with that, Sir Rick?” she draped her hooves around my neck, planting small kisses around my neck, then on my cheek, draping her wings around me “I’ll be fine” I smiled, steadily getting to my feet as she released her grip on me “If you say so” she winked, my upper sections of clothing returning to me in a flash of golden light “Thanks Cellsy” I chuckled, helping her get to her feet as she reverted to her anthro form “You’re welcome, Rick” she smiled “I do believe the title is ‘Taiyō fujin’” “Which translates to what exactly?” Luna blinked “Lady of the sun, assuming Google translate (™©) hasn’t buggered itself over again” Kiary smirked “Indeed” Blaze gave me a wicked leer “Uncle!” I was hit/tackled by another being, this one around a third of the size “Hello, Grace” I smiled, draping my wings around her as she sat in my lap “Why do you have horns?” she tilted her head, giving me the cutest look I estimated that she could muster “are you part dragon, or unicorn?” “I’m part dragon, not unicorn, I don’t have a horn like they do, unless we’re talking about the one down south, and unless you’re my girlfriend, you’re not getting any ‘magic’ from it” I winked “I don’t get it?” she blinked as everyone’s jaws dropped through the floor “Tell you when you’re older” I stroked her mane “Ok,” she giggled, defying what I thought about her not being able to get any cuter “I love you, Daddy” “I can’t be your daddy,” I bit my lip “I’m sorry, Grace, truly” “But can I still call you Daddy?” she glimmered, defying my thoughts once again “You may, if you so wish” I nodded, she stared at me “Oh what the heck?” I rolled my eyes, draping my wings and arms around her, embracing her “let’s go fabled daughter of mine” I stood upright, she clambered onto my shoulder, nuzzling into me as I walked with Blaze toward the entrance of the throne room “I’ll see you later, Sunflower, Tsuki, Cadance” I glanced to each of them in turn, “Snowdrop and the others are in Ponyville waiting your return,” Celestia simpered, I nodded vacating the chamber, Blaze in quick pursuit “What’ll you do, should they find your brand?” Blaze tilted her head as we arrived at the entrance to the castle “We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it, sister” I shook my head “And Celestia?” she gleamed “Kanojo ga watashi no chīsai himawarida” I stated boldly “She’s your little sunflower, eh?” she smirked, again, I nodded, placing Gracy Gloom atop my head, carefully situating her between my horns, which pointed backward in a slight curve, and were a pale grey in colour, changing to eon form, Blaze leaping atop my back as I soared toward Ponyville “Well we’ll see where that takes us then, won’t we?” -=- “Tesla, you’re back!” Twilight gasped alongside her friends, minus fluttershy as she opened the door to the library “That we are” Blaze cleared her throat, standing beside me on all fours, Gracy Gloom now laying atop her back as she stood on all fours “It’s nice to see you too, Blaze” Twilight nickered “Daddy,” Snowdrop hug-tackled me, forcing me back a few steps as she clung onto me with all her might “Hello Snowdrop, I missed you” “I missed you too Daddy,” she gleamed, tears in her eyes as she climbed atop my head “Welcome back brother” Kiary perched herself upon my shoulder “how’d it go, the trip I mean?” “It went as well as it could, I suppose,” I sighed “Just another day in the life of a knight of the sun and moon, me-thinks” “Hakumei Ryu Kishi” Snowdrop glimmered “I see someone’s been busy at the laptop” I chuckled “You don’t mind, do you daddy?” she gave me her best puppy-dog eyes “Just so long as you stay away from all the nasty stuff” I stroked her mane, Pinkie Pie whizzed passed me in the form of a speeding pinkish blur “Party animal,” I raised an eyebrow “Twilight shrugged “No surprise, not that I’m complaining,” I smiled “people like her break the dull, everyday monotony, who knows what the world would be like without them?” At the ‘party’ I raised my arm, forming a Giga-drill, transferring my magical energy into spiral energy, amplifying the size and power of the drill, soaring into the sky with the drill spinning at light-speed “Giga…Drill...Break-!” I was mid-flight when the drill shattered like glass into countless shards of energy and metal, sending me back-side-first into the ground as it rained steel down upon me, my vision cut to black on impact with the cool, hard, earth -=-=-=- When I awoke, I was more or less covered in bandages Looking to the side of the bed, I saw my friends and family alongside Twilight and her friends+ “Are you Ok Daddy?” Snowdrop sniffled “I suppose I’ll have to spend a month in here now, eh?” I grinned, she frowned “Sorry…” “What happened to you?” Twilight stared at me “Africa happened, unless you mean the huge explosion, which would, or could be, chalked down to my lack of rest “And what, of that?” Rarity pointed a hoof toward my shoulder, which bore a tattoo-like brand in the form of twin cross fangs “I’d rather not talk about it” I mumbled “They’re anti magic regalia and equipment reduced Tesla’s magic to absolute zero,” Blaze sighed “even the ‘Giga-Drill-Break’ didn’t do much” “You lost, whilst using that!?” Twilight gaped “It’s a forward-thrusting attack, so to speak, so any interference from the sides or back is completely possible” I shrugged “Then use more than one!” Blaze face-pawed “If I knew how to do that we wouldn’t be in this mess” I grumbled “Just do it!” she tutted “kick all logic and reason to the curb and do the impossible!” she grinned, placing a basket filled with all sorts of gems on the table beside me “Where’d you get them?” I nodded toward the basket “The diamond dogs,” she exhaled sharply “they said they’d do anything for you so long as you didn’t drive them to extinction” “Where’re my clothes, might I ask?” I deadpanned, pulling myself upright “They got shredded by the shards of the drill that were raining from the sky” Blaze frowned “we’re just lucky nobody’s seriously hurt, brother” “Alright, where’s my rucksack?” I sighed, Twilight’s horn shined with a magenta glow as my rucksack appeared on the bed beside me “I think you’ll find a new set of attire in there whilst you reach for your clockwise, tesla” Rarity smiled “I commissioned myself to do it, in a select choice colours of dark and/or navy blue with white trimming, gold with black trimming and earthen brown with gold trimming, depending on your preferences, however” “I owe you one, or three” I smiled, reaching into the bag, pulling out my usual clockwise gear, the others left, giving me the privacy I needed to quickly don the attire, removing the bandages as I did so “Tesla, you’re wings…” Velvet Remedy nodded to the area behind me Glancing behind me, I saw that my wings had been bent somewhat, and restoring them would be painful to almost no end “Snowdrop,” I glanced toward the icy-blue filly, who smiled “I need you to fix my wings, can you do that?” “I can try, Daddy” she nuzzled into me taking a careful hold of one wing, quickly snapping it into place I flinched, biting down on my lip, drawing blood in the process as she did it for the other wings “Thank you, Snowdrop” I patted her lightly on her back, wiping the blood away with a sleeve “I owe you one also, Watashi no chīsana sunō” I tried generating a flame around my hands, only managing the one, reaching out with purple flare, barely managing to carry the basket of gems to my side as Snowdrop perched herself on my head, as per usual “Just knowing you is a good a debt as any, Father” she gleamed from ear to ear with a shine akin to that of the sun “What have they been feeding you, and what have they done with my little snowflake?” I laughed “I’m your daughter as you are my Father, Tesla” she winked “I don’t know about you or Blaze, but I like to think that I’ve grown in the past month,” she beamed “the doctor said you could remove your bandages when you awoke, seeing as you’re mostly healed, but you’d have to wait until you’re energy’s back to full capacity before you can go anywhere” “That’d be easier than you think, Snowdrop” I grinned “for a normal dragon, eating crystals would restore energy, whereas I’m a gem dragon slayer, they restore both physical and magical energy, twice as much as a normal drake!” I quickly devoured the basket of gems, my energy levels skyrocketing as I swallowed the last of them, Snowdrop retreated to a safe distance as I was suddenly set ablaze, scales appearing on my face, arms and hands “Let us go, Nakama” I smirked, marching with my friends and family past Twilight and her friends out of the hospital “Tesla, are you sure you should be-!?” Twilight stopped herself as a large dragon appeared above me, almost holographic in appearance, letting out a rather unearthly powerhouse roar as it appeared “Ryū-ryoku yūsen” I gave a smug grin “Eigo Hoseki Ryu… I smiled, inhaling sharply, turning my head to face the sky “Hokou!” I exhaled an enormous torrent of whitish-golden flames, whistling as I lowered my gaze to the few ponies gathered behind me, who bowed “You needn’t bow, for I have no inferiors” I sighed “I have Nakama, family, and loved ones, and that’s all I’ll ever need” the audience in question smiled, some winking as they dispersed “You really have a way with words, do you not, brother?” Kiary smirked, perching herself atop my shoulder, Gracy Gloom doing the same on my opposite shoulder and Snowdrop lacing herself back to her usual perch atop my head “I might do,” I shrugged “it is not my place to question another’s presence on Equis, as each sentient being has their rights and responsibilities, personally I’m just hoping the next few days go by without a ‘Kill La Kill’ reference” “Because of the new attire you got from Rarity,” Littlepip smiled that’s a bit farfetched, dontcha think, Tesla?” “Well then, don’t say I told you so, should it actually happen” I shrugged “Who d‘ya think would be able to do it, if it should ever happen?” Blaze patted my back standing on her hind legs “Senketsu, or the anime in general?” I tilted my head “Senketsu” she smirked “I’m not going to answer that” I folded my arms “I’m sure they’ve already seen it anyway” Velvet Remedy grinned, as if psychic “Who’s ‘they’?” Blaze glimmered Velvet Remedy raised an eyebrow, she stared at me “oh Tesla, you sly dog!” “I don’t get it?” Twilight blinked “I’ll tell you later” I shuddered a scroll appeared in a flash of smoke before me, I quickly unrolled it, the letter within contained details of a celebration/festival of sorts that happened every year the middle of the year, the rest was a mixture of greetings and farewells of each of the princesses “Well ain’t that convenient?” Blaze grinned “it’s as if they know what we’re talking about from miles away” “Convenient indeed” I stretched my wings -=-=- On the aptly named, ‘Summer Sun Celebration,’ Celestia glided into the sky, ‘raising the sun’ as she did so, her horn glowing a bright primrose aura as the enormous fireball was lifted high above us, bowing once she landed, trotting toward me, my friends and family in their now-usual places on and around me as I stood before her “I hear that you think I’d look good imitating a certain character?” Celestia smirked, changing to anthro form, her now-changed-form glowing slightly as a rather skimpy outfit appeared on her, quickly changing back to her usual regalia/lingerie before anyone noticed, winking at me, it took all that I had to stop myself from fainting “Not bad” Blaze slowly nodded, patting my back, I quickly glanced toward her, she nodded toward Celestia “Ditto” I bit my lip, “There’s more where that came from, my little Dragon slayer” Celestia stepped forward, pecked me on the lips, winking as she stepped back “Meet me in the castle tonight, Rick, you won’t regret it Shmoopie” and with that she teleported away “What’s a Shmoopie?” Rainbow Dash hovered beside me, grinning from ear to ear “It’s an endearing term a mare might give to a stallion if he were their coltfriend, I believe” Twilight smiled “Blaze,” I sighed “Yes brother?” the Typhlosion stood at my side laughed, I lightly hit her on the head “That’s for being an arse yesterday” I smirked “Does the little fire hazard have a death wish?” Blaze chortled with a wicked leer “Fire hazard,” I guffawed “Coming from you that’s rich!” “Got a problem, human?” she smirked “Not at all, why would I wish anything negative to come of my sister?” I tilted my head slightly “So, how’d you snag the princess then?” Rainbow Dash gleamed rather slyly “Rainbow Dash,” Rarity snapped “how can you be so uncouth?” she shook her head “the two of them are obviously in love so deep that it burns like Celestia’s sun, who are we to question such a topic?” “Alright, I’m sorry” Rainbow Dash held up her hooves defensively “though I’m still curious” she glanced toward me “History” I shrugged “I don’t get it?” she tilted her head, blinking as she gave me a perplexed expression “Ask her about it; you might get what you want, maybe more, maybe less, who’s going to question the wisdom of the eternal rulers of around just over half the planet?” “Then we’ll go with ya to tha castle tonight” Applejack smiled “Not like Ah’ve got anything else tah do this evening” =-=-=-= When we got to the castle, all was quiet; the guards saluted us as we entered “Rick, we art, glad thou could make it” Luna smiled as we entered the throne room “Where’s Princess Celestia,” Twilight smiled as we made our way toward the lunar goddess “We’ve a few questions for her, nothing personal of course” “Of course you have, my little ponies” everyone present looked back toward the door, Lulania was stood there; I clenched my fists, to which Blaze placed an arm across my stomach, shaking her head “Not here” Blaze tutted “I come only to offer my apologies to you, Tesla” Lulania bit her lip “I am a being of chivalry; I suggest that you leave, before I change my mind” I growled “I do not fear your wrath, Rick, merely, I worry for it, for I do not wish for a re-enactment of last time’s events” she gave a forlorn expression “please, be one with me, as you once were before, Rick” “Get out” I snarled “Very well,” she nodded, teleporting away, only to be replaced by Celestia “I had to make sure you were still faithful, Tesla” Celestia frowned, her expression turning from a frown to a smile as she glanced toward Twilight “you have questions Twilight, then we shall retire to somewhere more… private, come” before I could reply, she’d teleported herself alongside us and Luna to her bedchambers “What happened, an eon ago I mean?” Twilight blinked as Crystal and Angel appeared by my side by an undisclosed means of travel, teleportation, most likely “As we have already explained,” Luna smiled “there were humans on Equis one-billion years past, they sought the power of the gods, and in doing so mutated themselves into eons, the species of which, Crystal, Angel and Tesla are members of,” she went “ on “they did this to give themselves a chance, for thou see there was a terrific war raging right outside the castle doors, one that would place the universe in grave jeopardy, were we to lose, that’s where thine demi-human forms come from, Element of Magic,” she continued further “we asked to gain the abilities of humans, so our DNA was fused with those very few who asked to volunteer for the great project known as ‘Operation: EON,’” she glanced toward me “when thou use that form, Rick, thou doth wield the powers of all of those of whom were valiant to thy bitter end, gallant to the end of their days, so to speak, who sacrificed themselves for their home and their families,” she smiled “we shall hand it to thine sister to continue, Element of Nature” Twilight raised a hoof “Yes, my faithful student?” Celestia simpered “Who was this war against?” Twilight tilted her head “We do not speak his name” the princesses frowned, Luna in particular “the war that was waged against that one being scarred the planet, eternally” “Does that make Daddy a demi-god?” Gracy Gloom giggled “Not quite, but you’re not that far off, my little pony” Celestia winked “And what of me, or, my old self, what role did they play in the war?” I sat beside Blackjack, Littlepip and Velvet Remedy on the bed “You were the one who created the project, and led then continued to lead the humans and eons of old to an almost certain victory, cleansing Equis of the vile shadows of the ancient one” Celestia gleamed “You’re a hero, in this life and the last” “Gladiator reference intended?” Blaze laughed “No, why?” she blinked “Just checking” Blaze patted my leg “Do you wish for this to go public, Tesla?” “It’d be a bit late for anyone to do such a thing, and besides, I think it’s better to forget the war, but not those who fought in it” I shook my head “I think this needs to stay between us, and no one else” “Thou art as wise as thou were an eon ago,” Luna glimmered “Perhaps the old Tesla we knew is returning to Equis, reborn anew?” “Perhaps” I tilted a hand “I may be able to do something no other eon can, as I was created, transformed into one, rather than born as one” “So your powers and abilities were separated from you on rebirth,” Celestia frowned “that means that there’s a possibility of another being, one who can do what you could, only to a more extreme level” ”There’re two of them now?” Crystal stared at me, wide-eyed “god give everyone strength” “Coming from you” I rolled my eyes “What did you mean when you said ‘mutated’?” Angel gave me a worried glance “You were created through a fusion of both magic and science, that of which Starswirl pales in comparison to” Celestia raised an eyebrow “Created in a magic-y science-y test tube, how’s that work for ya?” Blaze smirked at me “Doesn’t surprise me really, I mean, you’d have to be to be as insane as me” I chuckled “Amen” Crystal hummed “my insane eon husband” “Two hundred years and you two haven’t been officially married” Angel tutted, folding her arms as she shook her head “Seriously,” Rainbow Dash laughed, Rarity shot her a glare “sorry” “Then we can host it in the castle,” Celestia nodded “if you two are to be wedded; then we shall make the preparations at once, it’s the least we can do for an eon-old legend” “Let’s hope this one doesn’t end in changelings” I exhaled sharply, turning to Black Beetle “no offense” “None taken,” Black Beetle shrugged “our majesty was a fool to think that she could win with that little stunt, I may be taken and executed for treason for saying this, but I’d much rather be with you, Rick, things are much more interesting for a human in Equestria, and an eon, and a dragon slayer, all moulded into a single being, I find it intriguing, to find that such a thing exists” “Indeed” Crystal pecked my cheek “Shall we be getting prepared for the event, Tesla, or are you still unsure because of your new Nakama here on Equis?” Blackjack moved over as Celestia sat beside me in her stead, draping a wing and an arm around me, now in her anthro form “I’ve a question I’d like to ask first” I bit my lip “What is it?” Celestia smiled “Who was with me during the creation of the eons?” “I was, as were Luna and Faust” she nickered “where are you going with this, Rick?” -=-=- “Ready?” Crystal smirked, pushing me toward the double doors; I marched through, barely managing to stop myself from falling as I walked up the aisle, wearing a navy blue suit I’d long-since-almost-forgotten As the priest said all that is said at a wedding, Celestia in her human form holding a bouquet of roses, she glanced toward me “And where did you get that?” Celestia eyed me up and down, her voice barely audible “Inventory” I quietly winked “Do you, Princess Celestia Dawnbreaker, take Rick Hawkins to be your lawfully wedded husband, in both sickness and health, till death, do you part?” the priest-pony smiled toward Celestia “I do” Celestia smiled “Do you, Rick Hawkins, take Princess Celestia Dawnbreaker, to be your lawfully wedded wife, in both sickness and health, till death, do you part?” “I do” I smirked “Then by the power invested in me, I pronounce you colt and mare, you may kiss the bride” Celestia through the bouquet into the audience, draping her arms around my neck as she pressed her lips against mine, gradually parting, the audience burst into cheering and stomping their hooves in applaud “Perhaps you’d like to grave us with a photo?” a small group of ponies with cameras crowded us as we left the castle “Not a problem” before Celestia could reply I picked her up off her feet, holding her in my arms, she quickly draped her arm around my neck as I held her up, pecking my cheek “What was that?” Celestia stared at me as I set her back on the ground “That, my dear, was me having a bit of fun,” I smiled “you might want to be careful about that from here on” “So I will” she raised an eyebrow, her white dress with diamonds embedded in it gleaming in the sunlight =-=-= When all were gone, save for Twilight her friends and my friends and family, who were in the castle, I stood with Celestia in the gardens, taking her hand in my, placing my hand on her side as we slowly danced “I could get used to this” Celestia smiled “So could you, just you, me and the stars above us with the radiant moon acting as an ambient nightlight, Cellsy” (that’s her name from here on!) “Oh, and to be with you through it all, my love” she shuddered “I tremble in ecstasy at the thought” “Am I interrupting something?” I turned, there was a second Celestia eyebrow raised in curiosity, I turned back, Celestia was no longer there, replaced by a changeling with vivid green eyes "Shit"
Chapter XIV; events“Who are you?” the new Celestia frowned “Cellsy?” I tilted my head “Who, are, you?” she spat, glaring at me “You know me, I’m Tesla, Rick Hawkins, don’t you remember, you were with me during the creation of the eons” I gulped, audibly “You cannot be him, and how do you know of such a thing?” she snapped, I changed to eon form “Lies” her horn flared a bright primrose as I was sent flying into the tree behind me, collapsing flat on my face as she trotted toward me, stopping mere feet from me “Alright, if you won’t listen to me, there’s only one thing I can do, Celestia” I got into a kneeling position after reverting to human form “And what would that be, human?” she growled “I surrender” I bowed, placing my hands on the ground beside me, arching my arms outwards in the process “The rick I would know would never give up, even against impossible odds” she scoffed the changeling sat beside me “Or maybe I don’t want to hit a loved one” I shrugged “Tesla…?” she gasped quickly shaking her head “No, it can’t be, he disappeared ages ago, and we’ve yet to find him “That was an eon ago; I’ve been reborn as another human,” I clenched my fists, if you do not believe me ask someone else, but know that I will not fight you over such an argument” “Sweet merciful Faust!” she almost screamed, her horn flaring again as I was lifted to my feet, gently placed on the ground “I offer a thousand apologies for hitting you, Tesla” “Call me Rick” I smiled as she draped a wing around me, pecking my cheek “Then I shall, Rick, how long have I been gone?” “A little over an eon” The changeling smirked “Unless you can transfer the feelings and memories of that other form of yours, keep your trap shut” I snapped “That I will” she nodded, her horn glowing a bright green colour, as Celestia’s shone in a brilliant primrose aura “Tesla- Rick I…” Celestia’s sudden smile faltered as she teleported away “So, who are you?” I turned to face the changeling beside me “Shattered Glass, at your service, your majesty” the bug-pony bowed “So be it” I changed to eon form, flying towar4d the castle in the forest as fast as I could go =-= “Rick, what’re you doing up at this time of night?” Nyx blinked as I entered the throne room, reverting to human form, walking toward her, quickly bowing “Can’t sleep” I mumbled “Allow me to help with that” she cooed, removing her armour, teleporting it away, her horn beginning to glow with a bold blue aura, my vision faded, she caught me as I fell, carrying me elsewhere -=- When I awoke, I bolted upright, only to be tackled by a familiar pair of pegasi “Daddy,” Gracy Gloom and Snowdrop chimed “We missed you!” “And I you my little grace and Snowflake” I smiled, draping my wings around the pair of ponies as an unfamiliar changeling the size of chrysalis with a navy blue mane and tail, both with holes in them as her legs had holes of the same size and circumference, the being in question also had a pair of cobalt eyes with a purple saddle like structure on her back connecting her wings “I apologize for my subject’s appalling behaviour, Tesla” the changeling purred “name your request, and it shall be carried out to the letter, milord” she bowed “Who are you?” “Queen Metamorphia, ruler of one of the sub-hives of the changeling horde” she hissed with apparent ‘satisfaction’ “You needn’t bow to me, your majesty” I smiled “You call me by the phrase ‘your majesty,’ I think you’ve hot it the other way around” she chortled “you’ve been under a sleep spell for the past week, I shouldn’t tell you this yet, but you, due to Chrysalis somewhat ‘divine intervention,’ are the ruler of the changeling horde, we’ve successfully integrated into Equestria as a colony, thanks to your saving Captain Black Beetle,” she continued “we have yet to thank you for that, My king, and so I offer myself as thanks for your consideration and coronation of your new title as our lord and saviour, Emperor Tesla” “So what, you’re my servant and/or maid now?” I tilted my head “Nay, I’m your slave, if you so wish, but I can be considered a servant, yes” she licked her lips with her snake-like tongue “Ok, either I’m dreaming, or I’m going insane” I blinked “From what I can tell, or have been told, you’re already insane as it is” she laughed “Touché,” I slowly nodded “Where’re the others?” “They’re in the city the natives call Canterlot, where you saved Black Beetle from a pain beyond comprehension” “Boredom,” I hummed “Slipping into insanity” she frowned, the frown of which then quickly morphed into a glimmer “but more of that at another time, now, however, we- no, you, need to go to Celestia, she’s been worried sick about you, milord” -=- And so we went, my friend, Blaze and Kiary quickly catching up with us at the main hall of the castle, clambering onto my back just before I flew in eon form beside Metamorphia and Blackjack toward Canterlot Once we landed at the mountain city, ‘my family and friends landing beside me-, I reverted to human form “Rick?” Celestia stared at me as I entered the throne room, my friends, family and Metamorphia stood beside me; launching herself at me, changing to anthro form mid-lunge “Oh thank Faust you’re alright” she draped her arms around my neck “Celestia,” I blinked “Hush now, Rick we’ve a bit of catching up to do” she giggled, eventually releasing me from her grip “Metamorphia tells me that I’ve been given a new title, is it true?” I tilted my head ever-so slightly, Snowdrop once again stationed between my horns, and Kiary and Gracy Gloom perched on either shoulder “I have insisted that you be a knight to the changelings, but they seem to have insisted otherwise, to make a king of you, Rick” she nickered “Next thing you’ll be telling us is that Faust mutated the eons and humans of old into changelings” Blaze laughed “I did” I turned, Faust was stood beside Twilight, her friends, and Spike “Well then, it appears as though the history lesson’s only continued further” Blaze tutted “So it does” I nodded, walking with my friends and Blaze passed Faust and the others, marching to the train station, the conductor saluting me as I boarded the train =-=-= When I entered the castle in the Crystal Empire, I wandered aimlessly through the many corridors of the complex crystalline structure soon finding what seemed to be a storage room with an oval-shaped mirror with a pale lavender frame “Should we,” Blaze smirked “we know where it goes, after all” “Might as well” I walked into the mirror, it’s surface rippling like lake that’d had something thrown into it, Blaze and the others quickly following, my vision fading to black When I awoke, Blaze and the others were stood around me, Blackjacks mechanical exoskeleton now replaced by pristine snow-white fur, her wings now that of a normal pony’s, as were her eyes, formerly a glowing orange, now a deep crimson shade of red “Where are we?” Littlepip shook her head “Canterlot high, the bane of every brony’s existence” I grumbled “Good one,” Blaze laughed “maybe the base-breaker known as Flash Sentry, or brad, is still here?” “Are those, ponies?” a group of five humans -who barely resembled Twilight’s friends-, slowly approached Actual talking ponies, the Applejack Lookalike blinked “That we are” Velvet Remedy held out a hoof Introductions were swiftly made with little-to-no difficulty “If it isn’t Rainbow Crash!” a human with blazing, waist-length yellow and red hair with teal eyes, a purple shirt with a red and yellow sun split by a horizontal wavy line through the middle, black jacket, orange skirt with a purple and yellow stripe down either side, and black boots that went up to just below her knees “And what have we here, a winged, horned human, you’re a freak!” she snapped “And you’ve nothing better to do with your life that bullying, I can tell here you’re going in life, young lady” I smirked “Nobody stands up to Sunset Shimmer!” Fluttershy gasped “Too busy or too nervous?” I winked “What was that?” Sunset Shimmer glared icy daggers at me “Yeah, I bet you’re so-called friends or lackeys are the same as you, a group of feral beasts locked in iron cages lashing out at a world they barely know because they’re too scared to actually try anything decent for a change,” I sighed “I have a few pieces of advice for you, little girl, get your education as best you can, get out get a job, get a boyfriend or whatever you want, and get a life, because you certainly get one by aggravating me”, she ran as fast as she could into the nearby building “How the heck did you do that?” Rainbow Dash stared at me “Bullies rule in fear and jealousy, take that away and you disarm them, learnt it rather quickly myself” I chuckled “ “Can we still use magic though,” Littlepip’s horn flared a deep green colour as she teleported onto my back, wrapping her arms around my neck as a tall, ‘Celestia’ lookalike marched out of the school, striding toward us alongside Sunset Shimmer “Sunset Shimmer tells me you’ve been bullying her?” the lookalike frowned “Yes, but only in defence of myself and my friends” I shrugged “Explain” she folded her arms, so I did “Interesting, it appears as though we’ve a new student to our school, I believe I can make the arrangements to adjust your sudden appearance..?” she raised an eyebrow “Tesla, or Teslakana, or just Rick, if you’d prefer” I held out a hand, she quickly shook it “So be it, Tesla, I do believe you’re due for a science lesson, first door on the right, second floor, just take the stairs to the left” she smiled “Thank you..?” “Principal Celestia” she chuckled ==-== The lessons passed soon enough; and when the school day ended, albeit curiously, I was stood in the ‘playground,’ by the statue, placing my hand in the block that made up its base, my hand phased through as the rippling effect reoccurred, I quickly pulled my hand back, turning around, what appeared to be the whole school’s students that’d attended where stood there, standing there, staring at me in apparent curiosity “Is it a demon?” one of the students blinked “Can’t be, it’s got the wrong wings, and there’re four too many wings” a second human corrected the first “Maybe it’s a fallen angel” a third mumbled “Dragon slayer” I shook my head, summoning a flame around either hand “It’s got to be a hidden apparatus creating that fake-fire!” a fourth human frowned I quickly rolled up my sleeves, turning my arms to show that nothing was hidden “I’ll be damned” he whistled “It’s actual magic!” Rainbow Dash and the four others burst forth to the front of the crowd “Don’t be ridiculous Rainbow, how could he possibly summon a flame from thin air?” “She’s right you know?” I smiled “Magic don’t exist, everyone knows that” she scoffed “Maybe not in this world, but from the ones I’ve been to it does,” I frowned “And Ah suppose that’d explain the ponies that’ve been following you all day long, especially that thing” she gestured toward Blaze, who let out an intimidating growl “And for our final act, Snowdrop, if you will” I gestured toward the statue, the flames around my hands dissipating at once as she leapt through it, followed, of course, by the others, “I bid thee, adieu, good sirs and ladies” I leapt through the statue-portal, a feint of dizziness taking over me as I blacked out again When I came round, I bolted upright, only to flinch in pain, which gradually eased “That was weird” I mumbled “Tell me about it” Blackjack glanced to her wings “Didn’t know you did theoretical physics, whatever that is” she laughed as I steadily got to my feet, walking with her and the others through the castle “I watched a lot of science documentaries on my laptop” I shrugged as we entered the throne room, Twilight and her friends alongside Spike and the princesses immediately marched toward us “Where have you been?” Twilight frowned “That would be telling” Blaze winked -=- “Are you Ok?” Celestia glanced toward me as she teleported us to canterlot “First I find that humans were mutated into eons, then further mutated into changelings, how do you think I feel?” I snapped “Though it would explain our ability to change forms” Black Beetle hummed “Touché” I raised an eyebrow “Princess Celestia!” a golden yellow unicorn mare with a blazing yellow and red mane ad tail with a red/yellow sun split down the middle in a wavy line burst through the door, galloping to the solar goddesses side, gaping at me in terror “What is it my faithful student?” Celestia draped a wing around the unicorn, glancing out the window; I noticed it was the dead of night “I had a nightmare,” the pony, Sunset Shimmer-lookalike shuddered “About a demon with horns, wings and a fiery magic from the deepest pits of tartarus itself “Pepper’s harmless” I gestured to the succubus stood beside me “It wasn’t her” she stammered “I only use my magic when and where I need to,” I blinked “that sounded better in my head” “And besides, Crystagia’s a dragon, not a demon from hell, right brother?” Blaze smirked “Exactly” I nodded “Besides, a nightmare every now and then is what reminds people that they’re living” “Explain” Sunset Shimmer blurted out, quickly biting her lip to silence herself “I like to sleep,” I began “I like to sleep because I like to dream; dreaming reminds me that I’m still alive” “Morbid, but otherwise factual to an extent” Luna hummed, glancing toward Blackjack “I see that Blackjack has her body returned to normal, what manner of magic was used to trigger such a transformation, may I ask?” Celestia raised an eyebrow “An unknown source of energy, to be frank,” I shrugged “One with powers that far outdo my own” “And where exactly was this?” she tilted her head slightly -==- “You found this, how?” Celestia glanced between me and mirror “Aimless wandering” I clicked my neck “Besides, the magic resonance in the air was making my stomach turn” “I remember this” Twilight placed a hoof against the mirrors surface “back when Sunset Shimmer used the crown to get revenge on Princess Celestia” “She used to be a big meanie!” Pinkie Pie’s expression was a half-frown, half-pout type of look “but then she learned the magic of friendship and what it could do and ever since she’s been one of the nicest ponies I know” “Meanie’s and bullies never usually learn unless you stand up to ‘em,” Blaze tutted “I fail to see how a few miniature horses could manage such a thing” “Makes you wonder what Hasbro does in its sleep” I chuckled “Wouldn’t go there brother, you might accidentally cause someone to be rendered catatonic!” she laughed “That’s because the Americans are all weak-willed simple, one-track-minded Neanderthals, who think they can solve everything through war and violence and think they can do what they want, E.G Nagasaki and Hiroshima “And to the one 'artist' who said that he lived in the USA and it was a free country; if you should ever stumble across my being again, I just wanted you to know that I sincerely apologize for born-and-raised in an at-least-half-decent country known as England, where we can solve our differences through options other than that of violence or war, thank you; FYI USA is a continent, not a country, technically speaking” I chortled “Informally declaring war again?” Blaze sighed “As the many denizens of the internet would say,” I rolled my eyes “come at me bro” “That there’s a risky business,” she guffawed “you sure you can take on their military” “They see anything that challenges their somewhat anti-social way of life as terrorism, I’ll be perfectly fine so long as they don’t start pissing themselves wondering what we’re going to do” I laughed “Just be careful” she face-pawed “I know how you get when something irks you like that, Tesla” “Don’t worry,” I patted her head, standing on her hind legs she stood around half a foot shorter than me “I’ll be fine” “Says you” she rebuked “Oh, shut up” I shook my head, rolling my eyes, changing to eon form, my ears twitching as I did so “I do believe we’ve somewhere to be?” “Magical radar playing up again,” she blinked, I nodded, she leapt on my back, followed by the others, save Blackjack, who galloped beside me as I raced through the castle =-==-= I burst through the door to the throne room of the everfree castle, Nyx was lying on her side her eyes flittered open as I approached, my figurative passengers landing beside me as I reverted to human form “Nyx..!” I placed a gentle hand on her stomach “Are you Ok?” “I’m…” she slurred, letting out a moan, her eyes rolling into the back of head as something extruded from her lower area, shuddering as it left her body “Is that…?” Blaze gasped “Our foal” Nyx murmured, craning her neck, her eyes falling onto the little pony, magically picking it up, magicking up a thick, warm blanket, wrapping it around the foal, handing it to me “’tis a mare” she nickered “what’ll her name be, my love?” “Winter Bell” I smiled “So it shall be,” she smiled “you’re friend, the aptly named ‘Winter,’ left, saying she had to ‘tend to the isles’’’ “That’s Winter” I gave a soft laugh, the filly in my arms staring up at me with a small smile, her deep, gunmetal grey coat, mild indigo and black two-toned mane shimmering in the moonlight, the deep/mild cobalt gemstone in her chest shaped like a twelve-pointed star shining with a soft glow “A real crystal pony” Blaze simpered, I shot her a glare “sorry” “Apology accepted, Blaze” Nyx exhaled sharply “Please don’t tell me there’s another one coming” she chuckled “No, I am merely exhausted,” Nyx sighed “even for an alicorn, foal-birth is a difficult procedure” “Are you my little Winter Bell?” I smiled, nuzzling my nose against the foal in my arms’ Winter Bell gave a giggle, as I replaced my nose with a light finger, she batted at it with her hooves “Yes, yes you are,” Winter Belle began to laugh as I tickled her chest, suddenly exhaling a small ball of fire “That was unexpected” I blinked “Bro, that’s creepy” Blaze shuddered “I’m just having some quality time with me new daughter, what’s wrong with that?” I tutted, turning my attention back to the foal in my arms “Who’s a little Winter Bell, you,” I smiled, continuing to tickled her chest, “yes you are, you’re my little Winter Belle,” I chuckled “Tesla, what the hell are you doing?” Blaze stared at me “Bonding” I smiled, sitting beside Nyx, draping my wings around Winter Belle,, pulling a feather from my wing, handing it to the filly, draping my wings around her as she held onto the feather, “Am I interrupting something?” I turned; Celestia was stood there, a small smile upon her face “Not at all” “I see we finally proof of your choosing to herd or not” Celestia smiled, standing before me, glancing between me and Winter Bell “she’s adorable, what’s her name?” “Winter Bell” I smiled “Cute, truly, I wouldn’t think that night-” I shot her a look “Nyx, would be able to produce such a beauty” “Am I not still a tiny, ever-so little part of your sister, Celestia?” Nyx smirked “I’ve always been there, creeping around her subconscious’ depths, lurking in the back of her mind, it may be different, but I am still a part of her as she is me” “As much as I’d like to say otherwise I’m afraid there’s nothing I can do about it” Celestia frowned “You can be there for her, be by her side when she needs it most; do what you can for her” “Since when did you become a psychiatrist?” Blaze raised an eyebrow “Just because I failed once doesn’t mean it has to happen to someone else” I winked “Well spoken, Rick” Nyx sat beside me, leaning against me “If you choose to go, I will not stop you, I shall take care of Winter Bell in your stead, my love” “I can’t accept that” I frowned “Why not?” she blinked “Because we birthed her together, so we should raise her together, as a family” I grinned “Usually stallions forget about they’re foals, and move onto other mares, why are you doing otherwise?” she blinked “I’m not a pony” I smirked, she draped a wing around me, pecking my cheek “I would be honoured to be in your herd, Milord” she bit her lip “Just call me Rick,” I simpered “Let’s not go by titles or commendations, just names, Ok?” “That I will, Rick” she nickered -=-=- Eight years had passed, and, somehow, be it luck of the gods (AKA Meridia and/or Azura), or otherwise, Winter Bell remained our little secret said secret was now lying on my back as I gently glided through the everfree forest, Snowdrop upon my head, Scarlet on Blackjacks head, Gracy Gloom rested upon my neck, and the others, Nyx included, walking with me toward Ponyville “Five quid says they’ll react negatively toward Nyx” Blaze smirked “Two-thousand says otherwise,” I frowned “They welcomed her once, they can do so again” “Is that…?” one pony blinked, every pony who I could see stopped, turned to face us, eyes wide in shock-and-awe “It’s Nyx!” a second cheered “Somepony get Pinkie Pie, we’ve a reason to celebrate!” with a great flash of light and there was an entire party suddenly set up in the middle of town, with banners streamers and balloons set up across various buildings “All this is, just for me?” Nyx held a hoof to her breastplate “You’re the Lady of the moon, you deserve at least some credit for your work, Nyx” I pecked her cheek “You’re too kind” her cheeks flushed a deep, almost beetroot shade of red “I’m yours as you are mine” I winked “Are you hiding something?” I turned; Twilight and her friends were stood there, minus Rarity and Spike, who were busy at the table were a large glass bowl of punch was set up, Spike had a wing draped around the alabaster mare, having grown around three feet in the years gone by “Why would I do that,” I blinked “you’re my Nakama, closer than family, I have nothing to hide from you, Element of Magic” “The pony on your back proves otherwise,” she raised an eyebrow “who is she?” “Winter Bell” Blaze grinned, the after-mentioned pony on my back stood up, bowing to Twilight had her friends “She’s got your mannerisms, that’s fer sure” Applejack laughed “And she’s got his crystalline chest-piece, as well as his wings” Twilight stared at me “You didn’t…” “She’s our little Gem” Nyx nuzzled into me “You betrayed Princess Celestia?” whispered loudly “I’m a part of his herd” she snapped “When did this happen?” Twilight frowned “When we first met, I do believe, I felt my heart set itself aflame with a somewhat seemingly passionate love for my dear Rick,” Nyx smiled “it only escalated from there, once I admitted my love for him, he returned my feelings wholeheartedly, and with great reciprocation, and now, as you can plainly see, we’ve had a foal” “And you didn’t think of telling Princess Celestia?” Twilight gawked at me “She was the first to know, having apparently followed me to Nyx” I bit my lip “When did that happen?” she looked half-appalled, half-gobsmacked “Around eight years ago” I shrugged; it was then that I noticed that everyone was staring at me, and the music had stopped “What?” she blared “And Princess Celestia didn’t tell us because why!?” “You threatened her with the elements, once, I cannot allow the possibility of a second attempt” my eyes narrowed “And I offer you every apology I can for it,” Twilight flinched, her cheeks turning a mild shade of pink, tears forming in her eyes “Twilight,” I blinked “you’re…” “I love you Damnit” she snarled “didn’t I already say it once?” she went on “if I have to tear Equestria apart to get you to see that then so be it, that’s what I’ll do, I just want you to notice me for who I am, not my title or status, but me as a pony, is it that hard?!” “No, but-” “Then why?” she screamed “why is it so hard to get your attention for once?” she continued “why can’t I seem to do anything for you, Tesla, I’ve been wondering where you’ve been and what you were up to for the past several years, and it turns out that you’ve got a foal for Faust’s sake, what am I supposed to do?” “You could’ve asked,” I suggested “As Crystal once stated, and as I will now state, it’s an open relationship, if you want to join, be my guest” “But just what am I supposed to do?” she cried “Talk to Celestia about it, then come back to me” I smiled, she teleported away, it took several minutes to pass before the party picked itself up again, the atmosphere being thick enough to be cut with a spoon, figuratively “You’ve only just worked it out?” Blaze shot an odd glance “I’m a dumbass” I sighed, lowering myself to the ground, Winter Bell climbing to the ground as I reverted to human form “Yes, yes you are” she folded her arms “now what’re you going to do, should Celestia choose to visit?” “We’ll do what’s necessary, hopefully without much heart-rending, if any at all” I hummed “Speaking off unspoken couples, how’re Spike and Rarity?” “They’re Gettin along fine pardner, it’s Twi Ah'm worried about” Applejack raised an eyebrow “I can only do so much for a single being, let alone a country, but, however, I feel like this shan’t be a problem for more than a day, if not a week” “And how’re you supposed to do that?” Rainbow Dash frowned “I’m going to do something I didn’t think I’d have to do for a long time” I inhaled, and then exhaled “No,” Blaze gasped “surely you couldn’t mean…!” “I do,” I sighed, nodding “Time for the secret weapon, Winter Bell, stay here with Nyx, I’ll be back soon” “Ok Daddy” Winter Bell saluted me -as she’d done for the past three years- as I walked with my friends and family toward the library “Twilight, are you Ok?” I knocked on the door as I entered the library “Go away!” Twilight’s voice came from upstairs; I quickly ascended the stairs, knocking on the door “I said go away!” “I can’t do that until I know you’re Ok” I shook my head “Let’s just talk, I’m sure we can solve the issue eventually “Ok, but just don’t come in-!” she stopped herself as I opened the door, revealing a room that was -save for the floor, bed and window-, neatly covered in images of what appeared to be both my human and eon forms, on the bed there was a plushie of the latter, stitched right to the finest detail “I told you not to come in!” she bellowed “I’ve been a fool” I stared at her, walking into the room, crouching down, sitting cross-legged before her as she glared at me “All this time, and I never noticed what you were trying to tell me,” I quickly pulled her in for a hug, draping both my wings and arms around her tightly, she wrapped her arms around me, placing her head on my shoulder, tears streaming down her muzzle from her bloodshot magenta eyes “Tesla,” she sniffled “I’m sorry” “You’ve done nothing that warrants such an apology, so please, say no more, Lady of Magic” I smiled “I always did find you somewhat attractive, for a human” she giggled as we let one-another go” “You offer me your apologies, which I decline as I see no need for you to ask them, Miss Sparkle, but in turn, I offer you my heart, or what’s left of it that I can share with you” I glimmered, she lunged forward, pressing her lips against mine, placing her hooves down on my shoulders with enough force to knock me onto my back, gradually parting, staring straight at me, her gaze powerful enough that it felt as though my soul itself had been covered by a warm, fiery blanket of sorts “I accept your offer, Rick” she giggled “How cheesy can you get?” I glanced toward the door, my friends and family were stood there; Blaze looked like she was gagging, her gaze shifted toward the bed, then around the rest of the room “What in the actual fuck!?” she burst out laughing “You don’t mind if she laughs at us?” Twilight glanced between me and Blaze “Let us have our hearts and love, and let her have her fun and games” I shrugged “Indeed” she nickered, placing a hoof either side of my head, placing her lips on mine, our tongues briefly danced together before she parted again “I’m never letting you go” she purred “Have I told you how much I love you recently?” I gleamed “You may have” Twilight smiled “are all the stallions on your world like you? If they are, we're keeping all of this a secret because there will be fillies lining up for a chance at this” “I’m one of a kind, Babe” I chuckled “Good, because I want you all for myself” she smirked “Good to hear, because I don’t want to end up sharing you with another stallion” I grinned “What do you mean?” she blinked “I mean I don't want another pony putting his hooves on my filly. You're mine and I'm keeping you all to myself. Ain't there no other pony taking your place” I draped a wing around her, followed by a gentle arm “You make me so happy sometimes” Twilight whimpered, tears in her eyes as her voice almost cracked “Easy” I cooed, letting her rest on my lap “you needn’t cry, Ok?” “I know” she giggled “I love you Rick” “And I you, my little gleaming star” I pecked her cheek, stroking her mane, as she unceremoniously rolled onto the floor, landing on her side “Carry me to heaven…” she mumbled as I gently slung her onto my back, smiling as she wrapped her hooves around my neck “As you wish, fair maiden” I chuckled, again, carrying her out of the library, my friends and family quickly following “How did it go?” Rarity stood beside Spike and the others before me as I left the library, I smiled as Twilight perched her head on my shoulder “Ah’ll be darned, ya‘ll did it in a day” Applejack whistled “so are ya some kind o’ mare whisperer or somethin’?” “Who’s ever heard of something so strange?” I laughed; Blaze patted my arm, grinning as she stood on her hind legs “We have no, brother” Blaze smirked “Blaze, shut up, we don’t need to know” I snapped “Oh but we do” Rarity insisted “ We simply must hear of what it is that you said or did to change our dear Twilight’s mind so easily!” “Nothing I’m telling you, Diamond” I winked “I rest my case” Blaze laughed “So, that’s how ya‘ll did it” Applejack grinned “Not exactly” I mumbled “Yes it was,” Blaze smirked “they were some of the cheesiest lines I’ve ever heard in my life!” she laughed “Where’d you get them from?” “Im not sure how to answer that,” I blinked “I mostly just think of what might help, given the situation” “So you do” Twilight giggled, climbing down to the ground -=-=- As I entered the library, I saw Twilight, in a human form of sorts., holding tightly onto the plushie of me “I didn’t think you’d be able to bring that thing out of your room” I laughed, she spun round, staring at me, she placed a hand over her chest “You nearly gave me a heart attack!” she scorned “I can only offer my apologies, lady of magic” I quickly bowed “And your heart,” she winked “Spike’s out gem hunting with Rarity, so he won’t be back for a few hours” she sighed “he’s practically moved in with her these days, I can’t seem to be able to do anything to help him” “We can only hope,” I shrugged “where wisdom and valour surely fail, all that remains is faith, and it can overcome all” “Where’re the others?” she grinned “Blaze is with Snowdrop, Blackjack and Scarlet are with Littlepip and Remedy, and Winter Bell’s with Nyx and Kiary’s with me” I gestured to the growing dragon beside me “Well, we could play a game, just to pass the time?” Twilight winked “What kind of game did you have in mind?” I smiled, she beamed -=- “How long were we at it?” I panted for breath “Long enough stud” Twilight nickered, sitting next to me on the sofa, there was a knock at the door, and Spike and Rarity entered “Morning Spike” I nodded “You mean afternoon right?” he grinned “I could hear you two all the way on the other end of Ponyville” “Honestly darling, you really do need to control yourself,” Rarity sighed “as much as we know that you care about Twilight, you can get a bit overzealous” “We may’ve been a bid loud,” I smirked “But I love her all the same” “And I you, my little eon” Twilight pecked my cheek “My little gleaming star” I pecked the tip of her horn -=-=- After about a week, I sat back in the sofa in the library, Twilight lying across said sofa, her head in my lap, a small, golden ring visible on her horn, and a silvery one on my ring finger “Oh how I’ve longed for this day” Twilight whispered, Spike and I shared a glance, I shrugged, he shrugged back, walking upstairs “Just you and me, together, until the end of our days” “By your word, Maho no Fujin” I nodded “What’s that mean?” she gave a soft laugh “It means ‘Lady of Magic’” I smiled “And you’re my little Hakumei Ryū Kishi” she winked, blinking sitting upright next to me “Rick, I’m ready” “For what?” I tilted my head “When we mated, to put it bluntly, you never put your, and this is putting it crudely, ding-a-ling into my fairy-cake, I’m still a virgin, technically, and thus, I’m ready” she explained with a sly grin =-==-= “Well that was interesting” I shuddered “You did well, my little eon” Twilight pecked my cheek “I’ve never felt so happy in my life, even when my parents enrolled me into Celestia’s school for gifted unicorns!” “I do what I can when I can, Lady Twilight” I smiled -=- As my friends, family and I, alongside Twilight, made our way to Lulania’s cavern, I opened the door to said cavern Lulania was stood at the opposite end “Do you wish to talk, Rick?” Lulania spoke calmly “I wish to apologize for how cruel I’ve been toward you” I hummed “ “I accept your apology; not only because of who I am, but also because of the love we shared once, and can do so again” she smiled “By your word, Tōku-ken Fujin” “Lady of the distant stars” she nodded “a fitting title for me, thank you; my love” “Wait, if you two were together, and Celestia, Faust, and Luna are your offspring, so to speak, why are there no recorded legends of either of you?” Blaze raised a paw “There are a few, in the archives,” Lulania smiled “just say the word, and I shall let Celestia know that Equis is ready for the truth” “And what, of Nyx?” Snowdrop lay atop my head “She was, at one point, the being ponies refer to as Nightmare Moon,” Lulania began “back when she was the princess of the night and pure, controlled, darkness, back when Celestia was a tyrant, ruling over Equestria with an iron fist, or, your case, hoof,” she went on “there was little anyone could do to stop her, so we devised a pan, the ponies of old, with the human-turned eons, created the elements of harmony, those of which found themselves compatible with six especially chosen eons, who proceeded to use the elements of harmony against Celestia, who put up her most powerful shielding spells” “What happened then?” Kiary stared at Lulania “The shield broke,” Lulania shrugged “the effects of the elements were deflected toward Nyx, who teleported herself to the moon in order to escape, and then Celestia locked her there for a millennia, when the spell faded, Nyx’s mind was awash with thoughts of unbridled, unadulterated rage and revenge, it’s only now that the Nyx of old, the good Nyx, has returned” “So, Nightmare Moon, is all just a lie?” Twilight blinked “That is true, Element of magic, and it pains me to say that your princess Celestia is a liar and a fraud, it is Tesla who should be ruler, not her” Lulania frowned “were it not for the Tesla of olds’ reluctance, he would still be king, as he had every right to claim the title, even now, it’s not too late” “I’m usually chivalrous, but I think we’re about to make an exception” I cracked my knuckles/claws =-=-= I burst into the throne room, my friends, family and Twilight’s friends and family marching beside me, Nyx and Winter Bell included along with Lulania, glowering at Celestia “I see you two have made up, that’s nice” Celestia, apparently oblivious to my ire, smiled “Yeah, it’s nice to know that one of my friends was locked on the moon for a whole thousand years” I scowled “You’ve no proof of that” she frowned “The elements of harmony exist, don’t they?” I spat “and I’m assuming the tree of harmony was made out of hundreds of soul dews also?” “That it was, my love” Lulania nodded “So, what was it that made you lie for a millennia about Nyx for the past thousand years?” I snapped “Mommy was locked on the moon for a thousand years?” Winter Bell hasped “I’ve no idea how else to say it, so I won’t bother trying to sugar-coat it, nor will I attempt to lie about it, my little rising star” I nodded “I was young and reckless!” Celestia blurted out “Bullshit, you’re a billion years old” I snarled “Is this true?” Luna gasped at her sister “Stay out of this” Celestia growled “We see,” she teleported, appearing next to me “Then you may take care of the moon and stars for us, if you so wish, we shall remain by Rick’s side, eternally” “And, technically, Nyx’s your half-sister” I glanced toward Luna, who stared at me, her gaze shifting around to face the mother of my second daughter “It’s true, I’m a part of you as you are me, Princess Luna,” Nyx smiled “I shall forever serve you and Rick till th end of Equis, come tartarus or high water” “You won’t get away with this, guards, remove this vermin from my sight!” Celestia yelled, the guards didn’t budge an inch, only glancing toward her, then smiling at me, winking “It’d appear as though I just did” I smirked “Step down from the throne, and this will all be over, unless you still have that pride of yours intact” “I’m not going anywhere” she growled “Well then, it’d appear we’re at an impasse” I frowned “Get out of my castle” she snapped “‘Your’ castle,” I tutted “you only got it because the old ‘me’ was reluctant and handed it to someone he thought he could trust, clearly we were mistaken, Celestia” “What would be your first order of business, my king?” Lulania smiled “You could be my queen, Lulania, and Luna and Nyx remain as the diarchs of the night, and let gravity move the sun on its own Nyotei” I winked “Empress?” she blinked, I nodded “you’re too kind, my king” -=- “So if Nyx was sent to the moon, then who’s Luna?” Blaze blinked, I glanced towards Luna, who tilted her head at me “My little shooting star, that’s what” I smiled “We are pleased to hear that you love us as you do Nyx, Sir Rick” Luna draped a wing around me “I’ve no reason to feel otherwise, you and all the others who live in Equestria were lied to for on-thousand years, Lulu, loving you is the least I can do” I smiled as we sat on the hill beside canterlot “I’m scared Daddy,” Winter Bell sat in my lap, clinging onto me “What is it, my little winter gem?” “That Celestia’s going to lock me on the moon if she finds me” she began to cry, tears flowing freely down her muzzle “I won’t let that happen” I frowned, “I’m a dragon slayer, and I never allow harm to come to my friends, let alone my family, or Nakama, I also know a dragon slayer who ate the flames of a god” “He did?” she gasped, staring at me “He did, he combined them with his own, creating a dragon god’s brilliant flame, using the combined flames to beat the god slayer, who, after being on the other end of the attack, was vanquished, once and for all” “That’s amazing!” she gaped “Magic” I winked “you yourself have those powers, that of a dragon slayer, you just need to choose an element, Winter Bell” “What element should I choose?” she blinked “Whatever element you feel is best suited to you” I smiled “I’ve been wondering for a while,” she tilted her head, perching herself between my horns, lightly tapping them “you have horns, why is that?” “I’m one third dragon, one third eon, the rest is human” I smiled, stroking her mane, pecking her forehead “You’re part dragon, and yet you’re a dragon slayer, how does that work?” she giggled “I had a gemstone known as a dragon lacrima planted in my being when I gained the abilities of a dragon slayer, that’s just one of the choices I made as a human being, Winter,” I sighed “and now you must make a choice also, do you wish for defensive, offensive, or supportive spells to go with your magic, and what element do you wish to choose?” “Both offensive and defensive spells,” she gleamed “what elements are there?” “There’s probably an unlimited number,” I shrugged “ close your eyes and hold out your hoof” she did, holding her hoof out in front of her, facing away from me, closing her eyes “now imagine that there’s a massive amount of energy welling up inside of you, and try and focus it into that hoof” she nodded, a blackish-indigo flame appeared bursting into life around her hoof “Steady now, try to get it to a level you feel you can manage without exhausting yourself,” she nodded again, the flame shrunk a little “now open your eyes” she did just that, opening her eyes, then gasping at the sight of the dark fireball “What element is that?” Winter Bell gaped “Shadow-flame,” I whistled “Kage-en no Metsuryū” “What element are you?” she turned to face me “Crystal-based fire” I winked “How does that work?” she blinked “I got my dragon slayer magic from a crystalline dragon, one who passed on her abilities to me,” I smiled “Just like you’re teaching me now?” she giggled “Basically,” I nodded “although yours is a special case, whereas you’re being taught by a being who’s only dragon in part, and you have a different element, although it’s still fire-based” “Who’s the original fir dragon slayer?” she simpered “That’d be Natsu Dragneel,” I beamed “his fire is matched only by his personality, and his love for his Nakama, just try not to annoy him” “Why not?” she blinked “If there’s one thing I’ve learnt in the guild, it’s to never annoy a dragon slayer, Laxus and Natsu in particular” “Laxus,” she tilted her head, the fireball still ever-present around her hoof “who’s that?” “The lightning dragon slayer, and since lightning travels at the speed of one-thousandth of a second and the air around a lightning bolt burns at forty-five-thousand degrees Fahrenheit, I’d say he’s one of the stronger dragon slayers alongside Natsu, Gajeel and I” “And me also” Blaze smirked, standing beside me “And you as well,” I sighed “can’t go without the inferno dragon slayer now, can we?” “I’m certain Ilo’s flame didn’t last that long, Sir Rick” Luna gestured toward the flame that enveloped Winter’s hoof “Could it be that she got thy immeasurable magic level also?” “Is there something wrong, Princess Luna?” Winter Bell “Not at all, thine little pony, it’s just occurred that Ilo’s flames didn’t last as long when she first used her magic” “Just another mystery of the universe, I suppose” Blaze grinned =-=-= There was an almighty thundering *BOOM* as an explosion racked through ponyville as I stood on the edge with my friends family and Twilight and her friends, spike When the dust cleared, everyone present gasped “What, who, where, why, and how,” I blinked “Someone’s managed to teleport your entire home into Equestria” Blaze whistled “Let’s hope it includes the overly-large basement” I bit my lip, walking toward the garage door “That’s your house, it’s like a mansion!” Twilight gaped, Spike and their friends walking with me as I slipped the key to the garage out of my pocket, opening it “Let’s just be glad I got it at all” I smiled as the door lifted, revealing a large object hidden by an even larger sheet of tarpaulin, pulling it away, revealing a pristine silver Mercedes “The Toyota Celica, seventh generation too, am I correct, brother?” “That is correct I flicked the light switch for the garage lights which flashed on, “What is it?” Twilight blinked as I opened the door leaning in and unlocking the hood from the dashboard, returning to the others “It’s a means of locomotion humans use, called a car,” Blaze glimmered “it’s like a train but it can go on any flat surface, for a limited amount of time, depending on the amount of fuel in the tank” “How’d you get the house though?” Rainbow Dash prodded the hood of the Merc “I was left this In my grandparents will on the day I turned eighteen, what they didn’t tell me was the basement’s contents “Why what’s down there?” Twilight asked me excitedly “Allow me to show you something else first” I smiled, lifting the hood of the Toyota, propping it up with the stand that most if not all cars had/have “That looks complicated” Twilight whistled “Did any of the humans in the other world have something like this?” Rarity glanced toward the lavender mare beside me “Just the one, but it was black, and somewhat different” I closed the hood of the car, locking it again, opening the hatch that led to the basement, Blaze and the others following me down as I flicked the switch next to the doorway, revealing a collection of automobiles “And your grandparents just left them for you?” Rarity stared at me “That they did” I walked over to the first vehicle, a Mercedes ‘C220-2013’ the key to each vehicle hung on the loop which also hung on a hook screwed into the wall “How much is all of this worth?” Twilight’s gaze darted from one car to the next “This here alone is worth between twenty-six-point-five and thirty-five grand on its own” I unlocked the Merc, patting the hood lightly “How much,” she gasped “but altogether, that’d be around two million, wouldn’t it?” “Let’s see,” I walked over to a vehicle covered in a large sheet of cloth, ripping it away, revealing a matte-black vehicle “looks like my grandparents manage to win the euro-millions” I laughed “That’s a Bugatti Veyron super-sport,” Blaze exclaimed “that on its own is worth one-point-seven million!” she turned to Twilight “your boyfriend didn’t have anything like that, did he?” “He wasn’t -and still isn’t-, my boyfriend” Twilight scowled “If ya say so” she chortled “though it wasn’t the question I asked it’ll do” “So how in tha hay did ya’ll grandparents end up with all this money?” Applejack nickered “I’d have to commune with the dead to get that answer” I hummed “Ah’m sorry” she tipped her hat in what I assumed was respect “Don’t be” I sighed “it’s not your fault, Jackie” “How fast can this thing go?” Rainbow Dash sat on the bonnet of the Veyron, “Fast enough” I smirked “Four-hundred-and-forty kilometres per hour, I do believe” Blaze grinned “Not as fast as me though!” Rainbow Dash beamed “Has anyone actually measured her speed?” Blaze nodded toward the cyan Pegasus “I don’t think we can, whatever measurement we use ends up breaking “How primitive” she quipped, rolling her eyes “Blaze” I snapped “Sorry” she held up her paws defensively as an alarm went off upstairs Rushing upstairs, Blaze and the others following me, I found Celestia, Shining Armour and Flash Sentry “Feel free to make yourselves at home” I rolled my eyes, turning the alarm to the Celica off “What is this, thing?” Celestia gestured to the road-wise locomotive “That is a car, humans use it to get from point-A, to point-B, now, would you mind ringing the doorbell the next time you wish to enter my property?” I facepalmed “‘Your’ property?” she raised an eyebrow “This is Tesla’s house, though how it got here is beyond even me” Blaze growled “That’s not possible,” Celestia frowned “you can take an entire building from one world and place it in another without sever repercussions!” “Looks like someone already did” Kiary smiled “I’ll be having a word with Lulania about this” Celestia scowled “Actually Celestia, I was the one who transported Tesla’s home here” Faust appeared beside the solar goddess “Why?” Celestia glowered “He needs a place to stay, does he not?” Faust simpered “he deserves his own place here on Equis, just as much as anypony else does” “Be that as it may, have you not heard of what transpired not even last week?” she scowled at me “I have, and I must say that it’s a good thing that it happened, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to do what I have yet to do,” Faust exhaled sharply “Celestia, as queen of Equestria, I hereby strip you of your title, indefinitely” “I understand” Celestia teleported her jewellery away, turning to face me, I shrugged, she teleported away, followed shortly by Shining Armour as he held onto the Pegasus at his side “I’ll see you later, milord” Faust winked, teleporting away As we entered the lounge, Twilight’s gaze shifted toward the large flat-screen Television “What’s that?” she blinked, pointing toward the source of most humans’ entertainment “It’s a television,” I smiled “That’s what you watch programmes on?” she blinked, I nodded “how does it work?” I gestured toward the remote “Interesting” she slowly nodded As we walked upstairs I heard moaning coming from one of the bedrooms, glancing around me, I noticed that Littlepip wasn’t present; I rushed toward the room, knocking on the door “Who is it?” Littlepip’s voice echoed from behind the door “Rick” I smiled, opening the door, Littlepip was sat on the double bed which was positioned against the far wall of the room; her moist hoof slightly staining the duvet covers as she placed it down on the bed “Sorry” her cheeks flushed a bright, pink tint “I was going to have to wash the sheets sooner or later anyway” I shrugged, sitting beside her “besides, if you want to do something like that, all you need do is ask” “Really,” she blinked “you don’t mind?” “Why would I, I’ve my home returned to me, my friends, family, and loved ones by my side, what more could I ask for?” I smiled again “besides, nothing’s stopped you before, has it my Littlepip?” “I love you Rick” she cooed, leaning into me, pecking my cheek “And I always will” “So, what, pray tell, happens next?” Luna smirked -=--=- “She had to ask, didn’t she?” Blaze laughed “That she did” I sighed, tracing a line across the bonnet of the Merc with a finger, a thick layer of dust forming on my fingertip as I lifted it “Looks like you’ve a lot of work to do, cleaning up these cars” she folded her paws “That I have, but I’ve also got my subjects to worry about also,” I tilted my head “now I wonder what’s in here” I opened the nearby door that lead away from the garage, revealing a room filled with tonnes of cardboard boxes “A storage room, big whoop” Blaze waved a dismissive paw “Is it though?” I hummed “nothing is as it appears to be, no matter how small or precise the change may be” Opening one of the boxes, I saw that it was filled with packs of cards “Ok, my grandparents were apparently both impossibly rich and awesome” I blinked, turning toward Blaze “I don’t suppose you want me to open these, Blaze shrugged I sighed; lifting the box, carrying out to the porch, doing the same with the others, which took about an hour, if not two “Whatcha got there pardner?” Applejack blinked, trotting toward me “Rainbow and Twilight have been lookin’ for ya’ll ya know?” “Trust me, this is worth it” Blaze smirked, tearing open one of the boxes, without thumbs, somehow “A couple-dozen packs o’ cards?” Applejack blinked at the contents of the box “A few thousand more like” Blaze laughed as Twilight galloped toward me, Rainbow Dash gliding toward me simultaneously “So, what’s the buzz?” “I passed the wonderbolts entrance exam,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed “Now I’ve got the chance to get into one of their shows if they need a substitute!” “One can only hope that it gets better from here on,” I smiled “congratulations” “It was bound to happen eventually, they need someone with my talent in there to show off!” she grinned “And what news have you to bring me, Twilight?” I gleamed “I was just wondering where you were, you’re either usually in canterlot or wandering about” Twilight giggled, glancing toward the boxes “what’s in them?” “Just something I bought out of the storeroom in the basement, I sat, cross-legged, opening one f the packs, reaching in for the nine cards stored within; looking at beach of them in turn through them “Pyrorex,” Blaze blinked “isn’t that worth a lot?” “Fetch my rucksack” she did, returning with it momentarily, I switched it on, typing the card number into the search engine Pyrorex the elemental lord LVL: 8 ATK: 2800 DEF: 2200 CBLZ-EN040 £24.98 “Twenty-five of your currency, and just for a card,” Twilight blinked “is that a good thing?” “It shows that it’s rare, so there’s one thing” Blaze patted my back, passing me another pack Sifting through the contents of the second pack, I found another rarity, of sorts, typing the code into the laptop “An earthbound immortal,” Blaze blinked Earthbound immortal Uru LVL: 10 ATK: 3000 DEF: 3000 SOVR-EN025 £20.42 “Another lucky pull” Blaze whistled “Alongside the elemental lord and Helios, that’s eighty-five quid total” “Helios?” she grinned “An abbreviation of the card you gave me on January, remember?” “We missed you birthday?” Twilight gasped “You didn’t” I smiled, tipping a box on its side, emptying it, placing the cards that were currently out into it, the rarer ones stayed in my pocket “And ya’ll collect these cards fer what reason?” Applejack nickered “Fun mostly” I shrugged, opening a third pack as Blaze handed it to me, opening one on her own, the two of us sat by the pile of packs of cards “like how some people collect rare items, this is sort of the same thing, but with a card game, strange as it sounds” she laughed “I got a Volcanic queen” Blaze handed it to me Volcanic Queen LVL: 6 ATK: 2500 DEF: 1200 LODT-EN005 £0.05 “That’s not a lot” she hummed “I still like it though” she shrugged, glancing toward me “what’d you get, brother?” Arcana Force EX- The dark ruler LVL: 10 ATK: 4000 DEF: 4000 SP13-EN043 £0.98 “Not a lot either, but at least it’s got decent stats” she titled her head, the two of us opening another pack each “Is this all you’re going to do all day?” Rainbow Dash laughed “Basically” I nodded, Blaze grinned “I got an archfiend empress” Blaze passed me the card Archfiend Empress LVL: 8 ATK: 2900 DEF: 2100 STBL-EN000 £2.98 “Not bad,” she slowly nodded “whatcha get?” Gandora the dragon of destruction LVL: 8 ATK: 0 DEF: 0 SP13-EN041 £0.98 “Gandora huh, sounds like the name of an ancient wizard” “Grandoa, Gandora, I think kazuki takahashi knows a little more than what he’s letting on” I chuckled “Seems awfully convenient” she hummed “what if he’s a changeling?” “Like that’d ever happen” I laughed “Touché, but there’s always a possibility” she shrugged “Don’t you have a country to run?” “I hereby surrender my title as king to Faust” I sighed “I didn’t sign up for this, Blaze, honestly” “Who crapped in your cornflakes?” she chortled “I don’t eat cereal?” I raised an eyebrow “What about a daisy sandwich?” Twilight sat beside me “Humans can’t digest plants that well, so it’d make me somewhat ill” I bit my lip “Pancakes-” Blaze’s nose suddenly twitched, she passed me the pack she was holding “someone’s using your cooker” “There’s nobody in there Blaze, at least, there shouldn’t be” I frowned, placing the packs back in the box, Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Twilight following me into the house, and from there into the kitchen “What the fuck?” those were my exact words upon finding Luna in her anthro form wearing an apron over her usual lingerie stood by the oven making pancakes “We thought thou would like breakfast, and that thou were still asleep” Luna giggled “I would say this is an invasion of private property, though I don’t think Tesla’s in the mood to care right now” Blaze laughed, glancing toward me “look at you, not even a couple of years here and you have a sub-par mini-mansion and a maid of sorts to keep you company alongside you family, Twilight and the others” “Dear Blaze we are not…” Luna trailed off, staring into the distance, as if pondering something, before sighing “very well,. We shall act as a housemaid, if only to see what it’s like, Lady Blaze,” she glanced toward me “milord” she bowed quickly “I’ll be outside” I mumbled, wandering outside, Blaze by my side alongside Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Twilight “Are you insane?” I whispered loudly, leaning toward Blaze “were we on earth I’d hug the crap out of you” “So, what’s different?” Blaze shrugged “She’s a bloody princess, lady of the stars,” I frowned “you can’t simply take advantage of her like that” “I’m not going to be doing anything of the sort, she’s your maid, not mine” “Blaze whispered “You cannot do this to me” I snarled “I just did,” she glanced toward Twilight Rainbow Dash and Applejack, who were busy trying to hide their laughter, Rainbow Dash of whom, failed miserably, she pointed toward the doorway, I turned, Luna was stood there in a French maid outfit with a plate stacked high with pancakes in one hand, and a bottle of syrup in the other “Breakfast is ready, milord” Luna winked “Fuck me…” I mumbled as she giggled as I followed her into the kitchen placing the plate down on the table, handing me a knife and fork “Enjoy, Sir Rick” she nickered “That I will” I smiled -=- “So what did you mean when you said that you’d hug me?” Blaze smirked “Blaze, you know I’m a dumbass, let’s just let it go, Ok?” I sighed, having placed the empty packs in the bin; and the cards in neat piles in the box “Nope, I’m not shutting up until you explain what you said” she folded her arms, I did, she pursed her lips, slowly nodding “fair enough, if it’s a thing you humans frequent then who am I to argue?” “What’re we talking about?” Celestia teleported before me as I sat with Blaze on the front porch “Blaze has somehow managed to persuade your sister into being a maid, of sorts” I flinched “I see” she raised an eyebrow toward Blaze, who shrugged, she glanced back toward me “and you’ve had no say in the matter?” Blaze stared at me, a sly grin plastered upon her face that stretched from ear to ear “Where are you going with this?” I inched backward against the door “I’m just asking” she shrugged, her horn glowing in a bright primrose aura “Look, I don’t mind, I just don’t want it to be awkward, which is kind of hard considering it’s my own sister who started it” I raised my hands defensively “You’re being honest,” she smiled, the smile of which turned to a grin “and I suppose you’d like me to join her?” “Not at all, I mean maybe, but, what would I need anyone else to do that I can do myself?” “I can save you a lot of work, for one thing” she flashed her eyebrows at me “No thank you, she gave me the best puppy-dog eyes she could muster “fine, but that should be illegal for someone as beautiful as you” “Need I change into anything?” she purred “I’ve got one doing that as it is, so I don’t think so” I sighed “I’d rather not know, but I’ve a feeling I’m going to find out anyway” she sighed “Has Bluebelle shat out the stone I ‘handed’ her?” I grinned “It would appear as though her stomach acids dissolved it, melding with it in its liquid state,” Celestia raised an eyebrow “Daddy,” an icy Blue Pegasus filled my vision as Snowdrop hug-tackled me, clinging onto me “I missed you Daddy!” “And I you Snowy, and I you” “Daddy,” another Pegasus tackled me alongside an alicorn foal “We missed you,” Gracy Gloom and Winter Bell clung onto me as Snowdrop perched herself on the back of my head Winter Bell and Gracy Gloom hanging/perching on my shoulders “I know, I’ve heard such from my little Snowflake, my little saving grace and Winter Bell” I simpered “I love you Daddy” Snowdrop pecked one of my horns “I love you too Snowdrop”, I stroked her mane “No, I love, love, you, if that makes sense” a hush went over the immediate vicinity “I may love you, but it’s as family, and besides, I don’t screw my relatives” I rolled my eyes “Indeed” Celestia raised both eyebrows, I tilted my head “You do realise I’m uploading the events of what happens to me here onto my laptop, right?” I smirked “I’m aware” she grinned “That’s an invasion of privacy” I frowned “Not that you mind, right brother,” Blaze laughed “I mean, you didn’t seem to care the last time” “That was somewhat different” I grumbled “Tesla, there’s a humanoid pony in your house acting as a maid, of all things, what’s more is she didn’t even ring the doorbell, she just teleported in, most likely” “Touché, but you’re the one who talked her into it” I patted her head “So I am, but I’ve a feeling it’s gonna save you a bit of work” she glimmered, I glared at her “Look, just see how it goes, and if you don’t like wit, well, ask her to leave” “And if I don’t feel as though I have it in me to do such a thing?” I mumbled “You’re serious?” I gave her the flattest stare I could muster “Holy hell, Tesla, my dear brother, I didn’t realise you could be so introverted!” “Call it what you want you’re doing it, not me” I frowned “And now you’re being somewhat stubborn,” she raised an eyebrow, folding her arms “Why doesn’t that surprise me?” “What’re those boxes for?” Celestia gestured toward the pyramid structure that was built from the filled boxes beside the door “Just a few things I got from the storage room of the basement,” I shrugged “What’s in them?” she smiled “Cards” I deadpanned “Planning a massive party are we?” she smirked “Not that type of card” I mumbled “So I see” she opened one of the boxes, levitating a pack from the box “how many of these are there?” “Fuck all if I know” I shrugged again “Language, Sir Rick” I glanced behind me, Luna was sat behind me, now no longer wearing neither the outfit nor the apron as she gently placing her hands on my shoulders, massaging them “It is unbefitting of a lord to use such foul language when the matter at hoof needn’t call for it” -=-=-=- Come nightmare night I was walking through ponyville, wearing robes, a pitch-black cape and a skull underneath the hood, the skull of which had the horns of a ram, but the fangs of a Smilodon, and to finish the set of attire I’d gotten a scythe, having asked Nyx if she had one, the robes were made by rarity, and enchanted to give of a certain aura and to make it seem as though I was actually hovering, and had the body of the grim reaper himself, I hadn’t explained what they were for to anyone other than Blaze and Snowdrop There was many-a-pony who avoided me, staring at me in fear as I walked through the town “I didn’t think it possible to scare anyone this much” Blaze hummed, walking by my family, “Nay, the mortal hath every right to fear thine impending demise” I spoke in a guttural tone, trying to sound as close to the grim reaper as I could “Keep at it, bud” she laughed, Kiary perched herself on my shoulder, her scales having been magically dyed a precisely selected blackish-grey with red lining, her eyes magically changed so they appeared to be white fireballs “That we shall, young mortal” Kiary spoke in dark, malevolent tone that I hadn’t thought possible for a dragon her age, not yet anyhow, she glanced toward me “Did I get that right?” I nodded “So what’re you going as?” Rainbow Dash hovered down to me on a thundercloud, dressed in a purple/grey uniform with indigo goggles with golden lenses “Who is acting, knave?” I growled in the same deathly tone, pun intended “It’s a little obvious it’s you, Tesla” she laughed “just remove the freaky hood and talk to me normally” “As you wish” I grumbled, revealing the bleached skull underneath my hood, upon seeing it, she gasped, flying away as fast as she could, taking the cloud with her, I replaced the hood back over my head “Nice work Charon” Snowdrop nickered, I slowly nodded “And who might though be?” Luna stood before me “Lulu” I smiled “Sir Rick?” she blinked I raised an arm, gesturing for her to lower the volume “Where did thou get our scythe?” “I asked Nyx for it” I shrugged “So thou hath” she nickered “And what of thy arm?” “Magic” I gave her a thumbs-up “this’ll be our little secret, my little shooting star” “But what are thou dressed as?” she tilted her head “The human personification of death” I grinned “if ponies fear death then they’ll no longer fear the dark” “Thy assistance is noted” her cheeks turned a rosy pink tint “Come, let us find something to do in tonight’s most joyous occasion” “I’d be honoured” I returned to using my guttural tone, moving alongside Luna, approaching a stage where Rarity stood alongside a pony I didn’t recognize “Ah, Princess Luna,” Rarity bowed graciously, rising to her feet “Have you come to join the costume contest?” “We shall judge, if though wouldst allow it, but only if Sir Rick competes” Luna covered my back with a wing “That’s Tesla under there!?” Rarity gasped “Hello” I gave a small wave “I suppose we could make a few changes for tonight’s event, but I must insist that you wear something different next year” she sighed “Will do” I nodded, walking to the backstage When it was my turn, I seemingly glided onto the stage, wielding the scythe, holding onto it as tight as I could “So what are you?” the male judge asked, smiling up at me “Death,” I hissed, slowly pulling myself to my full height, “And thy time has come, stallion” “W-what?” I started slowly walking toward him. “Thou hast liveth for far too long. I am here to drag thee down to the dark pits of hell where thou belong” “You’re… a very good actor-“ “Who is acting, knave?” I growled, halting my movement, my head tilted slightly, as though confused “Do thou think thee still be living? Nay, thou art dead,” I restarted walking to where the three judges stood, the stallion began backing away “run not, There is no escaping thy fate,” my hand lifted to my hood, gradually pulling it back as I said, “Look into my eyes and know only darkness!” with the hood fully back, the skull I had on was visible for all to see “Thy, time, has, come,” I slowly announced, drawing closer with each word. Finally I stood before him, glaring down with empty eye sockets; he stood, as if transfixed, as I lifted the scythe up with both hands Without a word, I brought it straight down, and it stopped right in front of his face, held in a dark blue aura “That is far more than necessary” Luna rolled her eyes as I lifted the scythe to my side, pulling my hood back up, nodding, walking to the backstage area “I think I just gave someone a heart attack” I chuckled “Too harsh, Bro, too harsh” Blaze shook her head “Was it,” I tilted my head again, this time ever-so slightly “mind you, I promised Rarity I’d wear something else next year, and I will” As they began to announce the winners I let out a stifled yawn “Does the master of demise now yawn, Sir Rick?” I spun around, Celestia was stood there eyebrows raised “I thought it’d make for a few laughs” I pouted “The winner of the winner for the scariest foal is Scootaloo” Rarity exclaimed as Scootaloo walked through the curtain to the stage wearing a cute wolf costume “What do you ponies define as scary again?” I grinned “She’s a foal, Rick, don’t be too surprised” Celestia lightly frowned “Touché” I nodded “The winner of the cutest costume is Nurse Redheart” Rarity announced as Scootaloo reappeared through the curtain, and Redheart walked passed her wearing a nurse outfit “Not going there and Blaze knows why” I shuddered “Yes, yes I do” Blaze laughed “Explain” she smirked “The winner for the scariest costume, so to speak, is Charon” “I’ll let Blaze explain” Rarity seemingly facepalmed as I walked out, walking back in momentarily, medal in hand “Who’s Charon?” Celestia blinked “In Greek mythology, Charon is the ferryman of the dead, for a price, he may carry the souls of the dearly departed across the river Styx and Acheron” I explained “Seems rather befitting foe someone of your current visage” she smiled “So I hear that you humans have a thing for certain females in certain outfits?” “Some do, some find it disgusting, others want nothing to do with it either way,” I tilted a skeletal hand “And what’s your opinion on the matter?” she raised an eyebrow “I’m half and half, I suppose, I don’t mind it, so long as it doesn’t get taken to an extreme” “What would you class as extreme?” Luna teleported beside the solar goddess “Why’re you asking?” I tilted my head the other way “Why’re thou humans so odd?” she glimmered “Touché Lulu, touché” I sighed “Thou didn’t answer our question” she grinned “And I’ve a feeling I’ll regret it if I do” I rolled my eyes, again “We won’t be too harsh on thee, we think” she gave a rather dark giggle “No whips and gags, right Rick-o?” Blaze chortled, I turned around, Twilight and her friends, save Fluttershy were stood there, staring at me in apparent horror, save Rarity “Hi there” I smiled raising a hand giving them a small wave,
Chapter XV; Home“I can’t believe we caught you wearing that” Twilight frowned “I wondered what you were going to do with those clothes, now we know” “I’d like to point out that at least I wasn’t going around looking like a twenty-foot-tall demon from the pits of hell” I bit my lip “I suppose so” she slowly nodded “I promised Rarity that I wasn’t going to wear it again, and I don’t plan on breaking any promises that I make, least of all with you, my little gleaming star” I smirked, sitting on the front porch “My little eon,” she pecked my cheek, sitting beside me “what’s in the boxes?” “Take a look” I handed her a pack of cards from the box next to me” “How many of these are there?” she blinked “Tonnes, almost literally too” Blaze sighed “Where did you find these?” Twilight opened a pack, handing me the cards stored within “Storage room in the basement” I smiled, looking through the cards, placing them in my pocket “What’s the strongest card in the game?” she tilted her head “Number Ci-one-thousand, with an attack and defence of one-hundred-thousand “How’re you supposed to beat that?” she blinked, I bought out my deck, picking out a certain card “Mini-guts’ effect;” I smiled “By sacrificing one monster on my side of the field, I can select an opponent’s monster and lower its attack to zero, then, if it’s destroyed, they take its original attack points as damage, which is easy considering what my deck can do in one turn” “Right, the ‘hieratic’ monsters can easily swarm the field, so by tributing one to weaken an opponent’s monster, you can then attack with a second” Blaze explained “So, are we going to open any of these?” Blaze nodded toward the boxes “If I get bored enough” I shrugged “Which will probably be sooner rather than later, am I right?” she gave a wicked grin “What’re you getting at?” I tilted my head “I’ve seen what you do when you think nobody’s looking mister,” she beamed rather smugly “glancing at Twilight’s flanks everytime you see her, and Luna’s and Celestia’s too” “I do not!” I snapped “Denying it already Tesla, I thought better of you” she laughe1d “You’ve no proof” I chided “I’ve a very good memory, brother, you forget who I am, need I remind you?” she smirked “Shutting up” I quickly sealed my lips “Good boy” she patted my head, passing me a card from one of the packs “‘Stardust dragon,’” I blinked “Blaze I’ve already got one of these” “I know, I just thought that since you’ve got ‘Shooting Star Dragon,’ you could use it as a secondary booster for your deck” -=- “Are thou well, Sir Rick?” Luna smiled “Is this what you meant by ‘no whips and gags’?” Celestia stifled a laugh; Luna was once again wearing the outfit “Sort of” I mumbled “And what do you think of her?” Celestia turned toward me “”Well, she’s great to be around, and she’s an amazing pony.” “I overheard your thoughts on the night I found you two together, when she kissed you, you felt the same about her didn't you?" “Wait, you knew I was there the whole time?” I asked in confusion “I did. Everything you did; everything you said and thought; I knew it all, Apart from the noises this morning," Celestia smirked “So why did you act like you didn't know?” "To find out the truth from you, a little test, it seems, as I was aiming to see if you'd try and lie about why you were there in the first place, But you didn't, you were truthful and I thank you for that, Rick" “So, you heard my thoughts...even when I was thinking about her?” I bit my lip “Every single one of them” she nodded “I… I felt attached to her when we were talking on that night, I felt an instant connection when we talked about our lives, how similar they were, and because of that, I felt I could relate to her, she’s my Nakama, as are you, Princess, never lose sight of that, although I suppose spending some personal time with her in her hour of need made me realise how well I thought of her, I just...I feel that this friendship has been made because I took advantage of her when she was vulnerable...” I clenched my fists “But you didn't, what matters, is that in her worst hour, you cheered her up and helped her feel better, that's an amazing friend if I ever knew one, I know you feel strongly about her, especially when she kissed you, Tell me, when she kissed you, you thought she was more beautiful, correct?" "Without question" I softly said. "And when you woke up next to her this morning and she made you comfortable, did it look like she felt the same way about you?" “I suppose” I shrugged “No ‘suppose’ about it; I know my sister so well; how she spoke when she was with you, how she acted during breakfast, how she was always staring at you, She feels strongly about you as well, I'm sure of it” “She does?” I blinked “Of course, don't you believe in love at first sight?” she laughed “I don't know, I've never really experienced it” Celestia put her hoof on my shoulder and leant down towards my ear; “You have now, my dear Eon” she quietly giggled, I quickly darted outside, I won’t repeat my string of language-most-foul “Is there a problem, brother?” Blaze smirked “Not at all” I collapsed onto my back, smiling as I stared into a pair of magenta eyes, those of which belonged to a cyan Pegasus “Something wrong, Dashie?” “I was just wondering what you’re doing today, since I’ve got the week off” Rainbow Dash smiled “Not very subtle” Blaze muttered “What’s going on here?” Upon hearing the sudden intrusion, I suddenly bolted upright, coming into contact with the cyan Pegasus, who draped her arms around my neck, placing her lips on mine, gradually parting, I collapsed again “Was that necessary?” Blaze turned to the newcomer, an eon of red and white scales with golden eyes “Anything for my little Ricky-boy-o” Crystal laughed, I steadily got to me, walking over to the garage, opening it “So, your old house teleported here, how?” she blinked “Fuck all if I know” I mumbled “I guess we now know what your grandparents had in the garage” Crystal whistled “They even had it in my favourite colour, too” the Toyota Celica, I had conveniently/apparently forgotten to mention, was a deep crimson shade of red, I unlocked the doors, opening it Snowdrop quickly climbed inside “We could modify it so it has your chest symbol on the bonnet” I suggested, my family having walked with me to the garage “It’s got a letter inside,” Snowdrop exclaimed, handing me a letter she’d found in the glove box Opening the envelope, I unfolded the letter, which read: To our dear Crystal and Rick Hawkins If you ever receive the letter, we’d like you to know that we love you as the family that you are, you mean the world, and everything in it, to us, all that, and more, which is why, behind the seat, you’ll find a few items I kept safe for you from my days in the war, I won’t ruin the surprise, but I’d imagine each of them to be worth a small fortune, the car, however, I’d like you to share, as I’m sure Crystal would like it. She always did seem to be the responsible type of girl, make sure you take care of her like you did us, and vice-versa, now though, I’m afraid I’ll have to leave you, with our best wishes and regards for the future, and I’d like to once again remind you, that no matter who you might meet or what you might do, that we shall always love you, even if we’re worlds apart, farewell both of you, and may this letter find you well Yours sincerely, Harold and Sharon Hawkins Forever you’re loving grandparents When I finished reading the letter, I turned to Crystal, who was biting her lip in an attempt to stop herself from crying, I handed the letter back to Snowdrop, draping my wings and arms around the red and white eon with eyes of gold “Let it out, Crystal, trust me, you’ll feel better for it later” I smiled as she started crying, tears cascading down her face like small waterfalls “I miss them,” she sniffled “I didn’t even know them that well and I miss them, what do I do?” “You remember them” I pecked her on the lips “you do what you can in honour of both them and their memory, to live as they would’ve wanted you to, happily, together with me” “And live, I shall” she gave a weak smile, wiping away her tears “Thank you, Rick, I don’t know where I’d be without you, my love” she glanced toward the car as I let her go “so, when do we get to drive it?” “I’m not sure there’s anywhere we can” I tilted my head as Twilight, having noticed me, trotted toward us, sat by my side “You’re grandparents took part in a war?” Rainbow Dash stared at me “World war Two, to be exact,” Blaze folded her arms “What did he do in the war?” Snowdrop perched herself on the back of my head “He used to be a fighter pilot; and one of the best in his squadron, one of the best in the war,” I smiled at the thought “took down some fifty to a hundred enemy flyers within the first two years of the war, and he didn’t just stop there” “Sounds like an alright kinda pony; or; person” Rainbow Dash patted my back “Guess being awesome runs in the family, right Rick-o?” “I suppose” I mumbled, letting out an exponentially elongated sigh “Let’s see what they gave you then, err, us” Crystal giggled, I nodded, opening the car, retrieving a foot-long, three-foot-wide, black box, which worked in the same way as a suitcase, with a four digit code, the case in question was a matte black colour “What’s the code?” she blinked, I rolled my eyes, changing the code to ‘1996’, the case clicked open “your birth-year, interesting, if a little obvious” she chuckled, as I pulled out a folded-up world-war-II pilot’s uniform complete with hat and goggles “That’s his uniform?” Twilight glanced toward the clothing, and then toward me, I nodded “Might need rarity to make a few repairs” I smiled, setting the uniform down on the roof of the Celica, bringing out from the case, a firearm “What the heck is that?” Rainbow Dash stared at me “It’s what’s known as a revolver, looks like he wasn’t just satisfied with using bombs” Blaze tutted “That there’s a common infantry sidearm, the Webley Mk-VI” “And what’s this?” Crystal pulled a card from the case, wiping the dust away with a fragile claw “That, most likely, is his licence,” I smiled, she handed it to me, I quickly pocketed it “What’s this?” Snowdrop handed me a key-ring with a single, brass key attached to the stainless steel loop “That’s a key-ring,” I smiled “That’d mean that there’s still something else hidden somewhere in the house, or in one of those boxes outside” Crystal hummed “And so the somewhat small quest continues” I simpered “So it does” she sniggered -=- Searching for the ‘mystery box,’ as Snowdrop labelled it, was more than a bit annoying, it wasn’t in any of the boxes, it wasn’t under any of the beds, neither was it in any cupboards in said bedrooms, nor was it in the basement “What about in the lounge?” Blaze suggested “Might as well” I shrugged, walking into the lounge, where cupboard stood low above the floor with shelves set above it, all in ornately carved mahogany “Perhaps it’s in there” Snowdrop pecked one of my horns Opening the cupboard, I found three large lockboxes “Bingo” I grinned as the brass key slid into the lock, lifting the box out of the cupboard, I set it down on the neatly carved teak table, Opening the box revealed several sets of jewellery, two golden rings, bracelets and rings, each with a variety of gems in them on one shelf, which I set on one side, the next revealed a pair of keys, one was silver, the other, a solid gold, I lifted the shelf, placing it to the other side of the lockbox, revealing the final layer, which had a pair of dog-tags with my granddads name etched into them “I wonder how much you could make out of these” Blaze stared at the rings “I’m not selling them” I lightly frowned “I was just wondering” she held up her paws defensively, I rolled my eyes, moving back to the cupboard “What’re you doing?” Rick?” I turned around; Celestia was stood there, in her human form, a small smile appearing upon her features “Snowdrop found a letter, which then led to the discovery of a brass key which then led to a house-wide search which finally led to us discovering these, I lifted one box to the table, with Blaze lifting the other as I opened the first, trying and failing with the key of gold,, trying again with the key of silver “What, on, earth?” Crystal stared at Celestia “I’m sure you’ve already met Celestia, Crystal” I smirked “How in the actual fuck has she done that?” Crystal laughed “Laptop” I grumbled “That much is evident” she rolled her eyes at me as I turned to face the box’s contents= “‘How…?’” is all I could say as I was too busy trying to face the cats of what I was looking at “That’s, a soul dew!” Crystal gasped “There’s a note to go with it” Snowdrop pointed her hoof at the floor of the box, in which, like she exclaimed, there was indeed, a note, I placed the dully glowing sphere back into the box after taking the note out, reading it aloud: Rick, we found this on our vacation in new Zealand, we don’t know exactly what it is, but we’d like you to have it, as we know we can rely on you to take care of everything that we ask of you, that being said, I ask that you keep it on you at all times, for who knows, it may bring you good luck, or it might not, that’s for you to find out Lots of love, Harold and Sharon Hawkins XOXOX “They found a Soul dew whilst in the middle of New Zealand,” Crystal blinked “How?” “That’s just another mystery that I think needs to go unsolved” I bit my lip, placing the soul dew atop the note, locking the box “What’s the other one got in it?” Crystal peered over my shoulder as I opened the third and final lockbox with the key of gold, revealing a second soul dew, also with a note placed under it, this soul dew, however, was a pitch black colour with a deep, crimson ‘mist’ appearing every now and then in certain parts “Another one, how is this possible?” Crystal gaped; I picked up the note sliding it out from underneath the pulsating orb, it read as follows: Dear Son, your mother and I found this when we found you as an infant, we don’t know whose son you actually are, but I pray that we did just as good a job as they might’ve, wherever they are Your mother’s passing was, difficult, to overcome, but I managed, somehow, to take care of the both of us, I know you may not believe it and you may throw away this letter as soon as you get it, let alone start reading it, but I want you to know that I love you, just as much as your mother would’ve it’s times like this that I look back and regret all that I’ve done to you that may be considered wrong by even the kindest of people, so wherever you go, whatever you do, or whomever you might meet, I want you to know that we both love you, even from beyond the grave if need be, I’ll bet with anyone on any amount of money that your mother would be proud as your real mother would be if she could see you now Stay safe, lots of love, Adrian Hawkins XOXOX When I finished reading the letter, I collapsed, tears streaming down my face “I can’t believe it…” Crystal stared at me “Nor can I” Celestia glanced between me and the soul dew “Tesla, you’re…?” Twilight stepped forward; I wiped away my tears as I pulled myself upright “I was never truly reborn, merely reverted, stripped of my power, as it were” I frowned “So, you’re a billion years old, literally and physically?” Crystal blinked “I’ve no clue” “That is correct” the soul dew began to glow with a bright light, hovering before me “Rick, I’m the old ‘you’ from one billion years ago, you’re the new ‘me’ living in the present, let’s skip the pleasantries, shall we?” the soul dew’s angle shifted “I see we’ve another eon, as well as Celestia in a new form, interesting, state your name, young eon” “Crystal,” Crystal frowned “Didn’t know the old ‘me’ could be such an asshole” I quipped, only for the soul dew to ‘face’ back toward me, firing a small dart of black energy at me, I flinched as it hit my stomach “Next time you’ll think twice before commenting, eon boy” the gemstone snapped, “tell me, what year are we in?” “Twenty-one-ninety-two-ish” I shrugged “why?” “That is irrelevant to your concerns, little one” the blackish-crimson stone scoffed “now, onto more pressing matters…” “You’re right, the old ‘you’ is an asshole” Blaze laughed “Good thing I’ve changed then” I smirked “Did we just insult you?” Crystal stared at me, blinking “I’m not the one affected by petty comments; it’s the gemstone that’s the one with a serious attitude problem” I rolled my eyes, the sphere fired another dart, I flinched again “I believe that pain and discipline go hand-in-hand,” the soul dew huffed “how many blasts will it take to get you to learn?” “Can anyone else see what’s happened here?” ii stifled a laugh “What’s happened?” Rainbow Dash and Twilight blinked in unison “It’d appear that my personality was halved, and I got the good half, whilst the rest remained in the soul dew “That is correct, but for now, I believe you need to be disciplined” the glowing orb hovering above the table hummed “how do you propose we do that, Rick-y boy?” “I’d hate to see you in a bad mood” I mumbled “Indeed,” it seemingly nodded “now, discipline,” it continued “how do you propose we perfect it upon your being?” I opened my mouth to speak “and before you mention your scars, those are from the war, not your parents, I only replaced them so it’d not cause you to be rendered catatonic, young eon” “Although rather dark, I can accept that, I mean, if I end up brain-dead before the age of two, who’s going to look after you lot?” I glanced toward Celestia, laughing “You’re demented” Crystal and the soul dew sighed together “Aren’t I just, but that’s what separates me from you, I turned to face the soul dew, “I’m not like you, I’m not some stuck-up sadistic dictator who thinks he can do what he wants and get away with it,” I snarled “for every action in the universe, there is an according reaction and consequence, didn’t anyone teach you that, scum?” “Good, now you’re getting there” the soul dew laughed “I’ll be in here, should you need me, young eon” and with that, the light faded from the crystalline orb, and it slowly lowered back into the box, which automatically closed and locked itself, as if by magic (pun intended, assuming there’s one to be made) “Tesla,” Crystal inched forward, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder, I spun around, draping my wings and arms around her, holding her close to me as she did the same, having changed to her anthro form, draping her angel-like wings around me “I’m so sorry” she whispered, barely audible “You’ve no reason to be” I shook my head, pecking her on the lips “I love you Crystal, you’re my little gem, one of the only two in existence in fact” “Who’s the second?” she grinned, I nodded toward Winter Bell “Fair do’s” “There are, or have been, ponies who’ve been observing this house, curious as to where it came from” Celestia smiled “what do you propose to do about it?” “Curious how, exactly,” I tilted my head slightly “They wish to see what it’s like inside” she sighed “Will you grant them that request, Rick?” “And have possibly millions of pounds worth be damaged or stolen?” I laughed “I’ve got priceless artefacts in the castle in canterlot” she shrugged “You’ve got an army of guards to serve you as and when you please,” I shrugged “I’ve got none of that” “You’ve got a dragon” Kiary perched herself on her shoulder “What in the actual hell,” Crystal stared at Kiary “I thought those dyes and spells would’ve worn off by now” Kiary shrugged “That doesn’t explain why you look like a death-wyvern” she laughed “It was for Nightmare Night” Kiary smirked “And you haven’t tried dousing yourself with a little water?” Crystal blinked “…” Kiary opened her mouth to start speaking, but then closed it again “Damn you” “I know, I’m the best aren’t I?” she chortled “One of the best anyway” I raised an eyebrow as Kiary wandered upstairs “You flatter me” Celestia winked “Would thou likest us to help with anything, Sir Rick?” Luna appeared, in her outfit, with a duster in-hand “Tesla…” Crystal grumbled “It was Blaze who suggested it!” I quickly rebuked, her gaze turned toward the Typhlosion now lying along the sofa, who shrugged “I thought Tesla could use the extra help with the house” Blaze smirked “And that involved having the lunar goddess being reduced to a mere housemaid?” I raised both eyebrows “I don’t see you arguing!” she gave a smug grin, Crystal turned her gaze back toward me “You want me to argue?” I spat “how about the fact that it removes any shred of dignity and decency she had, no offense, Tsuki” “None taken, Master” “You pay her to say that?” Crystal gave a sly grin “I don’t pay her anything” I bit my lip “Makes it all the sweeter would ya say, brother?” “Oh, fuck you, Blaze,” I shook my head “though I think you already did anyways” “When did this happen?” Crystal folded her arms “When she evolved” I shrugged “And you didn’t tell me that because why?” she raised an eyebrow “Wouldn’t want you going mental about it” I hummed “I’m not going to” she sighed, “Honestly, Rick, I wonder how you get into these situations” “That makes the three of us” Blaze laughed “I know, right?” I laughed -=--=- The following day, and I was sat on the sofa reading the letter from my dad, my family and friends elsewhere, save Snowdrop and Littlepip “It hurts, doesn’t it?” Littlepip placed a fragile hoof on my side “More than I can bear” I clenched my fists, she’d read the letter, and had subsequently been reduced to tears “Just don’t let it be all you think about, my love” she pecked my cheek “How can I not, my scars weren’t from my family, but from an age old war fought an eon ago, put that with the fact that Celestia controlled my love-life throughout my time on earth for her own selfish gain, what am I to do?” “Be grateful that you’re here, with us” she nuzzled into me “We love you Tesla, and we know that you love us just as much, if not more, so what if you’re old life wasn’t that good, here you are, surrounded by new family and friends in a new world, why not make something of it?” “I need to be somewhere” I stood up, Snowdrop perching herself on the back of my head, Littlepip walking with me to the front porch, smiling as I locked the door, changing to eon form, Climbing onto my back as I took off for Canterlot -=- As I entered the throne room, I saw Faust sat on the throne, and Cadance sat beside her “Rick, such a pleasure to see you again” Faust smiled, I rolled my eyes “Is there something bothering you, young eon?” “I found a letter in my home,” I began, she nodded “from my dad,” I went on” she nodded again” it says that I’m not their son, and that they found me with a soul dew,” she hummed, slowly nodding “so I’ve a question I’d like to ask of you, your majesty” “You wish to know who you parents are?” she raised an eyebrow, I nodded “I’m sorry, but I alone cannot answer that, not until I am with Luna, Celestia and the others, namely Stella, or as she likes to be called, firefly, the concord flame, Iridia, or as her preferred name, Iris, and Galaxia,” she sighed “but, I ‘m afraid I can’t simply just ask for a summons with all of them simultaneously, that might give certain ponies the wrong idea” “I understand” I quickly bowed “Is there anything else I can help you with?” she smiled “No, your majesty, that is all I had to ask” I shook my head “I’ll see you later” “The elements of creation are to be summoned then?” Cadance giggled as I turned and left, stopping momentarily “If Tesla so wishes, which I’ve no doubt that he does” Faust cooed, I nodded, walking out of the throne room -=- “The elements of creation, are to be summoned?” Luna blinked on the following week, quickly changing to her pony form, the outfit she apparently insisted on wearing now gone, replaced by her normal royal regalia “Let us make haste for Canterlot at once!” On the return trip, I glanced behind me, my friends and family upon my back, Snowdrop once again atop my head as I flew beside Blackjack and Luna; Celestia soared up from the ground, perfectly matching my speed “Show-off” I rolled my eyes, Celestia winked As we entered the throne room -having knocked first and then been allowed entrance-, my friends and family walking beside me as Celestia and Luna appeared via teleportation beside Faust and Cadance, who were stood beside a white alicorn with a flowing cyan mane and tail, a pink Pegasus with a mild lavender mane and tail, a second white alicorn with a golden mane and tail wearing a pale green cape “This is the element of nature you spoke of in your summons?” The pink Pegasus eyed me up and down, Faust nodded, “looks like an ordinary typical human to me, your majesty” “Ah, that’s where you’re wrong” Faust nickered, the Pegasus shot her a rather perplexed look, Faust nodded “Show them Tesla, might as well have a little fun while we’re here, after all” I nodded, lowering Snowdrop to the ground, stepping forward, bursting into flames “So he can set himself alight, what’s the big deal?” the Pegasus rolled her eyes, I exhaled a small fireball, spreading my wings, she stared at me “You have wings?” she gawked at me, I lowered my head “and horns also, what are you?” “I’m a human, an eon, and a dragon slayer,” I chuckled “which is a little ironic considering I’m one third dragon” “A dragon, who’s also a Dragon slayer,” she blinked, I nodded “Well I’ll be damned if that isn’t irony at its best” “I know, right?” I laughed “So, you wish to know where you’re parents are?” The white alicorn with the cyan mane and tail smiled “I’m Galaxia, and these are Firefly and Iris,” she gestured to the alicorn and Pegasus that stood beside her, respectively “The concord flame, as Faust told me” I bowed “You needn’t bow; we’re all elements, are we not?” Faust simpered “We’re not” Blackjack raised a hoof “we’re Rick’s Nakama” “Nakama,” Firefly stifled a laugh “It means a friend who’s closer than family, one who you’d do anything to protect,” I explained “In all of my years, I’ve never heard of such a concept” Iris smiled “you’re name is rick, correct?” I nodded “I can see already that you hold a heart greater than anyone present, you just need to unlock its full potential, we can help with that, if you so wish,” she winked “tell me, have you activated your element of nature yet?” “Not yet, as I’m sure of how to do so” I hummed “That’s not true,” Blaze patted my back “when you went rampant, somewhat, you unleashed a wave of sub-par cataclysmic energy, that’s what destroyed the everfree forest” “You destroyed the everfree?” Firefly raised an eyebrow “Harmony repaired it” I bit my lip “He awakened harmony?” she glanced toward Celestia, who nodded “A fool’s errand; assuming it was deliberate, which, knowing the typical human, it was,” she frowned “was it?” “Why would I deliberately do something that would no doubt lead to the disrupting of the universe, or at least Equis?” Iris whispered something to Galaxia, who nodded “Well spoken, I can now acknowledge you as a sub-par element of nature, somehow” “she nickered “We too, acknowledge your abilities, even if we’ve yet to see them in combat” Galaxia smiled alongside Iris “And that moves us onto the next topic at hoof, or in your case, hand” Firefly leapt forward, getting into a battle ready position “Fight me” she growled, launching herself at me, knocking me to the floor, I gave her the flattest stare I could muster “didn’t you hear me?” she frowned, “I asked you to fight me” she hit me square in the face, I didn’t even twitch, she tutted hitting me again in the chest as the flames around me dissipated “Why won’t you hit back?” she yelled, picking me up and throwing me into one of the pillars in the room “Tesla is a being of chivalry” Blaze smirked “he doesn’t hit females” “Weak!” Firefly spat as I fell to the floor, turning me over, only to be tackled in the side by a familiar icy-blue Pegasus “You leave Daddy alone,” Snowdrop scowled as I stood upright “mercy isn’t a sign of weakness, but of wisdom, Daddy taught me that first-hoof!” “Alright, how about I take you out first?” she spat, I lunged at her, knocking her on her back, Dawnbreaker drawn and paced against her neck as I held her down “You even so much as lay a fraction of a hoof on my daughter and this room will become a bloodbath” I growled, my eyes, I had later been told, had become slits “I thought you didn’t hit females,” Firefly gulped audibly “I can make an exception for my little snowflake, especially for ponies like you, Firefly” I snarled “you can piss me about all you want, I’ll either shrug or laugh it off, you mess with my family, and it won’t matter who or what you are, so may the gods have mercy, for mercy shan’t be mine that day” I stood upright, sheathing the Dawnbreaker, turning and walking back toward my family, crouching “Are you alright, Snowy?” I smiled “All-the-better, knowing you’re Ok, Daddy” Snowdrop perched herself on the back of my head “She didn’t hit you too much, did she?” “She acts like a bitch and hits like one also, just like the ex-wife” I laughed, vacating the room with my friends and family in tow -==- “Did you know that somewhere in America there’s a pub with a large cardboard sign outside it that says ‘we serve beer as cold as your ex-girlfriend’s heart’?” Blaze smiled “So, it’s like magma then?” I smirked “I see what you did there, brother” she laughed “but what’s with you teaching Snowdrop cheesy Bionicle quotes, not that I’m complaining?” “Sometimes, courage means not knowing when to take a life but when to spare one” Snowdrop pecked my horn “And now J.R.R Tolkien movie quotes also, what the hell Tesla?” she chortled “Just proving that we can be the cheesiest beings on Equis” I shrugged “Prove it” she folded her arms, giving me a smug grin “If I had to choose between loving you and breathing, I’d use the last of my breath to declare how much I love you” I tutted “Touché” she glimmered “So what’re we going to do about finding your parents?” “Well for one, I wouldn’t know where to start, and second, chances are good they’re already dead, save for what a scarce few immortals might know of them” I sighed “Once again, touché” she slowly nodded “Like win that episode when Applejack said that ‘if you believe amazing things can happen’” “Hasn’t Gainax studios been doing that since nineteen-eighty-four?” I tilted my head “So they have” she smirked, waiting outside our house with my friends and family as I retrieved my rucksack from the lounge, setting it down by the door on the porch, reaching into it, pulled out a large, heavy, silver blade with a creamy-yellow glowing patters running down the middle, propping it beside the bag up against the wall “Where in the hell did you get that?” she gaped “An appropriate use of the word ‘hell’,’ dear sister” I grinned “You went to that dimension, of all places!?” she stared at me “I’m sorry for making you worry, sister” I patted her gently on the head, she quickly nuzzled my hand as I removed it “You’re here now, and that’s what’s important, though Crystal might disagree, although she’d still love you all the same, Brother” she almost giggled, giving a light chuckled as she smiled “May we be together, even if worlds apart” I held out a fist “Our bond will strengthen us regardless” she clenched her paw, lightly bumping it against my fist “And I thought I could be somewhat ‘cheesy’” I laughed “It was rather a team effort than two individual projects, brother” she smiled “So it was, Blaze, so it was” I simpered “Where’d you go to get such a fine blade?” Velvet Remedy tapped the large weapon lightly, resulting in what sounded like a minute-long chorus of angels “All that matters is that I have it, the Daybreaker, ten thousand times stronger than the Daybreaker, and two million times more resilient, at the very least” I sighed, sitting on the ‘garden’ outside the house “To think that such a weapon could be forged,” Blaze shook her head “I guess even angels need to defend themselves, or in this case, dragons and eons” “Tesla, you’re…?” Littlepip stared at me as I placed a gentle fingertip on the intricate patter within the circular part of the hilt of the Daybreaker, my wings immediately becoming a pearly silver colour “I am that of which cannot be, and therefore, eventually shall be no longer” I riddled as a thunderous roar echoed from the forest as a large bear appeared, this one, unlike the first, was a smaller variant, with a six pointed star upon its head, and it’s colouration that of a bold/cobalt blue sort “You wish to challenge us?” I stood upright; taking flight lunged toward the beast, fists blazing Then the unexpected happened; The star upon the Ursa’s head flashed a bright white glow for an instant, I stopped, mid-flight, looking down at myself, my arms had been reverted to their mechanical forms, “Is that your best shot?” I scoffed, only to be sent crashing down to the ground, one of the mechanical arms literally shattering into hundreds of shards of metal as I came into contact with the grass-laden earth “Tesla,” Blaze slammed the Daybreaker into the ground next to me “Kick its ass” I cast a moment’s glance toward her, nodding, grabbing the blade, soaring toward the enormous entity, bringing it high above my head “Metsuryū Ogi Kai, Hoseki Ryū Jin ken!” I roared bringing the blade down, releasing an unbelievable wave of golden white pulsating fire toward the creature, splitting it in half, skidding to a halt as I landed “That was amazing” I heard one pony gasp “And he did it so effortlessly!” a second pony whistled “And with one arm, and also in a single swing, no less!” a third added “Never underestimate a dragon slayer” Blaze glimmered, my family and friends standing beside me as I went back to the garden situated in front of the house at which by rucksack was rested against the wall, slamming the blade into the ground “Tesla, are you Ok?” Blackjack glanced toward my sleeve, which I shook as it continued to produce broken parts “I’m in sub-par satisfactory condition,” I shrugged “this is only temporary, I hope” I laughed “wouldn’t want one of the only eons on Equis to go partially unarmed against whatever comes next, would we?” “Quite so” Celestia smiled as she appeared beside Luna, Faust, and Firefly, her horn glowing as my arms were both repaired and restored to their human forms “Y’know, I’m beginning to see a similarity or two between you and Asura, other than the mechanical arms” “I’m not a demi-god,” I chortled “close to it perhaps, but not so, I would require the strength of an army of eons to earn that title, sister” “No,” she shook her head “your compassion and solicitude for your Nakama, your friends, family and loved ones, it leaves you somewhat vulnerable, angry, enraged, you need to learn to supress that, find another way to win when there’s a life on the line, per se, don’t die like he did” “You insist that I do nothing?” I frowned “I will do what’s necessary to protect Snowdrop and the others, violence or otherwise, and when I make a threat concerning my family, I intend to follow through, unless my self-control gets in the way” “Case in point” she sighed “you’re a loose cannon Rick, learn to supress that fiery hatred for those who’d bring your family harm, morph it into something else if you can, just don’t end up hurting yourself doing it” “…” I remained silent for an instant before saying; “No promises” “That’s good enough for me” she rolled her eyes at me “you’re insane, you know that?” “I thought we established that not a century ago?” I smirked “So we did” she pumped a paw against my fist as I held it out “Besides, Asura or ‘Ashura’s,’ are meant to have six arms and three heads, not one” I smiled “That depends; can you imagine him with three heads?” she gave me a ‘are you serious?’ look “Touché” I quickly nodded “Where did you get that?” Celestia glanced toward the Daybreaker “A place where angels soar and demons fear to tread” I winked “You may have it if you so wish, a gift, and a token of my service as my being your knight, and Nyx’s” “I’ve a feeling you’d need it more than me, so whilst I appreciate the thought, you may keep it, Sir Rick” she smiled “All’s fair in love and war, I suppose” I sighed “You cheesy little bastard,” Blaze guffawed “I know, sometimes I even scare myself” I gave her a shit-eating grin “Because you know you’re a tad awkward when you’re strength lies not in your physical prowess, but rather, in your heart” “Just stop already,” she groaned “before I have an aneurysm” “Only for, you, Blaze,” I grinned “only for you” I began scratching the vents on the back of her neck, she flinched, suddenly exhaling a short stream of fire “Not bad, a little bitter, if a tad spicy” I grinned as I inhaled the flames, devouring them “You…” Firefly stared at me ate fire?” “Don’t be too impressed” I laughed “I can also eat gemstones, like an ordinary dragon of Equis” “Please don’t do that, Rick” Blaze hummed “I won’t do anything my friends don’t want me to do” I smiled “Tesla,” Blaze sat beside me, nuzzling into me “you said once that you’d ‘do it for her,’ how do you feel about that now?” “A little different, I’ll fight for those who I care about, be they eon, pony, or otherwise” I draped a wing around her “Rick, draping your wing around somepony means you’re ready to mate with them” Celestia raised an eyebrow “Ready this time, are we?” Blaze smirked “I’m using it instead of an arm” I shrugged again “Fair-do’s, brother” she smiled, lying on the ground with her head in my lap “What’re you doing?” I tilted my head “Just relaxing” she winked “That’d mean that-” she grinned, sitting in my lap, pressing her lips against mine, glimmering as she parted “Your idea of ‘relaxing’ is insane” I frowned “So are you” she shrugged “So I guess the talon’s on the other claw” “Touché” I mumbled as she patted my head, curling up in my lap -=- As I wandered around the house, I peered under the double bed that was placed against the wall in my bedroom, pulling out a rather old guitar, sitting on the bed, playing the strings a few times, attempting to tune it correctly “Where’d ya find that?” Blaze smiled as she entered the room “Under the bed, probably didn’t think of it whilst searching for the lockboxes because it wasn’t as important at the time” I shrugged “it’s even signed on the back” “Signed, by who exactly?” she blinked, a little out-of-character, I flipped the guitar over, revealing a signature by a certain musician “Bryan Adams” I smiled “Making it priceless, almost” she glimmered “at least nowadays anyway, that thing’s worth a fortune” “The most expensive guitar is signed by Bryan Adams and nine other guitarists, it sold at an auction in Qatar for around two-point-seven-million dollars” I shrugged “Daily Telegraph?” she smirked “Quite so” I nodded As I walked with Blaze onto the ‘front lawn,’ assuming it could be called that, I spotted a silvery Pegasus with a blonde mane and tail sat there “Hiya Rick,” the Pegasus known as Derpy exclaimed smiling, waving toward me, I smiled back “Hello Derpy” I ruffled her mane a bit, she giggle, hovering beside me, nuzzling into me, handing me a box with a few letters tied to it via elastic band, pecking my cheek, winking at me as she flew away “She’s cute” Blaze smiled “right up your alleyway, so to speak, eh brother?” “Perhaps,” I nodded sideways “Now I just need her address and a way to dip into my bank account without being noticed or sounding too awkward” “I can help you with that,” someone from above me yelled as a pair of magenta eyes filled my vision “Good morning, Rainbow Dash” I smirked “Ponyville’s local spy, are we?” before she could retort I continued “I must say, you’re not very good at it” “I wasn’t spying, I was napping” she gestured up to the cloud above me “So, you said you could help Rick” Blaze Simpered “I’ve been around Derpy’s place a few times, so I can take you there, but that’s assuming she’s even there later on” Rainbow Dash grinned “I told you she had a thing for you, Rick-o” “So you did” I smiled again =-= “Are you sure about this, chances are good she’ll lock the door, trapping you in there for about a week” Rainbow Dash lightly punched my arm “If it’s with a friend, I don’t see the problem” I shrugged, knocking on Derpy’s Apartment door, which was opened shortly afterward by the familiar silver Pegasus “Tesla, I…” Derpy blinked “I wasn’t expecting visitors, come on in” she stood to one side, I entered the room, she closed the door behind me, locking it, just as Rainbow Dash said she would “What rings you to see little old me?” Derpy sat beside me on the sofa “I just wanted to see how you were” I smiled “And I’m glad” she cooed “you’re all my little muffin talks about, and all I think about,” she simpered, tears welling in her eyes “Dinky’s always wondering when you’ll come to see us, even for the briefest of moments,” she leant into me “Tell me, Tesla-” “Rick” I stroked her mane “Huh?” she blinked “Call me Rick” I pecked her cheek “Looks like somepony’s making it to second base” she purred, Dinky shouldn’t be back for the next three hours, she’s at school you see” she rolled onto my front, her head resting on my chest as she stared up at me “What’re you doing?” I tilted my head “Making myself comfortable Hon” she pecked me on the lips “I love you, Rick, do you love me?” “I love all of my friends, especially ponies like you, Derpy” I smiled This of course, may, or may not have, been the wrong thing to say, because as soon as I finished speaking, pecking her on the forehead afterward, she slid down my body, sitting between my legs, pulling my trousers and boxers down to my ankles, climbing back up slightly, trailing a thin line of saliva along the base of my shaft, taking it into her mouth, all the way to the hilt, quickly pumping her head up and down as she sealed her lips around it, smiling up at me as she sucked me off, gleefully devouring whatever trace amounts of pre made it out of the head of my manhood, her tongue rubbing along the base of my cock, I pulled her away, slouching down to a more even level, setting her crotch around my neck so she was facing downward, she once again took my length into her maw, as I slipped my tongue into her folds, she moaned as I twirled and danced my oral muscle around her depths, causing her to quickly orgasm, her folds clenching around my tongue as the fluid flowed between my teeth “You’re amazing, my love” Derpy cooed, sitting in my lap “Anything for you, my little silver cupcake” I smiled, she clambered onto my stomach, lining herself up with my member, slamming down on it, flinching slightly as a ever-so slight amount of blood trickled down from her entrance “Are you Ok, Derpy?” I bit my lip “I’ll be fine, just…” she paused for a moment, exhaling sharply “just keep going” “If you say so, silver” I gave a weak smile as I began to buck my hips in sync with her thrusts, hilting her each time she bought herself down on me, lightly taking hold of her flanks as she bounded up and down, releasing wave after wave of seed into her she almost wailed as I climaxed, her folds once again clamping down on me as she collapsed onto my chest -=- “That was amazing…” Derpy sighed, my lower attire back up where it belonged “Truly” I smiled, as a key turned the lock on the door “Dinky,” Derpy gleamed as a silvery lavender unicorn filly with a blonde-ish mane and tail appeared at the door, the two of them sharing a hug as Dinky leapt toward her mother “How’ve you been?” “Diamond Tiara kept bullying the me and the crusaders again because we don’t have our cutie marks yet” Dinky nuzzled into her mother “Have you talked to Cheerilee about it?” Derpy draped a wing around her daughter “More than once, and she says she’ll talk to Diamond Tiara’s parents about it, but she never does, because she keeps on bullying us,” she glanced toward me “Daddy!” she charged at me, I gasped for breath as she collided with my midsection “You get bullied at school, how come?” I stroked her mane “We don’t have cutie marks, so Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon constantly picks on us for it, they’re the worst!” “And bullies never learn, which is why you need to stand up to them,” I smiled “show them that you’re not going to be messed with any longer, non-violently of course, and they should leave you alone, plus, there’s at least four of you and two of them, if you band together as a group, you’d be able to do anything” I pecked her on the tip of her horn “And if that doesn’t work?” she squee’d, gleaming at me in sheer glee “Then you get to bring in your secret weapon” I winked “Which is?” she giggled “Me” I winked “I’ll try” she nodded “Just do what you can, without resorting to violence; I don’t want anyone to get into trouble because of this” I set her on the seat beside me, petting her lightly on the head “Now then, Derpy, I’ll see you later” I walked to the door “and thanks for the muffins, silver” -=-=- “So, how’d it go?” Blaze smirked, lying beside me as I sat cross-legged on the front lawn, again “Quite well, I’d say,” I smiled, staring into the sky “And I don’t think Diamond Tiara will be a problem for at least a year” “Who’s that?” she laughed “Just a bully” I chuckled “Ah, so I see” she nodded “Take care of them, have you?” “Not just yet, Blaze, not just yet” I shook my head “Tell the would-be victim to stand up to this ‘Diamond Tiara,’ did we?” “What else can I do,” I shrugged “I asked Dinky not to resort to violence, as I don’t want Derpy to be blamed for it” “Wise,” she nodded again “and if all else fails?” “Then I get involved” I frowned “And what would you do, ask the teacher, assuming this is a school-based event, that her parents be bought to the school?” “It’s the least I can do” I clicked my neck “So be it,” she sighed =-=-= As the days progressed, I got no word of any events at the school, until on one morning not half a month later, Derpy appeared, as she always did, handing me a small pile of letters, staring at the ground “Are you Ok, Silver?” “It’s Diamond Tiara, they hit my little muffin” Derpy began to weep, clinging onto me, I draped my wings around her, holding her close “Then that means that it’s my turn I stroked her mane “don’t worry, this’ll work out fine, trust me” “I’d trust you with my life if I thought it’d make a change” she pecked my cheek -==- As we -Blaze, Dinky, Derpy and I-, made it to the school, there were two ponies, one was a grey earth pony with a silver mane and tail styled into a braid wearing pale blue glasses and a sterling silver spoon for a cutie mark, the other a pink unicorn with a lavender and white two-toned mane and tail with a tiara for a cutie mark “Get ‘em daddy” Dinky mumbled perched upon my head “That things your daddy?” the unicorn spat “no wonder you’re so weak, it’s a freak!” “And you’re a pathetic bully,” I set Dinky down by my side, stepping forward “and bullies never learn, unless they’re stood up to” “Is there a problem?” a magenta pone with a pink mane and tail with three smiling daisies for a cutie mark blinked, trotting toward us “Diamond Tiara’s being a bully again!” Dinky frowned “What do I keep telling you about doing this, Diamond Tiara?” the pony groaned “We’re not doing anything!” Diamond Tiara gasped “how dare you?” “How dare she?” I boomed “how dare you lie about being what you are, a stuck-up, good-for-nothing pile of festering trash?” I growled “If I hear so much as a whisper of you laying so much as a fraction of a hoof on my daughter again; I will personally see to it that you spend the rest of your miserable life in the worst type of hell I can bring, dragon’s honour” she ran away, tears streaming down her muzzle as she sprinted toward the school, the silver filly quickly followed her “I believe that shall we all I need to do, my little muffin” I crouched down, draping a wing around the silvery lavender filly beside me, who clung onto me with all her might “Harsh brother, harsh” Blaze whistled -==-==- “Tesla,” Twilight galloped toward me, holding a letter within a magenta magic aura “I’ve got a letter from Cheerilee, she says she wants to meet you this afternoon, any idea why?” she blinked, passing me the letter, I quickly read it, handing it back to her “It’s best you don’t know” I mumbled “But you only go there at that time of day if you’ve done something to upset one of the students,” she tilted her head “What’ve you done, Rick” “I did what I felt was necessary,” I spat “I’ve said it countless times before, and I’ll say it again now, you can do what you want to me, but mess with my family, and we’re going to have a problem” “What, did, you do?” she frowned, putting emphasis on each and every word “I did what most teachers that I know of fail to do, I saw the problem, and I acted how I felt was according to the problem, thus, solving it” I scoffed “albeit, temporarily” ==--=--== As I walked toward the school, Snowdrop perched upon the back of my head, and Blaze and my friends walking beside, Winter Bell, Gracy Gloom and I, I was met outside the building with a familiar pony “Oh, it’s you” Filthy Rich scowled as we entered one of the classrooms “Weren’t happy with tormenting me, were you?” “Please, let’s be civil here” Cheerilee held up her hooves defensively “I’ll be civil when Filth here decides to teach hell-spawn some manners” I snarled “She is as perfect as the day she was born, how dare you question that!” Filthy Rich scowled “I dare because you’re obviously blind,” I snapped “if you’re daughter’s so perfect, then why is she not in Celestia’s school for gifted unicorns instead of here, surely you have the money, as your name suggests, yes?” he slowly nodded “well then what’re you waiting for?” “She’s not old enough” he sighed “if she were any older, I would take her without hesitation, believe me I would “Winter, show him what you can do” I smiled as Winter Bell hovered above one of the tables, both front hooves blazing as she exhaled a small stream of fire “She’s a demon” he snarled “She’s a dragon slayer, and judging by your reaction, you’re no better than the insults you give” “Pardon,” he frowned “She’s using dragon slayer magic, an ancient form of spells given to humans by the dragons of old, you might want to ask Crystagia about it, if we feel that you’re eyes are worthy to bask in her presence” “I can buy anything you can think of,” he scoffed “don’t make me laugh!” “No, you can’t” I smirked, changing to eon form, tapping my chest symbol “I have Crystagia’s heart within me, it’s the only one in the universe, a priceless artefact, no matter how you put it, and it, being a part of me, belongs to Celestia, as I am her knight and lord in less-than shining armour” “So I can’t” he whistled “how much do you want for it?” “I’m not selling my heart; I only give it to those of whom I love dearly” I snorted “Well then, what do you propose?” he raised an eyebrow “Should you choose to tell Diamond Tiara to leave Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Dinky alone, and I’ll leave you be, both of you” “And if she continues anyway, regardless of my actions?” he smirked “I’m sure I’ve already done enough to last a few eons of damage” I grinned “I needn’t do more, me-thinks” “You’ve a deal” he held out a hoof, I shook it ==-== “That went rather well, Daddy” Snowdrop giggled “So it did, Snowy, so it did” I smiled “What happened?” Celestia raised an eyebrow “Filthy Rich self-acclaimed that he could by everything, I proved him wrong” I tapped my chest-symbol “What did you say to him?” Twilight tilted her head “Snowdrop,” I simpered “You said, and I quote;” she cleared her throat ‘“I have Crystagia’s heart within me, it’s the only one in the universe, a priceless artefact, no matter how you put it, and it, being a part of me, belongs to Celestia, as I am her knight and lord in less-than shining armour’” she squee’d after finishing “Your heart belongs...” Celestia stared at me “to me?” she blinked “you flatter me, truly, to think that you’d bequeath such a gift unto me is…” she bit her lip “it’s unbelievable, truly” “Were it possible for me to survive, I’d tear it out of my chest and hand it to you, but alas, even if I were to survive such an act, I’d be rendered powerless in the world of magic” “When I asked you to prove how cheesy you could be, I didn’t mean over the course of a year” Blaze grumbled “Lighten up, torch,” I laughed “I mean, it can’t get much worse, right?” “Don’t say that, you know the cliché well enough not to” she stuck her tongue out at me “Ah didn’t think ya’ll could get any kinder than ya have thus far” Applejack whistled “Looks like ya’ll have proven us both wrong, pardner” “So I have” I rolled my eyes, Celestia changed to her anthro form, draping her arms and wings around me “I’m glad you came to Equis, my little eon” she pecked my cheek “And I’m glad I got the chance to know you, Celestia” I smiled, taking a few steps back, bowing on one knee “I’m yours to command, your majesty” “Quite the charmer” she giggled, her horn glowing as she set me back on my feet via magic “Ah yes, the silver Pegasus known to many as Derpy hooves, I must congratulate you on managing to help her” Discord popped into view beside me “You so much as make eye contact with her, and I’ll skin you alive, and then laminate your skeleton and place it out in the gardens as a nice trophy, clear?” I grabbed his hand, just as he was about to place it upon my shoulder “You wouldn’t dare,” he began “I’m the lord of chaos; I’m needed on Equis, lest things fall into disharmony” “Otherwise known as chaos” I raised an eyebrow, glaring at him “if you wish to prove that I won’t do what I say that I ill, you’re free to go ahead and try” he popped out of view “Why do we let him live again?” Blaze sighed “He breaks the monotony” Celestia nickered “You’ve already got me to do that” I smiled “You helped tha local mailmare, how so?” Applejack simpered “Dinky was being bullied, so I helped solve the matter” I shrugged “child’s play, pun not intended” “Although I will say that I think you went overkill in the process” Blaze rolled her eyes “Me, overkill on such a sensitive matter, Blaze my dear you forget who I am” I laughed “If you say so” she slowly nodded, suddenly, a golden ticket appeared before me, landing in my grasp “For this year’s Grand Galloping Gala” Celestia smiled “I trust that you’ll attend?” “Not this time, I apologize,” I shook my head “I’ve got personal matters to attend to” “As you say” she nodded =--=--= “You’re giving this to me,” Derpy gasped as I handed her the ticket to the gala “but who’ll take care of Dinky?” she glanced toward me, I winked “I knew I could count on you, I’ll plan for the evening’s dinner, unless you’ve got your own money and plan on treating her to something?” she giggled “We shall see” I slowly nodded “Daddy’s going to be with me for a whole night,” Dinky gasped “yes, yes, yes, yes; yes!” she bounded up and down in absolute glee “You’ll behave for us, won’t you, my little muffin?” Derpy draped a wing around the unicorn filly “You bet I will,” she exclaimed “I’ll be on my best-est behaviour for Daddy, mommy, you don’t need to worry” “You’ll take care of her, won’t you?” Derpy tilted her head “Come hell or high water, on my title as Celestia’s knight and lord, no harm shall come to her” I bowed quickly “Thank you, my love” she cooed (--=--) “You’re doing what now?” Blaze stared at me, giving me the best ‘are you fucking kidding me?’ look she could muster “It’d be nice for her to relax and enjoy herself, if only this once” I smiled “and I offered to take care of Dinky for her, and I promised on my title that she’ll be fine, so there’s no need to worry” “So you have,” she sighed “changing the subject, I’ve noticed a rather interesting clock shop nearby, wanna check it out?” “Sure” I smiled, standing upright, slipping my rucksack on, changing toe eon form, Gracy Gloom leaping onto my back simultaneously with Winter Bell, gliding alongside Blaze as she bounded toward the shop “Good morning Rick” a brown unicorn mare with a flowing chocolate brown mane and tail smiled as I entered the shop, a clock on one of the shelves clicked, and all of a sudden, we were surrounded by an ocean of almost mystical tones as the store came to life, some clocks displayed both light as well as sound, others portrayed actual moving ponies decorated onto their surfaces, gradually, the sound died down again, I was left speechless “If you think that’s good, you should come again when the hour strikes, I promise you that you won’t regret it” she winked “I see you know who we are,” I reverted to human form, my passengers landing safely on the floor of the shop as I did so, walking to the mare; bowing “but might I ask for your name, fair maiden?” “I see you’re quite the charmer, Rick” she giggled “I’m Autumn Heart, I run Stems and Gears” “Quite the nice shop you’ve got here, Autumn Heart” I smiled “Thank you, milord” she nickered “But, if I may ask, what brings Celestia’s lord and knight down to see little old me?” “I was informed, shall we say, by Blaze,” I smiled “Would you like to make a purchase, milord?” she smiled “I’d like something for the mantle, something that’s elegant, and yet somewhat sturdy also” I hummed “I believe I may have something for you,” she winked “please, wait here” she walked into a back room, returning a few moments later with a cuboid-shaped, tower-like clock with roman numerals for the numbers, and what looked like a identical tiny rapiers for the minute and second hands, and a miniscule broadsword for the hour hand, with twin gargoyles on the front corners of the timepiece, the clock itself was a crimson work of art with golden pillars and frames with a silver frame for the clock itself, the frame around the clock built like an archway, small circular patters indented into the archway itself, each one with the depiction of a type of animal, the patters above the archway were almost indescribable, per se, the background was a deep, blood-red crimson with chandelier-like patterns of pearly white and gold “How much do you want for it?” I tilted my head “Fifty bits” Autumn Heart winked again, “And I get to join your herd” she giggled “that’s all I ask, milord” I set by rucksack down bedside me, reaching into one of th side pockets, pulling out a medium-sized pouch -each coin in said pouch was apparently worth a hundred bits-, handing it to her “You’re charming as well as generous, I’ll have to remember that” she purred, walking around the back of the counter, placing the clock into a box, the clock having been wrapped in an unknown material, sealing it with tape “Have a good day now, sweetie” she waved as I walked out of the shop with Blaze and the others -=- As I got home, I undid the tape with a knife I found in the kitchen, fragilely unwrapping the material from the clock, carefully placing it on the mantle, setting it to the correct time “That’s quite the clock for fifty bits” Blaze whistled “although I assume that love is priceless, isn’t it, brother?” “That it is, Blaze,” I nodded “Love is only worth the time spent searching for it” “Those awfully cheesy lines of yours are really beginning to tick me off” she grinned “But you’ve got to hand it to me, that I make a good joke” I laughed “Damn you” she growled “I know, right?” I beamed “So how much did you give her anyway?” she raised an eyebrow as we walked back outside “Around a few grand” I shrugged “How much do you have on you now?” she grinned, again “Not a damn coin,” I gleamed “There rest of it’s in Canterlot, in the treasury” “You’re generous, somewhat charitable and charming” she laughed “No wonder she likes you, brother” =-=-= That night, I bolted upright, changing to eon form, making my way into the plaza, going quietly as not to disturb the others, my ears pulling me toward an alleyway, fluttershy stood there opposite four stallions dressed in black coats and hats, I quickly reverted to human from, changing from there to Alphamon “Whaddya think we should do with dis one?” The fourth stallion asked. The first stallion laughed; “We’re gonna give her the special treatment.” He replied evilly. “Special… t…treatment, that doesn’t really sound so…” “You must be feeling tense; why don’t you stay here and relax with us?” The third stallion asked. “Thanks, but I really should be getting home… my animal friends wouldn’t like it if I’m late…” “C’mon, I’m sure they won’t mind!” All four stallions began to close in on Fluttershy. She ducked down on the ground while making small whimpering noises. Three of the stallions began to feel up and down her back. “P…please don’t do that…you’re making me very uncomfortable…” Ignoring her plea, one of the stallions took off her saddlebag, and threw it aside. Fluttershy gasped. “Please, I need that!” “Not anymore, you don’t. You ain’t goin’ nowhere.” “Let me go! I need to get home to my animal friends!” Fluttershy began to struggle with the stallions; she jerked her body around while kicking her hooves, trying to free herself from the attackers’ grasp, but while doing so; she accidentally kicked the first stallion right in the jaw The stallion reeled back, and put a hoof up to his face After a few seconds, he pulled his hoof away slowly, upon seeing blood, he snarled angrily, and somewhat demonically “Alright boys, get her, Do whatever you want to her!” He ordered, as he said this, he pulled a knife out from his coat “What do you think you’re doing?” in a flash, I was right behind the quartet, cracking my knuckles “Who da hell d’ya think you are?” the first stallion spat “Call me Alpha” I growled, giving the pony a roundhouse kick to the jaw, sending him sprawling, in an instant the pony with the knife bought the makeshift weapon down on my leg, the blade snapped clean in half “If you wish to see her majesties sun, I would advise that you leave immediately” I clicked my neck, the pony, now disarmed, dropped the broken knife, and galloped as fast as he could out of the alleyway, edging past me as he went, the other two carried their fallen ally out also “Are you alright, my little butterfly?” I crouched down to the yellow Pegasus’ level, she gave a weak nod, slowly climbing to her hooves, only to collapse, flinching in quite visible pain, there were numerous bruises scattered across her wings and body Gently, I picked her up in my arms, holding her as I stood upright “Just tell me where to go and I’ll get you home, safely” I winked, she gave a slight smile and a nod, her cheeks turning a bright pink as I carried her away from the scene of the would-be crime, guiding me to her cottage on the edge of town, I set her down on the bed one she was inside, reverting to human form “I’ll see you tomorrow, my little butterfly” I winked again, pecking her forehead, before I left As I walked home, I noticed the front door was open, marching into the house, I found muddy hoof-prints around the doormat, walking upstairs, I found a familiar unicorn tucked into my bed “Oh, the list of cliché’s I can think of now” I mumbled, grinning like an idiot “right, Autumn Heart?” the brown unicorn rolled over in her sleep, messing up the sheets slightly -=-=- When morning came, I pulled myself up to my feet, having slept, sat against the wall outside “Good morning Tesla” Blaze stifled a laugh “have you seen our newest tenant?” “I have, and if she’s not got a home for herself,” I began with a shrug “then she’s more than welcome to stay, we’ve got enough beds after all, besides, you sleep on the couch” “That I do” she nodded with a sly smirk “Really,” I turned to face the front doorway Autumn Heart was stood there, staring at me in glee “I can stay?” “You don’t have a bedroom in the upstairs of your shop?” I blinked, she shook her head “in that case, welcome to the family” she lunged at me, knocking me to the ground as she lavished me with kisses, planting a big one dead-centre on my lips, gripping onto me with all her might “I’ll make it worth your while, milord, just you wait” she winked, climbing from my chest to the grass-laden earth, walking back into the house “Now she’s most likely going to expect to be paying rent whilst living with me?” I sighed, sitting upright “Uh, Brother” Blaze pointed behind me, I turned, Twilight and her friends, minus Pinkie Pie, were stood there, grinning at me with a bunch of sly smirks “Mornin’” “Fluttershy tells us you played the hero last night” Twilight glimmered “How do you know it wasn’t just a dream?” I raised an eyebrow “Ah’m the element of honesty, Ah can tell when somepony’s tellin’ tha truth” Applejack beamed “What happened?” Blaze grinned “Fluttershy here says that Tesla saved her from would be criminals,” Twilight winked at me “In Alphamon form” “Cheesy much, brother,” Blaze cackled with laughter “it’s like a bad comedy sketch, straight out of a Monty Python movie!” “At least I’m not like Ichiya from the Blue Pegasus guild” “Touché” she shuddered almost uncontrollably “Honestly, I think you ponies are beginning to rub off on me” I laughed “No, you’ve been kinder than you’re being now long before you came here,” Blaze’s eyes narrowed as she gave a smug grin “you’re just too afraid to show it” “Fear and embarrassment are two different things, Blaze” I frowned “True,” she nodded “but don’t forget that one of the two can lead to the other, just as you taught me, brother” “God Damnit” I sighed “well, were you there when I was at the castle a couple of days ago?” “You mean after we solved the issue with Dinky?” I nodded “I don’t think I was, why?” “Well, remember when Filthy Rich said he could buy anything, and I proved him wrong,” she nodded again as I changed to eon form “I said that it, alongside myself, belonged to Celestia, as I am her knight and lord in not-so shining armour” “Yes, yes, we all know that” she waved a dismissive paw” “What you don’t know is that I said I’d tear it out and hand it to her if I could” “That’s both disgusting and rather charming” she raised an eyebrow “How would you intend to do such a thing anyway?” “Get me a handful of large gems and I’ll show you” I grinned “Alright then” she pulled a basket of sizeable gems out of basically nowhere and behind her at the same time “You’re not going to try and stop me?” she shook her head, grinning maniacally toward me, I shrugged, taking one of the gems into my mouth, crunching down on it as I stabbed myself in the chest with a claw, rending my crystalline heart/chest symbol (they’re the same thing) out, eating as many gems as I could within the shortest amount of time, watching in what almost became awe as my heart regenerated “Success!” she gleamed as I held the delta-arrow/prism in my hand “You just ripped your own heart out!” Twilight puked, as did Rarity Fluttershy fainted, Applejack looked somewhat disturbed “When is aid I’d do it if I could, I meant it” I smirked “That doesn’t mean you should do it in public,” she shuddered “Please, whatever you do, don’t give it to Celestia, I dread to think what she’d say if you showed her what you’ve done…” “That’s fair enough” I smiled “oh and if you want to take a look around the inside,” I pointed a thumb toward my house “beware the wandering pony” she grinned, as did Applejack “Rick, what’ve you done?” she beamed, I reverted to human form,, placing the heart-gem into my inventory, wagging a finger at her “That’s for me to know and you to find out” “Really, you have a house-guest now, Dear Rick?” Rarity giggled nervously “It’s not Luna this time is it?” I raised a finger, opening my mouth to speak, instead opting to lower my arm, stand upright, and walk into the house Blaze and the others following me “I’m telling you I’ve been allowed to live here” Autumn Heart was currently arguing with Luna, who was, once again, in the same outfit as before “Whilst we find that Sir Rick is a charitable person, we find it somewhat hard to believe that he would let a stranger into his house” Luna sighed, clearly tired of the debate “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you, I don’t have a home to live in, so Tesla’s let me stay here,” she turned around, facing me “Rick, tell her that I’m allowed here now” “Just so long as you don’t damage, steal or break anything, you may stay as long as you wish” I quickly bowed “By thy own words, milord” Luna smiled “You’ve quite the eye on ya sugarcube” Applejack nudged my leg with a hoof “So how’s this start then ya’ll an’ her?” “Blaze suggested a certain clock shop, what she didn’t mention was the beauty that ran the after-mentioned shop” “Oh stop it” Autumn Heart’s cheeks became a bright red colour as she glanced away from me momentarily “I’m serious,” I exclaimed “if Blaze had found you any sooner, I can only dream to think where we’d be now” I blinked “did I just say that?” “Yes, yes you did” Blaze chortled “Looks like the thing that eons go through that Crystal mentioned is still in effect,” I stared at Twilight “you know; the ‘cycle’ thing?” I slowly nodded “You’re still being affected by that?” Blaze stared at me, I shrugged “So it would seem” I mumbled “But Crystal said that the longest time that anyone’s ever been affected by it is a decade, you’ve been acting like it for the past twenty-two years!” she stifled a laugh at the end “I think coming here and meeting your new Nakama has locked you into a permanent state of it, brother” “So, what happened next, after ya’ll two met?” Applejack nodded toward Autumn Heart once again nudging my leg “I asked for a clock that looked somewhat elegant and wouldn’t break easily, she gave me one, which is now on the mantle-piece, I asked her how much she wanted for it and what was her reply?” I glanced toward the brown unicorn mare who was stood beside Luna “I requested fifty bits and an invitation into your herd, Lord Rick” Autumn Heart smiled “And how much did you give her?” Twilight smirked “A couple of thousand bits, all in one-hundred bits per-coin” Autumn Heart gleefully marched up to me, took my hand in her magic which was a light chocolate brown-coloured aura, taking me upstairs, sitting me down on the bed, sitting in my lap, placing her hooves on either shoulder, connecting her lips with mine “I’m ready when you are, lord of Gemstones” she purred
Chapter XVI; Family (maybe part 1/?)“So, what’s happened in your household recently, Rick?” Celestia smiled as we sat in her chambers opposite a table “Not much” I shrugged “Please, enlighten me” she winked “Well, I may or may not have gotten a new house-guest” I bit my lip, she sipped her tea “Oh?” she raised an eyebrow “and how’ve you done that, my dear eon?” “Blaze mentioned a clock shop, to which I visited said shop,” I sighed “the mare who ran said shop offered me a clock for fifty bits, also asking me for an invitation in my herd” “And that brings us to now?” she giggled, in nodded “Perhaps a new roommate will do you good, Rick” she nickered, finishing her tea “How much did you give her anyway?” “A couple of thousand” I chuckled “Charitable and generous, you really are an extraordinary being, whether you choose to deny or not is up to you, Rick” she smiled “May I ask you something? Sir Knight?” I nodded “what would be the first thing you’d do if I suddenly went missing, or changed personality, all within the blink of an eye?” “If you changed personality, I’d start missing the Princess Celestia that I fell in love with,” I grinned “and if you went missing, I’d ask Luna to join me in a planet-wide search for you, you know that a knight is and always will be loyal to their princess and/or kingdom, Cellsy” “And what if I were to be transported to another dimension, or be taken off-Equis?” she raised an eyebrow “Well then,” I sighed “I’d just have to make the impossible possible, however that might be done, with whatever means might, or might not, be necessary,” I went on “come hell or high water, I’d scour to the ends of time, space and the entire universe to find you, Lady of the sun” “Rick…” she stared at me, placing her tea down on the table “You’ve no idea how much those words mean to me” she teleported beside me, draping both her arms and wings around me, embracing me, nuzzling into me as she did so “Oh, that reminds me,” I glimmered, bringing the heart-gem out from my inventory, handing it to her “What’s this,” she blinked, staring at the gem in her hand as it gave off a small prismatic aura “Well, you know how I said I’d tear my heart out and hand it to you if I could?” she cast a moment’s glance toward me, and then back toward the gem “I found a way to do just that, your majesty” “But what about your body?” she stared at me in horror, I changed to eon form, tapping the new chest symbol, which was in the shape of her cutie mark, that of the sun, tapping it lightly “I’ll admit it’s both an original gift, as well as the strangest one I’ve ever received from anypony” she raised an eyebrow “what do I do with it?” “Keep it, if you want” I carefully, albeit nervously, placed a hand on her cheek -0=+=0- So I had to dress like a whorse just to get your attention?:” Shining Armour was currently being berated by his new ‘marefriend;’ a white unicorn mare with a two-toned ‘electric blue’ mane and tail wearing a purple cape and a pair of aviator goggles around her neck “Honestly captain, you’re a pain in the flank sometimes” she sighed, currently sat beside me, my friends and family in the dining hall “Insert ‘Kill-La-Kill’ reference here” I laughed Blaze choked on the muffin she was eating “though I think we already have” “Did you have to do that?” Blaze chortled “The option was there, so I took it” I shrugged the mare stared at me with a look of confusion that was as deep as the Mariana trench “you don’t want to know” “So what’s this about having to dress like a... y’know?” I simpered, weakly “Shining Armour and I’ve been attracted to one-another for a number of years, and not once has he paid me any affection!” the mare spat “That’s not true,” Shining Armour scowled “Really Shining Armour, really,” she snarled “list one time you’ve actually paid attention to my needs and desires, one bucking time!” “I’ll give you ten seconds to apologize for that, before I demote you; or worse” he glared daggers at her “People who use threats and violence to solve their own ideals are trash, those who do so against females are worse than trash,” I growled “and from the so-called ‘Captain of the guard’ no less “And what makes you so much better?” he snapped “One, I’m a brigadier, and two, I didn’t get where I am by making empty threats and gestures, I got to my current rank by doing what needed to be done, be it by following my orders or my heart” I smirked “Brigadier, what’s that?” The mare blinked, holding out a hoof “I’m Pole Star, Your majesty” “Well, put it one way, I’d like to see shiny over there skulk about whilst wearing armour that weighs roughly half a metric tonne” I grinned, which turned to a light frown “And technically speaking, I broke first-contact protocols when I came here, assuming I’m lucky they’ll just demote me, or if not, court martial me” “So you broke the rules?” Shining Armour raised an eyebrow “Some of them, but so far I’ve withheld all sensitive intel that I can, as there isn’t much I can share without ONI and/or UNSC officials handing my rear to me on a silver platter” (4PM ARC-V) “ONI?” he blinked “Classified” I winked -=- As we stood in the front gardens, there was an enormous thundering that shook the sky, followed by what sounded like all of reality being torn clean in half, that of which was followed by a great, if not gigantic, gunmetal-coloured, horizontal pillar-like structure falling out of the sky, heading toward the area due north of canterlot “Mayday, Mayday!” a calm, yet somewhat panicked voice sounded from the pillar “this is the Captain of the UNSC Infinity” the voice continued “we're encountering an unknown gamma radiation-related gravimetric disturbance; we are without power and are on a collision course with an unidentified forerunner planet!” it finished “Please tell me there’re no major settlements due north of here” I turned to Celestia, who weakly shook her head “What was that?” Twilight shuddered “The culmination of human achievement” Blaze grinned, glancing toward me “we best get moving toward that ship, the sooner we get there, the sooner we can get the area in lockdown, so to speak” “Agreed,” I nodded, changing to eon form, Snowdrop taking her place upon my head once more, as she always did, Gracy Gloom lying along my neck, Winter Belle sat on my upper back whilst Blaze carefully situated herself on the lower back -=-=- When we got to the Infinity, I smiled, reverting to human form, Blaze landing on the ground as Gracy Gloom and Winter Bell clung onto my shoulders as I marched with my sister to the nearest form of entry “This is Sierra Sigma-three-fifty-nine, please respond,” I bit my lip, the door opened and a slender, female Spartan with snow-white armour, minus the helmet, stepped forward, aiming an assault rifle at me, I raised my arms, “Long time no see, Spartan” she nodded, lowering her firearm, glancing toward Blaze “I see your little sister’s grown a little” she smirked “That she has” I smiled as a team of around five Spartans with pale grey armour slowly made their way into the outside, setting up a perimeter walking back to an as-of-yet unknown piece of equipment which was being worked on by a Spartan-III with full scout-variant armour “Garret, that you,” I blinked, the Spartan glanced up at me, tilted his head “Nice to see you alive and well also, Rick-o” he nodded, turning back to the piece of machinery “Garret, I’m reading an extra friendly signal down there, everything Ok?” the voice from before, when the ship was in free-fall echoed from the gadget “Sir you’re not gonna believe this, Rick’s back” Garret laughed, pressing a button on the touch-screen device that was currently being ‘tweaked’ “Please repeat, did you say that Sigma-three-fifty-nine is with us?” it responded “Affirmative sir,” Garret nodded and he’s with what would appear to be natives of this world” “Are they hostile?” the gadget gave a monotonous hum “They’re ponies” he chuckled “Come again, did you say ponies?” another voice -this one a tad more serious-, mumbled “It’d appear so Lord Hood, sir” Garret nodded “Have Sierra come to the bridge, and bring the aliens with him” the newer voice sighed “Rick, if you can hear this, I want you here on the double, is that clear?” “Crystal, sir” I nodded =-=-= As we entered the Bridge the Spartan from before, alongside Garret and Blaze walking beside me as we walked into the room in question “And here I thought things couldn’t get any more interesting” a man in his summer-autumn years raised an eyebrow he was wearing snow-white navy uniform with a cap to match it, the left side of his chest was riddled with medals “it’s god to have you back, General” “General,” I blinked “why, or when did you promote me, not that I’m complaining sir” I saluted Lord Hood “After you left, a few representatives from both the UNSC and ONI had a few words with us,” a second man, this one wearing an olive green and blackish-brown uniform with a pauldron on one shoulder with dark brown hair, black boots, the three stripes on his shoulders showing that he was at the rank of captain “turns out that you, somewhat posthumously got enough recommendations to be promoted to Brigadier General, sir” he smiled -=-=- “So, you’re telling me that this world’s untouched by the covenant remnant, and that there’re sentient ‘ponies’ upon its surface, such as those of which are upon your head and shoulders, General?” Lord Hood smiled “As well as two in particular with the ability to raise the sun and moon respectively” I nodded “Sir, welcome to Equis” “And I trust you enjoyed your stay, General Hawkins” Garret laughed again “Besides the gamma-radiation-related gravimetric disturbance you encountered, which is no-doubt related to the existence of magic on Equis, it’s basically identical to Earth” I shrugged “And what of your new appendages, sir?” he nodded toward my horns “Magic” I rolled my eyes “seems to be the way to solve everything around here” just then, Celestia teleported into the room, standing beside me, draping a wing around me, and at that moment, everyone in the room took a large step backward “I’d like you to meet Princess Celestia, co-ruler of Equestria, and monarch of the sun” I “What is this place?” Celestia glanced around the room, all eyes were on her “You’re on board th UNSC Infinity,” Lord Hood glanced toward me, I shrugged, he sighed “I also trust that you’ve not told them any sensitive material, Spartan?” “Not a damn thing, other than my identity, where necessary, sir” I saluted “At ease” I nodded, lowering my arm “And you are?” Celestia raised an eyebrow, eyeing up and down Lord Hood “Lord Hood,” he held out a hand, she shook it, albeit, somewhat reluctantly “Welcome aboard, Princess, he turned to face me “Sierra, you’re dismissed” “There is another thing I’d like to add,” I bit my lip” “What is it General?” he raised the other eyebrow “We kind of met the creator of the universe itself, or so she claims” Blaze hummed “Can you locate her, sir?” the Captain blinked “No need” Lulania appeared via teleportation standing beside me opposite Celestia “And with that I shall take my leave, if you’ll allow me, sir” I smiled# “You’re dismissed” Lord Hood nodded -=- “That was interesting, general” Garret walked beside me as we walked to the unofficial ‘entrance’ of the Infinity “That’s not even the weirdest thing that’s happened here” I winked “But why can’t we enter, we just want to see our friend!” The sound of Rainbow Dash’s voice rang through the corridor, we turned around a corner, Twilight and her friends were stood alongside Cadance and Shining Armour “I’ve told you once, I’ll say it again, unauthorized civilians aren’t allowed near UNSC material” the marine sighed “Maybe we should just wait” Twilight sighed “Assuming that’s allowed?” the marine shrugged, the one stood on the opposite side of the entrance nodded as I walked toward the group “At ease marine,” I rolled my eyes “Yes sir” he saluted, quickly lowering his arm “Never gonna get used to that promotion are you?” Garret chortled “Like you can talk, colonel” I smirked “I can talk, sir, “ I could tell her was grinning like an idiot behind his helmet “you’re the third highest ranking soldier in the UNSC, people are gonna start looking at you like a role model sooner or later” “Third,” Twilight gasped “congratulations Rick” “So, how high up the military food chain are you now?” Shining armour inquired “Brigadier, General, though I sense I’m going to be labelled as ‘General’ from here on in” I sighed What felt like an hour passed, before Celestia and Lulania teleported into view before us “Is there any news Princess?” Twilight smiled “The humans, the UNSC in particular,” Celestia glanced toward me for a moment “wish to build a settlement here; I’ve given them a suitable area on which to start building” “Anything else,” Rainbow Dash landed beside me, nudging my leg with a hoof “It would appear that they’ve to record Equis’ history, apparently marking it a ‘Priority one,’” Celestia turned to me “do you know what that means, General?” she smiled “It means that it’s a top priority; and that the UNSC will defend this planet with everything they can give” I winked “We’re defending ponies now, sir?” Garret tilted his head “not that I’m complaining, or anything, it’s just that I’d like to know when the fighting starts, if that’s alright with you, sir” “I do believe that you’ll scarcely find any here, Colonel,” I smirked “rather, quite the opposite” “I’ll be on the bridge if you need me” he sighed, walking back unto the infinity” “Was that a machine?” Twilight blinked one Garret was out of earshot “Nay,” I laughed “that was a Spartan, clad in armour, of course” “How many ships like this are there?” Celestia glanced toward the hull of the Infinity “Not many, I can’t say much else, what with most of it being classified” I shrugged “So where’s your armour?” Twilight eyed me up and down, as if imagining the sight of me in Spartan-III Mk V (VI) armour “Well for one thing, we’re on a mostly friendly planet, so I won’t need it, and for another thing, it hinders my abilities, and thirdly, it’d need to be modified” I pointed to my horns, then expanding my middle and lower set(s) of wings “that’d take roughly year to get here, give or take one or two months” “I wonder what that’d look like” Rarity hummed “Not that interesting to some,” I shrugged, again “so long as it keeps you protected and alive, I don’t think whoever’s got said armour shouldn’t really complain” “What’s it made of?” Celestia smiled “Not sure if classified or not” “Your commander, Lord Hood was his name?” I nodded “has given me clearance to most, if not all classified material, in exchange for everything he wishes to know about Equis” she raised an eyebrow “Seems fair enough” I smiled, back “the armour itself has multiple layers, first comes the helmet next comes the titanium-alloy outer shell, followed by the titanium nanocomposite bodysuit, which is then followed by the hydrostatic gel layer, then the reactive metal-liquid crystal layer, followed by the magnetic weapon holder strips, the energy shields the pressure seals, the automatic bio-foam injectors, the fusion reactor, force multiplier circuits, reactive circuits th power supply control unit, and then the Bios, which varies on which design of armour the user is wearing” I finished the somewhat sub-par lecture “That’s rather complicated” she nickered “Its twenty-sixth century technology, each Spartan costs as much as a small starship” I winked, again “I just need you to promise, that no matter how advanced Equis might get, that you won’t attempt to make your own” “Might I ask why?” she raised an eyebrow “If one country and/or kingdom sees another backing up its military force, they may mistake that act as a declaration of war,” I bit my lip “believe me Cellsy, I’ve seen it happen on many an event” I went on” and I think war’s the last thing you want” “Thank you, Rick” she smiled again “we’re in your debt once again, General” “Just doing my job, almost literally” I laughed “You’re lucky,” Shining Armour grinned 2all we get is our skin, fur and steel-plate armour” “Just use what you can to make the best of a bad situation” I tilted my head ever-so slightly “I should also mention that, due to negotiations with Lord Hood, that our forces have somewhat intertwined” Celestia simpered “You mean…?” he blinked “We’re a part of the UNSC, and they’re also a part of our royal guard” Celestia nodded “If that means what I think it does; then I can’t accept,” I sighed “I’m a leader of the UNSC military, not the royal guard, besides, I’d rather lead my brothers and sisters in arms, if that makes sense” I glanced toward Shining Armour “no offense, captain” “I wouldn’t ask you to do something you’re not Ok with, General” Celestia pecked my cheek, the two marines present at the entrance to the warship awed at me “Uh, sir?” one of the marines gulped audibly “I know already” I raised an eyebrow “Just checking, sir” he smirked “No need soldier,” I shook my head -=-=- As we glided toward Ponyville -the Infinity now in geosynchronous orbit in the skies above ponyville-, landing outside on the front lawn, it didn’t take long for me notice what seemed to be an army of vines spreading from the forest, quickly wrapping themselves around everything in sight as they grew, more tentacle like vines bursting forth from the ground Snowdrop, Winter Bell and Gracy Gloom quickly hid behind me “I’ve seen enough weird shit to know where this’s going” I grumbled, Celestia having teleported herself and those of Twilight’s friends who couldn’t make the aerial trip to the town “Discord…” Celestia spat as the draconequus appeared before us “I’ve heard of sowing the seeds of destruction, but this is ridiculous!” everyone stared at me “plants, seed, eh?” Discord burst into laughter “But seriously now,” I turned to the others “if this is starting in the forest, then where’s Nyx?” “Right here” Nyx appeared, also via teleportation, right before me, the vines now crawling across the earth toward her, only for her to quickly move behind me, the vines diverted away, instead opting for other targets “So, they’re attracted to magic, yet they don’t like me,” I blinked “I’m guessing this has something to do with the elements?” I glared icy daggers toward Discord “You’re wise for your age, eon boy,” the ‘lord of Chaos’ raised an eyebrow “I find that to be most interesting” I quickly fired a ‘purple flare’ arm behind me, wielding the Daybreaker, aiming at the chimera “What’re you doing?” he held up his hands defensively “I figured since you’re the cause of all this chaos, we get to the root of the problem” I grinned “All jokes aside” he chortled “how do you propose to do that?” “Double medium” I grinned, aiming the Daybreaker with one hand, pointing it toward Discord quickly drawing the Dawnbreaker with the other, placing them side-by-side “Dragon soul!” Suddenly a burst of energy erupted from both swords as they melded into one, with a handle, hilt and parts of the edge of the blade covered in what looked like divine gold-steel the rest of it being made of energy, the three symbols on either side of the bottom of the blade resembling Celestia’s cutie mark, a short thin delta arrow, and the symbol of an eon’s head and to ‘top it all off,’ so to speak; the blade itself measured in at around seven feet “Kami no shinken; Shinsei danzoku!” I roared (Divine God’s Sword Nova-Breaker!) “That’s incredible,” Celestia and Nyx awed at me as I raised the blade above my head, holding it with both hands As I started concentrating, the blade released an incredibly great echo that rang like the thunder of the angels releasing a sub-par cataclysmic wave as it did so At once, the vines began to disintegrate, the damage they’d done also began to reverse and repair itself, the holes in which the extra vines appeared from began to close and seal themselves, and a great tower of rainbow coloured light exploded forth from the canopy of the forest as I bought the blade down to my side “Looks like this is getting more interesting by the day, ta-ta for now, Rick-o” Discord guffawed, fading from view as the new blade reverted into its separate parts Dropping the blades, I collapsed flat on my face, my vision fading to black, again =-=+-+=-= When I awoke, I blinked, staring at the lavender-coloured ceiling of a somewhat familiar room “That was incredible Daddy” Snowdrop nuzzled into me as I slowly sat upright, she was quickly followed by Winter Bell and Gracy Gloom “Quite so” Blaze smirked as she stood by me, the princesses and Faust standing by her “How did you know what to do to trigger your element again?” Celestia smiled “I did what?” I blinked, again “Cellsy says that by forming a ‘double medium,’ as you called it, you triggered your element, focusing into a more focused form of offense” Blaze raised an eyebrow, folding her arms “I’ve no idea” I tilted my head “I just did what came natural” “Perhaps therein lies our answer, thou just did what was natural to thee, hence, nature” “Luna nickered “Perhaps thou would like to try another time, when thy magic levels aren’t quite so... depleted” “Maybe” I shrugged, she gave a soft laugh, magicking up a basket of various-sized gems, passing it to me, I quickly ate the gems in said basket, cleanly, but quickly, my magic levels feeling somewhat restored, I sat on the edge of the bed, Winter Belle climbing into place between my horns, Gracy Gloom and Snowdrop perching themselves on my shoulders, Snowdrop nuzzling into me, pecking my cheek “Rick,” Celestia began “Whilst you were unconscious, Blaze asked me about how your wings grew through use of magic, and I admit, that I myself; was curious about the matter,” she bit her lip “And,” I gave a slight smile “on the connection between your middle pair of wings and your back lies, a fault, so to speak” she exhaled sharply “it defies all explanation, even our best magical scientists can’t work out as to how or why it’s there, let alone how it got there,” she pursed her lips into a thin line “can you think of anything that might’ve caused it?” “Thinking about it, I did use alchemy to bring Faust back, something like that would require a price, it’s one of the most basic rules of alchemy, the law of equivalent exchanged, if you want something, then you have to sacrifice something of equal value” I raised an eyebrow, tilting my head “You used what?” she gasped, everyone, minus Blaze, and my three daughters, stared at me in apparent horror “Alchemy’s been forbidden ever since you, the old you, left us, so to speak, ever since then, alchemy has been outlawed across Equis, to think that you’d use it to bring mother back is…” Celestia frowned, tears clouding her eyes, “I understand,” I stared at the floor, “Do you?” she scowled “it’s because of alchemy that you were lost to us, and it us because of alchemy that Faust’s back!” she scolded me “do you not see the cruel irony in that, Rick?” “I was lost to you, through means of alchemy,” I gawked at her, tears now streaming down her muzzle “Most likely a modified ‘portal of truth,’ or so they’re called,” Blaze hummed “that’s the only way I can think of that you’d lose your powers and abilities of your old self, alongside your old memories, and all traded for another life, but there’s no way you’d do something that selfish, surely not!” “I’m just wondering what materials you’d need to make an inter-dimensional portal from alchemy” I clicked my tongue “It was powered by your element, Rick” Celestia glared daggers at me “you were taken from us, forced by a being whose power is almost insurmountable, and then, forced to trigger your element, also by that being, and then you were sent through the portal to Earth, or so I was told” she spat “Rick, ain’t your power ‘near-insurmountable’?” Blaze unfolded her arms, I blinked “I did that?” I quickly glanced toward Celestia, who merely raised an eyebrow “I’d never…!” I trailed off “when do you want me to leave?” Celestia tilted her head, her glare turning to expression of horror “I never asked you to leave, Rick, I was simply stating the events of when alchemy was last used!” “So you say, but I can see it in your eyes, I’d hate to be cliché, but I can tell” I sighed “Rick wait-!” she blurted out, but I’d already changed to eon form -Blaze leapt upon my back as Gracy Gloom leapt in front of her, Winter Bell moving down to my neck as Snowdrop took her trademark position upon my head-, flying out of the room as fast as I could go without putting my passengers at risk, first through and out of the castle, and then toward Ponyville, reverting to human form when I got to the front lawn of ‘our’ ‘house’ -=- As I sat outside with my family, it started raining, nothing serious, just a light “You’ll get a cold if you stay out like this” Rainbow Dash hovered before me, I glanced toward her, then looked back down, raising a wing above my head, also raising the three on my left over Snowdrop and Winter Belle, and them raised the other two on my right for Gracy Gloom “Thank you Daddy,” the three ponies beside me chorused I unison “You’re welcome, my little Snowflake, you also, my little Saving Grace and Winter Bell” “So how come you’re out here in the rain when everypony else is inside, save applejack, who’s currently waiting for you down at Sweet Apple Acres?” Rainbow Dash blinked, landing in front of me “I don’t want to talk about it” I grumbled “You can tell me anything, I’m the element of loyalty after all!” she placed a hoof against her chest “How far does that go?” I tilted my head “I can keep a secret, even if ponies were to continuously ask, I’ll guard it with my life” she smirked “I’m a traitor” she blinked “Celestia says that I can’t use alchemy because apparently I was selfish and used said alchemy to transport myself from here to Earth, and in trade for a new life, I lost my eon form, powers and abilities” I deadpanned, she stared at me “That can’t be true,” she ground her teeth “you’re the complete, total opposite of selfish!” she boomed “you help any and everypony you meet, and Autumn Heart’s proof of that, Rick!” I glanced to each of my family in turn “You’d best get inside, little ones, I don’t want you falling ill” I smiled to each of my daughters “See, that alone is proof that what she says is false!” Rainbow Dash blared, but only fell on deaf ears Instead of replying, I turned to face Blaze “Blaze, can you do me an enormous favour?” I bit my lip “Take care of the little ones?” she sighed, I nodded “you’re a fool for doing this, but a noble fool, so to speak,” she nodded “I’ll guard them with my life, just as you would, no doubt, Brother” I smiled somewhat graciously, standing upright, slinging my rucksack over my shoulders, slipping it on, sheathing the Dawnbreaker, which was stood beside the Daybreaker against the wall, wielding the latter of the two, beginning to walk toward the forest, Rainbow Dash glided in front of me “What’re you doing?” she scowled “Leaving, now move” I frowned, she shook her head “I refuse to let you do this to yourself, Rick” I quickly backhanded her, sending her sprawling, continuing the trek into and through the forest +-=(-)=-+ As days passed, and gradually shifted into weeks, the trek through Equestria continued, on more than one occasion I had to evade capture by the royal guard, and almost twice I had someone following me from their village in hopes of joining me on my less-than exciting ‘adventure’ As I entered the next village I heard a trio of ponies talking “Did you hear,” the first, a Pegasus mare with a black mane and tail, a snow-white coat, chocolate brown eyes, and a ring of stars surrounding a cloud for a cutie mark leaned toward her companions “there’s a mysterious, bipedal creature that’s supposedly part dragon roaming Equestria, nopony knows who it is, let alone what it is, just that it quickly leaves after arriving at a nearby town or village” “Is that it?” the second, a unicorn mare with a brown mane and tail with a black coat with a crossed hammer-and-chisel in front of a horseshoe pointed toward me her deep sapphire eyes glistening in the sunlight “I think it is, he certainly looks part dragon, what with the horns and wings and all” the third, an earth pony mare with a pale, rust-orange coat and a crimson mane and tail with emerald eyes and a crossed knife and fork in front of a plate for a cutie mark gasped, I ran as fast as I could, they quickly followed, dragging the Daybreaker along the ground behind me as I went “This isn’t what I signed up for when I joined the UNSC” I sighed, only to be pulled to a stand-still, turning I saw that the unicorn had gotten a hold of the end of the blade with her magic, a fine golden aura surrounded the tip of the greatsword “I’m Sugar spice,” the earth pony purred as she came uncomfortably close to me “and these are my friends, Aqua and Mina,” she gestured to the Pegasus, then toward the unicorn, whose magic was currently holding me still “they aren’t our actual names of course, it’s just what everypony calls us” “We’d like to ask you a few questions” Mina added “where do you come from, who, or what, are you, the basics” “I’m from another world entirely,” I gave a faint smile, the three mares shared a glance each, grinning maniacally before turning back to face me “and as for who or what I am, I’m Rick, a human, an eon, and a dragon slayer,” I bowed, letting go of the Daybreaker “Like from the legends?” Aqua gasped “that’s amazing, how old are you?” “Technically, I’m a billion years old, but I’m still only around two centuries old” I smiled “So, a bit of an antique then,” Mina nickered “Sister,” Aqua and Sugar Spice gasped “Sorry” Mina’s cheeks became that of a rosy pink tint “I don’t mind, it’s actually not bad compared to what I’ve been called in the past” I sighed “So, what to do with you” the glow around Mina’s horn faded as she leapt forward, knocking me on my back, fervently licking her lips as her friends came to either side of me, knocking me out with the flat of the Daybreaker, my vision instantly cut to black -=- When I awoke, I bolted upright, only to be pushed back down by Sugar Spice’s hoof “We played a little game, my sister s and I, we decided to call it, who gets to be your slaver first, Mina came close, but only second best,” she lulled into my ear “make me wail, big boy” Within an instant, she was on me, quickly removing my lower pieces of clothing, throwing them to one side, I sat upright, but she pushed my back, not hard enough to force me onto my back, just hard enough to stop me “Not so fast, first you have to tell me what to do,” she eyed her prize like a piece of candy “or would you rather me take care of it, human?” I shrugged “so be it, though I should warn you, I’m good at what I do, eon” Instantly, she took my gradually-hardening member into her mouth, the subsequent sensation was overwhelming, I instantly stared pouring pre-cum from the tip of my member, only for Sugar Spice to quickly devour it, placing a fragile hoof against the tip as she pulled her head away “I warned you” she glimmered, taking its head into her maw, pressing her lips down on it, twirling her tongue around the head, slowly bobbing her head up and down as she smiled up at me I, albeit reluctantly, placed a gentle hand on her head, she gave a muffled giggle, wrapping a hoof around each leg to keep us in place as she went faster, gradually picking up speed, hilting herself each and every time, her tongue now running along my cock’s base I came, flooding her oral passage with seed, pulling away once it stopped, she gasped as she swallowed the lot “Now onto round two, Sugarbear…” she purred rather elegantly… -=-=- When I could walk again, I went to thank the three mares for their ‘hospitality’, only to find that they’d vanished, I shrugged, slipping my rucksack on, having thankfully gotten dressed, changed to eon form, and fled the town =-=-= I’d now been gone a whole month, and still no success on capturing me was to be found in the royal guard’s list of accomplishments, on the downside, my rucksack seemed to be somewhat heavier as I carried it with me through Equestria, finding various ruins in various locations, each one hiding some sort of antique as I ventured in and out of each and every one One even had a teal/dark-cerulean coloured war-axe hidden in it, I quickly sheathed it “Well this is a total bust” I grumbled as a blockade of Guard stood before me, quickly changing to eon form, gliding back the way I came, slowly arcing round as to return to my original path, going as fast as I dared, eventually outrunning/flying them not stopping until they were nought but a speck in the background, reverting to human form, continuing the walk, only to be transported via teleportation to a familiar ‘chamber’ of sorts “Rick?” Celestia bit her lip, I turned; Twilight and her friends were stood there, minus Pinkie Pie “And here I was getting used to the outside atmosphere, I rolled my eyes “Where’s your weapon?” she tilted her head “In my inventory, with any hope” I unslung my rucksack,, placing it on the floor, opening it, only for three familiar ponies to burst out “How in the-!?” “We found out that your bag has infinite space, so we held onto one another whilst remaining hidden within” Mina smirked “And my weapon?” I frowned, she levitated out the Daybreaker, it hadn’t a single scratch on it, be it blade, handle or hilt, not a blemish was to be found on the greatsword “I’m not even going to ask as to what you were thinking in the first place” “Well, we thought that since you’d be wandering the kingdom, we thought of a way to accompany you, our little human,” Aqua purred, I raised an eyebrow “why, is there a problem?” I pointed toward Celestia, the three of them turned as one instantly bowing at the sight of the solar goddess “Friends of yours, Rick,” Celestia sighed “I’m just as confused as you are” I shrugged “Where are you three from?” Celestia raised an eyebrow “Trottingham, your majesty” Mina quivered behind me, Aqua clung onto my back, her head placed on my shoulder, her eyes beginning to water “As I thought,” she laughed “prostitutes,” she smirked at me “only in trottingham do you get such acts of impurity” “You what?” I blinked, glancing to each of the mares in turn “It’s frowned upon by some, but I think they’d like an item of yours from your inventory as payment, Rick” Celestia nickered “Nah,” Mina smiled as the three stood beside me “the fun we’re blessed with on that day’s payment enough, right girls?” Aqua and Sugar nodded with gusto “Fuck my life…” I mumbled “We may not know about your life, but we can sort you out, if you so wish, Rick” Aqua glimmered with definite intent “Personally I think the name suits you,” Mina giggled “it’s cute yet bold, like you” she glanced toward me, teleporting onto my back, pecking my cheek, teleporting back to the floor, I was subsequently tackled to the floor by a large object “Hello, sister” I smiled once I managed to get back to my feet “I head everything” Blaze chortled “I doubt you can makes things worse for yourself, Brother” “Oh, I can, believe me I can” I grinned “Say it” she smirked “Nah, I can barely walk as it is, not counting the weight I’ve had to carry” I glanced toward the three mares beside me, who smiles were like a trio of angel’s “That’s your fault for leaving in the first place,” she laughed “just say it!” “Fine,” I sighed, rolling my eyes, glancing back toward the trio of ponies stood next to me “I am no thief, unless you find yourself wanting a heart stolen” I bit my lip, they glanced toward one another, then leapt at me, with a great flash of light, the four of us were in a separate room, alone… =-=-= As I re-entered the throne room, I was quickly followed by Sugar Spice, Mina and Aqua Celestia raised an eyebrow “Have fun, did you?” Celestia sighed “It was heavenly” Sugar Spice cooed “beyond what most others have tried and failed to do” “So, bonus points for that then” Mina and Aqua spoke in unison, giggling like schoolgirls who’ve just found out their best friend’s ‘secret crush’ “Celestia,” the solar goddess glanced toward me “I just wanted to apologize, for everything, I know I may not be able to make up to you for it, but I’ll do my best, as your knight and lord in not-so shining armour, Cellsy,” she held a hoof to her mouth “you’re my little Sunflower, remember I do what I can for my Nakama, especially you, Lady of the Sun” “Rick, I also wish to apologize, for being hateful toward you last we met” she gave a faint smile “There is one other thing I’d like to add,” I turned to face the three ponies behind me “I’ve got a somewhat sizeable amount of spare cash in the treasury, feel free to help yourself to it from time to time” “Are you kidding?” Sugar Spice gaped at me, I smiled, shaking my head, she leapt at me, causing me to stagger as she wrapped her hooves around my neck, pressing her lips against mine, sliding her tongue in, the two oral muscles intertwining as they met I carefully placed my hands on either side of her head, gently keeping them in place as we kissed, my fingers running through her crimson mane, gradually parting, she clambered back down to the floor, poking my crotch with a gentle hoof as she went “I’ll see you later, maybe alone, maybe with the others,” she winked “Farewell Rick” and with that they left “I see what you did there” Celestia smiled, standing beside me “Is that how humans kiss?” “Depending on the human, maybe” I shrugged “Would you offer me a chance to see what it’s like, my dear human?” she changed to her human form, twirling on her toes so that she was stood in front of me, batting here eyelashes at me, closing the distance between us, placing her lips on mine, our tongues intertwining, as she draped her arms over my shoulders, gently wrapping them around my neck, I smiled internally, fragilely placing my hands on the sides of her head, once again, gradually parting “Interesting” she smiled “just to let you know trick, you owe me, six times over” “I’ll do what I can” I quickly bowed -=- “Daddy,” Snowdrop, Gracy Gloom and Winter Bell charged at me, nuzzling into me as I collapsed onto the ground “We knew that you’d have to return,” Snowdrop chimed “we just knew you had to!” “And here I am” I pecked her forehead, she blinked, pecking me on the lips, winking at me as I draped my wings around the three of them “What was it like?” Winter Bell chorused “It was interesting enough” I smiled but the three ponies in particular only cement the theory that when you’re single, all you see are couples, and when you finally do get married all you see are hookers” “What’s a hooker?” Gracy Gloom blinked “I’ll tell you when you’re older” I winked “Ok Daddy” she giggled, nuzzling into me, she and Snowdrop perching themselves on my shoulders as Winter Bell lay positioned between my horns “We missed you Daddy,” Snowdrop chimed, I glanced toward her, pecking her cheek, she quickly pecked me on the lips “I missed you too, my little ponies,” I chucked Suddenly, she twitched, gliding down to the ground, biting her lip as a musky stench made it into my nostrils, I quickly shook my head, covering the lower half of my face with a hand “Are you alright?” I crouched down, Gracy Gloom and Winter Bell “Daddy,” she groaned “She’s in heat” Celestia teleported into view beside me “She’s clearly pining for you, Rick,” she hummed “what will you do?” “What can I do?” I draped my wings around Snowdrop “You can tend to her needs, other than that, I don’t know” “I’m only doing this once” I grumbled, gently lifting Snowdrop carrying her to my room… -=-=- “Thank you, Daddy” Snowdrop giggled, panting for breath “If you need help with that again, all you need do is ask, but I’ll only go so far, my little Snowflake” I sighed, she perched herself on the back of my head, for the day’s attire, I’d chosen one of the clockwise sets of clothing that Rarity had made me “Alright, what’s on today’s agenda?” I yawned “How about we go to Twilight’s?” Gracy Gloom nickered, sitting on my shoulder, Winter Bell climbing onto the other -=- “You bought a what?” Blaze burst into laughter as Twilight’s friends stood before the lavender mare herself “It’s a clop-bot,” Rarity sighed used amongst mares and stallions alike who feel, ‘pent-up,’ so to speak” “So it’s like a [pony-shaped dildo?” Blaze laughed “Essentially” she gave a slow nod “And you bought this for how much, exactly?” “Two-hundred bits” Twilight’s face was a deep crimson with embarrassment “Oddly, this isn’t the strangest thing that one of my friends has done” I folded my arms, she blinked, there was this one time one of the teachers from one of my colleges nearly walked into a sex shop, I wouldn’t worry about it” “‘Nearly,’ walked into a sex shop?” she grinned “How does one manage such a thing?” “How the heck should I know, for starters I only heard about it from one of my friends” I shrugged “Aren’t we getting off topic?” “You started it, Rick-o” she smirked “Actually, you did, for if you hadn’t have bought this, ‘thing,’” I gestured toward the biomechanical entity stood beside her, which was currently non-functioning at the moment “then we wouldn’t be in this mess” “Are you saying this is my fault?” she frowned “Not at all, Sparky,” I shook my head “we all do stupid things or make silly mistakes, no matter how big or small” “For example,” she glimmered “You saw me tear my own heart out, remember?” I raised an eyebrow “Touché” she sighed in apparent defeat “You could at least try the damn thing before sending it back, buyer’s remorse and all” Blaze quipped “Buyer’s Remorse?” she raised an eyebrow in return “Buyer's remorse is the sense of regret after having made a purchase. It is frequently associated with the purchase of an expensive item such as a car or house, E.G that thing” I nodded toward the machine “Yo spike!” I shouted Yeah,” the dragon appeared at the top of the stairs, now nearly as big as me “You mind sending a letter to Celestia for me, just ask her to visit for a moment” I grinned, he nodded, dis appearing back upstairs again “Don’t get him involved in this!” Twilight snapped “Why’ he’s old enough, is he not?” Blaze chortled “and you did catch him balls-deep in Rarity “It was you that caused that upset, or need we remind you?” She scowled “Actually if it weren’t for his emotions -or the existence of the heart in general-, we wouldn’t be having this conversation” I rebuked “I hear that I’ve been requested in Ponyville?” Celestia smiled, teleporting into view beside myself and Blaze, glancing toward me, winking, and then turning to face Twilight “Oh, Twilight,” she giggled almost heavenly “I thought you were with Tesla, after all, you never stop mentioning him in your weekly letters” “How long has this been going on?” I stared at the lavender mare “Ten years” Twilight bit her lip “Well ain’t that perfect” I yawned?” “Autumn Heart been working you till you can hardly walk again?” Blaze smirked at me; I nodded “you need to relax more” “I’m not going to that spa again if that’s what you’re thinking” Celestia stared at me “don’t even think about it” “You, of all ponies, went to a spa?” Celestia giggled “I blame Rarity” Snowdrop Winter Bell and Gracy Gloom chorused in unison “Thanks girls” I smiled “We love you Daddy” they chimed together “And I you, my little ponies” I chuckled -==-=-==- “First I leave, then run into a certain trio of mares, then I get teleported back to Canterlot, somehow, only to find that they’ve acted as stowaways in my rucksack, and then I find that Twilight’s bought what’s essentially a sex-machine “Next thing they’ll be telling us that Scootaloo’s adopted” Blaze mumbled “Speaking of which, I haven’t seen them around lately, have you?” she glanced toward me, I shook my head “I’ll laugh if this works,” I snorted, walking into the ponyville orphanage “Greetings Sir Rick, I’m Tender Heart, how may I help you?” a bright green unicorn mare with a darker mane and tail and a love-heart surrounded by stars for a cutie mark smiled at me “Was there, at any point, a foal named Scootaloo here?” I bit my lip “There was at one point, but that was quite a while back,” she nodded “why?” “It’s personal” I lightly frowned “Fluttershy was quite insistent that Scootaloo be here for her toddler years, until we felt she was old enough to venture out on her own” Tender Heart sighed “is there something wrong, milord?” “Not at all, I only wish to know of her history here, if any” I smiled, albeit, weakly “That is all I require, good day, Ms Heart” I quickly bowed, walking back out of the building, my family in tow “So, what do we do now?” Blaze mumbled “I’ve not the slightest idea, Blaze, not even the foggiest” I slowly shook my head “Well, we could start at the farm,” she suggested, I nodded, Snowdrop perching herself on my head as I changed to eon form, Gracy Gloom landing on my neck, and Winter Belle upon my upper-back, Blaze bounded toward the farm alongside me as we ventured toward Sweet Apple Acres “Or we could continue to read that book we found in the archives,” Snowdrop chimed, I blinked “whilst you were away, we travelled to the archives with Autumn Heart, there, we found a book about your kind, the eons, I mean” “Well then, I’ll have to thank her for it, thank you as well, my little Snowflake, Winter Bell and Saving Grace” “We love you Daddy” Gracy Gloom, Snowdrop and Winter Bell sang together with the chorus of the angels “And I you, my little ponies” I smiled -=- “Come one, come all!” an azure/pale blue unicorn -with a flowing silvery blue mane and tail with a wand that ended in a pentagram inside the arc of a crescent moon for a cutie mark wearing a purple cape and wizards hat-, cheered excitedly, her magenta eyes scanning the crowd as the came toward her stage, Blaze, dashed off toward the house, returning moments later with one of the boxes “What’re you doing?” Twilight asked as Blaze and I pulled out a number of packs, each, opening them, merging them into two separate decks, shuffling them “Just a card game” I shrugged, Blaze and I drawing five cards each “ladies first” “Such a charmer” Blaze sighed somewhat dreamily as she winked, drawing a sixth card…. Within minutes, the crowd had turned their attention away from the show-mare, instead opting tow watch our little game “And that’s checkmate” I glimmered “Gotta admit, playing with cards you’ve never used is interesting” Blaze nodded, packing the cards back into the box, I quickly followed suit “What was that?” the pale blue mare stood upon the stage glared at me “Just a little game” I smirked, standing upright as Blaze carefully took the box back to the house, my family and friends standing beside Twilight and the others “So you’ve a few new tricks” I grinned, bursting into both a swirling fireball/inferno and a series of thunderbolts “you’re not the only one, Trixie!” “Modo Raien Ryū” Snowdrop cheered “Although I should probably mention, the dragon slayer spells that I use are all battle-based, save but a trio of magicka, little pony” I glimmered, letting out a powerhouse roar, my magic apparently transforming into a rather solid -albeit massive-, extra set pair of whitish-golden wings that spread around the crowd, leaving them in a rather warm shade, only for them to start shrinking as I inhaled a fusion of fames and thunderbolts, disappearing entirely as I exhaled an enormous stream of the two elements into the sky, the thundering great *BOOM* that resonated from the blast was, to say the least, extensive When the torrent of fire and lightning faded, I panted for breath, everyone present was staring at me as I staggered, glancing behind me, Twilight, her friends and Celestia were staring at me, awe-struck, so it would seem “Still got it” I staggered a little more “Lightning flame dragon roar,” Snowdrop chimed, sitting beside me as I collapsed flat on my rear “congratulations, Daddy,” she curled up in my lap, staring up at me “your wings are glowing by the way” she giggled “So that’s what that tingling is” I hummed “Now I can see why the wiki says that the spell you’ve just used is has the potential to kill someone” Blaze whistled “Tesla!” a familiar yellow pony with a scarlet mane and tail with a pink bow in her mane charged toward me alongside an alabaster unicorn with a pink mane and tail and a mild rust-orange Pegasus with a magenta mane “We heard that you’d returned” Sweetie Belle exclaimed as the three of them -after Snowdrop leapt from my lap to the ground beside Blaze-, leapt toward me, knocking the wind from my lungs as the trio impacted with my midsection and chest “Scootaloo,” the Pegasus grinned as the three of them sat before me “do you, perhaps, have a family?” she blinked “I know Sweetie Belle and Applebloom are sisters to honesty and generosity, but I don’t think I’ve heard anyone mention you” she bit her lip, tears clouding her eyes as she shook her head, I cast a moment’s glance toward Fluttershy rolled my eyes, tutted, and faced forward again “Darling, how would you know any different, may we ask?” Rarity raised an eyebrow “Internet” I winked “I won’t elaborate” “You visited the orphanage, didn’t you?” “What can I say, I’m learning new things every day, and as for why,” I sighed “I was curious, and I was bored, don’t judge me” “And what did you find?” she glanced to each of the element bearers in turn “I think you’d best go there yourself, Lady of the Sun” I inhaled, followed by a sharp exhale “it does not bode well to ask question that another does not wish to answer” “And where’re you going to be?” she raised an eyebrow “Out, so to speak, I smell gems” I gave a toothy grin “You can smell gems and eat them?” Twilight blinked “how does that work?” “It’s something that comes with the magic of a dragon,” I smiled, standing upright “Scootaloo, I’ll see you later, Bloom, Belle, stay with your friend, she may need you in a little while, now more than ever” they nodded, comforting the Pegasus beside them -=- As we made our way into the fields near the everfree forest, my nostrils flared, sensing multiple sets of gems all at once “Down the hatch,” I exclaimed, devouring the first pile of gems, moving onto the second “Just don’t eat them too quickly; we don’t want you getting indigestion now, do we?” Blaze laughed “How can I not, after all, when I sued the ‘lightning flame dragon roar,’ my magic levels were almost depleted to absolute naught!” I guffawed Soon, most of the gems had been devoured; my magical capabilities now back at optimum levels, I left for Ponyville, my family venturing alongside me =-=-= “So, what villains from the infamous MLP ‘series,’ have we yet to beat?” Blaze simpered as we entered the town’s borders “Nyx, but, although on the wiki and every other world and the internet states that she’s a villain, I refuse to so much as lay a finger on her in any negative way, be it violent or otherwise” I snapped “Good grief you really are into the thing you humans call chivalry aren’t you?” she smirked; I shot her a glare, “sorry…” “The only, quote-en-quote ‘villains’ I can think of that I’ve yet to defeat are non-combat based, most likely, shame to, I was getting used to the use of my flame-based-magic” I sighed, again as a mild/pale orange Pegasus landed on my head, tears streaming down her muzzle “Hello, Dad” Scootaloo sniffled “Hello, Scootaloo” I held her in my arms “I think the answer is obvious, but would you like to stay with me?” she nodded “Thank you, Dad” she sobbed, clinging onto me, her tears staining my jacket “Nobody should have to go through what you have Scoots, nobody,” I frowned “and yet we are cursed with this life full of dissonance and detest that we can easily lose sight of who we are, or what we’re fighting for, or who we’re living for,” I continued “however, I must ask that you cry no longer, save your tears for when you truly need them, my little comet, you’re part of the family now, that means that we look out for one-another, Ok?” “Ok Dad…” she mumbled as I carried her to the front lawn, gently setting her down, opening the front door, she glanced toward me; I smiled, gesturing for her to enter “This place is amazing!” Scootaloo stared around the lounge with an apparent sense of wonder “Have we, perhaps, a visitor in our humble abode?” Autumn Heart giggled, standing beside me “Is she my mom now?” Scootaloo pointed a hoof toward th unicorn stood at my side “Rick, what have you done?” Autumn Heart stared at me “I found out about her, and she’s a friend of my Nakama, so she’s my Nakama, thus, I decided to help her” I smiled “If that’s the case” she sighed, turning to Scootaloo “yes, I am your mom, from here on anyway” she glanced toward me “and what might her name be?” “Scootaloo” I smiled, there came a knocking on the front door “I’ll get that, you two stay here” they nodded When I opened the front door, I saw a dark brown Pegasus stallion with a dark grey mane and tail, glaring at me “And how may I help you, good sir?” I quickly bowed “I’d like my daughter back, human” the stallion spat “And I’d like the first two centuries of my life back in a way that suit everyone, my family and friends included, but that doesn’t mean that it’ll happen, I stepped outside, locking the front door behind me “Who do you think you are?” he bellowed, by now, every single pony who was present in the vicinity had stopped, staring at the events taking place “Coming from you, the supposed father who left her and her mother to die all those years ago” I snapped “You’ve no proof!” he snarled “I’d say the orphanage’s secretary isn’t that much of a liar, you on the other hand, or in your case, hoof, are” I scowled “you want her back, you’re going to have to go through me, literally if need be” “So be it!” he blared, standing on his hind legs, pulling an arm back, firing it forward, I sidestepped, he staggered forward, I backhanded him in the neck, sending him sprawling “I’m waiting” I tutted as he gasped for breath, staggering once he got on all-fours “Just be quiet!” he yelled “Make me, kiddo” I held back an arm as the lower half, the fist and sleeve included, became a shining charcoal black, swinging an underarm punch, delivering a lethal uppercut to his jaw, sending him flying “Class dismissed” I smiled, my arm returning to its original colour, I opened the door, walking inside “What was that?” Autumn Heart glanced toward me as she sat beside Scootaloo on the sofa “Rioters” I rolled my eyes, she blinked “Fluttershy, knowing she couldn’t take care of a foal at her current age, albeit, all those years ago, took Scootaloo to the orphanage when she was an infant, and then they let her out when they felt she was old enough” “And that was Fluttershy’s ex-marefriend?” Autumn Heart stared at me, glancing toward Scootaloo, who was staring at the floor with a rather upset expression spread across her features, I nodded “that’s completely ludicrous, I understand the whole part where she couldn’t look after Scootaloo on her own, but having the stallion just abandon her in the first place is completely bucking selfish!” there was another, quieter series of knocks at the door “that can’t be him, can it?” she looked worried “If it is, I want you to get into the safest place upstairs you can think of, Blaze” I turned to the Typhlosion, who saluted me “if it comes down to it, I want you to guard these two with your life, clear?” “Crystal clear, Brigadier General Hawkins, sir” she nodded As I opened the front door, there were four mares stood there, Twilight Rainbow Dash Rarity and Applejack, to be precise “Is there a problem?” I clicked my neck “Why’d you send that pony flying,” Twilight frowned “and; just as importantly, how did you do it without magic?” “Classified” I winked “As for why,” I sighed “ “He threatened my Nakama, my family, and you know how I get when that happens, Lady of Magic” I bit my lip “carry out what sentence you will, I will accept all charges without hesitation, if it means I’ll be able to see my little Snowflake smile again” “Rick…” she stared at me I gulped, audibly, she giggled “although there will be questions and rumours floating around for a while, I’m sure we can forget about it eventually, if only for you, Rick” “Looks like I owe you one, Sparky” I smiled, only for Celestia to appear via teleportation beside Twilight and her three friends “I’ve sensed somewhat of a disturbance here,” Celestia raised an eyebrow “what’re you up to, Rick?” “Defending my Nakama, lady of the sun” I quickly bowed “as we should know by now that it’s as natural to me as a heartbeat, or an intake of air when breathing” “Who is it this time?” I raised an eyebrow, her horn flared for a brief moment as it tapped against my head “I see, I’ll have the guards notified immediately,” she slowly nodded “and as for you, my dear knight-“ “I accept any and all charges placed upon my being, I will gladly put my safety, life and freedom on the line for another being, specifically one of my Nakama, family, or friend’s, Princess” I bowed “do with me what you will, and I’ll go with it, if only to see Snowdrop’s smile again…” “You’re too overly-dramatic she laughed “I was going to say well done, I’d hate to think what could’ve happened, had he gotten his hooves near your new family member Sir Rick,” she giggled “though, I will commend your bravery and sacrifice that you’d have made for your loved ones, it’s indeed admirable” she smiled, vanishing with a quickly flash of light All of a sudden, I felt as though the world had shifted somewhat, and that an immeasurably heavy weight had been lifted from my shoulders “Really, dear, how do you get yourself into these situations?” Rarity gave a faint smile “Even if I knew, it probably wouldn’t probably stop these events from happening” I shrugged “and for that, I’m grateful, Arigato, mina!” “You’re welcome” Twilight laughed “That was neighponese” Rainbow Dash blinked “On Earth, we call it Japanese” I shrugged “just another similarity, I suppose” =-=-= As I was taking a mid/late-evening stroll, my family, sans Blaze, in their beds and fast asleep I smelt something burning, rushing toward the source of the smell, I found a clubhouse that was built next to a tree, surrounded by fire, with a large boulder blocking the entrance along, and with two familiar ponies stood between it and me “What do you think you’re doing!?” I bellowed, they spun around, quickly sprinting away, cackling with laughter as they went, I ground my teeth, both arms becoming a shining black charcoal colour as I bought them together, clasping my fingers as I bought my hands high above my head, smashing the augmented arms down on the boulder, shattering it, shifting aside the rubble, tearing the door of the clubhouse away as I pulled my shirt over the lower half of my face, gathering the three occupants, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Applebloom, quickly carrying the earth pony and Pegasus in question under my arms as Blaze carried the unicorn of the trio, gently setting them down on the ground at a safe distance as the small wooden building exploded, lowering my shirt again “Blaze, get Twilight, or her friends, whoever’s closest” I frowned, Blaze nodded, bounding into the distance Within minutes, the familiar figures of both Applejack and Big Mac charged toward me “Blaze told us what happened” Applejack scowled, the rage that boiled within her quite apparent “where’s Blaze?” “She’s gone to get the others,” I turned, walking toward the burning treehouse “What in heck, are ya’ll doin?” she gaped “Ending the fire” I glared, inhaling a copious amount of air, taking the fire with it, turning and walking back to the farmpony duo “that’s bitter, even for a fire” I hummed “more importantly, we need to get these three to hospital” “Agreed” Big Mac nodded as Applejack lifted her younger sister over and onto her back, walking with me as I carried the other two over my shoulders “Rick, your sister’s informed me about what…. Happened….” Rarity gasped at the sight of the three of us carrying the unconscious ponies, I crouched down, allowing her to take her sibling onto her being, the four of us marching into the hospital “Hello, how may I help… you…?” the pony at the desk stared at me when as we entered the hospital “However you can, just make sure they survive” I frowned, she nodded “Follow me” she gulped, audibly, I nodded, Rarity, Applejack Big Mac and I followed her into a room with three beds side by side, I set Scootaloo down on one Rarity lay Sweetie Belle down on the second, and Big Mac and Applejack set Applebloom down on the third the four of us standing back with looks of disgust as six ponies marched through the doorway, connecting heart-monitors and IV-drips to the three mares “What happened, exactly?” a snow-white earth pony with a lilac mane and tail, the former of which was styled into a bun, and a cutie mark which resembled a red cross with hearts in the corners pointing inward, blinked, glancing to each of us in turn, I quickly explained “You smashed through a giant boulder?” she stared at me “I think we’ve got more urgent matters at hoof” I clenched my fists “Sweet mother of Faust,” Rarity gasped “somepony tried to kill my sister…” “And ours too,” Applejack glared “as well as Scootaloo, who’d of thought that a pair of fillies could do such a thing!?” “I wouldn’t worry about it” I gave a maniacal grin “How can we not worry about it?” she blared, I held up a hand, she stopped “You forget, I can travel through reality itself, if I find them I can instantly take them to the deepest reaches of hell I can find” I smirked “Ah’m not complaining” she quickly grinned “Nor am I, but I will say it’s a little harsh for a pair of fillies “Who just tried to torch your sister?” I raised an eyebrow “Very well then...” she sighed, right at that moment, Twilight, Rainbow Dash and Celestia marched into the room “I’d like to know what happened here at once, if you’d be so kind, my little eon” Celestia frowned, I tapped my head, she nodded, tapping her horn against my head as it flared a vivid primrose colour “Though I’m curious as to when and how you got such a unique ability as that, I won’t question it, not when there’re lives at stake” she slowly nodded, turning to the nurses and doctors currently examining the three mares “how’re they coming along “I can’t say just yet,” the snow-white nurse it her lip “whilst it’s not too severe, there are some serious injuries; they may be out of it for a week, at the least” she glanced toward me, I gave her the flattest stare I could, staring back toward Celestia “I’m sorry to say this, but they’re going to need to stay here for the time being” “Just promise me- no, just promise us that you’ll do what you can,” I frowned “Thor known I need another heart-rending moment within the same three-hundred years” she blinked, but then quickly nodded “That’s what we’re paid and trained to do, milord” she gave a faint smiled “Who could do such a thing!?” Rainbow Dash growled “I feel your anger, Rainbow Dash, but there isn’t much we can do” Twilight bit her lip, glancing toward me as I let out a stifled yawn “Come to think of it, I don’t think you’ve been sleeping much, Brother” “I’m not paid or trained to sleep, Blaze” I raised an eyebrow “So you aren’t but it wouldn’t hurt to get a little, shuteye, would it?” she folded her arms “At this specific point in time,” I frowned, again “priorities, dear sister, or are you now blind to the obvious, of that of which is right before us?” “Touché” she slowly nodded -=-=- Two weeks passed, and not a sign of any of the three mares’ awakening revealed itself, until one day… “…Daddy?” Scootaloo began to cry as she awoke, I gently held her hoof within my hand as she slowly sat upright “Don’t worry, Daddy’s here,” I pecked her forehead as the nurse from before marched into the room “She’s awake?” the pony blinked “thank Celestia for that…” Then it was my dear sister’s turn to awaken, stretching with an elongated yawn, blinking, staring at Scootaloo, then toward me “Get the others?” she sighed, I nodded, she saluted me bounding out of the room, and out of the hospital “I’ve yet to ask you what that thing even is” The nurse giggled nervously “That’s Blaze, she’s my sister, although not by blood, I saved her from poachers when she was a little smaller than Scootaloo here” I explained “I suppose that’s fair enough, sir” she smiled “Call me Rick, mostly everyone else does” I simpered “That I shall” she nickered, examining Scootaloo as any doctor or nurse would “I’m happy to say that she’s Ok, but she’ll need to spend at least another two days in here, Rick” she winked at me Not ten minutes later and Twilight marched into the room alongside her friends, minus Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy, quickly followed by Blaze, Snowdrop, Gracy Gloom, and Winter Bell, the latter three of which perched themselves on my head and shoulders respectively “Have you even so much as left this room?” Twilight raised an eyebrow as the three fillies currently using me as a unique piece of furniture nuzzled into me ‘accordingly’ “I guess not” “Applebloom,” Applejack rushed to her sister side, as did Rarity, respectively “What happened?” Applebloom and Sweetie Belle slowly pulled themselves upright “You were caught in a fire, but Rick Saved ya’ll” Applejack winked at me “I’m just doing what comes natural” I smiled “Ya do realise that ya’ll are a hero now, pardner?” Applejack grinned “As if that were new to my brother,” Blaze chortled “But I believe we have more important matters to attend to” -=- Another week past, and finally, the crusaders were freed from the confines of the hospital, only for Pinkie Pie to instantaneously morph the entire town, including its populace, into a village wide party “Pinkie Pie, they just got out of the hospital, I don’t think they need to be scared witless any time soon” I frowned “Oh, lighten up Ricky-o” Pinkie Pie laughed “they’re alive, that’s what matters, isn’t it?” “I’m not even going to bother arguing with you” I walked with ‘Scootaloo by my side; and the other three upon my being-, toward the house, the mild orange Pegasus curling up in my lap as I sat, cross-legged on the porch “Rick?” Black Beetle, sat by my side, placing a gentle hoof on my side “I know how you feel, when you feel as though you nearly lost everything you’ve lived for, I’m sorry” “You’ve no need to be, Blackie” I pecked her cheek, apparently, a changeling’s cheeks turn a neon green when they blush, Scootaloo quickly sat beside me, opposite the changeling “Come ‘ere” gave a soft laugh, picking the changeling up, setting her in my lap, draping my wings around her, she bit her lip lightly, then draped her arms around me, biting down on my lip as they met “Why’d you do that?” “When a changeling bites the lip of a loved one, it means that they accept that being as a mate,” Black Beetle’s cheeks flushed a vivid green “who do you want me to be, milord?” “Just be you,” I smiled be who you’ve always been, Blackie, I wouldn’t ask any more of you” “But…” she stammered “in this form, I’m ugly, I’m repulsive I’m-!” “You’re you,” I winked, “everything has beauty; it’s just that not everyone sees it” “I love you, Rick” she purred, dragging me into the house via magic, all the way into the bedroom, Snowdrop Gracy Gloom and Winter Bell galloping into the lounge as I was promptly -albeit carefully-, dropped onto the bed “Now then, where do we start?”
Chapter XVII; Dragon gods“What’re you doing in here?” I blinked, I stood alone in the Canterlot dungeons, my family and friends were currently conversing with the princesses elsewhere in the castle, before me, hanging by a pair of chains attached to the corners of the ceiling, was Chrysalis, in a more-than-slightly ‘curvaceous’ anthro form “I’m offering myself to you, milord,” Chrysalis gave a weak smile, “take me, your majesty…” I stepped forward, closing the cell door behind me, making my way toward the changeling queen, glancing toward the corners of the ceiling where the chains connected, I noticed a rail system allowing the chained ‘prisoner’ to be moved back and forth, I knelt before her, my legs at an almost-perfect ninety degree angle as I took one of her erect nipples between my lips, grasping the other between a finger and thumb Chrysalis let out a gasp as I began to assault her mammaries, removing my hand from her breast, lowering it down to her entrance, diving into her folds, sucking on her teat as, she let out a moan as I thrusted my middle and ring fingers in-and-out of her depths, groaning as I used my other hand to remove my lower sections of clothing, throwing them aside as I removed myself from, her body “You really know your way around a ruler,” Chrysalis purred “Not quite,” I smirked “you’ve the form similar to that of a human, meaning that the anatomy’s basically identical” “So I see, shall we continue?” she giggled, I nodded “Placed your arms around me” she blinked, but did so anyway as I ripped the chains from the ceiling, she stood, barefoot on the cold stone floor “Thank you, Rick” she wrapped her tongue around mine, quickly removing my shirt, it was then that I noticed the collar and leash hanging down her back “just for that,” her horn flared up, and a single bed appeared via teleportation Gently, she sat me down on the edge kneeling before me, coiling her tongue around my cock from the tip all the way down to the base, also gently running it along my balls, taking my manhood into her mouth, bobbing her head up and down, smiling up at me as she lightly squeezed her tongue’s grip on my crown jewels, I shuddered, she grinned, placing her hand on mine, moving it onto her head, giving a muffle giggle, pressing her lips down on my member “Oh... that’s… keep going” I mumbled, she smirked, pulling away for a moment “Don’t mind if I do, my king” she winked, retaking my meat-and-two-veg back into her tongue’s grip, sliding it along my length, pressing her lips down on the head, I convulsed, pulling her head down, hilting her maw as I came into her, Chrysalis gagged as I filled her with ‘juice’ so to speak, pulling away once I finished, greedily gulping down the whole lot, exhaling sharply “Sweet, and yet somewhat bitter also, you’ve got a good taste to you, milord” she smiled, placing a coiling her fingers around my dick, fragilely beginning to stroke it “What shall you do to me next, your majesty?” I quickly lifted her up, placed her on the bed, turned her onto her front and dived into her depths with my tongue (Not sure if pun-material or not?) “Oh, sweet, merciful, Faust!” she screamed “Yes, make me your slave, make me beg for release!” she howled as my tongue, twisted, twirled, and danced within the soft, almost plush walls of her cunny, grabbing a hold of my head with both hands as she came, I quickly swallowed the fluids that burst from her nether region, pulling away once she let go, changing to eon form, my erection standing out somewhat proudly “Go on, have your resolution” she cooed as I prodded my eonhood against her entrance, sliding it in, surprisingly managing to hilt her, slowly beginning to thrust in and out of her tight cunt Eventually, I as moving as a blur, repeatedly slamming my cock against her cervix, a loud, long moan escaping the changeling queen every time I hilted her, sliding almost all the way out, and then diving back in as I went, a burning sensation rushing through my balls quickly working its way through the sperm tract and out through the end of my length, painting her inner walls white, Chrysalis let out a scream as I climaxed reverting to human form once it stopped, bucking my hips in and out of her until then, Chrysalis let out a scream as I climaxed “I love you, my little eon” Chrysalis panted for breath “And I you, my little Chrissie” I pecked her cheek as I collapsed on top of her “Ready for round three?” she glimmered =-=-=-= “So, what’s the buzz?” I clapped my hands together, standing beside my friends and family, Chrysalis included, Twilight and her friends stood between myself and the princesses “You were at it for two days straight,” Celestia raised an eyebrow “it’s a miracle that my sister and I got any sleep” “How’d ya‘ll manage something like that?” Applejack blinked “Well,” I began “Chrissie here consumes my love as we make it, so to speak, and I’m trained to go for possibly days on-end without food anyway” I shrugged “By who, exactly,” Celestia frowned “UNSC” I tilted my head ever-so slightly, Black Beetle having perched herself on the back of my skull “it’s all just a part of the training, I suppose” “So, who’s the one screaming through all that then?” Blaze folded her arms; Chrysalis’ face flushed a bright green “How’d you do it?” I raised an eyebrow, “Fair do’s” “Darling, whilst I understand that you and Chrysalis love one-another,” Rarity gagged “I must ask, do you have to make that much racket?” Rarity’s face flushed a deep scarlet colour “What’s the matter Rarity, you sound jealous” Rainbow Dash laughed “Rainbow Dash, a lady is never jealous,” Rarity scoffed “I’m mere requesting to know the reason behind the racket that’s been plaguing the castle for the past forty-eight hours” “So you say Diamond,” I winked, she fainted “Guess she was jealous after all,” Blackjack smirked “Quite so” I hummed -=-=- “Rick, my I ask you a question, I promise that it’s not a personal one” Celestia sat beside me in her chambers, turning to face me, tapping her fore-hooves together, the metal shoes clinking slightly as they met, her face flushed a bright pink as she ‘spawned’ a hopeful look in her eye, glancing toward me “do you believe, that I, am cute?” the aura around her changed from a regal one to a loving, yet timid one as she arced her wings around her “You’re adorable” I suddenly felt rather light-headed as I placed a fragile hand on her wing, lightly massaging it “Thank you, Rick” she collapsed onto me, forcing me on my back “Anything for my little Sunflower” I pecked her cheek; she stared at me, breaking into a wicked smirk as she removed her lingerie, discarding it randomly “Anything, Rick; are you positive?” Celestia smiled, sitting on my chest “if that’s the case, I want you to make me feel as Chrysalis did, and for twice as long,” I raised my arms, nudging her forward by the her ass “cheeky” -=- “Where were you?” Blaze frowned, folding her arms “Cellsy asked me for a visit so I did” I grinned “You were in there for four days” she deadpanned “I said I’d do anything,” I rebuked “can’t blame me for her taking that literally” I went on “not that I’m saying she can’t she’s the princess and lady of the sun, she can b who and what she wants and do what she wants, I won’t stop her” I finished with a shrug “Uh, Rick?” she nodded behind me, turning around, I saw Celestia -still in her anthro form-, staring at me with a look of shock-and-awe “Good morning Princess, how-?” Celestia marched up to me, grabbed the sides of my head and pressed her lips against mine, forcing her tongue through the gap in my lips, draping her arms around my neck, gradually parting, pecking my cheek as she did so “how are you, Lady of the Sun?” “I’m in somewhat of a good mood,” Celestia winked |”you wouldn’t happen to know why, would you, my dear knight?” “I wouldn’t know, as it is not my place to question that of which belongs to a goddess” I quickly bowed “You really are into this whole chivalry thing aren’t you?” she giggled, I shrugged “I would follow you into the depths of hell if need be” I boldly declared “That would imply that I wish to go to such a place” she nickered, I nodded “Well, you are gifted with being the most beautiful pony in Equestria” “What about you’re other Nakama?” Blaze raised an eyebrow “Well that leaves me at an impasse, as I do not wish to offend either they, nor Celestia,” I tilted my head “I understand how you feel, somewhat,” Celestia smiled as a trio of beings climbed their way onto my head and shoulders and a fourth, a mild orange Pegasus with a magenta mane and tail stood beside me “although it looks like you’ve got company, my dear knight “We love you Daddy” Snowdrop, Scootaloo Winter Belle and Gracy Gloom chimed “And I you, my little Winter Bell, Snowflake, comet and Saving Grace” I smiled =-=-= “So, what’s your current reply on Spitfire’s training of the wonderbolts?” Blaze smiled as we sat on the front lawn beside my other family members as Rainbow Dash hovered above us, lying on a cloud she’d bought down “I’ve only a few words to say, really” I sighed, “Franklin Mendez” “Oh,” she blinked “you mean the legendary UNSC-NCO, who’s been involved in training every single Spartan-II-and-III?” “That’s the one,” I nodded “he along with James Ackerson are some of the best examples of leadership, of course the list wouldn’t be complete without either Lord Hood, Admiral Preston Jeremiah Cole, or Colonel Akono Menteith of the fifty-third armoured division” I clicked my neck “and don’t even get me started on Captain Jacob Keyes” “The UNSC lost one of its best on that day” Blaze hummed “Indeed it did” I slowly nodded That night, I hung an artificial skeleton, about the same size as me to a coat hanger that I’d borrowed, the skeleton however, is classified (that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it!) I hung the coat hanger on Luna’s bedroom door with a note saying ‘you did this to me!’ knocking on the door, and quickly flying away, i glanced around the corner, nothing, the door didn’t even budge “Nice try…” a demonic voice echoed from behind me, I glanced behind me, and to this day; I still remain confused as to how I can still scream like a little girl “If thou art going to prank somepony, at least learn to hide thy presence” Luna smirked toward me at the dinner table “That was you?” Blaze and Celestia blinked, stifling laughter “I didn’t know humans could reach such levels of audacity,” Discord laughed “Perhaps I could teach you to learn to hide yourself better, Ricky-o” “Really,” I raised an eyebrow, inhaling, and then exhaling, entering a meditative state as I changed to eon form, turning invisible “That’s a new one” Discord “I can’t detect your presence” I grinned, flying out of the room, soaring toward Luna’s bedchambers, going the long way round through the window, taking the first thing I saw, which was an indigo book with a creamy white crescent moon on it, quickly placing it in my inventory flying back out the window, soaring toward Ponyville, where my family was sat on the front lawn Turning visible again, I reverted to human form, grinning like an idiot “Good morning Daddy” Snowdrop, Scootaloo Winter Bell and Gracy Gloom chimed in unison placed themselves upon my being, Scootaloo lay in my arms, the four nuzzling into me, Snowdrop pecking one of my horns “We love you daddy” they chorused “And I you, my little ponies” I smiled, Autumn Heart trotted out onto the doorstep as she opened the front doo “Good morning, my love” Autumn Heart cooed “Kon'nichiwa, Autumn Heart,” I quickly bowed, walking with my family into the lounge, sitting beside Autumn Heart on the sofa, taking the book out of my inventory, , quickly cutting through the lock with the Dawnbreaker, opening it -=- “Did you hear, Rick?” Twilight sat beside me on the sofa on the following week (I’d read through the diary, and to be frank, I wasn’t amused) “Princess Luna’s Diary was stolen!” “And who’re they accusing of that crime?” I tilted my head “They don’t know who did it,” Twilight hummed “all they know is that Luna went in to write down the day’s events only to find it missing, do you know what happened?” “Other than the fact where I tried to prank her and she made me squeal like a little girl, no” she stared at me, then burst into a fit of laughter, that of which gradually died down “I’m sorry, it’s just that I find the thought of you doing such a thing to be, well…” “Hilarious?” I suggested “Impossible!” she chortled, that too, eventually died down “so you don’t know anything about it” “I’m a knight, and a dragon slayer, not a petty thief, Twilight Sparkle,” I smirked “I’m hurt that you would think such a thing, do you not love me?” I blinked “Shit, I just said that, didn’t I?” “Yep” she giggled “Ok Rick, you’re innocent, but I’d hate to think if you were,” she nickered “can you imagine the amount of trouble you’d be in?” “Not really” I raised an eyebrow, changing to eon form, my family, Autumn Heart included, leapt onto my back “See you in Canterlot, Sparky!” and with that I took to the sky =-= When I got to Canterlot, specifically, the castle, I was pinned against the wall by an enraged Luna, who was levitating a spear at my neck, glowering with a look of unadulterated rage at me “Where is it!?” Luna boomed “Where’s what?” I blinked “Thine diary,” she growled “Kill me if you must, but I don’t have what it is that you seek, Lady of the Moon,” I squished myself against the wall as the spear came a little closer “Then where do thou propose that it might be found, Sir Rick?” she scowled “I’ve no idea, I’m a knight, not some petty thief, least of all to you princess!” “If thou confess, we may spare thee an endless torment, young eon” she suddenly smirked “That’d imply that I have it,” I gulped audibly, the spear made contact with my neck, only touching the scales “are you sure it hasn’t fallen down the back, or it’s in one of the drawers?” “We shall look again, but if we don’t find it, we’re going to have a few words” she glared icy daggers at me, teleporting along with the spear “Holy fudge...” I collapsed onto the ground “Daddy,” my family gasped in perfect unison, rushing to my side, leaping onto my back as I, wearily, hovered above the floor, making my way to the throne room “Have you perhaps heard of my sister’s missing item?” Celestia frowned “I’m a knight, not a thief,” I sighed “do with me what you must; just see to it that my family don’t get involved” “And, in all curiosity, what would the punishment be, should my brother have it on his being?” Blaze patted my back “Redaction of his title, for at least a few months” Celestia’s eyes narrowed “maybe, but, should Luna choose to be merciful or should Rick choose to hand it over now, I could lower the sentence” Blaze nodded I turned invisible, gliding toward Luna’s bedroom, placing the diary by the door, soaring toward the gardens =< “So, I guess this means that you’re an Ex-knight now, huh Tesla?” Blaze sighed “And that was a human prank, no?” “It was, I only wanted to cause a bit of chaos, humorous, controlled, chaos, is that too much to ask?” I felt my wings tingling, glancing back toward them, I noticed them turn several shades darker “And it’d seem your wings change depending on your status on Equis, Brother” Blaze shook her head, I felt something prod my shoulder, I glanced behind me, only to be sent sprawling by an armoured hoof, as I steadily got to my feet, the princess of the night changed to her anthro form, hitting me around the back of the head -causing me to lean forward-, followed by a knee to the stomach, and then a stamp to the side of the head, sending me toward the nearby tree, marching toward me, grabbing me by the arm and puling me back to my feet I glanced toward her, holding out an arm, signalling for her to stop, she quickly broke it, I let out a short scream as she did so, performing a roundhouse kick to my back, smacking me into the ground; I turned, backpedalling somewhat into the tree behind me “Hath thou any last words before we condemn you to Tartarus for two-millennia?” Luna clicked her knuckles as she walked toward me “Just a few” I spat blood into the ground beside me, she raised an eyebrow “Luna, I’m sorry, I did what was wrong, and for that, you may do what you will with me,” I gave the faintest of smiles, unsheathing the Dawnbreaker, holding it out to her “if you’re really going to do it, use this, it’s the least I can do for you, Tsuki no Fujin,” I glanced toward my family, who, sans Blaze, were staring at me with a look of utter horror “Snowdrop, run”, my family, Blaze and =Autumn Heart included, ran as fast as they could into the castle “How Gallant” she tutted, raising the enchanted blade above her head, pointing it toward me, beginning its descent, aiming it at my chest “Luna!?” someone nearby bellowed “what in sweet merciful Faust do you think you’re doing!?” Celestia teleported into view beside her sister, Luna lowered the Dawnbreaker “We were putting an end to Sir Rick’s so-called ‘prank’” Luna glowered at me “And that involves beating him until he can no longer stand, Luna?” Celestia glared toward Luna “He said that if we were really going to do so, he’d give us his weapon to use, and so, we did” the lunar alicorn shrugged “Over a prank?” she raised an eyebrow, I edge my way upward, only for Luna to stab the part of the tree above me with the somewhat ‘holy’ blade, I sat back down, holding my broken limb, my back beginning to ache alongside my stomach “He read our diary!” the princess of the night snapped “And I’m sure he can keep it a secret, can you not?” Celestia glanced toward me, I quickly nodded; her sister glared at me for a moment, planting the ebony blade further into the tree, teleporting away “That was a bit foolish, do you not think, Rick?” Celestia sighed as I pulled myself upright, my arm hanging loosely by my side as we walked toward-and-into the castle “As for your punishment, perhaps this will teach you not to go into matters that don’t concern you?” I cast a moment’s glance toward her, facing forward again as we opened the door to the dining hall, which was slightly ajar “Ladies first” I gestured toward the door, sidestepping, as to allow her entrance “Thank you, my dear eon” she teleported away, I glanced toward the top of the door, where a line of buckets had been carefully placed “This should be easy enough to get around” I mumbled, walking toward a nearby door, which, I found it, when opened, led to a storage room Calculating where the dining hall would be my arm turned jet black as I bought it behind me, slamming my now-‘armoured’ fist into the wall, firing Gatling-like punches, breaking through the wall, and into the dining hall “Such a prank like that, shall not work on a being such as me,” I grinned, my arm returning to its normal colour “who the heck d’ya think I am?” “Would you mind explaining why you broke through the wall?” Celestia raised an eyebrow “Well for one, the room needs another door, IMO, and secondly, I’m in no mood for pranks” I shrugged “And you couldn’t have just fallen for the prank?” she looked somewhat hurt as Snowdrop, Gracy Gloom, Winter Belle and Scootaloo perched themselves on my head and shoulders/stood by my side “Snowdrop, marriage wise, what have I done within the past year or two, maybe three,” Snowdrop looked a little fearful “don’t worry I won’t let anyone hurt you, my little Snowflake” “Well you did ask for a divorce, Daddy” Snowdrop audibly swallowed “You did what!?” Celestia boomed “Checkmate” I grinned, tuning and walking through the storage room and into the corridor, Autumn Heart, Blaze, and Scootaloo walking beside me as I changed to eon form, leaping unto my back as I bought a certain form out of my inventory, nailing it to Celestia’s bedchamber door on the way out of the castle “So, I’m guessing your title as ‘knight’ was short lived?” Blaze sighed “That it was” I slowly nodded standing on the balcony “I’d rather be a Spartan anyway, more action on the field of a mostly unknown planet then on the fields of Equis “Reference intended?” she smirked “Nay, but ii will commend you for thinking of it” I smiled “Rick?” I turned; Celestia was there, tears streaming down her face “What could’ve happened that was so bad between us that you asked for a divorce?” Celestia bit her lip “You wrote in that book that Crystagia’s a cold-blooded murderer” I growled “Plus, you did kinda let Luna beat him to a pulp” Blaze spat “and have you even begun to talk with her about it?” “I have, and she has something she’d like to say” Celestia glanced toward Blaze as Luna stepped forward from behind her “Sir Rick,” Luna quickly bowed “we wish to apologize for our inexcusable actions, we-!” “Staged” Blaze tutted “We beg thy pardon?” Luna snapped “You can tell that the apology’s been staged” Blaze snarled “if you’re going to do something, at least do it properly, Luna” -=-=-=- As we -my family, friends and I sat on the porch, alongside Twilight-, I felt the earth shudder as an enormous beam of light pierced the heavens to the right of the house, the resulting building that appeared from within when the energy faded was somewhat gigantic “That’s…” Twilight gasped “The Fairy Tail Guild” Blaze declared as a human sprang forth from the entrance, he had pink spiky hair a black, single-sleeved waistcoat -a wristband clearly on his other arm-, black open-toed sandals a checkered scarf and a pair of white, knee-length trousers “Natsu,” Blaze stared at the human “Who’re you?” The human known as Natsu stared toward Blaze in a rather confused manner, glanced toward me, and promptly burst into a fit of laughter “What’s going on out here?” a long, red-haired young lady wearing silver torso armour that also protected her arms wearing a royal blue skirt with black boots that acted as leggings that went up to the are below her knees, the armour had a heart Kruz pattern with the fairy Tail guild emblem behind it, both on the chest area “Tesla,” I nodded, she glanced toward me head, where Snowdrop was perched on th back of my skull “Why is there an equine atop your head?” she facepalmed “Well, this country’s inhabited by both them and dragons and other creatures, so why not?” I shrugged “Hang on,” Natsu’s laughing was cut to an abrupt halt,” there are dragons here?” “There are, yes, chances are Igneel’s here also” I nodded “What’s Natsu gotten himself worked up over now, I can hear him from inside the guild hall” a young man with blackish-indigo hair wearing a snow-white jacket with cyan trimming stepped forward from inside the building, we was also wearing a magenta/cerise-coloured shirt with very dark green trousers and black boots, a small pendant in the form of a silver sword with a stone in it hung around his neck “What in the…?” he stared at me, glancing toward my head breaking into a wicked grin “If you’re going to ask what I think you are; Grey, welcome to Equestria” I sighed “That’s what this place is called?” he laughed “it’s no wonder if it’s filled with miniature horses” “Ponies” Twilight corrected him, Grey stared at her, glancing toward me “Is this some kind of a trick, or did she just talk?” Grey pointed an accusing finger toward Twilight as he stared at me “This’s isn’t a trick, although she can use magic, real magic” I smirked “You’re telling me that ponies in this world can talk and use magic?” Natsu whistled “That’s awesome!” “I’m guessing there’re pegasi here also?” the red-haired lady in armour raised an eyebrow “There are earth ponies, whose magic comes in form of their strength, there are pegasi whose magic comes in their unique flying abilities, and then there are the unicorns or alicorns, who can use magic and/or fly also” I explained “I think this should make for an interesting story for Master Makarov” she smiled, taking my hand in hers pulling e into the building, Twilight her friends, alongside my friends and family, quickly followed suit alongside Natsu and Grey, letting go of me as a few heads turned their gaze toward me “Everyone, Tesla’s back” she declared, placing an armoured hand on my shoulder “Welcome back!” more or less everyone in the room which was nearly filled with people-, cheered “Welcome back Tesla” a young lady with a cerise dress and long, snow-white hair smiled “The guild master’s been wondering what happened within the last few minutes, so you might have to explain a few things” “That shan’t be a problem” I smiled, she glanced toward my head “And who might you be?” the wizard known as Mirajane giggled “I’m Snowdrop” Snowdrop held out a hook, Mirajane shook it, everyone in the room, sans Erza, was staring at me “Did that pony just… talk?” one wizard blinked “Sounded like it,” another slowly nodded “can’t tell if it’s a type of Celestia spirit or not…” “Nah, Lucy’s got all of ‘em, we’d know if it was!” a third argued “Oh yeah,” the second wizard snapped his fingers “so what’s that thing then?” “She’s a pony, as are we” Twilight cleared her throat, all eyes were now on her “And who’re you exactly?” Natsu prodded her horn “Twilight Sparkle” she frowned, I heard several people in the room burst into laughter, Grey included, and another dozen or so stifle laughter “So, we’re in a land of equine creatures are we?” a -and for lack of a better word-, tiny, elderly man with white hair and moustache walked toward me “Have you found Crystagia yet, young dragon slayer?” “I have,” I nodded “she comes to visit every now and then, on her own terms of course” “That’s good to hear,” he gave a slight smile “now then, where are we exactly?” “On the outskirts of Ponyville, in the kingdom of Equestria, on the Planet of Equis” Twilight boldly declared “We’re not on Earthland?” Natsu stared at me “how long have you been here?” “Around twenty-four or so years” I shrugged “So, who do we speak to about negotiations then?” the man known as Guildmaster Makarov smiled “That’d be either Luna or Celestia” I smiled “Oh, the puns” Grey glimmered with a sly smirk “That’s what I thought, it’s just as well my brother didn’t voice said thoughts” Blaze laughed “Blaze?” he stared at the Typhlosion stood beside me “Yep” she grinned “I’ve changed; as if by magic” “So it would seem” Makarov gave a slow nod “May I ask who you are?” Twilight held out a hoof, Makarov shook it “Makarov Dreyar, Guildmaster for the Fairy Tail guild” Makarov Dreyar shook her hoof “But you’re so small,” Twilight exclaimed, I raised an eyebrow, “what?” “You’re half the height of an average human and yet your magic level exceeds that of a normal guild wizard’s level of magic; how would you explain that, I mean other than your affinity to the art?” I folded my arms, Natsu frowned “I said ‘average,’ we all know that Fairy Tail was the best guild in Fiore, don’t we” he grinned “So what’s this Celestia going to do should we say the wrong thing, it’s not like she can drop the sun on us or something is it?” the fire dragon slayer smirked “Well, seeing as she’s the one who raises and lowers it at least once a day, every day, I’d say so” I nodded “She does what?” Grey awed at me “She and her sister raised and lower both the sun and moon respectively” I tilted my head ever-so slightly “It appears we’re in need of a little of your guidance young dragon slayer” Makarov hummed “I’ll do what I can, sir” I nodded “So this was the cause of the magical disruption in the area” everyone turned to face the new arrivals as a brown-eyed girl -with an age around fifteen ‘or so I’d guessed-‘ with long, flowing royal blue hair, wearing a yellow and blue striped dress with shoes of the same colour as her hair, and wing like attachments just above her ankles- stood beside me, placing her hands above my arm the area between her hands and my arm glowed with a bright green ‘mist’ Celestia and Luna were stood there “You’re hurt” The girl smiled up at me “Thanks Wendy” I smiled “So, how old are you now?” Natsu glanced between me and the solar and lunar alicorns stood before me “Around Three-hundred-and-twenty-three-ish” I smiled “Well at least you’re the record holder for the oldest member,” he smirked “And you’re the most short tempered, Natsu” I raised an eyebrow “Says the one with horns” he grinned “Magic, I ain’t gotta explain squat, so to speak” I beamed as Wendy lower her arms, glancing down to the healed limb, flexing it a few times “‘Natsu,’ as in ‘Natsu Dragneel,’” Celestia glanced toward me, and then toward my fellow dragon slayer “How does she know me?” “I basically said that you beat a god slayer, which you kind of did” I winked “And I trust that you did so without revealing any sensitive information?” Erza gave a light frown “I only said that he beat a god slayer, I didn’t say when or where” I smiled “Good enough” she nodded “So, what is this… castle?” Luna gestured to the building “This is the Fairy Tail Guild” Natsu grinned “Quite a remarkable structure, to be sure” she smiled, glancing toward me, her smile faltered “Then I’m to assume that you’re Celestia and Luna?” Makarov smiled “I am Princess Celestia Dawnbreaker, and this is my sister, Princess Luna” Celestia glanced toward me, then toward Makarov, gesturing to her sister, who gave a small wave “Isn’t that the name of your weapon?” Grey glanced toward me also “One of them, but there’s always a bigger fish, per se” I smirked “You got another one?” Natsu blinked, I nodded “Cool!” “So, what brings the two strongest beings on Equis down to visit a few mere wizards?” i tilted my head “We felt a, for lack of a better term, disturbance, in the magical output around this particular area, so we came to investigate” Luna bit her lip “And here you are,” I clicked my tongue “what can we do for you?” “We were curious” she gave a faint smile, oh the argument I could’ve stirred up right there and then, but, wisely enough, I chose not to “So this is a guild hall, it’s a little… big, don’t thou think?” “It needs to be, with the amount of wizards we have, the question is, where do they go now that they’re here instead of home?” I exhaled sharply “I believe I can take care of that,” Celestia smiled “I can cover all charges or the train to and from Canterlot, and offer them one of the free guest rooms” “This is coming out of my bank account isn’t it?” I smirked “Not at all” she raised an eyebrow “Canterlot,” Grey stifled a laugh “where’s that?” “By the castle in the Mountain city near here” I gave him the flattest stare I could -=-=- Once ‘introductions’ and negotiations were made; I stood in front of the guild hall beside Natsu and Wendy, Twilight and her friends stood before me “So, this is Natsu, the one you said beat a ‘God Slayer’? Rainbow Dash eyed the dragon slayer from head to foot “he doesn’t look so tough” “You’d be surprised” I gleamed “Who’s the girl?” she glanced toward Wendy, who hid behind me, using my wings as cover “I’m Wendy” Wendy murmured “She’s like Fluttershy” Twilight observed “Fluttershy’s not a sky dragon slayer” I deadpanned “She’s a what!?” the element bearers gasped in perfect unison “How can such a fragile young lady use such barbaric magic?” Rarity scowled “it’s unbelievable” “Grandeeney’s not a barbarian!” Wendy snapped, standing beside me “And neither is Igneel” Natsu frowned “You said you found Crystagia, how is she?” Wendy smiled; as a snow-white bipedal cat deep-blue eyes stood beside her “She’s as she’s always been, perfect” I smiled “Nice to see you Carla” “A pleasure, as always, Tesla” the cat smiled “Talking cats, whatever next?” Twilight blinked as the element bearers stared toward Carla with a look of borderline-horror “I think you’ll find; dear equine; that we can fly, just as your blue friend can” Carla smirked, a pair of shining wings sprouting from her back “I guess anything’s possible in a new world” Twilight raised an eyebrow “That it is” I smiled “So, how many times have you activated ‘Dagon Force’ whilst you were gone?” Natsu grinned at me “At least twice” I shrugged “These ponies drive you insane do they?” he smirked “Somewhat,” I sighed “No offense Snowdrop” “None taken Daddy” “She just called you…” Natsu trailed off, bursting into laughter as he ran into the guild hall “He beat a god slayer?” Rainbow Dash laughed “Let the kid have his fun” I waved a dismissive hand “It’s like you said, they can say what they want to you, but if they so much as lay a fraction of a hoof on your Nakama then they’re done for, right Daddy?” Snowdrop nuzzled into me “What on Earthland?” I glanced behind me; Grey was stood beside Erza and Natsu, grinning like an idiot, as was the fire dragon slayer beside him “Did I just hear her call you ‘Daddy’?” he smirked “You might’ve” I shrugged slightly “Depends, are you stupid?” “Coming from a pyro like you that’s saying a lot,” he exclaimed “you got enough balls to back that up, he turned his body to an angle placing a clenched fist on an upward facing palm to his side, a cyan magic circle appearing in front of his hands as he did so “More than you ice boy,” I smirked, both fists blazing “Knock it off, the pair of you” Erza frowned I quickly nodded, dissipating the fires around my hands, Wendy lightly prodded my chest, causing my to flinch slightly “You’re hurt?” Wendy raised her hands to my chest, creating the same bright green mist/aura as before “Is that healing magic?” Twilight blinked, Wendy nodded “So she’s not all bad then, eh Rarity?” Blaze smirked “Alright, I apologize for my rudeness…?” “Wendy,” the sky dragon slayer smiled “it’s Ok though, Tesla says that an insult only becomes a problem if you make it into one, and that it’s also something grey and Natsu should learn “Score,” Blaze cheered “I know, right?” I raised an eyebrow “I need to do what now?” Natsu gave a smug grin “Learn to lighten up” I shrugged, Wendy lowered her arms “Says you,” Blaze laughed “Is there a problem, Blaze?” I raised an eyebrow “Not at all, although you are being a little hypocritical” she smirked “Whatever, you say, fire hazard” I grinned “Is there a problem, stretch?” she simpered, glancing toward the trio of wizards, who, sans Erza, were grinning at me like complete utter morons “So how does the average Fairy Tail wizard use magic anyway?” Twilight tilted her head “I didn’t see any items or appendages in which magic could be channelled through “There’re two types of magic, ‘holder type,’ which is channelled through an item, like a wand or a staff for example, and then there’s ‘caster type’ magic, also known as ‘ability type’ which means that the wizard in question uses magic that flows through their being,” I explained “Like dragon slayer magic?” she smiled “That’s technically both ‘caster type,’ as well as Lost Magic’” I corrected her “So, unicorns would be caster type wizards then?” she nickered “If you were to count your horn as an item, you’d be a holder type, if you were to think of it as a part of you, you’d be a caster type wizard, so it works either way” I shrugged, yet again “You’ve been on the internet again, haven’t you?” Blaze guffawed with laughter “Bite me” I chuckled “What about pegasi and Earth ponies; and what of their innate magic?” Twilight magicked up a stack of paper and a quill, setting the first sheet of paper onto a clipboard “If it’s a part of who or what they are, no offense to anyone, then it’s caster type, technically speaking “If you were to give an earth pony or a Pegasus a spellbook with either a wand or a staff, it could be possible that they could become a wizard, perhaps even another Starswirl maybe, who’s to say?” “Starswirl, who’s that?” Erza blinked “Apparently, he was the greatest mage on Equis” I bit my lip “I wouldn’t know much, you’d have to ask Twilight or Celestia about it” “Starswirl the Bearded is the most important conjurer of the pre-classical era” Twilight “Alteration beats conjuration” Blaze almost snapped “How so?” Twilight frowned “Starswirl could summon a celestial dragon if he saw fit” “And if you get enough alteration-based wizards, or one that’s skilled enough, they can use their strongest form of telekinesis to snap it in half, figuratively” “Impossible” she scoffed “the celestial dragons are familiars that’re on Celestia’s Level, maybe her and Luna combine even!” “You haven’t met Gildarts have you?” I chortled “with a flick of the wrist, and he’s able to tear down an entire building,” I laughed “and it also works on magic, so say Starswirl were to summon a spirit-based familiar, he’d reduce tit to ash with a single movement of his arm” “You’re over-exaggerating, Brother” Blaze sighed “Am I?” I raised the other eyebrow “he beat Natsu fairly easily, and that was without even moving, technically” “Alright, how can one being have such power then?” Twilight frowned “You’re asking me that question?” I burst into laughter “do you not see the irony, Sparky?” “I only let Gildarts win” Natsu pouted as he folded his arms “I was kinda there, Salamander, you tried to beat him, he shrunk you down to size, then essentially toyed with you before flaring his powers to immeasurable amounts, and then you were reduced to a mumbling wreck crying your eyes out” I shook my head “Say what now?” Grey turned to Natsu, bursting into laughter Dear is not; evil it’s what shows you your weakness, once you know your weakness you can become stronger kinder and gentler,” I sighed “did Gildarts not teach you that, Pyro?” “One more word, Tesla, see what happens” Natsu cracked his knuckles, my back gave a loud *snap* “Merde” I cursed, collapsing onto my arse “And that’s what happens when you piss off an immortal co-ruler of the country” Blaze folded her arms “Ain’t it just?” I mumbled as Wendy sat behind me placing her hands above my back, I bit my lip as I felt the misplaced disk start to slip back in, gradually making its re-entry, the green aura returning once again “What’d you do that’d warrant a slipped disk?” Wendy blinked “Just a prank war gone somewhat horribly wrong” I tilted a hand “Involving a certain book?” Blaze patted my head as the green mist that’d formed between my back and Wendy’s hands intensified somewhat, the slipped disk snapped back in I tasted iron as I flinched “I still find it hard to believe that you screamed like that, brother” “Blaze, shut up” I frowned “Make me” she winked “There that should do it” Wendy lowered her hands “Thanks, Sky” I simpered “You’re welcome, Rick” she smiled “So, what was that about another word?” I turned to face Natsu “Given your state I think you should at least wait a few hours for the healing magic to take effect, if you don’t mind” Wendy smiled “If you say so” I sighed “A battle between dragon slayers, not again…” Blaze sighed “What do you mean, ‘again’?” Twilight “Laxus went AWOL and decided to basically take an entire city hostage because things weren’t going the way he wanted them to” I rolled my eyes “it took Gajeel and Natsu combined efforts to stop him, after all, lightning is stronger than fire” “Says who?” Natsu frowned “It’s common science” I sighed, again “Lightning moves at around one-thousandth of a second, and the atmosphere of a lightning bolt burst at around forty-five-thousand degrees Fahrenheit, on average, were you to get struck by it enough times, -which is not very many-, you’d die” I explained “Laxus uses lightning?” Twilight sat beside me, opposite Wendy “Not quite,” I winked “he’s the local lightning dragon slayer, just don’t tick him off” “And he almost beat Natsu also,” Blaze nodded “almost” “Only because I wasn’t using ‘Dragon Force’” Natsu rebuked “Even then you’d of probably only been on sub-par equal levels with him” I shrugged, again “How many dragon slayers does this guild have!?” Twilight exclaimed “Just the five” I said, smiling “Aye, Gajeel, the iron dragon slayer” “Alongside you, Wendy Laxus and Natsu, right?” Twilight glanced toward me; I nodded “How many dragon slayers are there in the universe?” “Possibly an endless number of them scattered across various planets, galaxies and star systems” I hummed “who knows, maybe there’s a dragon god slayer out there?” “Didn’t Celestia say that the dragons of old were on level with gods?” Blaze patted my back, albeit, lightly “That she did,” I nodded again “what’s your point?” “Wouldn’t that make them dragon gods, if only through a technicality?” she tilted her head “including Crystagia?” “Go on” I rolled a hand “What if, all the dragons on Earthland are from Equis?” she beamed like the sun “That’d mean that we’re dragon god slayers” Wendy glanced toward my sister, then toward me, lightly taking hold of my right wings, draping them around herself “Sky dragon-god slayer, Lightning dragon-god slayer, Fire dragon-god slayer, Iron dragon-god slayer, and Gemstone dragon-god slayer” Blaze raised an eyebrow “An interesting theory, dear sister,” I smiled “but there’s only one way to find out, really, is there not?” “Aye we’ve to go to Canterlot” she nodded, glancing toward Wendy who was currently, very lightly, massaging my wings “what on earth is she doing?” “Just applying a type of therapy to Rick’s wings” Wendy smiled “I did it for Grandeeney once, I thought it might come useful one day, so I kept knowledge of how to do it exactly” the pressure she was placing on my wings, if any was to be felt, disappeared as she let go, staring on the other side -=-=- On the way to Canterlot, my family, Blaze included, had taken the train to Canterlot with my friends, Grey, Natsu and Erza, also included, Wendy sat upon my back as I flew, in eon form, toward Canterlot “Look what we’ve got here,” a greyish-brown Pegasus with a pale creamy-coloured mane and tail -alongside a mild silver Pegasus with a dark grey mane and tail and an orange Pegasus with a brown mane and tail-, exclaimed “time tah take him down a peg!” “Wendy, lock your legs under my wings and wrap your arms around my neck” I glanced back to the nervous dragon slayer, she nodded, leaning forward, placing her legs under my wings and wrapping her arms tightly around my neck, as soon as she was in place, I did a one-eighty turn and soared back to ponyville, stopped, and turned back again, going as fast as I could as I soared toward the mountain city of Canterlot “Hold on!” I cried out, she nodded as I noticed the trio of pegasi slowly returning, an all but invisible barrier beginning to form around me, which, surprisingly enough, broke, and I missiled forward as an explosion of energy erupted from behind me, said energy was a mixture of whitish-gold and azure silver Gradually managing to stop I landed outside the castle within the gardens, setting myself under the shade of a tree Wendy slowly sat upright placing her hands on her head “Troia” she whispered to the winds “Are you Ok?” I glanced back to the young girl, who nodded “That was incredible, thank you Rick” she gleamed, draping her arms around my neck, embracing me “That was a sonic rainboom” I sighed “I’m glad you didn’t fall off, Lady of the Skies” I glided through the castle entrance, quickly finding the throne room Once Twilight and the others arrived, we entered the throne room “Sir Rick” Luna slowly nodded, I ignored her, lowering myself to the ground, thus, allowing Wendy to climb down, she staggered a bit, but easily righted herself “How’d you get here so fast?” Rainbow Dash blinked, sitting on my back “Sonic Rainboom” I grinned “We told you that an eon could break the sound barrier” Blaze grinned “We trust that thou art here for a good reason?” Luna sighed “Rick, we’re sorry about earlier, can thou forgive us?” “I’ve no need to” I rolled my shoulders; then clicked them “but yes, we are here for a good reason” “Go on,” Celestia raised an eyebrow “You said that the dragons of Old Equis were gods in their own right, yes?” I tilted my head, she slowly nodded “Blaze had a theory that a few of the dragons, if not several of the ones from here on Equis went to Earthland, and if so, would that make us dragon-god slayers, not to sound arrogant?” “That is something you’ll have to find out for yourselves” Celestia gave a flat stare “though I must ask, how is it that you healed so quickly?” “Magic” I nodded toward Wendy “And you bought her along because..?” she hummed “She’s a sky dragon slayer, she’s as much right to know Natsu and I do” I scowled “Very well” she sighed “I figured that you wouldn’t leave without good enough reason, so I’ll tell you,” she smiled “the dragons of the pre-classical era were a godlike sort, not to be contended with unless by a certain unicorn,” Blaze snorted “Starswirl was the only one who could go hoof-to –claw with these beasts,” I glowered at her “so when he passed on, we had nopony to stop their imminent rampage, so, a truce was made, we, alongside Faust, sent them to various worlds, and eventually they spread themselves across the universe, It may be possible that Crystagia found a loophole, or has the ability you do to travel and possibly even transcend reality, I’ve no honest idea, but if the dragons you know as your tutors and/or foster parents were sent there from Equis, then yes, you are, by a technicality, dragon-god slayers, or so you say” she lectured “How long ago was this?” Erza raised an eyebrow “It has been an eon since the age of the Dragon Empire came to a close” Luna gave a weak smile “Truly it is a time of peace” “But at what cost?” Blaze frowned “The dragons of old are gone, and now there are none left to tell others of their legends, f their power, fame and above all else, magnificence, save a few, save us,” she went on “it is a time of peace, but without a few decent dragons too keep the ones we have now inn check, it’d only be a matter of time before they too, pass on, and a wars starts, I’m not declaring it myself, I’m merely stating a theory of what could happen around a few generations down the line, what happens then?” “How can you think of such things?” Luna stared at Blaze and I “I hate to say it, but my sister’s got a pointy, in a few hundred years, or maybe a few thousand, they’re going to be dragons to prideful and/or stupid to do the right thing and descends themselves ad another species into chaos, maybe even a living hell” I shrugged “And thou would know this because how?” she frowned “I’m part dragon, even more so considering I’m an eon” I smirked “Demi-dragon-demi-god,” Blaze laughed “how in the heck does that happen?” “Genetics” I snapped my fingers, reverting to human form “And speaking of which, that’s another question that’s been going unanswered for too damn long” “Thou wish to know of thy parents, or thy origins?” Luna raised an unamused eyebrow “Both preferably” I turned and walked out of the room “And don’t even think about asking Faust or Firefly!” she exclaimed “I’m an eon, not a knight or a thief, certainly not a liar” I glanced toward her, tutting “Thou art a fiend” she scoffed “Says the talking pony” I turned to face her “And thou, an eon, a being without reason to be here, dares argue with us?” she snapped; I clenched my fists “last we checked thou had done the unthinkable, thou art a liar, thou art a thief, thou art a most wicked thing of creation” I snapped, I inhaled and screamed at the top of my lungs; “At least I’m not the one who’s born out of a fucking test tube!” I blared “one thousand years ago, when Nyx, the real princess of the night, ruled against Celestia, she found six beings, ones capable of using the elements against her, but she had the cowardice to try and save herself rather than her country, and when they fired the blast from the elements toward her, she used her last line of defence to deflect it toward Nyx, who teleported herself unto the moon to save herself, only to be locked up there for a thousand years!” I boomed “Can you imagine her fear for her loved ones, for her Nakama, and then she returned, only to find her so-called sister had been spouting utter lies and slander about her, and then she herself was fired upon by the elements!” I blared “she was betrayed Luna, by her own subjects, by the descendants of her family; how would you feel if that happened to you, Luna?” I snarled “is it any bloody wonder, ponies and the inhabitants of Equis alike fear, hate, or distrust you, you’re a bloody freak, and coming from me that’s saying a lot!” I continued even further, turning my gaze to her sister “and Celestia, who in the fucking hell do you think you are, she was your sister for Thor’s sake!” “Tesla, that’s enough!” Blaze snapped, I blinked, turning to face her; everyone was staring at me, Wendy, my family, sans herself of course, and Fluttershy were either crying or close to it at least, I looked down at my hands, turning them over, noticing the scales that were quite visible upon them as well as my arms and wrists, I glanced toward Luna, who was lying on the floor, now nothing more than a nervous, blubbering wreck, tears cascading down her face “Overkill” Natsu simply stated, and it wasn’t a complete lie, either “The tongue has no bones, and yet, it can deal more damage than an entire fleet” I bit my lip “I take it you think Nyx would do a better job than we would?” Celestia raised an eyebrow “If you weren’t such a tyrant she’d be at her rightful place!” I snapped, blinking, gulping audibly “Rick, is that how you truly feel?” I turned; Nyx was stood there, staring at me in apparent shock-and-awe “It‘s how it should be, for you’re the real princess of the night, Tsuki No Fujin” I smiled “I’m both honoured and flattered that you think that, Rick” tears clouded her eyes, I blinked, my scales disappeared with a flash of light as she pecked my cheek, teleporting out of view “Snowdrop…” I crouched down to her, she inched forward, flinching as I placed a fragile hoof on her mane, leaping forward; clinging onto me with al her might “I’m sorry, all of you, truly, if I can make it up to you, I will”, I changed to eon form, Snowdrop leapt unto my head, and Winter Bell, Gracy Gloom and Scootaloo glided onto my back “So, you use your other form for a means of transport?” Celestia smirked “Not quite,” I inhaled, as a lavender sphere appeared before my mouth, turning my head toward one of the windows, firing a large pinkish beam that instantly melted the glass, quickly closing my mouth, ending the blast “Luster Purge, a unique ability only used by eons, just thought I’d let you know, Celestia” I spat “You have a means to do just about everything don’t you brother?” Blaze laughed as Wendy patted my side, I glanced toward her “I forgive you” the sky dragon slayer scratched me under the chin, I promptly collapsed to the floor “Teslakana, goes claw to fang with dragon emperor, gets downed by a thirteen year old “Sixteen” Wendy winked at me as I gradually made my ascent, hovering back up off the floor, pecking my cheek “Well this is certainly interesting” Erza chuckled “Yeah, who’d of thought that Wendy’s got a crush on lizard-features over there” Grey whistled “Are you not a tad short for a sixteen year old?” Celestia raised an eyebrow, it was true, whilst most people her age were around five to six feet tall; she was a mere four feet eight inches tall “I’m fine,” Wendy smiled this is how I’ve always been, after all” she sighed “though why’d you do it?” “Do what?” she blinked “Lock your sister on the moon,” Wendy tilted her head “It was a terrible act, even I admit to that,” Celestia exhaled sharply “and it’s one that I came to quickly regret,” Luna stood upright, shaking on her hooves a little, avoiding all eye contact with me, Celestia draped a wing around her sister “if I could make amends to all that I’ve done, I would, believe me, if it were in my power to do so, I would follow through without hesitation, no matter the risk” “And, in an alternate, possibly parallel world, you probably have” I gave a weak smile “Why do your moods swing so carelessly?” she titled her head “It’s just another mystery that remains unsolved” I rolled my eyes -=-=- “So Rick, what kind of relationships do you have with these equines?” Erza smiled “Ponies” Snowdrop corrected her “And Tesla’s my Daddy” “He’s what?” Grey and Natsu both turned to me as i hovered, with Wendy once again on my back “Ours too” Gracy Gloom chimed alongside Scootaloo and Winter Bell, the three wizards stared at me in apparent horror “Believe me it’s not the way you think it is” I held “Except for Winter Bell” Blaze smirked “You did it with a pony?” Grey laughed “At least I acknowledge their existence, you and Juvia could learn from that, ice-boy” I snapped “Listen, I don’t have any feelings for her Ok, she’s been like that since we met whilst fighting against the element-four” he frowned “Should I perhaps tell her that?” I grinned “that you don’t care what happens to her, she’s a great mage you know, Grey Fullbuster, you could work with her to create the greatest unison raid anyone’s ever seen, and yet you admonish her, even I can see that much” “And what would you have me do dragon-boy?” he scowled “Bugger if I know, it’s not my relationship problem” I laughed, glancing toward the entrance to the Fairy Tail Guild, where a woman with long, pale blue hair stood wearing a Russian-style hat, which had a lightly coloured butterfly clip attached to it with a fur-coat and knee-high boots with a black skirt also “Speaking of which,” I gestured toward her, bowing as I did so “Fine, but if this doesn’t work, I’ll see if I can get you two together, sound fair?” he grinned “I’d say you’re insane, but you’ve a deal” I nodded, lowering myself to the ground, to which, Wendy climbed from my back to the ground, allowing me to revert to human form as she jogged inside the guild hall, followed by Natsu and Erza, who nodded toward me as they walked into the building, Grey and I approached Juvia, who’s cheeks turned a bright scarlet as Grey walked toward her “Juvia” I smiled, she nodded “Grey’s got something he’d like to say to you she blinked, turning to the ice-make wizard “You have?” Juvia gasped “I’ve been meaning to apologize for ignoring how you feel about me for all this time” Grey bit his lip “And,” I rolled a hand “I…. I’d like to start to build a relationship with you… Juvia” he stammered she draped her arms around his neck and planted her lips on his “I’d love to be with you, my dear Grey” she gleamed, turning to face me “And you, Rick, thank you” she pecked my cheek “how can I repay you?” “Thy gratitude is far more than enough, lady of the sea” I bowed quickly, turning and walking away, raising a hand above my head, with the index finger and thumb making an ‘L’ shape “Mission successful, Brother” Blaze chortled “Never knew you could play that sort of role” “What sort of role?” Twilight smiled “Juvia, a wizard in the Fairy Tail Guild, has feelings for Grey; another Fairy Tail wizard, and he’s been oblivious to her every attempt to start a relationship with him, so I told him about it, she was a little more than excited to hear the fact that he wanted to start a relationship” I explained “Aww, you played love doctor!” she squee’d “Don’t get used to it” I stared at her flatly “I won’t,” she giggled “Although it would be a nice change, my little Eon” -=-=- As I flew home, I felt my ears twitch, pulling my to the castle in the everfree, Blaze quickly followed me Once there, I was forcibly tugged head-first into the throne room, where an immeasurably powerful pitch-black vortex, which was brimming over with raw energy which was followed by everything in sight turning to nothing, then returning as normal, the stones with the symbols that’d been hovering in a circle around the vortex now reduced to shards “Who…?” I awed at the pitch-black alicorn who was stood in place of the vortex, instead of having normal fur and a starry mane, she had a starry coat with a normal mane and tail, both of which were a deep indigo colour “I am the one ponies refer to as Nightmare Moon, I am the true terror of the night, the real dominion of the darkness,” the being hissed, with primal-looking markings on her face, legs, body and teal/silver armour “And who might you be, strange creature?” she raised an eyebrow, her cerulean eyes locking with mine “I’m Rick, and eon, a human, and a dragon slayer” I smiled, reverting to human form “It’s been ages since I heard of a human,” she slowly made her way toward me “and if you’re as strong as they are, or, were, I’ve only one thing I can do” she bowed “What’re you doing?” I blinked “I surrender myself to you” Nightmare Moon “use me as you will, Rick, have at me even, her horn flared a rich sapphire colour as she teleported us into the bedchambers of the previous rulers of the castle “Please, sit Sir Rick” she bit her lip, changing to an interesting form, minus her armour, which faded into the wind I blinked, sitting on the bed as she knelt before me, taking hold of my trousers and boxers my the waistline, pulling them down to my ankles, using her magic to remove my footwear, followed shortly by my other sections of clothing “What would you have me do, milord?” Nightmare Moon traced a light finger along the base of my shaft I flinched “Do what you want” I smiled, she blinked “Are you sure?” she gasped, I shrugged, she quickly took my member into her mouth, beginning to rapidly bob her head up and down as her tongue trailed along the base of my cock, she stared up at me as I gently place my hand on her head, she removed herself form my dick, lowering her sights as she took my testes into her maw, pressing her lips down on them “You sure know what you’re doing Moony,” I chuckled, pinching the tip of her horn with a finger and thumb, massaging it, she shuddered as she coiled her snake-like tongue around my balls, shuddering as I heard liquid meet carpet Nightmare Moon had climaxed “Thank you master” she pecked the tip of my manhood, before returning to my balls, taking them back into her being, moving one of her hands to my shaft, massaging it, also It didn’t take long for a fiery sensation to start welling up within my nether region Quickly, I pulled her away from my crown jewels, changing to eon form she gave a slight nod, placing her hands below her chin as her horn glowed a cobalt aura, my eonhood also being encased in an aura of th same colour, I shuddered as I fired bolts of seminal fluids into and around her mouth and face, which she quickly wiped away, taking the tip of my member into her maw, gagging as the rest came surging out, she pulled away, barely managing to wolf it down “What else would you have me do, master Rick?” Nightmare Moon’s cheeks turned a light magenta colour, I patted the area of the bed beside me, she smiled, lying on her back on the bed, she stared at me with a dreamy look, I dove into the depths between her legs with my tongue, dancing and twirling around her insides, she screamed as she climaxed again, twice in an instant “Dear sweet merciful Faust, please don’t be so harsh, master” she panted for breath, I smiled, swallowing her juices, placing my tongue against her clit, she shuddered, climaxing again, and once again I swallowed what she gave me “Master, please, I beg you, please stop” she bit her lip, again, I nodded, prodding my still-erect eonhood against her entrance, slowly sliding it into her folds, until of course, I was stopped by a barrier of sorts “Go ahead master,” Nightmare Moon placed a hand on my dick, pulling me in a little further “I want you to be my first and only” I slammed myself in, she let out a shriek as the barrier broke, I leaned forward, placing my lips against hers, our tongues dancing in her maw, as I sped up, thrusting in and out of her as fast as I could, resulting in a series of long moans that emanated from the alicorn-turned demi-human below me -=- “Yes, master, faster, harder!” Nightmare Moon groaned as I moved as a blur, pumping in and out of her, climaxing with each thrust, eventually pulling out once I’d stopped “And with this, Master Rick, I give you my innocence; and my heart, what else would you do with me that you may wish, I’m free to do, as you command, master” “Turn over” I bit my lip “As you command” she nodded turning onto her back “Kneel” I flinched, she pulled her legs under her, kneeling, I placed my cock against her pucker, sliding the head in, slamming the rest in, she screamed, moaning as I began to thrust in and out of her tight little tailhole, hilting the lunar goddess each and every time, taking a hold of her flanks… =-=-=-= “That was…” Nightmare Moon gasped as she lay beside me, the two of us now under the duvet, with our wings draped around one-another “that was amazing, thank you, master” “Ahem?” I glanced toward the door; Blaze was stood there, a smug grin on her face as she closed the doors behind her “What do you want Blaze,” I sighed “I was going to ask you when you’re going to return home, but I can see you’re busy, so I’ll come back tomorrow” Blaze saluted me, closing the door as she left -=--=- As I flew into ponyville the following morning, Nightmare Moon atop my back in her anthro form -her armour apparently having changed with her form earlier in the morning-, I clicked my neck “So, this is Ponyville,” Nightmare Moon hummed “it’s been a while since I was here last” “That may be, but if you’re going to fit in, I think you’re going to need a new name, Lady of the stars” I tilted my head “Like what master?” “And you’re going to stop calling me that in public,” I sighed “just call me Rick” “That I will, Rick,” she nodded “just call me ‘Blackie,’ Rick” she giggled as we flew toward the library “Hello, Rick, who’s your… friend..?” Twilight’s smile faded as she noticed Nightmare Moon “I’ll write a letter to Celestia” she rushed toward a dresser which had a sheet of paper and a quill-and-inkwell “Wait, before you do,” she turned to face me, Nightmare Moon stood beside me, reverting to her pony form “Blackie means you no harm, she’s here as an ally, not an enemy” “Be that as it may, the princesses must still be informed!” she insisted “As you say, Twilight” I smiled, within several minutes of her ascending the staircase, Both Princess Luna and Princess Celestia stood before Nightmare Moon and I “Nightmare Moon,” Celestia frowned “Is here as an ally, not a threat” I stood between the three alicorns “Tread lightly Rick, she’s the reason we have Nightmare Night, and of course, the Summer Sun Celebration” she glanced between myself and the alicorn of the stars stood behind me “If she meant harm, I would’ve returned here to let Twilight know of her being on Equis, post-haste” I raised an eyebrow “But what’ll happen, should she meet Nyx?” Twilight stepped forward “Who knows?” I shrugged, only for a trio of beings to land upon my being “We missed you Daddy” Snowdrop, Gracy Gloom Scootaloo and Winter Bell chorused in unison as they situated themselves upon my head neck and back “And I you, my little ponies” I glanced up toward Snowdrop, and then back toward the other three -=-=- “Nightmare Moon, Right?” Nyx glanced toward me; then toward ‘Blackie,’ I nodded, standing in the plaza near to the house with my friends and family “What’s going on?” Natsu walked toward me beside Erza and Grey, Wendy also, glancing toward the twin alicorns Just then, there was a flash of light, and Nyx and Nightmare moon were reduced to mere twin, pitch-black spheres of energy, the two of which spun around one-another as they ascended, I placed my goggles over my eyes as they collided, creating an almost blinding light, and then there was darkness on a level of which would require for neither the sun or the moon to exist, followed by a second burst of light and a new being emerged, with both moons and stars in her royal blue mane and tail, and with a pair of magenta eyes with a rich, indigo coat “A fusion of the gods,” Blaze whistled as I lowered my goggles around my neck “or so it’d seem” “That it would, Blaze” the alicorn spoke with a calming, motherly tone, not unlike that of the princesses “So, is she Nightmare or Nyx fan-fiction reference unintended” Blaze tilted her head “Call me what Rick did when I met him” the being gave a warm smile “‘Nyx’”
Chapter XVIII; art, and events (also, Luna)“So, where were you for the second half of the day before yesterday” Natsu grinned, standing beside Erza, Grey, and Wendy “Out,” I shrugged “why do you ask?” “Curiosity” he smirked “What exactly where you doing anyways?” “What do you mean?” “We heard screams emanating from the forest; so we were worried someone might be hurt” he raised an eyebrow “That wasn’t you?” “I do not scream like a raving mad troll having a period” I frowned, he burst into laughter “So you don’t” he chortled “So, if it wasn’t you, who was it?” ”Who’s to say,” I shrugged “Maybe your new pony friend, marefriend, whatever the term is” he gave a sly grin “What makes you say that?” I raised an eyebrow “The fact that you were ‘out’ as you say, and that you didn’t return until yesterday morning,” he glimmered “and the fact that she seems awfully attached to you, Tesla, one might even think it a little suspicious” “That depends on what you want to hear” I tilted my head “I just want to know what you two were doing at that time” he smiled It was then that Nyx trotted toward me, standing beside me “Hello Rick,” Nyx smiled, pecking my cheek, draping a wing around me “Seriously, you two are… together?” Natsu blinked “Is there a problem?” I hummed “Not at all, I just find it a little odd for a human to be with an equine” he gleamed As I was about to retort, an ethereal glow from behind me stopped me Glancing toward the light, just as it faded, I saw Celestia in her Anthro form, wearing the same dress as before “Seriously, this is the same Celestia?” Natsu stared at me; I nodded “How can she do such a thing?” “Genetics,” I began “you see, Pyro, one-billion years ago, humans used to exist here on Equis alongside the current species that inhabit this world, and since they’re compatible, the offspring -be it pony or otherwise-, gains both a human and ‘Anthro’ form, so to speak” “So, you’re telling us that humans did the ‘you-know-what- with miniature horses an eon ago?” Grey stifled a guffaw “Essentially,” I nodded “What’s with the huge sword?” Natsu nodded toward the Daybreaker, which was impaled into the ground beside me “That’s the Daybreaker” I smirked “Split an Ursa in half it did” “An Ursa, like the constellation,” Wendy blinked “Not quite,” Celestia smiled “an ursa is a real, living breather creature, the smallest being about the size of the average house, the largest being the seize of the castle in Canterlot, the smaller variants are known as Ursa Minor’s the larger type is the Ursa Major” she explained, glancing toward me “how did you lose your arm anyways?” “Ursa’s can use magic, apparently” I gave a sharp exhale “the same spell you use to revert my being to what it is, only limited to limbs, or so it’d seem” “And then you were sent crashing into the ground, weren’t you, Brother” “I’m not a god, Blaze, nor do I claim to be that of which would make me godlike,” I shook my head “god means I cannot die, god means that I live forever, god means having to watch everyone I’ve ever cared about grow, live, and die within a geographical heartbeat, god means having to live with that and all the other repercussions that come with the title, and that’s something I don’t want to have to put up with, be it now or in a millennium” “I never said you were, I was commenting on how strong the Ursa was” she held up her paws defensively “They’re at least the size of a building, how strong do you want them to be?” I folded my arms As if to answer her, a thundering roar could be heard as, yet again, an Ursa tore through the treeline, unlike the previous encounters, however, this one was between the smaller size of a Minor, and the gigantic size of a Major “That’s an Ursa?” Erza eyed the creature up and down as it glared at each of us, the eight-pointed star atop its crown shining with an emerald light as it’s teal fur gave an ‘ominous’ type of aura “Think we should let lizard-features handle it?” Grey smirked at me I rolled my eyes, unsheathing the Dawnbreaker, dropping it as I made my way toward the ferocious constellation-turned-animal, giving a slight smile toward the beast Lowering itself to the ground, the Ursa placed its nose within mere inches of my being, sniffing, as if inspecting me, then opening its mouth and licked me across the face, gently nuzzling into me I raised an arm, placing a gentle hand on its snout, massaging the bridge of its nose “Could this perhaps be another side to a creature of the Everfree forest that we’ve yet to witness?” Celestia stared at me “Perhaps, I glanced toward her, turning back to the Ursa “What is it that you’re here for, Ursa?” the bear responded with a series of growls “Being in a relationship with a pony is one thing, but an oversized bear, really?” Natsu laughed, The Ursa in question turned its head toward Natsu, giving off a pattern, of sorts, of growls and bark-like noises “It seems that she thinks the same of all beings like you, Natsu” I chuckled “How did you translate that?” Erza blinked “you understand animals now, Rick?” “It’s his element of nature taking effect” Celestia smiled “Having chosen an option other than fighting, Tesla’s seemingly found a way to use his hidden abilities, that of nature and understanding those who thrive alongside it” the Ursa gave a series of grumbles and barks, seemingly smiling toward Celestia “It would appear that she acknowledges your answer, and you’re being here” I bit my lip “That’s interesting enough” she nickered, the Ursa replied with another ‘selection’ of grunts and growls, nuzzling into me, before standing up and walking back into the forest …That did not just happen” Grey burst into a fit of laughter, I, on the other hand, shuddered, as a newfound power coursed through me “Well that’s new,” I generated a flame in one hand, and around the other, a collection of rocks orbited my palm “earth dragon slayer, maybe?” “Earth and fire, I told you it would happen!” Blaze chortled “I told you it would, go on; I dare you to say otherwise!” “Actually it was me who thought of it, you just expanded on the idea, or was it Snowdrop?” I raised an eyebrow “You actually beat me in an argument!” she cheered mockingly “need I award you with a medal, brother?” “Say what you will, see if I care” I shrugged, the rocks and flames surrounding my hands fading from view “So, that’s two elements, three if you count fire” she hummed “I wonder what the next one will be?” “Who knows?” I clicked my neck, standing beside Nyx and Celestia ==---== As I awoke the following morning, I looked around the room with a sense of warmth, so to speak “Good morning, my little Shmoopie” Celestia sat by me, draping a wing around me pecking my cheek “Good morning, to you as well, my little Sunflower” I smiled -=- As I sat in the gardens of the castle, under the shade of a tree with my eyes closed, I felt footsteps, followed by a kick to the stomach Snapping my eyelids open, I saw a crimson teenage dragon with golden underbelly scales and wings, stood by him was a short, fat, dark brown dragon with gunmetal horns and a cerise dragon with lavender underbelly scales and golden ‘hair,’ a white dragon with light pink wings and underbelly scales alongside a grey dragon with pale green underbelly scales and wings “What do you want?” I steadily got to my feet, my daughters standing behind me, using me as a shield “You took me by surprise last we met, freak,” the crimson dragon snapped “it shan’t happen again “Fine, you lot, me, in the arena, in about, let’s say, twenty minutes?” I smirked, turning to my sister “Blaze, be a dear and get Celestia and the others, Twilight and her friend included as well as spike” “Will do” Blaze nodded, skirting around the three dragons =-= Twenty minutes later, the dragon, his friends and I were stood in the arena with Twilight, her friends –minus Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy, my friends and family watching alongside the princesses, Nyx, Grey, Natsu, and Erza There was a slight silence as the dragon and his friends charged toward me, lashing out with kicks, punches, and even bites I didn’t even budge, as their fangs shattered against my form as it turned a jet black for an instant, the bones inside their hands cracking on impact Giving me death-glares, the quintet of dragons leapt back “Are we done already?” I tilted my head “shame” I bought an arm above my head behind me, bringing it down as it turned a shining charcoal-colour, the stone floor of the arena shattered on contact with the now-armoured fist, the dragons standing opposite me falling a few feet, before collapsing onto their stomachs and/or backsides “Checkmate” -=-=- “What was that,” Twilight boomed at me “how did you defend against all those attacks, how are you not bleeding, and more importantly, how in Equestria did you manage to destroy the arena with a single hit!?” “Magic, of sorts” I grinned as I was being examined by a nurse in the local hospital “And how does that work,” she snapped “I’ve never seen a type of spell that does that for a pony! “Probably because it’s not from Equis,” I sighed “and secondly, I lied, it’s not magic, it’s willpower put into a solid form, per se” “So anypony can use it?” she relented, or at least, her scowl did “If they had enough willpower, and were properly trained, then most likely, yes” I nodded “Could you teach me?” she sat beside me on the bed “You’re in perfect condition, you’re free to go” the nurse winked at me as I stood upright, Twilight and the others walking with me to the castle “I don’t know, Twi, I really don’t know” I sighed -=-=- “You two argue like a married couple y’know that?” Natsu grinned at Twilight and I as we sat beside one another at the dining hall “Should we?” Twilight giggled “Nah; let them find out for themselves” I laughed “Find what out?” he blinked; Grey smirked as Erza smiled “I don’t get it?” “They’re married, Natsu, how more obvious do you want it to be?” Grey gave a smug grin “You what,” the flame dragon slayer stared at me, glancing toward Twilight, who perched herself on the back of my head “When did this happen?” I could tell he was trying to stop himself from bursting into a fit of laughter “Between now and ten years ago” Twilight and I glanced at one another with a smile “Well then, congratulations are in order, I think” Grey laughed “Oh fuck you Grey” I mumbled “mind you, if I did, I don’t think your girlfriend would be too impressed with me, would she?” blaze exploded into a torrent of laughter “Would you like some ice for that burn?” “At least Juvia’s human” he smirked “And Twilight here’s more decent than most humans I know, not counting my family or the Fairy Tail Guild” I grinned “How long have you been stuck here again?” he smirked “Firstly, I’ve been living here for around twenty three years,” I snapped secondly, I could’ve left at any time I wanted, but I chose otherwise, because I give a damn about people other than myself, that’s someone other than myself,” I growled “I guess your heart’s as cold as your magic, Grey, I think you need to chill, pun intended” “Daddy…?” Snowdrop placed a nervous hoof on my side; I blinked, glancing toward her, quickly shaking my head as Twilight returned to her place beside me, replaced moments later by the icy blue filly “Her name’s ‘Snowdrop;’ and you have a go at me for being cold?” Grey scowled at me “Her name might suggest an icy nature, but at least the same can’t be said for her heart” I smiled “ “What’d you say?” he glared icy daggers at me, pun intended (again), pacing a clenched fist against a flattened palm beside him as he stood upright, a cyan-coloured magic circle appearing before his hands “You think your puny icicles can do much against a dragon god’s flame, boy?” I grinned “Enough!” Celestia boomed, I glanced toward her, nodded, then continued with my meal “You take orders from a pony now?” Grey glowered at me his posture unchanged “I listen to her, and do as she requests, not because I’m her slave, but because I respect her for being who she is;” I swallowed the grape I was eating “that’s another thing I think you need to learn; respect,” I continued “learning about someone and accepting and respecting them for who they are, isn’t that what a friend does, Frey Fullbuster?” “What’d you know?” he stared at me with unbridled, unadulterated rage “Apparently, a damn sight more than you, icy-boy” I scoffed “Knock it off, the both of you,” Erza snapped, I nodded somewhat graciously toward her “you’re acting like children!” “He started it” Grey huffed “Case in point” I mumbled, lightly bumping a clenched gist with one of Blaze’s paws as she gave a smug grin “Looks like someone needs a few lessons in friendship” Twilight rolled her eyes “Don’t bother,” I sighed “many a brave adventurer and/or wizard have tried that subject, Sparkles, none have succeeded” “Really, why?” she blinked, glancing toward Grey, then toward me “I don’t know, I’ve never cared much to ask” I shrugged “You want to take this outside?” Grey glowered at me, again “You truly believe that violence is going to achieve anything?” I tilted my head ever-so slightly “Besides, you saw what he did to those dragons, and who’s to say he can’t do more?” Natsu grinned “Back off Natsu, this isn’t any of your business” Grey spat “Clearly the phrase ‘you mess with my Nakama, you mess with me’ dictates otherwise” I hummed “How strange” he stormed off, and out of the room “Shouldn’t we at least try to help him?” Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow “Let him be,” Erza frowned “he’ll be fine in a few hours, or a couple of days” “So, what’s his story, his past I mean?” Twilight raised an eyebrow as we sat in a private ‘guestroom’ “His village and family were torn apart by a demon” Erza frowned again, this time toward me “and so he sought out a way to become stronger and thus found Ur” “What’s ‘Ur’?” Cadance tilted her head “It’s not what, but who,” I bit my lip “she was, for a time, his mentor, alongside his fellow student, Lyon, until he thought that her teachings were pointless, and so he sought out the demon, attempting to fight it, only to toyed with, until Ur arrived, Lyon attempted the ‘Iced Shell’ spell on Deliora, but was quickly stopped by Ur, as she didn’t want her student to waste his life he’d yet to live, so she cast it herself” “What does the spell do?” Twilight blinked “It’s a thick tomb of ice that seals its target away, for eternity,” I mumbled “the only drawback is, you die, as the caster’s body, becomes the iced shell itself, and their will becomes what stops the ice from melting” “That’s…” Twilight stared at me “that’s unbelievable!” “It goes further than that,” I sighed “Ur said that the western countries had wizards far more superior in magic than she was, so he went west, and that’s how he wound up in the Guild” “What sort of magic did she use?” she leant into me “Ice-make magic,” I explained “Ur’s was so great that some considered her capable of being one of the ten wizard saints; one of the ten strongest wizards in the entire world of magic, and I can respect that” “Who’re the saints?” she blinked “They’re the strongest wizards we have,” I smiled “Makarov Dreyar’s one of them, as are Jura and Warrod, Jura’s the fifth strongest, Warrod’s the fourth strongest, Jellal used to be the seventh strongest, Jose used to be the third weakest, they, however, were removed” “What about the others?” she nuzzled into me “I don’t know about them yet,” I simpered, “other than the fact that the four strongest members have been described as being so powerful they shouldn’t be considered human” “And Ur was thought to be capable of joining them?” Celestia smiled, I nodded “she must’ve been strong, both in heart and in magical ability to be given such a title” “Human…” Twilight muttered “Hm?” I glanced toward her “What would it be like, for a dragon slayer to be one of the saints?” she glanced toward me “I wouldn’t be surprised if it were true” I draped a wing around her “Seriously, just how many ponies are you stuck with anyway?” Natsu blinked, I turned to Celestia, who smiled, winking at me “Do changelings; beings that can be whatever or whoever they want, count?” I flinched “I should think so” Erza laughed “Then around ten” I declared “And that’s acceptable here in pony-land?” he chortled “Due to the male-to-female ratio, apparently” I shuddered “So, who’s the strongest in the guild then?” Twilight cooed “That’d either be Laxus, Mirajane, Erza, Gildarts, or Makarov, I know not which” I hummed “You regard me as one of the strongest?” Erza blinked “You, Laxus, Gildarts, and Mirajane are all S-class, that in itself says more than enough” I smiled “Charmed she quickly turned away from me, standing upright “I’ll see you at the guild hall, maybe” and with that she left the room “I see what you did there, you slick son of a bitch” Blaze smirked “I didn’t do anything,” I frowned “Are you implying that I’m….” I shuddered “Is it that hard to accept?” she playfully pouted at me “the so-called ‘Wizard in Armour,’ matched with the gemstone dragon slayer, who’d of thought it?” “I’m telling you I’m not trying anything!” I rebuked “So you say, brother, so you say?” “Never seen Erza act like that before” Natsu blinked “you sure you’re not using some type of charm?” “I don’t meddle with trinkets, Natsu, I use what I see as ‘proper magic’” I smirked “And besides , so what if we’ve only seen one side to her so far, I think there’s a lesson here;” I beamed “don’t ever judge someone, you don’t know their story or what’s really going on” “Wise words, young eon” Luna smiled =-+(-)+-= As I glided down to ponyville, lowering myself to the ground upon arrival, allowing my passengers to climb/leap to the ground Reverting to human form I was tackled to the ground my an earthy brown mare “Rick!” Autumn Heart exclaimed, clinging onto me as I sat upright “Are you Ok?” “All the better for seeing you, my love” she walked with me as we made our way toward-and-into our home, sitting beside me on the couch, Snowdrop once again perched upon the back of my head “So Dear, how was your trip to Canterlot?” she pecked my cheek “It wasn’t too bad” I shrugged “How’s business at the shop?” “It’s fairly decent, sold a few clocks, as well and a few other timepieces of sorts, she bought out a bag of bits “this is yours, I believe?” “Keep it” I smiled “you need it more than I do” “How much do you have?” she blinked “Around two million” I whispered “That’s enough to last several lifetimes!” she gasped “I trust that it’s with the princesses?” I nodded “A wise move,” she smiled “and Rick,” I glanced toward her “it’s good to have you back” -=-=- As I walked out onto the front porch on the next day, I was greeted by the sight of Natsu standing beside an oddity “Why, the hell, are you nude?” I quickly shut my eyes “She can’t Requip her armour,” Natsu stifled a laugh, Erza hit him around the back of the head “You haven’t done anything out of the ordinary have you?” I bit my lip “Not to my knowledge, no” Erza hummed “I did take a walk through the nearby forest, just to explore though” “you didn’t happen to walk through any blue flowers did you?” I shuddered “Now that you mention it, I did come across a type of plant that had pale blue flowers, why?” she placed a hand on my shoulder “It’s called poison joke, Blaze laughed as she stood beside me “it’ll play what it seems to think as a joke to anyone who touches it, so seeing as you use magic to change your armour, the poison joke has seemingly reversed it” I quickly returned to the lounge, picking up my clockwise jacket, handing it to Erza, who took it, sealing it’s front, I opened one eye, then the other “Thanks Rick” Erza smiled “Now, how do we cure this apparent ‘joke’?” “You’d have to ask Twilight,” I sighed, walking with her to the library, knocking on the door “Why’s she naked, save your jacket of course?” Twilight gave a smug grin toward me as she opened the door “She uses Requip magic to change her armour, stumbled upon poison joke, and now everytime she tries to do so, she ends up, y’know” I rolled my eyes “I see,” she giggled “I’ll get the bath running then” “A bath, that’s the cure?” Erza and I shared a glance, smirking toward Twilight “Yep, just an ordinary bubble-bath” Twilight blinked “is there a problem, or am I going to have to put you both in there at once?” “I’d like to think that I have standards, Twilight” I laughed “That’d be fine” “What?” I blinked, glancing toward Erza who merely smirked at me “I think you should go to the lake then, the bathroom’s not big enough for the two of you” Twilight nickered, walking upstairs as we walked into the library, returning a few minutes later with her saddlebags, leading us to the lake, Erza dragging me by the hand as we went As Erza removed the jacket –my jacket, I quickly closed my eyes as she entered the lake “What’s the matter, you don’t mind seeing others in the nude, so why her?” Twilight placed her hoof in my hand “It’s different for humans, what with public indecency and all” “No one’s going to judge you, Dragon slayer” Erza gave a light chuckle “Don’t worry” “If you say so,” I slowly opened my eyes, taking in every part of her almost lustrous form Suddenly, I was shoved into the lake by an unknown force, changing to eon form, I turned to face said force, which came in the form of Rainbow Dash, Erza floated up to her neck in the water “What in the hay is going on here?” Rainbow Dash laughed “Erza uses ‘Requip’ magic to alter between sets of armour, and since she walked through poison joke, it’s no longer working” Twilight explained “Likely story” the cyan Pegasus smirked at me “Rick’s not a liar” Erza frowned as Twilight levitated a bottle of murky green liquid over to her, Erza quickly applied it to her skin, diving underwater for a moment, surfacing again “Requip,” Erza declared once she stood on the bank, her body flashed a bright primrose aura as her trademark silver armour and royal blue skirt “Happy now, Rainbow?” I frowned, changing to my eon form “Quite,” she gave a sheepish smirk “Sorry for earlier” I smiled, changing to eon form as Littlepip galloped toward us levitating a box all the while “Hey Littlepip, what’s in the box?” I smiled “It seems that I came at the perfect time to give you this, Rick,” she smiled with apparent glee, opening the box, tipping it on its side “these are for you, she declared, holding up what looked like… “Are those… reigns?” Twilight blinked, whereas Rainbow Dash burst into a roaring fit of laughter, with a brief flash of light, littlepip had them attached to me and was holding the handles as she sat on my back “I said that I wasn’t going to wear anything like this, on any occasion” I frowned, glancing back to her, she telekinetically reached into her saddlebags, lighting out what looked like a soul dew, only filled with what appeared to be sweets of various sorts “I repeat, I’m not wearing this, ever, Ok?” she replaced the sweets with what looked like a latias plushie “And I’m certainly not going to ask how you got that” “It was in your rucksack,” she placed the item in question back into her saddlebags, closing them, “now; shall we get a move along?” she lashed the reigns, I barely moved “or should I get Celestia to see what you look like, wearing this?” I quickly moved to the area beside Twilight, leaping from my back to the ground, only to be replaced by Erza, who patted my head, lightly stroking the area around my chin, I, involuntarily, let out a slight coo “Didn’t know that would happen,” Erza blinked taking the end of one of my ears between an armoured finger and thumb, lightly massaging it, I shuddered, she stopped, scratching the area between my ears, which I leant into, shuddering again as I did so, “Quite the sensitive being, aren’t you Tesla?” she smiled, gently patting my head, I cooed “Uh, Erza” Twilight pointed toward the area below me, Erza climbed down, investigating “Well, that’s new” the wizard in armour patted my side “you really are a sensitive being, aren’t you?” I glanced at the space beneath me; my member was stood out at full length, leaking pre-cum “I’m so sorry-!” Erza placed a finger to my mouth, hindering any further protests, her form flashing a the same golden aura as before, this time, instead of armour, she was completely nude, save a set of lingerie, forcible turning me on my back, shoving me to the ground, “You needn’t worry, Dragon slayer,” Erza smirked, removing what little clothing she had, lining herself up with my dick, sliding my length into her entrance, taking round half of it in before she stopped, starting to bound up and down “now you just lie back and let me take care of everything Ok?” she leaned forward, placing her lips on mine… [)=+-+=(] “So, what happened?” Natsu grinned barely managing to retain his laughter as I hovered before him, Erza still on my back, wearing her trademark attire, and the reigns still attached “Wouldn’t you like to know” I frowned, glancing to the grey mare beside me “can we please remove these reigns now?” Littlepip’s horn flared a mild green aura as the reigns appeared beside her “Thank you” “Seriously though, what happened?” Natsu smirked, glancing toward the wizard in armour “I know that you’ve been thinking about Ricky-o here ever since you two parted ways, but I’m curious as to see what you’ve gotten up to” “How on Earthland,” Erza blinked as she and I shared a glance “It’s blatantly obvious when you’re thinking about him,” Natsu laughed, “because your face turns the same colour as your hair, a perfect scarlet colour!” I stared at my current passenger, her face, just like Natsu said, had turned a scarlet shade of red “That’s not true!” Erza snapped “I don’t mind,” I smiled toward her “it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve been thought of in that manner of speaking, Erza” she gawked at me, blinking, climbing down to the ground, draping a pair of armoured libs around me, embracing me, pecking my cheek “First Grey and Juvia, and now you and Erza,” Natsu howled with laughter, “Who’s next?” “You and Lisanna, perhaps,” I shrugged “no offense of course” “I suppose it could work” he blinked, quickly shaking his head “But you have to start it!” “She’s your girlfriend, and it’s your relationship not mine” I tutted “Sorry” “Fine” he grumbled, making his way toward the guild hall “That’s two relationships you’ve started,” Erza hummed “by the way, when I left the castle, I heard what you said as I made my way out, thank you, Rick” she patted my side with an armoured hand “It’s the least I can do for a fellow wizard; and guild-mate” I nodded, reverting to human form, Snowdrop quickly perching herself atop the back of my head, Kiary perching herself on one shoulder, and Winter Bell on the other “So I hear you’ve been up to rather interesting business” I spun around, Cadance was stood there “Been doing my job for me, have you?” Cadance winked “Just doing what I can” I smiled “Indeed, though I should let you know of the events taking place at Rainbow Falls in two days…” -=-===-=- Not two days later and Twilight and her friends, alongside my friends, family Erza and I were aboard the train headed for ‘Rainbow Falls’ “Yes, Best day ever!” Pinkie Pie squee’d we're all going to the Rainbow Falls Traders Exchange!” she gasped “and we’re not just going; we're accompanying a princess on official royal duty!” she started to leap up and down on the spot “Please, it's not that big of a deal,” Twilight sighed “there always has to be a princess at the exchange,” she walked alongside us as we marched toward the exchange; last year was Princess Cadance, this year it's me, it's just a formality, I'm sure none of the other ponies will even notice I'm here” as soon as she said that, a huge crowd of ponies sprang forth from the vendors and merchant stalls “Wow, look over there, a princess!” one pony gasped “Oh, this is amazing!” another cheered “Ah could be wrong, but I think they might've noticed” Applejack nickered “And look, Sir Rick’s with her!” a third pony gawked, pointing toward me with a rather shaky hoof “So, this is basically a merchant’s trade?” I tilted my head, gazing down at the lavender mare “It’s where ponies from all over Equestria come to trade what they have, a princess is required to oversee the trades after all a trade is only possible when both ponies agree and get what they want” Twilight explained with a nod As spike walked by he stumbled over a pebble, falling onto his front, dropping the comic he was carrying which flew toward a conveniently placed puddle of mud, only to be stopped by a ring of pebbles “Did I do that?” I blinked, an arm held out as I, bought my hand toward me, the comic hovered toward Spike, carried by the small stones, spike caught the book as I lowered my hand “Thanks Rick, without this mint-condition comic, I wouldn’t have been able to get another, you have to have one to get one, after all” Spike smiled “It seems that your new element is that of earth as well as stone, brother” Blaze hummed “Well, I guess you could say that it, rocks!” I grinned; she face-pawed, Erza stifled a laugh as Twilight let out a giggle A little later on in the day, I was sat on the edge of the market the Dawnbreaker and the Daybreaker planted into the ground beside me, and my family sat in a circle around me, the group, us included was situated around a book stall, that of which was being run by none other than Twilight herself “So what’re you doing then?” Rainbow Dash “Just helping Twilight oversee the events, is suppose” I shrugged “And you had to bring them with you?” Twilight nodded toward the swords that were impaled into the ground next to me “I’m just here to supervise,” I held my hands up somewhat defensively “what about you Rainbow?” “There's a pony here who's got a signed first edition of Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Statue, and I'm gonna get it! I've been able to get first editions of all of the Daring Do books, except this one! Nopony's ever put together a whole set, and I'm gonna be the first! If it hasn't been traded yet... It's the only one in all of Equestria!” Rainbow Dash both exclaimed and explained at once “So it’s priceless then?” I blinked “normally, if I were to have something that’s the only one like it in the entire country and/or planet, I’d keep it locked away at home” “But if said pony didn’t want it?” she gestured toward the nearby stall, which was being supervised by a golden-yellow pony with a fiery golden mane with the same outfit as Daring Doo herself, said pony waved over to me with a wink “The you’d better hurry up, if it’s the only one in the kingdom, I think you’d better get a move along” I smiled “or even better, Blaze, have you got any gems?” “Sure do!” Blaze almost/borderline-chimed, handing me a basket gems of various sizes, I took one into my mouth, and, to Erza’s apparent surprised, crunched down into it as I tore my crystalline heart out, eating as mangy gems as I could within the shortest amount of time, shuddering as the heart regenerated “How is it that you’re able to do that?” Erza shuddered “Magic” I grinned, carrying the heart/chest symbol over to the Daring Doo ‘collector’ “What’s that you’ve got there?” the mare blinked “whatever it is it’s brilliant, it’d go well with my collection of gems!” “It’s a sacred gem, found only at my home, the Lunar Isles and only there are only three in existence” I smirked “I’ll trade it for this Daring Doo and ‘Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Statue’ book” she held up the book “Deal,” I shook her hoof, trading them gem for the book, gliding toward the others “I believe this belongs to you?” I handed the cyan Pegasus mare the book, Rainbow Dash grabbed it out from my hands “You traded your heart for a book?” Erza blinked “Secondary heart, technically speaking” I glimmered “And there’re only three in existence” “Who’s got the other one?” she blinked “Celestia” I smiled “You gave the princess your heart?” she chuckled “When I said that I’d tear it out and hand it to her if I could, I wasn’t joking” I laughed “Indeed” Twilight hummed with a somewhat disturbed expression plastered on her face as she began to set the books on the stall “Hi!” Twilight gleamed as a snow-white filly with a pale/icy-blue mane and tail with lavender eyes reached behind her, pulling out a photograph of Twilight, also passing her a pen Twilight sighed, signing the photo with a look of slight agitation -=-=- “So, what’re you going to do, other than supervise?” Blaze patted my back, my response was to bring out a certain set of items, what of which were used in flag-making “Seriously?” “I might as well do something whilst I’m here,” I shrugged, quickly getting to work on the first flag When it was completed, I looked up there was a grey Pegasus filly with a golden mane and tail with a snapped quill “You want me to trade all my books for a broken pen? Alright, fine, you got yourself a-” she was about to bump her hoof with the Pegasus’s only for a pink party pony to stop her “Stop, what’re you doing!?” Pinkie Pie gasped “I was trying to get rid of all the books I don't need anymore” Twilight grumbled “For that?” Pinkie Pie blinked “Do you reaaaaally want that?” “Well, not really, but I'm running out of library space, so-” “Ohmygosh, ohmygosh, ohmygosh!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed “I can't believe that almost happened, But luckily, it didn't happen, thanks to me!” “I don’t see a problem with it, Pinkie,” I began “if Twilight says that she doesn’t need the books, that’s her choice to make, and besides, by doing so -and for a filly, nonetheless, she’ll be passing on the gift of knowledge” I glanced toward the silver filly, who stared at me with an apparent sense of wonder “I trust you’re going to read these when you get home, little one?” I smiled the filly gave a somewhat gracious nod, bowing to me momentarily “then there isn’t a problem that I can see” “If you say so” Pinkie hung her head in disappointment as Twilight bumped hooves with the filly “I don’t think you can carry these by yourself, so they’ll have to remain here until you want to leave, Ok?” Twilight smiled, the filly nodded, skipping of into the other parts of the market “What’s that you’ve got there?” she turned to face me, I smirked, laying the flag out across the ground “It’s a picture of my friends and the princesses?” she blinked “And you, Firefly, Galaxia, Nyx, and Faust” I pointed to her and the other alicorns in the picture “It’s amazing!” she gleamed “And it’s for sale” I smiled “I don’t think anypony here has any actual amount of money on them” she hummed as I hovered with a pair of safety pins, pinning it over the sign of her stall “That’s an amazing piece of work,” on pony exclaimed as a small crowd was eventually drawn to the image “And probably hoof-made too!” another whistled “I don’t think I’ve seen anything like it on Equis!” a third cheered “I don’t think anyone in Equestria has made such fine art!” a fourth pony declared “What do you want it for?” a fifth pony -a ‘shiny’ unicorn with a cyan coat and a white mane and tail, inquired “I’m just showing what I can do in terms of art, as if I sell it, there’s going to be one pony who’s going to brag about it to no end, and at least several others who used to be said pony’s friends, and that’s what I don’t want” “Fair enough” a sixth pony smiled as the crowd slowly dispersed “I thought you said it was for sale?” Twilight whispered “Sorry, let me rephrase my previous statement into what I meant to say;” I muttered “I’m giving it to Celestia as an apology, and as a gift” “That’s awfully sweet of you” I turned to face the now parted crowd; Celestia was present, and slowly making her way toward me “Princess Celestia,” Twilight exclaimed with glee “what’re you doing here, if I may ask?” “I find myself drawn to the event,” Celestia smiled, glancing toward my ‘artwork’ “How long does it take you to make one of these?” “Anything up to a week, depending on who wants one and when” I bowed quickly “Interesting,” she smiled “Would you be interested in doing a piece of artwork form Equestria's history?” “I’ll do what I can” I nodded “Thank you, and your apology is accepted, on one condition” she raised an eyebrow “Say the word, Lady of the Sun, and I shall follow the order to the exact letter, your majesty” I bowed “Try to control yourself” she nickered, magically removing the pins, folding the portrait that was hung on the banner, teleporting it away “I’ll do what I can, Princess Celestia” I nodded “Then I’ll see you at Canterlot, rick, she pecked my cheek, winking as she teleported out of view =-=+(=)+=-= Two months passed, and I’d both borrowed and returned books to and from the library that were based upon key points of Equestria’s history “I believe that should do it” I smiled as I finished the last image, that of which portrayed a freeze-gram of the battle of Stalliongrad, the previous image held a similar freeze-frame type of image, only depicting the fall of Prance, and another depicted the origin of Hearth’s Warming Eve, whilst a fourth portrayed the German blitz, though it wasn’t Germany so much as Germaney, I’d also done a fifth -that of which showed Celestia raising the sun in all their divine glory, among others “Hello Rick, I didn’t expect for you to be here” Twilight walked into the library, allowing me entrance into the literal treehouse “I’ve a request that I’d like to inquire” I smiled, placing the folded up ‘flags’ on the table “You’ve made visual representations of key points of Equestria’s history?” she giggled, I nodded “I’d better ask for Celestia then” “No need, my faithful student” I turned, Celestia was there, smiling as she lifted each of the portraits, carefully unfolding them “Rick, these are amazing, how long did it take you do make them? Celestia stared at each one as she lined them up on the wall “Not long, I bit my lip as she unfolded the fifth, lining it up with the rest “That’s…” she glanced between me and the image in question, the one of which depicted her raising the sun “Thank you,” she changed to her anthro form,, draping her arms around me “Anything for a friend,” I smiled “Is that all I am to you?” she gave a somewhat playful pout, tilting her head “You’re my little sunflower, Cellsy,” I smiled, “you are the guardian, bearer and lady of the sun, that of which cannot, and shall not, be replaced, no matter the circumstance-!”I was cut off by a sudden use of teleportation, one that temporarily blurred my vision When I could see properly again I glanced behind her Luna, Cadance, Nyx and Faust were stood between Celestia and the thrones, quickly making their way toward us, standing beside Celestia, the solar alicorn in question magicked up a series of pins, hanging the portraits I’d made, save her one, on the walls “Those are truly amazing works of art,” Cadance hummed, inspecting each one “could I commission you for one?” Celestia unfolded her one, revealing it to the others “That’s remarkable!” she exclaimed “and you make these by hoof, err hand?” “I do” I nodded “what do you want yours to be a picture of, you, friends, family loved ones?” “I don’t know,” she giggled “surprise me” “I’ll certainly try,” I simpered “has Celestia shown you the last one I made?” “You made another?” Nyx blinked, Celestia smiled, teleporting the picture I made at the exchange into view, unfolding it before them “We believe that that is nothing short of tremendous!” Luna exclaimed with apparent joy/gusto/merriment “Just think of what you want yours to be and I’ll make it as quickly as I can, ladies of the heart, sun moon and stars, and also that of life” I glanced to each of them in turn -=-=-=- Another month passed, and the portraits for the princesses were finally finished “Ah, Rick,” Cadance nickered as Twilight and Spike stood in the throne room alongside Celestia, Luna, Faust, and Nyx “are they ready yet?” I held out the folded up ‘thread-work’ she took it in each one in her magic, where as she took half, Celestia, took the other half “What is this?” Cadance blinked, turning her image, which depicted a stardust dragon “You said to surprise you, so I did” I bit my lip “We are most grateful for thy work, Sir Rick,” Luna smiled “we believe a payment of sorts is in order” “Nonsense, I refuse to accept payment for my work, especially to you five” I frowned “We insist otherwise,” she grinned, I took a mildly sizeable step backward “escape shan’t be an option, human” her horn glowed as the door slammed shut, just as Twilight left “Right, because you can either seal the exits or teleport,” I rolled my eye “crap, should’ve thought about that before I entered the room” “Are you saying you’re afraid of us?” Celestia blinked “Not at all,” I gulped, audibly “I do not fear you, I respect you for both who you are and what you have to put up with, Cellsy”, why would I fear those of whom that I love?” “Indeed,” Faust smiled “But what will you do now?” she smirked “you’ve no chances of escape without breaking something, and, being an entity of chivalry, you won’t harm us, so, what’ll you do?” “Alteration magic” I grinned, sitting cross-legged, lightly bumping my fists together, palms facing downward, just above my lap, closing my eyes and thinking of Snowdrop, After the initial sense of nausea passed, I opened my eyes, upon opening them, I found myself in the library, with my family sat in the main room/lounge “Daddy,” Snowdrop exclaimed, leaping forth and clinging onto me, pecking one of my horns as she climbed onto the back of my head “How’d you get there so fast?” Spike blinked “Not even Twilight herself can fly that fast” “Firstly, I’ve performed my own variant of a ‘sonic rainboom,’” I grinned “secondly, Celestia and Luna sealed the exits, but not the throne room itself” “You teleported?” he stared at me, both wide-eyed and slack-jawed “Its basic alteration magic,” I smirked “never miss the chance to pick up a decent spell book when you see one” “Rick?” I turned my gaze toward the doorway; Twilight was standing there with a look of pure, unadulterated confusion “How’d you get here so fast?” Twilight blinked I didn’t see you leave, nor did I notice you flying down here whilst looking through the train window “Magic” I winked “She sealed the exits, not the room itself” “You teleported,” she awed at me “’tis basic-level alteration magic where I’ve been” I shrugged “It could take a pony anything up to several years to master that type of spell, and you did it in one go, how!?” she marched up to me, sitting beside me on the sofa “I read,” I gleamed, unslinging my rucksack from my back, setting it on the table, reaching into it, pulling out a series of books, setting them on the table beside the rucksack, closing the rucksack “What’re those?” Twilight held one the books in her magic “Spellbooks, mostly combat-based,” I hummed “I’ll think about it, but if I do get a chance to learn the new spells, will you take the books back, Celestia knows the library’s already borderline-overflowing as is” she gestured around the room, which had small piles of books and scrolls littered around the walls “It just means that you’re getting your job done, Twilight Sparkle” I smiled “But it’s getting to the point where I have to work well into the night, as well as far beyond my sleeping hours, and it’s causing me to fall behind schedule!” she complained “Have you tried talking to her about it, maybe compromise a solution between too much and too little work?” I raised an eyebrow, “it’s either that you’re overworking, or that she’s giving you too much, if that’s the case, just put in a polite request to ask if she can find a slower pace” “Work a t a slower pace?” she frowned “You know, work at a pace that’ll both fit you, Celestia, and your busy schedule, if you can’t find one, well the, I’m only trying to help” I flashed a grin “You’re a genius, you know that,” she laughed, working toward a calendar that hung by a nail on a nearby wall by the dresser “here I was getting frustrated about my overly-busy schedule, and then you magically appear and come up with an easy solution, where have you been all my life” she quickly covered her mouth with a hoof “Probably on another world, searching for a new home,” I smirked “and I’ve found one, what’s even better is that you’re here in it as well” she dropped her quill, suddenly stopping halfway through writing a letter, leaping at me, clinging onto me, , Spike picked the quill and paper, finishing the letter, rolling it up and exhaled emerald-green flame, the ashes of the after-mentioned letter flew out the window, heading toward Canterlot Within the space of around five minutes, Celestia appeared in room, via teleportation “I believe you’ve something to ask of em, my faithful student?” Celestia smiled at me, glancing toward Twilight, whose eyes snapped open Twilight turned in my lap, giving off a weak smile “I was perhaps wondering if I could work at a slightly slower pace, Princess” Twilight bit her lip “If by that you mean to slow down the speed of which send your books for studying, then by all means” Celestia smiled -=-=- “I’m telling you,” I frowned “Yasuharu Takanashi, who composes the ‘Fairy Tail’ soundtrack, Neil Davidge, Michael Salvatori and Martin O’Donnell, the three of whom compose the Halo series and ‘Halo 4’ soundtracks respectively, eat Daniel Ingram for breakfast and defecate William Anderson” (Yes this is my IRL opinion) “That’s a bit harsh, dontcha think, brother?” Blaze laughed “I’m not just being harsh, I’m stating it outright” I grinned as I flew toward “Daniel Ingram and William Anderson, to my knowledge, have no actual creditable music history, and the MLP series isn’t much to go on, whereas the others have around since the mid nineteen-ninety’s worth of work, and have been up to their ears in the musical art since then” “But you have to remember, it’s a little kid’s show, it’s not going to have that same heavier, almost-metallic feel to it” she rolled her eyes “It doesn’t need to for example, have you heard of ‘The Corrs’ song known as ‘Rebel Heart,’ sister?” I smiled as we landed in Canterlot, my family, sans Snowdrop, disembarking, safely landing on the floor of the castle -=- “So, what’s this about you using alchemy again?” Crystal frowned as we entered the throne room “Apparently, the ‘old me,’ used alchemy to send himself to earth, trading his memories powers and abilities for a second chance at life, thus, I was ‘born’ if you could use the word” I explained “though my body may be a couple of hundred years old, in spirit, I’m a billion years old already” “So you didn’t break any of the rules of science, or at least, the old you, anyway?” Blaze raised an eyebrow “If you were to say that life has an equal sentimental value as the memories and knowledge that you gain whilst living; then no, I didn’t break any rules” I smiled “But you were separated from me,” Celestia gave a light frown “And that, I have come to regret, if anything” I clenched my fists, taking the newly made set of images from my inventory, holding them out, she took them in her magic, teleporting them elsewhere “Alchemy in itself, like any form of power, has both a good and bad side, if misused, it can tear a whole country apart, almost literally, but if used properly, and in a controlled environment, it can do amazing things, just like magic” I explained “but unlike magic however, there are rules, the most basic of which is the law of Equivalent exchange, also known as the Equilibrium constant” “I outlawed it for a reason, Rick, don’t make me go into this” she frowned “All I’m trying to say is that it’s not the alchemy itself, but the person who utilizes it; I’m not trying to bring back an eon-old argument, Cellsy” I growled “you think I’d want to argue with you, of all my friends, you’re a solar goddess, Celestia, is it now outlawed to treat you like one?” I scowled “Rick, I’m sorry, I was just trying to avoid a conflict with you” Celestia teleported right before me You asked me once what it’d be like if you were to one day disappear, now let me ask you a similar question,” I spat “say I went on a rampage, and the only way to stop me was to end my life, what would you do?” “I…” she stammered “I’d do what’s necessary” “Wrong answer” I shook my head, turning and walking with my family and Crystal out of the throne room “What was the right answer?” Crystal blinked “Try with all your heart and might to bring me back to the realm of the living” I rolled my eyes “put your very soul into every action and word, kick reason to the curb and do the impossible!” “It’s what any anime fan should know; or at least, anyone who knows my brother” Blaze guffawed “So it would seem” Crystal hummed as we made our way to the dining hall “are you really alright with Sun-butt acting like that?” “She can do what she wants,” I shrugged “she’s a princess and the guardian and/or herald as-well-as-lady of the sun” “You still think that, after what she said?” Blaze stared at me, I raised an eyebrow “right, sarcasm, sorry!” “It’s alright, not the worst thing to happen is it?” I smiled as we stood before the double doors that led to the dining hall “I wonder if they’ve fixed that wall yet” Snowdrop giggled “What wall?” Crystal rolled her eyes, as if she could tell that what was going to be said was going to be somewhat negative “Luna tried to use the old ‘bucket-of-water-atop-the-ajar-door’ trick on Rick, so he went into the room next to the dining hall, the rest is obvious” “Shall we see if they’re still there?” Crystal gave a soft laugh “I’ve a better idea” I smirked, placing my hands together -as if clapping, or praying, then placing them on the double doors, which changed to sliding doors, the walls also altering as bright blue lightning danced around the surrounding area “Alchemy, I assume?” she grinned “Quite so,” I opened the door, holding it open, I gestured for her to enter “ladies first?” “You’re a gem” she laughed as she and the rest of my family entered the dining hall “And who left this mess here I wonder?” she tutted at the sight of a large puddle of water and several scattered buckets “someone really out to be ashamed of themselves, honestly” “Some people need to have a priority shift, me-thinks” I hummed “I know right,” she chortled, “some people have absolutely no sense of either direction or decency” Celestia glared icy daggers at me as she appeared at the doorway “What did I say about using alchemy?” she snapped “And what did I say about it not being the art in itself, but rather, the artist?” I rebuked “and you’d do what’s necessary, really?” I scoffed “do I no longer matter to any of your little ponies Celestia, have you grown tired of using me as a figurative pawn in your little ‘chess game of the gods,’ so to speak, you’d do what’s necessary, or rather, what is easy, rather than what is right,” I snarled “You’d choose the easy option, to merely remove me from existence and your and everyone else’s lives, just think about someone else for a change would you, thin about how many ponies’ hearts would be broken, not to sound arrogant, but you’re just being selfish” I lectured “It’d be impossible to get you back, the only way you’d still be alive is through your memories!” Celestia yelled at the top of her lungs, tears streaming down her muzzle “Blaze, what did I just say not ten minutes ago?” I sighed “‘Kick reason to the curb and do the impossible’?” Blaze tilted her head as she blinked “Thank you, sister” I smiled “So what would you have me do?” Celestia frowned “Do what you can, with the others by your side as you bring me back, or at least try to” I grumbled, turning to blaze, do you not find it ironic, sister, we have a land of magical, flying talking horses who can reform a self-acclaimed ‘God of chaos,’ but they can’t help one single dragon slayer should he descend into somewhat similar chaos?” “Aye, that’d be most ironic” Blaze nodded “What do you want from me?” the solar goddess’s voice almost cracked “If one person isn’t cared about and/or for/of, why should he do the same back?” I tilted my head “Because that’s not what friendship is” she inhaled, and then exhaled, I raised an eyebrow “What?” I sighed “look, if you don’t want me to use it unless absolutely necessary, then all you need to do is say” I smiled, faintly “Then that is how it shall be” she gave a weak smile “now can we change the door back?” “Nah, I reckon it’s lighter now then it was before” I I grinned “Finer, but just this once,” she giggled “I don’t want you using it unless somepony asks, or you absolutely have to” “By your word, Lady of the sun” I smiled “And I’m also going to forgive you for stealing Luna’s diary” she raised an eyebrow “Seriously,” Crystal gave an unamused stare toward me “Prank war gone horribly wrong” I shrugged “I ended up with a fractured arm, several cracked ribs, a somewhat slipped disk” “Brother, she was about ready to kill you” Blaze frowned “therein lies the stopping point, me-thinks” “Touché” I nodded -=-=- After a couple of days-worth of preparation, I’d set up another prank, having duct-taped an air horn to the wall in which Luna’s bedroom door was attached, quickly turning invisible and flying off The resulting scream mixed with the siren was somewhat confusing “What on Earthland was that?” Natsu blinked alongside Erza “Air horn, most likely” I laughed, I turned around, only to get an armoured hoof to the face -=- “I’m starting to believe that Luna doesn’t have a sense of humour” Blaze stifled a laugh “Shut up” I grumbled “That depends on what one would class as ‘humour’” Luna frowned “Human humour” Blaze raised an eyebrow, Luna blinked “I trust that you’ve learned a valuable lesson from this?” Celestia sighed “That depends on what one would class as ‘valuable’” I grinned “Rick, I highly advise not doing that again” Blaze was obviously attempting to hold in what seemed to be quite a lot of laughter, I grinned ()=[-]=() “Seriously, you’ve done what now?” Blaze cackled with laughter as I glanced around the room; there was nobody there, save me, my friends and family “I set up a pressure system so that when she steps on the two water bottles just before the bedroom door, she’ll get soaked” I smirked as we made our way through the castle, toward the throne room Upon opening the door, I found a rather bemused, and rather wet, Luna stood beside a somewhat unimpressed Celestia “Here’s the next set of artworks” I held out a set of folded up handmade portraits “How appropriate,” Luna snarled “we were just thinking of a punishment fit for your crime” “How is a prank a form of crime?” Blaze blinked “A prank,” Luna’s eye twitched “thou calls a bathtub’s worth of water falling on one’s self upon entering a ‘prank’?” “Which arm do you want?” I held my arms out by my sides, “We do not wish bodily harm upon thee, Rick,” she frowned “we merely wish to teach thee not to do it again” “And what if discord were to pull a prank on you?” I tilted my head ever-so slightly “He’s the lord of chaos, such actions are necessary for him to exist” she raised an eyebrow “thou wish to cause chaos, like he?” “You call it chaos, we call it fun” Blaze mumbled, Luna’s horn flared, I darted between the two as three spears appeared beside her, each composed of a pitch black magic energy “Turn it off or I break it off” I glowered, the spears faded from view, disintegrating into thin air although the glow around her horn didn’t fade Suddenly, I collapsed to my knees, my body convulsed as blood started leaking from my eyes and nostrils, as I held my head in agony “Daddy,” Snowdrop cried out, Celestia glanced toward her sister, and then gasped at Luna’s twisted grin “Luna!” Celestia boomed, I puked blood as the glow around Luna’s horn flashed out of existence “What do you think you’re doing?” she blared as I fell flat on my face, my vision fading to black as Snowdrop leapt to my side, clinging onto me alongside Scootaloo, Winter Bell, and Gracy Gloom [)+=-=+(] My vision blurred, I leant over the edge of the bed I was situated and puked into a conveniently placed bucket, wearily wiping my mouth as I stared at the wall, slowly sitting upright, feeling my chest and stomach, breathing slowly, yet heavily “I’m sorry but he’s not yet awake, you’ll have to come back another time” I heard somepony (someone?) outside the room gibe an elongated sigh “Above all else he’s not physically stable, his insides could fall apart at any moment” upon hearing that, I lay back down on the bed, biting my lip “We’re still working on a spell and/or potion to restore him back to normal, so please, bear with us” I glanced to the seat beside the bed; Autumn Heart was sat there leaning against the mattress, sound asleep “Rick?” Autumn Heart gasped as I started to lightly stroke her flowing chocolate brown mane “Hey,” I smiled “But the doctors said you wouldn’t be awake for another week!” she gaped “Apparently my organs could fall apart at any moment” I hummed “Oh they’re just saying that” she giggled “what they’ve done is nothing short of an amazing miracle at work” “What’d they do to me?” I blinked “They said that they were going to infuse your physiology with that of a rubber tree,” she gulped audibly “how’re you feeling, my love?” “Like shit, to put it frankly” I mumbled “They said you’d feel somewhat nauseous when you awoke” she had tears clouding her eyes “oh god I was so worried about you!” she broke into a sob, gently holding onto me as I slowly sat upright “How long was I out?” I pecked the tip of her horn “Two years” she wept as a pony with a uniform walked into the room “Sir Rick, we weren’t expecting you to be awake so soon” the nurse, Redheart, as I remembered her from Nightmare Night “you should be about ready to be leave in about a week’s time, milord” she winked -=-=- That week didn’t pass as fast as I’d of liked it to, and I didn’t get a single visitor, sans Redheart, who only came into the room to either see how I was or to flirt ‘which, according to her body language, undetectable As I walked free from the hospital, I was tackled by four familiar ponies “Daddy,” Snowdrop, Gracy Gloom, Scootaloo and Winter Bell cheered, clinging onto me “ “We missed you Daddy!” Snowdrop cried as she clung onto my front, tears streaming down her muzzle “we thought that you’d…!” she gasped, I draped my wings around her “Easy Snowdrop, I’m Ok, albeit eventually” I gave a faint smile “Two years!” she screamed “two years we were waiting for you to heal, those two years didn’t go by quick enough for us” she climbed onto the back of my head, whereas Winter Belle and Gracy Gloom clambered onto my shoulders -=-=- “Rick!” Celestia all-but gasped alongside Twilight and her friends as we entered the throne room, Autumn Heart and Blaze standing with Scootaloo upon Blaze’s back “Rick,” Luna teleported in front of me, Snowdrop, Winter Belle, and Gracy Gloom –quickly as they could, climbed back down to the ground, where they, alongside Scootaloo, huddled behind me “We do not mean any harm to come to thee, little ones” Luna glanced toward Snowdrop, who let out a frightened ‘eep’ “That’s what you said to me, then you threatened my sister, then you hospitalized me” I growled “We did not mean to cause any harm, we do not know what came over us” she hung her head “I’m starting to think that the eons creating the elements of harmony was a bad idea” I mumbled “But without them, we’d be without someone to watch over the stars” Twilight frowned “I can think of at least two people” I smirked “Nyx and Lulania, and that’s not counting the Roman, Greek, and Norse gods of course” “We see,” Luna bit her lip “then we shall serve under thy rule until thou sees fit to deem otherwise” her form changed to that of a smaller one, with pale blue coat and a flowing, royal blue mane and tail as she bowed “I never said you were useless, Luna,” I sighed, stroking her mane “Nonetheless, we feel it is our responsibility to see to it for thou to be reward as compensation for our actions” she frowned “You teach her this sort of thing?” I glanced toward Celestia, who shook her head in response “So be it” =-=-= Once we’d entered our house, Luna sat in my lap as I sat on the bed, Autumn Heart sitting beside me “So how far does this ‘responsibility’ go?” I raised an eyebrow “We feel as though we owe you thine life, so we shall serve you until the end of our days” Luna hung her head, glancing up at me “would you like us to begin?” “If you feel as though you’re ready” I smiled
Chapter XIX; Prototype“Hey Twilight, what’s that you’re reading?” I smiled as she allowed me entrance to the library “It’s a book I fund in the archives, Jigsaw’s helping me solve the code on the cover!” she nodded to the unicorn with a light silver coat and a golden mane and tail with three separate jigsaw pieces as a cutie mark, one piece was green, the second was yellow, and the third was red, who waved toward me as I entered with Blaze and the others “It’s just a sun, even though the rays from said sun are irregular” I shrugged at the image on the front of the book they were inspecting “But they’re not irregular, they’re deliberate, it’s a code, she levitated a notepad toward me, showing the phrase ‘Elemental Lord’ “If that’s a code, then it’s encrypted for a reason, you’re out of your league, Lady of Magic” I scoffed “Why?” she frowned “An elemental lord is on level with a demi-god, each one with a separate, unique element “How do you know that?” Jigsaw blurted out “I won’t elaborate, not because I’m stingy, but because I don’t want my friends risking their lives over this ordeal,” I glanced toward Spike, who was now starting to grow wings “Can you write a lesson to the Celestia?” Spike nodded, saluting me, rushing over to the dresser, writing a quick letter, then burning it, watching as its ashes soared through the window “I hear that you require my assistance, Sir Rick?” Celestia smiled as she appeared via teleportation “Twilight and Jigsaw have decrypted a message from one of the books in the archives,” Celestia’s expression turned almost grim as she turned to face the two ponies “Is this true, Twilight?” Celestia raised an eyebrow, Twilight handed her the notepad; she quickly read it, passing it to Jigsaw, who took it with a crestfallen look upon her face “Whilst I’m not angry with you for finding this out I’m both disappointed and impressed that you managed to translate the code” Celestia glanced toward me, I shrugged “Rick, do you know anything of the elemental lords?” “A little,” I tilted a hand “whilst they’re mostly solitary deities, they only come together to either wage battle or to meet in conference, at least to my knowledge, each section of a world that I visited had tribes led by a lord of a respective element, Vulcanus had the lord of fire, Iconox, the lord of ice, Tajun, the lord of water, and so on,” I explained “though to go in search of one is suicide, without a good enough reason, they’ll either toy with you until you plead for mercy, send you on a quest to get something they want in trade for your life, or they’ll just kill you, but if they were to wage war on one another, this world would be torn apart from the core itself, and as such, it would be ill advised to venture out to wherever they are, unless you had at least a dragon slayer or two to go with you” “You’re not actually considering upon going there, are you?” Celestia blinked “You know what this means?” Twilight cast a nervous glance toward Jigsaw “You mean after we get all this information about those two words, you still want more?” Jigsaw stared at the lavender mare “It’s not the words; it's my addiction to knowing all the answers,” Twilight frowned means we’re going to have to find out what the suns reveal. It means—“ “Oh, please take me with you!” Jigsaw pleased “please, please, please!” she went on “I know all about the Badlands! I mean, I've read all about them. I've been on two student digs and not to mention that I’ve studied-!” Twilight held a hoof to the unicorn’s mouth, I could easily tell that she was trying to work out how to say it best without causing too much of a letdown “I think it’d be best -and this is assuming we’re allowed to take the trip, that we take a few wizards from the guild with us” Blaze hummed “It’s your call Princess,” I gave a faint smile toward the solar alicorn “Alright, but I’m going with you” Celestia sighed “But if we so much as see one of those beings, and we’re coming straight back, Ok?” Twilight nodded, as did Jigsaw, the silver mare was giddily leaping from hoof to hoof “Should we send for the others?” I tilted my head “No, it’ll just be us, the wizards who wish to go with us, and you,” Celestia shook her head ~=~=~ In the end, I only managed to get Erza, Wendy Natsu and Grey to tag along for the adventure, and when Celestia had teleported us to the wastelands, I blinked, “This is where we were meant to be going?” Natsu blinked “Looks like someone really trashed the place Grey deadpanned “All the more reason to be on the lookout for what we’re here for” I hummed “And what is it we’re here for?” Erza glanced toward me “An Elemental Lord, something that’s on level with Cellsy here, they keep the world in check without anyone realising it” “And we’re looking for them because why?” Natsu grumbled “Sparky over there decrypted a code from an ancient tome of sorts,” I shrugged “So, where’re these ruins again?” Blaze turned toward the lavender mare in question “They should be somewhere a couple of days south of here” Twilight glanced toward each of us in turn, contrary to Celestia’s words, the rest of twilight my friends had joined us along with Shining Armour, and of course, a caravan of guards with a months-worth of supplies for at least twice the amount of people present “Might as well get going then” Natsu sighed, walking into the desert, we quickly followed -=- So what were you doing for the past two years?” Natsu glanced toward me as we trudged through the soft, warm golden desert sands of the wastelands “Playing dead” I laughed “Really, how so?” he blinked “You’d be surprised what being told that someone’s insides could fall apart at any moment will do for a person” I smirked “Holy shit” he stared at me “I know,” I sighed “technically speaking I shouldn’t be alive” “And the surgery’s the reason why you’re shirt’s been cut down the middle?” he raised an eyebrow, I looked down “First time I’ve noticed that, aren’t I a moron?” I grinned “Aren’t we all at some point?” Blaze laughed “Touché” I rolled my eyes, raising a hand above my eyes, staring into the distance “either I’m going nuts, or I’m seeing water” “Then water, we waiting for?” Snowdrop giggled “That was both awful and somewhat awesome simultaneously, well played Snowy” I smiled “Thanks Daddy” she nickered “But in all seriousness, water attracts wildlife, and they attract predators, we’d best tread lightly” I frowned “When did you become the survival expert?” Natsu laughed “It’s not just survival; it’s common sense; it’s nature” I blinked “Damnit” “Element of nature pun,” Blaze grinned “Quite so” I mumbled “So, what happened between you and the brown unicorn yesterday?” the flame dragon slayer gave me a rather sly grin “Her name, is Autumn Heart, I suggest you remember that” I growled “Alright,” he held up his hands somewhat defensively “aren’t you a little touchy?” “No, I just care about my friends family and loved ones” I rolled my eyes “Same difference really,” he shrugged “Whatev’s” I shook my head as we continued to make our way toward the oasis, any mirage would’ve normally faded at this distance “We’ll set up camp here” Twilight smiled “And what makes you the leader?” Natsu grinned “She decrypted the code, and she also found out about the elemental lords, that makes her the leader on this expedition” I flashed sly smirk ])()(] As we set up camp, there was a low, rumbling that occurred, the earth shuddered as the sands shifted somewhat Suddenly just at that moment, a massive pitch-black scorpion exploded into view underground shining armour and the rest of the guards leapt into battle positions between us and it “Well ain’t that original?” I stopped eating the meat I’d saved for the trip “I wonder what it tastes like” Grey smirked as he ‘activated’ his ice-make magic “How can you think about food when we’re under attack?” Twilight awed at him “I have to admit, I am kinda hungry” Natsu’s fists became ignited with twin, deep, crimson flames, the scorpion gave off what sounded like sniffing noises, lowering itself down to me as I stepped forward, throwing out the meat, which it instantly devoured “So, definitely carnivorous then” I hummed, bringing out another piece of the meat from the ‘icebox,’ throwing it, the scorpion wolfed it down within around half a minute, lowering its claws and stinger Carefully, I climbed onto its back, patting its tough, chitinous skin “This is, by far, the strangest thing you’ve ever done” Blaze laughed, the scorpion in question gave off a series of clicking noises “It seems that the arthropod in question would agree with you, sister” I chuckled “I don’t think I’ve ever heard of or seen this type of scorpion before” Twilight edged toward the beast, the scorpion, now apparently an ally, gave off another series of clicks “It would seem that she’s not surprised that a pony hasn’t heard of her kind before,” another ‘pattern’ of clicks “as they are solitary hunters who only live in the deserts of the wastelands” I translated “Ceres” I smiled, gently patting the scorpion’s back “named after the roman goddess of earth and plants” Ceres gave a short-yet-happy quartet of clicks “Wolves and bears are one thing, but a giant scorpion?” Twilight giggled “It’s in my nature, pun not intended” I smirked “So what do we do with her?” Celestia tilted her head “Ceres might be able to guide us to where we’re going,” Twilight smiled “with luck she might even be able to fend off attackers” Ceres clicked “She says she’s only in her teenage years, and as such, won’t be able to do much” I translated, glancing down toward the arthropod “that’s where we come in, Ceres, you take us where we need to go, and we defend you from anything that might mean you harm, Ok?” Ceres clicked her mandibles again “you’re welcome” “Ever the generous one, aren’t we brother?” Blaze tutted “I do believe you and your guards may stand down, Shiny” I smiled, Shining Armour grumbled incoherently, nodding toward his subordinates, who gradually lowered their weapons -=-=- The next day, we headed out, venturing further into the desert, and closer toward the ruins that were said to be out here, according to the book, anyway “So, how is it that you’re able to understand what it says” Shining Armour glanced up to me as I sat on Ceres’s back, nodding toward the scorpion herself “I’m an element of nature, it’s in my being to understand and translate animals, apparently” I shrugged “What else can you do?” he smiled “Quite a lot” I grinned as we came across a large gorge, that of which prevented us from going any further “Well isn’t this another cliché?” Blaze sighed, glancing to our right “and there’s the figurative bridge” Just a little to our right was a narrow stone archway, I wondered if Ceres could make it across without falling to her death “Fuck that” I laughed, sending my arms out to my sides, causing them to stretch, bringing them down and wrapping them around the scorpion, taking to the sky, gradually making my way across the chasm “How in Equestria did you do that?” Twilight blared once my arms were back to their normal length, and Celestia had teleported her and the others across “Autumn Heart said that they infused my physiology with that of a rubber tree” I grinned “long story” “I’m not even going to ask” she went a pale shade of green “I wouldn’t advise it anyway” I smirked as Ceres started to shiver “don’t worry, that won’t happen again, Ok Ceres?” the scorpion gave a frightened click, gradually beginning to start making her way alongside the others as we continued our journey, it was then that I heard a low, metallic growl We stopped in our tracks as a half-metal, half organic wolf leapt from under the sands, followed by another, then another, then another Eventually, we were surrounded by the beasts “Down” It was a simple word, but spoken with a tone of mixed wisdom, disappointment, and curiosity, and when spoken, the biomechanical wolves lowered themselves into lying positions, glaring icy daggers at us as a new being, that the size of a pony, with a mild-ish grey coloured coat and a set of topaz-coloured eyes with a long beard, wearing a uniquely patterned, multi-toned blue wizards hat and cape, wielding a crooked, aged walking stick, he looked as if he needed it to stay upright “Starswirl, but you’re…?” Twilight gasped “Dead,” the pony hissed “close to it perhaps, but I have learnt the ways of the desert’s hunters, and as such, they listen to me “But you’re thousands of years old!” she gawked at the elderly equine “Am I, or is it you who are simply too young to understand the riddle of the great beings?” he snapped “So lost in the chaos of war was I, and left behind, bent and broken, when the fighting moved on, and here I have been ever since,” he ended with a shrug Needless to say, it was too much for Twilight to take in “You've been living in these mountains with these... these... things?” I gestured to one of the wolves Starswirl gave me an icy glare “You are of mankind, so you wouldn’t know of the exsidian wolves, one of the Great Being’s more… efficient, creations…” “Great beings, like Angonce?” I blinked “So you do know, a little” he scoffed “I trust that you would not come all the way out here without good reason, human, state your business” “We’re looking for a set of ruins, with information on the Elemental lords” the wolves shared a rather hostile growl “You would be wise to turn back, but I can see the fire in your friends eyes, so I know you will pay no heed to my warnings, little one” the olden pony sighed “I have seen countless adventurers that seek the same treasure, the same knowledge that you all do, none come back alive” “That’s why we’re going to be the first!” Blaze declared “I do not know who, or what, you are” Starswirl eyed Blaze up and down “ but I shall give you the same advice, turn back now, or risk destruction at the hands of the gods” “Kind of ironic considering Celestia’s with us, pony” I tutted “You would be wise to keep your wit as sharp as your tongue, whelp” he snarled “Wait, gods, wh9ich ones do you mean?” Blaze tilted her head “You wouldn’t know of Ares and Kratos, neither Athena nor Zeus?” he huffed “I’m not surprised” “Those are Greek gods, are you suggesting that they exist?” she stared at him, he gave a slow nod “I have witnessed them shape this world into what it is now, and I have seen their capacity for destruction, which is why I ask you to turn back now, you’ve still a full life to live, don’t waste it on a few legends” “Legends would imply that they’re a myth, you know otherwise, do you not?” I raised an eyebrow, there was silence as the sands shifted a little with the wind “It was ages long past when I discovered Equestria,” he began “I came in search of aid, and the princesses gave it, and, in trade for their hospitality, I gave them knowledge, I cast spells, wrote new magicka the likes of which they’d never heard of or seen before, and in doing so, I made a name for myself, as a few notable unicorns can tell you, no doubt” he sighed “when I found out about the elemental lords, I was both shocked and overcome with curiosity, as to what power and wisdom the deities withheld, and so, I sought them out, just as you’re doing now,” he frowned “Only, I’ve seen what they can do, and in trade for my life, they gave me my objective, protect their sanctuary however I deem necessary, and so, I cannot allow you to progress” “But what do the gods have to do with it?” Blaze momentarily raised a paw, lowering it again “They created the Elemental Lords, moulded their being and power into tangible forms, gave them their own objectives, as they later gave me mine,” he grumbled “if you seek the ruins, then I will accompany you, but if you seek the Elemental lords, I’m afraid I cannot allow you to go any further” “We’re on a quest for knowledge, not an audience with the almighty ones” I smiled, he hummed, gave a short, sharp click with his tongue -the wolves instantly stood back up, their gunmetal steelworks and tan fur clashing like fire and ice “Then I shall accompany you, too long has it been since I last saw those ruins” he gave a weary smile -=- As we continued our trek through the desert, I noticed twilight glancing suspiciously between Blaze and I “Is there a problem, Twilight?” Blaze smirked “You know something, don’t you?” Twilight frowned “If we tell you anything it might risk you and Jigsaw becoming somewhat more curious, and that would lead to another expedition, one that we cannot take” I shrugged, Starswirl, nod sat behind me on Ceres’ back gave a curt nod “So, how long have you been out here Starswirl?” Celestia gave the old unicorn a stern glance “I’ve been out here for around an eon now,” Starswirl grunted “as I said, in trade of my life, and immortality, the Elemental Lords had me become their ‘herald,’ so to speak” the wolves glanced toward one another as they formed a convoy around us, as if curious about their apparent ‘master’ “I wonder what the school for gifted unicorns will think now that they know you’re alive” I hummed “Think what they will, I am simply required to guard the Elemental lords, nothing more, and nothing less” he snapped, his frown gradually relented “I see you managed to tame a Desert Empress Scorpion, young human?” “Is that what Ceres is?” I patted the arthropods back, Ceres gave a series of clicks “I see; it’s what they called your kind when they first encountered one of you” I slowly nodded “how old are you anyways?” another series of clicks “so, you’re as old as me then, that’s interesting” “That’s impossible” Starswirl scoffed a human can’t live to be as old as one of these scorpions, its common knowledge!” “Unless that human so happens to be an eon” I changed to eon form, quickly changing back “I had heard of your kind, and the war you waged, fortunately for me, I was safe within the countless sands of the desert you see before you” “A coward may run and live to see another, but a true hero will live on in the memories and hearts of those who he saves, eternally” I sighed “You are wise,” he mumbled “Arrogant, but wise, somewhat” “I get that a lot” I smirked “So, you know the Elemental Lords, what about the Toa?”” “The great beings were generous enough to lend us a few, yes” he nodded “it’d appear you know of their work, tell me, what, do you know of the Glatorian?” “They’re sub-par level Toa without the mask abilities or elemental powers,” I shrugged “Quite right,” he nodded if we’re lucky we might see one or two where we’re going” -=-=- The next day, we made it to the ruins, surprisingly enough, a few mechanical beings were examining the entrance, which was pulsating with a faint cyan glow “We’re here” Starswirl patted Ceres’ back, steadily making his way to the ground as the scorpion lowered herself onto the warm sands “What on Bara Magna?” one of the beings stared at me and then at the others as I glided down in front of Ceres landing before the group of mechanical entities “This is Equis,” Twilight blinked “What’s Bara magna?” “It’s the name of the planet!” the metallic being burst into laughter he had a long dark green claw-like helmet, with arms and legs of th same colour, with light green armour and claws “I’m Tarduk, but you can just call me TK, everyone else does” , everyone present, minus the newcomer, stared at me “Call me Rick” I held out a hand, he -fragilely enough, shook it “it’d appear that we’ve stumbled through a rift that takes whoever walks through it, and sends them through an interplanetary portal of sorts” “Correct” Starswirl nodded “I see you’re a fast learner, young Rick” “So, what’re you here for?” Tarduk chuckled, nervously eyeing Ceres’ who gave a series of clicks “We’re here in search of knowledge to do with the elemental lords, or at least, we were” I tilted my head “What are you?” Tarduk blinked “you don’t look like any Agori or Glatorian that I’ve ever seen, you’re completely…” “Organic?” I suggested “Yeah, that” he laughed “I’m a human, an eon, and a dragon slayer, you?” I smiled “I’m an Agori villager, I’m here with my friends, or in this case, companions, seeking this,” he held out a piece of metal, pointing to what looked like a red star I took the metallic shard, looked at both sides, then handed it back to him “You seek the star?” Starswirl raised an eyebrow “If that’s what it is,” Tarduk nodded “we were brought here by curiosity, at least, I was, Crotesious and Kirbold were just curious enough to join, I suppose” “And your reason for being out here?” I smiled “This piece of metal is the reason we’re here another being, this one armoured in a crimson, metallic substance walked over to us “Crotesious” “Rick” I smiled, shaking his hand as he held it out “And the door?” I nodded toward the large doorway that gleamed with a bright blue ‘aura’ of sorts that looked to be a compound of wrought iron and stone “We don’t know, it’s not of any material we’ve heard of before” he shrugged I walked over to the door, closely examining the circular patterns that were etched into its surface, that of which were o the end of what looked like stems, or branches maybe even, more symbols appeared in what appeared to be the backbone of the ‘structure,’ each pattern had words etched into it in what appeared to be Latin and a larger circle appeared at the top of the structure “This isn’t exactly your average gateway,” I turned to face Tarduk, Crotesious and the others “What is it?” Tarduk blinked “It’s an alchemy gate, this should be on the inside of someone’s mind, but instead, it’s here out in the middle of nowhere” “So, you are familiar with the art of Alchemy,” Starswirl hummed “go ahead, see what it does” “Alrighty then” I grinned, clapping my hands together, slamming them against the gate, which practically disintegrated; slowly fading from view, revealing a large mechanical being with indescribable looks and form, his neon green almost eyes glaring at me, he stood at least twice my height, maybe more, the intricately crafted staff he held resonated authority and power “You are not as you appear to be, little one” the being gave a smile “And you’re a sub-par level deity” I smiled, changing to eon form, my family quickly leaping atop my back, Snowdrop once again laying atop my head “State your name,” he declared “or at least your title” “Rick, Dragon slayer” he stared at me, then burst out laughing “I’m Artahka, but it’d appear that you already know that, Rick” he smirked “Who’s Artahka?” Blaze blinked “Have you not read, sister?” I blinked “he’s the being who’s able to create basically anything he wants, where and when he wants it” “He’s like Faust then?” Celestia raised an eyebrow at the large being “Basically” I shrugged “Rick, I trust that an eon of your calibre shouldn’t have to travel with a large convoy such as this to discover the ruins of Old Equis?” Artahka grinned “It was Twilight who found knowledge of the elemental lords, she’s the one who dragged us out here” Blaze laughed, Twilight edged forward, bowing once she was at the front of the crowd “Indeed, I have managed to convince Faust to hide the knowledge well,” the lesser being smiled “she has many forms, as does Lulania, both are considered great beings, but by different names then the ones you might know of, little ones” “So, we came all this way, just to find out we didn’t have to come out all this way?” Blaze snapped rather impatiently “I don’t think that’s what he means; Blaze,” I cast a moment’s glance toward her, the n faced back toward Artahka “is there any further knowledge of either the lords or the great beings here?” “There is quite a surmountable wealth of knowledge here; but it depends on if you’re worthy or not” Artahka sat cross-legged before us, placing the staff across his lap “You wanna fight?” Natsu steppe beside me, fists blazing, I raised an arm to his chest area, stopping him “You can’t fight the Lord of creation, and all that exists here; he’d kill you in an instant,” I frowned, turning my gaze from the being before me, to Natsu, and then back “True courage isn’t knowing when to take a life, but when to spare one” “You pass” he smiled, raising an arm, allowing me to fly through the gap, Celestia teleported herself, Twilight, her and my own friends beside us alongside Jigsaw and Blaze “Why would Faust hide all this from us?” Twilight frowned as we made our way through what seemed to be the castle “To stop you; or anyone else, from risking their lives for something that might not be considered worth it” I sighed “Well,” Applejack grumbled “Had didn’t expect to be drawn this far out of Equestria” “This isn’t even Equis anymore” I chuckled “Where are we then?” Celestia glanced toward me as a large set of double doors came into view “I’ve no idea” I sighed, pushing the double doors open once we were close enough “Well, this is quite the surprise” a rather amused metallic being with quite the obvious breastplate stood before us, sanding at around nine-and-a-half feet tall, the doors slammed shut behind us as a swarm of large mechanical spider-like beings crawled along webbing that hung across the walls and ceilings “And this is why they kept it a secret” I mumbled “Indeed it is, Rick” the tall slender female being spoke “How do you know me, and what’re you doing here?” I snarled “You are our king, are you not?” her form flashed a sickly green colour before revealing itself to be that of a familiar changeling, the mechanical, spider-like beings that surrounded us did the same, revealing themselves to be changelings “Holy shit” I whistled as the changelings bowed before me, as did Metamorphia “I take it that you’re surprised to see us here?” Metamorphia smirked “Just a tad bit, yes” I grinned “Well then, welcome to our hive” she nickered somewhat eerily “Ok, you turning out to be a mechanical being, like that of your subjects, I can handle, what I don’t get is that Starswirl mentioned gods, Athena Ares and Kratos, what have they to do with this world, or Equis?” “They are the great beings, and the many sons and daughters of Lulania, any god you have on Earth, chances are they’re the descendants of the creator of the Universe, Artahka out there’s her son” The changeling queen grinned “And since that Faust’s the offspring of you and Lulania…” Blaze turned to face me “you’re the father of a series of gods” “I can’t catch a break can I?” I grunted “ “Looks like you are a god after all, Daddy” Snowdrop giggled “So it would appear,” I grumbled “glancing toward Metamorphia “have you any records of the beings that existed here?” “I’ve got tonnes, my hive and I never need them, we’ve always wondered when a unique scholar would come along and take them of our hooves” “Twilight’s no scholar, but she’s one of the best ponies I know for the job” I gleamed “Really,” Twilight glanced toward me, her face a deep maroon colour from the way she was blushing “The only other people I can think to hand it to are the princesses, Faust and Lulania themselves, or Starswirl” I shrugged -=-=- When we got back outside -the records of who, and what exactly lived in the area now in my inventory, we began to head back “Are we heading back now?” Natsu blinked, I nodded “All this way, just for that?” I didn’t think I could explain to him what’d happened to us in the past few years and who I’d done lord-knows-what with without his brain becoming mush, so I merely shrugged -=-=-=-=- Once we got back to ponyville, via teleportation, Ceres now living in the deserts near ‘Dodge Junction,’ I set the age-old records down on the table in the lounge of the library, Starswirl had insisted on staying behind, as had Tarduk, Kirbold, and Crotesious Blowing the dust from one of the books, i quickly noticed that the title wasn’t written in English, but matoran “It’s a mix and match load of symbols” Twilight blinked “Is it though?” I raised an eyebrow “to you it’s a mesh of symbols, to me it says ‘Riddle of the Great Beings; Volume-I” “You can read that?” she stared at me “Internet” I smirked “That’d mean that you’re the only one who can translate it” Celestia raised an eyebrow “Or I could give you this,” I unslung my rucksack, pulling out a small, worn book, handing it To Twilight “that should help, Sparkles” “This looks like a series of research notes” she smiled as she opened the book “There’s a translator in the back, somewhere” I winked “How long have you had that?” Celestia frowned “A few decades” I bit my lip “And you never bothered to tell us?” “You never asked,” I raised an eyebrow “had you have done so, I would’ve gladly provided what was necessary, I think- no, I know you’ve got a lot of questions, and also know that I cannot answer them all, you’re probably better off asking who we now know as Great Beings” “What exactly is a ‘Great Being’?” her eyes narrowed slightly “Basically, it’s their worlds version of a god, or god, they helped shape their universe,” I explained “that so-called ‘portal’ we went through, it wasn’t just between planets, it was an inter-dimensional masterpiece, if we had a few expert scientists sent there do discover what exactly caused it, we may find out a bit more about what went on all those ages ago,” I gave a faint smile “Whilst I am curious as to take a chance to see what lies beyond, I shan’t take the risk of having my subjects murdered by the desert beasts” she sighed “if we had another like you, we may be able to send a few groups out there, but no farther than the portal, wherever it may be” “By your word, Lady of the Sun” I nodded, quickly bowing “You do realise she’s your granddaughter right?” Blaze smirked “I’d like to think otherwise, though she’s still family” I grinned “I wish I could beat my younger self with a lead pipe, I really do, but then, if I hadn’t of met ‘Lulania,’ I wouldn’t have met you, which means that Equestria would be either non-existent, or leaderless” I tilted my head “A dilemma of the gods, if ever there was one” she gave me a smug grin “I’m not a god, Blaze” I snapped “How do we know that the crystalline heart you have isn’t going to keep you alive for all of time,” she frowned “how do we know that you’re powers aren’t going to become omnipotent to the pointy where you ascend and become a god, or that you’re a young one, if one at all?” “And…” I began with a snarl, trailing of, my glare turning to a look of worriment “I suppose there’s nothing I can do if I already am one, is there?” “Nay, but you can mature and become greater than even I” Celestia draped her wings around me -=-=- As I walked home Blaze, Scootaloo, Snowdrop, Winter Bell, and Gracy Gloom walking beside me, Autumn Heart lunged at me, knocking me on my backside “Where were you?” Autumn Heart’s eyes were clouded by tears yet unshed “I’ll explain once we’re inside” I winked, she nodded with a light giggle walking with me and the others into the house, I locked the front door once we were in Once we were situated in the lounge, I explained everything that’d happened “You met Starswirl!?” she gaped at me, I placed a finger over my lips “Not so loud, none of this is to be told to anypony, understand?” she nodded “I’ll not tell a soul, your majesty,” she pecked my cheek “now; I believe it’s time you got some well-earned rest after that trip?” (>>><<<) The next day, with my family on my back, I flew to Canterlot, finding a familiar being stood in the castle’s gardens “Hello, your majesty” Chrysalis smiled as I landed, my family landing on the ground as I reverted to human form “You wouldn’t happen to know about any ruins in the wastelands, would you?” I raised an eyebrow “You found my sister’s hive then?” she gave a sweet smile (for a changeling anyway), I nodded “What I am about to say, is not to be repeated to a soul, clear?” she frowned, my family and I shared a simultaneous nod “good,” she simpered “now let me tell you, how I came to be Chrysalis walked over to the bas relief of Celestia and gazed at it for a moment. "I remember seeing this when I was little. The ponies here were afraid of her then." I bit my lip to hold in the flood of questions that immediately leaped into my mind. I had the distinct feeling that Chrysalis wasn't one to be pushed into anything. If she had been here when the city was inhabited, that meant she was old; and that meant she was experienced and dangerous “Twilight’s dear mentor,” Chrysalis looked back over her shoulder at me, “was feared and hated like the beast she was, I was as beautiful as her, once, would you believe it?” I blinked “At that time, the city was one of the jewels of the world, the unicorns created such grand artwork, sculpture, poetry, and music that they were renowned for it,” she sighed “however, what made them rich was the trade, magic-made material and items flowed out, and food and gold flowed in, caravans came with treasures from beyond the seas to trade, a guild master could command a cart full of emeralds for a single, perfect amulet!” she was almost in hysterics “It was-” there was a sudden hitch in her voice, “-paradise…” “I was born to a noble family, Rick; I was born as a pony, if you were to believe such a thing” “You were born from two other ponies?” I tilted my head, she gave a curt nod “Yes, perfectly normal, but not average; for you see, I was exceptional; gifted, as it were, even among the most powerful magicians of the city, I suppose you might understand what that was like?" I gave a cautious nod “But I was also a great beauty. I was athletic, poised, graceful -admired and desired by the ponies around me, though I suppose you already know what that’s like” she gave a warm smile, if only for a moment “I began to create my own unique spells when I was still quite young;” she explained art and adornment was my specialty, I made living jewelry, makeup, and clothing, amulets that created illusory costumes for masked balls, and ones that hid flaws for the vain and less perfect than I was” “And then, I created my masterpiece!” she gave a wild grin “a spell that would change not just a pony's appearance, but their very substance itself, there would be no more ugliness, no flaws, the richest city in the world would have citizens to match its beauty!” she went on to explain "Can you guess what happened then your majesty?” she frowned “I'll give you hint: A young, magical prodigy creates an amazing new spell for the benefit of all the ponies around her—and perhaps a bit of fame; and then she directly touches the great source of magic that flows through the universe -its very life blood even-, and molds it in a new way, never before known to pony kind!” she gave a wicked leer “take a guess she’s your princess after all!” "Yes, yes! Late to the party, Twilight Sparkle, but at least you've finally arrived!" "What—how..." “Ah, very good questions, indeed,” Chrysalis smiled at me again and her gaze held a hint of madness, “But first, I'd like to ask one of my own” “Go ahead” I bit my lip "What did the ponies of this place hate above all else?" “Non-unicorns,” I hadn't put much thought into my answer “Mudstompers and featherbrains?” she blinked “Oh, no, the unicorns just despised them as lesser beings—felt pity for them, even!" Chrysalis backed away toward the statue of Celestia and continued “No, what they hated more than anything else; was her!” She whirled and slammed a hoof into the neck of the stone image of Celestia “She dared to preach equality of the tribes, and even worse, she was the very living symbol of that equality! In her own body, she polluted and debased the superior blood of the unicorns with that of earth pony and Pegasus; she was an abomination!" I could see the chain of events running forward; I understood what Chrysalis had gone through upon her ascension, Instead of being welcomed and guided by a beloved mentor, and celebrated by her friends and family... “Oh, no…” Autumn Heart gasped “Oh, yes! When I was transported to that place—that celestial realm—she was there to greet me; the great enemy of my tribe!” Chrysalis snarled with a great loathing in her voice “I had no idea what was happening to me and, of course I wouldn't listen to her, but that didn't stop my ascension” “When I reappeared in the city I was the living image of the thing most feared and hated by everypony I'd ever known, if they hadn't been so stunned by shock and horror, they might have killed me before I got away” she gave a weak sigh “fortunately, my own great spell came to my aid and I hid among them until—until..." She trailed off and her neck bent. Her lank mane slid down across her face and she stood silently “You may not believe this, but I'm sorry, That shouldn't have happened to anyone, especially you of all beings!” She lifted her head to look at me, and there was quite a bit more than a hint of madness in her gaze; “Oh, but the best is yet to come!" She slowly walked forward as she spoke, “Such a being as yourself may not understand, but I had my choice of the stallions of the city, and the one I claimed was magnificent!” she chimed “He was the first son of the highest of families, and we were to be married but we couldn't wait, you see?” she stared at me dreamily “he was so handsome and I was so beautiful, and we were so perfect together!” “I… I don't understand…” I stammered “We didn't wait; we shared our love—and on the day I ascended, I was already with foal." I didn't know what was coming next, but I knew it wasn't going to be good. “I went to him. I knew he would understand. He loved me” “His hatred was as great as his love; he could have fled, he could have shouted for help, but he was a brave fool, he tried to hold me tried to pin me with his magic, even though he knew how strong I was—or had been," Chrysalis turned her steps back toward the statue of Celestia and glared at it as if were her long-ago lover, “as an alicorn, I was even stronger, he fought but I broke free; He tried to—to—and I—“ She lunged forward and slammed her horn into the carving, just behind Celestia's shoulder, where her heart would be Then her head fell away, her horn scraping out of the divot she'd made in the stone. She stood silently, swaying slightly and making an eerie keening noise that I desperately hoped I would never hear again “How did you…?” Autumn =Heart shuddered; Chrysalis shook herself like and old, sick mule, trying to shrug off a biting fly “How did I… what, Survive, Oh no, that was simple!” the changeling queen laughed like a mad-mare “I fled the city and took refuge in the abandoned gem mines to the West, with my magic, it was easy, I planned to stay there, stealing what I needed until my foal was born and old enough to travel, and then I would go north to where the other alicorns lived—Celestia and Luna—they must be the true superior race, if that was what I had become!” she tamped her hoof into the earth “If I was evil, I would revel in it!” She began to chuckle “A few months later, something began to… affect me; I didn't know what it was at the time, I thought that it might be some of the natural effects of pregnancy; my joints ached and my skin burned; I was so sleepy, nearly all of the time,” she growled “then one day I fell unconscious and didn't awake for a long, long time” “I didn't figure out what had changed me for a long while after that. All I knew was that, when I awoke, I was the amazing creature that you see standing in front of you now!” “But you did find out why it happened, didn't you?” I asked, trying to ignore the acidic tone of her words “Oh yes, I did." Chrysalis smiled “You see, the great magicians of the city had perfected a spell, or perhaps it was a device—I never knew exactly what it was—something, at any rate, that made trading and most labor unnecessary. It could be operated by anypony, simply by wishing. Anything they wanted, delivered in an instant” "But;" she continued; “there was one little trick that they needed to operate the spell; any pony who wanted to partake of the wondrous cornucopia, had to be very good at visualizing what they wanted—believing in it. Making it live in their minds was a necessity, and so all the citizens were trained in that skill; making thoughts into reality, what a wonder!” “There was just one little problem,” Chrysalis continued. “Whoever built the thing was sloppy; it didn't just take in a pony's thoughts when they wished for something—it did it all the time! And it leaked. Do you see now?” I merely shook my head “No; of course not; let me spell it out for you," she said, condescendingly. "Just before this amazing device began to operate, the city was shocked by my ascension. They were horrified by the murder of one of their most honored citizens by the monster that I had become;” she spat “an alicorn? An abomination, rather; a monster, a parasite, an impostor among them! That is what they all thought of me, Rick; that is what they all believed!" I stared at her with a looked of unadulterated horror "Oh, my," Chrysalis glimmered, "I do believe you're beginning to get the picture, your majesty they did this to m;. I became what I am because of them; when I awoke and crawled out of the chrysalis I had been wrapped in, I nearly went mad” “But I was left with three things from my past life," she went on. "The magic of my greatest spell was now innate in me. I could change my form with only a thought. And my only regret—that became part of me, too. My lost love -the desire for that love-, it had become a hunger; the one that I have never been able to satisfy” “That's only two…” I stammered “Oh, yes—mustn't forget the most important thing!" She leaned in close and gave me an vicious grin "The over-joyous occasion of birth!" “Birth,” I bit my lip until I tasted iron “your foal…?” “Foal?” she snarled Nay; my spawn—hundreds and hundreds of them! All like me—all with my power and my hunger!” “You're the reason they died out, aren't you, you and your descendants infiltrated, invadedm devoured them even!” Chrysalis laughed musically, “"Oh, no, no! Well, not exactly, anyway; no, we just took their love, we took every last drop; and when it was gone, what do you suppose happened to a town full of powerful, arrogant unicorns that hadn’t a single whit of love left in their souls?” "Without love, there can be no friendship, no compassion, and no mercy…" Autumn Heart mumbled “Indeed, it only took them a few days to destroy each other; I didn't kill them, my little pony; they did it to themselves!” -=-=- As my family and I marched into the throne room, Faust was stood by the thrones, casting a moment’s glance toward me -and giving me a light nod as she continued to converse with Celestia “I understand, what you think you saw,” Faust frowned toward her daughter “but I cannot allow such ideas to exist, Celestia “Think?” Celestia barked “we travelled through a portal, Rick was there with us, as where three of the wizards from the guild!” “So that may be the case, I just can’t allow this to be spread into the public “Wouldn’t dream of it” I scoffed “after all, Artahka spoke as if he knew me, or at least, a bit about me, you wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you, Faust, if that is your name?” The burgundy-haired stared at the two of us for a short while before sighing; “Very well, Rick, if you truly wish to know, we created you, Artahka created you, for you see, it was from our ideas that you were born, Artahka, alongside myself and a few others, created you as you were all those ages ago, though were different, you behaved differently to what we anticipated, you adapted a little better than what we’d planned for, you evolved faster than we’d imagined, you became who you are now, though somewhat less selfless and caring,” she went on “if you were to try, you’d probably be able to see yourself as you were back then, the prototype for all sentient beings” “Then came Takua, the first matoran, though neither one of you would remember it, the two of you made history across the matoran universe and Equis alike, forever friends, even if not even in memory” Faust sighed “and then Celestia had to go and fall in love with you; I believe that she can tell you the rest” “And what, of my element of nature?” I glowered at her “All a part of your old self I’m afraid,” she shrugged “as is your nickname ‘Tesla,’ I believe” “So all this time, you all knew?” I glanced toward Celestia, who avoided my gaze “I’m sorry to say,” She bit her lip “though your parents, on Equis, they’re names have been etched into a scarce number of history books, one of which exists in the ponyville library, you’ll know which one it is when you find it, Young eon” “How will I become what I was when I was created, or was I born human, or an eon?” I frowned “You were born like any being in the matoran universe, Teslakana” she slowly shook her head “if all you want to do is change between the two forms, all you need do is believe” I stormed out of the room -=-=- When we got back to ponyville, I stood on the front lawn, closing my eyes, concentrating, whilst also thinking about what my actual form may be, I felt somewhat nauseous as a wave of energy overtook me momentarily “Daddy,” Snowdrop gasped, I opened my eyes Looking down at myself, I gasped, I was around more or less the same height as I was as a human, only biomechanical with crimson armour with black trimming replacing where my legs and torso would be, looking at either I noticed the same colour armour with a similar trimming, also the same colour “What am I?” my voice was almost ‘kiddish’ sounding like that of a teenager “Rick?” I faced forward; Twilight was stood there, staring at me “I’m afraid so, Twilight” I blinked, not yet used to the new voice “What happened to you?” she edged toward me, I crouched down to her level, bowing on one knee, almost “I’ve just found out from Faust, our resident Canterlot Great Being, that I was created, not born; Lady of Magic” if I had a lip I would’ve started chewing it “But how,” she blinked “you can’t just create life out of nothing, even in organic life!” “She, Artahka, and a few others actions’ state otherwise” I frowned “Even Celestia knows about it, apparently” “But that’s preposterous!” she blared “It’s what’s happened I placed a fragile hand on her head, gently stroking her mane “I’ll get the others, we can get passed this!” she cried out, teleporting away -=-=- “Howdy Twi,” Applejack smiled as she and the others -Autumn Heart included, entered the library “Who’s the robot?” “I prefer the term ‘biomechanical entity, if you please” I raised an eyebrow “Rick?” she all-but screamed “Yep” I gave a slight nod “or as Faust calls me, prototype, or Teslakana” “What happened?” Rarity awed at me, I quickly explained the events of the past two-five hours “That’s horrendous!” she gasped “It’s apparently who I am” I sat on the sofa, which creaked under my weight, Autumn Heart charged at me, clinging onto me “How can they do this to you?” the earthy-brown unicorn sobbed “how can they do this to somepony, and then expect everything to be Ok!?” she continued with a wail “I love you Rick, I don’t care who you might be, or what you might do, or what you might be called or look like on the outside, it doesn’t change the pony I fell in love with on the inside!” I concentrated, barely managing to revert to my human form, panting for breath when it finally happened “I wasn’t made an eon, as the other humans of the ‘ye-olde’ Equis were, or so it’d seem,” I gave a short hum “but I’m glad to be a part of their kind, through-and-through, maybe I’ll go back and meet Artahka again someday” “Ya’ll get cheesier by the day, dontcha pardner?” Applejack laughed “I am what I am, though I think that’s a bit out of context” I smirked, glancing toward my back, my wings were still there, fortunately “What are ya, is the question that Ah think should be asked, no offense” she gave a light frown “Human, Eon, dragon slayer, biomechanical entity, what else is there?” Blaze gave a smug grin “Quite so” -=-=- “Come one, come all!” a feminine voice called out from inside a circus wagon as a stage unfolded from its sides, and the same pale-blue unicorn with the same wizard’s hat and cape marched out onto the stage “Again? Really, Trixie?” Twilight groaned “Let the show-mare have her fun,” I grinned “because compared to a Fairy Tail Wizard, she’s nothing!” “I doubt your puny group of friends could comprehend what I’m capable of” Trixie spat, her eyes shone a deep crimson as I noticed a brooch that had the head of a unicorn with the wings of a Pegasus “So, you’ve a few new spells,” I scoffed “it’s not the spells that make the wizard, it’s the spellcasters themselves, and besides, even if I were wrong, each of the Fairy Tail wizards have and/or has at least ten unique spells, each” “And what of you?” she snapped “Other than your so-called -Dragon-Slayer’ magic, you’ve nothing more to show us” “Said the pony to the prototype,” I smirked, stretching my wings and concentrating as a great aura of almost-mystical light overwhelmed my being, blinding me When I could see again, i was hovering above the ground “How, when, what…?” Trixie gasped, looking down at myself, I stared in awe at my new form, that of which belonged to ‘Stardust Dragon’ “I trust you think you can mimic my ability?” I smirked “Stardust Dragon,” Blaze whistled “so, out there in the universe, they exist, somewhere” she eyed me up and down, Trixie ran away as fast as she could, the brooch that hung around her neck fell to the ground “Rick…?” Twilight stammered, I turned to face her and the others, landing on the ground “I’m still me, on the inside, remember?” I placed a claw to where my heart would be “How did you…?” she stared at me “I’d had the DNA of almost every sentient creature in the universe implanted in me upon creation, it’s just a part of who I am, I’m afraid” “You…!” she awed at me, I clenched my fists, focusing on changing back, but try as I might, it didn’t seem to be possible “And now I can’t change back, ever the clichéd one, aren’t I?” I gave a weak smile; she glared at me “Sorry…” “Well, I’m guess that changing like that takes up magic energy, and thus, it needs to be restored” Blaze stated, matter-of-factly =-=-= After raiding the nearby fields opposite part of the Everfree forest of gems, I returned to Ponyville, now reverted to my regular human form, changing to eon form, my daughter and Blaze leaping upon my =back/neck/head, albeit, reluctantly before I took off for Canterlot “So, you’re like a demigod then?” Blaze smirked as we entered the throne room, Twilight walking alongside us “Basically,” my ears perked up “wonder if that means I have the same abilities as ‘you-know-who’” I gave a smug grin “Do you want Equis to come to its knees, or flat on its face for that matter?” she smirked “Touché” I slowly nodded “Speaking of your being,” she blinked, glancing toward Celestia, who had a worried plastered upon her features as she stood beside Faust “how strong is he compared to you lot anyway?” “Tesla was made- no,” she sighed shaking her head “Rick was born to be stronger than most alicorns, but not as powerful as an actual god” “So, you’re not gods?” Snowdrop blinked “That is correct, little pony” Celestia gave a slight nod as Snowdrop and the others landed on the floor “Brother, if I may inquire, why‘re there now blackish markings on your neck?” Blaze stifled a laugh “What?” I blinked, lightly examining around my neck, not feeling anything different “I don’t feel anything different…” “And yet there’re twin markings running down your neck” she observed, I looked down my form, pulling the collar of my shirt, quickly letting it go “Just like Asura, might I add?” “Do you retain your knighthood, Daddy?” Gracy Gloom landed atop my head “Why be, a knight when you can be a demigod?” Blaze laughed “Although I will agree with you on one point, sister, I don’t think you meant to sound so arrogant” I chuckled “Indeed,” she gave a curt nod “one mustn’t let their arrogance get the best of them, lest they be bested in other ways, such as combat in the centre of war” “Quite so, but there’s still a question I’ve yet to ask, Cellsy” I glanced toward the solar alicorn, who blinked “do my travelling capabilities expand to all of reality or just to planets or time periods that have magic?” “It’s a bit of both, whilst it’s inter-dimensional, it’s limited to magic” Celestia smiled “where do you plan on going?” “You needn’t worry, I shan’t be travelling anywhere for quite a while, Lady of the Sun” I winked as the doors opened behind us, revealing a rather flustered alicorn of love alongside Twilight her friends, Erza, Natsu, Wendy, and Crystal “Rick!” Cadance gasped upon seeing me “are you alright?” “I’m fine, for now anyways” I gave a weak smile “Your emotions say otherwise,” she raised an eyebrow “Yeah well, having your organs turned to liquid shit by an alicorn; and then finding out you were born in an eon-old test tube will do that for a guy” Blaze snapped “You what,” Twilight exclaimed rather loudly her friends, sans Fluttershy, who fainted, whereas Wendy stared at me in quite apparent horror “Surprise,” I mumbled “you defend your family from one potential threat, and look what happens” “Who could do such a thing?” Wendy was on the verge of tears “I thought you were forced down from your title, princess” Blaze frowned toward Celestia “Thankfully, and rather fortunately, I have managed to persuade Faust to let me rule as I once did” Celestia smiled “If that involves the same tyranny, then I’ll have no other choice but to ask otherwise of Faust” I frowned also “I thought you could say she could drop the sun on you?” Natsu tilted his head “That’s the point,” I smiled, he blinked “let’s pretend, if only for a moment, that my crystalline heart acts the same way as a mantra reactor, which would mean it’d change any energy attack directed toward me into energy for me to use, assuming the sun here has as much magic stored into it as Equis itself “You’d be invincible!” Snowdrop chimed “Almost,” I gave a sideways nod “So you’re a living weapon then” Erza stared at me “I refuse to believe that!” Crystal snarled “I refuse, point-blank to refuse to believe that my beloved was created by the so-called ‘gods’ to be a means to an endgame!” “Rick’s not a weapon,” Celestia began “he was a project to see how a compound of all sentience in the universe would work if it were put into a single being, he’s the first actual life-form to exist on either Artahka’s world, or ours, a forerunner, so to speak, if you will” “So I’m just some pet project?” I growled “I’m just some little experiment you and your companions thought of an eon ago, out of either spite or fun, is that how it is?” “I don’t know how else to say it” she bit her lip “Looks like I owe Luna quite the ironic apology” I laughed “You’re taking this better than we expected you to” Faust raised an eyebrow “I may be an animal in part, but I do not have the personality of one” I spat, her horn glowed a mild magenta colour as my wings began to fade away “A true demigod needn’t have wings to fly” she smiled as the last parts of my wings vanished, only to return mere moments later “Looks like they’ll not go so easily,” I grinned “after all, they’ve become a part of who I am” “Even so, are you not curious as to your sister’s origins?” she smirked “What,” I snapped “Your sister says that her parents were killed by poachers, when in fact, that was another member of her species that suffered that fate,” Faust deadpanned “we created her, just like we did with you, that is why she is able to use magic, or so I’ve been told” “How old am I then?” Blaze looked gobsmacked “You are just as old as Rick, only you were frozen in time by a freezing spell, and sent to where rick was at the time of thawing,” she spoke haughtily “I remember the figurative ‘blueprints’ for your being rather well, Blaze” “I…” Blaze mumbled, collapsing onto her front “Blaze,” I rushed over to the fallen family member, turning her onto her back “Are you Ok?” I placed a gentle hand upon her head, her body shone with a bright white light as it shrank down to a familiar form “Blaze,” Snowdrop stepped forward to the Typhlosion-turned-Quilava, who clung onto me with all her might “I’m alright” Blaze stammered as I held her in my arms, sitting cross-legged as she stared up at me with clouded eyes “I’ve got my big brother to take care of me, after all” she gave me the weakest of smiles “Well this is a shocker,” I draped my wings around my shrunken sister “though it does explain your immortality, sister” “You still consider her family, even after what the two of you’ve been through?” Cadance all-but gasped “We’re family, through-and-through, no amount of bullshit science experiments is gonna change that” Blaze grinned, clambering unto my head, pecking one of my horns, I smiled, steadily getting to my feet “You two truly are amazing” Celestia smiled “We’re Nakama” Blaze and I gleamed in unison “everyone knows that Tesla’s the mage and/or knight as well as hero, and I’m the joker” “Sounds about right” I rolled my eyes, the doors to the throne room once again burst open, revealing a deep/rich blue dragon with white underbelly scales, wings and horns Said dragon collapsed to its knees “Help us…”
Chapter XX; Royalty“What’s the matter?” Celestia teleported beside me as the Dragon staggered, steadily getting to her feet “We were under attack, and we need to take our kingdom back” the dragon attempted to catch her breath “The Kingdom, or just the city,” Blaze raised an eyebrow “The Heart of the Dragon Empire” she shook her head, glancing toward Celestia “Will you help us?” “I’ll send the best Canterlot has to offer to your immediate aid” Celestia nodded “and I’m Sure rick will also wish to help…?” “Sapphire” Sapphire tilted her head “who’s Rick?” “That’d be me” I smiled “You don’t look like much of a threat” Sapphire raised an eyebrow as a great rumbling could be heard from outside “that’ll be the general” she grinned Once outside, I quickly took note of the thirty-fifty foot dragon lying across the gardens “Crystagia” I nodded “Son” she smiled “I trust that you’ve heard of the attack and the war going on?” “War,” I blinked “when did this start?” “It’s been a time-bomb waiting to go off, I’m afraid” she sighed “will you help us, Dragon slayer?” “I will” I nodded “You’re a dragon slayer?” Sapphire stared at me; I winked, setting both fists alight “So I see, let’s get going then” =-=-= As we approached the dragon city, which was apparently built into the crater of a dormant volcano, I heard the sound of clashing blades “You lot behave, Ok?” I glanced back to my family as we rode on Crystagia’s back, several chariots carrying Celestia’s and Luna’s guard flying alongside us and the princesses themselves as well as Faust “Ok, Daddy” they gave out smiles that resembled that of angels “Alrighty then” I turned, falling backwards from atop Crystagia, inhaling copious amounts of air, corking my thumb, biting down to the bone, exhaling into my arm, taking the air from one arm through my torso and into the other, using another of my abilities to change my arm into that of a giant drill, or in this case, a titanic drill, bringing it down into the city’s occupants “What are you?” one dragon out of a horde -armed to the teeth with swords, armour, fangs, claws and other means of weaponry, snapped, I looked down at myself, I’d shrunk considerably “I’m just here to end the war” I snarled “Yeah, and I’m Grandoa’s long lost uncle!” he laughed “Who’s attacking who here?” I clicked my neck “We’re defending our home from the gryphons” he scoffed “and I’d suppose you’re on their side” “No, I came here thanks to Crystagia” I pointed toward the sky “So you did,” he nodded “you must be the outsider Grandoa spoke of then, the one of whom he taught the dragonsong?” “That’d be me” I grinned my body exploding to its normal size/dimensions “Well, you did just save us a job,” he gave a slow nod “fine, I’ll have someone notify Grandoa of our new ally” -=- As the chariots landed in the now cleared-put section of the city, the princesses, Faust included, trotted toward me “How did you do that?” Celestia raised an eyebrow “I’m rubber, what else do you want me to do?” I smiled “So you are,” she sighed, turning to Sapphire “is there any safe place for Crystagia to land and drop off a few civilians?” “The citadel maybe, but I’m not sure for how long” Sapphire shrugged “then again, with Rick here on our side with that much power, we may’ve already won” “The emperor approaches!” a gryphon hovering above us yelled, and was instantly shot down by dragonflame Raising an arm, the flames stopped and the familiar Gryphon from a few years past glided toward us, bowing before us, every weapon in the vicinity was aimed toward him in an instant “I have come to negotiate a truce” the Gryphon emperor gave an audible gulp “A truce,” Sapphire screamed “you attacked us first, why should we listen to you!?” “Because I also offer my crown and title in surrender to your empire” he avoided her gaze “‘I’ll let Grandoa know of your negotiation’” Sapphire flew toward the ‘citadel’ “So, you ally yourself with the dragons now?” The Gryphon emperor scoffed as he eyed me up and down “I ally myself with the dragons because, in part, I am one, I gestured toward my horns “Traitor” he snapped “Oh, I don’t remember needing to ask for your permission, pecker-head” I snarled “What’d you call me?” he spread his wings, as if to intimidate me, I mimicked him “I don’t think I need repeat myself, featherbrain” I tutted “Freak” he huffed “At least I’ve the balls to admit it “Tesla,” a thunderous voice from behind me echoed throughout the city Turning around I saw Grandoa stood beside Crystagia “Have you come to negotiate, little one?” Grandoa glanced from me to the Gryphon emperor “I was, but after meeting your pet here, I think I’ll take you down myself” the gryphon growled “Tesla” Crystagia cooed “you have the chance to show what you can do, end this war, and the emperor along with it, or Equestria may be next” “I may be prideful, but I am no fool” Grandoa laughed “I will not attack, let alone wage war, on an ally’s homeland, even if it were to cost me my life,” he smiled “go on Tesla, end it” I spun around on my heel, both arms turning a ‘shining’ charcoal-black in colour as I clasped my fingers together, smashing my joined hands into the gryphons head, sending him flying, everyone present heard his neck break as he soared out of the city “Rick, you’ve no idea what you’ve just done!” Celestia boomed “The gryphon’s war is no longer with my draconic allies, but with me” I shrugged “if they so wish to follow through, let them, but I don’t think I’ll be alone, will I, Grandoa?” I turned back to face the ancient dragon, who beamed “Correct, little one, I shan’t let harm come to my allies, and if it’s war they want, then we shall wipe them off the face of Equis!” Grandoa declared “Teslakana, I do believe we owe you a great deal of gratitude for your help, whilst my soldiers, generals, knights and squires shall rid the country of the rest of the bird-beaks , you and I shall undergo what no outside has gone through before, at least, not in recorded history” “You don’t mean…!” Sapphire gasped “but he’s just a kid!” “I’m around three centuries old” I deadpanned, eyebrow raised “Touché” she smiled -+=(><)=+- As Grandoa, Crystagia, the princesses, Faust and I marched toward and through the citadel, I was lead with the others to what looked like a forge of sorts “Remove your shirt” Crystagia gave a weak smile, I shrugged, removing my upper attire as Grandoa took what looked like a large branding iron, before I could reply; he’d pressed it against my back, when he removed it, there was a dragon-head shaped brand there “This is all there is to the ritual, whilst those outside the city -or even this very building, for that matter, may believe that there is more to it, there isn’t all that much, other than all the work that needs to be done to add you to the history records” Grandoa smiled “You branded him!?” Celestia screamed “I fail to see how your cutie marks are any different, other than the painless magical procedure, and who’s to say that someone who’s got one wanted to do something else, but couldn’t due to that colourful little image on their rear?” I folded my arms after putting my shirt back on “At least then you don’t look like a slave!” she rebuked “Technically you are, and to fate itself, no less!” I laughed “I’ll see you at Canterlot” and with that I exited the citadel, flying toward wherever I may be needed -=-=-=- When I got back to the citadel, I got a few flirty looks from some of the dragons in the city Ignoring them I made my way to the ‘throne room,’ where Grandoa and Crystagia were stood “Celestia has taken your family back to Canterlot, Rick,” Crystagia hummed “would you like to return also?” “I’d just like to know why I’m getting eyed up like the world’s largest gem” I shrugged “Ah yes,” Grandoa chuckled “with your new title, and with the victory over the gryphons, you’re going to have quite the large amount of suitors, Sir Teslakana of Equis” “If that’s what it is, then I shall take my leave” I bowed, changing to eon form, flying out of the citadel, and away from the city “What do you think he’s like?” I heard someone from beside me whisper as I made my way over a village, ponies below stopping to glance up toward me as I flew overhead Glancing beside me, I saw three dragons, one, a bright, vivid green dragon with golden underbelly scales wings and horns, an indigo one with cyan under belly scales wings and horns, and a scarlet one with golden underbelly scales, wings and horns, all three shared a glance, before staring at me, wide grins on their faces, I took off as fast as I could -=- “I can’t believe you, Rick,” Celestia frowned “honestly, you’re merely asked to do something and you just go ahead and do it?” “All I can do is offer my apologies and my title here in Equestria” I bit my lip “what do you want to happen, the gryphons to try and finish of the dragons, possibly give up and come here instead?” “Then we’d attempt to work out a negotiation,” she raised an eyebrow “And what happens, should actions be necessary, and words become inadequate?” I scoffed “that’s the thing with you ponies, you talk too much” “And what’d you do?” she scowled “If they want war, I’ll give them war, if not, then I’ll try to negotiate” “You’re impossible” Celestia shook her head “I’m also your creation,” I smirked “you did infuse the DNA of an individual from every sentient species into a single being, remember?” “Bitches be crazy” Blaze smirked from atop my head “Alright, what do you want me to do?” Celestia let out a frustrated sigh “Get someone who knows what they’re doing on that throne” I winked, turning to leave, stopping when I got to the door, glancing back toward the solar alicorn “oh and by the way, I quit” I vacated the throne room “You quit!?” Twilight blared “how can you do such a thing?” “I just did” I raised an eyebrow “Why?” she glared icy daggers at me “I’ve better things to do,” I shrugged “like looking after my family for one thing, and taking care of the house for another” “How can you say that!?” she bellowed “Because I honestly don’t care anymore” I huffed “if she wants to try and wrap someone around her finger, so to speak, she’s going to have to try harder than what she’s currently doing, Sparky” “Get out” she growled “How can I ‘get out;’ you’re the one who visited me, and besides, we’re sat outside whose house again?” I grinned, she stormed off “Daddy,” four familiar fillies lunged forth, leaping toward me, clinging onto me “We missed you Daddy” Snowdrop chorused alongside Scootaloo, Winter Bell and Gracy Gloom “And I you, my little ponies, and I you” I draped my wings around the four of them “So, what happened with the dragons then?” Natsu smirked currently sat opposite me, Erza, my friends and family around the dining table in the hall in Canterlot, just as he said that, the three dragons from before silently made their way toward me “I’m Garnet” the Indigo dragon smiled “I’m Opal the scarlet dragon glimmered “And we’re at your service, Lord Rick” the three bowed “Can I call you Emerald?” I smiled toward the vivid green dragon “You can call me whatever you so desire my little Sugardrake” Emerald winked, Natsu spat out his drink, staring at me in apparent horror “What in the actual fuck?” he awed at me “Heck if I know, I didn’t plan on it actually happening,” I shrugged “and by the way, say it; don’t spray it” I smiled, turning back to face the three fem-dragons “and girls, you needn’t refer to me by any form of title, just rick will suffice” Emerald fainted, Garnet pecked me on the cheek, and opal knelt to care for her fallen ally “Three centuries of age, still got it” Blaze laughed “Blaze, shut up” I frowned “Make me, Sugardrake” she winked, no re-evolved to her Typhlosion state as she sat beside me “And before you say anything, remember what Faust said, I’m not your sister, technically” “What do you mean, three centuries?” Natsu blinked “Well, a few ages back, there was this one person who worked at a local shop that brother apparently found attractive, I needn’t go on” Blaze grinned “You lied to me” Celestia frowned “Says the one who’s been orchestrating my life since I was sixteen” I laughed “I only wanted us to be together,” she rebuked, a look of half-hurt, half-disappointment upon her muzzle “And now that we are, you have a go at me for everything I do” I shrugged “what else do you want from me Princess?” “You two argue like a married couple” Natsu gave a smug grin “We’re not, believe me” I rolled my eyes, Celestia flinched “So, what’d you do to gain the three stowaways this time?” Blaze smirked “Show off?” “No, if I were to show off, it’d look like this” I concentrated, hovering above my seat, my form morphing into that of the Stardust Dragon with a great flash of light; Garnet and Opal both fainted “Like a human synchro summon” Blaze hummed “Quite so” I nodded -=--=- Once my magic energy levels had been restored via gemstones, and I’d reverted to my human form, I stood on the front lawn, alone with my family, Emerald, Opal, and Garnet, placing a uniquely crafted gravestone onto the ground; Blaze sombrely passed me a hammer and chisel, and I started to carve/etch words into the stone base, glancing behind me half when I was half-done Twilight and her friends were stood there, minus Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy “Rick, are you Ok?” Twilight placed a gentle hoof on my side; I shrugged it off, continuing my work “What’re you doing?” she glanced toward the gravestone, the base was like that of one of the statues in the Canterlot sculpture gardens, only more of a cube than a cylinder, and the statue itself was that of my eon from, with a young girl riding on my back “Who’s Kate?” “My sister” I bit my lip, finishing the carving process, the words on the base read as followed; In loving memory of Kate Hawkins; beloved daughter, and the world’s best sister, may you forever soar through heavens on the back of an eon, or with the wings of angels, you shan’t be forgotten, though you’ll be missed by many I love you 13/5/2004-??/??/2025 “Rick that’s…” she stared at me “I never knew you had a sister, other than Blaze” “I first mentioned her when Sweetie Belle said that Rarity’s the ‘best sister ever,’ I rebuked, saying that I could argue with what she said” I clenched my fists, dropping the hammer and chisel “How did she… die?” Applejack gasped, standing beside Rarity and Rainbow Dash opposite Twilight “Negligence” my voice cracked somewhat “That’s… that’s horrible” Twilight stammered “Quite so” Blaze hummed “so, what’ll you do about the princesses, Faust and their magic resulting in our creation?” “What can we do,” I shrugged “even if we were to hate them for it, I think the pros outweigh the cons” “How so,” she blinked “We’re alive, are we not, and personally, I’d rather live my life how I see fit, not by the hands of fate or anything of the sort” I smiled “And that’s why you quit?” she tilted her head “Indeed it is, dear sister” I nodded “Ya‘ll did what?” Applejack awed at me “Well, I figured; why work for Celestia whilst protecting Equis, when I can do it for everyone in the kingdom, royalty included?” I smiled “So, you’re a mercenary” Twilight giggled “Mercenaries work for money; I do it because I want to, and because someone has to, other than the royal guard” I smirked “And besides; I’m fairly certain that living in itself costs enough as is” “Actually, the economy we have makes it so that living is both fair and cheap” Twilight nickered “Speaking of money” Blaze cracked a wicked grin “It’s horrifically ironic that I’m not paid enough to put up with this sort of thing” I sighed “I wonder where the orchestra got that two-million bits anyways?” she blinked, tilting her head once again “My guess, the princesses” I grumbled “but it it’s neither sender nor the recipient that matters, it’s what we do with it” “And what do you propose to do with it?” she raised an eyebrow “What should I do with it then, I don’t need most of it” I shrugged, turning to face the others “besides, it’s not like we have a bank here or anything” “And I’ve been saying that we need one for ages!” Twilight exclaimed “Indeed; the daily trips my brother makes to Canterlot and back every week have become somewhat irritating” Blaze nodded “So, what’ll you do now, Sugardrake?” Emerald nuzzled into me, sitting beside me, Garnet sat opposite her as Opal placed her head upon my own as she sat behind me “Looks like you’ve got more attention, just like before, right sugarcube?” Applejack laughed “I’ve heard the dragons can be highly protective of their mates, you might want to be careful, Rick” Twilight smirked “I don’t think they’re that possessive,” I rolled my eyes “besides, emerald’s got to be the cutest one here, Opal’s the boldest, and Garnets the most beautiful, for a trio of dragons anyway” “That name,” Emerald swooned, collapsing into my lap, I facepalmed, gently scratching under her chin, and around her horn-area, Garnet nuzzled into me “Honestly, What are we going to do with you sister?” Garnet sighed -=-=- “So,” Crystal began with a smile “how’ve you been Ricky-o?” “Meh” I tilted a hand “I suppose it can’t really get any better, supposedly, anyway” “Have you heard,” Rarity smiled “About what,” Crystal and I shared a confused glance “The new mare,” she gestured toward a familiar creamy yellow mare with a wavy two-tone blue mane and tail with a milk bottle set between a pair of angels’ wings for a cutie mark “She’s been here for a while now, I’m sure,” I raised an eyebrow, turning to face the milkmare “Hey Nova” I cheered, the mare instantly turned to face me, gleaming like the sun, charging toward me, leaping toward me, knocking me on my back “You know her?” Rarity blinked “She’s my little nova” I smiled, sitting upright, Milky Way sat beside me, leaning into me, pecking my cheek “How long have you been in Ponyville..?” Rarity held out a hoof “I’m Milky Way, and I’ve been here for around two-and-a-bit years now” Milky Way shook her hoof “You’ve met our wayward eon before then?” Twilight giggled “I have, he helped me with a personal matter” Milky Way’s cheeks turned a deep shade of crimson “What do you…?” Twilight glanced downward, noticing the mare’s ‘assets’ “Ah, now I see” “How did you get those?” Rarity attempted with all her might not to look toward the mammaries situated around Milky Way’s nether’s, failing miserably “I was born with them; and subsequently, I didn’t live with my parents for very long” Milky Way’s head drooped “So we’re both outcasts then, in a way, anyhow” I draped a wing around her “What do you mean?” she blinked “You’ve got them, that of which makes you somewhat socially awkward, no offense, and I’m the forerunner to every sentient life form that exists” I began to gently stroke her mane “That’s a good thing, isn’t it?” she tilted her head slightly “Not if you want to live a normal life it isn’t” I sighed “Touché” she hummed “we’ll live like outcasts together then, life may be short in itself, but at least we’ll have each other” “That we will, my little Nova” I smiled, she leant in, placing her lips on mine, parting, then lunging forward, tightly wrapping her arms around my neck, diving her tongue into my mouth, the two oral muscles dancing together as they met, gradually parting again “Let us go,” she grinned, dragging me through the front door into the house, up the stairs and into the bedroom, locking the door behind us as she sat me on the bed, fumbling with her hooves, eventually managing to pull down both my trousers and underpants simultaneously, taking my currently-limp member into her mouth keeping herself hilted on it as it grew, finally pulling away once it reached full erection, running her tongue along the base of the shaft, taking it back into her maw, bobbing her head up and down, smiling up at me as I placed a gentle hand on her mane, stroking it, running her tongue along the base once more, occasionally twirling it around the head, pressing her lips down on it all the while, pulling away, climbing onto the bed, laying on her back “Have at me, my little eon” Milky Way giggled/purred, I smirked, placing my cock between her ‘assets’ pressing her breasts together “Naughty,” she giggled as I started to gently buck my hips, changing to eon form, sliding my dick between her cleavage, giving a sly grin as she stared at my length “That’s bigger than any stallion’s that I’ve heard of” she gave a soft smile “please be gentle” “As you wish” I nodded, reverting to human form, removing my manhood from her mammaries, diving into her depths with my tongue “Ah!” she gasped, convulsing as she came, I swallowed the juices as they came, moving my head from her entrance to one of her tits, pressing my lips down on the nipple, tweaking the other between a finger and thumb, she gasped, giving deep moans of pleasure at each movement that either one of my appendages made Slowly, I pulled my head and hand away from her lower body, changing to eon form, lining my cock with her cunny “Do it…” =-=-= “Where were you?” Natsu grinned “Home” I deadpanned, Milky way on my back alongside Scootaloo and Gracy Gloom, Winter Bell was perched along my neck,, whereas Snowdrop; as per usual; was laying atop my head “You were in there for forty-eight hours” the flame dragon slayer raised a somewhat suspicious eyebrow “I slept in” I lied “That’s not like you,” he tilted his head, glancing toward Milky Way “Who’s the cutie?” “One, she’s Milky Way, and two, you say that as if you’re interested in a relationship with an equine” I smirked “…It was one time, Ok?” he frowned, blinked, and then quickly covered his mouth with a hand “Care to tell us what happened, Natsu?” I glimmered “Her name’s Lyra, for some reason she’s fascinated by humans” he grumbled “can’t think why” “What about Lisanna?” I blinked “She’s…” he sighed “she’s apparently Ok with it” “Apparently,” I tilted my head ever-so slightly “So, how was she?” “What’re you two on about?” I turned around; Grey was stood at the entrance to the guild hall “Natsu’s got himself a marefriend” I smirked “You what,” the ice-make wizard glanced toward Natsu, promptly burst out laughing,. Storming into the guild hall “Now what,” Natsu grumbled “Now they’re going to think he’s gone loopy and shrug his apparent ‘joke’ of for the rumour that it could be” “And what of Milky Way,” he raised the other eyebrow, nodding toward the milkmare atop my back “What about her?” I gave a light frown “She your latest conquest,” he beamed “You can talk,” I laughed “of all the ones you could get, you got the one with the human-fetish, although I shouldn’t complain, she’ll be pretty easy, no offense, Nova” I glanced toward the mare atop my back “None taken” Milky Way giggled “We’re just friends, there’s no need to go mental over it” Natsu rolled his eyes “That’s what everyone says” I grinned -=- “So,” Crystal began “when exactly did you say that the Canterlot castle was going to be torn down and built anew?” “Back when I was practically elected as king” I smirked “Yeah, well, it’s just happened” she bit her lip “Luna told Faust, who then went ahead with it, magically recreating the whole thing in an instant” “She did what?” Twilight gasped “Well, I did ask for it to happen, I would’ve at least thought that she would’ve told Celestia beforehand” I laughed =-= “If you think about it,” Blaze began “if the princesses, Faust and the others are elements of creation alongside the Great Beings and Artahka, wouldn’t that mean that they know about Mata Nui?” “We know about him, and the island named after him” Celestia smiled, standing beside Faust, Shining Armour Flash Sentry, Luna and Cadance “Then you know about the ‘Brotherhood of Makuta,’ the ‘Dark Hunters,’ and the Order of Mata Nui’?” “We do, and we know about your actions in said universe” Faust smiled “not just with Artahka and Metamorphia, but your past actions, also” “Hey, if you want a monster, I’ll give you one” I smirked “How does one define a monster, in this case?” Blaze blinked “How, indeed,” I grinned, focusing on my shape-shifting abilities, changing into something new, and, obviously, untested “What is that!?” Shining Armour and Flash Sentry screamed, I blinked, looking down at myself “I do believe that the citizens of Rapture referred to them as ‘Big Daddies’” Blaze smirked “Meet Subject: Gamma” “This thing on?” I coughed in a somewhat guttural tone “Daddy,” Snowdrop gasped, climbing up the drill rather carefully, perching herself on my opposite shoulder “Are you Ok?” she placed a gentle hoof on the iron helmet that made up what seemed to be the entirety of my head, I gave a slow nod, my frame/structure now a crouched one being one of the ‘Bouncer’ class Big Daddies will do that for a human-turned-abomination “Looks like the perfect costume for Nightmare Night, wouldn’t thou say, Tia?” Luna giggled “I would, were it not for the fact that it might scare my little ponies witless” Celestia frowned “You obviously haven’t witnessed or heard of the Songbird then” I laughed as I gradually reverted to human form, Snowdrop clambered onto the back of my head, pecking one of my horns “Well, there goes my magical energy for the next hour,” I collapsed to my knees , kneeling on the floor “You scare me…” Flash Sentry fainted, whereas Shining Armour puked “I shan’t be using that form again then, Princesses” I gave a weak smile “Lord knows I need to break time and space just to repair my magic energy reserves, again” “Remember the last time you did that, Brother?” Blaze smirked “How was I to know what’d happen?” I raised an eyebrow “Rick, you bought back the dead,” she exclaimed “That’s both, time, space as well as reality” I blinked “And it’s probably your element of nature at work again, just like with snowdrop;” she smiled “If you try hard enough, and you can do anything, literally” “And assuming she comes here?” I grumbled “Well, Littlepip’s presence didn’t tear a hole in the fabric of reality itself, so I doubt that her being here would be any different” she shrugged “Ricky-o,” an unknown entity exclaimed, Snowdrop barely managed to get out of the way in time as I was knocked to the floor, the entity of which, when I glanced toward said entity, was revealed to be Chilly Pepper “How’ve ya been Rick?” Chilly Pepper giggled, standing beside me, pecking my cheek as I sat back upright “As good as I can be around Equestria I suppose” I shrugged “That’s always good to hear” she winked “So, what’s new in your life then, what discoveries have you made…?” -=-=- That night, I bolted upright, marching into the room with my family in as I heard a muffled screaming, marching toward my daughters’ room, the door was open, I stepped into the doorway, Snowdrop and the others were gagged, and the intruder was none other than Fluttershy’s ex-coltfriend, who had his equipment on show “Now you just be a good quartet of fillies and do as I say, yes?” he snarled, one karate-chop to the back of the head, and he was out like a light, quickly thrown out the front door, which was then locked behind me as I re-entered the house, sprinting upstairs into the fillies’ room, undoing their gags, draping my wings around my family as they clung onto me, tears streaming down their muzzles “It’s Ok; it’s ok,” I cooed, gently stroking each of their manes I looked up; Blaze was stood at the door, eyebrow raised “You know Fluttershy’s Ex-coltfriend?” I frowned; Blaze nodded “he’s just tried the unthinkable” “Rape?” she stared at me, I nodded again “Should I lock him in the storage room?” “If you would” I grinned =-=-= The following morning, Celestia and a few of her guards, Shining Armour included, came down on a pair of golden chariots, landing on the front lawn “So what’s this I hear of a recent attempt at rape?” Celestia frowned toward the stallion in question “I don’t know what you’re on about princess” he laughed, I sighed, reaching into my rucksack, sliding out an M6G sidearm, pressing it against the side of his temple “Lying to the princess, really,” I spat “Do it again, and we’ll see how far what little brains you have left fly out of your thick skull, be warned, I’m in a rather trigger-happy mood this morning, and I’d rather the lady of the sun not see such unnecessary gore and violence” “Alright, I did it!” he blurted out “that’s all I did though, I’ll admit that much?” “I wouldn’t agree with that, normally if such an event were to occur, I’d have been awake at the first whimper from any one of them, so what’d you do?” I growled “Anaesthetic” he mumbled “So, you have wife, foals, any family to speak of?” I snarled “I’ve a wife and foal, why?” he stammered Maybe I should get payback then?” I smirked “I have twelve rounds in this thing, how many is it going to take you to not do it again?” I grinned rather maniacally “Alright, I’ll not do it again!” he shrieked “I do believe he’s all yours princess, shackled and everything” I stepped back, Celestia raised an eyebrow as Shining Armour and the others hauled the stallion into the carriage “Did you have to do that?” Celestia frowned “Psychological warfare,” I shrugged “I’ll do what’s necessary to protect my family” “So you would” she hummed, teleporting away as the chariots took off for Canterlot (\_/) As I glided through the town, my family on my back, I noticed Rarity stood with Twilight and her friends, conversing as they stood beside a lavender and gold ‘wagon’ with a trio diamonds on either side in a scalene triangle pattern, with the diamonds in question on the sides in the centre of what looked like a glowing ring-shaped sun, the back ground of the inside of which was a bright lavender colour the golden frame was encrusted with gemstones of varying sorts, the bottom of which had pink drapes “What’s going on?” I glanced around the area, all across ponyville there were market stalls being set up around town “It’s the Foal and Filly Fair” Rarity chimed “Looks a little smaller than the rainbow falls during the exchange” I raised an eyebrow “It is somewhat similar yes,” she hummed “but I can’t help but feel as though it’s missing something” “How can it be,” Spike’s cheeks turned a pinkish-lilac colour as he turned his head, placing his hands behind his back as he tilted his foot somewhat “you’re the one making it” “And you can’t be any more obvious?” I stifled a laugh, he glared at me, I smirked, fists blazing, he took a large step backward as the fames around my claws dissipated “Well, you are my favourite dragon” Rarity cooed, nuzzling into Spike’s leg somewhat merrily, he gave a smug grin toward me, I shrugged “I could do better” I tilted a claw, my family safely landing on the ground as I reverted to human form, Snowdrop handing me the latest sets of artwork as she glided up to eye-level with me “Thank you, Snowdrop” I smiled “You’re welcome Daddy” she giggled as I handed Rarity the set of artworks “These are amazing,” Twilight and Rarity exclaimed as they unfolded the first two in the series of seven “You can keep them if you want” I bowed quickly “I’m thinking on how to do another, even greater one later this morning, I’ll see you later” “What do you think you’re doing?” Spike placed a hand on my shoulder as I turned to walk away “You want to start something in the middle of town, in front of possible four-thousand-and-six-plus ponies?” I frowned; he flinched, lowering his hand back by his side as I rolled my eyes, walking back to the house, sitting on the front lawn, getting ready for the next piece of artwork “Harsh, much,” Blaze sighed “It’s as if he’s asking for it, and, judging by last night’s activities, you’re no longer in the mood for it” she eyed up the M45 propped against the house right beside the door which was sat next the M6 Grindell /Galilean-nonlinear rifle “Indeed” I hummed, beginning my work on the new ‘project,’ making gradual progress as the minutes turned to hours, eventually finishing it The artwork in question was around three-to-four times larger than the usual work, and around five times more spectacular, but then again, that was my opinion “What’s that meant to be?” Blaze gawked at the art, giving an occasional blink “It’s Twilight, her friends, the princesses, Crystal, Angel and I, along with my family,” I pointed to each of the characters in turn “So it is” she nodded “Who’s this one going to?” “Rarity of course” I grumbled, standing upright, folding the artwork as I did so, walking toward the boutique, opening the door, only to come face-to-fabric with an absolute dump “What the hell?” Blaze blinked as we entered the boutique “Oh, I've never been better! This book you've given me is amazing! Why, I, I, I, I've been up all night just creating and creating and creating and creating! I've completed my fall line for the next fifteen seasons!” Rarity exclaimed “Wow!” Spike breathed “But then I started thinking, ‘why stop there,’ Oh, Spike, I've always thought this town of ours could use a few beautifying upgrades, and with this book, I can make that happen with such ease!” the alabaster mare gave a wicked leer “You will support me in this endeavour by letting me keep the book just a little longer?” she winked “Of course I will!” he beamed “I disagree, if being dishonest is going to let her keep the book, then honesty would be the best policy right now, for Rarity’s safety “besides, if it’s the book that’s doing this, then it should be sent back to wherever it came from, lest someone be corrupted” I frowned, taking the book from Rarity, turning and walking out of the boutique, carrying both it and the new portrait straight to the library, Spike sprinting after me alongside Blaze “Twilight, are you here?” I glanced about the library; the lavender mare in question appeared at the top of the stairs, making her way down to me “What is it Rick?” Twilight smiled, I handed her the book; she flipped it over, flitting through the pages “where’d you get this?” “You’d have to ask your local winged lizard” I shrugged “It’s been playing Rarity’s mind like a flute, apparently, inspiration manifestation, as it were” “I’d better write to the princess about it then,” she sighed, magicking up a quill and sheet of paper, writing a quick note, teleporting it elsewhere Moments later, the solar alicorn herself was present in the library’s lounge as Spike forced his way past me “I do believe you’ve a little explaining to do, Spike” Celestia smiled, Twilight passed her the book, the lady of the sun skimmed through it, quickly reading each page, closing it with a frown “Where did you get this?” “The castle of the alicorn sisters,” Spike stammered “I had hoped that nopony would be tempted to take heed to this witchcraft,” Celestia exhaled “And from the looks of things, it’s been driving Rarity loopy” I rolled my eyes, again “It’s creation magic; passed down from the eons of old” she began “a billion years ago, the eons attempted to put their magicka into words the result was the book you see before you” “I do believe there’s a phrase for this that needs to be said” “Blaze stood beside me “The ‘You’re dabbling with magic beyond your comprehension,’ sentence?” I raised an eyebrow, she nodded “And what do you plan to do?” Celestia smiled, again “Destroy the book; it’s the only thing we can do to make sure that nobody gets their mind turned to liquid shit”” Blaze declared “Pardon our language” I groaned “Of course,” she giggled, levitating the book toward me, I took it, walking unto the hill behind the library, holding it to one side, standing opposite Blaze, who exhaled her trademark golden flames over it, disintegrating it to little more than ash, walking back into the library alongside my sister “I believe there’s a lesson to be learnt here” Celestia nickered “Be honest with your friends when they’re doing something you don’t think is right?” I tilted my head “Quite so” she raised an eyebrow with a smirk “And you did -around five minutes ago, say that honesty was best policy” Blaze grinned, Twilight stared at me “What?” I blinked “do your parents not teach you these things?” she slowly shook her head “Three-nil,” Blaze laughed “you’re a demigod, dragon slayer, eon, and a wise-ass, that’s a new one” “Who’s the wise-ass?” I raised an eyebrow “Alright, I’ll admit that one, but you get the others” she smirked “I’ve just noticed something;” Twilight placed a hoof to her chin “the magic energy radiating from your being is somewhat denser, has something happened?” “Not at all” I glimmered “That’s obviously a lie” Spike scoffed “Oh, I’m obvious?” I grinned; “coming from the Romeo-wannabe I think that’s saying something” “There it is again” Twilight’s horn shone with a bright magenta aura “Celestia,” I nodded toward Twilight “Are you sure?” the solar goddess bit her lip, I nodded, yet again, she sighed, quickly explaining last night’s events “Sweet mother of faust,” Twilight gasped “Rick, I’m sorry to hear that”! “Not your fault,” I shrugged “I’m sorry” Spike mumbled, I rolled my eyes for a third time that day, turned round, and walked out, noticing Rainbow Dash wave toward me as I stormed toward the house, ignoring her and moving on, sitting on the front porch “Hey” Autumn Heart sat beside me “I heard about what happened last night, I’m sorry for what happened” “It’s as I said to Twilight, it’s not your fault” I draped a wing around her, Plaze patted my arm, I glanced toward her “I’ve just got an idea…” =-=-=-= This better work” I grumbled, hovering beside my friends, family, Autumn Heart included, Twilight, her friends, minus Fluttershy, the princesses, and Faust, Spike also included, on the hill behind the library “Why wouldn’t it, you can turn into the original Stardust Dragon just fine” Blaze shrugged “Touché” I sighed, oaring into the sky, my form glowing with a bright azure flame, my eyes shining like suns as I flew higher and higher “Burning desires and blazing stars, both of which leave a trail of the divine, come forth, evolution of light, Shooting Quasar Dragon!” I roared, my from transforming with an explosion of light “Did it work?” I blinked, lowering myself to the ground “I’ll say!” Blaze chortled as I looked down at my claws “I take it the smaller variant is because of the massive size of the dragon, and so my element, or abilities have shrunken it, as not to exhaust my magic energy levels” I tilted my head “You had to recite the subtitles from the episode?” she grinned “I felt as though it’d help” I folded my arms “So you did, Rick, so you did” she slowly shook her head “Never hath we seen such a strange dragon,” Luna hummed “Quite so,” Cadance giggled “it is indeed an oddity” “I’m still sentient you know?” I raised an eyebrow “Well yes, that’s how we made thee” Luna smiled, I frowned, focusing once again on my shape-shifting powers, my form changing t that of Alphamon with a flash of light “Well, I’m glad that worked” I clicked my neck, changing to my eon form, or so I thought at the time “Uh, Brother, “Blaze pointed toward my chest “What-?” I looked down at myself; I was still in Alphamon form, but with the shape of my eon form, minus the cape “Alright, I’ll try again,” I focused once again, my body fully reverting to my eon form, and then to my human form “I have to admit that was, interesting…”Blaze hummed “Part Alphamon, part eon form,” I raised an eyebrow “I’ll have to remember that one” “So, your Alphamon, eon, and human forms don’t use up any magic energy in morphing from one to the next?” Twilight raised an eyebrow “Unless they do, bu the change in my magic levels is minute to the point where I don’t notice anything,” I blinked “Twilight; I think you may be onto something” “Just how much magic does your changeling-esque ability take away anyways?” Blaze blinked “I guess I’ve never thought about it” I shrugged… -=- “We’ll start by measuring your magic level” Twilight smiled, connecting my horns to what looked like a beacon of sorts which was shaped like a curvaceous rook chess piece with a lavender orb hovering above it “All you have to do is fire an attack, and it’ll measure your magic level “If you say so”, I smirked “Eigo Hoseki Ryū no,” I grinned inhaling Hokou!” I roared, exhaling a vast torrent fire into the sky “That’s…” Autumn Heart gaped at the eight-digit number hovering above the orb “Thirty-two-million, Three-hundred and eighty-nine-thousand, two-hundred and ninety-one magicka” Twilight gasped “That’s nothing,” I snorted “I’m guessing the average Great Being’s level is around a billion?” I glanced toward Celestia “Closer to a trillion, actually” Celestia smiled, I smiled, triggering dragon force, releasing the same torrent of flames toward the sky, the number above the now pulsating lavender orb both literally and figuratively tripled “Fifty-five-million,” Twilight loudly exclaimed “Looks like the theory of ‘Dragon Force’ doubling the user’s physical and magical prowess has been proven” Blaze whistled “What’s the average pony’s level?” Kiary smirked from atop my shoulder as she perched herself upon it “Around a hundred,” Celestia smiled, casting a moment’s glance toward Twilight “Twilight’s is around ten times that” “But if the elements of nature were said to be stronger than an actual alicorn?” Blaze blinked “She said average alicorn, they could be weaker, they could be stronger, most likely the latter” I smiled “that being said…” =-= As we stood in the arena, I removed my upper attire, discarding it into my inventory “This should be fun” I gave a smug grin, focusing once more as my wings retracted into my back, replaced by twin pairs of my arms bursting from the shoulders, the four new appendages looking completely metallic “The flames in the right hands, and the flames in the left,” I grinned, summoning large fireballs around each hand “put the six together, and this is what you get, slamming them together with their opposites, merging them into one, gigantic fireball, concentrating even further, I noticed the blazing sphere shrinking, down to the size of a tennis ball “Crystal Dragon’ God’s Ultimate Inferno!” “How in Equestria,” Twilight shrieked “Magic” I grinned, my arms seemingly disintegrating as my wings quickly replaced them m, exploding forth from my back, still holding the small, highly-reactive, fireball “Six brilliant flames rolled into one…” Blaze whistled “Moeru Rasengan, much?” “I know, right?” I laughed “So, twice you’ve claimed that you’re unlike Asura, and yet you utilize the same abilities?” she smirked, the fireball in my hands slowly dissipating as she spoke “I could’ve had that one pony’s insides decorated along the walls of my house” I raised an eyebrow “Touché” she shuddered “Had whose insides?” Rainbow Dash blinked as I replaced my shirt and clockwise jacket, Snowdrop perching herself upon the back of my head, as per the usual, and Winter Bell and Gracy Gloom perched themselves unto my shoulders, also, as per the usual, Blaze quickly explained the events of the recent night-time “Oh…” “You’d have done that, of all things?” the Typhlosion now stood beside me placed a gentle paw on my shoulder “Give me an instrument with a sharp edge, and you’d be surprised at what I can do for my family” I frowned “Somewhat sick, somewhat reassuring” she laughed -=-=-=- As I walked alongside Blaze, Snowdrop and the others, entering the castle’s gardens, I held out the latest set of artworks, which Celestia levitated them toward her, hanging them in mid-air , parting them top either side of herself and Luna “These are rather interesting works,” Celestia smiled, changing to her anthro form alongside Luna as they made their way toward me, carrying them with her “you wouldn’t have been inspired by the events most-recent, would you?” “I might’ve been” I smirked, glancing toward the portrait of Snowdrop sat upon Ceres’ back “How can one be as kind as you are?” she stood before me “Rick could ask you the same thing, just as Sylgja asked us” Blaze gave a sly grin “Sylgja,” Luna raised an eyebrow “Look, I was at Shor’s Stone they had an infestation in the mines, which I promptly cleared out, and one thing led to another” I mumbled “So I see” Celestia nickered, teleporting us, Twilight having joined me on the tip to canterlot alongside Applejack, Rarity and Rainbow Dash, for me to fall down a small, deep hole “Tia, we asked for thou to remove thine cannon!” Luna blared “It’s not a problem” I smiled, my arms turning a shining charcoal-black as I made indents in the walls of the ‘cannon,’ using said indents as footholds, climbing up to ground level, my arms colour, returning to normal once I was out, grabbing the sides of the cannon’s end, tensing my muscles, ripping it out, of the floor, sending it flying through one of the windows “How the hay did you manage that?” Rainbow Dash gawked at me “Demigod, remember?” Blaze beamed “True as it may be, I shan’t use my title as an excuse for anything, Blaze” I frowned “Speaking of,” she cracked a wide grin “how exactly do you excuse breaking several windows by means of cannon-throwing?” “I’m just trying to make sure that nobody ends up with a broken bone, or two, or more” I shrugged “You’re fired” she grinned “Since when do you call the shots around here, Blaze?” I laughed “That was awful, brother, truly, a pun of sheer dread” she shuddered “You started it” I gave a sly smirk “Says he who rips cannons from castle floors” she chortled “Touché, but only so others don’t get injured from the fall” I rolled my eyes “Always thinking about others, even in the most critical and awkward of situations” Blaze smirked “that’ll come back and bit you in the arse sooner or later, brother” “I told Littlepip, and now I’ll tell you,” I sighed “I failed once, and I have no intention of doing so again” “Touché” she gave a curt nod “But, technically you didn’t fail, ergo,” she pointed a somewhat accusing paw toward Celestia “Wait,” she blinked “if you and Lulania, or whatever her name is, had Faust, who then had Celestia and Nyx, and they created you, doesn’t that mean that, by the transitive property, you’re the reason for your own existence?” “Now that’s interesting” I whistled, glancing around the room “I must say I think what she did with the castle is somewhat, intriguing” “And somehow, I don’t think you throwing armaments through windows is going to help, Brother” Blaze laughed “Touché…” -=-=- The following night, I was awoken by a strange noise, oh that bumbling cliché… As I slowly made my way through the house, I noticed the kitchen door ajar, with the light turned on, wielding an actual lightsaber, I peered into the room, quickly sheathing the light blade on sight of Snowdrop making herself a glass of water “What time is it?” Snowdrop blinked as she turned to face me “Two in the morning” I gave a weak smile “Ok Daddy” she giggled, hovering/gliding/flying back to her room, turning the light off as she left -0=0- Seeing as I spent the rest of the night sat on the base of the stairs, it was no surprise that Snowdrop glided down said stairs, landing on the back of my head “Good morning Daddy” Snowdrop smiled, nuzzling into the top of my head “Good morning Snowy” I simpered “What’re we going to do today Daddy?” She giggled, pecking one of my horns “The usual” I smiled, changing to eon form as Scootaloo, Winter Bell, and Gracy Gloom landed on my back and neck respectively as they glided down the stairs -=- After the occupants of the house –myself included, had had a ‘hearty’ breakfast, I headed with my family to canterlot “I think you need a new set of attire, darling” Rarity gave a weak smile as she and I walked through ponyville “So I do” I chuckled as she opened the door to a strange, white building that was almost cylindrical in shape with a deep, purple, pointed-dome roof, gesturing for me to enter “Have you any designs in mind, Rick?” she smiled, handing me a quill, inkpot and paper,, the paper of which I set down on the ‘podium’ -assuming one would be able to call it that, quickly jotting down a design not unlike Minato Namizake’s cape/cloak, but with various other items of clothing instead of the usual regalia, and with upward-pointing spikes running along the bottom of the cloak rather than crimson flames, with two sets of twin rubies studded in either side of the collar “That’s rather…” Rarity trailed off “exotic, I’ll certainly do my best, now if you’ll only step over here” she guided me to a cylindrical stand, tapping it with a hoof “Wouldn’t mind at all” I smiled again “Now could you please remove your clothes?” she smiled back I did so, albeit, reluctantly, removing all but my shorts “How much do I owe you?” I tilted my head as she levitated a measuring tape around me, quickly taking my dimensions “Not a bit,” Rarity chimed “I refuse to charge my friends anything, should they request for one of my works” she added with a gracious smile, placing the measuring tape on a nearby table” you can move now” “And I insist otherwise, on the payment I mean” I grinned quickly redressing myself “Oh alright then, seeing as it’s you, Tsuko” she giggled “come back by next weeks’ end, and I’ll have ten sets all ready for you” “You’re a master at your craft Rare’s” I winked, vacating the boutique, noticing a flush of red on the seamstress’s cheeks as I left After scouring the area around the everfree forest, I found several piles of gems hidden under small piles of dirt, buried there Placing said gems into my rucksack, I walked back to ponyville -=- At next weeks’ end, I ventured toward the boutique, only to find Twilight and her friends conversing with the alabaster unicorn mare at the front door “Ah Rick, you’re here” Rarity smiled, leading the six of us into the boutique “That I am” I smiled as she rolled out a set of clothes hangers on a steel frame “Now, our deal?” she nickered, I poured the gems from my rucksack out onto a nearby table “Fair enough…” she blinked, levitating one of the sets of clothing toward me, gesturing toward a changing room, which I entered, carrying the clothes with me, quickly changing into the new set of attire, applying the leather straps to the arms of the cloak, also changing to the matte-black, open-toed sandals after placing the new trousers, wearing the shirt under the cloak, as per the obvious “You look, stunning!” Rarity exclaimed with apparent glee as I stepped forward from the changing room “That’s amazing,” Twilight gasped, eyeing me up and down, glancing toward Rarity, then toward me again “how long did it take you to do this?” “Just over a week and a half,” Rarity smiled “Really Twilight, you doubt my capabilities?” “Not at all, it’s just that I’ve never seen works such as this” Twilight gestured toward me “That’s because I’m the only human in Equestria, to my knowledge” I rolled my eyes “Of course, how silly of me” she gave a light giggle, her cheeks turning a mild pink tinge Just at that moment Celestia appeared via teleportation “Yo” I gave a small wave, she sat on her haunches “And just where did you get that, Rick?” she raised an eyebrow “Rarity made it for me, with the right payment of course” I glanced toward Rarity, whose cheeks were a bright scarlet colour “Well then, I may need your talent sometime at the gala, Rarity”, the alabaster unicorn in question; fainted “So, Princess, what brings you down here in such a hurry?” I smiled, yet “Why on Thor’s golden Asgard do you look like Minato Namizake?” Blaze laughed “That’s unintentional” I grinned “So you say” she gave a slow, curt nod “Shut it, fire-hazard” I tutted “Says the humanoid dragon” she folded her arms “Pyro” “Lizard-features” “Overgrown ferret” “Lanky” “Torch” -=- “So, what happens now?” Blaze tilted her head “Question of my life, if ever there was one” I laughed as we ventured through the Everfree forest, into the castle, through the corridors and into the library “What’re we looking for?” Twilight blinked “Something that should’ve been shown to the public” my ears twitched, pulling me toward a certain book Pulling the book from the shelf, a slightly rusted key fell from the gap between the pages and the spine, I quickly took it, fists now blazing; the flames of which being absorbed by the key, which began to pull back toward the throne room, once there, my vision instantly cut to black =-=-= When my vision blurred, I bolted upright, only to be held down by a gentle hoof, that of which belonged to a bright; vivid green unicorn mare with a cobalt mane, tail and white butterfly wings “Easy there, friend” the pony smiled “Where am I?” I blinked “You’re in Flutter valley,” the winged unicorn giggled “I’m Radiance, who might you be?” “Rick” I held out a hand, which she gingerly shook as the door to the wooden hut we were in opened, revealing my family, who bounded toward me, clinging onto me, clambering unto my back, neck and head respectively +-+ As we -my family, friends, Twilight, her friends and Spike, stood beside Radiance as well as the princesses and Faust “It’s all true then” I chuckled nervously “the changelings, Queen Rosedust, Discord’s reign; all of it, including the princess’ betrayal of the queen” “What betrayal?” Twilight blinked “I see she hasn’t told you anything” I rolled my eyes “the flutterponies, or changelings, as they’re now called, were a peaceful race, living in a place called ‘flutter valley’ until Celestia and Luna came along, Discord chasing after them, basically selling them out to remake the elements” “’tis a LIE,” Luna yelled “if we hadn’t of come, Discord would still be ruling Equestria!” “And what of the changelings’ sake,” I growled “Rosedust had a kingdom, countless ponies that trusted her to save them! When she came to you for help, you and Celestia left them! Abandoned them! And worse, you rejected them and left them to rot in the wasteland that used to be their home! They were ponies, too; where was your love then!?” “You know of her majesty?” Radiance gasped as a large crowd of unicorns, all mares with butterfly wings of varying colours surrounded us “I’ve heard legends” I gave a slow nod “about how the flutter ponies were mutated, changed into what they are on Equis, but that can’t be right if what chrysalis told me is true” At that moment, a large, alabaster unicorn with a flowing ruby mane and tail with sapphire eyes wearing a crown of mistletoe upon her head, and a pair of primrose-golden butterfly wings upon her back “I am Rosedust, queen of Flutter Valley, state your business and intentions at once” the newcomer snapped “Rick, Ex-knight of Equestria, human, eon, and dragon slayer,” I bowed “and these are my friends and family” “So you say” she gave a faint smile “So, what’s a human doing, here of all places?” “We came through a portal of sorts, guided to said portal by a key from an old tome,” I explained “you’ve heard of my kind before?” “Last time I saw one of you was back at around two-hundred-million years past” she laughed “Welcome to the valley, Sir Rick” “So, is this another country, or another world?” Twilight held a nervous hoof above the rest of her “It is both, and neither,” Rosedust smiled “I’m sure your human friend can figure it out, little one” “It’s an alternate reality” I stared at the winged unicorn stood before me “Not the first one I’ve been to, but an interesting one nonetheless” “That it is, Sir Rick” she glimmered “we’re pocketed away here from the rest of Equis, and from the Lord of Chaos that is Discord” “He’s been taken care of, and shall be again, I can assure you, your majesty” I smiled in return “Thank you, Sir Rick” she giggled “Just ‘Rick’ will suffice, Queen Rosedust” I rolled my eyes “I’ll do as you say if you can call me Rosedust” she winked “That I will, Rosedust” I grinned “Come, I have yet to give you a proper welcome according to a being of you and your friends” she smiled, hovering, in mid-air, taking off toward a castle on a nearby hill, I quickly flew after her “Is this the human you told me about, mother?” a creamy-white unicorn with a deep indigo mane and tail with snow-white butterfly wings nickered as she eyed me up and down, now in eon form, my friends and family standing beside me “It is, my dear Tulia” Rosedust, ‘Tulia’ ‘squee’d’ charging toward me, clinging onto me as she tackled me to the floor, dragging me via magic into one of the spare bedrooms… -=- “Not even here for two hours, and you’ve already gone and been bedded with an apparently beautiful mare” Blaze smirked “I don’t see anyone else complaining” Rosedust smiled “I’d say you’re a natural,” Tulia giggled, pecking my cheek “Not sure how to reply to that” I past her a sideways glance “Just go with it, isn’t that how you usually work, brother?” Blaze gave a sly grin “Not really…” I muttered “Can I go back to Equis, with you by my side?” Tulia nuzzled into me “I don’t see why not” I bit my lip “I shall allow it, but you must promise to keep her safe, stud” Rosedust gave a light frown “What?” I blinked “Oh don’t play dumb with me, human, I could hear you from all the way down the hall” she smirked, teleporting the two of us back to the bedroom as her horn flashed a brilliant snow-white colour… =-= “Twice within three hours?” Blaze chortled “Three times actually” Tulia pecked my cheek “Is there some way to open a portal between worlds, Cellsy?” I gave a faint smile “There is, but it’ll require some of your magic to keep it stable” Celestia grinned -=-=- After using several gem dragons’ roar’s too keep the portal stable, we –my friends, Twilight her friends, the princesses Faust and Tulia- ventured through “Where are we now?” Tulia blinked “The castle in the Everfree” I smiled, leading the group alongside my family friends and Blaze toward Ponyville “This is Ponyville?” she tilted her head, I, alongside Blaze and Co; had given a quick briefing on the equestrian landmarks and the history of what’d happened in the past millennia, Nyx’s exile included “Pinkie, don’t you have a party you could be throwing?” I smirked toward the Pinkie Pie, who blinked, then gleamed from ear to ear, and then sped off in a pinkish lightning-like blur “Where’d she go?” Tulia stared at me “You’ll see” I winked “Is that an alicorn?” one pony stopped and stared alongside what seemed to be the whole towns’ citizens “Can’t be, it doesn’t have the right wings” another blinked “But what is she then?” a third eyed Tulia from hoof-to-horn-tip “I’m Princess Tulia, co-ruler of Flutter Valley alongside Queen Rosedust” Tulia bowed with a gracious smile in that instant, all who stood before us dropped to the floor in bowing toward the flutterpony =-=-= “Rick!” a familiar brown unicorn with a flowing chocolate brown mane and tail charged toward me, knocking me to the ground, again “Hello to you also, Autumn Heart,” I chuckled as she clung onto me, sitting upright, stroking her mane “I missed you, Rick” she nuzzled into me, pecking her lips on mine “You’re herding?” Tulia gave me a sly smirk “Somewhat” I tilted a hand, Littlepip and Velvet Remedy sat either side of me, leaning into me “What’s going on here?” I turned; Natsu and Erza were stood, staring at me “You, her, she, they…” Natsu pointed at me, then Autumn Heart, and then toward Littlepip and Velvet Remedy “Don’t, say, anything” I growled “Speaking of which, how’s Lyra?” “Pyro,” a minty-green unicorn with a mane and tail of the same colour with white highlights leapt toward the fire dragon slayer “How are ya Natsu?” Lyra giggled “I’m fine” Natsu grumbled, glowering at me “Hiya Ricky-o,” Lyra clambered down to the floor “How ‘bout a three way?” she pointed toward Natsu, who fainted with a pale green expression of horror plastered upon his face, I gave her my best ‘are you serious!?’ look, a cute giggle was her only response “Did you have to do that?” I grunted “Why not,” she nickered “You ponies are insane; and coming from me, that’s saying something” I laughed “Indeed,” Celestia smiled “You should’ve seen what we found in the library” Blaze gave a smug grin toward Twilight “What’d you find?” Erza smirked “Why don’t you ask lavender here?” I gestured with a wing toward the bookish mare with a sly smirk “Why me,” Twilight had a look of horror struck upon her muzzle “It’s your house, you room, and your doll, not mine” “You keep a doll? Of Rick..?” Celestia blinked, staring down toward the librarian “Yes…” Twilight cowered low on the ground “And you don’t mind?” she glanced toward me “Not really,” I shrugged “Sparky’s gonna do what Sparky’s gonna do” “So I see” she nickered “Next thing you’ll be telling us is that Twilight rode lightning “I did” Twilight gave a nervous smile “Laxus would be proud; you’ve possibly broken the sound barrier in the form of a thunderbolt travelling at one-thousandth of a second travelling faster than sound” I glimmered, draping my wings around the lavender mare “Though I must ask, how are you still in one piece, much less not, Y’know, somewhat toasted?” “Magic” she giggled “She mastered heaven’s gate,” Celestia simpered “a spell I and Luna long thought impossible” “Insert Gurren Lagann quote here” Blaze glanced toward me, I nodded “Quite so” I grinned “So this is the town aptly named ‘Ponyville’?” I turned, there was a young man in his mid-twenties with golden-yellow hair, deep crimson trousers, a black t-shirt with a grey fur coat so dark it was almost black, finishing rthe portrait of a man were the twin black boots and brown eyes, I bolted to my feet as Snowdrop landed upon my head “Laxus,” I nodded “Pyro” he gave a faint nod in return, glancing toward the fallen dragon slayer “What’s the salamander doing in broad daylight?” “How does one explain that he’s in a relationship with a pony?” I gulped audibly “And,” he raised an eyebrow “Said pony,” I gestured toward Lyra “has asked the impossible of him, or so it’d appear” “If that’s what happened” he rolled his eyes “So, you’re the lightning dragon slayer?” Twilight “I am, and what has the local Pyro told you?” he glanced toward me, then toward Twilight “That you almost beat Natsu and Gajeel..?” Twilight stammered “True, but that was several years ago” Laxus sighed “Not to mention that you beat the whole of what Ivan called his so-called ‘elite’ within the space of a minute-and-a-half” I gleamed “Ricky-o,” a familiar silver Pegasus mare with a mane and tail of gold soared toward me, knocking the wind out of me, clinging onto me “I missed you Rick, so has Dinky, she’s been talking about you non-stop, and about how you stopped her being bullied!” “I’m sorry I didn’t get to show up to take care of her at the gala, what with my organs being instantaneously melted and all” “You what,” she gasped, tears beginning to cloud her eyes as I sat cross-legged, “My insides were -and this is putting it bluntly, turned to liquid shit” I deadpanned “How’re you still Ok?” she cried as Luna teleported away alongside Cadance and Faust “My physiology and DNA was fused with that of a rubber tree, to put it briefly” I stroked her mane “Is that why you were gone for two years?” she sobbed “I’m afraid so Derpy, I’m afraid so” I stated somewhat sombrely, letting her cry to her heart’s content her tears soaking my new jacket/cloak -=-=- “I have come, for the princes, and trash such as the likes of you shan’t get in my way” “WHAT!?” Rainbow screamed with anger. “You understand now? That crushing feeling when everything you love has been stolen away from you by forces you can’t control. The only way you can understand why I do what I do is feel it yourself. This feeling right here, this is why Celestia must pay!” “You… What did Celestia do to you to make you hate her so much?” “Celestia… She… She killed my little brother!” Everyone gasped. The filly had a tear coming from her eye. “You don’t know Celestia like I do. She is a heartless monster who rules over this land with an iron hoof. She is just biding her time until I am gone. Once I am out of the picture, you’ll be nothing but slaves to her. She doesn’t care about anyone but herself and that is why I must destroy her. Once I do, Equestria will finally be liberated and everypony can control their own life…” “You have it all wrong…” I frowned, the filly stared at me curiously “Celestia may have made a few mistakes but she is different now; she understands she made a mistake and now she has to live with it for the rest of her life knowing all the pain she caused. She wants nothing but to keep her ponies safe” “How would you know?” “I know because she told me all about you… Midnight Rose…” “Midnight Rose?” Rainbow asked “Nice to hear that tyrant still remembers my name” she spat “Yes, I am in fact Midnight Rose, the same one who attempted to liberate Equestria all those years before!” Midnight Rose glowered toward Celestia as Twilight, her friends, my friends and family, Spike, the princesses Faust, and Lulania stood in the throne room “You mean destroy it!” I yelled “What you consider destroy, I consider liberate; you know I am not the only one who wants Celestia gone right, while many ponies seem very fond of her, in truth they are scared of her power and would never openly admit to despising her guts. It’s not just her selfish behavior all those years ago; there are many things she has done” she “Then explain to me…” I sighed “For starters, she doesn’t even have the guts to protect her own ponies; she sits back in Canterlot while she lets her little ‘Harmony Squad’ do all the dirty work for her. What do you think she does during all your battles?” “You’re the reason she can’t fight, because of you, she is too scared to fight” I scowled “You say that she doesn’t deserve to rule Equestria, well now you have her thinking it too; she doesn’t believe she has the power to protect anypony anymore and she is afraid that fighting will one day turn her into a monster like Discord” “She is already a monster; once the deed is done, there is no going back” Midnight Rose snarled “she must atone for her crimes; for she may have defeated me all those years ago but now I am stronger than ever!” Midnight arched her back and roared into the sky The very ground beneath her shook with the full force of her power as a dark aura surrounded her and I could swear I saw her eyes flash red for a moment “Now that my true identity has been revealed, I don’t have to hold back anymore, even though this mortal body is unable to control my full power, this should be more than enough to destroy you; and now I want you to see just what you and the Princess are in for; Human!” “Say another word about Cellsy, I dare you” I spat, unleashing energy to the point where I felt I was going supernova, the ground shook with a grade nine-on-the-Richter-scale earthquake as the walls and windows cracked “You’re going to harm a filly?” Blaze glanced toward me with a look of worriment plastered across her features “No mere filly could cause the earth to shake and the heavens to split apart like that, Blaze” I glared icy daggers at the ‘filly’ “However,” my blazing aura of raging crimson flames dissipated with a slight breeze “violence will get us nowhere, sister,” “So what should we do?” she blinked, I winked “Oh,” she blinked again “oh….” “You hate Celestia, right, for what she did to your brother, yes?” I bit my lip “What of it?” Midnight Rose chided “You think that getting your revenge on the six gods of Equis is going to help you with your goals, I call it childish, a fool’s errand, I want to know what exactly happened between you two all those years ago, and why you’re on somewhat of a rampage to get what you want, if you so wish to end a life, you can start with me, if you feel as though you’ve got the balls” “You dare question me!?” she bellowed “No, I’m testing your capabilities, Rose” I smiled, holding my arms out at either side “Have at me, Midnight” all of a sudden I felt a cold sensation wrack through my body as the filly’s body collapsed to the floor “Now we have your warrior, Celestia, what’ll you do now?” Midnight Rose spoke through me, turning to face the princesses, drawing the Dawnbreaker, holding it against her/my throat “take a single step and he dies!” “Rick, why do this?” Celestia’s eyes were clouded with tears which slowly began to fall down her muzzle “Shows how much he cares for you, doesn’t it?” Midnight Rose growled “Go on then, show how much of a god you think you are, if you’ve got the testicular fortitude” Blaze snarled “I’ll do it!” she barked “Go ahead, see if I care” Blaze shrugged There was awkward silence as everyone in the room stared at Blaze in sheer horror “It’s true…” Midnight began to cry, dropping the Dawnbreaker, collapsing to our/her knees “I’ve never hurt anypony in my life!” there was another cold sensation wracking through my body as Midnight’s spirit left my body, hovering as a pony-shaped aura before me “That stung a little” I groaned, clicking my shoulders, neck, and back “Human,” the spirit of Midnight Rose cooed “I have one request before I leave, as you have proven that I’m incapable of murder; and anything of the sort” “What is it?” “Put me to rest, would you?” she smiled “I’d be honoured” I nodded, drawing the Daybreaker, pointing it forward alongside the Dawnbreaker “Dragon soul!” Suddenly a burst of energy erupted from both swords as they melded into one, with a handle, hilt and parts of the edge of the blade covered in what looked like divine gold-steel the rest of it being made of energy, the three symbols on either side of the bottom of the blade resembling Celestia’s cutie mark, a short thin delta arrow, and the symbol of an eon’s head and to ‘top it all off,’ so to speak; the blade itself measured in at around seven feet “Kami no shinken; Shinsei danzoku!” I roared (Divine God’s Sword Nova-Breaker!) “Thank you, Human” Midnight cooed once more as she faded into energy, said energy was seemingly absorbed by the Nova-breaker “Amazing,” Faust breathed in unison with Cadance and Lulania, and just at that moment a beam of angelic light burst forth from the tip of the blade, creating a tunnel through the ceilings, floors and roof-tiles above us, and, as the beam faded, the Nova-breaker split back to its fusion material parts “Well that was anticlimactic” Blaze frowned “I know, right?” I rolled my eyes “and to think we just got this castle rebuilt…” “Didst, thou hath to sacrifice thyself for us?” Luna gave a faint smile “Would you rather I let you fall victim to a would be psychopath, Luna?” I frowned “We can do more than take care of ourselves, Sir Rick” “‘Sir’ Rick,” I raised an eyebrow “I’m no longer a knight, you and Cellsy saw to that”, I turned, sheathing both the Daybreaker and the Dawnbreaker, changing to eon form, my family quickly leaping unto my head, neck and back respectively “My scales may be black, but that needn’t mean that my heart is as well<” I went on, glancing toward the lunar alicorn “can you say the same?” And with that I left, Blaze strolling alongside me as I vacated the castle -=- As I warped through time and space, my family going with myself and Blaze, I landed/hovered in place upon a wide stage with a just-as-wide table set upon said stage “Where are we?” Blaze shuddered “My guess, Bronycon” I grumbled “Who are you?” A human dressed as Celestia stared at me alongside a Luna cosplayer “Rick?” I rolled a claw, my family, sans Snowdrop, leaping to the floor of the stage as I reverted to human form “It’s him” someone from the crowd gasped “He’s got the horns, wings and appearance, but does he have the powers?” a second human hummed, I quickly lit-up-and dissipated a flame around my hands “so he does” “It’s the Eon of Equis!” a third cheered What followed was a series of Q-and-A sessions, photographs and autograph signings “We’ve got a little something we’d like to give you, for your dedication” A red-haired woman with deep, rich sapphire eyes smiled as a team of three people carried a ten-by-six portrait of my human and eon form, split straight down the middle, with Snowdrop atop my head, with Kiary on one shoulder and Winter Bell hovering beside me opposite Scootaloo and beside Gracy Gloom, the portrait in question was framed with mahogany with a Plexiglas cover, it was also signed by each of the main cast of the MLP series, what finished the picture itself was Celestia hovering in one corner with the sun in the absolute corner, and Luna in the other with the moon, and Faust in the centre with a sun placed behind a crescent moon, the words, ‘Harmony~And~Nature’ was placed between the wooden frame and Faust “Thank you,” I bit my lip, ‘pursing’ them inward “thank you all for this, really” “We’d do anything for our little Eon of Equis” a golden-blonde haired woman wearing jeans, sandals, and a red vest smiled, pecking my cheek “Thank you Tara” I smiled “You’re quite welcome, Rick, or is it Teslakana?” she giggled “I’ll see you next year, probably” I chuckled “oh, but before I go,” I handed her the doll that Twilight kept in her room, that of which was in the shape of my eon form “Thank you” she cooed “See you later” I changed to eon form, my family retaking their palces upon my back and neck as I held onto the portrait, warping back to Ponyville =-= “Where have you been?” Twilight glared icily toward me, glancing toward the portrait “Nowhere important” I winked “Where did you get that?” she snapped, pointing an accusing hoof toward the portrait “Nowhere important” I reiterated “Is that all you’re going to say when I ask you a question?” she grumbled somewhat agitatedly “No” I smirked “Good” she frowned “How long have I been gone?” I rolled my eyes “A whole week” she glowered frigidly toward me “Time seems to travel faster here than it does on earth-” Blaze quickly silenced herself “You went back to earth!?” Twilight bellowed “I don’t need to be looked after like an infant, Sparkles, get used to it” I scoffed “Celestia’s been going mental recently after your disappearance!” she shrieked “I wondered why she said that your magic signature left Equestria!” “I said I quit, I kind of meant it” I sighed “How can you be so cruel?” she scowled “Because I’m human, oh wait, I’m not, I’m just some freak who got manipulated into coming back here so that Celestia could get what she wanted from me, and after creating me with the DNA of an individual of almost every sentient creature in the universe no less!” I lectured “are you happy that I am the way I am, because I’m not the one to blame for my existence!” I continued “with the way things are going around here, I’d rather be back at earth, with my proper family, it may just be my dad, but I suppose I could live with that, and Snowdrop and the others too” “And what, of Crystagia?” she stared at me with a look of apparent fear “I think she’d be happy enough knowing that I’m safe, be it here or on Earth” I growled, she shook her head, sprinting toward the library “And here I thought you humans couldn’t get any weirder” Blaze laughed “I’m wondering where to hang this” I nodded toward the portrait “How about in the bedroom, I’m sure the ceiling’s high enough, and that anything that might be in the way can be removed” “Agreed, but maybe later" I shrugged “Looks perfect, Brother” Blaze smiled “So it does” I simpered “So, what’re we going to do about sunbutt?” Blaze sat beside me on the front lawn “I couldn’t honestly care less” I glanced toward my sister “Is that true?” I turned; Celestia was stood there beside Twilight “I said it once, I’m not saying it again” I exhaled sharply “Twilight tells me that you went to earth, did you?” Celestia looked mortified “What I do is none of your business,” I snapped “I care about you, why can’t you see that?” she flinched “You’re not my mother, nor my creator,” I tutted “You’re a shell of what you were, Cellsy, I suggest you revert to how you were before you wound up in this state” “I was your lover once, I can be again,” she lay on the grass before me “do you wish to restart our relationship, Rick?” “Snowdrop, what did I say not ten minutes ago?” I grunted “Twilight asked you how you could be so cruel; to which you said, and I quote; ‘Because I’m human, oh wait, I’m not, I’m just some freak who got manipulated into coming back here so that Celestia could get what she wanted from me, and after creating me with the DNA of an individual of almost every sentient creature in the universe no less!” I lectured “are you happy that I am the way I am, because I’m not the one to blame for my existence!” I continued “with the way things are going around here, I’d rather be back at earth, with my proper family, it may just be my dad, but I suppose I could live with that, and Snowdrop and the others too’” “You’re not my son”
Chapter XXI; Alternate Equis...“So, are we ready for the Equestria games?” Shining Armour yelled into a microphone in the centre of the stadium in the Crystal Empire “Are we ready to light the torch?” he turned to Spike “Ha, who needs a torch?” I laughed, fists blazing as I hovered below the crystalline chalice, inhaling, and then exhaling a narrow stream of crimson flames into the bowl of the cup, lighting the double helical ‘spires’ that bent in opposing directions at either side of the chalice, and the ornate carved structure that started from the centre-on-upward, leaping through the flames, changing to Alphamon form as I came into contact with the blood-red fire -=- “Sabotaging the games, eh Brother?” Blaze chortled as we made it back to Canterlot after the games’ passing “Maybe” I winked “If they wanted someone to light the torch, they could’ve easily asked either me or Natsu, I mean, yes, I may be a pain in the arse, and yes, I may be unpredictable, but at least we’re reliable when people need us” “Prove it” Twilight half-smirked, half-frowned “I sorted out that mess in Africa, didn’t I?” I tilted my head ever-so slightly “Don’t remind me…” she mumbled “putting that aside, what else have you done?” “You’d have to ask my superiors, I don’t want to risk letting slip of the tongue, and allowing classified material to be brought to the public” “Fair enough,” she leapt unto my back, draping her arms around my neck “My stallion” “After all that I’ve done, you’d still take me over anyone else?” I glanced back at her with a relatively shocked expression “It’s not what you do, it’s who you are,” she giggled, “Isn’t that what you taught us, Rick?” “So it is, Sparkles, so it is,” I sighed “Ricky-o,” a nearby mare exclaimed with glee, Twilight glanced backward, then leapt down to the ground Turning around, I was promptly knocked to the ground by Autumn Heart “Where have you been?” Autumn Heart lavished my face and neck with small, ye affectionate, kisses “I’m sorry Autumn Heart, what with the Equestria games and all” I bit my lip “Then I forgive you,” she nickered with a cute giggle “but where, were you the week before?” “Earth, but only for a little while, I’m sorry for not telling you, my little tinker” I GAVE A SLY SMIRK “My little Ricky-o” she winked =-= As we entered the throne room, I was met by the icy glare of Celestia, along with the faint smiles of Faust, Luna and Cadance “Sensing a dense atmosphere in here Daddy” Snowdrop glided unto my head “How could you?” Celestia snarled “It’s called freedom; you’d be surprised what we humans had to do for it a few hundred years back,” I quipped “And whilst we’re at it insert comment about how humans having rights and freedom of both actions and speech wouldn’t mean a damn thing on Equis” “You’re acting like a child” she scoffed “Coming from th one who ruined my early life just to get me back?” I boomed “I think you’re being a little hypocritical, Princess” “One-nil to Daddy” Snowdrop chimed “Thank you Snowy” I smiled “You’re welcome Daddy” she squee’d as she smiled with a gracious glimmer “I would reply to that, but all I’d get is a comment on how I’m corrupting you, my dear little Snowflake” I snorted, Celestia’s horn began to glow, AND Snowdrop hovered above me “turn it off or I break it off, or are you also going to attempt to take my life, just I’m different, or because you don’t like me, I can handle both, Celestia, so go ahead, do your worst” “I’m seeing something here,” Snowdrop chimed once again as Luna levitated her carefully to the ground via a dark/neon cobalt magic aura, the Pegasus in question then retook her place upon my head “This is like when Twilight and her friends met Zecora, they hated and feared her because she wasn’t like them, and thus, avoided her, now, are you going to do the same, Princess Celestia, or are you going to grow up and do as Daddy once advised you to do, get over it and move on?” “One-nil Snowdrop” I laughed “Thank you Daddy” Snowdrop giggled “You’re welcome, my little Snowflake” I winked up toward her “Getting your rear figuratively handed to you via an abomination, and a filly,” I blinked “speaking of, how old are you Snowdrop?” “I don’t age,” Snowdrop’s tone became somewhat sad, and monotonous “I can become smarter, stronger, and faster, and even better than most, but I won’t age, I’m sorry Daddy” “It’s Alright, I know you can do it, Snowdrop, I have faith in your ability to persevere” I winked again “How was I to know that you’d turn out like this?” Celestia glowered somewhat murderously toward Snowdrop and I “You should’ve thought about that before you made me,” I hummed “although if you hadn’t I would never have met my friends and family, and I wouldn’t be a part of an awesome guild and have friends like Natsu, Erza Grey and the others, so I guess thanks are in order” “Clearly” she raised an eyebrow “when’re you going to apologize?” “For doing what I feel is right, or for being in ‘your’ kingdom?” I raised an eyebrow in return “For ruining the games” she snapped “Where’s the Cellsy I actually liked gone then?” I frowned “And on that note, I surrender my full title as Knight of Equis to you, Cellsy” “And I hereby remove it forthwith” she tutted “Now, what’re we going to do with you?” “Use me as you will, I only request that my friends and family be left out of it” “Dramatic as ever” she stood up from her throne “when you mentioned the six gods of Equis, were you-? “Referring to you alicorns?” I cut her off “Yes, yes I was” I grinned “I also apologize for the interruption “And as always, thou speakest with thy own heart rather than thy mind” Luna smirked “Can’t change who I am” I shrugged “So we can’t but we can help you, all you need do is ask” Celestia trotted toward me, changing to her anthro form, complete with the full set of attire/dress that went with it, draping her arms around me, embracing me “Can’t… breathe…!” I gasped for air as she let me go, panting for breath, collapsing to my knees as she let out a light giggle, sitting beside me “Sorry” she passed me a warm smile, her voice sweeter than sugared honey, draping a wing around me “How can one such as yourself be so kind?” I hummed “I could ask you the same thing” she raised the other eyebrow “Touché, Sunflower, touché” I slowly nodded -=- “What happened to my horn it’s gone all floppy!?” Twilight chided as Rainbow Dash landed upside-down, somewhat entangled in one of the ladders in the library ladder after breaking through the front door “Zecora’s cursed us!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed “So it’d seem” Rarity hummed, her mane and tail now ‘shaggy,’ covering her face “This isn’t the usual ‘bad luck’ sort of event” “It’s not a curse!” Twilight argued “You’re right, I’d say this is more of a hex” I glanced toward Applejack, who was now the size of a thumb, standing on my shoulder “it’s too benign or jovial to be an actual curse” “I’d have to agree,” Rarity sighed “though if it’s a hex or a curse; then there must be some way to remove it “Then what’re we waiting for?” Rainbow Dash declared boldly “we go to Zecora’s and force her to get rid of these curses!” “Applebloom, I can’t help but notice you look, normal….”I glanced toward the golden filly with the scarlet mane and tail with the lilac bow “So do you, Ah guess?” she giggled “You have the cure for poison joke, do you not, Sparkles?” I raised an eyebrow “What’re you getting at?” Twilight blinked “I’m suggesting that you look where you place your hooves next time you go through the forest” I smirked -=- “So why don’t you use magic at the farm?” I glanced toward Applejack after their ‘curses’ had been lifted, returning them to normal, still sat in the library, now reading one of the spellbooks I’d gotten from the somewhat magical land of Skyrim “We at Sweet Apple acres have been doing things the Earth pony way for generations now; we’ve not used a bit of magic mumbo-jumbo since it was founded alongside Ponyville” Applejack grinned “Mumbo-Jumbo,” I frowned “being a mage; and that of the ‘Fairy-Tail’ Guild no less, I could take offense to that” “Humans an’ ponies are different, let’s leave it at that” she smiled “You don’t use the slightest bit, even though you’re a dragon slayer, whereas humans and mages of Fiore use it with-and-for pretty much everything” I grinned “Whereas you have brawn, we have all else” “Are ya calling me thick?” she growled “Not at all, Jackie, not at all” I shook my head, albeit, slowly “Another spellbook I assume?” Twilight sat beside me on the couch “Correct, Twilight Sparkle” I smiled “This one in particular teaches the reader about transmutation” “Transmutation,” she blinked “Turning lead or iron into gold, basically” “It‘s alchemy then?” she nickered “It’s a bit of both, really, Cellsy’s gonna kill me for it though” I laughed -=-=- “Firefly” I nodded toward the pink Pegasus, who gave a curt nod in return, landing in the castle after gliding through the entrance “Human” she gave a light frown as she nodded, landing beside Iris, Galaxia, Faust, the princesses and Daring Doo as I stood with my friends and family, Autumn heart, Twilight, her friends and Spike included “I’m here as per Celestia’s request, apparently our local archaeologist has found something somewhat magnificent” As we were led by Celestia into an area underneath the castle, I was confronted by a large, shining grey cube levitating on one of its corners, kept in suspension between twin runic symbols on the floor and ceiling “What is it?” Twilight stepped forward “We don’t know as of yet” Daring Doo tutted “I’ve delved into the deepest crevice, fought through the densest jungle, climbed atop the highest mountain, and never in my career have I seen anything like this” Stepping beside Twilight, I held out an arm, lighting the hand on the end of said arm, the cube let out a blood-curdling groan, its colour becoming a glimmering crimson as it expanded slightly tilting itself upright, the flames surrounding my hand quickly flickering out “So, it absorbs magic,” I hummed “and in doing so, it seems to grow, I wonder how far that goes” “If that’s the case, we’d best not continue an extended use of said magic, right Brother/” Blaze grinned “I think I’ve seen this before,” I laughed “this is one of those things, where, if you give it too much energy, it more-or-less destroys the world” “And you’re certain of that?” Iris raised an eyebrow alongside Firefly and Galaxia “It’s a possibility” I shrugged “In that case, I’ll assign guards to this entity, whatever it is,” Faust hummed “Best be pegasi or Earth pony, wouldn’t want this thing going AWOL and wrecking the castle any more than I have” I gave a smug grin “unless…” “Unless what?” Luna gave a faint smile “What if it’s not an ‘end-of-the-world’ device,” I raised an eyebrow “what if it’s a container for something?” “Like an egg?” Celestia blinked “That’s possibility number two” I gave another shrug “And if it’s an AI of sorts?” Blaze patted my side with a gentle paw “And that’s possibility-two, variation-one” I tilted my head ever-so slightly “An AI, as in an artificial Intelligence,” Twilight’s stare shifted between the cube and I “It’s an enigma, that’s for certain, I gave a slight nod “I wonder what the Xeno-archaeologists from the UNSC would think of it” I rolled my eyes “I say we crack it open, assuming it is an egg” Blaze stepped forth, I blocked her with an extended arm, she frowned at me “what’re you doing?” “If we attack it, it might retaliate,” I began, “for all we know, it could be extracting the magic it took from me, and multiplying it an infinite amount of times over, feeding itself off of that one little flame I made,” I went on “or it could be simply waiting for more energy, in which case, I’ve no clue as to what to do” I sighed “You really are a deep thinker when you want to be, aren’t you?” she laughed “”What about overloading it?” “We don’t know how much energy it can take, so that’s not really an option” I mumbled “Well, we can’t exactly sit here and do nothing” she frowned “There isn’t much we can do” I bit my lip “So, we’ve a potentially alien cube whose origins are unknown, and we also know that it can absorb energy, but for what?” Firefly hissed impatiently “An egg, an AI, or a doomsday device, I know not which” I clenched my fists “To hay with this” she snapped, lunging forward striking the cube with an armoured hoof, said armour shattered, and the cube released a bright orange wave of energy that ripped through Firefly, sending her flying in the opposite direction “Looks like your ‘AI’ theory needs a little tinkering,” Blaze pursed her lips inwardly “that being said, it knows how to defend itself, so it’s obviously sentient, somehow” “That was fire energy” Celestia glanced toward me as Faust and Iris tended to their fallen comrade “it used your attack to hurt Firefly, how?” “Well, it acted as a ‘delayed’ mirror, so to speak,” I raised the other eyebrow “it uses energy from one attack, and then repels it toward, or against, the second, it’s the ultimate weapon, seeing as it seems to be undamaged, and Firefly’s armour broke” “What’re you doing?” Cadance gaped as I stepped forward slowly raising my arm “didn’t you see what happened to Firefly!?” “I’m not, trying to destroy it, let alone anything of the sort, Cadance” I gently placed my hand against the cubes’ surface, said cube let out a hum, as if glad that I meant it no harm “You didn’t mean it harm, so it didn’t attack” Blaze whistled “so it is sentient, after all” I clenched my teeth “are you Ok,” I quickly let go of the cube “what happened?” “It went through my memories…” I staggered back a little “Which ones?” she stared at me “All of them” I rapidly shook my head “Kinky” she chortled, I shot her a glower “Sorry…” “Why did it go through your memories?” now it was Celestia’s turn to step forward “Probably searching for something, who knows?” I hummed, again “What if it’s trying to tell us something?” Littlepip suggested “That’s possibility three, My Littlepip” I carefully placed my hand on the cubes course surface again, a wave of images pierced my frontal lobe as I tensed my muscles “Ok, that’s a definite” “What’d you see?” Velvet Remedy tilted her head; I gave a quick summary of the ‘images’ “Huh, odd” Twilight blinked “So, we were right about it being alien” Faust let out a short hum “What do we do?” she glanced toward Celestia, then toward me “Keep it under surveillance, for now, right now; I’ve other things to do” I grunted “Don’t go…” I turned to face the cube, which, by now, was slowly changing shape, first came the face, and then the head, neck, body legs and tail, complete with a metallic mane and wings The cube had turned into a metallic, albeit winged, Applebloom “Don’t leave me, Rick” the cube-turned pony/enigma hovered between the runes on the floor and ceiling Launching a fiery dart toward the runes, the Applebloom lookalike landed with a light Clink on the stone floor “What are you?” I crouched down to the metal filly “I‘m what’s known as an ‘enigma,’ we’re one of the lesser-known species in existence,” the metallic pony smiled with an almost-robotic, feminine tone “And I know all about all you, Rick, all that you are and ever will be, and all that you’ve done, and ever will do, say, and think, I can tell you anything about yourself, even if you don’t even know it yet” “Sounds cliché” Blaze grinned “Shouldn’t we know by now that not everything is set in stone, or in this case, metal?” “Don’t you recognize me?” the Enigma tilted its/her head “it’s me, Applebloom” “You’re a machine” I replied somewhat curtly “I can be whoever you want me to be,” she purred “even Sylgja-!” said Enigma was then sent flying across the room at around fifty-KMH “Touchy” Blaze backed away slowly “No shit” I snapped, fists blazing “Who was Sylgja?” Twilight blinked “It doesn’t matter” I avoided her gaze “It does if you give that bad a reaction” she frowned, albeit, lightly, very lightly “Put it one way, I refuse to allow anyone to end up dead because of my recklessness” I tasted iron as chewed my lip “Then I won’t question it any further, and I’m sorry for your loss” she placed a fragile hoof on my leg -=-=- “So how long does it take for you to master one of those spellbooks you have?” Twilight hovered beside me, pecking my cheek “Not very long,” I smiled ”but you have to realize something about magic; it’s not simply cast and forget,” “most magicka takes great concentration until you've practiced the spell enough to truly master it, but, as I’m sure that you’re ware; concentration, it also wears down on your strength, as you’ll never see any mage in particular battle with purely spells, and because the energy they drain is deceptive, you only realize how much you've used after you’ve stopped casting” “You’ve been listening to the old man again haven’t you?” Blaze grinned “If you mean Guildmaster Makarov, then yes, yes I have” I beamed “age tends to make one wise as well as powerful” “Any proof of that?” she smirked “Fairy Law” I grinned “Touché” she gave a slow nod “What’s ‘Fairy Law’?” Twilight blinked “It’s one of the most legendary spells in existence,” I began “the ability to render enemies -and only who the user’s heart sees as an enemy, to mere dust just by thinking about it” “Not sure if classified or not” Blaze hummed “Eh, if the Guildmaster wishes for it not to be spread about the public, who am I to question him?” I shrugged -=-=- “So,” the centaur-demon growled, he who’d just burst/rampaged through the castle to get to us in the throne room “Which one of you vermin is ‘Sir Rick’?” “I accept your surrender” I nodded… -=- “Finale, brother,” Blaze smirked. “Eigō Hōseki Ryū,” I nodded, inhaling sharply, exhaling a vast torrent of both flames and thunderbolts toward Tirek “Hōkō!” the almost-unceasing amount of magical energy sent the deformed quadruped flying back through the doorway. “Clean up on aisle five!” she guffawed “but did you have to quote Thor?” “I felt that it’d lessen the density in the atmosphere” I shrugged. “Speaking of which, why don’t we go to Asgard?” she smirked. =-= “Well that was interesting,” I laughed as we landed back in Ponyville. “To say such would be an understatement” Luna hummed. “Ricky-o,” a brown unicorn mare with a darker, flowing mane and tail knocked me to the ground. “Hello Autumn Heart,” I smiled, pecking her cheek. “I missed you, Rick” she pecked my cheek in return. “And I you, my little Autumn Heart,” I said with a smile. “-=-“ “Why hello my good friends,” Discord cheered as he appeared before us, us being Nat’s Erza, Lyra, Twilight, our friends, Spike,, the princesses, Lulania, Faust and Crystal alongside my family, Blaze also included. “You’re not good, nor are you a friend of mine, Discord” I snarled. “Then perhaps you’d like to play a little game with me…? “Princess Celestia, these are the intruders, as you requested,” The new Equis’ variant of Shining Armour declared with a snarl as we, my friends, family and I, Twilight, her friends, Spike, Emerald Opal and Garnet entered the throne room after him, the princesses, Faust and Lulania included alongside Nyx. “How is this possible?” the new Equis’ Celestia stared at each of us with a gasp. I stepped forward “I can warp through reality, and since our variant of Equis fell to Discord, pun not intended, we had no other choice to but to seek out another, with your permission Princess, we’d like to settle down here, we promise not to cause any more trouble than what may or may not be necessary.” “That seems fair enough, although your abilities seem to be somewhat questionable,” she frowned. “You’d have to ask Crystagia,” I bit my lip. “You know the gem dragon goddess?” the new Equis’ variant of Cadance eyed me from head to foot. “Are you familiar with dragon slayer magic?” I tilted my head ever-so slightly, Snowdrop having perched herself there, she shook her head, “I take it that’s another thing I’m going to have to explain…” “Hundreds of years ago, there was a great war between humans and dragons, a few of the dragons sided with the humans, granting them their magic, but then, a group of humans rose up against dragons on both sides, killing them, thus was coined the term ‘Dragon Slayer’ magic,” I explained. “And you can use this magic?” Celestia gave me a rather flat stare, I sighed with a roll of my eyes, fists blazing in twin radiant, whitish-golden fireballs, “So you can, but what of your friends?” “They are like me, without a place to call home, if you’d allow us, we’d gladly settle down, depending on what’s available, of course,” I gave a faint smile, the flames around my hands dissipating. “I’ll see what I can do…?” she raised the other eyebrow. “Rick” I smiled. “Come to the arena, I’ll inform Luna of what you can do….” “Are you sure about this Princess?” Shining Armour glanced toward Celestia as she and the others stood in the crowds alongside the new Equis variants of Twilight and her friends , Celestia nodded, whereas Cellsy winked at me, I grinned, giving her a light wave. “I’ll be here to step in should anything unusual happen,” Celestia smiled with a nod. “Then I ask that you come at me with you’re all, Sir Rick!” Shining Armour gave a short laugh, charging toward me head-on, I stopped him, grabbing him by the shoulders “What rank did they say you were again?” I grinned, throwing him back, watching him slide across the smooth, stone surface of the arena floor “Captain, why?” he tilted his head “Captain, and yet you make the rookie mistake of charging in before assessing what I can do, if this were war, you’d have yer head on a pike already,” I tutted, scales appearing upon my arms, wrists and hands as I burst into flames, “En Guarde, Captain.” “What is that?” Celestia glanced toward Cellsy, who let out a small giggle. “Dragon force;” Cellsy nickered, “the ultimate final form of dragon slayer magic, only three are known to use nit within Rick’s guild; Fairy Tail; and all three have exceptional magic abilities, I think your captain’s about to be barbequed.” “So you create flames, but I bet I can extinguish them!” Shining Armour charged forward again. “Eigo Hoseki Ryū Jin…!” I dodged his advance, quickly taking to the sky, inhaling copious amounts of air, and then exhaling a vast torrent of whitish golden flames down to the arena floor “Hokou!” As the smoke died down, Shining Armour lay, motionless; suddenly coughing, staggering to his hooves. “That was…!” Celestia once again turned toward Cellsy, who merely grinned. “Congratulations Rick,” Celestia winked at me, I grinned “He… you... how…?” she gasped. “Is this over or what?” I called out, she suddenly turned to face me with a look that combined, curiosity and borderline-horror “I wouldn’t continue this if I were you, Shiny-pants here might end up killing himself.” =-= “You’re not scientifically possible..!” the new Equis variant of Twilight stared at me in horror. “Neither are talking ponies on my world, but here you are anyways, Twilight Sparkle,” I raised an eyebrow in amusement as we sat in the dining hall during lunch. “You fly, you breathe fire, and, I have no doubt in my mind that you can eat gemstones also, why is that?” she frowned. “Ironically, I’m part dragon,” I gestured to my horns, she paled. “So you are,” she shuddered “is there anything else that your ‘part’? “Let’s see, human, dragon, eon, demigod, crazy sonuvabitch, nope, I think that’s about it,” I laughed. “You’re a what?” she boomed. -=-=- “Where did you say we were going again?” Blaze mumbled. “Just somewhere I can pay my respects to a few fallen heroes, that is all,” I clenched my fists as we walked “Here we are,” I frowned as we reached the side of the castle in the Everfree forest, clapping my hands together as my current passengers clambered to the ground, slamming my hands onto the ground as cyan lighting stormed across the grass-laden earth, and a large statue arose from the ground, depicting a small alicorn filly, a larger, armoured stallion, and a unicorn mare, amongst a couple of others, a another unicorn, who stood beside the filly, and another stallion, this one wearing a special type of saddle with twin rifles attached, said stallion was flying above the others with a watchful eye, smiling down at me, a Pegasus flying beside the first, smiling down at me, and the final one, of a wolf, barking at an unseen opponent with unrestrained ferocity in its eyes. “Rest in peace my friends…” I mumbled, placing my rucksack on the ground, retrieving a series of shotguns, pistols, rifles and other types of weaponry from the bag, placing them in a pattern at the base of the statue, placing a series of faintly glowing orbs in the gaps between the weapons and grenades “May the divine one watch over you in heaven…” As I sat before the assorted weapons and the like, staring at each of the ponies in the statue, I brought out a hammer and chisel, etching the words; ‘may these’ ponies’ souls never be strayed from the light of the divine sun, let each of their names go down in the annals of legend, forever heroes, forever legends, forever friends, and forever missed…’ placing the tools back in my inventory afterwards collapsing onto my back. “Our friends from the wastes, minus Littlepip,” the Typhlosion gave a light hum, “a tribute of sorts, am I to assume?” “Correct, Blaze,” I slowly nodded, “‘tis a tribute to heroes fallen, or at least, those who are non-existent in this world, nor the last.” -=- When I got back, I was met with a flying tackle from Snowdrop. “Where’ve you been Daddy?” Snowdrop perched herself atop my head. “Just a quick trip Snowy, nothing too serious, next time I’ll tell you before-hoof, Ok?” I winked toward the icy-blue filly. “Ok, Daddy, I love you!” she exclaimed. “And I you Snowdrop, and I you,” I smiled. “Come one come all!” a voice echoed from within a nearby stage wagon that was set between us and the town hall, “come to bear witness to the Great and Powerful Trixie!” a pale blue-cobalt unicorn with a stereotypical wizards had and cape with stars scattered on both burst forth from within the wagon as it unfolded doing so by means of smoke effects. Before long there was a large crowd of ponies, both Twilight’s and both sets of the bearers of harmony included alongside both Spike’s, stood before the azure blue mare, who continued to show off what I assumed she thought wa talent “Haven’t we already done this once?” Blaze grunted with an indignant sigh and roll of her eyes, “There’s nothing wrong with talent, is there?” the new Equis’ Twilight glanced toward me. “Nothin’ at all, ‘Cept when yer showin’ it off like a filly with fancy new ribbons,” the new Applejack frowned at Trixie. “Yeah, who needs a pony like her showing off, especially when you got me around being more awesome than the rest of us?” the ‘new’ Rainbow Dash chimed with a wide grin. “That depends, are you the son of the Gem Dragon Goddess?” Blaze gestured toward me. “He’s the, what now?” Applejack stared at me, I smirked. “Adoptive son of Crystagia, since I don’t know who my real parents are,” I shrugged. “Well, well, it appears we have some neighsayers in the audience,” Trixie snarled. “I got a friend who’d easily show you how outclassed you really are, but he’s dealing with Discord at the moment, so it’ll have to wait,” I tutted. “I hereby declare a challenge, anything you Ponyvillians can do, I can do better!” she laughed with a mad cackle. I Dunno, can you slay a dragon?” I gave a sly grin, her smirk faltered. “Say what…?” she blinked “Can you say you’ve slain a dragon?” I raised an eyebrow, folding my arms with a smug grin “I’ve done far greater things than you’ll ever dream!” she retorted with a wicked scowl. “Really, you’ve beaten a flame-god slayer..?” I ‘mock-applauded’ with Blaze, the two of us sharing a whistle and a laugh, “Congratulations.” “Whatever you can do, I can do better!” she reiterated with an icy glare. “Alright, watch me,” I changed to my Alphamon form, “now you do the same.” “How did you even…?” she awed at me. “Not so ‘Great and Powerful’ then?” I turned and left, reverting to my human form, Snowdrop still perched atop my head and Blaze still by my side as I walked toward the castle in the Everfree, Velvet Remedy, Blackjack Littlepip walking with us alongside Scootaloo as Gracy Gloom and Winter Bell perched themselves on my shoulders. “So, this is where you went” Blackjack gave me a sombre stare as we arrived at the statue, “Cellsy’s gonna kill you if she finds out that you used alchemy again Y’know?” “I can handle a few meagre death-threats, especially those from a loved one,” I smiled. “Can you?” Velvet Remedy nodded behind me, I turned, both sets of the element bearers were there, staring at the statue, and then toward me; both in awe; I quickly turned back. “Rick?” Twilight stood beside me, glancing between myself, and the statue, “who are they?” I pointed to each of the names that were etched into the base of the statue “Calamity, Steelhooves, Delta, Forest Rain, Homage, and epsilon…” she turned back to face me “these are your friends, Rick?” “I don’t want to talk about it…” I bit my lip. “Don’t tell me they, she turned again, staring at each of the statuettes, then back to me, “they, died…?” I gave a forlorn nod. “When did this happen?” Applejack tilted her head. “I don’t want to talk about it.” “Talking might help,” Twilight pecked my cheek as I sat before the statue, my friends and family sat with me. “Rick?” Littlepip “Mmhm?” I glanced toward the silver mare, who levitated an item from her saddlebags; that of which resembled a Pipbuck. “Whilst we were on the old Equis I found this in my former home,” she bit her lip, “it’s nice to have you back, Rick,” she placed the Pipbuck onto her left foreleg. “You too, my Littlepip,” I pecked her horn-tip, resulting in a few sparks. “Careful, last time you did that she nearly split you clean in half with a burst of unparalleled magic,” Blaze grinned. “I got better,” I frowned.” “And the next time you challenged a magical entity you got your insides turned to liquid shit.” “Again, I got better, and I’m now technically made of rubber,” I smirked. “You’re made of rubber?” The new Twilight stared at me somewhat vehemently. “They had to infuse my being and physiology with that of a rubber tree just to keep me together,” I raised an eyebrow. “What’d you do?” she said, glaringly. “Defend my family from a tyrant?” I offered. “Close enough” Blackjack laughed. =-=-= “Nice to see my house made it through the portal,” I sighed, “if nothing, it’ll give me a place to relax.” “As did the guild,” Blaze pointed to the large, castle-like structure nearby, “I hope everyone’s Ok…” “And the portrait you had out front is also there,” she beamed, gesturing to the large image that i’d received not a year prior. “Speaking of art…” I said with a smile, sitting by the front door, setting my rucksack beside me all the while, retrieving the art-related items from within, beginning to create a new project/ continuing with an old, unfinished work “I never got to finish it.” “So you didn’t,” she laughed. -=- “Cellsy?” I glanced about the throne room as I was allowed entry, Celesta, Cellsy and both sets of alicorns were stood around the throne at the end of the room “I am, what is it that you need, Sir Rick?” Cellsy smiled, I smiled back, retrieving the latest artworks, placing them on the floor beside me, turned, and walked out into the gardens, mny family walking beside me, Snowdrop once again perched atop my head. “Shall we?” Snowdrop chimed, I nodded “When I see your smile Tears roll down my face I can't replace And now that I'm strong I have figured out How this world turns cold and it breaks through my soul And I know I'll find deep inside me I can be the one,” I chorused, gesturing for the pony atop my skull to continue. “I will never let you fall (let you fall) I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all (through it all) Even if saving you sends me to heaven,” Snowdrop sang with the voice of an angel, with Winter Bell performing the background vocals. “It‘s okay, it's okay; it's okay… Seasons are changing And waves are crashing And stars are falling all for us Days grow longer and nights grow shorter I can show you I'll be the one,” I cooed, gesturing toward Blaze, who nodded, singing with gusto “I will never let you fall (let you fall) I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all (through it all) Even if saving you sends me to heaven,” Gracy Gloom and Snowdrop sang, Winter Bell once again performing the background vocals “Cuz you're my, you're my, my, my true love, my whole heart Please don't throw that away Cuz I'm here for you Please don't walk away and Please tell me you'll stay woah, stay woah,” Scootaloo gleamed as she sang. “Use me as you will pull my strings just for a thrill And I know I'll be okay though my skies are turning grey,” Blaze continued. “I will never let you fall I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all Even if saving you sends me to heaven I will never let you fall I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all Even if saving you sends me to heaven” we sang together, finishing the song with smiles on our faces, and warmth in our hearts. I turned around at the sound of hooves being clapped; the princesses were there, smiling with apparent amusement. “Didn’t know you were an artist and a singer, Rick” Celestia raised an eyebrow. “I’m an eon of a select few talents; let’s leave it at that, Princess,” I smirked. “You’re also artificially created, so I hear,” she gave a faint grin. “Yep, made from the DNA from an individual of almost every sentient species in the universe,” I gleamed. “And you’re not bothered by that?” she blinked. I shook my head; “Not really,” I flashed a wicked leer, “I’ve no reason to be bothered by what’s been done, not one billion years past, and I’ve certainly no right to be angry at my mother for bringing me into this world.” “And who is the mother of whom thou speakest?” Luna, the new Luna, gave a light giggle, I pointed toward Cellsy with a flat stare “Ok….” “You see me as your mother, even though we have no actual relation?” Cellsy gasped, tears in her eyes and a look of guilt spread across he features. “You bought me into the universe, and that alone, in my view of things, makes you my mother, Cellsy.” “I love you son,” she stepped forward, draping her arms and wings around me. “I love you too, mom,” I mimicked her, draping my arms and wings around her. =-= “Spike, for the last time there’re no such things as zombie-ponies!” the ‘new’ Twilight growled. “There are; but you ponies in the wastes referred to them as ‘Ghouls,’ rather than Zombie-Ponies, Twilight Sparkle,” I laughed. “And how would you know that?” she snapped as she, her friends, and the other set of the element bearers stared at me with a mixture of confusion and suspicion. I frowned; “I can, quite literally, fly through reality, I’ve seen in three hundred years more than you ponies will see in a millennium, period.” “Like what?” she asked, glaringly. “The fall of Equestria for one thing, and it’s rebirth for another,” I sighed, “it’s not something I wish to converse to others, ponies in particular, about a potential apocalypse, so, if there are any Ghouls, you stay behind me, got it?” “Ok…” she gave a slow nod as I changed to my ‘Spartan-Armour’ form, picking up the M34-SS firearm from where it leant against the outside wall of the house, placing the Spartan Laser on the magnetic clamps on the back of my armour. “Good, now, where were we going?” I nodded in return. “You’re really not taking any chances with this ghoul business are you Rick?” the other Twilight trotted beside me as we walked through the forest “I failed once, and I don’t plan on doing so again, Twilight Sparkle,” I frowned behind the ‘Scout’ variant helmet. “What do you mean, ‘you failed’?” she glanced toward me as we ventured through the foliage. “What do you think?” I rolled my eyes agitatedly, “why do you think I made that statue?” “You failed…?” she gasped, “Rick, I…” I she shook her head “Save it for when I care,” I stormed off with a growl. “It appears to be a statue, but I wonder if I can’t change that, the new Equis’ replica of Discord hovered between the statue and I, turning to face me as I approached… “Touch it and I’ll blow your fucking head off, chimera, your kind has no place in my home, now, would you kindly make like a banana, and piss off!?” I bellowed, he quickly vanished, a look of unrestrained horror struck upon his mismatched face. “Now that that’s dealt with,” I sighed, again, removing my helmet, placing it by the scattered weapons, grenades, and memory orbs, leaning the shotgun against the base of the statue, sitting before the statue, glancing to each of the characters that’d been crafted there. “Epsilon, Forest Rain, I’m sorry,” I bit my lip, “I let you down, I failed you when you needed me most, and because of that…” I stammered. “I wish I could go back, to right what I did wrong, but I can’t, as that would most likely cause the universe to cave in on itself… so, I leave you with a final goodbye, and a final apology, my little Rain, and you also, my little Epsilon…” ()=)(-)(=() I stood in the arena, the populace made of both Ponyvillians and Canterlot citizens watched me as Discord entered the arena with a mild display of fireworks “Are we ready?” Discord smirked as I promptly burst into flames, scales once again appearing on my face, arms, wrists and hands, sparks of thunderbolts dancing across the veil of flames that enveloped me “Modo Raien Ryū…!” I boomed, using my legs as pumps to accelerate my blood-flow, “Gia Sekando!” “Go get ‘em Daddy!” Snowdrop exclaimed from her place in the crowd beside my friends and family. I disappeared for a split second, appearing right below the self-proclaimed ‘Chaos God,’ delivering a hard uppercut, sending him flying upwardly… “Metsuryū Ogi, Shiranui Gata, Guren Hōō ken,” I bellowed, striking Discord in the stomach, both fists were blazing with a whitish-golden flame that was encased in a veil of primrose-shaded thunderbolts “Yokugeki!” I roared, performing an impossibly fast and agile forward flip, bringing my heel down unto his skull “Kagizume! I then went on to create larger fireballs that encompassed both my wrists and hands, slamming them together against the serpentine creature “Ryū Jin no Koen!” “Suishō Hasu Hoseki Ryū Shugo Tenshi!” Snowdrop, Scootaloo, Winter Bell and Gracy Gloom cheered with me in perfect unison as Discord came crashing down unto the cold, hard stone floor, leaving a reasonably sized crater in his wake… “If anyone needs a slight case with pest removal, feel free to let me know, I’ll either be in Canterlot, Ponyville or the surrounding area, if not, just send me a letter,” I bowed to each side of the crowd in turn, ”Class dismissed.” “You beat Discord…” Celestia stared at me, awestruck, wide-eyed and slack-jawed. “Yeah, because banishing your problems for a millennia, only for them to eventually return solves nothing, No offense Mother,” I bit my lip, glancing toward Cellsy. “None taken, Rick,” Cellsy gave a light giggle. “What, would you propose, Rick?” Celestia gave a light frown. “I’ve no right to do such a thing, Princess, I’m not f this world, nor am I in any rightful position to do so in the first place,” I quickly bowed. “Quite the charmer; is he not?” the new Luna glanced toward Cellsy, eyebrow raised. “He’s my son;” Cellsy laughed “he’s every bit as pure as I may be, maybe even more-so.” “That remains to be seen,” Blaze chuckled; I quickly shot her an icy glare, “sorry…” “Thought so,” I grinned. “But you have to admit it,” she grinned “you, being pure, after all that we’ve gone through?” “I’ll admit the concept is a tad farfetched, but I don’t doubt the wisdom of the eternal ruler of just over half of our home-world, Blaze,” I raised an eyebrow. “Even after your trials, you remain, how is it that you do it?” “You do everything you can to make up for it, knowing that you’ll never succeed in getting rid of the guilt. You devote yourself to spending every second trying to do better despite the fact that it’ll never be enough. And you pray with every single good act you do that somehow, when your life is over, that you came close to making up for the wrong you did,” I avoided Celestia’s gaze. “Perseverance…” Blaze mumbled as I turned and left; my family and friends walking with me alongside Blaze. “Oh, and Celestia,” I glanced toward the solar goddess, with an icy glare, “I made a nice little statue in tribute to my friends in the forest, should your serpentine friend come within two-hundred yards of it, there won’t be enough of him left to fill a shot glass let alone a tin of beans, are we quite clear?” she gave a light nod “Good.” “You quoted me?” Blackjack laughed. “So I did,” I smiled with a roll of my eyes as we made our way down the corridor, “after all, perseverance is your virtue, as Sacrifice is Littlepip’s.” “That it is,” Littlepip gleamed. “And what’s yours?” the alabaster alicorn glanced toward me with a wide, warm smile. “I don’t know,” I mumbled, “Faith maybe?” “That’s one possibility,” she nickered, “I’d have to put an estimate on purity, or innocence.” “That’d be P.S, not me,” I clenched my fists. “Ah yes, the little undead filly in the space suit,” she snorted, “Did she find her mother?” “I hope so; Thor only knows what could’ve happened to her,” I bit my lip. “Hey, whilst we’re here do you want to play game of cards?” “What’d you have in mind?” I smiled as I brought a deck of traditional playing cards from my inventory. “How about Blackjack..?” she winked, “the actual game of course….” “But of course, wouldn’t want to attempt to take advantage of a sensible mare like that,” I laughed as we sat opposite one-other beside the wall of the corridor, also bringing out a crate of whiskey -==- “So that’s what three-two?” Blackjack laughed with a rather slurred tone in her voice “I think you’ve had enough,” I rolled my eyes. “Have I Rick, have I?” she winked again, flirtatiously this time, “or is it you who can’t stand my beauty?” “Says the one who’s been through a dozen six-packs, I gestured to the pile of whiskey bottles that was slowly making its way up the wall of the corridor, “I’ve barely had any.” “You don’ know what yer missin” she waved a dismissive hoof’ “when you get to be my age, you forget about those things…” “I’m around three-centuries older than you,” I raised an eyebrow. “Are ya?” she tilted her head “you look as thou yer twenty’” her speech slurred even further as she down another bottle, giving a loud belch, followed by a light giggle “Better out than in.” “So it is,” I sighed, “you still playing?” “Nah, I’m game for now” she grumbled, dropping her cards to the floor, staring at me with a pair of scarlet eyes “Buck me but you’re alright…!” she leapt at me, knocking me on my back, immediately planting her lips against mine, quickly forcing her tongue between my teeth, grinning at me as she parted, dragging me by the hand with the use of her magic, my arm being pulled in a mild orange glow. “Rick?” I glanced downward; Cellsy was there alongside Blaze and Celestia, eyebrows raised “Don’t ask,” I shrugged as Blackjack pulled me into an empty bedroom, locking the door with her magic after she laid me down on the bed, quickly leaping onto the bed after me, climbing along my body, placing her front hooves either side of my head “Now, isn’t this the part you rut me senseless, after all, I’m a bad pony, Rick-o?” she gave a somewhat sadistic grin. “Not at all,” “Huh?” she blinked, “what do you mean ‘not at all’ isn’t this the part where the royal knight beds the princess?” “I’ll not take advantage of an intoxicated woman, Blackjack, least of all one of my marefriends,” I argued back with a frown. “Would you rather me do it, that way you’ll still have your so-called purity?” she batted her eyelids at me, I shrugged, “suit yourself…” =-==-= “Note to self; never play games with Blackjack” I mumbled, now stood with my family and friends in the centre of ponyville “May I have your attention please!?” Twilight echoed from atop a small bridge, everypony present stopped and turned toward her, eyebrows raised in confusion, “it has come to my attention that a large dragon has taken root in a nearby mountain, and its snoring is causing the smoke you see above you to spread all over Equestria.” “This should be fun,” I snorted as both sets of the element bearers and I trekked up toward the dragon’s lair alongside the alicorns from both worlds. “There’s no way in Equestria that you can slay a dragon…!” the new Rainbow Dash frowned at me “it’s not possible!” “Try telling that to Discord…” Blaze laughed. “So, does everypony know the plan?” Twilight, the new Twilight, turned to each of us in turn, wincing as she glanced toward me, I raised an eyebrow in return, everyone present nodded. And so, she went forth, only to return a few moments later, covered in soot, and with a rather agitated expression “Didn’t work huh?” Blackjack smirked. “To hay with this!” the new Rainbow Dash soared into the cave, kicking the dragon in the jaw, only for it to send her reeling with a hard jab, knocking both sets of the element bearers to the ground. “And that’s not a very good idea, for the dragon could go on a rampage and attack the nearest defenceless village,” I explained. “And I suppose you’ve got a better idea!?” she blared as she rose to her hooves alongside the others, aren’t you supposed to be a dragon slayer or something?” “I shan’t take a life, save for when I need to, Rainbow” I spat, “and besides, I thought you ponies were against violence, or are you just that stuck-up and arrogant?” I marched forth, into the mouth of the cave. “Must I do everything myself?” I used my legs as pumps, just as I did before, my body heating up to the point where my sweat evaporated. “What in tarnation?” the new Applejack stared at me alongside her friends and Celestia. “Gia Sekando,” I grinned, bursting forth with energy found anew, firing Gatling –like punches toward the dragon, sending it sliding across the floor, several hundred tonnes worth of gems falling to the floor until the dragon came to the far end of its cave. Eventually, the wall began to crack, and the large reptile flew through the newly made hole in the wall, falling all the way down the mountain. “That was a pain…” I mumbled, falling flat on my rear in the middle of the now-separated pile of gems the steaming effect wearing off alongside the technique, picking up a nearby ruby, devouring it within seconds. “SO, you can eat gems,” Celestia spoke with a rather concerned tone, I turned, facing her and the others “What was that ability you jus used?” “Oh, that,” I began, swallowing the remains of the ruby “that was ‘Gear Second,’ or at least that’s what I call it,” she gave a slow nod “I use my legs as pumps, as to hasten the flow of blood around my body, thus, enhancing the amount of oxygen to my muscles and to certain parts of my body, the smoke, or steam, as some people refer to it as, is my body getting hot enough that my sweat evaporates. “That’s impossible!” The new Twilight gasped, staring at me in unadulterated awe/horror. “I’m rubber, remember?” I stretched my arm, extending it to her; she gave it a light shake with her hoof before shuddering as I retracted it. “So, this is now your hoard then?” Celestia raised an eyebrow. “I may be part dragon, but said part isn’t large enough for me to be a selfish tyrant, no offense to any of the dragon gods or kings,” I laughed. ‘The new’ Pinkie Pie gasped; “I didn’t get to throw you a ‘Welcome-to-Ponyville’ party!” “It can wait can’t it?” I raised an eyebrow, “we’ve all the time in the world to…!” suddenly, the scenery changed to the inside of the library, where what seemed to be everyone in ponyville smiled at me “get back… well, we’ve two centuries, so there’s something.” “Two centuries to what?” she blinked. “Now that would be ruining the surprise, Pinkie Pie,” I grinned. “I love surprises, especially the one we had planned for you Ricky-o!” she laughed with a light giggle. “Then you’re going to have an absolute blast with the next one,” I chortled. “Cupcake?” she offered me a heavily-laced cake, the top of which wasn’t visible with the amount of icing “You got any muffins?” she quickly swapped the tray of cupcakes for one crowded with muffins, I carefully took one, “Thanks pinks.” “No problem-o Ricky-o!” she nickered, I rolled my eyes with a smile. “So, what d’ya think, were you surprised, where ya, where ya, where ya?” “Mildly,” I titled my head after finishing the muffin. “Rats, I’ll have to put more flare into the next one,,” she grumbled with a light frown. “And risk giving someone a heart attack, let alone an aneurysm?” I blinked “I think there’s a fine line between surprising someone and putting them in hospital, Pinkie “Hmm, good point, unless…” she pulled on a rope, that of which appeared from nowhere, revealing in a jack-in-a-box, which also appeared from nowhere, which burst open, revealing a whole series of banners one of my artworks hung from each one “Where did you get those?” I gave a light frown in return. “Oh, are they yours’ I just found them in the castle and thought that nopony wanted them,” she giggled; I turned and left, marching toward the forest, fuming to myself as I went. After I’d calmed down -and that wasn’t including the destruction of a few species of animals native to the forest, giant astral bears included- I found myself by the statue of my friends… “You finally settle down into a new home, and what happens? The local part animal decides to steal them and then use them as her own source of entertainment!” I boomed at the top of my lungs, blinking, was I really just that loud? Awesome,” “Almost priceless artworks, now most likely in ruin,, no matter, I can always create replicas from near-perfect memory…” -=-=- After what felt like mere minutes, the first portrait was complete, it was a picture of Earth, complete with the sun, moon and stars around it, and little grey dots representing the craters. “Onto the next one…” I mumbled. -=-=- After a week or two, I’d finished what I hoped to be perfect replicas of my previous works, every single one of them in almost-spotless condition, minus the odd speck of dust, be it here or there… The artworks in question were stood in a folded pile before me “Where were you?” Blaze frowned, arms folded as I carried the portraits into Ponyville. “Out by the statue,” I gave a faint grin, “I replaced the old artworks with new ones.” “So you have, but what if the Pink Party Pony of Ponyville should happen to sneak a peek at one of them?” she raised an eyebrow. “Frankly, I’m not in the mood for such antics, which is why I’m delivering these to the sun goddess herself.” “Or you could keep them in the house, I mean, it’s not like she’s going to rob you of anything, I doubt she’s that stupid,” the Typhlosion snorted. “That remains to be seen…” As I sat on the front lawn, I felt something soft land atop my head… “Hello Daddy,” Snowdrop chimed. “Hello Snowy,” I smiled “How’ve you been?” “The same as usual,” she giggled “were you by the statue?” I nodded, “I told everypony not to panic, but they wouldn’t listen to me…” “Nopony ever listens to foals nowadays…” I laughed, “I’d listen to you, whether my life depended on it or not remains to be otherwise irrelevant.” “I love you Daddy…” she gave a light hum. “I love you too Snowy; and I always will,” I gently picked her up from my head, setting her in my lap, draping my wings around her, as if shielding her. “Your feathers are tickly,” she nickered with a cute giggle. “Oh? Then what’d happen if I did this?” I ruffled my wings, causing my feathers to shake uncontrollably. “Stop it, that’s enough,” she laughed, tears streaming down her muzzle as she writhing in glee in my lap, “Alright, that’s enough, please?” I stopped, “thank you…” It was then that I noticed that everyone present was staring at me, slack-jawed. “Just taking care of my little Snowdrop,” I smiled, “look me in the eyes and say you wouldn’t do all that you could to look after your little next of kin.” All I got as a reply was a dozen sighs of relief, a few waves, a couple-dozen smiles, and even a wink or two… “I love you Daddy,” Snowdrop nuzzled into me. “And I you, Snowy, and I you,” I pecked her forehead. =-= “So… just because she’s different, all of a sudden she’s labelled as evil?” I frowned as the new Equis’ variants of the element bearers and Spike, alongside my family and I stood in the darkness of the dimly-lit Sugarcube corner, the only light available to us coming from that of Celestia’s sun. “That ain’t what Ah meant,” Applejack took a step backward. “I do believe the people at the TV-tropes page would call this ‘Fantastic, racism,’” Blaze spat, “Shows what you think of us, doesn’t it?” “I think I’ll move to Canterlot, the ponies may be a load of stuck-up moron’s but at least they keep it to themselves,” I turned and left, my family and Blaze quickly following me as I changed to eon form, Snowdrop perching herself once again upon my head, Scootaloo and Gracy Gloom upon my back, and Winter Bell upon my neck respectively. Blaze; make sure the door’s locked, and after that, make sure no one goes near the statue, guard it with your life if you have to.” “Will do; Brigadier General Hawkins Sir!” Blaze saluted me, as I took to the sky, heading for canterlot “Rick, what brings you here?” Celestia raised an eyebrow; I levitated the portraits toward her via Purple flare, having reverted to my human form “Didn’t you give us these?” “Somepony decided it’d be fun to break the laws of physics and steal them,” I shrugged, “And so here they are again, Princess.” “Why would one of my little ponies, Pinkie Pie in general, want to steal from you?” she frowned. “You tell me, you were there when she used them at the party,” I blinked “by the way, have you heard the latest craze that’s sweeping through the nearby town?” she shook her head, “just because there’s a zebra in town, everyone runs with their tails between their legs and locks themselves in their houses, just because she’s that little bit different.” “I’ll have a word with them about that then, thank you for reporting it, Sir Rick,” she smiled. “I’m not a knight, nor a lord, a prince, or a saviour,” I frowned “and with that I bid thee adieu.” -=(+)=- When I got back, the front door to my house was locked, I rushed to the statue, Blaze was stood, alert, and vigilant “Sir,” Blaze saluted me. “At ease Sergeant,” I laughed. “As you say,” she laughed. “I trust that nobody’s come near it?” I nodded toward the statue. “Not a soul Sir, save a Zebra, Zecora I think her name was, rather nice too, shame the ponies seemed to shun her for being who she was…” “You needn’t refer to me as I would be in the UNSC; Blaze, just ‘Rick’ will suffice” I smirked. “But it’s so much fun!” she chortled. “Touché, Sergeant” I grinned. “-=-” “Princess Celestia!” Twilight instantly bowed alongside her friends, and for that matter, every other pony in sight “Rise,” there was no emotion in Celestia’s voice as she approached the lavender mare, Twilight gradually rose to her usual height, staring the princess in the eyes “I’ve caught word of a bit of negative activity happening between you and a certain Zebra, is this true?” “But, how did…?” Celestia nodded toward me somewhat discreetly, “Oh…” “Now, what exactly has been going on between you and this Zebra…?” =-= “You told Celestia on us?” Rainbow Dash growled as we stood in the throne room, alongside both sets of element bearers, my friends, family and the alicorns. “I don’t see what the big deal is, you see a bully, or are bullied in school, what do you do, that might be the sensible option?” I popped my knuckles. “Tell the teacher?” Twilight held up a hoof. “Good…” I chimed, “So, what makes this so different, disregarding the fact that this isn’t in a school, and the fact that Zecora’s a zebra?” “Not much?” she stammered. “Good at least to see somepony’s got brains around here” Blaze replied snarkily. “Blaze, be nice.” “Yes sir” she quickly silenced herself with a grin. “‘Sir’...?” Applejack frowned, I sighed, changing to my Spartan form, tilting my head “Oh…” “There’s still no way you’re better than Shining Armour!” Rainbow Dash spat. “I’ve already proven otherwise once, I needn’t do so again, Rainbow” I grinned “Prove it!” “Alright, try lifting me” I held my arms by my sides. “Easy!” she laughed, hooking her arms under my own, attempting to lift me from the ground, with quite visible effort, eventually conceding and returning to her original place beside Twilight and the others “How heavy is that armour?” Twilight eyed me from head to foot “One-thousand pounds, on average, costs the same as a small starship; and I’d advise against trying to make your own, due to its complexity, Twilight Sparkle,” I nodded. “It’s a hunk of scrap,” Rainbow Dash tutted. “Titanium-alloy counts as scrap now, Rainbow?” I blinked “try hitting me, hard as you can.” “If you say so” she scowled, rearing back an arm, hitting me square in the chest-area, quickly regretting her actions, falling to the floor, clutching her hoof as she writhed in agony. “How many sets of this peculiar armour do you have?” Celestia raised an eyebrow “Around one-hundred thousand, all augmented for war, both mentally and psychologically, Princess,” I quickly bowed, “They called us super-soldiers for a reason…” “There’re how many of you?” Twilight stared at me. “I don’t think I need repeat myself, Twilight,” I frowned, “in this, I’m more-or-less bulletproof, to a certain extent, of course,” I continued with a sly grin, unseen by all but myself, “would you rather we do a little field test, assuming you ponies have anything better than the ye olde average bow and arrow?” “We’ve a few crossbows with diamond tipped bolts?” Celestia raised an eyebrow. “Case in point…” I rolled my eyes. “Would you rather we fire hyper lethal bolts of magic at you?” she frowned. “You can try, I mean, this armour can survive anything up to a nuclear explosion, and then some,” I slowly shook my head, walking from the throne room to the arena, my friends and family walking with me from the great chamber -reverting to my regular human form-, to the arena. “So, we’re just waiting for the year to end, then what?” Blackjack smiled. “Then our home, the guild, and the statue and all its surrounding content go back with us,” I frowned, “Discord’s game will last not any longer than that Cellsy saw to it that it was the highest he’d set the proverbial timer…” “I did what now?” Discord appeared before me. I launched myself toward the demigod, delivering punch after punch, fists blazing with angry, crimson flames that burnt away his fur and skin as I fired a barrage of jabs all along his serpentine form, leaping into the air, creating twin, massive pitch-black fireballs, slamming them together against the chaos god. I grinned somewhat sadistically as he screamed in agony, teleporting away. It was then that I noticed my eyes were stinging, and my vision had gone a little blurry. “Daddy..!” Snowdrop cried out, I blinked my vision returning to normal as the stinging also stopped, I turned, rushing to her, crouching to her level, she clung onto me, knocking me onto my rear end. “I’m sorry Snowdrop;” I draped my wings around her and the other members of my family as they surrounded me “Truly, if I could’ve seen that coming, I’d have held back, really.” “I know Daddy, I’m just scared of what Princesses will do to you now,” she cried, the teras that cascaded down her face soaking my shirt. “Rick…?” I looked up, Celestia, Cellsy and the others were there; each pony donned a rather worried expression. “I didn’t…” I trailed off, “I’ll take whatever punishment you may choose, Princess….” “What happened?” Cellsy marched right up to me, sitting by my side, draping a regal wing around me. “I got angry… I mumbled. “At who..?” “Discord,” “Why?” “Because I don’t want him interfering in what doesn’t belong to him.” “You summoned black flames, how?” Celestia frowned, “I’ve not seen or felt magic this sinister since Sombra’s being frozen in the ice due north of the Crystal Empire..!” “Do with me what you will, just save the talk.” “We’re going to have to either exile you, or extract the dark magic from you, manually,” she bit her lip. “You’ll do no such thing!” Cellsy bellowed at the top of her lungs, “you so much as lay a hoof on my son and I’ll see to it that you won’t see the light of day ever again!” I tried summoning a flame, eventually succeeding in summoning the usual whitish golden fireball.” “Seeing as your son’s magic seems to have reverted to normal, I suppose I can let this one event slide, but I’ll be keeping an ey on him from now on,” Celestia scowled at me “You won’t need to, I can take care of him myself,” she growled “See to it that you do.” -=-=- “How..?” Cellsy glared at my icily once we were alone, “How could you let your emotions get the best of you like that?” “I…” “I don’t want excuses Rick, I want the truth,” she snapped, interrupting me “Whether it be who you are, or something else, I want to know, and I need to know now!” “You know me, I see someone being like him around my friends and I get a mild tendency to go overboard…” I bit my lip, she glowered, “I’m sorry, that’s all I can say,” I clenched my fists… “You poor fool,” she slowly edged toward me, suddenly draping her arms and legs around me, pecking my cheek “I should’ve known it’d happen eventually, your anger and pure emotions driving you to your own discovery and use of dark magic…” ()+-+() After having the dark magic (painfully) extracted from me, I staggered out of the throne room, falling flat on my face within a few feet of the entrance to the castle. “Here,” Blackjack levitated a pile of gems to my side, “I saved them when we were in the wastes, just fort you, Ricky-o.” -=- “So, King Sombra’s returned?” Blaze raised an eyebrow as we disembarked the train. “To put it bluntly,” Celestia frowned at me. “And I’m guessing that we need an ancient artefact known simply as the Crystal Heart’ to put an end to his tyranny?” she raised an eyebrow “Same thing happened to us, Spike and Twilight found the heart, I held the oncoming darkness at bay, to put it simply, child’s-play.” “I assure you this won’t be easy, eon” she scowled… That’s what she said,” I snorted, unsheathing the day breaker and Daybreaker, placing them beside one-another combined energies of the two blades resonated from one-another as they merged. “Kami no shinken; Shinsei danzoku!” I boomed (Divine God’s Sword Nova-Breaker!) “Got any other slurs or slights you’d like to send my way, Celestia..? I tutted with a curt nod, “Nova breaker…!” Snowdrop chimed, perching herself atop my head once again, Celestia awing at me as we marched to the Crystal Empire “And this is where the Heart’s supposed to go?” Celestia nodded with a light frown. I de-fused the Nova-Breaker, sheathing the two blades that it was composed of, changing to eon form “Blaze, Gems I rolled a claw toward the Typhlosion that stood beside me “Are you sure about this?” she handed me a basket of gems. “Have you got any better ideas, other than searching for the Crystal Heart?” I frowned, she quickly shook her head as I bit down on one of the gems, tearing my crystalline heart out, , eating as many gems as I could as it began to regenerate, channelling a small amount of my magic energy into the gemstone, placing it between the tower-like structure that stood beneath the main tower in the city. The effects were immediate, as a shining Aura burst forth from the now spinning crystalline artefact as it pulsated with light and energy both found anew, the immediate area turning form a dull, lifeless grey to a shining, azure-silvery colour, the dark cerulean blues turning cyan, alongside every other shade of colour in the city that shone like the sun. “You… how…?” Celestia stared at me in apparent horror. “You’re city isn’t the only entity with a crystalline heart,” I grinned, tapping my chest symbol. “You tore your own heart out!?” Twilight screamed. “You don’t have to yell…” I mumbled. “I think yelling would be somewhat appropriate, considering your actions just now, Rick,” Celestia raised an eyebrow. “-=-=-“ “Alright you sonuvabitch, bring it on,” I growled from atop the tower in the crystal empire as an enormous black shadow threatened to destroy the shield that my heart had placed over the city, leaping forth, charging toward the demonic apparition retrieving a small, spherical gem from my pocket, devouring it in an instant. “Star Dragon Seraph,” I boomed, my two upper sets of wings fusing into one as a golden set of somewhat archaic armour appeared around me, completing the picture was the combined form of the Duskfall and Dawnbreaker. That battle itself only lasted mere minutes, and in the end, Sombra lay on the frozen earth, shattered into a billion shards of his former self. “I told them I could do it…” I collapsed, the armour disintegrating as I fell from the sky, the Starblazer reverting back unto the Dawnbreaker and Duskfall as I plummeted to the ground, only to be caught by four familiar foals. “We’ve got you Daddy,” Snowdrop chimed as she, Gracy Gloom, Scootaloo and Winter Belle lifted me to safety. “Thank you, my little Snow Angel,” I smiled as they set me down atop the balcony on the tower. “We know you’d do the same for us, we’re fall family, right Daddy?” she giggled. “You’re more than family, you’re my Nakama, Snowdrop, Gracy Gloom, Winter Bell and Scootaloo,” I smiled, pecking each of them on the forehead, “And no amount of dark magic or tyranny is going to change that.” “We love you Daddy,” the four of them chimed in perfect unison, landing on my head, neck and back respectively as I changed to eon form, collapsing to the floor. “And I you, my little angels,” I smiled. Glancing behind me, dragging myself into a turn, I saw Celestia and the others stood there, wide-eyed and slack-jawed, save Cellsy and the older set of Twilight and her friends. “I said I could do it, Celestia.” “So you did, and I’m sorry for ever doubting you, Rick.” “No harm no foul,” I glimmered, “Besides, I sued more magic energy than what I hoped to use…”
Chapter XXII Magic, music and other mysteries....As I ventured into the castle in the forest, I entered the throne, only to come fact-to-face with a sort-of-familiar lunar goddess “Have you come to bask in the gloriousness of Nightmare Moon?” the mare cackled insanely. I exploded into a molten fireball of rage, the walls, windows and ceiling exploded, shattering and instantaneously melting as I let out an unearthly roar, initiating ‘Gear Second,’ charging toward the mare, firing Gatling-like punches as fast and hard as I could, fists blazing, the fire becoming pure liquid and dripping to the floor, resulting in a light hiss as the stone floor melted, creating twin large spheres of magma and slamming them against the Nightmare, “Eigo Hoseki Ryū..!” I bellowed as the mare went flying into the air, seemingly unconscious as she fell down to the ground “Suishō hasu Guren Yōgan Ryū Ken!” I boomed, firing more jabs toward the pitch-black entity, sending her flying, resulting in a crater as she soared toward the remains of the far wall, letting out another inhuman roar as the entire castle exploded in an almighty wave of almost godlike magic energy. “That one’s for Puppysmiles, Bitch” I snarled, inhaling copiously, and then exhaling a vast torrent of both fire and magma toward the fallen demigod. I blinked, looking around the remains of the castle “What was I doing again?” I tilted my head, “Fuck if I care…” I turned and left, walking back toward Ponyville as I started whistling a familiar tune. “Where have you been..?” Celestia boomed, her voice laced with venom. “Out, though I can’t remember why for the life of me….” I blinked. “And there just so happened to be an explosion in the centre of the Everfree forest at the time?” she frowned, eyes narrowed, “I find it to be rather suspicious, she nodded behind me. I glanced toward the throne room door, where Nightmare Moon stood, quickly teleporting, now standing beside Celestia. “Nightmare Moon tells me of your newfound power, that of magma, how do you plead?” she scowled. “I’m a fire-based wizard, not magma, and besides, it’s not possible in any way, shape or form for fire to liquefy, at least, not to my knowledge,” I bit my lip. “She states that you turned into a killing machine, unceasingly attempting to end her life, how does that sound?” Celestia snapped. “I don’t take a life unless I feel like I have to, Celestia, I assure you, if I want someone dead, I’ll bloody well do it properly.” “So you admit to doing it then?” she spa. “I never said that I did it, implications disregarded of course,” I rolled my eyes, “Besides, if I did do such a thing, I’d at least remember it, wouldn’t I?” “So you would,” she sighed, “but I cannot let this event slide, I’ll be having words with your mother about this, Rick.” “=-=” “So, how’d it go?” Blaze stood opposite me as I exited the throne room. “Apparently Nightmare Moon is a new Citizen of Equestria; and that I’m to be ranted at by mother,” I sighed. “You want to get something to eat?” she smiled, weakly as we began to walk, my family quickly joining me. “I’m not hungry,” I shook my head, “besides, all my money’s back on the other world, and I can’t wait to get back,” I snorted, “who knows, I might be a certain somepony a nice present.” “A muffin?” she blinked, I shook my head, “your heart?” I shook my head again, “then I’ve no idea…” I quickly glanced around the area, then toward each of my family, “I was thinking of a nice bouquet…” “Are you alright?” she stared at me in horror, “you, buy flowers for someone,? I call bullshit!” I gave her the flattest stare I could imagine. “You’re actually serious!?” she burst into laughter, quickly stopping herself with a snicker, “SO, who’s the lucky mare?” “That’s none of your concern, Blaze.” “It is if it involves my family,” she frowned, I winked, “Touché…” “This is really goodbye…?” the new Twilight blinked as she stood beside her friends and her home-world’s variants of the princesses “I’m afraid so,” I gave a forlorn nod as a sense of nausea overcame me -=- “So, here we are…” Blaze mumbled, glancing around the immediate area, “Irt’;s nice to see that nothing’s changed, much…” I hurried to where my house would’ve been, sighing with relief as I found it standing where it’d always been, quickly turning and sprinting into the forest, eventually finding the statue I’d made, complete with the array of weapons scattered around its base. “Thank Christ…” I breathed another sigh of relief, clapping my hands together, slamming them down upon the ground as cyan lightning stormed across the ground and a pinkish filly wearing a yellow ‘space ‘suit with a blue streak in her mane appeared with the other characters that stood there alongside a purple unicorn mare with an orange mane, both smiling down at me Quickly bringing out my hammer and chisel I etched the word ‘Puppysmiles’ and ‘Rainy Days’ into the base of the new parts of the statue, respectively, placing the tools back into my inventory afterwards… “Rick..?” I didn’t bother turning to see who it was, simply choosing to stare into the eyes of the character known as Puppysmiles, “Are you alright?” “I’ll be fine,” I half-lied “Are you sure?” Twilight appeared beside me, staring at the newest addition to the statue. “Puppysmiles, “she read aloud, glancing toward me “She didn’t…?” “She’s dead,” I hissed, “and I wasn’t there to save her, like I should have been.” “But, can’t you bring her back?” her gaze shifted between myself and the statues “There’d be no honour in bringing back the dead, besides, she’s with her mother now,” I nodded toward Rainy Days. “So she is…” she muttered, glancing toward me again, “why don’t we see if Pinkie Pie can cheer you up?” “I’m not in the mood for games,” I frowned. “I know you feel down, but moping isn’t going to help anypony” she giggled. “Down..?” I snapped, she flinched “I’m not down, I’m annoyed beyond recognition, Twilight Sparkle, those ponies,” I gestured toward the statue, “died, because of my incompetence, do you have any idea what that feels like?” I glowered icily toward the lavender mare, “just go…” Twilight turned, galloping as fast as she could toward Ponyville. “The five virtues of the wasteland,” I mumbled once she’d left, “Perseverance, Sacrifice, hope, innocence, and compassion,” I growled “Where on god’s green earth did I go wrong?” Changing to eon form, I retrieved a pen and sheet of paper from my inventory, writing down a quick note, leaving it by the state under one of the plasma rifles; soaring toward the nearby gorge, reverting to human form, stepping closer to the edge. “Daddy..!” I was knocked off my feet and dangerously close to the edge by an icy-blue filly. “What’re you doing here Snowdrop?” I blinked at the little filly, who snarled, rearing back a hoof and striking me across the face. “Don’t you dare die on me; you promised me that you wouldn’t, remember!?” she shrieked, panting for breath afterward, hitting me again across the face. “I remember, I promised that I’d not die on you, and that I’d always be there for you, my little Snow Angel” I pecked her forehead, she frowned, standing beside me as I sat there on the edge, perching herself upon my head, pecking one of my horns as she always used to. “Then please, don’t do it again,” she whimpered, I steadily got to my feet gliding back home, sitting on the front lawn. “I won’t Snowdrop, you can count on it this time,” I set her down in my lap, draping my wings around her. “We love you Daddy…!” Snowdrop clung onto me as Gracy Gloom, Scootaloo, and Winter Bell, launched themselves at me, nuzzling into me, “And I you my little Winter Bell, Saving Grace and rising Star, and I you,” I pecked each of them on the forehead, noticing a light pump on Snowdrop’s head. “Are you Ok, Snowy?” Oh, this…” she pulled back her mane, revealing a short, pointed horn, “it’s nothing special…” “You’re an alicorn” I whispered “that makes you my little snow princess.” “And you’re my little eon” she giggled, pecking me on the nose with a cute little smile. “Rick..!” Autumn Heart tackled me to the ground, lavishing my face with small kisses, “oh I missed you so much! Where were you?” “Out,” I winked, “nowhere special…” “Everywhere you go is special, that’s another reason I love you so much,” she pecked my cheek, “So, how many worlds have you and Blaze been to before you came here?” “A few, one even has basic-level magic in it, although they require magical stones that they constantly refer to mas ’Runes,’” I rolled my eyes, “It’s a wonder I’m not being poked and prodded with ever examination and/or translator spell they have in their arsenal, although that would be a waste of time.” “They must’ve thought of you as odd then?” she giggled. “Not half,” I laughed. “So, what type of spells did they have?” she leant into me, placing her head on my shoulder. “Well, there’re the basic elemental spells that range from a basic fire strike to a water surge, the status-type spells like stunning an opponent or lowering their strength and attack power, and then there’re the lunar Spells… I glanced toward her with a grin. “Lunar spells,” she blinked, “what’re they?” “I don’t really know, didn’t get a chance to take a good look at any of them,” I shrugged, “Well, it doesn’t really matter, so long as you’re Ok then I’m happy,” she nickered, walking back into the house “I’m gonna take a shower,” I gave a slow nod as she winked flirtatiously at me, “and you’re gonna join me, big boy…” “Ok….” I mumbled, standing upright and walking into the house, closing the door behind me as Snowdrop and the others raced into the lounge… After the impromptu ‘shower,’ Autumn Heart dragged me by means of magic into the bedroom, sitting me down on the edge of the bed, after locking the door, placing her hooves on my legs as she took my quickly-hardening member into her maw, sliding her tongue along the base, pulling away for a moment to slide her tongue around the head, before pressing her lips down in it. I shuddered as she slowly began to slide her head back and forth, smiling up at me as pre leaked from the tip of my cock, flowing down her throat as she guzzled it with gusto, beginning to pick up the pace, sliding her tongue along the base of my shaft “Oh… god…” I mumbled, quickly taking hold of her horn as I climaxed, holding her head in place, causing her to gag slightly at the amount of seed filling her oral passage, letting her go after the flow stopped “Like that big boy?” she smiled as she all-but devoured the cum I’d so-graciously donated, turning and lowering her front half to the floor “Come get me tiger!” “Pun intended?” I laughed. “Only you…” she giggled as I crawled, forward, kneeling behind her, lining our crown jewel’s up, sliding my dick into her cunny, taking hold of her clock-shaped cutie marks as I began to ‘plunder her plot,’ so to speak… “Ah yes, harder…!” she gasped as I began to thrust into her sex,, our hips colliding as I repeatedly hilted her, causing her to give a sharp inhale each and every time, “Faster… make me your little whorse!” she begged, I snorted, pounding my dick into her tight little cunt, “Yes, buck me…!” As I felt her inside’s warm up slightly, I started tracing little circles along her cutie marks, she screamed, climaxing, her juices coating my manhood as I continued to pile-drive her “Oh, Sweet Merciful Faust, Yes!” she all-but bellowed, as I came, flooding her insides, our fluids mixing as one as her innards were whitewashed with sperm. “Holy shit…” I mumbled, collapsing back against the bed as I pulled out… “So, what’re we going for, a filly or a colt?” Autumn Heart giggled, turning as she fell; landing on my abdominal area with a sigh of relief, “personally I’m hoping for a colt, so he can be as charming and wonderful as you, my love…” “And I’m hoping for a filly, so she can be as beautiful and caring as you, my little tinker,” I pecked her on the forehead. “OK, so we want a filly then…” she nuzzled into me, but what’ll we call her?” she gave another, lighter, giggle. “I don’t know, it’d depend on what type of pony she is, that way, we can get a name to suit her respective type.” “I‘m rather liking ‘Honey Heart’ if it’s an earth pony,” she smiled, pecking my cheek as she lay along my stomach and chest. “Ok, but what If it’s a Pegasus or a unicorn?” “Charmer for a Pegasus, Zephyr for a unicorn,” she smiled… -=-=- “So, where’s the human torch?” I raised an eyebrow as my family, Autumn Heart, Blaze and I stood at the entrance to the Fairy Tail guild hall “Some pony named Lyra demanded that he go with her and dragged him off someplace else,” Grey raised an eyebrow, “Why?” “Just curious,” I smirked, “I see, so Lyra’s gotten her hooves on him, did she say what she was going to do with our wayward salamander?” “She mentioned something along the lines of ‘Love and Tolerance,’ whatever that meant,” he shrugged. “Help me….”I turned, Natsu was flat on his face, staring up at me as Lyra landed on his back with a wide grin “Found you again Natsu, say, you’re awfully good at this aren’t ya?” Lyra giggled, “Now, we’re going to go back to the apartment and I’m gonna love and tolerate the HAY outta you!” “Someone get a camera…” I laughed; someone quickly arrived with a camera, taking a photo of the spectacle, placing it on the bulletin board for all to see. “Why…?” Natsu mumbled, pouting up at me, quickly being dragged away from the guild hall. “Happy Birthday Natsu..!” I called out, Lyra stopped, turning to the human in her primrose magical aura, gasping as she did so… “It’s your birthday, well then, I’ll have to be doubly careful this time around won’t I?” and with that she vanished taking Natsu with her via teleportation. “It’s not really his birthday is it?” Autumn Heart chortled. “I don’t think so,” I shook my head with a light chuckle. “Strange people in this town…”Grey mumbled, I gestured toward Snowdrop and the others “Save for a few, of course…” I grinned. “So, when she says ‘Love and tolerate,’ you don’t that she means… Y’know…?” he rolled a hand with a sly grin. “Probably,” I nodded, “That remind me I’ll have to ask Celestia about building an extension to the house at some point soon.” “Really, why…?” he blinked, I nodded toward Autumn Heart with a wink; “I don’t know whether to feel somewhat disturbed or to congratulate you on that…” “I can take both with little-to-no trouble, so it’s not really a problem,” I shrugged. -=- “Is there something I can do for you, Rick, Autumn Heart?” Cellsy smiled as we quickly bowed in the throne room. “There is a minor problem we have, Princess,” Autumn Heart’s cheeks turned almost beetroot coloured, turning a rosy shade of red ; “We’re thinking of having a foal, but I don’t think the house is large enough, we were wondering if it would be possible to build an extension of sorts?” “And the foals name, before we go any further?” Cellsy gave an unruly smirk in my direction. “Honey Heart if she’s an earth pony, Zephyr if it’s a unicorn, and charmer if she’s a Pegasus,” I bit my lip.” “Quite thoughtful names, Rick,” she smiled again, “would you like the extension to be another floor, or another series of ground-level rooms?” “Ground level,” Autumn Heart and I smiled together. “I take it this is going to critically wound my bank account, or what’s left of it?” I sighed. “Not at all; any and all purchases you make within the next two years that’re to do with you or your family are hereby to be redirected to the royal Canterlot treasury,” Cellsy giggled,” have fun you two…!” (-)+=+(-) “So, what’ll we do first?” Autumn Heart smiled as the building process was complete, and the bills had all but been sent to Cellsy herself, the construction itself had taken more or less half a year, seeing as Autumn Heart insisted on having more room for the foal/foals to play… “Paint, then carpeting, then the furniture, that way it’ll make sense,” I smiled, pecking her forehead. “What’re you two doing?” I turned; Natsu and Erza were stood beside Grey “Decorating the newly constructed parts of the house,” Autumn Heart smiled, nuzzling into me, glancing toward me once the contact faded from feeling, “so, what colours did you have in mind?” “What are you, having a foal or something?” Natsu laughed, everyone stared at him, “you owe me by the way.” “How so..? I smirked “Lyra had me locked in there for three whole weeks, and I still can’t feel my legs,” he frowned “and you didn’t answer my question, Rick.” “So what if we are?” I shrugged, “I don’t see your little marefriend complaining.” “So, you’re having a foal?” Erza aww’d, it was a little weird, to say the least, “what’s her name?” “It’s pending, dependent on what type of pony she is,” I smiled. “So about that paint…” -=- “The first room’s been done,” I smiled, Autumn Heart smiled, glancing about the room that’d been freshly painted a vibrant lavender colour, and the ceiling had been coated with a whitewash-coloured paint. “It’s lovely, Rick” she smiled, gesturing for me to follow her, I did so, walking with her into a room the walls of which had been painted with a pinkish-scarlet colour, and the ceiling was a mild-pale-ish cyan colour. “I’d say this is better,” I smiled, pecking her cheek. “Shall we?” she gestured to the new set of rooms, I grinned. “Done,” I smiled, having applied a coat of golden yellow paint to the walls and a second coat of orange, walking into the room Autumn Heat was painting, the walls were a burgundy colour, and the ceiling was an odd shade of brown, “neat.” “Thank you, Rick,” she giggled, finishing the ceiling with a smile, climbing down the stepladder to the bare, wooden floor “Just that last room to do now… =-= “That wasn’t so hard, was it?” the lovely brown unicorn smiled as we finished applying the carpet. “Not at all, Autumn Heart, not at all,” I winked. “So, what should we do for the furniture?” she hummed. “That’d depend on who sells what, and for what price, my little Tinker,” I smiled. “Or, we could ask the construction ponies if they do furniture?” she suggested with a light shrug. As it turned out, they did, and we soon had a menagerie of antique-styled furniture in our inventory, and I was currently placing the first sofa into place near the fireplace “A little to the left, but not too –off-centre” she held a hoof to her chin, I nodded following her instructions, “perfect,” she smiled with a gracious nod “now onto the next piece…” Once all the furniture was in a place where we both felt would be best suited for a foal, we sat in the newly placed couch, nuzzling together as Snowdrop sat between us, and Winter Bell, Scootaloo and Gracy Gloom joined us also, sharing a family hg, arms and wings both involved in keeping us as one, if only for a moment. “Hey Rick where, are you, what the hell…?” Blaze gasped at the sight of the bonding moment, “Rick, why the hell is your house now bigger?” “I asked- no, we asked Cellsy for an extension to the house, and she agreed to fund it,” I smiled. “You aren’t planning for anything are you?” she narrowed her eyes. “We’re going for a little filly, her name will depend on what type of pony I birth,” Autumn Heart gave me a serene smile. “Honey Heart if she’s an earth pony, Wind Charmer if she’s a Pegasus; and Golden Zephyr if she’s a unicorn,” I gave a sagely nod. “And you want me to be the wet nurse?” she smiled with a forlorn sigh. “What’s a ‘Wet nurse’?” Autumn Heart blinked. A ‘wet nurse’ is a woman who breast feeds and cares for another's child,” I gave a faint smile, “Blaze is offering to be our babysitter, me-thinks.” “Only for you, Brother, and to you also, Autumn Heart,” Blaze made a quick bow, a slight smile spread across her face. “I’d be honoured, Blaze,” Autumn Heart gave the widest grin I’d seen a single pony muster, ‘twas almost extraordinary… -=-=- Several years past, and Honey Heart, as Autumn Heart had once again insisted, had grown to be quite the handful of an alicorn foal… “Can’t catch me Daddy..!” Honey Heart giggled with unbridled glee as she whizzed round the room, I sighed, hovering up to her level, placing a fragile finger upon her side. “Tag,” I grinned, she darted around my arm, lightly placing a gentle hoof on my nose; “Tag-back!” she laughed. “Drat,” I cursed as she rocketed upstairs, closing one of the doors behind her. “Is she doing the ‘Tag!’ thing again?” Blaze smirked; I nodded, “what she needs is somewhere to place all that energy.” “And where might we find such an item?” I raised an eyebrow. “How the heck should I know, I’m just the local foal-sitter, apparently,” she laughed. “And you’re doing a wonderful job, Blaze,” Autumn Heart sang as she headed upstairs “You didn’t find me~!” Honey Heart smiled in a sing-song tone as she glided toward me as I sat on the couch beside the fireplace. “Alright, you win,” I smiled, holding out a lightly clenched fist, which she bumped with a playful hoof “That means I get a treat right?” she giggled “One sweet and cookie of your choice, as per the usual,” I smiled “I trust you know where to find them?” she nodded, quickly darting off into the kitchen with a wide beam spread across her muzzle… -=-=- “She’s an alicorn?” Cellsy blinked as we entered the throne room, Honey Heart’s black coat and golden yellow mane and tail with orangey highlights running through both gleamed in the sunlight filtering through the windows. “She’s our little Honey Heart” Autumn Heart nickered with a smile, bowing alongside me. “Who’re you?” Honey Heart giggled with a tilt of her head. “I’m Princess Celestia, or, as you father seems to call me, Cellsy,” Celestia held out a hoof, Honey shook it with a wide grin and a giggle, quickly bowing. “Princess Celestia!” Twilight and her friends burst through the door, quickly stopping in their tracks as they caught sight of the new foal, “who’s she?” the lavender mare raised an eyebrow in my direction. “Honey, why don’t you introduce yourself?” Autumn Heart nickered, Honey Heart marched toward Twilight, head held high. “I’m Honey Heart, who’re you?” Honey held out a hoof, Twilight shook it with a small smile upon her muzzle. “My name is Twilight Sparkle, and these’re my friends,” Twilight gestured to each of the ponies who stood beside her in turn; “Applejack,” “Howdy there,” “Rarity,” “I must say you do look rather befitting of your title, Miss Honey Heart,” “Pinkie Pie,” “I can’t wait to throw you a party!” “Rainbow Dash,” “You’re an alicorn, huh, one day you might be as awesome as me!” “And Fluttershy,” “Oh, you’re adorable…” “Thank you Fluttershy,” Honey Heart bowed. “She’s certainly got your mannerisms, Rick” Cellsy giggled. “So she has” I rolled my eyes with a slight/sheepish grin. “I trust that this is what you’ve been hiding from us for the past nine years?” Twilight smirked. “You say that like it’s not a surprise, Twilight Sparkle,” I laughed. “So, are you heading back now or are you staying for lunch?” Cellsy gave a light giggle. “Can we please stay, Daddy?” Honey Heart gave me her best puppy-dog-eyes impression. “You know that I can’t say no to a face like that,” I pecked her on the forehead, “oh, and a word of advice, if Cadance finds us on the way down there, watch out.” “Okie Dokie” she giggled, walking with me and the others to the dining hall. “Ricky-o..!” Cadance cheered as she came galloping toward us at speed, skidding to a halt right before us. “Hello, Cadance” I raised an eyebrow. “Guess what I just caught news of?” she gleamed from ear to ear with a wide grin. “I’ve no idea,” I rolled my eyes indignantly. “I just so happen to hear from Aunty Celestia that you’ve a new foal in the family- where, is she?” “I told her to be careful around you, because I knew that you’d be anxious to meet her,” I side stepped, Honey Heart quickly darted behind me. “Come on out little one, I won’t harm you, I promise…” Cadance cutely cooed as she crouched down to Honey Heart’s level. “You promise?” Honey Heart edged forward from behind me. “I’m Cadance, what’s your name?” the alicorn of love held out a hoof. “I’m Honey Heart,” she fragilely shook Cadance’s hoof, clinging onto me afterward. “That’s a lovely name, how about we take our time getting to lunch, Honey Heart?” the filly in question quickly clambered up the back of my leg, using my wings as a set of steps as she climbed atop my head, quickly shaking her head, “Oh, Ok; well have fun anyway.” “Now that she’s met you she’s going to be less invasive, so to speak, so you should be fine from here on,” I smiled “Ok, Daddy,” Honey Heart giggled, pecking one of my horns with a smile. “-=-“ “Word is that there’s a new filly around, is this true?” Shining Armour smiled as we sat around the dining table. “Honey,” I nodded toward the filly; that of whom, gleamed, standing on the table, giving a quick bow. “I’m Honey Heart, and it’s nice to meet you all,” Honey Heart, smiled, sitting back down beside me, a few-dozen ‘aww’s’ filled the room, Honey Heart blushed. “She’s certainly got your mannerisms, Rick,” Cadance giggled, “Maybe I could-?” “Hooves away from my hubby, Princess Cadance,” Autumn Heart snapped, several ponies, Cellsy, Twilight and her friends alongside Shining Armour included, spat out their drinks, flooding the table in cold, frothy liquids “We beg thy pardon?” Luna raised an eyebrow toward me, then toward Autumn Heart, “did we hear thee correctly in thy stating about thy… marriage..?” “Yeah, we’re married now, and I’d not gave it any other way,” Autumn Heart pecked my cheek “Mommy says it’s rude to spit, especially at the table,” Honey Heart gave a cute frown. “Please forgive us for being so surprised, Honey Heart,” Cellsy gave a faint smile. “Alright…” she rolled her eyes... When we got back to Ponyville, Honey Heart let out a stifled yawn. “Looks like somepony’s tired” I gave a soft laugh. “Just a bit Daddy,” the filly resting upon my head giggled as I gently tucked her into bed, pecking her on the forehead. “Daddy,” Honey Heart held onto my hand as I sat on the edge of her bed, “can you sing me a lullaby?” “Ok, Honey,” I smiled, gently clearing my throat; “When I see your smile Tears roll down my face I can't replace And now that I'm strong I have figured out How this world turns cold and it breaks through my soul And I know I'll find deep inside me I can be the one I will never let you fall (let you fall) I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all (through it all) Even if saving you sends me to heaven It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. Seasons are changing And waves are crashing And stars are falling all for us Days grow longer and nights grow shorter I can show you I'll be the one I will never let you fall (let you fall) I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all (through it all) Even if saving you sends me to heaven Cuz you're my, you're my, my, my true love, my whole heart Please don't throw that away Cuz I'm here for you Please don't walk away and Please tell me you'll stay woah, stay woah Use me as you will Pull my strings just for a thrill And I know I'll be okay Though my skies are turning grey I will never let you fall I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all Even if saving you sends me to heaven I will never let you fall I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all Even if saving you sends me to heaven..” I sang as softly as I could, Honey Heart, by now of course, was fast asleep, giving a cute snore every other moment, I tip-toed as quietly as I could to the door, silently losing it behind me as I left. “That was amazing,” Autumn Heart gave a serene and/or sincere smile “So are you” I whispered “Thanks dear” she cooed. -=- The next morning, I was awoken by a light shaking; Opening my eyes, I saw Honey Heart, with a wide grin spread across my face, levitating a small plate of muffins over to me as Autumn Heart yawned herself wake, glancing toward the little filly. “I bought you breakfast,” Honey Heart giggled/squee’d. “Where’d you get these?” Autumn Heart blinked. “I took a small walk to Sugarcube corner, they gave me a free plate of muffins, which I put in the kitchen for later, and I’m giving these to you now,” Honey Heart explained with a sheepish grin. “Works for me,” she gave a slow nod, yawning again, covering her mouth with a hoof as she did so, quickly eating one of the muffins.” “What time is it?” I mumbled, glancing toward the clock as I sat upright “Eight-thirty, guess I slept in a little…” “I love you Daddy, you too Mommy,” Honey Heart placed the small plate of muffins down on the bedside table, climbing into bed with us, lying snug between us. “And we love you too, Honey, with all our hearts, and perhaps more,” I smiled “You’ll always be our Honey Heart, don’t let anypony tell you differently, Ok?” “Okie Dokie,” she giggled, nuzzling into comfort between myself and Autumn Heart. “Did she make it back Ok?” Blaze appeared at the door, sighing with relief at the sight of the filly who was currently humming with glee “Thank Arceus…” “I take it you escorted her to Sugarcube Corner?” I smiled. “I walked on four legs, she used me as a type of ‘mount,’ so to speak,” Blaze mumbled “I’m just glad that she’s back Ok.” “And we can’t thank you enough for it, Blaze,” I simpered. “I just thought that, if it were my pups, you’d do the same,” she bit her lip. “And once again, we thank you for your kind and considerate actions, Blaze” Autumn Heart smiled. “Good morning Rick,” Twilight smiled as she opened the door to the library “Would you care to enter?” she sidestepped, allowing us entry to the literal treehouse, Rainbow Dash and the others were already inside. “So, Honey Heart,” Twilight gave a light giggle, Honey Heart glanced toward her with a quick/light hum, “what books do you like?” “I like the scientific ones, the ones that tell you lots of stuff, something more knowledgeable for me please,” Autumn Heart glimmered, everyone -save myself, and Autumn Heart’s - jaws slammed to the floor as they sated at her –wide eyed and slack-jawed “Another egghead…” Rainbow Dash mumbled. “And she’s still awesome, so to speak,” Autumn Heart gleamed. “Being an egghead isn’t awesome, it’s about showing off how much greater you are than everypony else!” Rainbow Dash rebuked. “You seem to have forgotten who the two demigods are in this conversation, Rainbow,” I smirked. “But that still doesn’t make her as awesome as me!” she countered. “And what’d be the case if it were ‘awesome’ of a different variety,” I frowned, “just as there are mane shades of colour in the universe there’re just as many combinations of traits and personalities also, it’s something you might want to think about when you’re not being so self-centred, arrogant and cocky, Rainbow Dash.” “I’d no idea you could be so poetic,” Autumn Heart giggled. “Only for you, my love,” I winked toward her. “How sappy can you get?” she frowned. “It’s called a relationship, Pegasus, I do believe, and this is my guestimate, that you’ve never been in one?” I scowled. “How would you know?” she snarled. “Well, I know I wouldn’t want someone like you if you’re being like you are now, mind you, humanly speaking, who would..?” I tutted with a curt nod, glancing toward Honey Heart who was staring at me in awe, the wide grin upon her face visible for all to see… “Now, which book would you like, Honey Heart?” I smiled. “Anything but Daring Doo,” she gagged slightly at the mention of the book series. “That’s my Heart,” I laughed. “So, any of these take your interest, Honey Heart?” Twilight placed a small pile of books in front of the filly, who took a quick look at each, before selecting one on astronomy “you want that one?” Honey Heart nodded “Ok, I’ll need it back in three months though.” “Okie Dokie,” Honey Heart giggled, handing the book to me, smiling as she bowed, turned and left, Autumn Heart and I quickly followed her, “thank you for the book,” she smiled as she exited the library. “Where do you want to go next?” I smiled. “Somewhere quiet…” Honey Heart chimed, clambering unto the top of my head, directing me home, guiding me to her room, once there, she sat on her, taking the book from me within a silvery magical aura, her horn glowing in an aura of the same colour. “Can you stay here Daddy?” she held onto my hand with a gentle hoof as I sat on the edge of the bed, lying down the middle of it. “I’ll stay as long as you want me to, Honey,” I beamed. “I love you Daddy,” she smiled up toward me. “I love you to, Honey Heart, and I always will, now let’s see what you got,, shall we?” I used my hand to wipe away the dust from the cover of the book. “‘Astral Magicka,’” I read aloud “I’m not sure this is right for a pony your age…” “Please~?” she pleaded, forming her puppy-dog-eyes impression. “Fine, but just this once, Ok…?” “Thank you Daddy!” she chorused with glee, flipping the book open with gusto… =-=-= After the three months had ended, I’d noticed that Honey Heart had finished the boo within two, and had revised the spells contained within for the last of the three, hopping with glee as we walked back to the library, her friends once again present in the main lounge. “How are you Honey Heart?” Twilight smiled as we entered the library, Honey Heart handed her the book; “Are you sure this is the same book?” she blinked. “Same book, I just wiped the dust from its cover,” I explained. “Please tell me you’re joking…” she mumbled, both Honey and I shook our heads. “What is this ‘Astral Magicka anyways’?” Rainbow Dash studied the cover of the book, in which there appeared to be a ring, with smaller rings inside it, and dozens upon dozens of stars scattered between each ring, “it doesn’t look all that special to me.” “It’s what Luna uses to move the moon and stars every night,” Twilight bit her lip, glancing between the book and Honey Heart. “But that’s impossible, she’s but a filly!” Rarity argued. “She’s a demigod,” I raised an eyebrow. “Touché” she gave a slow nod and a low hum. -=-=- “Is there something that thou wish to speak to us about?” Luna raised an eyebrow alongside Cellsy and Cadance. “Can I?” Honey Heart glanced toward Autumn Heart and I, we both nodded; she grinned with absolute, unrestrained glee; “Open gate of the dragon Draco Minor!” she declared with gusto, nothing happened, her horn was blazing with a silvery glow, shining with radiance equal to only the sun itself. “We fail to see the point of-!” Luna was interrupted by a moderately-sized dragon made of stars and space-dust bursting through the stained-glass windows to the right of me, said dragon turned to Honey Heart, holding out a clenched claw; Honey Heart bumped it with a gentle hoof. “That’s impossible!” Celestia stared at Honey Heart with quite apparent horror, “I made it so that that book was hidden to all but myself and Luna; how is it that your daughter has managed to scale its contents with such ease?” “It was in the library, with a thick layer of dust covering the front of it,” I raised an eyebrow, “not that hard to find actually, though I will give credit for hiding it in plain sight, even if it is a little clichéd.” “Rick, do you not realise the severity of the situation that Honey Heart has placed herself in?” she frowned, “she could be bullied, and then have to use her only form of defence as a last resort, and then ponies would find out that anypony with enough magical energy in them, or enough potential, could use the exact same Magicka!” “And you’re going to start talking like that without giving it even the slightest bit of a chance?” I snapped, “The exact same rules apply to my dragon slayer magic, yet you don’t see Crystagia wanting to end my life because of it though, do you?” “She was a coward at the best of times, and little more than a fool at the worst,” she snorted. “And commenting makes you oh-so much better, because how?” I growled “you were right, I’m not your son, and if you’re going to be like you are, I’ve no want and/or need to be as such.” I scowled, “and the next time you insult my only parent, I gut you like a fish.” “Close, gate of the dragon..!” Honey Heart chimed and the dragon faded from view, the stars it was composed of flying back out through the windows into the sky “Nicely done, my little Heart,” I clapped my hands together in applaud. “Thank you Daddy, at least somepony appreciates my work,” Honey Heart frowned toward Celestia, “I don’t like you anymore Princess.” “I know that feeling, Honey,” I laughed as we turned and left, “I know that feeling…” “Thou knowest nothing…” Luna spat, her voice dripping with both malice and venom. “And now the royal Canterlot Monster’s having a row at me, and coming from me that‘s saying something,” I snarled, glancing back toward the trio, “but you know what, at least I have the nuts to admit what I’ve done in the past is wrong, and get over it.” I stopped again, “and by the way, I did beat the living tar into Nightmare moon on that other world, have fun contemplating what you’re going to do about that for the next half-hour or so~” I waved as we exited the room. “How was your trip, Dear?” Autumn Heart smiled as we arrived home. “Eventful, but I daren’t speak of it now, my love,” I winked cautiously; she nodded, sidestepping, allowing my daughter and me entry, closing the door after us. “So, what happened?” she sat down on the couch opposite to Honey Heart and I. “Celestia, more-or-less, has just threatened, to take Honey Heart away from us, just because of the spells she’s learnt from a certain book in the library.” I deadpanned. “No…!” she gasped, I shrugged, “how can she do such a thing, isn’t a princess supposed to care for her subjects?” “That’s the irony of I,” I hummed with a curt nod, “but if push comes to shove, I’ve a few new spells of my own to use, just as a last resort, and only as such.” “New spells?” she blinked. “I can use magma as well as fire in my magic reserves now…” I raised an eyebrow; her eyes turned the size of dinner plates, her pupils and the like turning to mere pinpricks. The following morning there was a knock at the door; “Who is it?” I knocked on the door in return. “It’s Twilight,” Twilight’s voice, echoed from behind the door, albeit reluctantly. “And you’re alone?” I growled; bursting into flames. “No, Celestia’s here with me,” she seemingly bit her lip, I sighed, opening the door… Cellsy was indeed there, stood beside Luna and Twilight “There a problem, princess?” I faintly smiled. “You lied to me,” Cellsy frowned “you said you didn’t harm Nightmare Moon, dark as she may have been.” “And I’ve also attained the powers of a magma dragon slayer, what’s your point?” I spat. “We’d like to request a little time with thy daughter, if only for a moment,” Luna bit her lip. “And I suppose in an alternate universe that you might think that I’d just let you walk away with her, unscathed?” I laughed, “Not bloody likely!” “We only wish to talk to her” Cellsy gave a forlorn sigh. “And I’d like the first twenty years of my life to go the way I wanted it to, you don’t see that happening though, do you?” I snarled. “I only wish to discuss the consequences of her having learnt the spells that she has, Rick, why’re you making this so hard?” she gave me a worried look. “Because I don’t feel like I can trust you with anything, let alone my daughter of all things,” I chided, slamming the door in her face, locking it behind me, breathing a sigh of ‘relief,’ before walking into the lounge, where Autumn Heart and Honey Heart were waiting for me, staring at me in apparent fear. “Is everything alright?” Autumn Heart winced. “I don’t know,” I frowned, lightly, “all this could’ve been avoided, had Twilight not judged a book by its cover like she did with Zecora.” “A shame too,” Blaze sighed “so what do we do?” “We protect her with everything we have,” I frowned. “I understand” Autumn Heart gave a forlorn nod “I’ll do what I can-!” “I’ll not risk another being risk her life for family, I’ll do it,” I shook my head. “If you say so, but be careful, Ok?” she pecked my cheek with a small smile. “I’ll be fine,” I smiled… -=-=- “Where do you think this leads Honey?” I smiled, standing beside Twilight, her friends, Autumn Heart, Honey Heart and the rest of my family in front of a staircase that actually appeared to have neither an end, nor a bottom. “I don’t know, Daddy,” Honey Heart giggled, perching herself on my head, “but we’re going to find out anyway!” “And so we are,” I smiled, heading down the stairwell, fists blazing as I sued them as makeshift torches as we ventured into the depths… “I am the Rune Guardian,” a medium-sized golem composed of stone and secret magical arts stepped forward at the opposite end of the room we ended up in at the base of the stairwell, toward each of the corners of the room stood a large statue, two of which looked like wizards, one of a Valkyrie-like warrior-woman, and the forth, of a paladin-type warrior; “Have you come to join the Wizard's tower, young apprentices?” the golem tapped the base of its staff against the dull, grey stone floor as the others stood/hovered beside me. “Wizard's tower..?” Twilight blinked, “I’ve read all the history books in Equestria and not once is there any mention of a Wizard’s Tower!” “Then perhaps not all of your books have been justified, or printed correctly,” the Rune Guardian shrugged. ”Let’s assume we’re here to learn magic, what then?” I raised an eyebrow. “Then I have a test for those who wish to do so, a simple, five-question quiz of sorts,” the Guardian apparently smiled, without a mouth it was hard to tell. “Then what?” I tilted my head ever-so slightly. “Then I shall put you into one of the four groups in which all wizards are placed into, and then I shall allow you entrance to the basement of the tower “Then I’m up first then” I stepped forward “Then we shall begin with relative ease,” the rune anomaly hummed with apparent content “the first question; You are behind in your studies due to illness, and a test is coming up. Your place at the tower is safe, but if you fail you will lose some respect. Another apprentice offers you an opportunity to cheat, what do you do?” “Don’t cheat; as it’d be wrong and I wouldn’t learn anything,” I replied with a smile. “Interesting” the Guardian gave a slow nod, “the second question. An elderly wizard - the last practitioner of a unique branch of magic - dies. Her diary might contain details about her unique magic, but her will, states that the diary should be destroyed on her death, what do you do?” “Copy out what appear to be the most crucial parts of the book for future reference, but then destroy the book later,” I blinked. “Good, now, the third Question,” the Rune being tapped its staff once again on the floor “A rival wizard is spreading lies about you and has made you the laughing stock of a nearby village. They believe you are of low intelligence and poor moral character, and throw vegetables at you when you visit. What do you do?” “Attempt a friendly compromise, but challenge the wizard to a duel before the village if nothing non-combat-related seems to work,” I frowned. “Nearly there, the fourth question;” The Rune Guardian gave a low hum; "You have become a senior wizard and are asked to take on an apprentice. The boy is talented but undisciplined and does not apply himself out his areas of interest. What is your approach?" “Either attempt to teach him magic that’s related to his weakness, to give him a balance learning curriculum, or two show patience and kindness so he has a safe place to learn “Good almost there, the fifth question;” the ancient being tapped its staff once again “senior wizard asks you to take part in a ritual that will greatly benefit the tower. Before the ritual starts, you discover that he learned part of it from a demon. The ritual appears safe, but demons are expert liars, what is your response?" “Stop the ritual, as it is never wise to trust a demon, and it could be unsafe in a way that most wouldn’t be able to detect,” I raised an unamused eyebrow “Welcome, Blue Wizard,” the guardian raised its free hand, an orb of alabaster/snow-white energy hiding its hand from view as a pendant appeared around my neck,” you may proceed…” After everyone had passed the ‘Test,’ and received their respective pendants, we ventured through the doorway behind the Rune Guardian, marching down a spiral staircase toward another doorway. As we passed through the doorway, Twilight’s jaw fell to the floor, “What is all this?” Twilight gasped her eyes darting from one part of the cavernous room to the next. The room itself, like the one before, was quadrilateral in shape, and there was a raised platform in the shape of a ‘+’ in the centre of the room, that of which we were stood on, with countless bookshelves filled with tomes, scrolls and the like, and in the centre, there was an intricate pattern carved into the ground, a large ring with around two-hundred other rings surrounding it, each with a different symbol engraved into the floor, the main, centre ring had a pattern I was familiar with, a crescent moon in front of a circular sun, and hovering in circles around the beams were what appeared to be a small colony of wisps. “If I had to guess, it’s the ruins of an ancient, wondrous civilisation,” I gave a faint smile. “This is incredible…!” Autumn Heart gaped, staring at the contents of the room. “And to think this has remained mostly untouched for countless moons…” I whistled. “It’s unbelievable!” Rarity swooned, almost. “I wonder how old all of this is,” Littlepip hummed. “If Cellsy and Luna kept this place all ‘hush-hush,’ so to speak, there’s probably a good reason for it,” Honey Heart giggled, “Right Daddy?” “Correct, little one, and if she’s kept this quite for this long, I wonder what other dark secrets we’ll find down here whilst we’re at it,” I frowned. “What’s that?” Autumn Heart pointed to a nearby skeleton, dressed in ancient roes and wielding a just-as-ancient staff. “A Mage of the ‘Wizard’s Tower’ perhaps..?” Blackjack shrugged. “Most likely,” I nodded, “But it’s a human skeleton, so it’s at least a billion years old…” “How long has this place been kept a secret?” Velvet Remedy gave a wicked glare. “Longer than I’d have liked it to, apparently,” I frowned, walking to the skeleton, rifling through the pockets of the robes, finding a dusty old tome alongside a selection of small circular stones with symbols on them, the symbols appeared to represent the four elements. “A journal maybe..?” Autumn Heart blinked, but what’re the stones for?” “It’s the basics of magic; they’re runes, used in spell-casting, Autumn Heart,” I smiled, “the skeleton is that of a mage of old, but what was he doing here with these entities?” I gestured toward the wisps with a free wing. “Studying them maybe?” Twilight stood beside me “Perhaps,” I shrugged, opening the book, it read; Rats! Cant’ believe I got stuck down here on sentry duty, these damn wisps are nothing but trouble, and are the sole spawn of the lord of chaos himself! Sometimes I wish what it’s like in Celestia’s hooves, I really do, but I cannot dawdle on such thoughts, as I have a job to do, protecting Equestria from the dangers of this tower, and the wisps themselves, if need be… If anyone finds this, and this is assuming anything should go wrong, I want whoever is reading this to tell Lily that I’ll be home as soon as I can, and tell Rick that daddy’s coming home soon If you yourself, Rick, are reading this, I want you to know that I’m sorry. I’m sorry for being the father I could’ve been, I’m sorry for not being there for you when I could’ve been, and I’m sorry that I probably won’t make it this time, and make sure you take care of Lily, Ok? I love you, son… Que Sera… “That can’t be you, he’s referring to; can it?” Autumn Heart stared at me. “It could be, I am an eon old after all,” I slowly closed the journal, placing it into my inventory, picking up the staff after also placing the runes into the same inventory, standing between my friends, family and the wisps “someone has to tell Celestia about this, and I’ve to stay here to watch over these little monstrosities.” “Rick, I…” Twilight stammered. “Go!” I boomed, glancing toward the lavender mare with an icy glare, she quickly nodded, leading her friends back up the staircase with a gallop/sprint. “Rick…?” Autumn Hearts stood beside me, placing a fragile hoof on my leg, I glanced toward her; a worried expression plastered across my face “Are you alright?” “Don’t worry,” I crouched down, allowing Honey Heart to clamber safely to the ground, “as soon as I’m done here, we’ll all go home.” “But I don’t want to wait for you at home,” she snapped, “I want to know that we’re together at home, safe.” “And we will be, just give ait a little time, Autumn Heart,” I gave a faint smile. “I don’t want to wait, Rick, I want us to be a family, away from here!” she argued glaringly, “I don’t think your father would want you to be wasting your life on something like this, he’d want you to be having fun with your friends and family, so please,” she continued with a sigh, “come home…” “I was hoping to keep this place a secret,” Cellsy appeared beside me, standing opposite Autumn Heart and Honey Heart, “I suppose I’m to give you an explanation, Rick?” “I’m guess that Equestria was built upon the ruins of Gielinor?” I scowled. “That is correct, the realm you humans called Gielinor has been razed to the ground and built upon by ponykind,” she gave a slow, curt nod, “Is, this your resolve then to stay here whilst the world changes around you?” “Half arsed trash like you doesn’t have the right to talk about resolve,” I spat. “You didn’t answer my question,” she frowned. “I’ll be here as long as I need to be.” “So you’re going to waste your life waiting for something that might not even happen?” she snorted. “I shall do just as my father did before me; protect Equestria,” I fumed. “I can do that on my own, Rick,” she raised an eyebrow, “Victory is secured, not from the throne, but from the front lines,” I rebuked. “Then what of your family?” she chided, “they need your care as well, Eon.” “Alright, but I’ll still have a look around, see if I can’t find anything interesting in here,” I sighed with a roll of my eyes. “That is acceptable,” she nodded, teleporting away. -=-=- After taking only the most readable books, tomes and scrolls into my inventory, I headed back into the castle above, reading the journal as I went, Autumn Heart and the others quickly following me “So, after all this time, you finally found your legacy?” Blaze gave a forlorn hum, “I’m sorry” “Don’t be, it wasn’t your fault, and it never will be,” I sighed, flipping to the back of the book, discovering a type of map scratched into the hard leather of the rear cover. Following the map to the appropriate destination, I came across a seemingly abandoned house, with broken windows, a battered front door, and a few missing roof tiles “Hello?” I knocked on the door; a sudden breeze caused it to swing open, revealing a mess of a landing. “Is anypony here?” Autumn Heart called out; the only response we received was a deafening silence, “Mom?” I bit my lip, taking a step forward, feeling something soft beneath me. Glancing to the floor, I noticed a book, bound in leather, with a thick layer of dust covering it “No…” my eyes became wide with unparalleled fear for the worst “please, god no…! “I’m sorry…” Blaze reiterated. “Don’t be” I gave an audible gulp, tears threatening to burst from their ducts as I picked the book from the floor, wiping the dust from the front cover with a light finger, revealing a photo that’d been glued to the front… The picture was somewhat faded, but it was clear who was in it, two people, one, a young man with fair skin, black hair, sapphire eyes and Wizard's robes, complete with a staff, standing beside a young lady with long, flowing dark brown hair and emerald eyes, and in the centre, there was an eon, hovering between the two of them, a smile appeared on all three of their faces, the eon itself had black and white scales and golden eyes, just as I did, but lacked the crystalline chest symbol, instead, he/I had the same triangular pattern every other eon had, but he smiled nonetheless… I collapsed, falling to the floor as I let my emotions flow, crying without holding anything back, tears cascading like miniature waterfalls down my face as I lay there, holding the book close to me. “Rick…” Autumn Heart levitated me, sitting me against the outer wall, nuzzling into me alongside Littlepip, the two mares draping their arms around me, I fainted. ()=+-+=() When I next awoke, my vision blurred; “Hey,” Autumn Heart nuzzled into me as I slowly sat upright, draping my wings around her and Honey Heart as the filly launched herself toward me, clinging onto me with all her might. Just at that moment, Twilight, her friends and the princesses walked into the room. “What happened?” I mumbled, glancing over to the bedside table, where the same book lay, I quickly looked away. “You were rendered catatonic,” Cellsy bit her lip, “something not even I expected from you, Rick.” “I…” I blinked, quickly shaking my head, “What about the tower?” “That depends on what you want to be done with it, Rick” she raised both eyebrows, “do you wish for it to be made public, or to keep it a secret?” “I’ll keep it as it is, don’t want the whole country in a nation-wide panic over a few wisps, do we?” I rolled my eyes “Those wisps are an eon-old descendant of the parasprite, but rather than eating physical objects, they devour magic,” Cellsy began to explain, “the only reason you’re still conscious is because they haven’t worked out your magical anatomy yet, you’re an anomaly to them, your father however, was not so lucky…” “I understand…” I muttered, “He died trying to keep the rest of Equestria safe, we owe him that much at least…” “And what, of the tower’s contents?” she gave a short, light, hum. “Keep them as the rest of the tower is, I don’t want anyone dabbling in what isn’t their business in the first place,” I gave a light frown. “We missed you Daddy, “Snowdrop, Winter Bell, Scootaloo Gracy Gloom and Honey Heart chimed as they clung onto me. “And I you, my little family, and I you,” I draped a wing around each of them with a small smile. “Now, what do you plan to do next..?” =-= “Are you sure this is wise?” Cadance chewed her lip as we entered the Wizard's Tower’s basement. “I’ve got to, who else’s going to do this?” I growled as I stood before the colony of wisp, bursting into flames, the flames quickly liquefying into magma, the superheated liquid dripping to the ground with a light hiss as it made contact with the floor. “Eigo Hoseki Yōgan Ryū…!” I bellowed, inhaling copious amounts of air “Hokou!” I exhaled a vast torrent of magma straight toward the colony of wisps, all but obliterating them as the magic infused magma melded with the beam of magic, said beam of magic turned a vibrant orange, before turning into a light shade of Cyan-blue, bursting through the ceiling. “Well, that was interesting,” I mumbled, changing to eon form, Snowdrop perched herself atop my neck as Honey Heart landed on my head, and Scootaloo, Winter Bell and Gracy Gloom glided unto my back. Suddenly, there was an eruption of light as the runes in my inventory flew out before me, also fusing the beam of energy/light, stabilizing it, the aged contents of the bookshelves regressing to their younger selves, and the room became lighter, with hovering orbs of snow-white light lining the walls. “Son..?” I turned, the man from the photograph was standing there, complete with the staff, robes and all, is aid nothing, merely staring at the man. “Is it really you?” he eyed me from ear to tailfin, I gave a weak nod, he burst out laughing, “I guess I didn’t need to write that farewell letter after all!” I flinched, he blinked “what is it son?” I handed him the journal “But, this doesn’t make sense, if I died then, how is it that I’m alive now?” he glanced between myself and the book “Much has happened in the past billion years,” he turned, facing my friends, Blaze, and the princesses “I’ve been gone, for how long?” he gasped. “You’ve been dead for a whole eon, Dad…” I shuddered at the use of the word “And what of Lily?” he asked with only the utmost urgency. “Rick’s little spell not only bought you and the tower back to life, it most likely bought the others back as well” Cellsy gave a weak smile. “But that’s impossible, you can’t simply reverse time on an entire Tower, much less a single human being!” he frowned, glancing toward me, “what have you done!?” “I don’t know, to be honest with you,” I bit my lip. “I just hope Lily’s alright…” he mumbled. “As do I,” I nodded “Edward..!” a woman, just like the one in the photo, burst forth from behind Celestia and the others, rushing toward him, wearing similar, sky-blue robes, embracing him in a warm hug. “And who’s, this…” she awed at me, staring at me in quite apparent horror “Rick, is that… it can’t be!” “It is,” I clenched my claws “Hello, mum.” “I can’t believe it’s you!” she rushed up to me, eyeing me from ear-to-tailfin-tip, “And I see you’ve made friends too!” “So, where do we stand, as of now?” ‘Edward’ raised an eyebrow, folding his arms in my direction “It’s been a whole eon since you, passed away, I’m sorry…” I grimaced, “I don’t care Rick, so long as I get to see you again” Mom smiled, pecking my cheek. “So, how was it that you got us back to life anyhow?” Edward hummed. “I used magic, that’s all that should really matter,” I flinched. “And what type of magic was it?” he frowned again “it better not be some Zamorakian cursed reanimation spell!” “Nay, ‘twas dragon slayer magic,” I winced “Dragon Slayer magic?” his eyes narrowed, “and where did you get this magic from, my son?” “A dragon God, one known as Crystagia, she….” I inhaled sharply, and then exhaled “she acted as my foster mother whilst she tutored me, you’re not mad are you?” “So long as it’s not a demon from the books of Zamorak…” he rolled his eyes “So, what can you do with this ‘Dragon Slayer’ Magic?” the lady known as Lily gave a faint smile, Snowdrop and the others, save Honey Heart, who remained rested atop my head, landed safely on the floor as I reverted to human form, fists blazing. “So, it’s fire-based?” Edward blinked. I shook my head; “It can be any element depending on which dragon you get it from.” “So, which element are you?” Lily giggled, poking my horns with apparent glee “Gemstone, but mostly fire-based,” I smiled, “can you please stop that?” “Why not..? It’s fun, besides; I just wanted to make sure they weren’t fake,” she smiled. “Fair do‘s,” I shrugged, “now, about the tower?” “I saw it being rebuilt on my way here, as if by magic!” Lily laughed. “So you can reverse time…” Edward hummed, unfolding his arms, “looks like I owe you an apology or two, son,” “Nah, it’s fine, you had every right to be suspicious about my words, and therefore, who I am,” I smiled. “So, what happens now, seeing as the tower’s being rebuilt?” Lily gave a light giggle. “We might as well go and see what’s going on upstairs then” “Edward said with a smile. And so we made the short journey to the Wizard's Tower, Twilight almost had an aneurysm upon entering the spacious first floor. The tower itself was several storeys high, and octagonal in shape, the same beam of light/energy from the basement acting as a lift to the upper levels, and almost-cylindrical bookshelves hovering between the many pillars that supported the upper floors. “This is….” Twilight’s eye twitched, almost convulsing. “Is she going to be alright?” Edward nodded toward the lavender mare. “She’ll get over it, she’s a rather studious mare, and therefore, has a passion for books, reading and the like,” I explained, changing to eon form. “Ah, so I see,” he gave a slow nod. “Ah, Edward, I was beginning to wonder where you were” a mild/darker skinned woman with greying hair sat at the receptionist’s podium beside the entrance. “I’m still here, Valina, you don’t need to worry about me.” “And this is your son, my, gosh, hasn’t he grown up quickly!” Valina gasped, staring at me “he looks to be quite the charmer, hope he’ll fit in well with the others.” “As do I Val, as do I,” Edward patted my back. “I trust these are your friends, Lily?” Valina gestured toward Twilight and the others. “We can talk Y’know” Rainbow Dash frowned. “So you can” Valina rolled her eyes, voice laced-and-dripping with sarcasm, “Shall I allow them entry?” she turned to Lily and Edward. “I trust that they’re not here to cause trouble, Valina,” Lily smiled. “Then I’ll let them pass, after laying down a few ground rules,” Valina smiled, giving the twisted root-like wand in her hand a flick, and a cyan screen-like projection appeared in the open doorway “No pestering the wizards, only a select few questions are allowed. Secondly, no using the teleportation beam for your amusement is to be allowed. Thirdly; treat everyone at the tower fairly,” Twilight read aloud, “I can agree to those terms,” She smiled. “Then I shall allow you entry, young equine” Valina smiled, and, with another flick of her want, the screen disappeared. “So the infamous gatekeeper has returned?” a short mane with a long-grey beard and moustache wearing the same sky blue robes and hat as my parents laughed as we entered the main area/library of the ground floor “We’re back, are we not?” Edward frowned, “I always did find you to be a little too senile and decrepit for the role of librarian, Borann.” “Such slights..!” Borann gasped in mock-shock-and-awe. “And coming from the father of a freak; no less?” “I’m also sentient, Borann,” I hissed. “So you are,” he gave a slow nod “tell me, why do you insist on staying around those two, you’re old enough to live on your own, are you not?” “I’ll take a caring family over an annoying half-pint midget any day,” I scowled. “Your choice,” he shrugged. “And here I thought blueblood was agitating…” Rarity spat “We let talking unicorns into the tower now?” Borann snapped, glaring right at me. “At least they’ve got an actual set of brain cells between them, you, on the other hand, have only age, corruption and a cocky and/or smug attitude about you, Borann,” I cracked my knuckles. “Would you care to repeat that, young scholar?” he frowned with an icy glare. “Gladly, old fool,” I snorted, “how about you make the right choice and step down, give someone who knows what they’re doing the job, eh?” “You have no right to threaten me…!” he silenced himself as I reverted to human form, wings, horns and all, breathing a small fireball in front of me “what in Saradomin’s name are you!?” “I’m an eon, a human, and a dragon slayer, and that’s all you need to know,” my eyes turned to slits as he took several steps backward, walking into a nearby wall, by now, several wizards had turned to face us, staring in awe at me, some preparing spells to attack, others, to defend. “Do with your spells as you wish, either attack me or defend yourselves, only know that I mean you no harm,” I held out my hands with a small smile. “What are you?” the Wizard in the middle of the small group stared at me, fire spells at the ready. “Part dragon, part human, part eon, and part rubber, take that how you will,” I shrugged. “And the horns?” he frowned. “Are those; of a dragons’, you needn’t worry about me going all demonic on you,” I laughed. “Then I think we can get by, if at all,” he nodded “I’ll let the Archmage know right away,” and with that he ascended the beam of magic energy in the centre of the library… “So, that thing’s your son?” A second wizard raised an eyebrow, glancing between Lily and Edward, who both nodded. “We may not be related by blood, but we’re still family” Lily smiled. “So be it.” the wizard from before re-appeared down the beam, turning to face me. “The Archmage will see you know, second floor, first on the left.” “I’ll be there,” I turned to Twilight “Sparkles, try not to break anything.” As we entered the Archmage’s office, sat behind a desk, a middle-aged man with silvery hair and a set of gold-trimmed Wizard's robes smiled at me, albeit, faintly. “A wizard visited me just a moment ago about you,” the Archmage raised an eyebrow, “and I’d like to hear it for myself, what are you exactly?” “I’m a human, an eon, and a Dragon Slayer,” I bit my lip as Edward placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. “I see, and you’re presence at the tower?” he gave a light frown. “I wish no harm to come to the tower, nor any of its occupants, Archmage,” I boldly declared. “As you say,” he nodded, “I hereby request that your parents keep an eye on you whilst you remain in the tower and on its grounds, is this acceptable?” I nodded, “Then I’ll let the others know of your acceptance to the Wizard's Tower…” -=- After Sedridor’s speech had finally managed to convince the occupants of the tower no harm, he returned to his office, and I was left with my friends and family to roam the tower; “So, what happens next?” Twilight twitched as she looked around the library. “Go on then…” I rolled my eyes with a heavy sigh. “She can levitate items, how?” Lily glanced toward me as Twilight picked several books from the nearby bookshelf, sitting down by the nearby wall, opening the first with her magic, behinning to read. “Pony magic differs from that of a human,” I began, smiling, “ “there’re two types of magic where I’ve been, ability-type, in which the magic in a user is freely flowing through them, and holder-type, where you have to use a certain item to use any form of magic.” “So, when we use runes, that’s holder type magic, and the same applies for combat staves?” Edward tilted his head. “Right,” I nodded,” now just think of what we could do if we needn’t use runes in our magic, but rather, what if we could use our minds instead?” “That’d certainly make things easier,” Lily gave a soft laugh, “So, are unicorns here holder-type or ability-type?” “I haven’t managed to work that out yet, but I’d have to say ability-type,” I gave a short hum, glancing toward the lavender mare, who was busy, indulged in her book, a little too indulged, as she didn’t seem to notice the amount of stares she was receiving. “She’s cute I’ll give her that,” Edward glanced between the two of us; “are you two… Y’know?” “I’m not sure how to answer that…” I blinked, “I mean, officially I’m with Autumn Heart…” “I see, and where is this Autumn Heart?” Lily smiled; I nodded toward the earth-brown unicorn who was currently showing Honey Heart around the library “You have a child?” suddenly, all eyes in the room were on us, one could hear, assuming one were to be lost, a pin dropping to the ground, giving a slight tinkas it hit the floor. “Please at least tell me that she’s adopted…” Edward mumbled. “Oh how I wish I could,” I crouched, holding my hands out, Honey Heart galloped over to me, quickly clinging onto me, quickly climbing her way onto the top of my head. “So, you had intercourse, with a pony?” Lily whispered, this of course, did nothing to avert the stares we were getting, “are you a blasphemer!?” “No, I’m an atheist mostly,” I flinched “Well, to each his own I suppose,” he frowned, glaring at Honey Heart, who poked her tongue at him, “So, how long has this been going on?” “How long have I been here?” I glanced toward Snowdrop, who was now perched upon my shoulder “Around thirty-to-forty years, Daddy” Snowdrop giggled. “How many of these things have you even…?” Edward glared at me icily, I mouthed the word ‘Two’ at him “For Saradomin’s sake Boy, and you have the nerve to bring us back, alongside the Wizard's Tower!?” “I ‘had the nerve,’ because I wanted my parents back, obviously you can’t appreciate what someone else has done for you, nor the gravity of that said action, Edward,” I scowled “Get out of my sight; you’re no son of mine” he growled. “Maybe you’d like to go back to playing dead then?” I snarled. “You wouldn’t dare!?” he bellowed. “You wish to risk your life on a gamble,” I spat “why didn’t you say so?” “Enough!” Lily boomed at the top of her lungs, panting for breath afterward, “both of you stop it, you’re acting like children, now why don’t we get over this, and try to work out a compromise!?” “Yes Mum/Yes Dear,” Edward and I glanced at one another, eyebrows raised. “Now, apologize,” she fumed. “I’m sorry for threatening you, Dad,” I held out a hand, he glanced toward Lily, who gave a menacing leer. “And I’m sorry for not giving your relationship a chance, Rick” he shook my hand with a weak smile. “Now, can everyone go back to what they were doing prior to this little excursion?” Lily lanced around the room, gradually, the wizards of the tower returned to their duties… “Remind us never to annoy thy mother,” Luna giggled nervously. “Oh I wouldn’t worry about it, I have to be like this to put up with these two,” Lily placed an arm around Edward and myself, “if not me, then who?” “True,” she smiled “forgive us for not introducing ourselves; we are Princess Luna, herald of the night, and guardian of the stars.” “And I’m Lily” Lily shook Luna’s hoof as she held it out “Indeed,” Luna nickered as Cellsy made her way toward us also, “and this is thine sister, Princess Celestia.” “Nice to meet you,” Lily smiled in return, shaking Celestia’s armoured hoof. “Likewise Lily,” Cellsy smiled “so, how does your magic work?” Twilight’s ears and head both turned toward us as the conversation changed to one of Magicka. “We use runes, something Rick refers to as ‘holder-type’ magic,” Lily gave a serene smile, “with the runes we can cast anything we can think of, but without them; we can’t do much except make more.” “And where do these runes come from?” “Rune essence” Edward smiled also, “it is from theta certain mineral that any type of rune can be made, and from there, they’re used in all sorts of arcane arts, most predominantly in combat magic.” “Combat magic?” Celestia raised an eyebrow. “Only for self-defence of course,” Lily bit her lip. “But of course, just as we use basic bolt spells when defending ourselves, such as in the past wars with the dragons and gryphons that’ve been waged on us as a nation.” “You’ve been in wars?” Edward blinked, glancing toward me, I shrugged. “A few, but we ponies prefer to avoid conflict, if possible,” Luna stated with a slight amount of pride in her voice. “So I see,” Lily smiled, again. “And where might this Rune Essence be exactly?” Luna raised an eyebrow. “It has its own mine in another plane of existence, which was discovered by Zamorakian priests a few decades ago,” Edward explained with a light frown. “And you have means to travel there?” Celestia tilted her head slightly. “We have a teleportation spell, yes” he nodded with a slight grin. -=-=- “So, that was fun,” I rolled my eyes as we arrived in Ponyville “I hope I can go back there again!” Twilight exclaimed with apparent glee. “I don’t see why not,” I sighed. “So, you’re Ok then?” Autumn Heart trotted beside me. “I’ll be fine, Autumn Heart,” I simpered as Discord popped into view right in front of us. “Does anyone know why there’s a tower in the middle of the Everfree Forest?” Discord beamed. “You mean you don’t know?” I blinked, “it’s the Wizard's Tower.” “Ah yes, the Saradominist wizards of old…” he sighed with a wide grin, “So, who not attack me?” “I came to realise something,” I smirked, “compared to the villainous scum that Fairy Tail as a guild has come across, you are but nought, trash that has merely yet to have been disposed of, a freak of nature, etcetera, etcetera.” “Really?” he frowned, “you tell me the lord of chaos, that I’m nothing?” “Compared to anyone from Grimoire Heart, Tartaros, or the Oracion Seis,” you’re nothing, especially when compared to Zeref himself,” I snorted with minor amusement. “You think a mere child is better than me?” he laughed hysterically, “that’s rich!” “He’s the lord of death magic,” I smirked “given the chance; he’d kill anyone with a mere thought, nothing more, nothing less” “You’re joking…” he stared at me with a slight of fear, I raised an eyebrow “well I’ll be damned…” and with that he vanished, teleporting away. “You have a wizard who utilizes death magic?” Celestia blinked. “Not in the guild, but somewhere in Fiore, yes, the Black mage; Zeref,” I gave a forlorn nod. “And around four centuries ago, he attained immortality,” Blaze smirked, appearing at the doorway to the house “you left the front door unlocked again, Brother.” “So, how powerful is he?” Twilight shuddered. “That much is unknown, other than his abilities and his immortality, there’s not much I do know, other than his hatred for mankind,” I frowned. “There’s one thing I still don’t get though,” Twilight glanced toward me, taking a small backward step; “how did you become a magma dragon slayer?” “The same way Natsu can use lightning,” I raised the other eyebrow, “and in a similar way Sombra uses his dark magic; anger and emotion.” “You must’ve been extremely annoyed for your fire to turn solid, Brother,” Blaze whistled. “Quite so, and since I’ve had dark magic literally ripped from my being, there’s no risk of corruption.” “I should hope so,” she gave a slow nod, sidestepping, allowing us entrance to the house. “So… we’ve an astral mage and a lava-surfer” Blackjack laughed, I tilted my head ever-so slightly, “what?” “Nothing at all, Blackie, nothing at all…” I slowly shook my head. Honey Heart’s stomach growled as she lay atop my head; “Daddy, I’m hungry,” she giggled nervously. “Well, let’s see what we can do to sate, that appetite, hm?” I smiled, walking with my family into the kitchen, Blaze causally following me there, smug grins aplenty. “So, what can I get you, Honey?” I smiled; Honey Heart levitated the cookie Jar over to me, placing it in my grasp with a light giggle as her stomach growled again. Judging by the way your stomachs grumbling, I’d say you need more than a few sweets, Honey,” I smiled, “let’s see what we can get at Sugarcube corner.” “Okie Dokie!” she nickered, glancing down to my shoulder as Winter Bell perched herself there on our way toward the confectionery. “Can we sing?” Honey Heart smiled down to me on the way there. “I don’t see why not, my little Honey Heart,” I said with a smile. “I've been watching you stumble through the darkest night Let me tell you It's gonna be alright I can see you've been trying but your wings got clipped been waiting in line but your turn got skipped I'll be there when you need me I'll be there when you call Yeah I'll be there to catch you when you fall Know that I'll never leave you Out here on your own I'll be the lights that guide you home Been a long time coming Feelings for you My hearts been skippin' a beat Maybe two Right now you're weak but, But you'll be strong I know where there's a place That you belong I'll be there when you need me I'll be there when you call Yeah I'll be there to catch you when you fall Know that I'll never leave you Out here on your own I'll be the lights that guide you home I don't know if you want me Or if you care But even if you don't I'll be there 'Cuz when I'm beside you My soul burns bright Let me be the one Let me be your light I'll be there when you need me I'll be there when you call Yeah I'll be there to catch you when you fall Know that I'll never leave you Out here on your own I'll be the lights that guide you home Now I know you've had problems We could solve 'em We could make it through Tried and true We could fight 'em off, all of 'em We could make it through a brighter day, anyway Gettin' by another way So I guess I'm trying to say I wanna be the lights guiding you through the night When things get dark, when you don't know what's right I wanna hold your hand, and tell you that you can So don't worry, it's gonna be alright I'll be there when you need me I'll be there when you call Yeah I'll be there to catch you when you fall Know that I'll never leave you Out here on your own I'll be the lights that guide you home” Honey Heart, Snowdrop and Winter Bell sang as we made it toward Sugarcube Corner, now on the receiving end of quite a few stares… “I didn’t know you sang,” I turned; Natsu, Erza, and Grey were there, grinning. “Yeah well, don’t expect me to do it often,” I rolled my eyes, glancing toward Natsu. “So, how’s Lyra?” “I was about to meet her here actually…” Natsu mumbled. “Good for you,” I smirked as we entered the shop, Lyra was sat at a nearby table, Natsu dragged himself toward said table, sitting opposite Lyra as she levitated a milkshake from the counter, placing it between them, gazing at him dreamily as she started to drink, Natsu reluctantly followed suit, glaring at me as he did so, I merely shrugged. “What can I getcha?” the cyan mare behind the counter smiled, winking at me, I frowned. “I’ll have three triple-chocolate milkshakes and four blueberry muffins please,” Honey Heart giggled, Mrs Cake nodded, returning not a moment later with the consumables that the little filly had requested. “How much do I owe you?” I gave a weak smile as Honey Heart levitated the items over to a table opposite Lyra and Natsu “It‘s fine, I’ll not charge you anything if it‘s for your daughter,” she smiled with a dismissive wave of her hoof,, glancing toward Lyra “the same also applies for Lyra’s new coltfriend over here.” “Oh, we’re not together…” Natsu trailed off, seeing the pony’s saddened expression before him, “I mean; we’re to get married soon…” Lyra leapt at him, somehow avoiding the cold drink as she lavished him with kisses. “So, you’re to be married?” I smirked as we left Sugarcube corner, Lyra skipping merrily alongside us with a look of pure glee upon her face, “do you even know how a wedding works, Natsu?” “Not really, no, why?” he blinked. I sighed, “Snowdrop, could you please get Twilight, and ask her to bring Cadance along?” I glanced toward Snowy, who nodded, pecked my cheek and galloped off toward the library. -=- “I heard that you required my assistance, Rick?” Cadance smiled at me as she teleported beside me, I nodded toward Lyra and Natsu. “Natsu said that he and Lyra are apparently getting married soon, he’s then gone on to tell me that he has no idea how a wedding works,” I smirked. “Oh, I can tell you all about it Natsu, but first we need to get you a suit, we should head over to Rarity’s for that,” Cadance chimed, picking the human up in her magic, skipping happily toward the boutique, Lyra quickly following suit. “You are in so much trouble…” Erza sighed with a smirk as Snowdrop perched herself back on my shoulder. “Yeah well, that’s the way the cookie crumbles,” I laughed. “So it is,” she laughed. =-= “I’d never thought I’d ever see this happen…” I bit my lip as Natsu, now wearing a suit, complete with his trademark checkered scarf, stood beside Lyra at the end of the aisle “I do,” he smiled, more-or-less completing the wedding; “I now pronounce you colt and mare, you may kiss the bride,” the priest smiled awkwardly, Lyra leapt up, planting her lips firmly on Natsu’s. “What’ll you do for your honeymoon then?” I smirked as the newlyweds marched from the town hall. “I’ve an idea, but I’ll need to save up a little for it,” Lyra giggled, now perched on the back of Natsu’s head. “Take what you need from me; or rather, the ridiculously large bank account that I have, assuming there’s anything left of it…” I rolled my eyes. “You mean it?” she gasped, awing at me. I nodded, “take what you want, just tell Cellsy that I sent you,” I said with a wide grin. “You’re a gem,” she exclaimed with glee, winking at me. “I’m also part dragon,” I smirked. “So, what’ll we do for ourhoneymoon?” Autumn Heart smiled, nuzzling into me as we sat on the couch in the second lounge, “I think spending time with you is nice enough as is, Autumn Heart,” I pecked the tip of her horn with a smile. “Aww, you’re too sweet,” she giggled pecking my cheek. “Anything for you, my little Tinker,” I draped a wing around her and each of my daughters, holding them close “we’re family, let’s at least act like one.” “And so we are,” she nickered. “Must you wear clockwise whilst doing this particular method of training, Brother?” Blaze chortled as we stood atop the hill near the library. “Why not, it’d compliment the fire that I’m to use for my next ability, Blaze” I grinned, clapping my hands together, bursting into whitish-golden flames, said flames began to grow exponentially, building up as they took shape; First came the legs and body, then the medium-long neck and tail, which, alongside the back were lined with triple-file spines, after that, the wings of great-golden flames burst forth as the head sprouted from the top of the neck, a horn pointing from each angle of its head, and a third, smaller horn from its snout “Second level dragon’s apparition, Tenkyu no Karyu!” I bellowed, the dragon above me gave an almost ethereal roar as I yelled, letting forth a vast torrent of alabaster fire directly into the sky. “Celestial fire dragon,” Blaze whistled, “that’s quite tha ability, Brother.” “What in the hay..?” I turned; Twilight and her friends were there, awing at me “What is that?” Twilight nodded toward the large dragon I’d ‘summoned’ “Second stage Dragon’s Apparition,’” I smiled. “How did you summon it?” she blinked. “The same way I conjure up a basic flame, only with more focus and concentration, I think,” I laughed. “Could it be something to do with the ‘Dragon Soul’ Celestia mentioned once?” Blaze tilted her head “It could be, perhaps we ought to ask her about it at some point,” I folded my arms as the dragon re-moulded itself back into the usual golden veil of flames “Uh, Rick…” Twilight giggled, eyeing me from head to foot, I looked down at myself, now appearing to be a bright whitish-golden-yellow in colour. “Looks like we’re doing a Naruto crossover now, brother..!” Blaze guffawed. ”So it does, Blaze, so it does,” I smiled as Honey Heart leapt toward me, perching herself atop my head. “Human torch,” she laughed. “Coming from the fire-ferret..!” I snorted. “Avatar reference intended?” she smirked, I nodded. “Quite so,” I said with another smile. “So, how is she not bein’ harmed by your fire then?” Applejack blinked. “Fire does more than just burn, Applejack, I smirked, “it only burns when I wish for it to do so, it’s an extent of the ability known as ‘Purple Flare,’” I winked. “It’s actually kind of cosy,” Honey Heart giggled, nuzzling into me “I love you Daddy.” “And I you, my little Heart,” I sat on the ground, moving Honey Heart into my lap, draping her wings around her. “That’s nice…” she yawned, curing into a ball as she fell asleep in my lap, giving a light snore with every other breath “When I see your smile Tears roll down my face I can't replace And now that I'm strong I have figured out How this world turns cold and it breaks through my soul And I know I'll find deep inside me I can be the one I will never let you fall (let you fall) I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all (through it all) Even if saving you sends me to heaven It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. Seasons are changing And waves are crashing And stars are falling all for us Days grow longer and nights grow shorter I can show you I'll be the one I will never let you fall (let you fall) I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all (through it all) Even if saving you sends me to heaven Cuz you're my, you're my, my, my true love, my whole heart Please don't throw that away Cuz I'm here for you Please don't walk away and Please tell me you'll stay woah, stay woah Use me as you will Pull my strings just for a thrill And I know I'll be okay Though my skies are turning grey I will never let you fall I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all Even if saving you sends me to heaven I will never let you fall I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all Even if saving you sends me to heaven…” I softly sang as Honey Heart slept, gently rocking he rack and forward “Ahem?” I glanced behind me; Celestia was stood beside Twilight and the others “Hiya Cellsy,” I smiled, turning back, gently stroking Honey’s mane “what can I do for ya?” “I’d like to know where you got your current form from,” Cellsy raised an eyebrow. “I just thought of it, and surely enough, it worked,” I gave a light shrug “And the dragon that appears to have mysteriously vanished?” she gave a faint smile,. “I really don’; think my daughter would appreciate me ruining her state of apparent bliss, Princess,” I rolled my eyes, she blinked, standing beside me as I unveiled my wings, quickly returning them back to their place around Honey Heart. “So she wouldn’t,” she smirked. -=-=- After what felt like eternity, the flames around my being began to flicker, and eventually died out. “Aww, is it over already?” Honey Heart gave me her best puppy-dog-eyes impression. “When my magic level returns, we’ll do it again, Ok?” I smiled, pecking her forehead. “Okie Dokie,” she saluted me, yawning as she clambered onto my head as I staggered to my feet, Snowdrop perching herself atop my shoulder, Winter Bell doing the same for the opposite appendage. “Where have you been?” Autumn Heart frowned rather glaringly once we entered the lounge. “Taking care of Honey Heart, don’t worry Tinker, she’ll be fine with me,” I crouched down, allowing my passenger to climb to the floor, save Honey Heart, who remained upon my head. “And where was this exactly?” she snapped. “Around the library,” Honey Heart chimed with apparent joy, “Daddy became all golden-coloured and warm; he even allowed me to sleep in his lap. “Golden?” Autumn Heart stared at me “you set yourself on fire?” “Not exactly,” I bit my lip “if we have any gems, I could show you, but it’d have to be outside.” “So, this is what you used before?” she blinked, awing at me, I nodded “it’s impressive, I’ll give it that.” “And it’s also my newest form of magic,” I smiled, dissipating the golden glow. “Well, I suppose I can forgive you, since she did come home unscathed…” she sighed indignantly. “She’ll always remain that way when she’s with me, you can count on me,” I grinned, she frowned. “I hope so, Rick, I really do,” she bit her lip, pawing at the ground nervously. “I hereby promise that, no matter what, Honey Heart will always be with be when we return home, come hell or high water, I’ll defend her with everything I have,” I smirked. “You’re quite the noble pony- err, person, Y’know that right?” she smiled. “I’m aware…” I mumbled, “So anyways, how goes the business with the shop?” “Oh, it’s doing Ok I suppose…” she smiled, “I made a few new clocks for us also, they’re easily noticeable, so you should be able to spot them fairly easily.” “So I should…” “So, I wonder how many times more powerful you are than the average mage at the newly created Wizard's Tower,” Blaze raised an eyebrow, I blinked as we made our way to the tower, “I heard about it from Autumn Heart,” I nodded. “I’m on level with a demigod or two, so there’s something at least,” I hummed. “Rick,” Edward smiled as we entered the tower, having been allowed entrance by Valina, “How’re you doing?” “I’m fine, Dad…” I blinked, still getting used to the fact that I’d bought back my dead relatives. “And who’s this?” he glanced toward Blaze “I’m Blaze, Rick’s adoptive sister,” Blaze held out a paw, which Edward, reluctantly, shook. “What are you?” he blinked. “I’m what‘s known as a Typhlosion,” Blaze sighed, “or you could just call me a giant estranged ferret, if it’s any easier.” “So I see…” he gave a light frown, “and how long have you been with your ‘brother’?” “Just over three-and-a-half-hundred years,” she flinched “How old are you again?” he stared at me “In form, around three-point-five-hundred years old, in spirit, around an eon, why?” I tilted my head. “And you never thought to bring us back sooner?” he frowned, again. “I didn’t find the basement of your tower until just before last week!” I argued back. “And what, of our home?” he scowled. “I’m three hundred years old; I think I can take care of myself, Dad,” I rolled my eyes agitatedly, “besides, when I found out about you, when I found the house, and your remains, I was practically rendered catatonic!” “So that’s where you were for the last month,” Blaze laughed. “I was out for a month?” I blinked, glancing toward the Typhlosion who was busy grinning at me, beaming from ear to ear. “Basically,” she smirked. “So, what brings you out here this time?” he raised an eyebrow, Lily now standing at his side. “I just found a new type of spell, I think<” I concentrated, bursting into flames, which then moulded around me, shaping into the same golden form I had before. “That’s amazing,” Lily gasped, “what is it?” “it’s a veil of magic, sort of,” I tilted my head ever-so slightly, seeing as Honey Heart was perched atop my skull, draping her wings around my horns as she lay there, “it may be an amalgamation of fire-based magic and energy, I don’t know just yet.” “It’s amazing is what it is!” Lily exclaimed with a huge grin “never in all my years have ai seen such magical prowess! I’m proud of you son.” “So, you got this magic from a dragon you say?” Edward laughed, I nodded, “Not just any dragon, Dad, Crystagia’s the gem dragon goddess.” “Well, tell her that I might be interested in having a nice chat with her soon,” he chortled. “There won’t be any need to wait, young human,” an almost-ethereal voice echoed from outside, my family and I quickly rushed to the entrance, where Crystagia lay in an arc around the tower. “You’re… Crystagia…?” Lily stared at the large dragon, who gave a solemn nod. “I am,” Crystagia nodded, “and might I ask your names?” “I’m Lily, and this is my husband, Edward,” Lily mumbled almost incoherently, “you’re the dragon who’s taken care of our son for these years?” “I am the one responsible for his teachings of the lost magic known only to dragon slayers, yes, and I’ve also been keeping a rather watchful eye on him, isn’t that right, son?” she glancved toward me with a grin. “Son…?” Lily gasped “but, how…? “I have taken care of Rick to the best of my ability, and in turn, he had, at one point or another, deemed we worthy to be his foster mother,” Crystagia sighed as she explained, glancing toward me again “I see you’ve finally unlocked your ‘Dragon Soul’ then?” “My what?” I blinked. “All dragon slayers, be they of ‘first,’ ‘second,’ or ‘third’ generation, have a dragon’s soul implanted into them at some stage, you however, seem not to have noticed, even when using ‘Dragon Force,’” she raised an eyebrow, “so it falls to your latest ‘spell,’ to get you any notice of your true capabilities.” “This is my….?” I glanced down at myself, taking in my now-golden form. “It has another form to it, but I assure you, I wouldn’t advise using it, for reason I refuse to elaborate on, Rick,” she smiled; holding out a clenched claw, which I lightly bumped using my fist. “Crystagia, was it?” Lily gave a nervous laugh, the dragon goddess gave a slight nod “I can’t thank you enough for taking care of our son, we’re eternally in your debt, if ever you need anything, feel free to ask, we’ll be at the Wizard's Tower for a long while anyhow,” she giggled. “I’ll be sure to remember it Lily,” Crystagia smiled with a nod. “So, she’s your foster mother?” Edward glanced toward me, I nodded, “at least she shows kindness; that of which, by the looks of things, wasn’t completely lost upon you, my son.” “You flatter me, Edward, really, I am just an Elder Dragon, no more and no less,” Crystagia laughed. “Rick here says that you’re a dragon god,” Lily smiled. “Now where might you get that information, young dragon slayer?” she glanced once again toward me, eyebrow raised. “Cellsy said that the original dragons of Equis that spread out across the universe with humans were, in their own right, gods, and she said that you’re one of them,” I gave a wide grin, “Never a dull moment with you, Brother..!” Blaze burst into a fit of laughter. “Indeed,” I laughed, turning toward the dragon goddess who lay out before me “but would you say that her analysis is true or false, Crystagia?” “It is, to a certain extent true, be it my modesty or the truth, there’s only one way to find out,” she smiled, “you’ll have to seek th other elders, I trust you know at least one of them?” “Something tells me that you’re not referring to Grandoa….” I raised an eyebrow. “Correct, but you didn’t answer my question, Rick.” “Igneel…” “That’s one; can you name any others, my dear son?” “Grandeeney and Mettallicana,” I blinked. “And that’s three now,” she simpered “I’m impressed with your knowledge on the dragons of old, Rick, who else are you aware of?” “Weisslogia and Skiadrum, although they’re… Y’know,” I bit my lip. “I’m aware of their unruly demise at the hands of their sons, and I’m glad you didn’t follow a similar path, my son,” she smiled. “So, this ‘Dragon Soul,’” I gave a short hum “I got it when I became an eon?” “Correct, you see, when you merged with that soul, its powers, for a time, were locked, but the your new eon form was given to you nonetheless,” The gem dragon nodded, “such is the way of two souls merging in our time, the second soul of which has their form, no matter how many, and their powers also, transferred to the new ‘host,’ as it were, even more proof of the new soul inside of you would be your horns.” “When I first became an eon, all those years ago, did I have a dragon’s soul then?” I clenched my fists. “I cannot say for sure, as I was not aware of your existence an eon ago, Rick, it would be better to ask Celestia to see if she knows anything on the matter,” Crystagia tilted her head slightly, “though it’s more than likely that you did, whether you were artificially created or naturally born, I do not know.” Her gaze shifted upward slightly, “and I see that you’ve a new friend?” “He’s my Daddy,” Honey Heart gleamed with a cheer. --=-=-- “Got played like a piano, did we?” Blaze smirked as my family, Twilight her friends and I stood with the princesses in the throne room. “Immortality is a price, not a gift, Blaze,” I frowned “besides, I don’t even play the piano.” “Yeah, you use a guitar, we know,” she smirked. “And the violin,” I mumbled under my breath” “Didn’t know you were like that, Brother,” she grinned, pulling a violin case out of nowhere, handing it to me. “Where do you get these things?” I frowned again, she winked. “A true magician never reveals her secrets,” she laughed, suddenly stopping, looking at me almost expectantly “well play then, I’m not sitting here waiting for nothing ya know!” “And in clockwise nonetheless,” Rarity chimed, “this should be interesting.” -==-== After the few select songs were over, I stopped, placing the stringed instrument back into its case, only then noticing the design of the case in general. “Blaze,” I clenched my fists, “where did you get this?” “Agatha, you know; the one you went through hell and back to get that thing for?” my sister gave an audible gulp. “I know that, what I don’t understand is why it’s not in my possession,” I growled. “’twas her final wish that she pass it down to you, Brother,” she gave a forlorn sigh, “I’m sorry…” “So, I’ve got a violin that’s nearly as old as I am?” I grumbled, “if not older…” “How old is it?” Rarity stepped forward as I re-opened the case, running a gentle finger over one of the strings. “Well, assuming it were twenty-five-ninety by now, it say almost nine-hundred years, it was made in seventeen-fourteen,” I explained, “originally made by Antonio Stradivari at the time, it’s almost priceless as it is now…” “You have a guitar signed by Bryan Adams, do you not?” Blaze gave a weak smile. “That was made in the late twentieth, early-twenty-first century, Blaze; this was made in the early-eighteenth, it belongs in a museum for what it’s worth!” I exclaimed, “After the great war, this may be the last Stradivarius in existence, making it priceless enough as is.” “But if it‘s almost ancient, and this is no offense to Agatha, then how is it so… perfectly well preserved?” Twilight stared at me, then toward the violin, “It was kept in what’s known as a ‘Vault’ an underground bunker designed to keep people safe from the outside war that was going on, and in that Vault; Vault Ninety-Two, they strived to keep musical talent alive, but after a few testes involving white noise went awry, the violin was kept on its own in an especially-made case, preserved thanks to the artificially created humidity in the case, where it remained untouched for over two centuries,” I explained. “Its case is the only reason it‘s in perfect working order?” Cellsy blinked, glancing toward the violin, perfectly preserved through the infinite sands of time. I nodded, “it’s a wonderful masterpiece, I‘m just wondering what to do with it.” “Keep it, you’ll need it for your part in the orchestra,” she glimmered. “My, what..?” I blinked in return. She giggled “You’ve proven yourself to be quite the expert with the guitar, your voice, and now of course, the violin; don’t you think it logical to be part of something bigger, Rick?” “I’m afraid that I must decline, Princess,” I smiled, “I’ve a family to look after, and I’d rather sell the violin than lose them.” “You’d sell the violin, priceless as it is?” Rarity gasped. “I’d rather not sell it at all, but if it came to it, I’d sooner sacrifice it than those close to me,” I gleamed. “Noble, if anything” Luna smiled, “we shall see you later, Sir Rick… -=- “Rick..!” Octavia, after a long period of not seeing her, sprinted toward me, knocking me to the ground as I crouched down to her level, thankfully, Blaze was carrying the violin case, so nothing was damaged. “How are you Octavia?” I smiled; she pecked my cheek, giggling as she nuzzled into me. “So, long time no see Rick!” Vinyl marched up beside me as Octavia stood opposite her, allowing me to steadily get to my feet, “and before you ask, Celestia told us your name,” she winked, “what’s with the violin case?” “I didn’t know you could play the violin, Rick” Octavia gleamed with a lustful look in her eyes. “Yeah well, I’ve been meaning to get in a little practice,” I smiled. “Perhaps we could do so together?” she winked. “I don’t see why not, lead the way Tavi,” she giggled, walking with me to the theatre as I collected the violin from Blaze, who merely grinned at me with a devious smirk. “So, where do we begin?” The silvery mare almost-purred as I sat upright on the edge of the stage “How about you start and I’ll see if I can’t follow?” she gave a faint nod, taking her place on a seat upon the stage, cello in hoof, beginning with a slow start, after a moment I began to attempt at following her lead in a duet… =-= “Well, that was certainly peaceful,” Octavia said with a smile, placing her cello in its case, giving me another, flirtatious wink. “Same time next week..?” I smiled in return; she tilted her head slightly for a moment, before sighing; “I’m sorry to say that I can’t, “she shook her head, “I’m due for the royal Canterlot Orchestra next week, and as such, I need time to practice.” “Fair enough, just feel free to stop by my house if you need anything, or want to do this again,” I grinned. “I’ve heard of ‘Making Music,’ but this is ridiculous!” I turned, Twilight her friends, the princesses and my family were all there, smiling right at me. “Long enough…?” I raised an eyebrow; “Quite so,” Cellsy raised an eyebrow, “it appears that you truly are skilled with such instruments, how do you do it? “Practice, I guess,” I shrugged, placing the Soil Stradivarius back into its case, Octavia sat beside me, examining the case and its contents. “Where did you get such a fine piece of craftsmanship?” Octavia stared at me. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” I rolled my eyes “Try me<” she smirked. “A post-apocalyptic warzone,” I raised an eyebrow. “…Ok, wasn’t expecting that….” She blinked “but still, both you and the violin are in perfect condition which means that, should you choose to, you’ll be able to qualify for the Orchestra,” I nodded toward Cellsy, she gasped; “No…!” “Apparently,” I sighed, “though I’ve got a family to look after, so I’m a little pressed for time.” “About that…” she bit her lip, “I’d like to join your herd, and to move in with you, if that’s all right with you, Rick.” “…I’m not saying no, but is there a reason you’re asking me this?” I blinked after a moment’s silence. “I’m a little low on money due to recent uprisings, and as such, I can’t really afford to be in Canterlot for much longer,” Octavia winced somewhat as I raised the other eyebrow. “Did I say no?” I grinned, she gasped, leaping at me, lavishing me with small, affectionate kisses… =-=-= “So, Octy tells me that she’s moved in with you, how’s that working out for you?” Vinyl grinned. “It’s going brilliantly so far, I’ve managed to rearrange the third lounge into a bedroom, and the second into a music room, so yeah, it’s pretty awesome,” I beamed. “I was wondering, is there a place I could store my equipment when it’s not being used?” she raised an eyebrow; her shades perched atop her horn. “There’s probably room in the spare room in the basement, so I should imagine so,” I nodded. “Thanks Rick-o, you’re an awesome friend!” she leapt up, pecked my square on the lips, then darted off. =-= “So, what d‘ya think Cellsy would look like, if she were a warrior?” Blaze tilted her head as we sat in the lounge. “I’ve already taken care of it,” I winked. “You didn’t…” she gasped as a small set of folded artworks were dropped into my lap with a note, “So you did…” “So, when’s our next practice?” I glanced toward Octavia, having hidden/burnt the artworks. “We can do it now, if you like,” Octavia smiled with a light giggle. -=-=- After the practice -=-=- “Well, I’d definitely say you’re Orchestra-material, Rick,” Octavia nickered, placing her Cello in its case as I did the same for the Soil Stradivarius. “Tell me,” she began, her form changing to a curvaceous anthro one, with her mane still as long as it was in her normal form, long pale-lavender arm stockings that went from her fingertips to halfway between her shoulders and elbows, a lavender dress, and a pair of bunny ears, also lavender, “what is it that you find so interesting about me?” “Well, you’ve great musical talent, plus you’re classy, but unlike most nobles, you’ve a sense of decency about you, and you’re beautiful to the point where most would consider one to be an angel,” I gave an audible gulp, placing the case for my violin on the floor. “I think a reward is in order for those kind words that are continuously birthed from that silver tongue of yours, Rick” pecked me on the lips as she picked me up, dragged me into the bedroom, locked the door behind us and throwing me on the bed. “So, what’ll we do first, hmm..?” =-=-= “So what were you doing?” Cellsy smiled as we sat in the library. “Nothing much” Octavia smiled. “We could hear you all the way down from in here,” Twilight deadpanned. “This isn’t exactly how I planned to spend a wintery Sunday morning,” Autumn Heart mumbled. “Trapped in a library in the middle of an almost-out-of-control snowstorm, yeah, I think I can see a few problems with that,” I rolled my eyes. “Yo, Rick, ya got any whiskey?” Blackjack sat right next to me opposite Octavia, as Autumn Heart curled up in my lap, and Honey Heart lay atop my head. I rolled my eyes, “I’ll see what I have,” delving into my rucksack, I pulled out another six-pack of whisky bottles, passing them to her with ‘Purple Flare’. “Thanks Rick, Love you,” she pecked my cheek, quickly opening the first bottle. “I’m aware,” I frowned, “getting dragged halfway through a castle by a ‘drunk-out-of-her-mind’ mare, and then being played like a violin, figuratively speaking, I kind of got the picture.” “You enjoyed it and you know it!” she chortled, I raised an eyebrow, “now Rick, don’t go denying it on me now~ Speaking of which, do you have any cards on you?” “I might, I’m just wondering if that tower of bottles you expertly crafted is still there,” I rolled my eyes, again. “What happened?” Twilight blinked, I raised an eyebrow, “Oh...! “That’s Queen Blackjack for you,” Blaze grinned, “it’s as I said; never a dull moment with you, right Brother?” “You could say that,” I slowly shook my head. “Wait, Queen Blackjack?” Rainbow Dash blinked, “what makes her a queen, other than the fact she’s an alicorn?” “What makes you a pony?” I tilted my head ever-so slightly. “What I am?” she blinked with a light shrug of her shoulders. “And there’s your answer,” I exhaled sharply as Blackjack finished her third bottle of whiskey, opening the fourth. “You aren’t gonna stop her?” Blaze nodded toward the semi-alcoholic alabaster mare beside me, who frowned. “Should I be?” I raised an eyebrow (again?). “Probably,” she laughed. “Yeah well, Blackjack can hold her liquor, it’d take more than a six-pack of bottles to get her even so much as tipsy,” I glanced toward Blackjack, who winked at me, “or, maybe not…” “And something tells me that you’ve got more than a few ‘six-packs,’” she folded her arms with a sadistic grin. “I found a type of jackpot of the stuff during a Slaver raid, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it,” I frowned. “Slaver raid?” Cellsy frowned in return, “explain.” “Saving the lives of innocent’s from a fate worse than death, yet again, might I add?” I bit my lip. “So I see,” she gave a slow, curt nod, “I’ll not ask you to elaborate any further “How much exactly, define ‘Jackpot’,” Blaze chortled. “Five whole kegs, thirty barrels, twenty small crates and around two-thousand bottles,” I smirked. “And what is this so-called ‘Jackpot’ composed of?” she raised both eyebrows. “Whiskey and Cider mostly, might be some Vodka mixed in with it “And you just found this in the middle of a Slaver camp?” “Not just any ‘Slaver Camp,’ Dear Sister!” I laughed with a shake of my head, “No, I looted this from paradise falls, which would go a great deal towards explaining the tough-as-nails security I had to go through to get it, alongside two-billion caps.” “Paradise falls?” Autumn Heart raised an eyebrow, gazing straight at me. “It’s not something I should be discussing with a foal around, I’ll explain it later,” I gave a forlorn sigh. “So how many guards did you say again?” Blaze smirked with a sly grin. “Around forty, maybe fifty or sixty, I didn’t know nor care at the time,” I clicked my knuckles, followed by my neck, and then my upper-back. “Right, ‘Cuz you were goin for the alcohol stash, eh?” she guffawed. “Actually I didn’t even know it was in there, I was just there to save lives, burn ammo and then get the hell out of there, believe what you will, Sister,” I tutted “besides, who’s going to use it anyway, I certainly wasn’t going to let it go to waste, but I’m certainly no alcoholic!” “Whatever you say, Mr Fahrenheit,” she grinned somewhat smugly. “One time, Blaze, one time!” I rebuked with an icy glare. “Twice actually,” she beamed. “I think someone would’ve told me if it happened again, Blaze,” I rolled my eyes indignantly. “Or maybe we wished to withhold information, thus proving our sick sense of humour?” she shrugged. “God Damnit…” I mumbled. “Aren’t I just the best, Dear Brother of mine?” she cackled with laughter. “That’s debatable,” I snorted with apparent derision. “You love me and you know it,” she glimmered with glee. “As family, nothing more,” I retorted agitatedly. “So, where’re you gonna put your little stash of unmentionables?” she giggled insanely “Most likely the basement, lord knows I need to use that spare room as is,” I shuddered. “You have an incredibly warped mind, Brother,” she howled with laughter. “I’m me, and that’s the end of it,” I smirked. “So you are…” Having retrieved various pieces of equipment from my inventory, and also having moved the electric guitar set I’d found from the basement to the front lawn, I placed said pieces of equipment, including valves, pipes and the like –including talismans along/into the various walls, thus, creating a type of fridge, then placing the ‘stash’ of alcohol into said fridge… “Where’d you get the amp-and-guitar?” Blaze smirked. “From the basement, having just placed the stash there, or half of it, at least,” I rolled my eyes, “please tell me that Canterlot has even a basic drum-kit in its inventory….” “I’ve seen it being used,” she nodded “why?” “Why d‘ya think?” I grinned. “Please tell me you’re joking,” she groaned. “But of course, I deal with stringed instruments of the quiet type, not the type to causer buildings to quake and crumble,” I laughed. “So, you’re just giving this to me, as it is?” Vinyl glanced toward the guitar and amplifier, then back toward me, awing at me. “I’ve no need for it Vinyl, and besides, it’s you who specializes in that sort of music here, not me,” I smiled. “I’ll give you two-thousand bits for it,” she smirked “Half it,” I grinned. “Deal,” she bumped my fist with a heavy hoof. Taking the equipment in her magic and walking into her home with it, winking at me as she closed the door, teleporting a bag of coins into my hands as she went. “Well, now that that’s done,” I sighed, taking myself to the music room, violin case in hand, sitting on the stool , placing the case on the nearby table, retrieving the Soil Stradivarius from within, relaxing with an elongated sigh, and then beginning to play… =-= “I didn’t know you played the violin,” a familiar, scarlet/snow-white eon with golden eyes appeared at the doorway. “Crystal, what brings you here?” I beamed. “Other than the fact that I’ve not seen you in ages for one reason or another; and the fact that I love you and care for you, not much,” Crystal giggled, “may I watch?” “You’ve been doing so for the past lord-knows-how-long, why do you feel the need to ask?” I rolled my eyes. “Two hours, by that clock next to you,” she nodded toward a pony shaped clock, which was the spitting image of Honey Heart, “so I hear that you’ve a new marefriend?” “We’re married,” Autumn Heart smiled as she sat beside me, pecking my cheek as Honey Heart clambered onto my head. “And she’s your foal?” Crystal nodded toward the filly atop my head; I nodded, “what’s her name?” “Honey Heart,” Autumn smiled. “Cute,” Crystal smirked. “I’m assuming you know how to play?” I raised an eyebrow. “I can play the guitar, but that’s about it,” she shrugged. “That gives me an idea,” I smirked with a sly grin… “Why’re we doing this?” Crystal whispered as we hovered outside Celestia’s bedroom at around six in the morning, my family, plus Blaze, positioned on my back, neck, and head respectively, with Honey Heart atop my head, again. “Because I love her, regardless of what she may’ve said or done” I raised an eyebrow. “Touché,” she nodded, beginning to play the guitar, and I began to sing whilst playing the Soil Stradivarius… “When I see your smile Tears roll down my face I can't replace And now that I'm strong I have figured out How this world turns cold and it breaks through my soul And I know I'll find deep inside me I can be the one I will never let you fall (let you fall) I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all (through it all) Even if saving you sends me to heaven It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. Seasons are changing And waves are crashing And stars are falling all for us Days grow longer and nights grow shorter I can show you I'll be the one I will never let you fall (let you fall) I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all (through it all) Even if saving you sends me to heaven Cuz you're my, you're my, my, my true love, my whole heart Please don't throw that away Cuz I'm here for you Please don't walk away and Please tell me you'll stay woah, stay woah Use me as you will Pull my strings just for a thrill And I know I'll be okay Though my skies are turning grey I will never let you fall I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all Even if saving you sends me to heaven I will never let you fall I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all Even if saving you sends me to heaven” I sang with Crystal as a duet, with Blaze, Snowdrop, and Honey Heart singing the background vocals “Uhh, Rick,” Blaze prodded my wing, I glanced toward the balcony; Cellsy was stood beside Luna, Cadance, Faust and Lulania eyebrows raised. “Don’t judge me.” “I wasn’t going to,” Cellsy glimmered, “and you sure you couldn’t have said that you loved me in person?” Crystal and Blaze grinned at me. “Why do anything normally? You do it once you do it a thousand times, do it uniquely, and then you might get somewhere,” I smirked, Cellsy’s/Celestia’s horn shone with a golden-primrose glow as I was dragged through the air toward her, my family landing safely on the balcony as I reverted to human form. “You certainly have a way with words, my little eon” she pecked my cheek, turning with the others and walking back into her room “I do believe I’m indebted to you now, Rick…” “Where were you?” all eyes fell upon me whilst we sat around the dining table Twilight asked the obvious question. “When, as in, a few minutes ago, or, a few hours ago..?” I smirked. “Both, if it’d help anything,” she frowned. “Here and there,” I winked. “Waking the princesses up with a love song, hardly counts as ‘Here and There,’ Brother,” Blaze chortled. “You did WHAT!?” Twilight shrieked. “A little bit of this and that,” I grinned. “Define your meaning,” she scowled. “Well, Crystal said that she was good with the guitar, so I thought, ‘Why the hell not?’” I shrugged with a smug grin. “I trust that thou would've done it regardless of her skills?” Luna giggled. “Basically, yeah,” I smiled. “Mushy!” Blaze guffawed. “You have a problem, Sister?” I raised an eyebrow, again. “Not at all, it’s just that if I were you, I’d use a little more flare, no pun intended of course,” she winked “I raised an eyebrow,” what?” “Didn’t know you were one for topics such as this, Blaze,” I clicked my tongue. “Yeah well, I tend to avoid them if I can,” she shrugged. “Speaking of love” Celestia smiled, “I received word, or image, of a certain set of artworks not mere hours ago, would you mind explaining that?” “Caught red handed, eh Brother?” Blaze cackled insanely. “I regret nothing,” I mumbled. “Clearly” Celestia raised an eyebrow, “honestly Rick, what are we to do with you?” “I’ve a few ideas, most of which aren’t even legal,” Blaze burst into a fit of laughter, I gave an icy glare, “I know, I know, that’s your line, don’t think I don’t know my limits, Brother.” “Fuck my life” I muttered under my breath “Don’t know much about your life, but I reckon Cellsy could sort you out, should you wish to engage in such an act,” she grinned from ear to ear “Or has Octavia beaten her to it?” all eyes were once again on me as several ponies performed somewhat impressive spit-takes. “Say any more, and I’ll prove that I don’t need to be Celestia to send you to the moon,” I growled. “You’d hit a defenceless little girl like me Ricky-o, where’s your chivalry?” she gave me her best ‘Puppy-Dog’ eyes. “You’re hardly defenceless, Blaze,” I frowned. “You’re right, I can think of at least two hundred ways to castrate you from where I’m sitting” she grinned. “I’d rather you didn’t,” I grumbled. “Oh, who’s the lucky mare this time?” she beamed. “Who says there’s anyone involved, I just said that I’d rather you not do that sort of thing,” I blinked. “That’s what she said,” she snorted. “Self-sexism..?” I tilted my head ever-so slightly. “Nay, verbal masochism,” she winked evilly toward me, “So, what’s it like, being married?” “Why don’t you ask Natsu and Lyra?” I shrugged, again, all eyes were on me once again as several more ponies performed several more spit-takes. “I don’t know, why don'tI ask Lyra and the ‘Human Torch’?” she simpered, staring at me with a wide grin, “you planned it, didn’t you?” “He said it, she went through with it, right in front of Erza, myself and Grey no less!” I laughed. “I can’t imagine the Salamander wearing a suit…” she shuddered, “was he?” I nodded, “Dear Arceus…” “When did this happen?” Twilight awed at me, wide-eyed and slack-jawed alongside her friends. “Last week-or-so,” I tilted a hand. “And we weren’t invited?” she frowned. “I wasn’t in charge of the invitations, Sparkles,” I grinned “I was merely another face in the rather large crowd of ponies, standing out like a sore thumb, as it were.” “So, is that Natsu Heartstrings or Lyra Dragneel?” Blaze blinked. “Or Lyra ‘Dragneel’ Heartstrings,” I suggested, using air quotes when necessary. “Touché, brother, touché<” she slowly nodded. “First it was Grey and Juvia; then it was Natsu and Lisanna, and now its Natsu and Lyra?” Twilight smirked with a somewhat-more-than sadistic grin, “what’re you up to?” “Who knows, maybe you ponies are finally rubbing off on me,” I rolled my eyes, voice laced with sarcasm. “I doubt it,” she laughed. “If you say so Sparky,” I rolled my eyes,” if you say so.” “I’m not the one with the eight-hundred-year-old violin,” she grinned. “At least you put it to good use, right Brother?” Blaze folded her arms. “I’ve no honest idea as to how to reply to such a comment,” I blinked. “So you say,” she tutted with a roll of her scarlet eyes, “I don’t see you complaining, Sister” I frowned. “I’m not the one who’s going to have to explain his motives for performing such an act,” she winked, “and at around six in the morning no less!” “What time did you wake up this morning?” Twilight stared at me, eyebrow raised. “Who said anything about going to bed?” Blaze stifled a roar of laughter. “You what?” she blinked, awing at me. “I was stargazing, and that’s the end of it.” “That’s not what I heard until around three in the morning,” Blaze rebuked with a sly smirk, I glowered, “what?” “Why haven’t I sent you to the local mental home?” I groaned. “Because you’ve no honest idea what to do with me,” she flashed her eyebrows at me. “I call harassment,” I mumbled as my stomach let out an unearthly roar. “How long has it been since you’ve last eaten?” Cadance raised an eyebrow toward me. “Last week-ish, why?” I tilted my head ever-so slightly. “Augmentations?” she sighed, I nodded. Glancing behind me I grinned, “Finally had that door put in like I suggested then?” “I thought about it for a while, and decided that whilst such destruction wasn’t completely necessary, it did help with the rebuilding,” Celestia smiled. “Don’t quite yer Day Job Cellsy” I laughed, beginning to ingest/eat the nearby gems that were laid out on my plate. “Would you rather come peacefully to my bedroom, or come ‘Kicking-And-Screaming’?” she raised an eyebrow, I stopped, choking to near-death on the ruby I was eating, barely managing to swallow the gemstone, staring at her in unrestrained horror, “it wasn’t a rhetorical question, or, if you wish, you can faint, it’d just make my carrying you all the easier. “I guess you could say she’s being an absolute gem, no?” Blaze laughed, “Now who’s not complaining?” “Shut the hell up.” “Make me buck-o,” she winked again, “Just goes to show that every action has its consequence, does it not?” she suddenly burst into laughter “What?” I placed a hand under my nose, glancing at it “Oh bugger…” “Not very subtle are ya?” she patted my back, I quickly changed to eon form, carrying the gems with me as I left; my family perching themselves back upon my back and neck respectively… Once I was under the shade of a random tree in the gardens, I began my breakfast in a somewhat hopeful peace. “What’re we going to do today, Daddy?” Honey Heart giggled. “I don’t know yet Honey, why don’t you go and see if Blaze needs help with anything?” “Okie Dokie,” she saluted me as she and the others jogged back into the castle. Making sure no one else was around, I hid behind a nearby tree, changing form to a average-sized snow-white unicorn with a two-tone electric blue mane and tail with silvery-cyan eyes “Oh Paper ~” I turned as I walked past the throne room, glancing behind me I saw Celestia stood there, smiling at me with a rather large grin. “Greetings, Princess Celestia,” I bowed quickly. “Oh, you don’t have to be so formal, you’re my coltfriend after all~” she almost sang. “So I am,” I rolled my eyes, continuing to trot through the corridors “So, what brings you to visit little old me?” “I thought that I’d surprise you a little, Paper Sky,” she giggled. “And so you have, Princess,” I smiled. “Please, call me Celestia,” she winked, “make anything new yet?” “Maybe…” I bit my lip “I’m working on making a dragon, not too large, just need to keep at it I suppose,” I gulped audibly. “Are you Ok?” she blinked. “I’m fine, Celestia, and I always will be with you around, leading us as you do,” I felt my cheeks flush. “You don’t have to be like that, just say it,” she smirked. “I love you,” I quickly blurted out. “And I you, my little tinker,” she trotted beside me, pecking my cheek, “I’ll see you later, in bed.” “Of course Celestia,” I nodded, she teleported away, I quickly reverted to my human form “Dumbass…” “So, are we ready?” Beauty Brass winked at me as I sat in the middle-back of the orchestra, I nodded alongside the other members, with Octavia being stood beside me with a smile, cello in-hoof. ()-=-() After the orchestra, I sat on the stairs in the main hall of the castle, Octavia on one side, and Autumn Heart on the other, with Honey Heart lying atop my head; “I didn’t know you played in the orchestra, Rick,” Autumn Heart pecked my cheek, letting out a slight giggle. “I’ve still that one other piece left to play,” I winked, opening the violin case, taking the Soil Stradivarius from said case, beginning to play… ()=-=() “That was incredible,” Octavia gazed at me with a sense of wonder in her eyes, “where did you get such a piece?” “I learnt it from the internet, it’s part of a series called ‘Evening Star,’” I smiled, “it works better with a cello and a piano though…” I turned, almost every pair of eyes in the room were fixated on me. “An eon-turned-demigod playing an intricate piece of music on a priceless violin,” Blaze whistled, “congratulations, brother,” then, as if to compliment her words, every pair of hooves in the room, came together in a large applaud as the ponies in the room, smiled, singing words of praise as they clapped. “So, what’s the one you’ve just played called?” Octavia leant into me. “I think that’s obvious, Octavia,” I draped a wing around her. “It’s named after me?” she gasped, wide-eyed and slack-jawed. “That it is, Lady of Silver,” I pecked her cheek, her cheeks forming a rose-red blush as I gently stroked her mane. “By the way,” I tilted my head, she glanced toward me; “do you have a last name?” “Philharmonica,” she smiled, “or Harmony, if you’d prefer, Rick,” “Octavia Philharmonica, a beautiful name for a beautiful pony,” I smiled. “Says the one who makes just as beautiful music, my little musician,” she smirked. “My little Cellist,” she giggled, “Care to do another?” she nickered. “By all means,” I gave a quick bow, beginning to play a second piece; (=) “That was nothing short of amazing,” Octavia lightly applauded, “what’s it called?” “Wizards of the Celestial spirits,” I smiled, “it’s quite the intricate piece, if I say so myself…” )+( As I sat before the statue in the forest, I changed to eon form, only armour with a, silvery-grey armour –that of which was normally worn by Steel Rangers, removing the helmet, placing it on the ground between the statues of the two fillies, saluting quickly, before firing a volley of rounds from the already-equipped assault rifle, leaving it beside the helmet and flying away … “Where in the hay did you get that?” Rainbow Dash asked, glaringly as she, her and our friends, stood with my family and the alicorns in the throne room. “Alternate Equis, see what you have to look forward to?” I growled. “Horseapples”!” she snarled, “there’s no way pony technology’s that advanced!” I rolled my eyes, bringing out a glassy navy blue sphere, holding it out; Twilight took it, holding hooves with each of her friends, tapping a glowing horn against the sphere, standing rigid for a few minutes, before eventually… “How…?” she stared at me. “I say again, see what you have to look forward to,” I turned and left. -=- “So, are we ready?” I glanced toward each member of my now-extended family, Blaze included, all of whom nodded; having positioned themselves upon my being, as per the usual formation on my back as I hovered on the stage in an empty theatre, Blaze and Crystal hovering/standing beside me. =-= After the ‘practice’ =-= “I must say that I hadn’t expected such songs, Rick,” Octavia nickered as we ventured the main hall. “I thought that we might try something …different, Lady of Silver,” I made a quick bow, pecking her cheek as we went “Speaking of different, I still haven’t worked out who Celestia‘s coltfriend is…” “Heard about that did you?” I turned, the princesses, Twilight her friends, and Faust were there, eyebrows raised. “You could say that,” I smirked. “You can talk, did –or didn’t- Roseluck say, and I quote; ‘you can clip my rose any time’?” Blaze grinned. “So she did,” I rolled my eyes, walking to the gardens, only to see a large, pillar-like structure fly overhead, my family leaping to the floor, landing safely as I quickly changing to my Spartan form as another pillar structure flew overhead, this one more of a trident-shape than that of a pillar, followed by a dozen more, and three more pillars. “They bought the whole fleet,” Blaze exclaimed, “They actually bought the whole god-damn fleet!” “So they have,” I whistled, just as a more-or-less-diamond-prism-shaped starship made it into view; “And there’s the ‘Spirit of Fire,’ those bastards actually managed it!” “Lord Hood’s up to the usual then?” she smirked. “So it’d appear,” I gave a light nod, “”What, else does the UNSC have in its inventory, I wonder?” “Well, the Infinityhas four up-to-date MAC-cannons, just a single shot form any one of those could send Canterlot and half of Ponyville to oblivion,” she shrugged, “and let’s not forget all the other armaments the ship has, eh?” “Ah yes. The secondary, tertiary, quaternary, and quinary armaments, for when one explosion the size of a planet isn’t enough,” I grinned. “You, what…?” Celestia stared at me, eyes like dinner plates, pupils like pinpricks. “Yeah, you've got access to swords spears, shields and various combat-based spells; I alone, save a few others, have access to all but the most powerful coil guns and nuclear missiles,” I tilted my head, “I believe this is what’s referred to as ‘Checkmate,’ no?” “Who exactly has that kind of firepower?” Twilight gasped. “Anyone who’s at least the rank of ‘Commander’ and/or is in ownership of anything bigger than a standard cruiser,” I shrugged, tilting my head the other way, “Wonder if Lord Hood knows he’s got a demigod on his crew…?” “I wouldn’t doubt it Brother,” Blaze laughed, “Speaking of which, isn’t that them?”?” she pointed to the largest of the ships, a massive pillar-like structure that almost blocked out the sun; the Infinity was flying. “So it is,” I nodded, “The Infinityrises once again… mind you, what do I know, I’m just another UNSC Jarhead.” “Spartan,” Blaze rolled her eyes as I reverted to normal, Snowdrop taking her place upon one shoulder, Winter Bell on the other, and Honey Heart upon my head, “besides, they did prioritize this planet as Tier-1, remember?” “So they did, even though we’re not as far behind tech-wise, we’re not exactly peacekeepers ourselves, as a species,” I gleamed. “World wars one and two, the battle of Agincourt, the boar war, the hundred year’s war, the wars of the roses, the fall of Arcadia, Reach, and various other colony-worlds, yeah, we’re just glorious rays of sunshine aren’t we?” Blaze chortled. “And I still say there’s no way you could be better than Twilight’s brother!” Rainbow Dash gave a sly grin. “Take a look at each ship in the sky, then back to me, because if it wasn’t for my superiors, I’d be the one in charge of all of them,” I smirked. “You can’t…!” she gasped. “I’m a General and/or Brigadier General, there isn’t much I can'tdo,” I beamed. -=-=- “So, we’re really back?” Blaze stared at me as I glanced around the area, having somehow learnt to revert to her Quilava form, standing on my shoulder as Honey Heart lay atop my head, and Snowdrop on my opposite shoulder. “Yeah, it feels somewhat nostalgic,” I smirked. “He’s back!” I turned, the human world’s variants of Twilight’s friends stood beside a human with blue hair, a white shirt with a navy-blue shield behind a thunderbolt with a black jacket, jeans and trainers “So we are,” Snowdrop, Scootaloo Blaze and I shared a roar of laughter. “They talk?” the other human stared at me. “So do you,” I shrugged. “I’m human,” he countered. “And that automatically makes you better than them?” I glowered icily at him, “watch what you say about my family, little boy, because it just might be the last thing you bloody well do.” “I’m twenty-five,” he frowned. “And I’m around three-hundred-and-forty/fifty,” I smirked. “That’s impossible!” he snapped. “I’m from one of several-million alternate worlds, your argument is invalid,” I grinned, he charged, drawing back an arm, attempting to hit me square in the face, I quickly activated Haki, resulting in the sounds of bones breaking, and the human holding his hand in agony. “You wish to fight, yes?” I spat, deactivating Haki, he ran into the high-school building, still clutching his hand in writhing agony. “You beat him without even flinching!” Rainbow Dash stared at me alongside the others. “So long as one’s willpower is unwavering, and they set their mind to it, nothing is impossible,” I smiled. “You’re impossible!” she laughed. “What’s this I hear about you hitting one of my students?” the new world’s variant of Celestia raised an eyebrow ass he and the other human made their way toward me. “He didn’t move, Brad just hit him and all of a sudden he started clutching his hand, crying like a little girl straight out of kindergarten,” Rainbow Dash winked at me. “Is that so?” she raised an eyebrow, glancing toward me, “so, you’ve returned…?” “Rick,” I rolled my eyes… After a lengthy lecture and debate about events most-recent, I found myself in the gym with Brad and the others; “Are you serious about this?” I tilted my head. “Well yeah, since fighting’s not allowed in school, we might as well do something else,” Brad scowled. “If you say so,” I nodded, gesturing toward the punch-bag; that of which felt as though it were filled with bricks, he threw back an arm, creating a small crater in the apparatus. “Not bad,” Blackjack stifled bursting into laughter alongside my friends and family. “What’s with the laughter?” he snapped, turning to face me. Fists blazing; I hit the bag once, creating a crease in the leathery material, I hit it again, and my fists sunk into the piece of equipment, pulling it back out resulted in a shower of small, metal spheres that poured from the bag onto the floor, creating quite the racket; “Checkmate!” Snowdrop chimed, nuzzling into me. “How did you just…?” Brad blinked, awing at me. “Classified,” I grinned, rolling up my sleeves, “probably doesn’t help any that I’ve got these on,” I quickly removed the weights, each of which created a thundering crack as they hit the floor, bringing forth a second punch-bag, replacing the first, firing a straight jab into the centre, the chain holding the bag snapped as the impact sent it flying into the far wall, bursting open, causing an eruption of small metal spheres to explode from the leathery container. “That’s impossible!” he barked. “Well, it clearly isn’t impossible, boy-o,” I laughed, “now, he who asks for a challenge should be the one to clear up the mess said challenge creates, no?” =-=-= “How did you do any of that?” Rarity stared at me alongside the others once the mess in the gymnasium had been cleared. “Like I said, it’s classified,” I winked. “Sure it is,” Brad snarled. “Nothing’s keeping you around me, boy, if you wish to leave, then do so, unless you’re trying to play the ‘Cool-Dude’ role and trying to play the hero for those lovely ladies,” I grinned. “Speaking of bullshit, are we doing an ‘Ao-No-Exorcist’ crossover, because it feels like one,” Blaze chortled. “Because, of the horns, right?” I smirked. “And due to the fact that you have a sword that’s almost as long as you are,” she nodded. “Almost?” I laughed. “Well, you’ve yet to combine the two that make it as it’s meant to be, Brother,” she grinned. “So I have, Blaze,” I rolled my eyes in a somewhat-amused manner… ()=-=() “So, you’re allowing us to fight?” “Just this once,” Celestia raised an eyebrow “If you say so,” I smirked as the schools’ populace sat in the crowd surrounding the moderately sized football pitch, “Begin!” Brad charged, hitting me once again in the face, resulting in the same aftermath as before, broken bones, only with the other hand. “Is that all?” I tilted my head, activating Haki on my arms, he spat on the ground at my feet as scales appeared upon my face, arms, hands and wrists, “you poor fool,” a sudden jab in the stomach sent him sprawling, another one to the face knocked him onto the ground, his face now bloodied by the crimson liquid pouring from his nostrils. “Game over, Boy,” I growled. -=()=- When I arrived back at home, my family scattered throughout the house, I lay underneath one of the cars on a scooter-board, ‘tweaking the mechanics.’ “Where were you?” Twilight’s face appeared on ground level alongside her friends hooves, princesses included as she peered under the Mercedes-C220-2013. “Out,” I winked. “Where is ‘Out’?” she frowned. “Classified,” I smirked, “it’s not exactly important.” “It is if it’s you, my little eon,” she gave a faint smile. “Touché, Sparkles, touché,” I gave a slow no. “So whatcha doin’?” “Waiting for an honest answer,” she rolled her eyes indignantly. “What do you want to hear then?” I shrugged, holding out an arm, Snowdrop passed me a spanner, I quickly took it, gently stroking her mane, which she leant into briefly before I went back to ‘tweaking the mechanics’ “I just want to know what you’ve been doing for the past two days,” she raised an unamused eyebrow. “And if I say it’s classified?” I rebuked. “Then I’ll not ask any more of you,” she winked. “Don’t quit yer day job Sparky,” I grinned. “You’re bleeding,” Celestia tapped her horn against my hands as I bought them together, quickly removing the blood, vaporizing it within an instant. “I’ll be fine, Cellsy,” I grinned, having finished ‘tweaking the mechanics.’ “Just be careful,” she pecked my cheek, “Faust knows you need to, Rick, by the way, why‘re you using ‘Dragon Force’?” “I’m just seeing how long I can maintain it,” I smiled. “So you are, Brother, so you are,” Blaze winked. =-= “Daddy, can you use that thing where you turn golden again?” Honey Heart sat in my lap as we sat on the front lawn with the others. “If you want me to, then by all means,” I quickly burst into flame, the flames moulding into the same golden ‘aura’ as before. “Thank you Daddy,” she chimed alongside Snowdrop and the others as the nuzzled into me. “You’re welcome, my little Heart,” I pecked her on the forehead, draping a wing around each of the others. “We love you, Daddy,” the five fillies chimed in unison. “And I you, my little Snowflake, Heart, Saving Grace, Rising Star, and Winter Bell,” I smiled. “That’s a mouthful,” Blaze rolled her eyes amusedly, “care to expand on it any?” “Rick…?” I turned; Black Beetle was there, staring at me in awe.
Chapter XXIII; oddities...“Hello Black Beetle,” I smiled, “how’re you today?” “I’m fine,” she eyed me from head to foot “what happened to you?” “I unlocked my dragon soul, Blackie,” I winked, she fainted. “Fangirl, much…?” Blaze laughed. “So it would seem.” Celestia glanced toward me, I shrugged, “Is Luna still acting as you’re little housemaid?” Cadance shot her an odd look; “excuse me, Aunty, but did you just say ‘Housemaid’?” “I did,” Celestia nodded, “Luna has, at one point or another, offered to become Rick’s own maid, whether he still accepts or not is entirely up to him.” “I’ll be fine, I’ve got Autumn Heart and the others with me,” I simpered. “If thou art sure, Sir Rick,” Luna sat beside me opposite Autumn Heart, pecking my cheek; Autumn Heart quickly did the same, nuzzling into me. “Where does the glow come from?” Cadance blinked. “It’s his Dragon Soul,” Celestia smiled,. “Rick’s finally found one of the penultimate forms of his Magicka, Cadance.” “One of them…?” Blaze blinked. “‘Dragon Force,’ ‘Dragon Soul,’ and ‘Lightning-Flame-Dragon-mode,’ among others,” Celestia smiled, “not to mention you’re brother’s newfound power over magma,” “You mastered power over magma?” Cadance awed at me, “that’s… that’s incredible!” “That’d explain why the other world’s castle’s in ruins then,” Blaze laughed. “What’s left of it’s in ruins, you mean?” I smirked. “Touché, Brother, touché,” she gave a slow nod, “though I still wonder what could’ve made you go that far over the edge, I think it’s best that nobody ask such a question.” “It’s to do with the wastes, and I’ll not elaborate any further,” I stood upright, my family quickly following me into the forest as I walked, eventually finding myself stood before the statue of my fallen comrades, each one of them held an expression of certain happiness, I, on the other hand, wasn’t so lucky… “Calamity, Puppysmiles, Homage, Epsilon, Steelhooves, Delta, Forest Rain, Rainy Days, and any-and-all others who I might’ve failed during my time in the wastes, I’m sorry that I couln’t be there for you,” I clenched my fists, clapping my hands together, slamming them down on the ground, cyan lightning arced around me as a crystalline set of torches, complete with rainbow-coloured flames, rose from edges of the statue. “Rick?” I turned, my friends, the princesses, Twilight, her friends were there, glancing between the statue and I. “So this is the statue you mentioned,” Celestia stepped forward beside Luna and Cadance, “it’s impressive, but did you have to use alchemy?” “I’d rather use what I can to make it than to not make it at all,” I shrugged. “What do you mean why you say that you ‘failed’?” Cadance blinked, I raised an eyebrow, nodding toward the statue; “Oh…” she blinked, suddenly going wide-eyed “Oh my Dear Sweet Merciful Faust! They’re… they aren’t dead are they?” “I don’t want to talk about it,” I mumbled. “That’s a lot of ponies, “Luna stared at me… -=-=- “So, what’re you doing this time?” “Making a dragon,” I glanced toward Blaze for a brief moment as I sat in the as-of-yet ‘spare’ room, sitting at the table with a potter’s wheel/kiln, using various tools and the like to sculpt a clay dragon. “Just as Liz and Lucy did it then?” Blaze smiled. “Quite so,” I nodded, crafting the dragons body, then its limbs, then its tail, and finally, the head, with scalene eyes and a triangular spike on the end of its tail, its multi-layered scales shimmering in the filtered sunlight that glazed through the windows, carving the slightly flared nostrils and miniature horns, finishing the draconic figure, placing an ample amount of my magic into it; “That’s rather impressive,” Autumn Herat smiled also, “what’ll we do with it…?” -=- “You’re just giving me this?” Celestia blinked, placing the small-medium dragon on the floor beside her. “Basically,” I simpered, snapping my fingers, watching the dragon burst into life, stretching it’s moderately sized wings alongside its neck and tail, its emerald scales rattling with each motion, it’s golden eyes beaming like tiny, triangular suns, the little sword and shield that were attached to a ‘sling’ that went over one shoulder reflecting the light like a perfect mirror. “That’s amazing, how did you do it?” she stared at me, glancing toward the little dragon every now and then. “Magic, literally,” I winked, “now all she needs is a name, Princess Celestia.” “Gardenia,” she smiled, the dragon glanced toward her, quickly bowed, then fluttered onto her back, “How did you make her?” “A little ‘special’ clay here and a little magic there, wasn’t too difficult, Cellsy,” I grinned, “I said I’d make you a dragon, and so I have.” “Can she speak?” Celestia glanced toward Gardenia, who gave a light shake of her head, giving off a light Hrrr “I see, and you can understand me?” Gardenia nodded; “Hrrr” =-= “What’re you doing?” Crystal blinked as she hovered beside me as I made another dragon; “Making a clay dragon,” I winked, adding the finishing touches to the clay-based reptilian-esque figurine, the dragon had scales white as fresh winter snow, and deep, emerald eyes with sterling-silver horns, with a needle and a roll of thread in either of its paw-like hands. “It’s quite impressive, who’s it for?” she smirked. “Rarity” I smiled, walking with my family –Blaze and Crystal included- to the boutique, knocking on the front door. “Hello Dear, is there anything I can do for you, Rick?” Rarity smiled, I handed her the small dragon. “Oh my, I didn’t know you could do sculpting, I’ll place this on the mantle, shall I?” I snapped my fingers, the dragon burst into life just as Gardenia had, stretching,, scales, rattling, need and thread in-hand; “It’s extraordinary, what’s her name?” “That’s up to you, Rarity,” I beamed. “Gaia,” she declared, gleaming from ear to ear as the dragon perched herself upon her back… ()=() For the next dragon, I applied more delicacy to its appearance, it had golden-yellow scales, silvery, ovoid eyes, and an empty posy slung over its back, with a heart-shaped spike on the end of its tails, with a line of triangular spines running from its head to the tip of its tail. “Fluttershy..?” Blaze mumbled, I nodded, “I didn’t know that you cared for her, what with Scootaloo and all…” “I do, but I’d like to think that it’s limited to an extent,” I winked, finishing the dragon, adding a whitish tint to its scales ()-()-() “So, that happened,” Blaze smirked. “I think that Gretel will be fine with our little caretaker, if anything she’ll be a huge help,” I smiled, halfway through a fifth dragon, one with navy blue scales so dark they appeared to be black, it had a trident tail-tip, with whitish-silvery horns and golden, teal, scalene eyes, holding a small book in its claws. “Luna?” she sighed, I nodded, gesturing toward a rosy-pinkish dragon with sapphire eyes and a bow and arrow quiver, said arrows, rather than normal, had heart-shaped heads, and, rather than normal wigs, had those similar to that of an angel; “And that one’s for Cadance I assume?” I nodded again, “you’re demented.” “And you’re a fire hazard.” “Coming from you, brother, coming from you…” After I’d been tackled to the ground, lavished with kisses from head-to-foot, and barely gotten out unmolested, I went back to creating a sixth dragon, a lavender drake with opal eyes and an ovoid tail-tip… “What’s going on?” Twilight blinked as we sat in a circle in the library, each of her friends in the possession of a clay dragon, each one having a light conversation as they chatted upon the coffee table. “What Ah wanna know is, how in Equestria did, ya make ‘em?” Applejack stared at me intently. “Magic, quite literally too,” I winked, “You don’t like it?” “It’s not that Ah don’t like it, it’s that Ah’m wondering where ya’ll got the idea from,” she gave a nervous grin, “They’re not as good as me though,” Spike scoffed. “I could easily make one that’s better than any dragon in Equestria Spike, Dragon Gods not included,” I frowned; “all I’d have to do is clone Crystal, somehow.” “Eons are part dragon?” Twilight blinked. I nodded; “Quite so.” “That’s incredible,” she breathed. “It’s who we are…” I sighed. “Who else has one of these dragons?” Rarity batted her eyelashes at me somewhat flirtatiously at me. “Cellsy, Luna and Cadance,” I blinked, why?” “You could start your own business making these,” she giggled, “I assumed you’ve a room where you make these?” I nodded, “then I think you’d best get to it.” Within the first weeks of my placing the sign that implied my ‘business’ starting, I’d gotten quite a few requests, all of which had various trinkets which were based upon the pony who bought them, and so far, I hadn’t received a single complaint; “Good work so far, eh Brother?” Blaze smirked, I nodded. “Quite so, Blaze,” I nodded, finalizing a young, Pinkish-Scarlet dragon with white wings and a small bouquet of roses with a heart-shaped tail-tip, said dragon also had teal eyes, and snow-white horns. On the edge of the table sat two more dragons, one, a vivid green with a bouquet of tulips, and the other, a bright blue, with a bouquet of calla lilies, the first had golden eyes the second, a deep ocean-blue. “For Roseluck, I assume?” she gestured toward the scarlet dragon. “Indeed it is, Dear Sister,” I gave a light hum, carrying the trio of small dragons to the local florists, placing them on the counter as a familiar creamy-colour pony with a rosy-red mane with pale scarlet highlights walked up behind the counter; “Good morning Rick.” Roseluck smiled, “How may I help you?” I snapped my fingers, and the three clay dragons sprung to life, she gasped. “Are they, for me?” she glanced between the trio of dragons and I, I nodded. “The one with roses is yours, and the ones with Lillies and tulips are for your friends respectively, Rose,” I pecked her forehead, marching out of the florists with a wide grin. +-+ “So, who’s next on the ‘To-Give’ list?” Blaze chortled as I retold her, the events of the local flower shop. “In Dunno.” I shrugged, “Derpy maybe..?” “It’d be a start,” she shrugged. Once I finished Derpy and Dinky’s dragons, I headed to the silvery mailmare’s apartment, knocking on the door. “Oh, hello Rick, I wasn’t expecting visitors, how’re you?” Derpy smiled, pecking my cheek as she hovered before me, allowing me entry to her apartment, sitting beside me on the couch; “I’m here to give you these,” I placed the newly-kilned dragons on the coffee table, snapping my fingers as they came alive, both were silver, with golden horns and black eyes, club-shaped tail-tips, and a small box in their paw-like hands. “They’re magnificent!” she chimed, “how much do you want for them?” -x- “So, anything interesting happen?” Crystal smirked. I winked, “that’s for me to know and for you to find out, eventually.” “That’s what she said,” Blaze rebuked with a sly grin “Probably,” I rolled my eyes. By the month’s end, I’d created a small army of clay-based dragons, having installed various shelves around the on the outside of the house by the front door for the after-mentioned hand-crafted dragons. “That’s a mighty fine collection o’ dragons ya got there Pardner,” Applejack smiled, as I sat with Blaze, and my family on the front lawn “Applebloom’s been wanting one for a while now, how much are they?” “Between two and twenty bits, depends on what you think they’re worth,” I shrugged.” “Sounds fair enough,” she smiled placing three golden coins on the shelf, ca4refully taking a dragon with twin shields from the bottom shelf. I snapped my fingers, and the dragon came to life, landing on her back with a light Hrrr. “That’s amazing,” she whistled, “thanks Sugarcube, Ah’ll give this to Applebloom as soon as Ah get back!” and with that, she galloped toward the farm. “Well, there goes our first actual customer; and leaving thirty bits behind no less,” Blaze gleamed. “Thirty?” I blinked; she placed the coins on one of the shelves in a little line, “so I see.” “Excuse me?” I turned; Twilight was stood with a dainty smile spread across her muzzle. “What can I do fer ya?” I tilted my head ever-so slightly, as Honey Heart was laying atop my head. “I was just wondering how you make your dragons,” Twilight bit her lip. “Trade secret,” I winked. “Ok, how much are they?” she smiled, wider this time. “Between two and twenty bits, depending on how much you think they’re worth,” I smiled back. “Alright then,” she levitated a single, golden coin from her pocket, pointing to a ruby dragon with golden horns and mild-sapphire eyes, I handed it to her, grinning as it sprang to life. “Thanks,” she pecked my cheek, skipping merrily down toward the library, the crimson drake flying alongside her as she went. “That’s another ten bits for another one of your dragons, Brother,” Blaze, mirthfully, grinned. After I’d finished another series of dragons, I added another set of shelves beside the others, placing the newly-made dragons upon said shelves. “You make dragons now?” Angel smiled, hovering beside Crystal and Ilona. “I’ve a lot of spare time on my hands and/or claws, what do you want me to do?” I laughed. “You honestly want me to answer that?” she raised an eyebrow, smug grins aplenty. “Touché” I gave a slow nod. “So, how much are they each?” she smirked. “How much do you think they’re worth?” I rolled my eyes, she smirked, “Don’t even think about it.” “I wouldn’t have, provided you remained quiet about the subject at hand,” she rolled her eyes in a somewhat amused manner. “And I would’ve been able to say it anyway, had you not acquired such a twisted sense of humour, Angel,” I frowned. “Coming from you, I think that‘s saying more than necessary,” Crystal chortled. “So it is, Crystal,” I laughed. “So, how many have you sold so far?” Crystal simpered. “A few, or a dozen, I know not which,” I shrugged. “What’s next on the list of, ‘To-Create’ list then?” Blaze laughed. -=-=- “Are you fucking serious?” Blaze burst into a fit of language as we stood/hovered at the back of the house, staring directly at a Gurren-Lagann-Dragon. “I thought it’d be amusing to create,” I shrugged. “You do the strangest things, Brother,” she laughed. “Yes, yes I do” I guffawed. “So, what is this exactly?” Crystal blinked “A Gurren-Lagann dragon…” “What’s Gurren Lagann?” she blinked, I rolled my eyes, quickly changing to the after-mentioned form, quickly reverting back. “Since when were you able to do that?” she blinked, again. “Classified,” I winked. “I’m sure it is, Ricky-o,” Angel chortled. As the days passed, I got more and more requests, commissions and the like from what I’d guessed to be nearly the complete population of Ponyville. “So, you make dragons, and then you sell them?” Mayor Mare blinked. I nodded “I make them for anyone, or anypony, who asks, just send a couple –and I do mean a couple- of bits my way, and I’ll see what I can do, not to sound like a thief or a scammer or anything.” “What’s the highest you’ll accept for one of your masterpieces?” she smiled. “Thirty, or, if you’re really persistent, maybe forty, but that’s it, if not, I’ll do it free of charge,” I explained with a sheepish grin. “And what is the average cost of one of your little dragons?” she glanced toward the shelves with a slight smile. “Between two and twenty bits per drake, depending on how much the buyer thinks it’d be worth<” I smiled. “And what if someone somewhere other than ponyville were to ask for one?” she tilted her head “Then I’d have to ask how things get mailed around here,” I clicked my tongue “We usually just have sent by chariot by the guards, or have a resident mailmare like Derpy handle it,” she nickered. “And where do the guards place the chariot, should they return with it?” I raised an eyebrow. “Usually by the town hall, if not in one of its main offices,” she simpered, “I’ll see you later, Rick,” and with that, she trotted toward the town hall, smiling. “So, you jot a job offer then?” Blaze beamed as I sat in the art room, making another dragon, this one had stately silver scales with black horns and spines holding a small cello in its hands, as if beginning to play, its lavender eyes gleaming like pinkish suns. “I didn’t, I already had the job, all it needed was to be made official,” I stifled a yawn, finishing the dragon, placing it to one side, starting a second drake. “So you didn’t,” she glanced toward the Cello-playing dragon, “for Octavia, I assume?” I nodded, “Quite so.” When finished, the dragon was a rich/pitch-black colour with snow-white underbelly scales and horns, golden-yellow eyes, carefully playing a guitar in its claws, complete with a shield-shaped tail-tip. “And that’s a draconic representation of you, I take it?” she laughed, I smiled. “Indeed it is, Blaze, indeed it is.” “You made this, for me?” Octavia stared at the little dragon currently sat on the worktop in the music room; said dragon was currently playing its cello atop my empty violin case “Rick, it‘s amazing!” “It’s your little octave, as you are mine,” I smiled. “I might have to reward you for that later,” she giggled, for now though, let us practice, shall we?” she readied her cello; I nodded with a wide grin. -=- After practice, -=- “I have to say, that little dragon knows how to play rather well,” Octavia smiled at the small silvery dragon, who gave a light bow, placing its cello in its case, smiling in return toward the silver mare, “and you made it to look somewhat like me?” “I wanted to make it to be a little representation of your character,” I glimmered, “your looks, you beauty, your skill, all of it, now compressed into that little dragon.” “And you’ve made one for vinyl?” I shrugged. “I’ve yet to make, one, I’ll do it tomorrow,” I winked. =-= “So, first you gave me half-off on the guitar and amp, and now you’re giving me a small dragon?” Vinyl laughed, levitating the dragon –an alabaster reptile with snow-white scales cobalt horns and spines, complete with a pair of headphones- over to a nearby speaker, “how much do ya want for it?” “It’s free,” I beamed. “Are you sure you’re not up to something?” she grinned. “Positive, besides,” I quickly pecked her on the cheek, “I love you enough as it is!” =-=-= “Ok, don’t do that sort of thing around vinyl, unless you expect to be ravaged, almost literally,” I mumbled to myself as I walked back to the house. “Where’ve you been?” Angel and Crystal spoke in perfect unison. “Out,” I half-lied, “Fair do’s, my little Sugardrake,” Crystal grinned from ear to ear “God Damnit,” I grumbled, walking to the music room, where Grace sat with her cello alongside Octavia, both smiling as I walked over to the worktop, opening my violin case, retrieving the Soil Stradivarius from within, sitting beside the silver duo, the three of us beginning to lay as a trio… “You made another dragon?” Angel glanced toward Grace as we finished practice. “Alongside another two sets,” I nodded. “You really are into these things, aren’t you?” Crystal laughed; I shrugged, placing the violin back in its case. “Where’d you get the violin?” Angel blinked. “I’d rather not say, if it’s alright with you, Angel,” I bit my lip. “Fair enough, my little Ricky-o, she winked. “Friends of yours, I assume?” Octavia smiled, Grace placed her miniature cello in its case as she spoke. “These two are Crystal and Angel, and yes, they’re friends of mine,” I gestured to each of the two eons respectively. “I see, and which parts of an orchestra might they play?” “I’m the guitarist, apparently, Angels the lead singer,” Crystal grinned at me, I blinked. “You play the guitar also?” she blinked. “You do what now?” Angel gave me the largest shit-eating grin I’ve seen since the ‘Blaze’ incident of twenty-twenty-four. “I play the guitar, what’s the big deal?” “And you hadn’t thought to have told me?” she pouted. “You’ve never been around to find out, my little Angel,” I smirked. “So, what’s in the bag?” Crystal nodded toward my rucksack; I smiled reaching into said bag, pulling out a familiar trio of ponies. “Mina, Aqua and Sugar Spice,” I stared at the trio as they sat before me, blushing profusely as I raised an eyebrow in disappointment “What do you think you’re doing?” “Who’re you?” Angel shared a glanced with Crystal, having looked at each of the three. “I’m Mina, and these’re my friends, Sugar Spice and Aqua,” Mina bowed, gesturing to her friends. “And how did you come across my little wayward eon?” Crystal pecked my cheek. “We saw him walking down Main Street in our hometown of Trottingham, I don’t think any more needs to be said,” Aqua giggled. “I don’t get it…” she blinked, sharing a second glance with Angel. “Most of the mares that live in Trottingham, save the parents, are prostitutes,” Luna smirked right at me. “What the hell were you doing in such a place?” Angel and Crystal shared a huge grin. “At least it wasn’t New Vegas,” Blaze shrugged, beaming at me with a sly smirk. “I don’t think I want to know,” Crystal shuddered. “It wasn’t that bad,” Blaze rolled her eyes, “for me anyways.” “You chose for us to go to that world for that one reason alone and you know it,” I frowned. “And you agreed with me?” she laughed. “Had I known that that’s what you were planning, I would have done otherwise,” I scowled. “You loved it and you know it,” she cackled insanely, “wouldn’t be New Vegas if it was only drinking, drugs and Casino’s anyway.” “And you had me dragged away into that specific, select few areas for a reason?” I glowered icily toward the Typhlosion. “You’re supposed to have fun, Brother, not complain about it for eons on afterwards,” she gave a smug wink. “I hate you…” “You love really, you just don’t have the lack-of-pride to admit it,” Blaze glimmered. <>=<> “So, what have you gotten up to in the past?” Littlepip smiled as I started on another dragon, her mane now somewhat longer, looking as though it were flowing. “I’d rather not talk about it, my dear Littlepip, there’re some things that aren’t meant to be heard or seen by pony eyes,” I bit my lip. “Oh, Ok then,” she giggled, sitting beside me, watching my crafting of the new dragon, which had a special device on its lower left arm, and was a mild grey in colour, with amber eyes and dark-brown spines and horns, with a dagger-like tail-tip “Here,” I held out the finally complete dragon toward the mare, who levitated it onto her back, where it lay, glancing around the room, giving a light Hrrr of satisfaction. “It’s alive,” Littlepip stared at the little dragon, then toward me, “how did you do that?” “I placed a fragment of my magic into it, giving it both a ‘spark,’ and a soul,” I smiled, “what’ll you name her?” “Greyza,” Littlepip smiled, glancing once again toward the newly-named drake; who tilted er head, as if pondering the name, before nodding with a smile. There was a knock at the door, which I quickly answered; “Rick,” Blackjack was stood before me, beside Velvet Remedy, both grinning at me, “Velvet would like to know if you’d be able to make us a pair of dragons?” “I don’t see why not, you’re my Nakama after all, Blackie, you too, my little Remedy,” I winked at the two of them, walking back into the studio, getting started on the next duo of dragons “So, am I the queen f Ponyville now that we’re no longer in the wastes?” Blackjack sat right beside me opposite Velvet. “I can imagine so, Blackie, I can imagine so,” I laughed, quickly and carefully finishing her dragon, instantly drying it by means of fire-based magicka, doing the same for Velvet’s dragon once it was made, the two flying onto their respective owner’s backs with glee after stretching, springing to life with a light Hrrr =-=-= “So, they’ve still got that poster up then?” Blaze glanced toward me, perched on my shoulder, Crystal and Angel stared at it, then toward me, smug grins aplenty. “So they have,” I mumbled, casting a moment’s glanced toward the large billboard as Twilight her friends, my family, friends and I ventured from ‘Sweet Apple Acres.’ “What did you say about her other form when you first saw that poster again?” she grinned “I didn’t say anything of importance, Blaze,” I smirked. “‘Anything of importance,’ meaning that you said something,” she laughed. “You’re not one for letting sleeping dogs lie, are you?” I sighed. “Not really,” she chortled, “So, what’d you say?” “I said, and I quote; ‘She’s no Ellie Goulding,’” I grumbled. “Oh?” she beamed from ear to ear with a sly grin, “got a crush, have we?” “Speaking of which, I’ve noticed that you’ve stopped eyeing that pony on the other side of town,” I folded my arms. “I was curious is all,” she bit her lip “Right, curious,” I laughed. “Compared to ‘old,’ ‘reckless,’ ‘selfless,’ ‘crazy sonuvabitch’ you, eh?” she laughed. “As a UNSC, jarhead, I’ll take those compliments, Dear Sister,” I rolled my eyes. “Jarhead..?” Twilight blinked. “Another somewhat humorous term for an ODST or a Spartan,” I explained. “Speaking of which, I haven’t seen you use that armour recently?” Blaze blinked. “I’ve had no need to, you leave me be, and I’ll be fine, you start mentioning Ghouls, Zombies, Slavers, Raiders Mutants and the like, and I’m gonna have quite the itchy trigger finger,” I grinned with borderline-sadism. “Rick…” Twilight placed a gentle hoof on my side as I sat on the front porch, “you don’t have to keep it bottled up forever you know, we’re here for you; so if you ever feel like talking, we’ll be here for you.” “What happened to us in those wastes isn’t meant for pony eyes or ears, let alone your hearts or minds, Twilight Sparkle,” I frowned, “you said that there’s no such thing in zombies, yet the opposite is also true, you bathe a pony in enough radiation after putting a forty-four-Cal bullet in their head, and you watch what happens then, it’s not pretty, to say the least…” “Radiation,” she blinked. “That of which came from several tonnes of megaspells falling,” I shrugged. “Where from…?” she stared at me, mortified. “That’s for me to know and for you to find out…” “I’ve gotten word of your talking about your experience with beings known as ‘ghouls’ is this true?” Celestia frowned. “Just watch the skies, that’s all I ask,” I tutted, standing with her, the other princesses, my friends and family, Blaze included, on the balcony, staring toward the vivid, sapphire/ocean blue sky with intent. “You’re once again waiting for something that might not happen, you’re stubborn, much like your father,” she stood beside me, “but I suppose it can help in some occurrences, so I’ll take heed of your words, and have a small team of whoever I can spare to watch the skies, just as you say.” “Watch the skies?” Twilight blinked, “I don’t get it?” “I think you’ll find a falling megaspell will do more damage than a horde of Equestrian dragons, Twilight Sparkle,” I spoke somewhat grimly. “Even so, is there a need for such words and cautions?” Rarity raised an eyebrow. “That’s what I don’t know, yet,” I hummed, “soon as I can, I’ll do what I can.” “And what does that include?” Spike frowned, folding his arms with a scowl. “Saving the world, illuminating the darkness, cleansing Equestria of a horde of the unthinkable, you know; the usual…” I tilted a hand. “Why do you go this far, just for something that might not happen?” Twilight stared at me, awestruck. “Because of two reasons, Lavender,” I slowly shook my head “firstly, it happened once and I don’t want it to happen again, and secondly, I don’t anyone to dies where such acts are unnecessary.” “You mean you don’t want anypony to die because of you…?” she gave an audible gulp, I nodded, lightly, “you’ve nothing to worry about Rick, Princess Celestia will defend her subjects as best she can, and I’m sure, that if the worst were to happen, that you’d do everything in your near-immeasurable power to do the same for your loved ones, would you not?” “I’d do what’s necessary,” I gave a light shrug, “not what’s easy, even if I myself find myself disagreeing with it, I’m sure I can find a way to do what needs to be done.” “That’s not exactly what I wanted to hear, but, I suppose that you’d not do it if it involved your friends and family in a negative manner…” she rolled her eyes indignantly. “Then how do you explain that?” Blaze pointed toward the sky, where a large spherical object was falling alongside several others, right toward us, Celestia glanced toward me. “I warned ya,” I clicked my neck, my passengers safely disembarking, landing on the floor of the balcony in a somewhat-less-than-orderly fashion, my wings quickly retracting into my back as four extra arms burst forth in their place, grabbing the corners of the wall as I backpedalled, launching myself into the air, initiating ‘Gear-Second’ as I went, inhaling vast amounts of air, corking my thumbs four-at-a-time, exhaling into them, increasing their size exponentially. Changing the ends of my arms/hands into drills, I fired them toward the spheres, resulting in a series of explosions, also coating the arms in Haki, said explosion removing said haki, followed by my arms as the last of the spheres detonated, and I fell to the ground, my wings gradually squeezing through the gaps where my arms had sprouted, quickly flexing, reducing my plummet to a saunter… -=-=-=- As my vision blurred, I bolted to my feet, only to find myself in a ghostly-looking cavernous area “Ok, now I need to stop drinking,” I blinked as a skeletal equine figure wearing a pitch-black hooded robe appeared before me, its wings folded to its side as it glided down before me, scythe hovering beside him. “My, my, what have we here?” the figure tutted with a shake of its head, crimson glowing eyes staring right at me as I scroll appeared before it, unrolling to the floor, “Rick Hawkins, human, eon, demigod, dragon ‘god’ slayer, brother, father, and son, uncle?” he laughed “well, well, well, never thought I’d find another like you, now of all times!” “I’m dead aren’t I?” I shuddered, beginning to feel a little cold. “To be frank, you bled to death before anyone, or in your case, anypony, could get you to a hospital, how unfortunate,” he sighed, “as for me, I’m death, grim reaper, the pale equine, at least, that’s what most call me, but I go by the name of Mort, to my friends.” “I guess even death gets lonely every now and then,” I laughed. “Quite so, and it’s a shame to see a being as capable of you die when you’re in your toddler years, as an eon anyway,” Mort chortled, “now, for your successful return, I’ll need to take a few details, nothing too complicated, Ok?” “I thought that you’d know all about me?” I blinked. “This is more of a quiz than a file, if that makes sense,” I nodded, “good, now, what, if it were to happen, would you do in the event of a war rising in your current home?” “I’d do what I could as soon as I could, nothing special to it, just protecting those who I care about,” I grinned “Ah, so your file was correct, you do what you can for those of whom you love, good,” Mort chuckled “now, I know this is somewhat shorter than what I ask from most people, or ponies, rather, but, if given the choice, would you go to Heaven, and meet your relatives of old, or stick with the ones you have currently and be reborn as you were on Equis?” “So long as I’ve got people, who need me, and there’re people for me to protect, I don’t plan on dying anytime soon, Morty,” I beamed. “Well, that lines most of it up,” he rolled his shining eyes, “final question, say I were to be a dullard and send you to someplace else, what would you do, and this is assuming I’d taken your ability to ‘fly through reality,’ as you so aptly describe it.” “I’d make the best of things, or at least, I’d try to, and I’d live in memory of those of whom that I’ve been with for the rest of my days, is that all?” I smirked. “That’s all,” Mort tapped his scythe twice on the alabaster floor, suddenly, an olden-looking wooden door with a brass handle appeared beside him, said door opened, revealing Ponyville, “Have Fun!” As I lunged through the door, I came into contact with darkened wood; then I heard gasps, and the sound of shovels scraping dirt, and then the world came into view, or at least, the sky… “What in the hell..!” Blaze leapt toward me, staring right at me as I sat upright, quickly shaking my head. “You know it’s not very nice to place your family and loved ones into coffins and bury them whilst they’re still alive Y’know?” I laughed, steadily getting to my feet; all eyes were on me as I stepped onto solid ground, rather than stable mahogany, clicking several joints and vertebrae as I went. “Daddy..!” I was promptly tackled to the ground by a quintet of small ponies “We missed you!” Snowdrop, Scootaloo, Winter Bell, Gracy Gloom and Honey Heart chimed, tears streaming down their muzzles, cascading like miniature waterfalls as they clung onto me, barely allowing me room to breathe, let alone sit upright. ”How’re you back though?” Blaze laughed with a wide grin, lightly hitting me on the shoulder. “Oh you wouldn’t believe where I’ve been Blaze, trust me on that one!” I roared with laughter. “You got a second chance huh?” she blinked; I nodded “It appears that Hell doesn’t want me, and that Hell’s afraid I’ll take over,” we shared a glance, quickly bursting into fits of laughter. “So, what happens now?” she smiled as I stood upright once again, walking –with Honey Heart on my head, Snowdrop on one shoulder, and Winter Bell on the other- toward the house “I don’t know? Who’s up for muffins?” I grinned. “Oh there is something I should mention,” Blaze smirked, “you, posthumously, were knighted.” “Again?” she stared at me, once again sharing a laugh as we got home, moving the apparent ‘tributes’ from the doorstep, making my way into the lounge., allowing my passengers to leap unto the couch as I walked from there to the studio/art room “It can’t be..!” Octavia stared at me, wide-eyed and slack-jawed. “I’m real Octavia,” I smiled, crouching down to her level, “and I’m here to stay this time,” she leapt at me, clasping her lips onto mine as she draped her arms around me. “Where’d you go?” she cried, clinging onto me. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you Octy,, honestly, the places I end up…” I pecked her on the cheek. “Oh, just for that, she licked my cheek, winking at me “I’m going to have a shower, she walked past me, stopping at the entrance to the studio, turning back to face me, “and you’re going to join me…” “Yes ma’am…” -=-=- “So, the first thing you do after having been revived, somehow, is have coitus?” Blaze cackled insanely. “I don’t see anyone else complaining,” I raised a smug eyebrow. “Touché, Brother, touché,” she rolled her eyes; there was a stampede of a knock at the door. Opening the front door, I was welcomed by the sight of the princesses, Faust Lulania, Nyx, Twilight and her friends, all staring at me in apparent awe. “May I help you?” I tilted my head, Twilight leapt at me, clinging onto me, breaking down into sobs. “I thought… we thought that you’d died!” Twilight wept. “And I did, for a short while,” I hummed, “but I’m back, and as I said to Octavia; I’m here to stay.” “How’re you still here?” she stared up at me, climbing down to the ground. “To put it bluntly, Hell doesn’t want me and Heaven’s too afraid that I’ll take over,” I rolled my eyes. “And so you were sent back here?” she awed at me; I nodded, again, “So it’d seem, heck; it was either this or purgatory.” “So I see,” Cellsy stood right before me, leaning in, draping her wings around me, pecking my cheek, Nyx did the same soon afterward, nuzzling into me “So, how long was I out for?” I gave a faint grin. “Just under a week,” Nyx bit her lip, “I’m just glad that you’re back, as is Celestia.” “Well y’know can’t stay away from you lot for too long without things becoming dull, lifeless and boring,” I laughed. “Indeed, Sir Rick,” she nickered. “‘Sir’..?” I blinked. “Didn’t Blaze tell you?” Cadance giggled, “You were knighted for your efforts, posthumously of course.” “Stopping an entire civilisation from being obliterated will do that for an eon.” I turned; Blaze, Autumn Heart, and Octavia were stood beside the others, smiling. “I am no hero, Blaze, I’m me, and that’s the end of it,” I rolled my eyes, turning back to Celestia and the others, “honestly, you over-exaggerate about me way too often.” “Do we? Or is it who you are that forces us to do such things?” Faust smirked. “Touché…” I slowly nodded. “These are rather impressive dragon sculptures, Sir Rick,” Lulania stepped forward, examining a single dragon on the middle shelf, and it’s warm to, how is that possible?” “I put a fragment of my magic energy into it, and besides, it’s been in the sunlight, it’s going to be warm…” “So it is, silly me,” she giggled, “how much do you sell them for?” “Between two and twenty bits per dragon, prices, like most things, however, tend to vary,” I smiled. “If a normal shopkeeper were to sell them, they’d be at least double that,” Cadance exclaimed with glee, “how long does it take you to make each one?” “Around two-to-three hours, maybe extra one or two, depending on the complexity,” I shrugged. “And I trust that Celestia has one?” Faust grinned. “As have both Luna and Cadance, and more or less the whole of ponyville,” I laughed with a jovial nod. “Do you take commissions?” Lulania simpered. I nodded, “For a pony like you, it’d do it for free, what; can I do for you?” “Surprise me?” “That’s what she said,” Blaze laughed. “I don’t think that statement’s ever been used so accurately in recorded history,” I beamed. -=- “Boo!” “Gah..!” Twilight suddenly bucked her hind legs, hitting me right in the unmentionables, quickly turning, placing a hoof to her mouth as I collapsed; placing my hands over my privates. “Rick, I didn’t know it was you …I’m sorry!” Twilight bit her lip; I held a finger to her mouth, silencing any further apologies. “It’s alright, you didn’t know; just… give me a minute…” I grumbled. “Wasn’t a wise idea, was it Ricky-o?” Blaze chortled “Shut it,” I rolled my eyes as we sat in the library. “Make me,” she winked, “and speaking of random crap, what do you tink your little Sunflower would look like as a…?” “Human?” I blinked, interrupting her. “…Seapony,” she smirked, grinning from ear to ear as she stood on her hind legs, perched atop my shoulder. “Do you honestly wish for me to answer that?” I frowned; “That’s kind of the point, Brother,” she laughed. “Too bad,” I smirked. “You’re no fun.” “I can be; it’s just that you have a somewhat depraved sense of humour, Blaze.” “I have a sick sense of humour?” she cackled insanely, “who’s the one who sent those artworks to Cellsy, hmm?” “One time Blaze, one time,” I frowned. “Whatever you say~” she cooed, nodding behind me, Glancing behind me, I saw that Celestia was there, in anthro form, wearing the same dress as before… “Hello, my little sunshine,” Celestia sat beside me, pecking my cheek as I sat in the studio, creating another dragon, Autumn Heart sat opposite her, and Honey Heart lying atop my head. “And hello to you also, my little Sunflower,” I draped a wing around her, she quickly followed suit, leaning into me as I crafted the new dragon into shape, glancing toward me every now and then. “Who’s this for then?” she smiled, nodding to the clay-based drake. “Lulania,” I gave a quick hum, the dragon itself had scales as black as night, with white horns and underbelly scales, Whitish-Golden eyes, and a small book sticking out of the top of its rucksack, its stately/sterling-silvery angel-like wings folded at its sides. “It’s beautiful,” she giggled, “I just know that she’ll love it!” “Beautiful, eh…? Not unlike a certain few mares that I know,” I laughed. “You flatter me,” She and Autumn Heart chimed in unison. Celestia took a smidge of clay once I’d finished the dragon, dabbing it on my nose, “Gotcha!” “Two can play at that game,” I smirked, taking a small amount of clay, wiping it across her cheek “Oh?” she grinned, taking more of the soft material, reaching down my shirt and sliding it across my chest, I quickly did the same across her breasts. “Getting rather bold, are we?” she smirked with a sly winked, quickly removing her dress with a flash of light, leaving her with just a set of bright-yellow lingerie, staring right at me. Very little happened for the next few seconds as we gazed upon one another, suddenly lunging toward one another, wrapping our arms around one another, clasping our lips together, Honey Heart leapt to the ground as we moved, “I think it’s about time we moved on,” Celestia smiled, and with a sudden teleport, I was sat on her bed in her chambers in the castle. “I’m going to take a bath,” she smiled, glancing toward me as she walked toward the bathroom, discarding her remaining clothing on the way, “and you’re coming with me…” -=- “You really know how to treat a mare, Rick,” Celestia lay beside me under the covers, a gentle hand placed upon my chest as we remained there for a moment. “Anything for y little Sunflower, Celestia,” I smiled. “Just for that, I might suck you dry again,” she winked. “…Might?” I blinked; “Are you asking that I do so?” she raised a smug eyebrow. “Not exactly, but then again, if you choose to, then it’s up to you,” I pecked her cheek. “Keep it up, and in the worst case scenario, I might end up showing you what heaven feels like,” she giggled. “I think I already do, it’s called being around people like you,” I winked. “Oh, feeling brave are we?” she beamed, moving so that she was above me, “I could do anything sexual to you, and you wouldn’t stop me?” “I didn’t stop blackjack,” I shrugged. She nickered, “that’s because I know you won’t take advantage of an intoxicated mare, Sir Rick.” “And I won’t do so to you, either, nor will I fight, harm, or directly and/or indirectly bring harm to you, Celestia,” I draping my wings around the alabaster goddess of the sun, “So, if I order you to do something, you’d do it?” her scarlet/magenta eyes locked with my pale/dark green ones. “You’re the princess, I’m the knight, and as such, it’s my duty to do all I can for you, as and when you ask, your highness,” I winked. “Alright then, you just lie back and let me do everything, Ok?” she glimmered, I nodded =-=-= “You really are one of a kind, my dear Knight,” Celestia smiled; now back in her pony form as we flew to ponyville. “Lapis Draco Solis, Taiyo Fujin” I bowed as I landed. “So you are,” she tilted her head with a light hum and an almost-dreamy smile, “I love you, Ricky-o.” “And I love you also, my little sunflower,” I smiled; she pecked me on the lips, teleporting away with a wink and a faint grin. “Have fun?” I turned; Blaze was there at the front door of the library alongside my friends and family… “I’m not sure as to how to answer that,” I blinked. “I know, that’s why I asked,” she laughed, “anyways, who’s the latest dragon for?” “Lulania,” I beamed. “I told you it was for her,” Autumn Heart frowned. “So you did, and that’s who I sent it to, Rick’s little Tinker,” Blaze smirked. “You better have,” Honey Heart growled almost-menacingly. “Alright, it’s still in the art room, geez,” Blaze rolled her eyes rather indignantly. “It better be” Honey Heart snarled, huffing as she glided unto my head, pecking one of my horns, Snowdrop pecking my cheek as she also landed on my shoulder. “I love you Daddy,” Snowdrop chimed with Honey Herat and the others. “And I you, my little family, and I you,” I walked into the library, Twilight and the others were sat around the coffee table, each one of them staring at me, “what?” “We’re just wondering what it’d be like without you,” Twilight flinched, “we’d all miss you Rick, and I know that you’d miss us, wouldn’t you?” “More than anything,” I nodded. “And what about Blaze, would she go with you?” she grimaced. “I’m not going anywhere period,” I frowned, “what’s gotten this into your head?” “It’s just that, you actually died trying to protect Equestria, and we’ve been thinking that what it’d be like if you didn’t come back, should it happen again…” her voice cracked “It won’t,” I tutted, crouching down right before her, getting on eye level with the lavender librarian, “Twilight, I don’t know what, sick, twisted thoughts are traversing the corners of your mind right now, but know this, I’d sooner be erased from all reality than risk leaving any of you, Ok?” she nodded, “Good, now, what’re we going to do next?” “Ah’ll say that yer not half bad, undead er not, pardner, yer always welcome over at the farm!” Applejack stood beside me, pecking my cheek, sitting on her haunches, leaning into my side as I sat against the wall; Rainbow Dash was next; “I know this might be offensive, but I’m glad somepony went up there and stopped those things from destroying Canterlot,” her eyes darted about the room, before finally settling on me “oh what the hay?” she wrapped her arms around my neck, forcing her lips against mine, eventually parting after several minutes. “I guess I might as well be next,” Rarity chimed, standing beside me opposite Applejack, “I’ve never seen such a sacrifice as noble in all my life, let alone one such as, and dare I say it –glorious- as yours, Rick feel free to stop by the boutique at any time,” she quickly pecked my cheek, curling up in my lap. “And I’m next!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, “what you did with the whole ‘saving-Equestria-from-certain-obliteration’ was awesome, though you did go away for a while…” she mumbled at the end, suddenly cheering herself up (somehow); “but now you’re back and all is as it should be Ricky-o!” She firmly pressed her lips against mine, grabbing either side of my head as she did so, quickly parting with a giggle, bounding off upstairs, fluttershy slowly trailing behind… -=-=- “Well, yesterday was fun dontcha think?” Blaze smirked as I bolted upright the following morning, finding myself in my room, completely naked, headache from hell threatening for my head to explode in a bloody mess. Quickly finding myself a set of clockwise attire that Rarity had made for me, I walked downstairs, only to find an oddity of an event set out before me. “Would you like pancakes or waffles master?” Roseluck winked at me, stood on her hind legs in the kitchen, the end of a leash clasped between her teeth. “When, how, why and what are you doing in my kitchen, let alone my house, Roseluck?” I blinked. “You invited me over, remember?” she giggled, “you hired me to act as a gull-time maid whilst my friends help run the shop.” “I’ll be right back…” I rushed out through the front door, sprinting toward the library, almost knocking the front door in as I charged into the lounge. “Rick, what’re you doing?” Twilight giggled as I held my still-aching skull. “What happened yesterday?” I grumbled, sitting beside her on the couch. “Oh, well Pinkie Pie practically teleported everypony in town into here for a party, then you and Blaze showed up with the alcohol, claiming to be able to make the party, and I quote; ‘god-like,’” “And what else happened?” I groaned. “Oh, you hired Roseluck, and Rainbow Dash also, but I don’t think she’d remember it though…” Twilight stifled a giggle; I raised an eyebrow, “Sorry…” “No, don’t be, I had fun, whether I remember any of it or not, Twilight Sparkle,” I smiled with a roll of the eyes, “besides, it’s a party, it’s bound to have some somewhat quirky events in it, supposedly.” “If you say so, my little singer,” she laughed, I blinked, “you don’t remember using Spike to send the princesses, Faust and Lulania love songs?” I shook my head, “you wrote down several songs, whilst singing them aloud, and had Spike send them to Celestia and the others.” “Anything else interesting happen?” I shuddered. “You proposed to Blackjack, Littlepip, Velvet Remedy, and Celestia, the last one was via Spike, again,” she sighed, lightly frowning, “You know I can’t fly whilst smashed,” she blinked; “drunk beyond all recognition?” she gave a slow nod. “I didn’t do anything else that’d be considered stupid did I?” I bit my lip. “Well you kept yelling about how much you loved Celestia, and went and made a statue of her in the centre of Ponyville using alchemy, even if you were ‘smashed,’” Twilight exhaled sharply. “So how’d I end up at home then?” I blinked, again; “Once you were unconscious, I teleported you there,” she winced a little. “Thanks Sparkles,” I pecked the tip of her horn, “I didn’t ruin the library did I?” she shook her head, staring at me in apparent awe, “that’s good, I winked, lightly squishing her cheek, walking toward the front door, “I’ll see you later, Twilight…” “So, have fun learning about yesterday?” Blaze chortled. “Fuck you,” I growled. “Ok, not in the mood?” I scowled, “Ok, maybe not.” “So, you’ve returned master?” Roseluck sat in my lap as I rested back in the sofa in the lounge, “how may I serve you?” “Rose, I was drunk, you know when that’s the worst decisions are made, right?” I mumbled. “True, but I chose to go for it anyways,” she pecked my cheek, “you know the olden pony saying, a drunken mind speaks with a sober heart!” “So it does…” -=- Would somepony like to explain why there’s an uncannily large pile of letters littered with what appear to be love songs sat by my throne?” Celestia spoke in a regal, motherly tone as we sat around the dining hall. “Oh brother~” Blaze guffawed with gust, glee, and quite apparent/visible triumph, “that’s your cue, Ricky-o.” “I suspected as much,” Celestia giggled, “none of those songs looked familiar in any way, or at least, not ones sung on Equis.” “God Damnit…” I muttered. “What songs did you send her anyways?” Blaze grinned. “Nothing I’m telling you, here of all places,” I winked. “You sly dog!” she burst into a fit of laughter. “Considering I’ve the DNA of almost every sentient species in existence implanted in me, it’s certainly a possibility,” I beamed. “So, in other words, you got your tail standing on end a few times yesterday then?” she laughed. “Blaze I don’t have a…” she raised an eyebrow, “Oh fuck you…” “And the bell tolls once again!” she roared with laughter. “You did what?” Crystal and Angel stared at me, I shrugged, Angel laughed, whereas Crystal raised an eyebrow in all-too visible confusion. “Rick died,” Blaze nodded toward me as she glanced toward the two scarlet/snow-white eons with golden eyes. You did WHAT!?” they blared, darting over to me, lifting me from my chair, carrying me out of the room in a hurry, setting me down on the ground in the shade below a large tree in the gardens. “Are you hurt?” Angel demanded; “Are you alright, do you feel fine?” Crystal urged, the two of them clinging onto me as I sat against the tree trunk. “I’m fine girls, honest, I’ve never been better, not with eons like you around anyway,” I draped my wings around the twins. “Only if you say so, Rick,” thee twin eons spoke in an angelic unison, pecking either of my cheeks, sitting beside me, leaning into my sides. “So, what’s with the love songs?” Crystal smirked. “I got smashed, let’s leave it at that, Ok?” I frowned. “And I didn’t think you’d go near alcohol again…” Angel laughed. “I ended up proposing,” she shared an elongated gasp with Crystal “with several mares…” “You rowdy, little bugger!” Crystal howled with laughter, “that’s my little eon, always finding new ways to impress others, even if it’s unintentional.” ()-() “So, I guess we can add saving Equestria from total destruction to the list of achievements, no?” Blaze laughed. “So we could,” I rolled my eyes, “you’re insane…” “Aren’t we all at some point?” she shrugged from atop my head, “Touché,” I rolled my eyes agitatedly. “So, who’s the mare?” Angel nodded toward Roseluck, who giggled; “I’m Roseluck, but most, like master, just call me Rose,” Roseluck nickered daintily. “Rick, what did you do?” Crystal frowned, I shrugged “I was drunk, and apparently, a drunken mind speaks with a sober heart,” I rolled my eyes, goggles resting atop Honey Heart’s head, who, in turn, lay atop my head. “So you were,” she sighed with a shake of her head, “honestly, Rick, what are we going to do with you?” “I don’t know, but on an unrelated topic, I’ve still got the piano in the room by the front door that’s not been used in around three-hundred years.” “You play the piano?” Octavia darted into the room. “I can do everything an orchestra can, Octavia,” I winked, she fainted. -=-=-=- “So, what other instruments can thou play?” Luna sat beside my friends, Twilight, her friends, Faust, Lulania, Cadance and Celestia alongside Octavia and the other members of the orchestra in the theatre “I’ve had three centuries worth of practice, perhaps more,” I rolled my eyes, again, “you’d be surprised…” “Rick, you stopped a dozen megaspells descending upon the place, I don’t think anyone’s going to be surprised with what you do now,” Blaze frowned. “I Dunno, I’m still surprised by most of what ponies can do, and I’ve been here for nearly forty-odd years,” I shrugged. “You’re a demigod?” she tilted her head. “And you’re a talking ferret, what else is old news?” I grumbled. “Do you sing and play the violin simultaneously/” a brown pony with a pale brown mane and tail raised a hoof. “No, I use the violin for instrumentals, much like the piano, unless I can get an extra singer?” “I’d do it for you Daddy,” Snowdrop nuzzled into me from her place atop my shoulder “Me too..!” Honey Heart exclaimed with joy, lying atop my head “And don’t forget us!” Winter Bell, Scootaloo and Gracy Gloom chimed “Wouldn’t dream of it, my little Rising Star, Saving Grace and Winter Bell…” I glanced to the three of them, then toward Snowdrop “you too Snowflake.” “Just…” Snowdrop flinched; then sharply exhaled, “just promise me you won’t do anything too reckless, Ok Daddy?” “Ok Snowy, I promise,” I gently stroked her mane, “I didn’t technically break the last one, so you know I’ll make it up to you on this one.” “That’s right, because you’re my hero,” she chimed, nuzzling into me “you’re what matters most of all to me, Daddy, you’re my, everything…” she pecked my cheek, draping a wing around the back of my head. “And you’re my little snowflake, Snowy,” I pecked her forehead, stroking her mane for a moment. -=-=- “So, you managed to break out of jail, storm your way here, only to find yourself surrounded, outgunned, outnumbered, outclassed, and out of options, what do you wish to do, Sergeant Buckshot?” I smirked, standing alongside my friends, family, Twilight, her friends, the princesses, Lulania and Faust “What do you mean outgunned?” Buckshot, the golden-yellow unicorn with the fiery scarlet mane and tail wearing a black jacket with a pitch-black eye-patch with sideburns growled, “this is just the beginning of the saga of the end of Equestria as we know it!” “And you had my daughters original parents killed for it?” I boomed. He snorted, “A necessary sacrifice for a brighter future, Sir Rick, but I don’t have to tell you about such a topic, do I?” “I’d watch how much thou doth move thy lower jaw bone, lest it be forcibly removed, scum,” I snarled. “Really?” he raised a smug eyebrow, “and what’ll you do, should I refuse, or choose to act otherwise?” “Daddy…” Gracy Gloom clung onto my ankle, eventually releasing her vice-like grip on my lower limb, staring up toward me as the same golden glow as before erupted from within me, complete with the large golden dragon, that of which gave an ethereal roar as it took shape. “So, you have a dragon’s soul, but do you have its heart?” Buckshot practically cackled like a witch with the way he laughed. “I’ve the heart of an eon, and at least I’ve bloody well got one!” I bellowed, the dragon above me forming a large whitish-golden sphere between its jaws as I roared. “So you do, human, so you do,” he spat, “tell me, what‘d you do if there were no evil in the world?” “You mean a distinct lack of people like you?” Snowdrop growled. “Mind your tongue foal,” he scowled. “So much as touch her, and i get to enjoy tearing you, atom from atom, pony,” I glowered icily toward the unicorn. “You’d do that in front of her?” he nodded toward Celestia, who glanced toward me, a worried look spread across her face. “How about I do what’s necessary?” I snapped. “So you would,” he guffawed, “you’re just like me, Rick, do you know that?” “I’m nothing like you,” I glared daggers at Buckshot “firstly; I’ve got balls, secondly; I’ve got a heart; thirdly, I don’t go around tearing families apart because I’m too deluded to know what’s right and wrong!” “Such resolve,” he whistled, “I wonder how much training they beat into you for you to say that, Human?” “Some half-ass preacher like you doesn‘t have the right to talk about things like ‘Resolve,’” I scoffed. “Don’t I?” he blinked, mockingly, “you’re a monster, and you charge me with that crime? How primitive,” the dragon’s beam fired; narrowly missing him by a hair’s width. “I’m a monster, but at least I’m no barbarian! How many more ponies have to suffer through your malevolence?” I rebuked, glaringly. “Do you honestly wish for me to answer that vermin?” he gave a sly grin, “there’s an oncoming storm, whether you like it or not, and it is that of which I’m trying to save Equestria from, don’t you get it?” The dragon above me, alongside the golden aura around me, vanished, replaced with scales on my being, and magma oozing from my hands, all who were stood within a metre of me stepped backward as my fangs extended, and my eyes turned to slits, he teleported away. “Alert all squadrons, I want him found immediately,” Celestia urged a nearby trio of guards, who nodded, sprinting through the throne room’s doors. “Rick?” I blinked, the magma around me slowly dissipating as the scales faded into my skin, and my eyes returned to normal; turning I saw Celestia staring at me with a look of half-fear-, half-worry. “Daddy,” Gracy Gloom began to cry as I sat, cross-legged, clinging onto me as I draped my wings around her, gently stroking her mane, pecking her forehead. “Easy Grace, everything’s going to be Ok; don’t worry about it…” I soothed, or at least, I attempted to do so, slowly rocking back and forth “I’m sorry…” she sobbed, “if it weren’t for me, we’d-” I silenced her, quietly placing a finger to her muzzle, slowly shaking my head as she stared right at me, her gaze locking with mine “You’ve nothing to apologize, Grace, it’s as Roseluck once said, you were just a pawn in fates hands, in a so-called ‘chess game of the gods,’” I gave a faint smile, holding her close to me, using my wings as a makeshift-blanket. “You aren’t going to go after him?” Blaze stood beside me; “No need, they’ll find him eventually,” I shrugged, “and besides, if this is a ‘chess game of the gods,’ I’d like to know who the gods are so I can put an end to this irate chaos.” “As would I,” she grinned, the same golden aura once again reappearing around me, minus the large ethereal dragon. “Are you serious?” she blinked, gawking at me with an awestruck expression as I began to rock back and forward, again, slowly, Honey Heart having worked her way next to Gracy Gloom. “You have a problem, Blaze?” I raised an eyebrow; she shook her head, “Good.” “When I see your smile Tears roll down my face I can't replace And now that I'm strong I have figured out How this world turns cold and it breaks through my soul And I know I'll find deep inside me I can be the one I will never let you fall (let you fall) I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all (through it all) Even if saving you sends me to heaven It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. Seasons are changing And waves are crashing And stars are falling all for us Days grow longer and nights grow shorter I can show you I'll be the one I will never let you fall (let you fall) I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all (through it all) Even if saving you sends me to heaven Cuz you're my, you're my, my, my true love, my whole heart Please don't throw that away Cuz I'm here for you Please don't walk away and Please tell me you'll stay woah, stay woah Use me as you will Pull my strings just for a thrill And I know I'll be okay Though my skies are turning grey I will never let you fall I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all Even if saving you sends me to heaven I will never let you fall I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all Even if saving you sends me to heaven…” I chimed/chorused/cooed, gradually, rocking motion stopped, and a pair of light snores could be heard emanating from each of the fillies in my lap. “That was amazing,” Autumn Heart stepped forward, pecking me on the lips as I glanced toward her. “Then it’s not the only thing around here then is it, my little Tinker?” I winked. “When Honey Heart called that song a lullaby, I thought she was joking,” Blaze whistled, quietly, “looks like you win this one brother.” “So I do, Blaze, so I do,” I smiled, Winter Bell made her way onto my head as Autumn levitated Honey Heart onto her back, and I held Grace in my arms. “I must say that you’ve rather matured, Rick, “Crystal; hovered beside Angel, both smiling at me, “and it’s only taken three hundred years, not bad.” “Don’t judge, lest ye be judged,” I rolled my eyes. “I wasn’t going to, my love,” she pecked my cheek, as did Angel afterward, both flying out through the open window. “I have to agree with her Y’know?” Blaze sighed, “You’ve grown a great deal in these past years, and I’d be proud to call you my brother, Ricky-o..!” “This is our guild…” I muttered. “You had to quote Natsu?” she laughed somewhat softly. “What? He’s a great wizard,” I shrugged “speaking of the pyro, shall we see what he’s done lately?” “Where’re you going?” Celestia tilted her head as my family, friends and I walked toward the entrance of the castle, having followed us thus far. “Just going for a bit of friendly banter with a Salamander,” Blaze stood atop my shoulder. “Scarlet?” Twilight blinked. “No, Natsu,” Blaze grunted indignantly, “Natsu’s been, at one point, nicknamed the ‘Salamander.’” “Oh…” she slowly nodded… -=- “So, where’s the pyro?” I grinned upon entering the Fairy Tail guild, all eyes were on me, “what?” several stifled giggles/laughs broke out throughout the main hall, both upstairs and downstairs. “Natsu’s… how do I say this?” Grey grinned from ear to ear alongside Erza; “He’s been put out of commission for a while,” Erza smirked, “What; why?” I blinked “He’s had a kid with that one named Lyra,” Grey bust a gut in laughter, the hall’s occupants quickly joined in, I cleared my throat, loud as I could, then gestured toward Honey Heart, “Oh…” I quickly left the guild hall, frowning as I went. Upon tracking down Lyra’s apartment, I knocked on the door, a cream-coloured mare with a pink and navy-blue mane and tail with three wrapped sweets for a cutie mark appeared at the door, having opened it. “Hello, Rick, what can I do for you?” the mare blinked, staring at me in quite apparent confusion. “Is Lyra here-?” I was cut off by the sight of a filly, placed upon the back of Natsu’s head, with Lyra stood beside him; he glared at me, “Never mind…” “Hello Rick!” Lyra waved over to me, I waved back, Honey Heart now lying atop my head, with Snowdrop and Winter Bell perched upon my shoulders. “Hey Lyra, how’re you doing?” I smiled, she swooned, leaning into Natsu’s leg as she blushed profusely, her cheeks turning from mint/seafoam-green to a rosy shade of red. “Oh it’s been like heaven!” Lyra exclaimed with joy as Natsu moved the filly -a unicorn with tannish-orange coat and a blood-crimson mane and tail- to his arms, cradling the tiny pony “Natsu’s been the perfect father, even if he says he’s never done it before; it’s as if he knows what to do and when and how to do it!” “Perhaps he’s using what he’s been through as a form of experience?” I raised an eyebrow. “I wouldn’t be surprised,” the minty-green unicorn mare sighed dreamily with a just as happy expression plastered to her muzzle, “he’s been the perfect mate; and an even better foal-sitter, say, you wouldn’t happen to now one would you?” “I might,” I glanced toward Blaze, who stared at me, then glanced toward the foal in Natsu’s arms as he sat down on the sofa. “Oh hell no,” Blaze, finally getting the idea, quickly shook her head, fast as she could, “I did it for Rick and Autumn, I’m not doing it again!” “Please, just this once?” Lyra begged my sister, performing her best Puppy-dog-eyes’ impression; “Fine…” Blaze roiled her eyes, glaring at me icily, “but you owe me brother, big time!” “I’m sure there’s no need, I’ll pay you with whatever I can, Blaze,” Lyra winked at me, then pecked Natsu on the cheek, having moved to sit beside him “I’ll see to it that you get the necessary funding for looking after our little Amber Note…” =-= “That was cold, brother, even for a pyro like you,” Blaze frowned as we sat -‘we’ being my friends, family, myself, Twilight, her friends and Spike- in the library, glowering frigidly toward me. “What was cold?” Twilight blinked, as did her friends all eyes were on me as the deafening silence slowly settled. “Natsu and Lyra had a foal,” I smiled, “and Blaze here has been hired as the foal-sitter.” “They’ve done what?” Rarity gasped alongside Twilight. “Her name’s Amber Note, she’s a unicorn, and that’s all I know, really,” I glimmered. “That’s wonderful news!” she chimed “I do believe, when Amber Note is of age, that we should have an anniversary party to celebrate!” “I’m all for that!” Rainbow Dash grinned. “Me too…!” Pinkie Pier exclaimed with rather visible glee/joy. “Ah’m all fer a party o’ sorts, that is if the Salamander doesn’t mind,” Applejack simpered. “Or we could have it as a surprise!” Pinkie Pie giggled profusely, “it’s going to be AWESOME!” “That it is Pinkie, that it is,” I gave a slow, sagely nod. “You look as though you’re thinking, nay, pondering something, is there something on your mind, Rick?” “I need an idea of what the dragons I’m going to make for them are going to look like,” I beamed. “Oh you,” Autumn Heart nuzzled into me, pecking my cheek softly, speaking with the voice of an angel, “always thinking of others, be it positively or negatively, mind you, if you didn’t, it wouldn’t be you, would it, Rick?” “I very highly doubt it, my little Tinker,” I laughed. =-=-= “I know what to do for Natsu’s dragon,” I snapped my fingers, sitting beside Blaze and Autumn Heart in the art room/studio, carefully crafting a crimson dragon with golden underbelly scales with two horns pointing from the angles of its head, and a smaller one jutting out from its snout, its silver eyes ablaze with life as I snapped my fingers, having forged it with fire-based magic. “That’s a mini-mi Igneel!” Blaze laughed “So it is,” I smirked, moving onto Lyra’s dragon; that of which had dark green scales with lavender underbelly scales and wings, with a pair of ovoid, ruby-coloured eyes “and here’s Lyra’s little dragon, aptly named ‘Lyrica,’” I quickly crafted a clay lyre for the newly-created drake, who smiled as she took it, strumming the strings, as if testing it, before performing a small instrumental. “And what’ll you do for Amber Note?” Autumn Heart leant into me “I’ve yet to figure that out, Autumn, I really have,” I sighed. “Perhaps we should find out what her interests are beforehand- err hoof,” Blaze have a light chuckle “I’ll do it later on then,” I nodded, walking with Autumn Heart and Blaze to Lyra’s apartment, twin dragons on either shoulder. “Hello Rick, I wasn’t expecting visitors,” Lyra giggled as she answered the door; I handed her the two dragons, “the one with the Lyre; Lyrica is for you, the other one’s for Natsu,” I winked, Lyrica perched herself on Lyra’s back, rocking from side to side, as if testing her stability upon an equine’s spinal structure. “She’s beautiful,” Lyra giggled, “how long did it take for you to make these?” “Not long, and bets of all, they’re free,” I gleamed, “I’ll see you later, Lyra,” and with that, I turned and left… ()-() “You gave Natsu and Lyra their dragons?” Twilight ‘aww’d,’ “what about Amber Note?” “I’ve no clue as to what her interests are, so, until I can think of something relevant to that, I’m stuck for options,” I hummed. “You really are generous, you know that?” Rarity sighed somewhat dreamily. “No, I just care about my friends; that’s all,” I rolled my eyes agitatedly. “Say what you will, there’s no denying the goodwill of what you’re currently doing for them, Rick,” Twilight giggled… As I walked through ponyville, Sweetie Belle and Applebloom rushed toward me, taking either one of my hands in their hooves, dragging me to their newly-rebuilt clubhouse, changing to their anthro forms once there, lying me down on the bed, Applebloom working on my boots as she removed them, Sweetie Belle, meanwhile, removed my trousers and other sections of lower-area clothing. “We love you Rick,” Sweetie Bell rolled my shirt up as Applebloom locked the door, sitting on my chest as Sweetie Belle took my length into her maw, running her tongue along its base,. I grinned, moving Applebloom up a little, diving me tongue into her folds, twisting and turning it within her depths, causing her to give off loud, elongated moans as she arched her back, clinging onto the end of the bed as I twirled my tongue within her sex. Sweetie Belle, meanwhile, was busy pressing her lips down on my cock, coiling her tongue around its head, resulting in a profuse leakage of pre to burst forth from the tip, all of which, she devoured with a grin, pressing her lips a little harder around the head, removing herself from the rock-hard appendage, slamming her cunny down onto my dick, bounding up and down upon my being, our hips colliding at an alarming rate as seed flew through her insides, painting her walls white. “That was amazing, Rick,” Sweetie Belle panted for breath as she held herself above me, prodding my manhood against her rear entrance, sliding it in with relative ease, leaping up and down , hilting herself upon my member with each thrust. Applebloom, however, was shuddering like an earthquake as she climaxed, flooding my oral passaged with her fluids, almost screaming as she came; (-=-=-) “You smell,” Blaze wafted the air away from me with a paw, having chosen to stand upon my head. “I’m well aware of my hygiene levels, Blaze,” I smirked. “Who was it this time?” I winked, “oh, ok, tell me later then?” I nodded as we entered the throne room, where Twilight, her friends –minus Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy- The princesses, Faust, Starry Skies and Lulania were stood. “Have you ever thought of entering a contest wearing that Rick?” Rarity eyed me from head to foot, I, once again, was back in my clockwise regalia, with the goggles hanging upon my head, and Snowdrop and Winter Bell perched on either shoulder; “I deal with art, family and music, not fashion, Rarity,” I rolled my eyes; “to each their own; so to speak.” “But think about it you could end up with so much fame and fortune, if only you’d choose to do so,” Rarity glimmered. “Yeah… that’s not going to happen,” I shuddered. “If you say so, Dear…” she nickered. “Why ask in the first place?” laze patted the top of my head. “Because there’s a contest happening in the theatre tonight, and I was wondering if Rick would like to enter,” Rarity smiled, although, if he’d rather, he could direct the music for the contest instead.” “Where’s Rick Mayall when ya need him?” Blaze rolled her eyes. “Or Jack Bauer for that matter,” I laughed. “Touché, Brother, touché,” she slowly nodded. “So, when’s the theatre going to be free?” Autumn Heat winked at me. “It’s free now, if you’d like?” Rarity blinked. -=- After our ‘Practice,’ a crowd of ponies flooded the theatre, followed by a whitish/creamy-coloured mare with a cyan mane and tail with bright cyan eyes. “I must say, you have a wonderful singing voice,” the mare smiled, holding out a hoof, which I shook, “I’m Coco Pommel, but my friends call me either Coco or Pommel, and you are…?” “Rick,” I smiled, “I find it refreshing to meet quite the refined mare such as yourself, Suri>” “So, you’re the knight of the princesses I’ve heard so much about!” she gasped, quickly bowing, head almost slamming against the floor. “You needn’t bow Coco; I’m an ally, not a lord, nor a ruler,” I smiled; she nodded, raising back to her hooves. “It’s just such an honour to meet you, Sir Rick!” she exclaimed with quite apparent joy. “Just call me Rick, there isn’t a need to be so formal, Coco,” I chuckled. “If you say so, Rick,” she giggled, “Say, I’m rather new here, would you mind showing me the nearest guestroom?” “I wouldn’t mind at all Coco,” I smiled, collecting her luggage, carrying it to the nearest spare guestroom, placing it on the bed, “here you go, I hope everything goes as you plan, m’lady,” I bowed, pecking her hoof as she lifted it. “Oh, you’re quite the charmer,” she blushed profusely, her cheeks becoming a rosy shade of red as she glanced toward the clock, “Oh! I’d better get ready for the show, I’ll see you later, Rick.” “And I you, my little Coco,” I pecked her cheek as I walked out of the room, closing the door behind me as I left. “Two minutes to the contest everypony, a snarky, silvery mare with a pink mane and tail frowned as she glanced around the theatre, having just come from backstage, “where’s Coco Pommel?” “Yes brother, where is she?” Blaze laughed. “How should I know, probably still in her room making final preparations,” I rolled my eyes agitatedly, again. “She keeps doing this,” the silvery mare growled, “always the last to appear, and even when she does, she always loses, or comes in second-o-last place,” “That’s just a matter of the opinion of the judges, and their subsequent voting, nothing else,” I spat. “What?” she snarled, all eyes -including those of my friends, family, Twilight, her friends, the princesses, Lulania, Faust Starry Skies- were on me, “what would you know of beauty?” “Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, now, this may be me being an asshole, or you need a better set of judges,” I scoffed, “besides, everything has a deeper, inner beauty, it’s just that not everyone sees it.” “Holy shit,” Blaze burst into a fit of laughter, “you went off the deep end on that one Ricky-o!” “Here’s a phone, call someone who cares,” I passed her the phone from my jacket’s inner pocket. “Touché,” she grimaced. “I thought you said you didn’t do fashion,” Rarity smirked. “I don’t” I rolled my eyes, again. “Coco’s here,” a pink mare with a purple mane and tail –that of which were styled like Rarity’s, complete and utter show-off- walked from backstage “whether she’ll make it past the first round is, however debatable…” ==-+-== As the contest came to a close, and with Coco, surprisingly, as the winner, I wandered out to the gardens, sitting under the shade of an elder tree, legs crossed as I ‘meditated.’ “Rick?” I opened my eyes; Coco Pommel was there, wearing her latest ‘threads,’ her own rendition of clockwise attire, “Are you Ok?” “I just needed some time to myself, Coco, that’s all,” I smiled, “you’re free to join me, if you want,” I patted the ground beside me, Coco smiled in return, sitting beside me, leaning against me, pecking my cheek as she nuzzled into me. “So, what’ll you do now?” I simpered, glancing toward the mare sat beside me. “I think I’ll stay here for the time being, just to get into the flow of things, and to be with you, Rick” Coco giggled, “thanks for the help earlier by the way, I doubt anypony else would’ve done it so efficiently!” “There are few, save myself, my friends, family, and the alicorns of Equis that would have, Coco, guess you just got a little lucky,” I winked. -=-0-=- “And speaking of music, as you said earlier…” Blaze grinned as we –my family, friends Coco and I– entered the throne room, “How’s Amber Note doing anyway?” “I wouldn’t know, lately I’ve been here, haven’t I?” “Who’s Amber Note?” Celestia smiled. “Natsu and Lyra had a foal, let’s leave it at that,” Blaze shuddered. “Speaking of which, don’t you have a job you should be doing, Dear Sister?” I beamed. “So I, Brother, so I do,” she winked, quickly bounding off toward Lyra’s apartment after I teleported the pair of us to ponyville, quickly teleporting back. “You can teleport now?” Celestia raised an eyebrow as Coco Pommel made her way onto my back, perching her head on my shoulder as she wrapped her arms around my neck, Honey Heart lying atop my head in lieu of Blaze. “You didn’t seem too surprised before,” I smirked, “why the sudden act of ‘shock-and-awe’ now?” “Because I feel like it,” she grinned. “Touché,” I rolled my eyes, yet again… “So, this foal, Amber Note is her name?” I nodded, “what’s she like?” “I don’t rightly know that much really, I just popped over for a visit after so happening to find out about it,” I shrugged, lightly/carefully. “And I’m to assume that she’s a unicorn?” I nodded again, “that’s wonderful, I’ll make it so that they’re fully funded for anything they might need in the years to come.” “So, who’s your passenger this time?” Rarity smiled. “You know me, Rarity; it’s me, Honey Heart!” Honey Heart giggled. “I wasn’t referring toward you dear,” Rarity nodded toward Coco, who nuzzled into me. “I take it you’ve made a new friend, Rick?” Cadance smiled also; “So I have,” I grumbled as Coco landed safely with all four hooves on the floor. (=-=) As I sat on the front lawn, with my ‘next-of-kin’ sat around me in a small arc, I placed the Pipbuck onto my arm, quickly turning it on, accessing the ‘Notes’ section of the database. “You have ten new messages” a mechanical voice spoke from the wrist-mounted device. “DO I now?” I mumbled, activating the first Note; “Tesla, I don’t know if you’ll ever get this, but Homage’s been rather fidgety lately, I think she misses you, we all do, just remember that I love you, and I always will, even if were galaxies apart, I’ll find a way to come to you, wait for me, my love…” a young, feminine voice echoed through the gadget’s speakers, sounding as if she were crying. “Message repeats…” the same voice from before spoke somewhat monotonously. “Forest Rain…” I muttered, accessing the second new note; “Tesla, it’s me again, Homage’s behaviour’s gotten worse, she keeps breaking into sobs, what’s worse is that anytime we try to talk to her about it, she locks herself in the studio, crying, she definitely misses you, after all, you’re her wayward eon, you’re her arms, sword and shield out here in the wastes, as you are ours, please, wherever you are, whatever you do never forget us …” the same female echo returned, once again crying… “Message Repeats;” the mechanical voice also returned, “And you’re my little Rain…” I bit my lip, “And I you…” “Snowdrop, Winter Bell, Gracy Gloom, Scootaloo, Honey Heart, stay with Autumn for a while Ok, I’ll be back as soon as I can, Ok?” “Ok Daddy, we love you, the five fillies nuzzled into me, before marching into the house, closing the door behind them…
Chapter XXIV: continuation...When I returned, I had a smile on my face, walking back to the house with a light grin, closing the door behind me, having returned to a point in time that was only a few minutes after my exiting Equis. Moping into the art room, I sat on the bench, starting on the first of a series of dragons, putting only the finest detail into each one. “Rick?” I turned, Autumn Heart stood at the doorway, a worried look cast across her muzzle. “How long have I been in here?” “All of last night and yesterday afternoon,” she raised an eyebrow, sitting beside me on the bench, glancing toward each of the new dragons, “who’re these for? They’re beautiful…” “They’re going with the statue in the forest,” I bit my lip “little mementoes for a few fallen heroes…” “Oh, I see…” she leant into me “never forget that I’m here for you, Rick, and so are Twilight and her friends, as well as the princesses, Ok?” I nodded, “thank you, my little Tinker, I’ve no idea where I’d be without you.” -=- The next few years passed without much hindrance, from neither buckshot nor anyone/anywhere else… -=- “Rick?” Autumn Heart smiled, pecking my cheek, “are you well?” “I’ll be fine, so long as you’re here, my little Tinker,” I draped my wings around her, holding her close as she sat in my lap “I can see why the others like this, it’s amazing,” she nickered, draping her arms around me, placing her lips upon mine, =-= “Rick, there you are!” Twilight sprinted toward me. “What is it Sparky?” I raised an eyebrow at their antics. “Applebloom and Sweetie Belle have been captured by the Diamond Dogs, Applejack and the others are on their way now, come on!” and so we went to the dirt plain that was home to the diamond dogs, Applejack and the others stood in formation when we got there, “So,” Blaze began with a frown, standing beside me, “slavers then?” “If that’s the case,” I sighed with a slight nod, “they’ll get what’s gone to both Raiders and Slavers alike, the Legion also.” “You’re going to kill them…?” Twilight gasped. “You give beings who take your family and relatives hostage a second chance, Twilight?” I scowled. “Well, there must be some way we can do this without meaningless violence!” she urged. “Think about it Twi, we only managed to get out last time ‘cause of Rarity, we ain’t got that this time, they know that we’re coming,” Applejack frowned. “You can’t be serious!” Rarity, Twilight and Rainbow Dash gawked at the two of us. “They said the same thing when I offered to take care of the Deathclaws out of quarry junction; I think you can guess what happened then,” I spat. “But, you can’t…!” Twilight rapidly shook her head glaringly, glowering at me in disgust. “If you’re not going to help, step aside, I’ve not a minute to spare for those trapped underground,” I scowled, again. “You’re a monster…” she looked away. “Would you rather Bloom and Belle be used and abused to the dog’s content, at their very whim? I raised an eyebrow, “because if that’s the case, you’re not better than they are.” Digging through the nearest mound of earth found me in an underground cavern, with a series of ponies on shackles and chains with metal collars linked to the chains on their ankles “What you doing down here, you no pony!” grey ape-like canine-esque figure wearing a blood-crimson jacket snarled as Twilight and her friends landed beside myself and Blaze. “Said the low-life slaver to the demigod,” I chided, “Blaze, you, Twilight and the others try to find the two we’re here for, I’ll handle the rest, Ok?” “Okie Dokie, Brother!” Blaze saluted me, now in her Typhlosion form “You can’t do this!” Twilight blared; all eyes that belonged to a pony were now on us. “Who’s the General here?” I frowned. “We’re not in the UNSC!” she bellowed. “Just go, the sooner you find Applebloom, the better it’ll be for everyone, and everypony,” I winked. After a lengthy argument, Twilight stormed off with her friends, leaving the two of us with the dog-like creature. “Comical” the dog laughed, charging toward me, a quick roundhouse kick to the jaw sent him sprawling, and a snap of his neck finished him off. “Rover!” a small, nut-brown dog barked, ironically enough, leaping right at me, Blaze setting him alight proved that such an act was unwise, to say the least. -=-=- “So, that was the last of them?” Blaze stood beside me at the end of the labyrinth-like mine. “So it’d seem, Sister,” I nodded, “come we have ponies to free.” “You’re not going to eat us?” the first pony, a unicorn mare, blinked as I crouched down to his level, smiling. “I may be part dragon, and a few other carnivorous species, but I’m on a strict no-pony diet, courtesy of Celestia herself,” I winked, again, breaking the chains on his legs, “now run along, find the nearest exit, if you can’t find one; find me instead.” “I’d rather stay with you, seeing as there may be more Diamond Dogs on the way,” she smiled, pecking my cheek as she wriggled free of the shackles that bound her. “As you say,” I simpered, moving on to the next pony… ()-() After all the ponies that I could find had been freed, we headed as a small army-like formation to the exit, performing alchemy to create a set of stone stairs that led out of the mine “Blaze scout ahead, I need to see if there‘re any more vermin topside,” I gave a curt nod. “Aye, Aye sir,” she saluted me, bounding up the stairs, quickly returning to the middle of the staircase, having been gone for a minute or two “All clear General Hawkins, sir!” she grinned from ear to ear “That’s good,” I sighed with relief, beginning my ascent up the staircase, followed by the freed slaves those of who trotted in double-file, “Are you happy now?” Twilight growled as we surfaced, beginning the walk to Ponyville “I’d be more concerned about Celestia’s opinion on the matter, rather than your own, Twilight Sparkle,” I tutted, she quickly magicked a quill and sheet of paper, writing down a quick note, Spike then sent note to Celestia by means of magical fire. “Twilight Sparkle,” Celestia appeared in a flash of bright light, smiling toward the lavender mare, then toward me, “what’s this I hear of Diamond Dog activity?” “Princess Celestia!” the crowd of former-captives chorused in shock-and-awe, dropping to the ground; bowing. “Rise my little ponies, there isn’t such a need to be so formal as of now,” Celestia raised an eyebrow toward me, before glancing at the crowed behind me, then back to me again, “how’d you do it this time, Rick?” “Twilight told me of Applebloom and Sweetie Belle’s capture by the Diamond Dogs, so I volunteered my services in aid of their little quest, thus, here we are,” I gestured around us. “You freed my little ponies?” she stared at me, I nodded, “!well then, it appears that I’ve to commend you for your actions here today, Rick, I’ll see to it that such a ceremony takes place tomorrow at noon, shall I?” “You do what you want, I’m only a knight, not a king, and I’ve need to be as such, Princess,” I quickly bowed. “So be it,” she giggled, walking with myself, Blaze Twilight, her friends and the others to ponyville, “you’ll have to tell me though, what of the Diamond Dogs?” “That depends on what you wish to happen, Princess,” I bit my lip, “are you willing to give those who’d use and abuse whoever they so wish to their heart’s content, a second chance?” “So long as they chose to negate any of those actions or motives, I might be willing to compromise,” she glanced toward me with a perplexed look cast upon her face, “why do you ask?” “Because in the wastes, which is filled with people like that, most of the time, the only way to reason with a Raider or a Slaver is usually to put a bullet between their eyes, or, if they’re really persistent, a whole clip-full,” I shrugged. “You would do all that, just for the possible safety of my loyal subjects?” she stared at me, this time, in somewhat apparent awe/horror. “I do what I feel is both correct, and yet necessary, that is all, Princess,” I gave a faint smile. “So you do,” she gave a slow, somewhat-mortified nod. “I take it this means no commendations?” I flinched, giving a light wince at the way I was speaking, “not that I mind at all, I mean, I’ve a family to care for, art to create and music to play, so it’s not like I deserve any such rewards anyhow.” “You say that like it‘s better than what I had in store for you, why is that?” she frowned. “Make no mistake, I wasn’t trying to offend anyone, or anypony, I just wish for a simple life where I can forget the past and move on, if at all possible,” I rolled my eyes, exhaling sharply as I went, “sadly however, that is not the case, as there’re threats to Equestria that could topple Equis as we know it, one of which has already been disarmed, but what of the others I wonder?” “What do you mean ‘threats’?” Celestia’s eyes narrowed. “Why, the end of Equestria as we know it, of course,” I facepalmed hard enough that it actually stung, “have you already forgotten my temporary sacrifice not last week, if a little earlier, Princess?” I continued, “had those megaspells of hit, you would not gave been around to speak of it, nor would anyone within two-hundred square miles of Canterlot, let alone the castle itself…” “How do you know that?” she scowled. “What do you think created the wastes in the first place?” I grumbled agitatedly, “this whole ‘me-going-insane’ thing and telling you to watch the skies is my way of making sure that it doesn’t happen again.” “So, you’re doing you best to do Equestria good, if only a little at a time?” she blinked. “Basically,” I smiled, “Why do you have to be so uncouth sometimes?” Rarity frowned. “I don’t know, maybe I’m just made to be a complete dumbass sometimes?” I snorted,” I mean, really, I know several people who’d rather have a Brahmin steak, a bottle of wine and a girl from the Gomorrah, but we don’t always get what we want, do we?” “Gomorrah?” she raised an eyebrow, Blaze walked in line beside me, smug grins aplenty. “Blaze, you’re the one who dragged me in there, therefore, you can be the one to explain it to them,” I smirked toward the Typhlosion. “Maybe later, I’m simply enjoying the moment, for now, Brother,” Blaze laughed. “So you are, Sister, so you are,” I laughed as we arrived in Ponyville “What do we do now?” Celestia turned to me. “Now, we attempt to repair what has been broken by what I class as ‘stuff-that-is-lower-than-trash,’” I scoffed, “attempt to scour Equestria and/or the nearby towns and points of civilisation, see if they’ve got any missing ponies, then send the respective civilians on their way with a chariot of guards.” “Ah, but family is like a decent friendship, Brother, and both a like a glass of water” Blaze patted my side with a gentle paw, “it may be fixed after breaking, but there shall always be the cracks, forever there, to remind the person of the past, no matter where they might be.” “You got that from me, didn’t you?” I grinned. “So I did, Ricky-o, so I did” she laughed. “When did you come up with such a phrase?” Celestia giggled, faintly. “A few decades ago, could’ve been a century with the way my memory seems to work, for all I know,” I laughed again. -=-=- “Hit me.” “You’re at eighteen. Now remember what I told you?” I raised an eyebrow, sat on the opposite end of an alchemy-made blackjack to table Pole Star; that of which had been erected (Lol) in the main hall when I suspected that nobody was looking. “There’s only three cards that will help, high risk, high reward. Usually, it’s not worth it unless you’re cheating.” “Right; and any casino will throw you out if they catch you.” I flipped my cards over; “I have a ten and a three,” I pulled a card from the deck and revealed it; “A two.” He revealed another. “An ace,” I flipped a third card, “And a Jack, I’m bust.” Star scooped the small pile of bits and pulled them closer with a smirk. Shining Armour threw his hand down in disgust, sitting beside Autumn Heart. “How is he so good at this?’ “I’ve no idea, perhaps experience, perhaps something else,” Pole Star nickered. “Are you gambling?” I glanced behind me, Twilight, the princesses; Faust and Lulania were there, eyebrows raised. “Not at all Cellsy, I’ve just spent the past three hours doing absolute sod all, excuse my language,” I rolled my eyes. “I should’ve guessed as much, with your recent talk of this ‘New Vegas’ and al,” she smirked. “Why don’t you go to Las Pegasus to do so?” “I’ve a family to look forward to, and it’s not like I can be in two places at once,” I shrugged. “New Vegas…?” Pole Star blinked alongside Shining Armour, I grumbled. “Just imagine the best casino’s hotels and pubs that you can think of stretched over a five-to-twenty-square mile radius, half of said activities are usually in the same building,” I smiled as I explained the ‘basics.’ “And of course, they’re somewhat, shall we say, raunchier?” Blaze grinned from atop my head. “How so….?” Pole Star, I raised an eyebrow, nodding toward my –literally- little sister. “You know what a strip club is right?” Blaze grinned from ear to ear, both guards gave a slight nod, just imagine that, a hotel, a casino, and a pub in one building, that’s essentially what the ‘Gomorrah’ is.” “And you walked into that?” Autumn Heart frowned. “Not a chance in hell Autumn, I dragged him in there by his ankles,” she laughed. “You’re joking…?” Autumn Heart blinked. “Hey, I’m stronger than I look ya know!” Blaze growled half-menacingly, half-adorably. “I think it was closer to my ears than my ankles Blaze,” I shuddered. “I don’t see you complaining otherwise!” she barked, I shot her an icy glare, “Ok, fair enough, shan’t bring it up again…” “You’re lucky you’re immune to fire, and that I don’t hit females of any species, sentient species anyhow,” I grunted. “Am I?” she gasped “you’d really strike me, your charming adorable little sister, oh, woe is me, what am I to do?” she acted as she spoke, leaping to the table and performing the appropriate theatrics. “And you said that I’d make a good actor,” I glanced toward the alicorns behind me, Celestia giggled, as did the others “Would you though?” she clambered back onto my shoulder, “would you really hit me?” “Depends on the situation your darkened sense of humour puts me in,” I shrugged. “I’m almost hurt,” she sniffled, beginning to fake crying, pulling a piece of fabric from her inventory, blowing into it, wiping away tears that weren’t even there, “you’d really hit me, but we’ve been through so much together Ricky-o, don’t you love me?” “This could be classed as a form of either torture or entertainment, I can’t tell, “Pole Star chortled, glancing toward me, “you really put up with this?” “On a bi-daily basis, Star, it can get a little tiring sometimes, but, considering what my family’s like, I’d say that that’s impossible” I laughed. -=-=- “So, what’re we doing again?” Blaze blinked as we stood in the arena. “Well, since the season four ‘finale’ (Lol), is but a Dragonball-Z piss-take, I was wondering if I can’t do the same,” I grinned. “Just don’t pop a blood vessel…” she chortled. “I know right, Sean Schemmel actually passed out once while voicing a certain character from the series,” I beamed. “So, how do you plan to do this?” Faust raised an eyebrow “Wait and see,” I winked, scales appearing upon my being a I initiated ‘Dragon Force,’ then unleashing the same-as-usual Whitish-Golden ‘Aura,’ initiating a second stage ‘Dragon’s Apparition,’ complete with the now-trademark golden dragon of flame. “Good, now we’re on second stage,” Blaze grinned, leaping onto my shoulder “how can we progress further?” `“I can assure you it won’t be by means of clenching every muscle and screaming until my lungs burst,” I laughed, “even if it mightgive me the ability to topple mountains and disintegrate the very earth itself,” I continued with a grin, also initiating ‘Lightning-flame dragon mode.’ “So, how will we do it?” she rolled her eyes with a sly smirk, “or rather, how will you do it?” Blaze blinked, again, as I then utilized ‘Gear Second,’ “That’s two-and-a-half, Brother, but we both know what using that ability can do to even a rubber-man like you, don’t we?” “What does she mean?” Twilight stared at me, eyes wide in apparent horror. “The only reason I’m able to use ‘Gear Second,’ is due to the fact that my physiology is that of a rubber-man, or in short, if someone other than people like me were to use this, their organs, and circulatory system would tear themselves apart,” I explained. “That’s suicidal!” she screamed at the top of her lungs, tears threatening to burst forth from their ducts. “Such is the price for such a power, Twilight, if you want, I’ll not use it unless asked,” I cooed, stopping all magical/physical abilities, reverting to normal, “I may be rubber, or rubber-like, but even I have my limits when using that ability.” Twilight leapt at me, knocking me to the ground, clinging onto me, crying into my jacket/shirt; “Please, don’t use it anymore…” she began to cry, “I don’t want to lose you again…” “Alright Twilight, I’ll stop using it,” I draped my wings around her, pecking the tip of her horn, resulting in a series of magenta-coloured sparks that arced around her horn. =-=-= “Are those…?” Autumn Herat stared at my newest creations that stood atop the hill behind the library. “Yes, yes they are,” I grinned, gazing at the statues of my friends and family, the princess, Twilight and her friends included, made completely from steel wire and bottle-caps. “Ok….” She raised an eyebrow, “I’m unsure as to what to think of these, but I’ll admit, now I know what you’ve been doing for the past two-and-a-half months.” “How many caps did you use making these?” Twilight smirked. “Not many, in comparison to what I had,” I rolled my eyes, “why?” “Curiosity,” she giggled. “So I see,” I sighed, exhaling sharply. “We love you Daddy,” Honey Heart chimed alongside her sisters as she clambered onto my NCR ‘Elite Riot Gear’, with Snowdrop and Gracy Gloom taking their places upon the shoulders of the NCR regalia I was wearing. “Where’d you get that awful set of attire anyway, Dear Rick…?” Rarity eyed me from head to foot, obviously trying to avoid eye-to-mask contact with the crimson eyes of the ‘helmet’ “Doing a little of ‘This-And-That,’” I shrugged, “nothing too bad, I can assure you.” “And the piece of metal attached to your side?” she gestured toward the 44. Magnum; “Let’s just call it a peacekeeper, shall we?” I hummed “I thought it’d be different for Nightmare Night.” “And what does it do?” she shuddered a little?” “I’d rather not say,” I clenched my fists, “but, I’ll give you one thing, the area I got it from, gave me and Blaze a grim reminder never to use fire-based abilities around a set of nuclear warheads.” “What were you doing around nuclear warheads?” Autumn Heart blinked. “Trying to redeem what little of the wastes we could salvage, and perhaps, given time, repair,” Blaze gave a somewhat forlorn hum. “There’s one thing I don’t get though, Twilight and the others, or all of Ponyville for that matter, should be fossils by now, so why aren’t they?” “An apt question, Blaze,” Celestia winked at me, “when Rick here harness the power that was bestowed upon the walls of may ponies’ homes years ago, there was, to put it bluntly, a trade, he shared his longevity with Equestria, and they, their kindness and prosperity. “’tis truly an amazing exchange” Luna nodded, sagely, “But, in exchange, may we ask thou a question, Sir Rick?” “Go ahead,” I smiled. “Where did you get most of your scars, specifically?” all eyes were on me “A Deathclaw nest in Quarry junction, barely managed to get out alive, let alone halfway through,” I shuddered. “What were thou doing there in the first place?” she stared at me quite visibly awestruck. “The nearby town, Sloan, had a problem with their quarry, or rather, a fairly large one, and the ‘mayor,’ so to speak, was willing to pay a hefty sum of caps for anyone ballsy, tough, or stupid enough to go in and come out alive.” “And you did it anyway?” Celestia draped a wing around me. “I didn’t do it for the caps, if that’s what you’re thinking, Princess,” I laughed. “I know you’d never do such a thing as reckless as that for money, Rick, you’re not like that,” she smiled, “you’re my little eon, and That of Equis, no less, why don’t you go out and see what it has to offer?” “Because I don’t need to, nor do I want to,” I rolled my eyes behind my blood-crimson visor. “Just don’t get either of us to talk about the divide, or anything to do with it, please,” Blaze stood beside Scootaloo, Winter Bell and I, yet opposite all the others. “Why, what happened there?” Twilight blinked. “We’d rather not speak of it altogether, if that’s alright with you, Twilight,” “Yeah, I think Mort missed out on a few of my titles when he reviewed my being and/or status,” I chortled. “Courier Six, no..?” Blaze patted my side, lightly bumping a clenched paw against my fist. “There is one thing I don’t get, how did the radiation in those megaspells not affect any of Equestria after I destroyed them?” I glanced toward Celestia. “We used a team of Pegasi to harvest what you call radiation into a series of clouds, which have since been studied and used in experiments under appropriate working conditions,” Celestia raised an eyebrow.” “Fair do’s, I just hope you know what you’re doing with that stuff,” I clicked my tongue. “And now it is my turn to ask a question of you, brother,” Blaze frowned, “who’s Mort?” “Pony grim reaper,” I grinned. “You’re joking…” she stared at me, I tilted my head ever-so slightly, “holy shit …you aren’t, are you? That’s… that’s insane, and yet not impossible, far from it in fact! …well, I can say it’s grand to have you back, Ricky-o!” “And it’s good to be back, Blaze, clichéd as the line may be,” I laughed. “So it is, then again, I wouldn’t know,” she chortled. “So, that’s another additive to the list of insane things that you’ve accomplished, eh?” she winked. “Right up there in the list besides making the infinite muffin button,” I nodded. “You made an infinite muffin button?” Twilight giggled. “I have, just don’t tell Dinky,” I chuckled, “lord knows what’ll happen then?” “A present for the mare, Brother..?” Blaze smirked, grinning from ear to ear, “and here I thought you’ said you’d get a bouquet?” “Since when have I said that?” I frowned. “Already denying it?” she laughed, “was it last year, or sometime this year, I can’t tell…” “I didn’t know you were that sort of being, Rick,” Twilight nickered with a light blush, her cheeks turning a rosy shade of pink. “So, ‘Sierra Madre’ was interesting enough, eh brother?” “Meh, it was alright, if a little eerie,” I shrugged, “But I’d rather not talk about it, or what happened to you, if that’s alright, Sister.” “I love it when you go all sentimental about that particular subject brother…” she cooed, nuzzling into moving herself under my hand. “Like that do you?” I smirked, scratching her behind the ears, “just as well you’re not like Torch…” “I know who you’re referring to, Brother,” she grinned from ear to ear, leaning into me “that little browser of yours, no?” “I’ll give you twenty gems if you drop the matter both here and now,” I frowned. “Fifty.” “Deal,” I shook her paw, quickly bringing out a selection of gems from my inventory, all of which, she devoured almost instantly, beaming. “And the deal’s off…” I rolled my eyes. “No, I’ll still stay quiet about it, but only to those who you don’t wish to hear of it, Ricky-o!” she glimmered. “At least you’re honest and loyal to your family, no offense or anything,” “And I can be pretty ‘magical’ at times, eh?” she nudged my side with a knowing grin and a flirtatious wink. “I haven’t got a horn that operates in that manner, unless you mean the one ‘down-south,’ and unless you’re my girlfriend you’re not getting any ‘magic’ from it,” I deadpanned. “Already did, remember?” she laughed. “Not of my volition though,” I rolled my eyes. “I know, Brother, I know,” she cooed again, “aren’t we but a strange family?” “Strange is a bit of an understatement, Blaze,” I facepalmed, or at least, ‘mask-palmed.’ “Say, what happened to all that alcohol anyways?” she smirked. “Basement,” I sighed. “Ah, that bumbling cliché, morbid as it may end up, it might as well be there, off all places.” “What’s Alcohol?” Honey Heart blinked, tapping me on my horns with a fragile hoof. “Blaze, if you would?” I smiled. “Me, why me…?” Blaze blinked. “You’re the one who bought it up, plus you’re the foal-sitter, so it doubles,” gleamed. “Blaze is a foal-sitter?” Twilight stared at me, wide eyed, her jaw almost meeting the lush, green grass. “That I am, Twilight Sparkle,” Blaze mumbled, “should you choose to fornicate with my Brother, I’d be all too happy to take care of the cold and/or filly for you.” “Fornicate?” Twilight blinked. “Shag, screw, do the nasty, keep the town up at night no doubt?” she grinned, again, from ear-to-ear. “Oh, oh…!” Twilight shuddered with a look of disgust, “well I don’t know if I’d be ready for that!” “Were the two of you not at it for approximately two-and-a-half hours at a time a few years back?” Blaze tutted, “what happened to you Twilight? You know that Ricky-o doesn’t do one night stands, right?” “I can’t,” Twilight dipped her head, staring at the ground, “ever since I found out about Winter Bell, I’ve found myself unable to bring myself to do such a thing; or to take our relationship that far, I’m sorry.” “Do you hear that Rick,” Blaze glanced toward me, after going through all that you have, saving countless lives at the cost of your own innumerable times, fighting against the odds with everything you have and more, saving Sloan from the Deathclaws, also saving Forest Rain from the Raiders, and Blackjack from those thugs, even now, you fight with all that you are and ever will be, and what are you rewarded with? Complete-and-utter bullshit..!” “You forgot to mention about me being one of the lucky few million to survive the human-covenant war, rather than one of the twenty-six-billion of whom died, sister,” I winked. “That I am, and I hereby add it to the list of thy achievements, Ricky-o!” she pecked my cheek, standing on tip-toes to do so, patting my back with a somewhat affectionate paw. “You lost how many?” Celestia awed at me. “I needn’t repeat myself, the fact that I’m here is a little thanks to the Mk-VI armour being as dense as the average sub-par American video gamer/internet junkie…” I burst into a fit of laughter. “You got trouble for doing that last time you uploaded that to the internet remember?” Blaze smirked. “Yeah, Fire-eaters or something, if he wants to have a go at me, at least get his bloody facts straight, America, or the Americas, is a continent, not a country, end of discussion,” I spat “and besides, I deal with family members, not random strangers over the web.” “So you do,” she laughed, (Again..?) =-= “Yo Ricky-o, ya got any whiskey?” Blackjack patted my shoulder with a fragile wing. “I’ll see what I can do,” I sighed, setting my rucksack out before me, retrieving two six-packs of whiskey. “She grinned, “Sweet, thanks Rick,” she quickly opened the first bottle, downing it almost instantly “She’s an alcoholic?” Luna blinked. “Don’t think so, but she adores her whiskey like I’m sure astronomers admire your work, Princess,” I quickly bowed “Thou flatter us,” she giggled, sitting beside me on the balcony, “and, as promised, we haven’t spoken to thy next of kind about her magic, nor has thine sister,” she added with smile. “It looks like I can trust you after all, Woona,” I draped wing around her back, pecking her cheek. “Woona?” she blinked, glancing toward me with an unamused expression “Woona, Lulu, Luna?” I tilted my head, Luna facehooved. “Forgive us if we withhold our enthusiasm,” the lunar goddess rolled her eyes. “Hey, if you need me, I can still be used as a teddy bear, just don‘t Tell Cellsy,” I winked. “We would like that, but do you not have a family to get home to?” she giggled. “I could teleport, but yes, I’ve a family to go home and be with, as have you, here in Canterlot, surrounded by your sister, guard friends and subjects, you’re Nakama, if you will,” I grinned. “Rick, you’re my only friend,” she pursed her lips, “I’ve Nopony other than you, my sister, and the current bearers of the elements of harmony.” “Wrong,” I smirked. “We beg thy pardon?” she frowned. “You’ve got me, and I’ve got the guild to back me up, if only a few members, so we’ve got your back, so to speak; and you’ve got us, as allies, and more-than-likely as friends, ‘My little Tsuki…’” -=- “That’s the last time I’m mentioning the guild to anyone from Canterlot….” I mumbled, falling flat on my face alongside as I stood beside my friends and the like in the throne room. “What happened?” Celestia walked down from the throne, sitting before me, standing between myself and Twilight and her friends. “I got used as a teddy bear again, god Damnit,” I mumbled, rolling onto my back. “Have fun did we?” she smirked. “I’m unsure as to how to answer that, Princess,” I raised an eyebrow. “Waiting for your CPU to get back in gear, Brother?” Blaze grinned. “Yeah, pretty much,” I gave a quiet laugh. “You have a CPU, a central-processing-unit’? Twilight stared at me, almost mortified. “I’ve a brain and heart if that’s what you’re asking,” I winked, pulling myself upright. “But titling it as ‘CPU’ implies that is mostly -if not completely- mechanical and technological!” she rebuked with an icy glare. “I wouldn’t know, the folks up at Big-MT didn’t explain much about the so-called experiments and/or surgery they had me go through at an undisclosed point in time,” I shrugged. All eyes were now on me as Luna appeared via teleportation, standing beside Celestia. “You WHAT!?” the lavender mare bellowed at the top of her lungs. “Nothing important Sparky, don’t worry about it,” I muttered, rolling my eyes. “It’s important if it involves us!” she blared “So now that he’s told you about the dangers of the wastes, you wish to be with my Brother?” Blaze snapped, “I suggest that you think very, very carefully about what you want with Rick, you don’t want to know about the last time this happened…” “So, when somepony uses that spell to change you to what you’d look like without magic, you have biomechanical organs also?” Celestia raised an unamused eyebrow. “I nodded, “basically,” she frowned, tapping her horn against my head as it shone with a bright-primrose aura, my form changing to its natural state as she did so., standing me on my feet by means of levitation, placing a hoof against my chest where my heart should’ve been.” “There’s barely a pulse, if any,” her eyes narrowed, “what happened to you?” “That’s something we’ll have to wait and find out, isn’t it?” I raised an eyebrow in return. “I thought you stopped the megaspells?” Twilight glowered at me. “I stopped the wastelands from coming into being in one way, not in all of them, Lady of Magic,” I sighed, “There’s still the ground-based forces to worry about, and those of which may-or-may-not come from within Equestria, this isn’t over until I know that that the situation is as such, Twilight Sparkle.” I turned to face Celestia “just say the word, your majesty, and I can have the situation over in a matter of hours…” -=-=- “Is there a reason why the Infinity just fired six full payloads from each of its main MAC’s toward down-under?” Blaze blinked on the following day “Because when you’re as high a rank as me, almost nothing’s impossible,” I winked. “Rick, you’re a General, the only higher rank is that of a Field-Marshall,” she laughed. “My point exactly, dear Sister,” I grinned as we walked into the throne room. “So, this is how you save Equestria?” Celestia scowled. “Would you rather I go there and deal with it personally, Princess?” I tilted my head ever-so slightly, seeing as Snowdrop was perched upon my helmet. “I’d rather you not do anything of the sort,” she frowned. “Fair do’s” I rolled my eyes, again, “I trust that you shall take it from here?” I quickly bowed, before continuing to speak, “but if I may place a light-hearted suggestion?” she nodded, “keep an eye on on-border activities; that is all.” “Sir?” a sudden, familiar, voice spoke over the comms; Celestia raised an eyebrow, clearly hearing the person who spoke. “What is it Garret?” I pressed a pointed index and ring finger against the side of my helmet, just as Carter would’ve done, as per the usual. “We’re getting sightings of more and more gamma radiation down here, you might wanna have a look at this Sir, there’re survivors clinging to what look like home-made alchemy-based weaponry, even a sub-par nuclear bomb!” Garret exclaimed “I’ll be there A.S.A.P. you just round up what you can in the way of weaponry, destroy it if you can manage to do so without it going off and deep-sixing everyone there, both human and survivor alike. “Sir…??” Garret hesitated “Bring what you can to my current position as and when you can, if possible, would you kindly?” I grinned, not that Celestia saw it; I don’t think, “Same goes for any survivors.” “I’ll do what I can,” he nodded, invisibly. “Good enough; General out,” I cut the com-line. =-=-=-= “So, this is who you decimated?” Celestia glared icily at me as the small group of Zebra’s entered the science lab alongside Garret and several UNSC weapons specialists/engineers, Twilight and her friends glowering at me as they walked toward us “We’ll see, Princes, we’ll see,” I raised my hands defensively, “now, you said you had the residue from those megaspells?” she nodded, glaringly. “What’s your point?” she spat, Garret handed me what looked like a compromised rifle made of various scarp parts and such, said rifle had a pinkish orb attached to it “Shall we compare the two?” I smirked. Cracking the orb open, a pinkish gas escaped from within, as a nearby pony working in the lab passed me a test tube, also filled with an almost-identical gas “If you say so…” she snarled, her horn glowing as she opened the test tube, removing the cork, magically examining the two gases There was a moment, before she slammed the cork back into the test tube, staring at me with a look of horror. “They’re the same…!” she awed at me. “My guess, they’re preparing for war, or at least, they were, and you wouldn’t have been able to put up much resistance, what with Canterlot supposedly destroyed by the megaspells,” I nodded “But what about Zecora..?” Twilight blinked. I sighed, “If you want my opinion; Recon, she was here to examine and assess your abilities and each of your characteristics, then travel back to her homeland to discuss with her leaders how best to pick you off like diseased flies.” Another pair of scientists working in the lab quickly took care of the remaining gas, filtering it into a large beaker, which was then sealed. “So, we’ve just evaded what could’ve been seen as a one-sided war?” Garret tilted his head I nodded, “we have just -and I’d hate to be arrogant- saved all of Equestria, if not all that dwell within, Colonel,” I grinned. “You saved my little ponies?” Celestia stared at me, mortified, “I can’t thank you enough.” “You just did, I smiled, “besides, do we keep this quiet, or do we spread word of this incident?” “I think we’d better keep this quiet,” she gave a slow nod. “As you say,” I bowed quickly, “I shall entrust the rest to you, Admiral,” and with that, I left, walking with my friends and family from the lab. “Admiral Celestia?” Blaze laughed as we made our way to the gardens. “I thought it’d be nice,” I shrugged. “Level Up!” she guffawed “New Perk, Hometown-Hero! Congratulations, you’ve saved Equestria, you now gain + 100 fame in every area within said country’s borders!” “Whilst I must remind you that this isn’t a game, I’d have to agree with you on that, if only a little,” I laughed, suddenly stopping when I felt the ground quake, and a familiar magical ‘anatomy’ could be felt in the air. I suddenly burst into a fit of laughter, “Looks like Cellsy’s gone and done it!” “I wouldn’t be impressed, Rick,” Autumn Heart shuddered, “Luna-only-knows what’s going on in there right now!” “I’ve a pretty good idea,” I simpered, “I guess that proves that there’re a few princesses in Equestria who can look after both themselves and their loved ones.” “There’re plenty of ponies who can do that, Rick, try not to judge a species’ actions based upon that of an individual,” she gave a light frown. “Alright then, Autumn Heart,” I exhaled sharply, crouching down to her level, holding out a clenched fist, “we cool?” “For now, but I won’t have you dishonouring the rulers of Equestria,” she raised a smug eyebrow, bumping hoof against fist, “but that doesn’t mean I don’t love you, even if I am a little disappointed with your views upon others. “I can change, all it needs is the right amount of persuasion,” I winked. “Only you…” she rolled her eyes, breaking into a fit of laughter, pecking me on the lips, “I’ll have to do something about that side of you later, won’t I?” “Only if you’re up for it,” I shrugged, (again?) “Is that a challenge?” she grinned. “Maybe,” I gleamed. “I might have to reward you for that later, Ricky-o,” she winked. “So you might, Autumn Heart, so you might,” I rolled my eyes with a light chuckle, still in my ‘true’ form/state. -=- “So, you have a mechanical heart, brain, and spine?” Celestia shuddered at the thought as we stood in the throne room, Twilight and her friends surrounding the solar deity with a light frown. “That’s the basics of it, and, if one, were to put it bluntly, yes, but also, not quite,” I hummed, “they’re technological, but not quite mechanical, and as such, I don’t need to worry about popping my clogs whilst using ‘Gear Second.’” “‘Pop thy clogs’?” Luna blinked. “To put it simply ‘Die,’” I bit my lip. “So we see,” she nuzzled into me, pecking my cheek, “we art most glad to have a friend such as thee, Sir Rick, or is that knight-General Rick now?” “You what..?” I blinked. “We promoted you, with Lord Hood’s permission of course,” Celestia giggled. “I’ve no clue as to what to say…” I stared at her, somewhat awestruck… =-= “So, that happened,” Blaze laughed as we stood upon the balcony, overlooking Equestria with a grin. “So it did, Blaze, so it did,” I sighed. “What’ll we do now?” she blinked. “The immortal question that is,” Blackjack guffawed. “As you say, Blackie,” I winked. “Looks like somepony’s made it to 2nd base,” she nickered. “I just hope that nopony asks why Daddy just sent half a country to oblivion,” Snowdrop Squee’d. “Seriously…?” Crystal and Angel awed at me, hovering before me, wide-eyed and slack-jawed. “More or less, but I’d say it’d be closer to two-thirds,” I smiled. “And you don’t you think you might’ve overdone it?” Crystal laughed. “Indeed,” Celestia and Luna nodded alongside Cadance, Twilight, her friends and Spike. “My brother, more or less, has just saved Equis as we know it, there isn’t such a thing as ‘overdoing it’!” Blaze chortled. “You normally do things like this?” Angel giggled with a playful wink. “If my career as a Spartan is anything to go by, yes, yes I do, at an alarming rate also,” I beamed. “That’s... actually kind of scary,” she gave an audible gulp. “If it helps, I try not to think about it too much if it helps,” I shrugged. “So you don’t,” Cadance gave me a worried look. “How do you do it, how do you go on knowing about the failures that you’ve to put up with?” “I learn from my mistakes, as any decent being with at least half a brain cell should and/or would do,” I frowned. “You do everything you can to make up for it,” I began, “knowing that you’ll never succeed in getting rid of the guilt, and you devote yourself to spending every second trying to do better despite the fact that it’ll never be enough, and that you pray with every single good act you do that somehow, when your life is over that you came close to making up for the wrong you committed.” “That’s…” she blinked, staring at me seemingly rather taken aback, “that’s impressive, but I am sorry for your loss.” “Don’t be, you’re not Raider-material, Cadi,” I simpered. “I don’t think anypony here is,” Littlepip nuzzled into me, “at least, I hope not…” “As do I, my Littlepip,” I smiled, gently running my fingers through her mane… -=-=- “Nyx, what a wonderful surprise,” Nyx glimmered, standing with my friends and family upon the front lawn. “It’s nothing short of Grand to see you too, Rick,” I smiled. “Mom..!” Winter Bell leapt toward the lunar goddess, who held her close, draping a wing around the filly. “How’ve you been Winter Bell?” Nyx pecked Winter Bell on the tip of her horn. “I’ve been great; Daddy’s taken awesome care of me lately!” Winter Bell cheered as I made my way toward the duo, Winter Bell clambering up my back, sitting on my shoulder, “you’re the best parents a filly could ask for!” “As is Autumn Heart,” Honey Heart pecked either of my horns with a wide grin. “You three are the best ponies in Equestria, even if Daddy’s only one-billionth-pony in part,” Winter Bell declared with a glimmer. “I must be doing something right for such an angel as you to say such a thing, my little winter Bell,” I smiled as she nuzzled into me, smiling as she did so. “Nope, just keep doing what you usually do Daddy, we’ll love you either way,” Snowdrop giggled from her place on my other shoulder. “That’s right, you’re our Daddy, and we’re your family, and we love you just as you love us, and there isn’t anypony or anything on Equis that could change that!” Honey Heart chimed from atop my head. “Touché, My little Heart, touché,” I smiled. “You know what I find strange?” Blaze stifled a roar of laughter, “the human we all know and hate claims to get perfect distortion on the guitar he uses even though it isn’t even plugged in to anything, how does that work?” “If you’ve got the lack of brain cells, and the right pieces of equipment, anything’s possible,” I shrugged, “Speaking of music, where’s Vinyl?” “You’re not going to do what I think you’re going to, are you…?” she gave an audible gulp. “Someone’s got to, Blaze, “besides, I don’t think ‘we-know-who’ is going to be anywhere outside of a hospital for a damn good time,, come to think of it, I might’ve given the guy an embolism to the brain, assuming he has one…” “And you didn’t use the GDB?” she smirked. “If you’re referring to the Giga-Drill-Breaker, I didn’t use it because I didn’t want to be the one cleaning up the mess of the aftermath, dear Sister,” I winked. “…Touché,” she gave a slow, yet curt nod. “So Rick, I heard you needed to borrow the guitar?” Vinyl smirked. “With the amplifier if that’s alright, Vinyl,” I winked. “Sure, borrow it anytime ya like, I don’t use it that much anyways” she shrugged, levitating the twin sets of equipment to me., -=-=- “What was that?” Twilight shook her head after I’d played a few songs with the guitar (‘Fury of the Storm,’ ‘Operation Ground and Pound,’ Soldiers of The Wasteland,’ ‘Heroes of Our Time,’ and ‘Revolution Deathsquad.’) “Whatever it was it‘s awesome!” Vinyl laughed. “That’s a level of music few people will ever get to, save a few people I know,” I grinned, “it’s called ‘Power-Metal’ for a reason, Twilight Sparkle, I’d like to see yerlover-boy from an alternate dimension even so much as try to do the same.” “He’s not my coltfriend!” she bellowed. “Right, and I’m a therapist of the highest calibre,” I rolled my eyes, voice slathered with only the highest amounts of sarcasm, just as a Golden- Yellow unicorn with a blazing yellow-and-red mane and tail with teal eyes burst through the door “I thought HE* was here,” Sunset Shimmer gave a forlorn sigh. “Nope, just me, proving a point, again,” I laughed. “Do you have to be so rude?” Twilight frowned. “Do you honestly want me to reply to that?” I scowled. “Flash Sentry huh?” Crystal giggled, alongside Angel not unlike that of a little girl, “Sounds like the name of a glow-in-the-dark-condom.” “Makes us wonder what Hasbro does in its free time, eh Brother?” Blaze winked. I played a single string on the guitar, “still a better musician that Daniel Ingram, even if it’s just one string.” “So you are,” she chortled. “You can have next-to-no experience at all with music in any of its forms, but you play a single note on any instrument in the world, even if badly, and you’ll already be a better music artist that anyone who works for Hasbro,” I shrugged “Harsh, Brother, harsh,” she smirked. “I wasn’t aware you played the electric guitar, Ricky-o” Crystal nodded toward the instrument as it lay across the top of the amplifier. “I can play almost anything, except the harp, and the keyboard,” I shrugged. “Should we go and see how much better we are?” Blaze cooed. “And waste precious time when we could be seeing what there is to around here?” I gleamed, “I think not!” “What’s this we hear about you hospitalizing someone?” Crystal grinned with a sly smirk, as did Angel. “He was being a tad of a prick toward my friends, so I broke him,” I raised an eyebrow, “Used Haki and everything…” “Haki?” she blinked. I nodded, my arms turning a shining, charcoal-black, “strong enough to shatter boulders, if you’ve the willpower, perhaps even crack diamonds.” “The human got his hand shattered when you used it as a means of defence when he hit you, Brother; I think it could easily crack diamonds, let alone bones,” Blaze beamed. --=-- “So, what’s Nightmare Moon doing here?” Spike gestured toward Nyx as we walked through the castle; I stopped, as did Nyx. “Say that again,” I turned to face the purple dragon, fists blazing. “I was just curious, she is Nightmare Moon after all,” he shrugged; I punched him straight in the jaw, sending him reeling, the same-as-usual golden glow taking over my form, with the same-as-usual dragon taking form above me, letting out an ethereal-yet-intimidating roar “Nightmare Moon killed one of my best friends in the wastes, for scum such as you to compare that vile beast to my marefriend here is nothing short of disrespectful,” I boomed as Spike staggered to his feet, “make no mistake, I shan’t spare you a second time, and should you choose to bring it up again, I really don’t want to have to explain to Twilight why her son’s entrails are coating the insides of her library, little Gecko.” “You and what army?” he spat. “Me and the whole UNSC home fleet, wall lizard,” I snarled, the draconic figure above me seemingly fusing with me, becoming a deep, blood-red/crimson colour in the process, bones appeared under its hellish ‘skin,’ the now fused entity let out a deafening/blood-curdling roar as I fell onto all-fours, piercing his scales from his chest down to his waist with twin razor-sharp sets of claws. “Daddy..?” Snowdrop and Honey Heart gasped alongside Winter Bell, and, just like that, the crimson aura around me dissipated, exploding back to normal as I fell onto my front, steadily, albeit eventually, getting to my feet, clinging onto me as I sat, cross-legged, teleporting with Scootaloo and Gracy Gloom to the outside of front lawn once they were in contact with me. “I’m sorry,” I draped my wings around each of my family members as they sobbed, “I hereby solemnly swear, that on my role as a Knight-General, it’ll not happen again.” “Pinkie Promise,” Snowdrop exclaimed, glaring right at me alongside the others. “Cross my eye, hope to fly, stick a cupcake I my eye,” I gave a faint smile, performing the necessary acts for a ‘Pinkie Promise,’ repeatedly, five times in fact, “I’m sorry for making you all worry so much about me, rest assured; it won’t happen again, My little Saving Grace, Snowflake, Heart Rising Star and Winter Bell,” I glanced to each of them in turn, “ “We love you daddy, the five fillies chorused in unison, nuzzling into me as I sat against a nearby tree. “And I you, my little family,” I smiled, the golden glow still surrounding me “So, Nightmare moon killed one of your best friends?” I turned; Celestia and the others were stood there. “She murdered a filly in cold blood; said filly was also looking for her mother, not an easy task in the wastes,” I scowled. “And you think Nyx will do the same?” Celestia raised an eyebrow. “Nyx won’t, that’s for sure, she’s too kind, caring, and she’s the mother of our foal,” I pecked Winter Bell on the forehead, followed by Snowdrop, Gracy Gloom, Scootaloo, and Honey Heart. “I’m relieved to hear you say that, Rick,” Nyx sat beside me, draping a wing around me, Winter Bell immediately placed herself between the two of us, Honey Heart did the same as Autumn Heat sat opposite the lunar Goddess. “Anything for my Nakama, Nyx,” I pecked her horn-tip, causing her to shudder a little. “Just like the time you made that twenty and/or fifty-quid bet in college, eh Brother?” Blaze winked suggestively at me. “About what exactly..?” Autumn Heart blinked alongside Celestia, Luna and the other alicorns, sans Nyx “I said that a basic-level dragon-slayer would still be more powerful than a certain pony, even with both arms missing,” I grinned toward Celestia, Twilight scowled at me. “And you got to keep the money afterward, didn’t you, Brother?” Blaze laughed. “Actually I gave it to charity, hopefully someone there can use it for something other than a huge waste of time, money and breath,” I rolled my eyes. “How much did it end up to again?” she smirked. “Around eighty-odd quid, I think, assuming my memory’s correct,” I tutted, “sent another seventy on a bet that Gurren Lagann could beat the same pony, that of course, was also pointless, as Gurren Lagann’s final form is around seventy-three-billion Light-Years tall, made completely of Spiral energy and willpower,” I added with a sly grin,” Discuss.” “But that shouldn’t be possible!” Twilight argued, glaringly. “The talking pony and supposed princess of ‘friendship’ is telling me what is and isn’t possible?” I snorted derisively,” the whole point of Gurren Lagann is to prove that nothing’s impossible, Twilight Sparkle, I think I know my limitations.” “Libera me from hell; right Brother..?” Blaze grinned from ear to ear “Quite so, Blaze,” I laughed, “Sore da Tengen Toppa, Sore da Gurren Lagann. Giant mecha the size of a parallel universe whose size and power increases by tenfold when it uses its final attack, still not compensating for anything,” “Must you be so crude?” Rarity frowned, lightly. “Touché,” I gave a light nod. “That’s a thought; could we manage it, if we all fused together, just you, me, and our friends and family; could we form the Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann?” Blaze blinked. “You do realize that the mecha you’re referring to is around one-hundred times the size of the average galaxy, right?” I raised an eyebrow. Blaze nodded; “that’s half the reason why I wish to see if we could pull it off, although I can’t think of how a pony could pilot it.” “That’d require spiral energy, and that, in turn, would require willpower and fighting spirit,” I explained, “and, as we know, ponies talk more than they act, so I don’t think so.” “Do we now?” Celestia gave a light frown. “When words are inadequate, actions must be necessary,” I sighed exasperatedly, how do you think I got to the rank of General?” “Shining Armour’s a better leader than you’ll ever be!” Twilight roared. “Shiny couldn’t activate the Ark, nor any of the halo rings, therefor, would be unable to –if need be- save the galaxy, or the universe even,” I winked, “the only species who can use any type of Forerunner tech are humans, and the Forerunners themselves.” “Your point is what?” she snapped, “My Brother’s got more experience!” “I’m, nearly three-fifty years old, nearly a fifth of which has been spent trying to save colony world after world, going up against enemies that can turn a planet’s surface to glass by the mere touch of a button, and that they religiously believe all humans to be little more than trash, that of which need be eradicated by any means necessary,” I lectured, “ “You spent seventy years in the UNSC?” Celestia stared at me, somewhat awestruck, apparently. “That’d imply that I left,” I chortled, “But yes, I’ve spent nearly seventy-to-eighty years with the UNSC, saving countless lives at the cost of countless home-planets.” “But my Brother’s still better!” Twilight glared icily toward me. “When’re people going to realize that they’re not the best at what they do?” Blaze snarled, “There’s always someone better, pony, so why don’t you just shut you poisonous trap the fuck up, sit the bloody hell down, and admit it?” she growled, “or is your pride as a pony too much for you to do such a thing, or are you just thick skulled?” “How dare you talk to my student like that?” Celestia boomed. “I dare because someone has to! If not us, then who..?” Blaze spat, “I think it’s time you lot got a fucking reality check, you’re not the smartest, strongest, fastest, nor the best species in the universe, but then neither are ours, but at least we have the bloody testicular fortitude to admit it!” she bellowed at the top of her lungs. “Holy shit…” I whistled. “Pun intended?” the now almost-irate Typhlosion glanced toward me “Would it help?” I shuddered; she shrugged, “fair enough…” “So, what do you think of me?” Autumn Heart stared at me, eyebrow raised. “You’re my little Tinker,” I pecked her on the cheeks, she giggled. “That’s nice to know, thank you, Rick,” she sat right beside me as Honey Heart curled up in my lap. “Welcome,” I smiled, “now we just have to see if I’m to be thrown off-planet for doing something that Cellsy doesn’t like.” “I’ll not let it happen!” she leant into me. “And I’ll not let you sacrifice yourself for me, after all, somepony’s got to take care of Honey Heart,” I gave a forlorn sigh. “Please,” she took my arm in hers; clinging onto it with all her might “please don’t go…” I turned to Celestia, who raised an eyebrow, “whilst I won’t exile you for your foul behaviour, I shall give you a final chance to apologize before I have you sentenced to Tartarus, indefinitely.” “And break apart a perfectly happy family?” I tilted my head. “I didn’t say who,” she smirked. “Leave my sister and anyone else in my family out of this, you’ve already threatened them enough as is,” I snapped, “if you want to have a go at me, you do it at me, nobody else!” “I take it you’re not going to apologize?” she raised an eyebrow. “I’ll apologize, if you stop threatening my family,” I held out a hand. “Very well then,” she shook my hand with an armoured hoof, “that is how it shall be from now on, Rick, but I warn you; annoy me again, and you’ll get no chance to repent for your actions.” “Good thing we’re an atheist family,” I stifled a fit of laughter. “But what of your parents..?” Cadance blinked. “They can have any religion they want; I won’t judge them, nor will I attempt to stop them,” I shrugged. “Yeah, you’re not Celestia, who’ll just discard people like trash just for being different,” Blaze nodded. “I’m just another type of demigod,” I shrugged. “And there’s the ‘Title Drop’!” Snowdrop chimed. “I know, right?” I guffawed; Celestia stepped toward Blaze, horn ablaze with a brilliant Golden-Primrose, only to be sent flying toward the nearby confectionery, boot-shaped indent quite visible on her chest as her necklace shattered. “Looks like I cant trust anyone here then. All that I’ve been through, the Mojave-and-Capital wastelands, the Equestrian wastelands, the UNSC, and everything else, and yet you still ignore all of it, like the selfish whore that you are, Celestia!” I bellowed, eyes turning to paper-thin ‘slits’ “You hit her!” Autumn Heart gasped, as did everyone else who was present. “I’ll not have scum such as her anywhere near my family, not so long as I’m alive anyway,” I beamed, leg returning to normal from the usual shining-charcoal-black colour. Twilight and her friends rushed to Celestia’s side. “But I thought you didn’t hit mares!?” she stared at me, wide-eyed and Slack-jawed. “I don’t hit mares who leave me and my family be;” I fumed. “So, what does that make me?” she blinked. “You’re my family, or at least, you’re a part of it, Autumn Heart,” I gave a weak smile, crouching down to her level,” think of me what you will, I won’t stop you, only tell you that I still love you, complicated as the situation might be.” It was then that I noticed that Celestia, alongside Twilight and the others, had teleported away, leaving me with my family and Co. “First Spike and now Cellsy, you really do need a vacation, dontcha Brother?” Blaze hummed. “I just want things to go as simply as they can, and for us to live happily, is that too much to ask?” I mumbled. “I hope not, Brother, I hope not,” she cooed, leaning into me… -=- Having given Mort his own personalized dragon/Dracolich, I sat in the music room playing the violin, sometimes spending whole days in the room, playing away, only stopping for food, to go to the toilet, or to sleep, and then quickly whisking away back into the room once any of the above had been done. “Rick, I really think you should see a doctor,” Littlepip spoke calmly, with an almost motherly tone as she entered the room “Don’t worry My Dear Littlepip, I’m fine,” I smiled, faintly, continuing to practice. “Are you? Your bloodshot eyes and shrunken irises suggest that you’ve not been getting much sleep, have you been crying?” she blinked. I gave a forlorn hum, placing the Soil Stradivarius in its case, leaving the case on the worktop next to Octavia’s Dragon, Grace, who also placed her miniature Cello into its case; “I’ve been thinking about what happened with Celestia, and how best to apologize.” “I see,” she nodded, “well, you don’t need to be a knight to protect those of whom you love, do you?” she tilted her head, I blinked… =-= “Is there a reason you’re here?” Celestia snarled. “I’d like to surrender my knighthood to Equestria,” I bowed. “And I hereby remove it, again,” she scoffed, “you really should have a little more control, Rick, you’re an eon of Equis, act like it!” I nodded, turned, and left, retrieving a small, tennis ball-sized orb from my inventory, throwing it through the doors to the throne room as I left, releasing a light-pinkish cloud/explosion of radiation as I flew, homeward-bound… =-= “So, you’re not a knight?” Littlepip looked taken aback. “And I’ve also surrendered my title as an eon of Equis,” I nodded, “if they’re going to try and tear my family apart as I know and love it, why should I bother doing anything for them in return?” “True, but you have to at least give them a chance,” she gave a small giggle, “they’ve a lot of work to do running Equestria.” “I know, and that’s why I’m now trying to co-operate with them to make a better Equestria as a whole….” --=+=-- “Must you be in that form for this event?” Celestia eyed me from head to foot; Standing in my Alphamon form, I stood a couple of feet above her, I grinned, regardless of whether I had an actual mouth or not; “Would you rather I go as a demon from the ninth layer of hell, Princess?” I tilted my head. “I’d rather you go as you, for all that you’ve done, both good and evil,” she rolled her eyes with an exasperated sigh. “So, what’re we doing exactly?” Spike blinked as we disembarked the train, more-or-less marching to the Crystal Empire “we’ve got to be doing something important to be dragged out here to the Crystal Empire!” needless to say, his voice was almost cracked from the ‘X’ shaped scar I’d given him last year. “We’re here to finally spread word of Twilight’s coronation, as to confirm the forty-year rumours,” Celestia glanced toward Twilight, then toward me. “What?” I blinked, she raised an eyebrow, “I’m not going to do anything you don’t want me to Cellsy, you know that, right?” “If you say so…” “So, this place is called the ‘Crystal Empire,’ right?” Natsu stood beside Erza, Grey, Wendy, and Lyra, Amber Not lying atop his head with a light grin, just as Honey Heart was perched atop my now-metallic skull. “Basically,” I nodded, “they had a go at me, warning me not to eat any of the buildings because they’re apparently made of gemstones.” “You’re joking…” he laughed, I raised an eyebrow, “I guess not huh…?” “Well, if you didn’t want me to even think about it, don’t say it,” I shrugged. “It’d make things easier too,” Erza nodded in agreement, gazing at me from head-to-foot, “so, how long have you had that form hidden away from us?” “A while,” I smirked… === “The duke; and duchess of Maretonia..!” Flash Sentry bowed, gesturing toward a well-formally dressed mare, one of whom walked alongside a just-as-well-dressed stallion; “It’s an honour, your highness,” the orange stallion with the brown mane, tail and beard bowed alongside the alabaster mare, before walking on to the main hall of the castle, followed by several couples of ponies who came from various parts of Equestria, each one following the same actions of the first two. “What did he mean by ‘Your Highness’?” Natsu and grey blinked simultaneously. “Twilight’s a princess” Blaze smirked. “She’s a, what now?” Grey stared at Blaze, then toward Twilight, who gave a faint smile-and-wave “Looks like I’ll have to get the guitar again…” I mumbled; facepalming. “Looks like it, Brother…” Blaze sighed, “I wonder how the other Equis’ Crystal Empire’s doing?” “Eh, it’ll be fine, it’s got me looking after it after all,” I glimmered. “But how can you be in two places at once?” Twilight blinked, I raised the other eyebrow, “Oh… Oh…!” she nodded; then shuddered almost-uncontrollably, “Now I don’t want to know!” “How can you be in two places at once?” Wendy giggled. “Like this,” I changed to eon form, Blaze handing me a large amount of gems as I did so, grasping my crystalline heart as I devoured the gems, my heart quickly regenerating anew “You just took your own heart out!?” she screamed. “That I did,” I nodded, reverting to human form, handing it to her, she quickly pocketed it. “Dude, that’s creepy…!” Spike shivered in apparent fear. “Not going there, Cellsy knows why,” I grinned from ear to ear, without a mouth… “Why not,” Natsu smirked. “Reasons of which I cannot explain without scaring someone,” I winked with a sly grin. “So, aren’t you going to tell them?” Blaze gleamed toward me, nodding toward Erza and the others. “Oh, right, I reached a second stage of ‘Dragon Force,’” I smiled. “You what..?” Natsu stared at me; I sighed, the same Golden-Yellow glow overtaking me, complete with the Karyu-no-Tenkyu, “Happy?” “I just hope you know what you’re doing with that form, Rick,” Celestia frowned. “If spike hadn’t of made the comment about Nightmare Moon, I might’ve held back a little you never know,” I shrugged, “he does it again, and I don’t care what happens to me, he will die, may I be a dragon slayer or otherwise.” “You’d go that far, just for a friend?” Erza blinked. “If it’ll stop any problems that may exist, then yes, yes I would,” I nodded, frowning. “You’re insane!” Natsu chortled, whereas Amber note ooh’d at my new form, giggling lightly. “It seems someone says otherwise,” I smirked. “So it does,” he rolled his eyes somewhat uncharacteristically. “But I’ve yet to go further than this,” I gestured to my now-golden form, “oh, wait, no I haven’t…” “Please don’t Daddy,” Snowdrop nuzzled into me as she perched herself on my shoulder, as did Winter Bell. “I won’t do it unless I feel like I have to, Ok?” I smiled. “Okie Dokie,” Honey Heart nickered. “But you also possess the power to melt even the hardest diamonds, do you not, Brother?” Blaze patted my wings with a gentle paw. “So I do,” I smiled, hands blazing, the fire around which liquefied into magma “Magma..?” Grey awed at me, “but that’s impossible!” “Nothing’s impossible if you put your mind to it, Grey,” I grinned, “Speaking of new elements, how’re you and Juvia getting along?” “I’d rather not talk about it if that’s alright with you…” he mumbled. “Fair do’s,” I gave a light chuckle, the magma around my hands evaporating into fire, which then faded into thin air. “And how’s Lisanna?” I smiled, turning to face Natsu. “She’s… alright,” Natsu’s face turned beetroot. “Uh-huh… right,” I slowly nodded “very well, I’ll not ask any further.” “I hate you…” he grumbled. “As you say, Salamander,” I nodded, again… “You planned all of that, didn’t you?” Blaze laughed. “When I wake up in the morning, I never plan for the day ahead, that way, the word ‘premeditated’ doesn’t get thrown across the courtroom like a figurative pinball,” I beamed, the golden glow around me giving way to scales that appeared on my face, hands, arms and wrists. “Touché, Brother, touché,” she chortled. “I think you just admitted to being insane…” Twilight gave a light giggle. “I wouldn’t be bothered or surprised if I did,” I sighed exhaling sharply, “it wouldn’t be the weirdest thing I’ve done thus far; would it?” “Hardly,” she gave a light hum, “you’re an odd one, Ricky-o, Y’know that?” “That’s a bit of an understatement, isn’t it?” I raised an eyebrow “So it is…” she laughed -+-=-+- “So, what happened?” I smiled. “It wasn’t too bad” Twilight hummed, “but I suppose it could be a little better.” “No matter what your job is, one might eventually find a way to make it better,” I laughed. “Like what?” she stared at me, eyebrow raised in quite apparent curiosity. “I don’t know, I’m not a prince,” I shrugged, “it’ll be up to you and your companions to figure that one out, Twilight Sparkle, after all, I doubt you’d be alone in an endeavour such as this, no?” “I suppose…” she mumbled. “Don’t go all droopy on me, you’re my friend, that means it’s my job to see you smile,” I frowned, then blinked, “did I seriously just say that?” “Looks like it, she giggled. “Well there’s a start,” I rolled my eyes (again…); sitting beside the lavender mare ion the train back to Ponyville. “Are you two..?” Natsu gestured to either of us, Twilight bit her lip’ then shook her head, I shrugged, just at that moment, Autumn Heart landed in my lap, pecking me on the lips followed By Honey Heart climbing onto my head Twilight moved to where her friends were with a forlorn glance toward me as Littlepip and Velvet Remedy sat either side of me, nuzzling into me as Blackjack sat on the table between the chairs, “Yeah, I’ve no clue as to how to explain this,” I stared at him, glancing toward each of the mares around me. “I’ll bet you don’t you dog, you!” he burst into a fit of laughter as Littlepip moved to the area between my legs… “Did they seriously…?” “Shut up.” “But they…!” “Shut up.” “You aren’t complaining, are you?” Natsu howled with laughter. “Not really, considering Lyra did the same for you, Pyro,” I laughed. “Hey, at least it was only one pony!” he chortled. “Lyra, take your friend here to the ‘You-Know-Where’ give him something to have fun with eh?” “Ok!” Lyra giggled, carrying Natsu in her magic, Amber Note skipping merrily alongside her as she went “So…” Grey and Erza smirked. “Where’s she taking Natsu?” Erza grinned. “I’m not exactly sure as to how to answer that…” I mumbled. “As you say,” she smiled, walking with Grey and Wendy into the guild hall. “So, where did she take Natsu?” Twilight raised an eyebrow as we sat around the dining table in canterlot. “Nowhere important,” I winked, “why do you ask?” “It’s just that, I’ve gotten this strange feeling in the atmosphere around Canterlot, and I was wondering if Natsu might be the cause of it,” she explained. “Fair enough, but I doubt Natsu even knows about the magic in the atmosphere around him, let alone a city,” I simpered. Suddenly, the double doors to the dining hall swung open, only to reveal Natsu, topless/shirtless, glowering at me with mares hanging from his arms, legs, head and shoulders. “Holy shit…!” Blaze cackled with almost/borderline manic laughter, “where’d you find that place, Rick?” “Well, after all the radiation was cleansed from the wastes, I found an underground bunker,” I grinned as I began to explain, “and I think, judging by Natsu’s passengers, that the rest is obvious.” “You found a brothel?” she stared at me; I shrugged, “be it a brothel or a club, I found it, and I told Lyra about it, that’s what I’m going to get murdered for here…” “But we have to go back,” Lyra, the Pony on Natsu’s head, chimed with glee “either you go back, or I nag,” Natsu’s expression changed to one of horror as he quickly turned and left. “‘Nowhere important’..?” Twilight laughed. “I thought it’d add more of a flare to their commitment,” I shrugged. “I don’t think you using those words in that order is safe, Brother,” Blaze shuddered. “What’s the worst that could happen?” I shrugged. “I’m not going to answer that,” she grumbled. “Kokoro no Eigo..?” she raised an eyebrow, I shrugged, “fair do’s.” “‘Luna’s Love Lounge,’ Blaze read aloud as we stood outside the ‘club/brothel’ “We’re going to hell for this Brother, you know that, right?” I nodded, “just another reason for why I should be executed, eh?” “Quite so,” Celestia nickered as Littlepip, Blackjack, and Velvet Remedy dragged me through the entrance to the underground building, which had been accessed by means of large trapdoor. “What’re you doing down here?” Natsu blinked, now stark naked, also lying on his back with what can only be described as the cutest pony I’ve ever seen pumping his jewels in and out of her love canal with apparent glee,, Lyra sitting on/straddling his chest, her marehood inches from his oral passage. “And you’re one to talk,” I laughed. “You found this place before me, so you’re the one to blame,” he frowned “Blame my morbid curiosity, not me,” I chided “have at him Lyra.” Lyra nodded, slotting her sex with Natsu’s lips, he rolled his eyes, apparently causing her great joy as she arched her back. “May I help you sir…?” +-+-=(-)=-+-+ “So, that happened,” Blaze laughed. “So it did,” I rolled my eyes. “Reminds me of when I nicked my dad’s wallet and bought a brand new three-sixty console, complete with controllers and an also-brand-new ‘Fallout: New Vegas’ game; Spent all month at college in my room playing it for hours on end.” “You spent a month playing a game?” Twilight raised an eyebrow as stood in the main hall of the castle partway through the beginning of the gala, Wendy, Erza Grey included. “How d’ya you think I got so good in the wastes?” I gave a light frown, “what, in one reality, is little more than a game, in another reality, is just that, reality.” “Also got one-hundred-thousand caps from playing blackjack, both in-game and in reality, didn’t you?” Blaze smirked. “That I did,” I nodded. “One-hundred-thousand caps..?” Twilight stared at me, slightly awestruck, “just how long were you playing for?” “Around three hours, four-and-a-half at the longest,” I shrugged, “it wasn’t that bad, considering I was playing with a platinum chip.” “You have a platinum chip?” she blinked, “as in, a poker chip, made out of platinum?” “Need I repeat myself?” I smirked, retrieving said chip from my inventory. “I’m just surprised is all,” she giggled, “Where’d you get it?” “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” I laughed. “Wouldn’t I?” she grinned, as a dark-ish-blue/indigo Pegasus with a flowing, perfect-golden mane and tail -wearing a cape/dress/robe of the same colour with what appeared to be faint, snow-white constellations scattered across its surface, embedded/sown into place, complete with golden shoes and a bracelet around a foreleg- stepped forward. “Stealing the competition, are we?” everyone stared at me, “what?” “You seriously didn’t just say that…” Grey grumbled. “And what if I did?” I frowned lightly toward the ‘ice-make’ wizard, “she’s obviously a rather refined mare with clarity, beauty and grace, I don’t see the problem in complimenting her for any of the above, Grey Fullbuster.” I was promptly knocked to the floor by the indigo Pegasus, who slammed her lips against mine, winking as she parted “I’m free tonight, so feel free to make my day, Sir Rick,” she giggled, pecking my cheek as she turned and left… “I’m not sure how to feel about that,” I blinked. “She’s not that awesome,” Rainbow Dash waved a dismissive hoof, currently wearing a rainbow-coloured cape, similar to that of the other Pegasus, with a golden wreath/crown and a grape-‘cluster’-shaped necklace, similar golden shoes, and a pair of golden rings around the base of her wings, complete with an extended mane-style. “Well she’s got my vote either way,” I muttered, almost under my breath. “Are you…?” Blaze stared at me; I raised an eyebrow in return, “Jesus Christ…” “I don’t see you complaining, do I, dear Sister?” I smirked. “Says the one who’s dressed like Minato Namikaze..!” she burst into a fit of laughter. “Where did you get that anyway?” Erza eyed me from head to feet alongside Grey, Natsu and Wendy. “I requested it from Rarity, suffice to say, it’s nice to see a bit of change around here,” I glimmered. “You got that level of attire from a pony?” Erza stared at me, then toward Rarity, who looked away in embarrassment, “I have to say it’s actually rather well-made, it suits you too.” “Arigato,” I grinned. “So, what brings you here?” Celestia smiled as she stood beside Faust, Lulania and the other alicorns. “I’m unsure as to how to answer that,” I tilted my head, “one part is here for the gala in and of itself, and another is to apologize, whereas the third is a compound of the two.” “I accept your apology, Sir Rick,” she grinned. “Heard that did you?” I mumbled “You dragon slayers aren’t the only ones with enhanced hearing and senses,” Firefly smirked. “So we’re not,” I rolled my eyes, again. “What’ll you do now, Sir Rick?” Galaxia smiled. “No idea, probably make the best I can, as per the usual,” I shrugged, yet again… “So, what about you’re ‘Elite Riot Gear’?” Blaze beamed. “That’s in my inventory, Blaze, and with good reason,” I frowned, “besides if I wanted to scare anyone shitless I’d use my Necromancer armour and Phoenix Doom’ helmet.” “‘Necromancer’ Armour..?” Celestia’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Another drunken bet gone wrong; right Brother?” Blaze sighed. “To put it bluntly,” I hummed. “But that’s neither here nor there, and besides, it’s a while until Nightmare Night anyways.” “You’re going to, aren’t you?” Blaze raised a smug eyebrow whilst giving a sly smirk. “If I feel like it,” I tutted, --=-- “Are you sure about this?” Crystal giggled as I hovered in place, thanks to the ‘Necromancer’ Armour, complete with blood-red dragon wings and the ‘Phoenix Doom’ Helmet, hovering just outside the throne room “Why wouldn’t I be?” I shrugged, bursting into the throne room, scythe at the ready, only to be sent flying be a somewhat-terrified Celestia, hurtling past Crystal, my family and friends, right through the window at the far end of the corridor, crashing into a tree in the gardens “Ok, not doing that again,” I grunted, getting to my feet at a slow-and-steady rate, beginning to hover once again, “note to self, never walk in on Cellsy wearing death-related armour, no matter the circumstances.” “Who are you?” Celestia appeared beside the other alicorns, each one, save Firefly, had their horns aimed at me. “‘necromancer’ Armour, ‘Phoenix Doom’ Helmet,” I gestured to the armour and helmet respectively, “Dontcha recognize me Cellsy?” “Rick?” she blinked, she and the others now standing upright/normally, staring at me in awe as I reverted to normal. “The one and only, arrogant as it may sound,” I grinned, “you needn’t worry about me, Tenkyū.” “You’re a crazy bastard, Y’know that?” Crystal lightly punched my shoulder when she and the others caught up to me. “Yeah, well, what’re you gonna do about it-?” Crystal silenced my, placing her hands on my shoulders, and her lips against my own in a long, somewhat-passionate kiss. “You’ll get the rest later,” she winked, flying away. “Rick?” I turned around, the indigo Pegasus with the golden mane and tail from the Gala was there, smiling at me gracefully, moving to sit beside me, complete with her attire from the Gala, “Ah, it is you,” she smiled again, walking alongside me as I made my way through ponyville. “It’s nice to see you also…?” I glanced toward her. “Golden Star,” she giggled, “I’m glad I finally get to thank you for those few wondrous words you said to me last week, Rick.” “Think nothing of it,” I laughed, “I am merely stating what I believe to be true, Golden Star.” “But I will think something of it, Sir Rick,” she grinned, “what you said to me then has made my life all-but complete, and as such, I wish to join your herd, with your permission of course…” she bowed. “Look out below!” a sudden blur of Cyan/rainbow colour slammed into the mare I was currently awing at, knocking her into a large puddle of mud “Are you Ok?” I rushed to Golden Star’s side, using Purple Flare to levitate her onto dry land, Rainbow dash glared at me “I’ll be fine, but I must get this dress washed up as soon as I can!” Golden Star urged, quickly removing her clothing, handing it to me as she folded it into a neat little pile. “Then we’d best get to the nearest instrument that’d help with that, eh?” I winked, she winked back. Trotting alongside me with a light skip in her step as we walked homeward bound. --=-- “I have to thank you for this, Rick,” Golden Star smiled, holding a mug of hot chocolate whilst sat on the couch, blowing over the top of the cup lightly, taking a sip, then sighing with apparent relief, “Not many ponies in Canterlot would do this for a mare like me.” “Oh bollocks to that!” I shouted, then, realising how loud I’d been, I quickly bowed, biting my lip, “please pardon both my audacity and my foul language, Golden Star, it was just my thoughts that a pony like you should be somewhere at the stop of the ‘Hall of Fame,’ assuming there is such a thing in Equestria, ponies as magnificent as you deserve to be held in regard as high as the heavens themselves.” “You flatter me…” she blushed, her cheeks turning a vibrant pinkish colour, ”Truly, you have a gift with words, Sir Rick.” “And you’ve a gift in being as beautiful as you are,” I winked. “So I have Rick, so I have,” she giggled, placing her drink down on the coffee table, leaning into me, “how long are my clothes going to take being cleaned?” “An hour by wash, another hour in the dryer,” I raised an eyebrow, “why?” “Because if it’s going to take that long, I might as well have a little fun, Sir Rick,” she rolled onto me, crouching on my lap, placing her hooves on my shoulders, and placing her lips against mine, gradually parting, tracing her tongue over my lips as she did so. “Fun, eh?” I smirked, draping my wings around her, “I think I may be able to help you there, Golden Star…” -==-==- “So, has it been two hours yet?” Golden Star panted for breath, straddling my member as I lay on the bed in eon form I checked the nearby clock, glancing back to her; “Seems like it, my little Star,” I smiled, she giggled, clambering down unto my chest area as my length slid back into its sheath, albeit, eventually. “Y’know Rick,” Golden Star began, tracing my chest symbol with a fragile hoof, “there’re a lot of mares in places like Trottingham, Las Pegasus and the like, and there’re just as many who’re looking for a stallion like you to take them and whisk them off their hooves.” “Too bad I’ve got ponies like you in a place like Ponyville,” I laughed as she moved to the bed, then onto my back as I rolled over, “and besides, you’re a part of my herd, what more could I want?” “I wasn’t saying for you to leave, I’d never ask such a thing of a being like you, Rick, I was merely stating what I’ve heard lately, rumours that’ve been spreading about your reputation and such,” she winked, “but, if you’d rather stay here, regardless of my sayings, I can understand that.” -=- “So, Rainbow Dash came down out of nowhere, and tackled Golden Star into the mud?” Twilight stared at me, occasionally glancing toward the mare beside me as she sat beside my friends family and I opposite Twilight, her friends, Celestia, Luna and the other alicorns. “Basically,” Golden Star and I shared a glance; then draped a wing around one-another, leaning together as she placed her head on my shoulder, now that she was back in her attire, she looked better than ever. “I can’t believe you did such a thing!” Twilight and Rarity frowned toward their cyan friend “It was an accident, I lost control of my speed, that’s all,” Rainbow Dash’s face turned a bright scarlet-red in embarrassment. “Your flaring nostrils and change in skin tone from blushing to such an extent state otherwise,” I slowly shook my head. “What?” she scowled. “As does your now sudden change in attitude,” I raised an eyebrow, “it’s basic neurobiology, by studying the way your body language appears unto others, I can tell what your thought process is like.” “Are you saying I’m jealous?” she snarled. “I’m not merely saying it, I’m stating it outright, ever since you first say Golden Star here,” I nodded toward the mare currently using my lap as a bed of sorts, “you’ve been rather, shall we say, different, your use of words, actions and body language since I’ve entered the room as been another indicator of said jealousy.” “That’s a load of Horseapples and you know it!” she bellowed. “Further continuation to argue with me will only result in more proof,” I shrugged, “make of that what you will.” “I’m not jealous of some two-bit whorse from Trottingham wearing glittered bathrobes!” she blared. Twilight and her other friends gasped in unison “Rainbow Dash..!” Rarity exclaimed, “How can you say such a thing, Golden Star here has to be one of the most attractive mares I’ve seen in a long time, I’m only left to wonder where she got what you call ‘Glittered Bathrobes’ from.” “I got them from a friend,” Golden Star frowned toward Rainbow Dash for a moment, before glancing toward Rarity, “a mare named Coco Pommel, do you know her?” “Bloody hell….” I mumbled, “I thought she had talent when she made that makeshift Clockwise, but this, really?” “I know, I was amazed as I watched her craft it, she’s an absolute gem that Coco, she mentioned a Wayward Eon’ a few times, though I can’t tell who she’s on about….” “Haven’t heard that title since I left the wastes,” I whistled. “That’s you!?” she gasped also, “I was wondering what that other form was!” “And so you found me, now what?” I winked. “You’ll find out later,” she grinned, pecking me on both cheeks, then the lips, finally returning to curling up into a ball in my lap. “You called me refine, why?” “Refined doesn’t even begin to describe your character, Golden,” I smiled, “your almost indescribably beauty wearing what you are, your pleasant, light-hearted -and if I’m to be honest here- adorable personality, and not to mention you’re one of the most sensible ponies I’ve ever met.” “Thank you, my little eon,” she cooed, using her gown/dress as a duvet, letting out a stifled yawn as she fell asleep; giving a light snore with every other breath. “Why would I be jealous of her?” Rainbow Dash spat. “Did you not here all that I’ve just said to describe her as who she is?” I glowered icily toward the cyan Pegasus, “And I guess that’s another thing she’s got and you haven’t, Rainbow Dash, she’s actually level-headed.” “She’s a…” Rainbow Dash glanced to each of her friends, who gave looks of utter disappointment in return, “Fine, but I still don’t like her, even if I am jealous!” “Being jealous of something means you can have something to strive for, to be better in turn of it being better than you, so to speak,” I rolled my eyes. “I don’t want to be a fashion freak!” she shuddered, gagging at the thought. “Well I never!” Rarity scoffed. Turning and walking from the throne room. “Ok, not a fashion freak, but I still don’t want to do anything of the sort!” she rebuked. “I thought being awesome was all about showing how much better you are than everyone else, is that not what you said when you met Honey Heart?” I smirked. “Oh yeah..! Thanks TK!” she grinned, soaring out through the open window “So, Necromancer Armour Blaze grinned. “Already did it once, and I don’t plan on doing it again,” I sighed, exhaling sharply as I did so. “Really; and how did that go?” she smirked. “Well, put it one way, we’re- sorry, I’m still lucky the armour’s still in one piece upon being thrown through the castle, out through a window and into a tree,” I clicked my tongue. “So you are, and what’ve we learnt from this?” she beamed. “Never wear dark-related armour in Equestria, lest you be sent flying?” I shrugged, yet again… “Close enough,” she tilted a paw, “now, give it a proper ending.” “…Because that would be bad…?” I tilted my head. “Meh, good enough, I don’t suppose you’ll demean yourself any further with the subject, eh Brother?” she glimmered. “You’d be surprised what I can do, Dear Sister,” I stated calmly, completely deadpan. “Oh would I now?” she folded her arms, grinning from ear to ear, “go on then, prove it.” =-= “This isn’t what I said when I asked you to ‘Prove It’ Y’know?” Blaze stood beside my family and I, as I gazed up toward the large flag that I’d posted on the side of the castle, said flag depicted Golden star in her usual Gala attire with a pair of shining angel wings and a primrose halo atop her head. “I thought it’d be nice to do, a little commission, so to speak,” I grinned. “Speaking of random shit, pardon my language, how’s that argument going on the internet?” the Typhlosion beside me patted my back standing on her hind legs as Twilight, her friends, the princesses, Faust and Lulania appeared via teleportation “He’s a stubborn one I’ll give him that, always voting for the pony in question, even when there’s no hope for victory,” I snorted. “Just like you then eh?” she smirked. “At least I can make it happen,” I rebuked with an icy glare. “So you could.” She nodded “So, what’s the argument moved onto this time?” “It’s Naruto-related-ish,” I shrugged. “You’re kidding… You’re kidding, right…?” she blinked, staring at me bewilderedly. “I’m afraid not, Sister, I’m afraid not,” I sighed with a light shake of my head. “What’s his argument this time?” she scowled. “The usual, we-know-who apparently becoming a god-like being,” I tutted, rolling my eyes. “And your response?” she clenched her fists, grinning from ear to ear with a sly smirk. “She’s got the powers of a so-called ‘God,’” I made air quotes at the word ‘god,’” we have a demigod who can summon meteors, and another almost-demigod who can summon what I like to refer to as a celestial dragon deity composed of lightning-based energy that has, more-or-less, the power to lay waste to an entire colony and/or oversized city with a single hit.” “Kirin, right..?” she blinked, I nodded, “a powerful set of abilities indeed…” “Well the one who can summon meteorshas been compared to a god before,” I shrugged “besides, there is another that can stop it, but at a heavy price.” “Sussano’o…” she grinned. “Quite so,” I nodded. “You’re joking, right…?” Twilight blinked, giving a nervous giggle. “Why would I joke about it?” I tilted my head. “So, this is your latest work?” Celestia smirked as Golden Star approached, albeit, somewhat-timidly. “You should see the flag I made and posted on the tower,” i laughed. “I’m not sure I want to know…” Blaze mumbled. “It’s not that bad,” I rolled my eyes. “Remind me why you’re using ‘Dragon Force’?” she raised a smug eyebrow. “Because I’ve finally figured out how to excel my abilities to the third level,” I beamed, changing to Alphamon form; then triggering my ‘Dragon Soul’ “A Golden Alphamon..?” she blinked, suddenly, two pairs of metallic appendages appeared below the ones already present on my back, a Whitish-Golden wing sprouting froth from each of them, the Ouryuken blade materializing before me, its handle extending to twice its usual length as its blade sharpened to a point the bottom end up the handle reshaping into an elegant spearhead, and the armour itself became more refined, and somewhat-‘curvier.’ “Jesus Christ..!” Blaze bellowed, staring at me in quite apparent shock-and-awe, “how in the actual fuck!?” “Magic,” I grinned, still not having a mouth, reverting to my regular Alphamon form, then back to my human form. “Wasn’t Alphamon meant to be a demigod?” she smirked as Crystal and Angel awed at me, their expressions quickly changing to smug grins. “He’s on par with a demigod, but I’m not actually sure of it,” I shrugged. “Put two demigods together, and that’s what you get?” Autumn Heart perched herself upon my back, draping her arms around my neck as she placed her head on my shoulder, just at that moment, Honey Heart landed upon my head. I grinned; “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.” “You’re only half right!” Blaze chortled. “Meh, it needs work anyways,” I smiled. “How is it that you’re able to do such things?” Golden Star awed at me, eyeing me from head to foot. “If I knew that I’d tell you,” I beamed. “I suppose you would, wouldn’t you,” she giggled, rearing up on her hind legs, pecking me on the cheek, winking at me as she galloped into the castle with a light giggle… “…You’re not done with her are you?” Blaze glanced toward me alongside Crystal and Angel, smug grins aplenty. “You assume that because she likes me, that I’m to be interested?” I raised an eyebrow. “Rick, we know what you and her did last week,” she glimmered, “you her little guardian angel?” “I’ve no clue as to what you’re on about…” I mumbled. “Sure you don’t…” she gave a slow, smug nod. “Are you insinuating something, Blaze?” I hummed. “I’m not insinuating anything, I’m saying it already happened,” she laughed. “How do you mean?” I folded my arms. “She ‘tripped-and-fell,’ so to speak; and you offered her help, yes?” she winked. “What’re you getting at?” I blinked “You two did it, didn’t you?” “Seeing as the building’s foundations are still as they were when I got here, no,” I frowned. “Not yet anyway, you sly dog you!” she patted my arm with a rather absentminded paw. “I was joking,” I rolled my eyes agitatedly. “And I wasn’t,” she grinned from ear to ear, “so, how was she?” “You’re impossible…” I groaned. “I’m your sister,” she tilted her head “Adoptive sister,” I simpered. “Are you saying I’m not as good as the real thing?” she tutted, “and here I thought that such insults were below you!” ”I never said that,” I blinked, “honestly it’s a wonder you haven’t given me an aneurysm…” “You love me and you know it!” she guffawed. “As family, nothing else,” I growled. “I know, that’s why I did what I did, eh Olky?” she cooed. “Haven’t heard that name in a while,” I whistled, “now that’s going back a while, Blaze, around three hundred years or so.” “It’s been that long already?” she gaped, I nodded, “doesn’t time fly when you’re saving worlds?” “So it does, Blaze, so it does,” I sighed. “Has it really been that long…?” Crystal and Angel hovered on either side of me as I changed to eon form. “So long as I’ve got you lot I don’t mind what happens to me,” I clicked my tongue, “you’re my little gem and angel.” “And you’re our little eon, Rick…”
Chapter XXV; Evolution (And Religion)“So, you’re two-thousand years old?” Crystal awing at me alongside Angel “Basically,” I bit my lip, “I’m sorry for not telling you before, Crystal, you as well, Angel….” “No, we needed to hear it sooner or later, and now you’ve told us, so we can move one,” Angel smiled, pecking my cheek, as did Crystal. “You’ll always be our little eon, Rick,” Crystal simpered as we glided into the castle my being in Necromancer armour, complete with the shadow-like dragon wings making it all-too easy. “Chrysalis,” I nodded, quickly reverting to normal when I noticed her in the throne room alongside the princesses, Lulania, Faust, Firefly, Galaxia, Iris Harmony herself, Twilight, her friends, Shining Armour and Flash Sentry; “It is a pleasure to see you, Rick,” Chrysalis teleported to my side, nuzzling into me, pecking my cheek, walking beside Crystal, Angel and I as we made our way toward the alicorns and the others. “Rick, I assume you know why we’re here?” Faust beckoned me toward her; I smiled, walking closer to the group. “If I’m honest, not really,” I blinked, “I take it that it’s important if the others are here though?” “Direly so,” Firefly stepped forward, “knowledge of you’re saving of Equestria as we know it has spread like wildfire through neighbouring countries, so fast in fact, that we wish to knight you, as one, united, Equestria…” -=- “So, Sir Rick of Equestria?” Crystal beamed, “what do you plan to do now?” “I think regaining the feeling in my lower half should come before anything else,” I grumbled, hovering beside Angel and Crystal. “Let’s hope the news of your re-knighting doesn’t go too far…” Angel giggled with a sly wink. “So long as I don’t get a ton of mail every day and they don’t post posters of me in the guards’ barracks for mares to draw not-so-subliminal messages on, I think we’ll be fine.” I laughed. “You imagine for such a thing to happen?” Firefly chortled. “You ponies seem to be capable of just about anything and everything,” I grinned, “so yes, yes I do.” “Isn’t gurren Lagann also capable of that?” Blaze smirked. “You won’t find a pony the size of the universe,” I raised an eyebrow. “Nor will we find one made of spiral energy,” she folded her arms, tilting her head, “I wonder what that’d be like…” she stared toward me I raised an eyebrow, “What?” “You’re not going to create another artwork?” she grinned. “Why would I?” I blinked, she nodded behind me; Turning to face behind me I noticed a gryphon, a mildly sized dragon with crimson scales and horns with golden underbelly scales and eyes, a pair of large deer, one female and one stag with golden antlers, finally, a zebra emerged, with emerald eyes and a set of armlets and earrings. I quickly reverted to human form once again as they, alongside the alicorns, formed a circled around me “So, this is the human who wiped out our army!?” the gryphon scowled, her piercing gaze unwavering as she glared icily right at me, “you’re a freak!” “I have to agree, a being so fragile, and so capacious -if anything, couldn’t have wiped out my people, reducing Zebrica to molten ash!” the zebra bellowed. “If it’s a fight you want, if not war, declare it on me and me alone, leave Equestria out of it!” I exclaimed angrily, glowering toward the pair of them. “Our fight was never with Equestria to begin with, Human;” the Gryphon snarled, “do you wish to come to Gryphus to face your punishment for your crimes, or do you truly wish to die here and now?” “Or do you wish to journey with me back to Zebrica, where we shall have you return our country to its former glory?” the Zebra mare growled, should you choose otherwise, I shall ally what remains of our forces together, and war shall be waged like never before!” “You’d wage war over a single person’s actions?” I scoffed, “how childish…” “You dare defy me!?” the fem-gryphon aimed her weapon, an intricately carved-and-crafted crossbow, aiming it right at me. “This should be interesting…” Blaze laughed as I was enveloped in the same-as-usual golden aura, complete with the golden dragon “Tenkyu No Karyu,” I grinned. “So you can summon a holographic projection, so what?” the gryphon spat, readying her crossbow, aiming for my head, pulling the trigger, only for the gem-tipped bolt to be caught by one of the dragons’ hands, thrown away like trash as the being discarded it with high abandon. “Holographic projection..?” I blinked “nay, magic.” “It‘s fucking witchcraft..!” she boomed at the top of her lungs, “summoning a golden dragon, your form gaining a golden aura, your entire magical atmosphere’s been altered, just what the bucking hell are you!?” “Demigod,” I beamed,” unless you wish for those ships you see in the sky to send your kingdom to oblivion, I suggest you aim that thing elsewhere…” “You wouldn’t dare!?” she blared. “You wish to bet on that?” I tutted, “As you wish, freak…” she scowled, lowering her crossbow. “Witchcraft..?” Blaze gasped, “I call racism!” “I do not care for you pony friends, little one,” the she gazed upon the two of us with pure, unadulterated rage/fury in her eyes “I only came for one thing,” she pointed toward me with an accusing talon “I return to my kingdom with his head, and I’ll be living the highest life you can get in Gryphus for the rest of my days “You’re here for revenge?” I blinked, the golden aura/dragon around me fading in an instant, “I’m sorry to say that neither that nor returning proof of my death will get you anywhere, Crystal Angel and Blaze here’d have you skinned alive in an instant.” “You’ve a two-billion-bit bounty on your being, and I promised not to return empty handed!” she snapped. “Well then,” I held my out at either side of me, “have at me.” She lunged at me alongside the Zebra, only for the both of them to be sent in the opposite direction by means of twin lavender beams of energy from the eons beside me. “And people used to tell you to grow up!” Blaze patted the back of my head as she stood on my shoulder. “Irony at its best, dear Sister,” I nodded. “Forgive me for asking, but what is that strange device on your arm?” the female deer pointed toward my Pipbuck. “It’s a reminder of what I’ve yet to do, yet need to,” I smiled. “I only asked because my kind value technology above all else.” she smiled, “Tell me, how was it made?” “It’s a mixture of magic and technology,” I simpered. “Interesting, perhaps you’d be interested in sending us the schematics to create such an item?” “I might be able to, depending on what you need,” I nodded. “Very well then,” she nodded in return “you shall send us schematics, and we’ll pay you in kind with whatever you need, Rick.” “As you wish,” I quickly bowed. “I see you have manners, that at least, is a gift,” the stag smirked. “Oh dear,” Blaze quickly covered her mouth with a paw “Implied racism?” I frowned. “Not at all, I was only going to say what you could do, given the situation,” she winked with a sly grin. “So, what brings you here, if I may ask?” I turned to the dragon, ignoring Blaze’s implications “I’m here for one thing,” the dragon smiled, “Grandoa and Igneel send their regards, wayward Drake.” “You know Igneel?” I stared at him, completely awestruck. “What dragon doesn’t know their king of flame?” he laughed. “Tell me, does he talk of another human often?” I tilted my head slightly “Not often, but he mentions a son of his, that of which he- no, which I claim to be human,” he beamed. “I thought you’d be bigger…” Blaze mumbled. “That’s one of my abilities with dragon magic,” he grinned. “I am able to change my shape, form and size at will.” “You know the town down the mountain from here?” I smirked. “I know of Ponyville, what of it?” he grumbled. “Guess who’s there…?” I flashed my eyebrows at him. “Natsu..?” he stared at me in apparent awe; I nodded “And he’s been waiting for you for a while, Igneel.” “I’ll see what I can do about that, Son of Crystagia,” he grinned. -=-=- “So, that happened…” Blaze whistled as the chariots flew into the horizon alongside Igneel and the gryphon. “So it did, Blaze, so it did,” I hummed. “So, does this mean we’re going to war?” she glanced toward me. “Have you ever seen the Halo Legends episode title ‘The Duel’?” I grinned. “No…” she gaped, “no, you wouldn’t…!” “Wanna bet?” I snorted, grinning from ear to ear as u hovered on the balcony alongside the others. “That being said, seeing as it’s you, Brother, I suppose anything’s possible…” she laughed. “Quite so,” Iris and Galaxia shared a giggle. “To be irreplaceable, one must first be different,” Snowdrop chimed, glancing toward Celestia, “how different would you say Daddy is?” “Quite different, Snowdrop,” Celestia nickered, “quite different indeed.” “Just what in the hell have you been teaching her anyways?” Blaze gaped, staring at me in quite visible horror. “Nothing too important,” I winked. “Such as..?” she beamed. “Barely anything, what she learns, she does so from her own sources, not mine,” I smiled. “Oh really,” she smirked, “and what if that source happened to be your laptop?” “I have restrictions on it for a reason you know,” I rolled my eyes, “you think too little of me, Dear Sister.” “No, I think about the harm that letting a filly on the internet could bring to her,” Blaze frowned. “I’m fine Aunty,” Snowdrop giggled, lying atop my head with a smile, “Daddy knows what is and isn’t safe for me, and can act accordingly to prevent anything bad happening to me.” “Such a strange family…” Blaze and Autumn Heart sighed in almost-perfect unison. “Excuse me..?” As we turned, I noticed a perfect/snow-white Earth-Pony mare with a reddish-burgundy mane and tail with a green tail-tip and emerald eyes, carrying an easel, a set of paintbrushes and a set of sheets of paper “May I paint here?” she bit her lip “Sure,” I smiled, blinking “oh, that reminds me,” I quickly reverted to human form, placing my rucksack on the ground as I changed back, retrieving the latest set of artworks, levitating them over to Celestia. “You do art?” the mare blinked, gazing at me from head to tail-tip, “what type do you prefer?” All eyes were now on me as I smirked, “I don’t mind really, I’m impartial to most types. Might I ask your name…?” “Palette Swap,” she held out a hoof, which I shook, “you needn’t tell me your name, Rick; I know all about you, you’re magic, your abilities, your personality; all of it.” Palette’s face was a deep crimson colour as she hid the lower half of her face with a hoof “Fangirl much..?” Blaze laughed as Palette Swap handed me several rolled up canvases, pecking my cheek as she did so; setting up the easel on the balcony, bringing a paint wheel from her saddlebags, winking at me as she began to paint, with her tail, rather than an actual brush… “That’s an interesting way of painting,” Blaze smirked at me, glancing toward Palette Swap with a grin. “I’ve always used my tail as a makeshift brush, as it’s easier than using my hoof or mouth with an actual brush,” Palette Swap smiled, “Eh, if you’ve got it, why not use it?” she shrugged. “Taken out of context, that’d sound rather awkward, Blaze,” I raised an eyebrow. “So it would,” Palette Swap nickered rather light-heartedly. After around an hour, her painting was more-or-less finished. “There we go,” Palette Swap exclaimed with joy, showing me the painting “What’s..?” I gestured toward what looked like a small eon in the centre of the portrait; that of which was a painted replica of the horizon, looking toward the horizon; I saw just that, a small eon, beaming at me with tears streaming down her face “Daddy!” the latias cheered, ramming headlong into me as Snowdrop landed gracefully on Celestia’s back “I missed you Daddy!” the eon exclaimed with glee, nuzzling into me as Crystal hovered beside me, “you as well Mommy!” “It’s grand to see you as well, Valkyrie,” I smiled, pecking the eon on the forehead as she climbed onto my back, placing her head upon my own, beaming as she did so, glancing toward her thereafter “how’ve you been?” “Ruby’s been looking after me and Flora ever since she was born, she’s like my aunty!” Valkyrie gleamed, “And Blue Bolt finally convinced Lyra to let me through the gateway, thus, bringing me here, to you..!” “And I’m glad for it,” Crystal and I smiled, “I’m not sure if I can go on without knowing whether or not my little Valkyrie’s safe… especially not for this long…” “I love you Daddy, you too Mommy,” Valkyrie giggled, hovering somewhat cosily between us, nuzzling into the both of us with a light hum. “And we love you, Val, and we always will,” Crystal simpered, draping a wing around the little demigod. “How long have you had her?” Twilight glowered at me. “I don’t see why you’re complaining about both it and me whilst asking me,” I scoffed. “Because I…” she glanced toward Crystal, then toward Valkyrie, who waved with a light grin, she waved back, turning and walking away. “You’ve quite a bit of history with her then?” Crystal frowned. “I’d rather not talk about it…” I avoided her gaze as best I could “It happened again didn’t it, what happened with your Ex I mean…?” she bit her lip, I nodded, “that little bitch-!” I quickly covered Valkyrie’s ears, she sighed with relief, “thanks.” “Don’t mention it,” I smirked. “So, what#’#re we gonna do about it?” she cracked her claws “About what?” I blinked. “Her,” she snapped, “Nobody gets to treat my little eon with that sort of crap twice and live.” “It happened, and I don’t care, because he who else is involved in this is, shall we say, Out of Commission’?” I grinned. “So, you were cheated on?” she snarled, eyes ablaze with only the greatest amounts of fury/rage, I nodded. Crystal almost teleported away with the speed she travelled, soaring down the corridor after the lavender mare. “She’s dead.” I laughed. “Explain,” Celestia’s eyes narrowed. “I wouldn’t fight Crystal, not only because she’s a lady, but because she’s stronger than I am or ever will be, be it in magic, physical strength or otherwise,” I grinned. “There’s no way…!” Rainbow Dash gaped. “You’d be surprised what she can do when she’s in the mood,” I rolled my eyes as the ground quaked, and I heard glass shatter along with what sounded to be a plasma-based weapon firing, “and that’s endgame.” -=- When we got to Crystal, she was panting for breath, beaming from ear to ear with a malevolent grin, wide eyes and blood-stained claws “Mommy..?” Valkyrie gasped; Crystal spun around; gazing at me with a worried look, “I hope I didn’t go overboard, my love…” she nuzzled into me, draping her arms around me, placing her lips on my own. “This is me you’re dealing with, there’s no such thing as ‘overkill,’” I winked as she let me go, Valkyrie once again climbing onto my back. “Where’s Twilight…?” Applejack glanced toward a nearby window, which was all-but shattered with blood leaking from the cracked edges… “You piss around with my family, and this is what happens,” Crystal gestured around the immediate area; I quickly covered Valkyrie’s ears again. “You murdered my student?” Celestia boomed. “You’re so-called ‘student’ just repeated what you did not three-hundred years ago,” Crystal bellowed at the top of her lungs, “so I guess it’s true what they say, if there’s something wrong with the bitch there’s going to be something wrong with the pup! I hope you’re fucking happy, Princess! Because of you, my little Eon has to suffer again!” “I didn’t think..!” Celestia began. “No shit, Sherlock!” Crystal blared “do you ponies ever think about someone other than yourselves, or is it just hot air and arrogance lodged in with that shit-pile in your skull you claim is a brain?” she continued, now completely irate, “and don’t think of trying to apologizing, the either of you, Rick’s been through enough without scum like you buggering his life up as is, and then you go and do all of that, who the fucking hell do you think you are!?” “Mommy…” Valkyrie whimpered. “What is it dear…?” Crystal’s mood changed from one of unadulterated anger to one of worry within an instant. “I’m scared…” Valkyrie shuddered. “Please, don’t be scared, I didn’t want to resort to yelling, truly, please forgive me…” =-= “Can you believe she wanted a foal with me?” I glanced toward Crystal as my family, friends and I walked/glided through the castle. “Who, Celestia,” Crystal glared icily toward me, I nodded, “So, she broke you and we-know-who up, and then tried to basically seduce you into a relationship?” “That’s one way of saying it, yes,” I nodded. “That little scum-ball’s harder to believe than a flying Dunsparce!” she growled. “So, first it was me who railed at her, then you,” Blaze grinned, “I wonder who’s next…” “Hopefully not me,” I mumbled, “Trust me, Brother; it’s better to get it out than to keep it in,” she smirked. “To each their own… I suppose,” I shrugged. “You could be scum of the earth and still be a better demigod than her,” Crystal pecked my cheek, nuzzling into my side as we journeyed home, “because you’ve a lot of things they don’t have, or can’t even so much as begin to comprehend, my little Eon.” she smiled, “You’ve got ambition, a heart, mind and soul, and you’ve got balls, both physically and figuratively,” she winked, “and you’ve got a will to continue even further than the point most people I used to know would’ve given up, quit, or otherwise. You’re a special eon, you’re my eon, Rick, and I intend to keep you until the end of our days, if you’ll have me, that is.” “Of course I will, my little Gem,” I smiled, pecking her on the lips, leaning into her side as Valkyrie hopped from my back to Crystal’s. “And can you believe that one of rick’s so-called ‘friends’ worships that little lavender mare like that of a god?” Blaze snarled. “No..!” Crystal gaped; I nodded; “It’s true, he compares Twilight, or at least, he worships her almost religiously as if she were born anew as the divine creator, and it’s up to my sister and I to prove him otherwise.” “How arrogant,” she spat “He’s a ‘normal’ human, what do you expect?” I used air quotes as I snorted, “If he were American I’d have to give him credit for his arrogance and stupidity, sadly, that isn’t the case…” “Don’t we know someone who can reset the entire digital world, and then bend it to their will?” Blaze smirked. “That we do, Blaze, old Omnimon-X, if I recall,” I grinned, “he who surveys all that he sees in the Digital World, keeping an ever-vigilant gaze over his subjects like a true king, not like any princess here, save Luna.” “And didn’t Natsu and Laxus each beat a ‘God-Slayer’ of their respective elements?” she gleamed. “So they did,” I nodded as we entered the dining hall, “Zancrow and Orga respectively… But you have to remember, Laxus, the Fairy Tail Guild’s local Lightning Dragon-Slayer, beat one of the ten wizard saints, Jura, to be exact, as well as Orga, almost simultaneously so.” “How many dragon slayers does the guild have?” Crystal and I took our places around the table as ponies began to filter into the room “There’s me, Natsu, Gajeel, Laxus, Wendy, Possibly Ilona and Winter Bell,” I shrugged as the Princesses and the other alicorns, save Twilight, teleported into the room beside Twilight’s friends, each of Twilights friends glaring at me beside Celestia “Define ‘Possibly,’” she raised an eyebrow “It depends on if Dragon-Slayer magic can be passed on genetically or not, if it can; the Guild’s going to have a field day,” I laughed. “So they are,” she giggled, “but they’re not the only ones, remember?” “Ah yes, we’ve also got you and Aero,” I chuckled, “how did I forget our wayward-eon friend?” “He’s you’re brother-in-law, you tell me,” she smirked, “on an unrelated note, what would it be like if you fought without holding back?” “Do you want all of Equestria to be reduced to mere molten ash?” I raised an eyebrow. “Touché,” she giggled, “so, what’s your latest ability with dragon slayer magic?” “Magma,” I deadpanned. Crystal whistled; “I’m guessing you got it via anger and emotion?” I nodded, “quite so.” -- “So, what’s this I hear about you giving someone a nosebleed?” Crystal patted my back with an ‘approving’ wing, pecking my cheek also. “You mean that twig I broke last year?” I scoffed “child’s play, really.” “That ‘twig’ probably got an embolism to what little brains he had left, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’d six-feet-under by now!” she chortled. “Probably, I mean, I’ve no idea how much reinforcement a being or a limb can get from using Haki, both in offence and defence,” I shrugged. “And we still haven’t figured out who ‘Paper Sky’ is, have we Brother?” Blaze gave an agitated sigh. “I don’t really care, I mean, what can a pony do to a dragon slayer, let alone a Dragon-God-Slayer?” I rolled my eyes. “Touché,” she laughed. “Oh yeah, Crystagia’s a Dragon-God,” she slowly nodded. “And a fool,” Celestia mumbled. “At least she, Edward and Lily are decent parents, I couldn’t really ask for better,” I snapped, “let me rephrase that, I could, but I don’t want to end up like you, selfish, pathetic, arrogant, and not to mention spineless.” “You don’t have an actual spine,” Rarity scowled. “I do, it’s just made of titanium polycarbonate-alloy,” I grinned. “Wastelands..?” Crystal bit her lip, I nodded, “Honestly Rick, what am I to do with you?” “I’ve a few ideas, but most of them aren’t even legal,” Blaze burst into a fit of laughter. “Why aren’t we surprised?” Crystal and I shared a laugh. “And thus returns me to our original conversation, with the whole ‘God-Worship’ thing,” Blaze smirked. “Being worshipped as a god does not make you a god, Blaze,” I gave a sly grin, “it’s a shame a certain few people I know don’t seem to understand that.” “Or if she can survive against you for anything more than five minutes with you using your Necromancer armour,” “Given what I could do with that armour, or rather, what I can do, I wouldn’t give her half a minute Dear Sister, let alone five,” I gently bumped my fist against her paw. “Or last in the wastes for anything longer than ten seconds flat without having a mental breakdown and/or aneurysm,” she winked. “I‘ll give it two –point two-recurring,” I beamed, “the place of which alters your morals on what might be considered ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ elsewhere, changes them in the favour for your own survival above all else.” “Thus exists the wastelands,” she hummed, “it’s a wonder we got out alive, let alone in one piece, and by ‘we,’ I mean ‘you.’” “I’ll take that one with a minute amount of Pride, Blaze,” I glimmered. “Careful Brother, you may end up like them,” she warned me with a light chortle. “That’s Autumn Heart you’re talking about as well as my family you know?” I frowned. “I wasn’t talking about any of them,” she held her paws defensively. “Fair enough,” I nodded… =-=-= It took a few years, but Twilight was eventually allowed freedom from the hospital, not that I was bothered by any of it, but I had better things to do, because in the meanwhile that she’d been hospitalized, I’d successfully recruited Winter Bell and Ilona into the ‘Fairy Tail’ guild; “So, we’ve a pony and an eon in the guild?” Grey blinked, standing beside Natsu and Erza; I nodded, “both of them are Dragon Slayers,” all eyes were now on Ilona and Winter Bell as they hovered beside me before the guild hall burst into cheering and laughter “So, which generation are you?” Erza glanced toward Ilona; “I’m a Fourth-Gen,” Ilona smiled, “I got my magic from neither a dragon nor a gem, but rather, inherently, as did Winter Bell.” “A new generation…”she smiled, “congratulations on joining the guild, Ilona.” “Thank you, Lady Erza,” Ilona quickly bowed. “I see you’ve your father’s mannerisms,” Erza laughed, “tell em, what element are you?” “I’m a combination of Light and fire, whereas my sister here is a hybrid of shadow and fire,” Ilona gestured to herself with a dainty claw, and then toward Winter Bell, who gleamed toward the ‘Wizard-In-Armour.’ “Light and fire; both at once…?” Makarov stood beside Erza and the others, “then we’re to assume that the Fourth-Gen, that of whom, gain their powers inherently, are able to possess more than a single element?” he glanced toward me. “So it would seem,” I draped a wing around both Winter Bell and Ilona, “but then, Natsu and I have ‘Lightning-Flame-Dragon Mode,’ and Gajeel has -Iron-Shadow-Dragon Mode,’ so maybe it’s not just them?” “An interesting point, Rick,” he smiled, “I’ll talk it over with the magic council, thank the great divine that we’ve still got a link to them, if only with thought-projection.” “So we have,” I grinned. -=-=- “You didn’t tell them about your new, magmatic abilities, Brother?” Blaze sat upon my head with a wide grin as I hovered with Crystal and Angel By my side and Valkyrie upon my back; Glancing behind me, I saw Natsu, Erza, Grey, Wendy and Lyra, the former of whom had Amber Note perched atop his head. “What does she mean?” Erza blinked. “I have new abilities with my dragon slayer magic,” I smiled, fists blazing, the fire of which liquefied, morphing into magma “And that’s not counting your ‘Third-Stage’ dragon slayer mode!” Blaze exclaimed with laughter. “You’ve another new form?” Grey smirked, “how many do you have?” “More than I’d care to count,” I rolled my eyes. “So, Season-4 ‘Finale;’ what’re your opinions?” Blaze patted my ear somewhat affectionately. “It’s just a huge cliché build-up with a Dragonball-Z-Esque ending, so what?” I shrugged, “I think it’s about time Hasbro did, or at least tried, something original, other than hanging from the ‘split-ends’ off other peoples work.” “And what of your character?” she flinched, biting her lip. “I’ve a whole and/or literal Eon of history in me, if they try to alter that, or try to use it for their own selfish gain, heads are gonna roll,” I scowled. “They’re going to anyway though, probably,” she gave a forlorn sigh. “I wonder if that little purple gecko that hangs around with Twilight has the attention of Rarity yet?” Crystal and Angel shared a giggle. “It’d be like breeding a bird with a fish, can you imagine the offspring?” I laughed. “I really didn’t need that mental image,” Crystal and Blaze shuddered, looking rather pale in the process. “Meh, it’s not like the two of them are together or anything, is it?” she blinked. “It’s not that important anyways,” I shrugged, “besides, the only fun we’re bound to have around here nowadays is the ever-increasing threat of war.” “ “What happened?” Grey raised an eyebrow. “Basically, there was a war between the dragons and the attacking gryphons, the surviving Gryphons want a war against me, as a Dragon Slayer, for being the one to literally decapitate their emperor,” I explained. (+)--===--(+) I stood on the border of the dragon’s home country, an army of irate Zebra’s and gryphons stood opposite me as I stood beside the princesses, Twilight, her friends, Spike, Faust and the others alongside my friends and family, Crystal, Angel, Ilona and Valkyrie included. “Not bad, we might actually have a challenge on our hands here Blaze,” I smirked, standing in Alphamon form with an invisible grin. “And should you get hurt, or worse, what then?” Autumn Heart stepped forward, leaning into me “My armour in this form is composed of Chrome-Digizoid, ain’t nothin gonna break it, let alone leave so, much as a scratch upon my being,” I fragilely ran my fingers through her mane, reverting to human form. “Long range, Blaze, or short range…?” I beamed almost sadistically. “How about both?” she grinned. “Fair do’s,” I grinned, in haling copious amounts of air, corking both thumbs, exhaling into them, flying into the air, launching myself toward the now-approaching army, focusing ridiculous amounts of Spiral energy into my arms, that of which began titanic drills, launching them forward with Gatling-Like punches, all but decimating the army, both land-and-air-based. -=-=-=- “How did you do that?” Twilight gaped, awing at me. “A combination of my rubber physiology and Magic-turned-Spiral Energy,” I grinned, “maybe now a friend of mine will stop comparing a certain character to a god.” “Rick, why’re you… Y’know?” Crystal gestured to my now-shrunken form. “Don’t ask, please,” I mumbled, my size suddenly exploding as my form returned to normal. “Well, that was short-lived,” Blaze laughed. So it was,” I rolled my eyes, turning to the mildly uninhabited battlefield, now with only a few, wounded survivors. “So, are you gonna do it?” Angel nodded toward the few survivors who were huddled together, awing at me in quite visible horror, “Are you going to prove to them that you’re a monster?” “And give a few ponies what they want?” I spat, “why should I lower myself to do such a thing?” I clenched my fists, “no, they may live to see another day, if only to tell their descendants of their failure.” “Giga-Drill-Gatling, then,” Blaze smirked, leaping to the floor, changing to her Typhlosion form mid-jump, allowing Honey Heart, Snowdrop and Winter Bell to perch themselves upon my head and shoulders respectively. “So it’d seem….” (==)-(+)-(==) When I/we got back, there was a large party that been set up at an unknown time, complete with a crowd -that of which was no-doubt composed of everyone in Ponyville, that of which I ignore, instead, however I opted to unlock the front door of the house, walk into the landing/porch, hang my jacket up on the rack, and then proceed into the music room, bring out my violin with Grace retrieving her cello, and the two of us played in silence… =-=-= “Rick?” I looked up toward the doorway; Autumn Heart was stood beside Twilight and Crystal, who kept frowning at the lavender mare with an icy glare. “Can I help you, Autumn Heart?” I gave a faint grin. “You seem troubled,” Was all she said. “More-or-less obliterating two countries’ armies at once will do that for an eon,” I mumbled, “they wanted war, so that’s what I gave them, and now they’ve little in the ways of defence, let alone retaliation, should something or someone choose to attack either of them.” “You’ve been played,” Crystal scowled. “Damn…” Blaze mumbled. “Rick,” Twilight stepped forward, Crystal scowled at her as she placed a gentle hoof on my leg, “I just wanted to say, I’m sorry for anything I might’ve done to upset you, and I didn’t know that being with him would cause you to act so drastically, can you ever forgive me?” “I don’t know,” I bit my lip, “give it a few days, Sparky…” “Ok,” she nodded, then turned and removed herself forthwith from the premises, I quickly followed, Autumn Heart and crystal venturing beside me as I stood on the front lawn, Twilight and her friends standing between myself and the large crowd, Princesses, alicorns, Firefly and Co. Included. “So, what other armours do you have?” Crystal nudged my arm with a fragile hand. “Paladin, Death-knight, Technomancer, Dragon-Lord, Dragon-Knight, and Shadow armour, among others,” I gave a light/short hum, sitting on the front porch, draping my wings around Snowdrop and the others as they nuzzled into me. “Paladin,” she smirked. “It’s not what you think, believe me,” I mumbled with a light frown. “So, no robes, just cold, hard steel?” she grinned. “Essentially,” I shrugged. “So, why is one of your ‘Next-of-Kin,’ so to speak, a bat-pony?” she nodded toward Gracy Gloom. “The correct term is Thestral, Crystal,” I rolled my eyes, gently running my hand through the bat-pony’s mane, “Calling them a ‘Bat-Pony,’ counts as borderline-racism, my little Gem.” “How’d you figure that out?” she beamed with a sly grin. “My magical ability of being a carbon/water/oxygen based life-form that nobody ever listens to?” I tilted my head. “We listen to you Daddy,” Snowdrop, Gracy Gloom, Scootaloo, Winter Bell and Honey Herat chimed in angelic unison. “As do I,” Crystal folded her arms, smirking. “Alright, in was having a joke, but if you want to be pedantic about it, no ice cream for a week,” I “smiled. “What..?” the five fillies gasped, staring at me in a mix of horror and frustration, “please don’t do that Daddy!” Honey Heart gave me her best ‘Puppy-Dog’ eyes. “What do we say when we want something?” I raised an eyebrow. “Please may we have some ice cream?” the five foals sat in an arc around me, smiling with apparent wonder. “I trust you’ll know where to find it?” I simpered; all five of them hurried into the kitchen, Autumn Heart quickly followed them. “You spoil them, you know that?” Blaze grinned. “Considering you two are now Aunts, I can accept that,” I laughed. “I can accept being an Aunt,” Crystal smiled as Ilona and Valkyrie landed either side of me, leaning into me, “besides; I’m a mother of two-and/or-seven, as you are a father of the same beings, Rick, you are my little Eon, after all…” “By the way,” she glanced to the area beside me on the front lawn, “what’s with the boxes?” “Mementos, so to speak,” I tilted my head, if only a little. “Rick, they’re cards, sure they may have sentimental value, but anything else?” Blazed shrugged “Says you,” I frowned. “So, how do you play?” Crystal opened one of the boxes as I moved, standing beside her and Blaze. “I could probably teach you if you wanted,” I smiled. “That’d be nice,” she winked, pecking my cheek. -=- “So, how many cards do you think you have, in total?” the scarlet/snow-white eon leant into me as I sat on the front lawn with the laptop, Snowdrop and the others sat beside me, each eating a half-melted bowl of ice cream. “Well, it’s all worth at least a few-hundred quid anyways,” I tutted, “there’s an average of five-to-nine cards per back, depending on release date, so that, multiplied by the amount of packs in each box…” “And even further multiplied by the amount of boxes,” she stared at me; then glanced toward the boxes, “that’s a lot of cards, how did you say you got these again?” “I found the boxes in the basement,” I smiled, “unpacked a few cards, which’re now in my room.” “A few?” she grinned, “Just a few packs, no more and no less,” “So, what decks do the two of you specialize in?” she giggled. “I deal with dragons, Blaze handles the fire-attributes, mostly Pyro’s,” I smirked. “That grin of yours tells me that you’ve gone and done something insane,” she laughed. “Twilight watched us play a few games, and thus, became curious as to what it was that we were doing, and in the end, I taught her the game, and she got a spellcaster deck,” I rolled my eyes. “But Brother knows a few OTK’s, so it’s even,” Blaze gleamed. “‘OTK’..?” Crystal raised a smug eyebrow. “One-turn-kill,” I began “it’s usually for those who have somewhat specialized decks who don’t want the game to go on forever.” “So, am I to take this as an apology?” I glanced toward where Twilight and her friends were stood; Celestia was positioned at the front, holding a card with a long letter hovering beside it in her magic, eyebrow raised toward me. “You had to choose that card for such an apology?” Blaze stared at me, beaming from ear to ear. “I don’t see anyone else complaining,” I shrugged, glancing toward the icy-blue filly sat beside me; “Thank you for delivering that, Snowdrop.” “You’re welcome Daddy,” Snowdrop giggled. “I am to be compared to that of an angel then, Rick?” Celestia smiled, sitting opposite Crystal, changing to her anthro form “Go on Brother; do it,” Blaze grinned. “I may’ve said that I’ve found a piece of heaven in you Cellsy, now I guess we’ve managed to prove it,” I draped a wing around the solar goddess. “And I’ve found my Herald, Knight and Guardian,” she cooed, placing her head on my shoulder, leaning into me. “So, what else have we missed out on?” Angel smiled. “Well, Luna went overkill and gave Rick a strip-tease, so there’s one thing,” Blaze shrugged. “She did what!?” Crystal gawked at me, wide-eyed and slack-jawed. “I dread to think what else she was planning to do…” Blaze mumbled. “As do I,” Crystal smirked, “How do you do it?” “Do what?” I blinked. “Never mind…” she laughed. “So, who else have you sent one of those cards to?” “How about forty,” I grinned, “‘Majestic star Dragon,’ Shooting Star dragon, and one Stardust Dragon along with a Majestic Dragon and the rest of the star-based deck.” “You gave Luna a Stardust deck?” Blaze gaped. “Alongside the strongest card from said deck,” I rolled a hand, grinning from ear to ear. “You gave her a shooting Quasar Dragon?” her jaw hit the grass-laden earth, “are you insane!?” “I think we already established that two-centuries ago, Blaze,” I laughed. “I don’t get it, what’s the big deal?” Crystal blinked. “Shooting Quasar Dragon is one of the five strongest synchro monsters in the game, alongside Malefic paradox dragon, Odin; Father of the Aesir, T.G. Halberd Cannon, and Red Nova Dragon,” Blaze exclaimed with a scowled, almost glaring at me. “I think you’ll find that there’re much stronger cards in the game, Blaze,” I beamed. “Like what?” she almost-snapped. “The Five-Head Dragon, the wicked gods, the Egyptian gods, the Tyrant Neptune, Gandora, Heart-Earth, Heart Earth Dragon, Heart earth-Chaos dragon, No-Ci-1000, the sacred beats, Rainbow Dragon, Rainbow Dark Dragon, Rainbow Neos, Divine Neos, Chimera-tech over-dragon, Yubel, and all the others that I’m not going to bother mentioning,” I lectured. “And you’ve got all of those?” she frowned. “Not yet, but here’s hoping anyway,” I chortled. “Rick, the names you just mentioned are that of some of the rarest cards in the game, how in the heck do you hope to get one from the supply we have?” she raised a smug eyebrow. -==- “You called me here for something?” Celestia stood with me on the balcony, alone… “I…” I bit my lip, mumbling almost incoherently, “I wanted….” I quickly shook my head, draping my wings and arms around her, embracing her tightly, “I wanted to apologize…” “Don’t feel sorry, Rick,” Celestia changed to her anthro form, placing her hands on my shoulders, placing me before her, smiling, “I was wrong to take advantage of you whilst you were still redeveloping all those years ago, and as such, it should be me apologizing, and again for Paper Sky,” she added, pecking my cheek. “I’ve had a word or two with Paper Sky, and he understands, heartbroken as he is, he’ll not deny either of us the chance of love.” Celestia beamed. “So, it is my turn to ask something of you, young eon.” “Ask away, Princess, I bowed before the solar alicorn. “Will you allow me to coronate you as king?” she levitated me onto my feet; “for all that you’ve endured, for all that you’ve had to have sacrificed, I’d like the chance for Equestria to be put back to its rightful place. “With all due respect, I’ve a family to look after, being a ruler’s only going to put pressure on that, Taiyo Fujin,” I quickly bowed, again, “I’ll be a prince, but no more than that,” “I’ll agree, but only on one condition,” she smirked. “By all means, Lady Celestia,” I nodded, gleaming. “You get to be a prince, but you have to go through what nopony else has,” she grinned, magicking a ball-gag, length of rope and a large vibrator into the room. “Oh hell no…” I grumbled. “I didn’t say they were for me….” =--= “So, have fun?” Blaze smirked as I stood in what appeared to be a gymnasium. “Eh, I can’t complain,” I shrugged as I jabbed at the punching back, leaning in and elbowing the equipment with a Haki-Armoured arm. “How long are we to remain here?” she grinned “Not much longer, Blaze,” I beamed, initiating ‘Dragon Force,’ rearing back an arm and sending the punching bag flying into the far wall, causing an eruption of sand to burst forth from the leather apparatus. “So, about that twig,” Crystal gave a sly grin as we walked with Twilight and her friends to the throne room, eventually winding in the great chamber alongside my friends and family, “how’d you do it?” “Well, it didn’t take that much effort, if any at all,” I hummed, “A bit of defence-based Haki here, a few roundhouse kicks to the jaw there, it’s just a fight, nothing more and nothing less.” “Brother,” Blaze pointed to my hands, looking toward them, I noticed that they were bleeding slightly, “Eh, compared to what I have been through, this isn’t much,” I shrugged, “ “So it is, but still, you should at least do something about it,” she leapt onto my shoulder. “Nah,” I laughed, “let the air get to it so it’ll scab, and eventually heal.” “Well, I suppose there is the part where you didn’t use ‘Gear Second’ against that measly human, so there’s always that,” she chortled. “Blaze, I don’t think the head of the college would appreciate it all that much if I were to coat the walls with his entrails,” I guffawed, “oh well, food for thought.” “You sound like a mass murderer talking like that,” Crystal giggled with a light grin. “And here I was hoping to be different from the rest of humanity,” I rolled my eyes. “You are, you’ve got the DNA of almost every sentient species in the universe implanted into you, remember?” she gave my shoulder a light jab, “you’ll always be my little eon, Rick, never forget that.” “I prefer the term’ ‘Biomechanical Entity,’” I grinned; “besides, if I needed to dispose of said trash, I could always use the Hawk Rifle.” “So you could,” Celestia raised an eyebrow, sat upon her throne in her anthro form, complete with her gala dress “is there a reason why you’re wounded?” “Practice,” I winked. “So I see,” she nickered, “And what brings you to my castle this time?” “I’m here to surrender my title, both as a possible ‘Prince,’ and that of a knight…” I declared with a light frown “…to Equestria.” “What do you wish to happen then?” she giggled. “I’d like to be a Knight, but not just to Equestria,” I began “I’d also like to be knighted in your honour, and that of the other goddesses of Equis, and Crystagia also,” I added, biting my lip, “and for my title as a prince to be redacted, Your Majesty.” “Then so be it,” she beamed, “from this day on you shall be a knight of Equestria and all the gods of Equis, to serve and fight in their honour, and mine.” “Thank you, your majesty,” I quickly bowed. She stood up from her throne, walking toward me with a smile, standing before me, “change to your eon form,” she glimmered, I did just that, changing to my eon form as Blaze leapt safely to the floor, she climbed onto my back, “now, I don’t suppose you’d mind me riding you like this?” “Not at all, your majesty,” I smiled, flying from the throne room to her room, lowering myself to the floor once inside, “You may leave, Sir Rick, or you may stay, I could always use your company,” she patted the spot beside her as she sat on the bed. I quickly lay in an arc around her on the bed, “There’s a good eon, my little Sunshine,” she gently scratched me behind the ears, which I leant into, “tell me; would you like to stay the night?” “With all due respect Princess, I’ve a family to look after,” I flinched a little. “Don’t worry, I won’t keep you here long, she smiled, gesturing for me to sit up, I did, our eyes locking, her Pinkish-Magenta eyes meeting my dark/poison green ones, “ so, what do you wish to do now?” “What do you wish to happen, your majesty?” I smiled ever-so faintly “Always the charmer,” she giggled, pecking the tip of my nose, winking at me afterward, “there’s many a mare in Equestria who’d want to have a stallion like you, Rick, I hope you realize that.” “Why have them when I have Autumn Heart?” I tilted my head, “and of course that’s not counting Littlepip, Velvet Remedy and Blackjack, your majesty.” “Please, call me Celestia,” she draped a wing around gently scratching under my chin; I collapsed, falling to her side with a dreamy expression, “it appears that we’ve found a weak point, my little Eon.” “As you say, Celestia,” I simpered. “So, what happened?” Crystal hovered beside me with a sly grin. “Nothing important, my little gem” I raised an eyebrow. “Says you…!” she laughed quietly “Quite so,” I smirked as we hovered outside Celestia’s bedroom window, guitar in-hand. -=-=- “You did it again?” Twilight blinked. “And why not?” I smiled, “I love her, and would do anything for her, so why not?” “You woke her with a love song,” Blaze raised an eyebrow, “not for the first time either, might I add?” “You did what now?” Natsu, Erza, Grey and Wendy glanced toward me, everyone, sans Wendy, grinning with a sly smirk “Don’t judge me,” I grinned. “I wasn’t going to,” Erza smiled, “which song was it anyway? Was it ‘Your Guardian Angel;’ or something else?” “No, that’s the one,” I beamed, just as Snowdrop leapt onto my head, pecking one of my horns, nuzzling into me. “I love you Daddy,” Snowdrop giggled, moving to my shoulder, leaning into me, “can you sing my song?” “You cannot see but your heart is pure I know you feel trapped In a dark world Some brush you off and call you weak but your name is snowdrop and one day they'll see If you hold fast and stand strong you'll discover who you are If you listen to the world at night you can hear the twinkling stars If you use love to guide your heart you are bound to go far You have the power to change the world being uniquely who you are If you hold fast and stand strong you'll discover who you are If you listen to the world at night you can hear the twinkling stars If you use love to guide your heart you are bound to go far You have the power to change the world being uniquely who you are If you hold fast and stand strong you'll discover who you are If you listen to the world at night you can hear the twinkling stars If you use love to guide your heart you are bound to go far You have the power to change the world being uniquely who you are…” I sang as softly as I could,, sitting cross-legged and draping a wing around her as she sat in my lap, nuzzling into me. “Don’t forget about us,” Scootaloo and the others chimed, as Winter Bell and Gracy Gloom perched themselves on either shoulder, Honey Heart of course choosing to lie upon my head, whereas Scootaloo sat beside Snowdrop in my lap. “I see that you’ve not heeded my warnings then?” Buckshot appeared via teleportation at the at the entrance to the castle. “Persistent little bugger, aren’t you?” I scowled. “So I am, but, I only ask that you take my advice and stop what it is that you’re doing,” he frowned. In an almighty explosion of raw power, I burst aflame, enveloped in Whitish-Golden fire, also setting Snowdrop and the others alight in the process “You would dare threaten my family, my home, and all of whom reside in it?” I boomed, noticing that neither Snowdrop nor Scootaloo were in pain, nor were the others, for that matter, my eyes ablaze with a blinding white light to the point where they stung, a magic circle appearing between us and buckshot, one of golden colouration with several assortments of intricate incantations appearing around it as I stood upright, my family hovering by my side in an arc, eyes also ablaze with shining radiance “Kami Metsuryū Ogi, Shiranui Gata; Hogo-sha Ryū no Hōkō!” I bellowed, inhaling and firing a vast amount of golden flames, Snowdrop, Scootaloo, Winter Bell, Gracy Gloom and Honey Heart and the others quickly following suit, firing Cyan, Orange, Navy-Blue, Mild-Greyish, and pitch-black flames respectively into the circle, which was then amplified as it passed through, each breath of fire spiralling around the next with my own roar in the centre, returning the unicorn in question into dust, if even that… “You created a new spell…” Twilight gasped, “How did you do that?” “Well,” I began, glancing to each of my ‘Next-of-Kin,’ who‘d become alicorns at the use of the new spell, “I’m not entirely sure…” “You sent forth magic that is on the level with at least three ponies of my magical calibre, even if I weren’t holding back,” Celestia raised an eyebrow, “what kind of magic was that?” “Dragon Slayer magic,” Crystagia landed before us, lying in an arc in front of me, “albeit, highly advanced Dragon-Slayer magic,” she added, beaming, “Rick, I’m not surprised you had it in you, nor your family, to use that type of spell, the spell in question is one of the first, most intricate spells ever created, by both dragons and their students.” “Oh, that reminds me,” I glanced toward Natsu, who, alongside Erza, Grey and Wendy, were awing at me, “I met Igneel.” “You met him?” Natsu went wide eyed as he spoke, “you met Igneel?” “Yep,” Blaze grinned,” didn’t say where he was going when he left though.” “That’s a shame,” he sighed, “oh well; at least I’ve something to do for the next few years.” “I really don’t think Lyra’s going to allow you go on a random-goose chase for a dragon, Natsu,” I rolled my eyes. “I can sneak out then?” he gleamed. “I don’t think that’d be any better than abandoning her, you got yourself into that relationship, and you’re going to live with it, Pyro,” I frowned. “Damn it…” he mumbled. “So, how high, on uh scale o’ one ta ten, was that spell they just used?” Applejack glanced toward the divine Gem-Dragon-Empress. “Around twenty,” Crystagia softly laughed, “and in using it, his ‘Next-of-Kin’ have also become Dragon-Slayers themselves. “Celestia said that you, Igneel and the others were seen, or could be classed as- gods, is that true?” I tilted my head ever-so slightly as Snowdrop landed between my horns. “That depends on what you want to believe, Rick,” she smiled, “but I suppose, if you want to see us as gods, then we can be just that.” “That also reminds me,” I glanced toward Celestia, “seeing as I was created, was it done with a ‘Dragon Soul,’ if so, do I have two?” “You were made with a ‘Dragon Soul,’ but i remain clueless about whether it has remained in your being or not, Sir Rick,” Celestia smiled also. “Wait,” Blaze began, “you’ve got the DNA of almost every sentient being in existence right, what if one of those beings was a Necromancer? It’d explain your ability to bring Snowdrop back.” “You know what, this is the first time I’ve actually thought about it,” I blinked “nice work Blaze.” “Arigato,” she winked, “So, what happens next, now that the slug’s gone? By the way, you’re using ‘Dragon Force.’” I glanced down at myself, and sure enough there was a scale-like design covering by arms, hands and wrists, “So I am, Blaze, so I am,” I sighed, releasing the spell, my body returning to normal as I did so. “And in doing so,” Crystagia smiled “you’ve made your ‘Next-of-Kin demigods, just as you are, I hope you realise what you’ve just done, Crystal Dragon Slayer.” “We’re demigods now?” Scootaloo gasped, “Awesome!” “The six Elements of Nature,” the large dragon beamed with a weak smile, “just as there are six Elements of Harmony, now there‘re six of each.” She continued with a faint grin,” Rick, Scootaloo, Snowdrop, Honey Heart, Gracy Gloom, Winter Bell, I hereby knight you as the Warriors of Grandoa, and the latter five as the newest Elements of Nature.” “Uh, Brother, you may want to take a good look of yourself,” Blaze mumbled. Looking down at myself, I noticed that the scales had returned, glancing backward revealed four, feathery Whitish-Golden dragon-like wings, raising my hands also revealed my being covered in golden flames. “A new form of ‘Dragon Force…’” Crystagia gave a light hum, “Use it wisely.” “So I will,” I quickly bowed. “So that’s you, Natsu, Laxus, Gajeel, Wendy, Honey Heart, Snowdrop, Scootaloo, Gracy Gloom Winter Bell, and Ilona,” Blaze smirked, “did I miss anyone out?” “Crystal?” I shrugged. “And Crystal, so that makes twelve Dragon Slayers in the guild,” she chortled “and here I thought we couldn’t get any crazier!” “Oh it can always get weirder Blaze, particularly if people like me are involved,” I grinned. “So you say,” she rolled her eyes as Snowdrop perched herself atop my head, And Honey Heart and Winter Bell sat on either shoulder, “but there’s one thing I don’t get, and it might as well be said now rather than later, Brother.” “What is it?” I simpered. “You’ve been holding back all this time, haven’t you?” she frowned, “I still remember when Crystagia placed that magical seal on your being, stopping most of your power from surfacing unnecessarily, Rick, so, how about we remove it?” “I’d rather not risk any further damage to the nearby area, Blaze,” I exhaled sharply. “It can’t be that bad right?” Rainbow Dash gleamed. -=- “So, you want me to go back to your world, beat a Sombra-infused-Tirek, and then pardon your being?” I frowned at the other-world’s Discord; “let’s get this over with then…” “So,” Blaze began, “where’s the monster?” “Currently taking residence in the old castle in the Everfree, or what’s left of it” the other-world’s Celestia glared at me with a cold-hearted gaze. “So, whose magic has he stolen thus far?” I tilted my head ever-so slightly. “Everypony’s but ours,” Cadance hummed “how do you plan to defeat him?” “I’m gonna try decapitation, see if that works,” I grinned, drawing the Daybreaker, “why hasn’t he taken your magic?” “He must feel that we’re too weak to defend ourselves for long against his means of offense, which is mostly true” Celestia bit her lip. “So it’s a fight between a supposed-Demigod with the power of a Dragon-God against a technical ‘Centaur-Demon,’ sounds like a bad anime storyline,” Blaze laughed. “Shit happens, pardon my language,” I smirked. “So it does,” she rolled her eyes as I sheathed the Daybreaker. “So, how else do to plan to defeat Tirek?” I burst into Whitish Golden flames; “Fair do’s, Brother.” “If all else fails I have a missile-launcher in my inventory,” I shrugged. “I’m not even going to ask…” Celestia mumbled. “And if that should fail?” the new-world’s Luna blinked. “Kami Metsuryū Ogi, Shiranui Gata; Hogo-sha Ryū no Hōkō,” I gleamed. “Ah of course, your new megaspell.” She beamed. “You know a megaspell?” The new-world’s Twilight blinked alongside her friends, Spike included. “Never doubt a Dragon-Slayer,” I winked. =-=-=-= “Well, that was fun,” I clicked my neck and shoulders, having beaten the demonic fusion of shadow and demon. “You beat him, and so easily too, how did you do it?” Cadance gaped, staring at me in quite apparent awe/horror. “Metsuryū Ogi, Shiranui Gata; Tsuki Hōseki Ryū Gurren Bakuhoshijin,” I beamed. “An attack that’s not been used in just over forty years,” Blaze gave a slow nod. “Which translated into Equestrian; means what exactly?” Cadance tilted her head. “Dragon-Slayer Secret Arts, Lunar Gem Dragon Exploding Star Sabre,” I grinned. “Are you serious?” Blaze raised an eyebrow. I shrugged; “Why not?” “You’re at it again, aren’t you brother?” she smirked with a sly grin. “Why do you now have scales?” Celestia smiled. “‘Dragon Force,’” I began, “the supposed, ultimate, final form of Dragon Slayer magic, the power of which is said to be comparable to that of an actual Dragon, thus, the user gains the power of a dragon, the power to utterly destroy everything.” “Or in your case, Brother, the power of a Dragon-God,” Blaze winked. “So it would seem,” I clicked my tongue, “Besides, it was a demigod with the power of a Dragon-God and a supposed ‘Demon’ who looked suspiciously like 'Berial' from ‘Devil May Cry 4.’” “You know what, I’ve just noticed that,” she laughed. “Either way, it’s a shame we didn’t get to use the megaspell,” Snowdrop chimed from atop my head, pecking one of my horns. “So it is,” I smiled. “Shall you be leaving then?” Celestia simpered. “Well I’ve a family to go home to, so it’s going to have to be soon,” I raised an eyebrow “why do you ask?” “Curiosity, besides, we need heroes like you more often, not counting the Elements of Harmony,” she beamed. “I don’t like where this is going,” Blaze frowned. “Of course, you wouldn’t,” I laughed “always the same, eh Blaze?” “You can talk, Brother,” she grinned. “Yes, yes I can,” I glimmered. “So, this family, do you think I could join?” Celesta gave a faint grin. “Not unless you can clone yourself,” I winked, so that’s what she did, her horn shining with a radiant primrose glow, and then there stood two of her… “Is there a reason as to why there’re two Celestia’s?” Shining Armour blinked at the dinner table, all eyes were on me as silence filled the room on a sub-par ambient level. “I don’t see anyone else complaining,” I shrugged. “So you don’t” he smirked, “just a quick question, how are we to tell them apart?” “Cellsy, if you would?” I quickly bowed; Cellsy nodded, changing to her anthro form, winking at me afterward, “is this form to your pleasing, my little Sunshine?” There was a loud clatter of bowls, plates and cutlery as my head landed on the table “Fuck my life…” “I don’t know about her life, but I bet the two solar goddesses could sort you out, eh Brother?” Blaze patted my back with a smug grin, I shot her a glare, “what? For all we know it might be able to happen.” “What am I to do with you, Blaze, honestly?” I rolled my eyes, sitting upright. “I’ve a few ideas, most of which are seldom legal,” she chimed. “As is normal with you, Blaze,” I slowly shook my head. “So it is, Brother, so it is,” she laughed. “Just as crazy with you around, eh?” “You know me,” I grinned, “saviour of the Twilight Daedra, herald of the light, guardian of the sacred star, and protector of Equestria and all her inhabitants…” “Sacred Star,” Shining Armour blinked. “Azura’s star, that of which I gave to Twilight,” I glanced toward the lavender unicorn, who winked in return. “A priceless artefact in itself, Brother, I still question whether it was wise to give a gift of the Daedra to a mere pony,” Blaze frowned lightly, “that being said, unless Azura is present, it remains harmless to all but the wielder, only then does it serve its purpose.” “Cryptic,” I tutted, “how typical of a dark demigod to place such a riddle on one of their artefacts,” “And on a completely unrelated note,” she beamed, “what’s it like, you being a virtue of the wastelands and all.” “Virtue,” Twilight blinked, “Blackjack represents Perseverance, Littlepip represents Sacrifice, Puppysmiles represented Innocence, Murky-Number-seven represented Hope, and Silver Storm represented Compassion,” I explained with a light frown. “And what do you represent?” Cellsy smiled. “I’ve an idea,” Blaze smirked, “Faith.” “That’s correct,” I smiled, “we six virtues stand guard over all that occurs in the wastes, or at least, we used to…” “Puppysmiles, you mean that filly on the statue you made with the spacesuit?” Rarity gasped. “She’s the one,” I nodded, “and it wasn’t a spacesuit, Rarity, it was a MK-VI radiation suit, and was the only thing keeping her alive, both literally and figuratively.” “But she’s just a filly!” she shrieked. “That ‘Filly’ had the most powerful ability I’ve seen in all three-and-a-half centuries of living, Rarity,” I scowled, “it wasn’t one that came from being intelligent, nor smart, nor fast, nor brave, it wasn’t the ability to nuke a whole country from orbit right off the face of Equis, nor was it the ability to carve a whole army like Canadian bacon, it was the ability to make an ally out of basically anyone, and, if used correctly, can make quite the difference.” I lectured. “But that’s impossible!” she argued, almost glaringly so. “There is nothing impossible to he who will try,” I winked. “So, if she’s alive in this Equis, we’ve saved her life, and that of her mother’s,” Blaze held out a clenched paw, which I lightly bumped my fist against; “what with destroying those falling megaspells and everything…” “Either that or it’s already happened in an alternate timeline,” I shrugged. “And you don’t mind that you could be saving them?” Twilight frowned. “I promised that I wouldn’t leave,” I snapped, “besides, I’m not that of a god, I can’t do everything, nor can I save everyone I want to, best let nature run its course.” “But that wasn’t nature that bought those nukes down on Canterlot, was it Brother?” Blaze raised an eyebrow “No, but it is tha nature of those who would dare use such weapons to bring about the end of Equestria,” I sighed, “I guess it’s just something we have to accept, Blaze.” “But still, I can’t help but feel uneasy not helping those who might need it,” she frowned. “I’m an Element of Nature, not Reality Dear Sister,” I rolled my eyes, “besides, I’m not the creator of the universe…” “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” she grinned. “You’re thinking of asking Lulania, aren’t you?” “Maybe~” she cooed, “I don’t know why, don’t you do it?” “Why me..? It’s your idea,” I gave a bemused stare. “You’re her Ex-boyfriend, aren’t you?” she shrugged. “I hope you’re using emphasis on the ‘EX’ part, Sister,” I scowled. “Why?” she blinked, “Can’t you try again? I mean, it’s not like it’ll happen again, right?” “Speaking of the wastes,” Blackjack chimed in, nudging my shoulder with a smug grin, “I’ll bet you fifty caps there ain’t a raider in the wastes who hasn’t been used as gecko good by now.” “Probably,” I laughed. “Gecko food..?” Twilight giggled, “What does that mean?” “Just imagine a bipedal reptile with scarlet scales with dark/blood-red markings and golden eyes, or at least six of them, all similar to me in height, with the ability to breathe fire, all tearing a Raider limb from limb, literally,” I grinned. “They’re dragons?” she blinked, again. “Nope, just fully-grown-and-mutated gecko’s and I do mean gecko’s,” I smirked. “I don’t think I want to know…” she mumbled. “Meh, if the long-range fire-based attacks don’t kill a raider the bacteria from the saliva rotting their blood-stream certainly will,” I hummed. “That’s disgusting,” Rarity scoffed, “although I wonder how it works…” “It’s a type of toxin that, once gets onto the blood, acts as a poison, infecting the cells and such, I’d imagine it to be somewhat agonizing myself,” I simpered. “Just imagine, around seventy-sixty-five million years back, there were even larger reptiles that did the same thing!” Blaze laughed. “Actually Blaze, I don’t think there were,” I stated somewhat coldly “think about it, if we humans were returned to earth all those ages ago, why’re there skeletons that date back to around sixty-five-million years ago, and not anything older than a billion?” “Maybe you lot were put into either a time-lock, or cryogenic sleep?” she shrugged. “Either that or the whole ‘Fossilized-Dinosaur-Skeletons’ thing is just a joke of God’s own devising that the palaeontologists haven’t worked out yet,” I smirked. “But what of anyone who has a half-decent religion, if only in their own minds and opinions?” she chortled. “Well, if they have a religion, and they believe in a god, chances are they’ll actually be blathering about their memories of a certain solar Princess, save for those who don’t believe in a god, but still have religion,” I blinked. “Explain,” Celestia and Cellsy shared a light giggle “You are gods, aren’t you?” I blinked. “I think we’ve just worked out all –if not most of, religion,” Blaze guffawed “The UNSC,’s gonna have my guts on a silver platter for that Y’know?” I laughed. “So they are, but I don’t think they’d outright murder anyone who’s above the rank of at least Captain,” she roared with laughter “Definitely not a General though!” “Just another day in the life of a wayward Eon, eh Rick..?” Blackjack nickered, “So it is Blackie, so it is,” I exhaled somewhat sharply. “You’re a General?” Celestia raised an eyebrow. “And a legate, but that’s another story for another time,” I winked. “A legate, as in; that of a medieval army…?” she stared at me. I raised an eyebrow, “Medieval?” “From the days of old,” Cellsy smiled, “from ancient times, basically.” “I wouldn’t call it ancient, but it may as well be medieval,” Blaze smiled, reverting to her Quilava form as she landed on my shoulder “it is Skyrim, after all…” “Skyrim..?” Celestia blinked, “where is that I don’t think I’ve found it on any map that I’ve read?” “It’s on another world; that of which is called Nirn, and is abundant with a plant known as Nirnroot,” Blaze began. “There‘re several races upon Nirn, or, to be specific, Tamriel, there’re the ‘normal’ human beings, like the Nord’s, Bretons, and Imperials; the likes of which originate from Skyrim, High Rock and Cyrodiil respectively, and let’s not start on the elves, Khakiit and Argonians.” Blaze lectured. “And you call me a wise-ass?” I raised a smug eyebrow,” “I read, you don’t,” she argued with a grin, “besides, someone had to say it, right Brother?” “You’re her Brother?” Celestia blinked, again. “My parents were ‘killed’ by poachers,’” Blaze spat, glowering toward Cellsy using air-quotes when necessary. “Yeah, ‘Poachers,’” I rolled my eyes, “Faust wants to piss around with my family again she’s gonna find out how efficient I am with a crossbow…” “And what of your Chivalry..?” Blaze smirked. “Like I said, whosoever threatens or slights my family, one way or another, I don’t care who or what, chances are they’re going to end up worse for it,” I snapped. “So you did, Brother, so you did,” she laughed. “You have a crossbow?” Shining Armour frowned, cocking an eyebrow as I retrieved said weapon from my inventory. “Needed it for the Dawnguard,” I beamed “bloody pests…” “Those ‘Pests’ just so happened to be vampires, Brother, besides, I don’t see you complaining about a certain member of a certain clan of said species…” Blaze grinned. “They’re still technically human, Dear Sister,” I frowned. “So they are,” she laughed, “but what’re you to do if even one of them ends up here, by any means that may-or-may-not be necessary?” “That’d be a puzzle-and-a-half, now wouldn’t it?” I tutted, “you always did have a knack for riddles, Blaze, and I still haven’t learnt why?” “Because I use my brain for proper uses, for example; solving puzzles and the like,” she gave a sly smirk. “Alright, name the three mathematical constants,” I folded my arms. “They would be the ‘Golden Tangent,’ Euler’s Constant,’ or whatever it’s called, and three-point-one-four-recurring,” she bowed quickly, “anything else, Ricky-o? or would you rather I ask you what DNA stands for?” “Deoxyribonucleic-Acid,” I smiled, “basic biology there Blaze.” “So it is,” she nodded, “now tell me how many bones there are in the human skeleton.” “Again, basic biology, two-hundred-and-six in an adult, three-hundred in an infant, forty-seven pairs of which fuse as we age and/or mature.” I facepalmed; “Alright, now name all of the isotopes listed in the handbook of physics and Chemistry,” she gleamed, I quickly did as she asked; “You remember all that?” I nodded “Jesus Christ…!” she whistled “and I used to wonder how the hell you managed before we met, now however, I no longer wonder, Rick.” “First time in the past three-hundred years that you’ve used my proper name, Blaze,” I tilted my head slightly “is there a reason for it?” “Not at all, I was merely congratulating you on your long-since-passed/past successes, Brother,” she winked, “such is the reason for my next course of action, Rick.” She leapt onto my head “I hereby release you from any and all obligations you have toward me as a relative, if only an adoptive one, Rick.” “Any reason for it?” I blinked, glancing up toward her, replacing my weapon into my inventory. “I just want you to feel as if I’ve grown since we met, Ok?” she giggled, “besides, you’re my little eon now!” “Oh Hell no…” I groaned. “I’m afraid so Brother,” she set herself on her front, wrapping a paw around either horn, “Now, what do we do now?” “I hate you…” I mumbled under my breath. “You hate me?” she gasped mockingly, leaping onto area of the table in front of me “but we’ve been through so much together! Why must you hate me so…?” “You’re a bloody riot, you know that?” I grunted with slight agitation. “You take things too seriously Ricky-o!” she guffawed, again. “And you don’t take things seriously enough….” I stared at her, as a wide grin spread itself from ear to ear across the Quilava’s features, “Laptop?” “However did you guess?” she batted her eyelashes at me. “I’d rather not answer that,” I grumbled, “that being said, I’ve to do something about it, I suppose?” “So you do Rick, so you do,” she laughed. “So, remind me why you’ve done what you have, if only a moment ago?” I snorted. “Like I said, I feel the need to be somewhat independent from you, even if it is after two-hundred-years…” she sighed, “besides, I love you, and it’s about damn time that I said it!” “If you felt the need to be independent, why didn’t you just ask?” I laughed in return. “I didn’t want to pressure you with such a question, Rick, you do have a family to look after, after all,” she beamed, “and besides, now’s a good a time as any, is it not?” “And the other half of your little statement…?” I re-folded my arms; all eyes were now directed toward my former sister; “Well, I’ve always felt a certain, ‘Kinship,’ let’s call it, toward you; you found me when I was little, took me in when nobody else would, cared for me like… Like an actual father would,” she gagged at the use of the term; “And then you turned out to be an eon, in both, form, and mind as well as spirit, and there began my little infatuation with you, Rick, I began to love you as a human being, or a demigod, whichever you prefer to be referred to as, and then we came to the wastes, and you continued to show me who you were, not because of me, but because you could, and someone had to, and then we came here, and your Kindness, Generosity and the like exploded into fruition, what can I say?” she bit her lip, her face a deep scarlet colour as she stared at the plate below her, pawing at the table with a nervous look in her eyes; “What d‘ya say Rick, will you join me as we’ve done so far?” she held out a fragile, clenched paw, which I gently bumped my fist against, “C’mere,” I grinned, she leapt at me, changing to her Typhlosion form as she clung onto me, draping my wings around her as she nuzzled into me, “you ask of your maturity, and then you show it en-masse anyway? What am I going to do with you, Blaze?” “I’ve no cue, Rick, do you know>?” she smiled, her bright-crimson eyes meeting my own, “By the way, what’s that smell?” I raised an eyebrow. “You’ve only just noticed?” Blaze burst into a fit of laughter, “I’m… well, Y’know…?” “You what?” I almost-yelled, suddenly feeling rather mortified; “Will you offer me one final request?” she sat in my lap, clasping her paws together in a makeshift prayer stance, “Please..?” “Name it, and I’ll see what I can do, Blaze,” I nodded. “Make me a mother,” she pecked my cheek. “You want what?” I awed at her, utterly gobsmacked. “I want to have… I want to have a little one, with you, Rick, is that Ok?” she was almost in tears by now… “You want a child, with me no less?” I placed a gentle hand on her head as a tear rolled down her cheek, I quickly caught it, “hey, there’s no need for that, Blaze, you needn’t shed a single tear, Ok?” she nodded, “Now, how long have you wanted this to happen?” “A little while,” she began to weep, “I just love you so much…” her weeping broke down into sobs, “Please, will you allow me this one final gift, Rick…?” “I…” I exhaled sharply, “I don’t have much of a choice do I?” “You have a choice, you’ve always had choices, they are that of which that define us, you, me, your friends, family and Nakama, everyone in existence, be they of good or evil, it is they who make us who we are, and it is from that that I do not mind what you choose to do, given the situation, Rick.” She latched onto me like the galaxy’s toughest form of Velcro. “One final question then, before I make my decision upon the matter,” I declared with a faint grin; “how badly do you want this to happen?” “It’d be with both my greatest honour; and my greatest wish for this to happen, Rick.” She gave the tip of my nose a slight lick, “but if you don’t want to, I can understand…” “You talk as If you’re quite low on my current priority list; tell me, what gave you that impression?” I smirked. “You’ll do it?” she gasped, I tilted a hand; “Why do you act as if I don’t care what I do with you, Blaze, you’re Nakama, closer than family, I always care for my Nakama, you of all should know that as much as I do,” I winked, “tell me that and we may be able to continue.” “I’ve no words at all for your kindness,” she cried into my jacket. “You’re a little bit of a fool, Blaze,” I shook my head with a soft laugh. “Just tell me, will you do it?” she stared up at me, tears cascading down her cheeks like minute reverse-geysers. “Let’s go then…” I stood up, carrying the Typhlosion in my arms like damsel in distress, jokes not intended… -- “Do you feel as though you’ve calmed down yet?” I smiled, weakly, Blaze nodded, standing above me as I lay on the bed in a locked guestroom, beginning to take my member into her maw, slowly starting to bob her head up and down as I began to feel around her nether’s, quickly finding her snatch, she flinched suddenly as I touched it. Moving the slight amount of fur aside, I saw how enflamed her sex was, I quickly dove my tongue inside, dancing and twirling it within her folds, causing her to moan as she hilted her oral passage on my dick, moving her head faster and faster as she went… -- “Ready?” I held the sides of Blaze’s thighs carefully in my hands. “Make me yours, Rick,” she winked; I nodded; diving my cock straight into her tight little cunny, pounding it back and forth, continuously hilting her as she moaned loudly as possible, leaning over her and placing my lips against hers, she quickly clasped her paws around my neck as I pummelled into her pussy, groaning as pre leaked once again from the head of my shaft. “Ravage me Rick, make me your personal plaything…” she grinned, forcing her lips against mine as she rolled me over onto my back, bounding like an endlessly lopped spring as she held me down by my wrists, “I can’t tell you how long I’ve waited for this, My dear Eon, now I’ll get to bear your Next-of Kin…” she slurred as she leant over me, lavishing my neck and face with small yet affectionate kisses/pecks; “Do I make a good fuck-toy, Rick,” she raised an eyebrow, leaping up and down, pulling all the way out and then slamming all the way down as she had her way with me, “do I make a good slut-bunny for you, hmm? Do I make your mind flow with orgasmic thoughts whilst you’re pile-driving my little cunny?” As she continued to bound upon the spot, her folds constantly clamping around me manhood, she moved her paws to either side of my head, “I can’t wait for them to be bought into this world you know? I’ve always wanted a family of my own, and thanks to you, I’ll have one!” she beamed as she leapt, “So, what’ll their name be, hmm…?”
Chapter XXVI; to tell of Skyrim...“So, what happened?” Natsu grinned alongside Grey and Erza as a new, winged Quilava stood atop my head, Blaze standing beside me alongside my friends and family, who stood opposite Celestia, the princesses, Faust and Lulania as well as Twilight, her friends, minus Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, and Spike also… “Well, I released Rick from all obligations he had to me as a relative, the rest is fairly obvious,” Blaze gestured to the being currently lying on her front between my horns, “Say hello Ember.” Hiya..!” Ember landed on my shoulder, holding out a paw, Natsu lightly bumped a clenched hand against it. “So, Ember,” Cellsy smiled, “how’re your parents treating you?” “Well Dad’s always telling me to stay safe whenever I venture out with Mom, and Mom always tell me to have fun when I go out with Dad, so I’m a little confused as to what to do,” Ember tilted her head. “You can have fun, I just don’t want you getting hurt, or ending up in trouble, Ember,” I smiled. “Okie Dokie,” she saluted me with a faint grin and a giggle, nuzzling into me. “I see that you’ve quite the herd, Rick,” Celestia smirked. “I’m a knight to Cellsy and a select few others, no one else,” I rebuked. “What about you supposedly being the Mayonaka Ryū Kishi?” Blaze blinked “That was a one-time thing,” I frowned. “So, no ‘Magic of Friendship’ from you then?” she laughed. “A little magic’s is fine, too much of it and you lose your sense of reality, be honest and loyal to everyone, and you’ll end up either lying to yourself or stabbing yourself in the back, be that little too kind or generous and you’ll end up with nothing but bittersweet memories, apply to much laughter to a single subject and you yourself become the joke, and so on,” I explained somewhat long-windedly. “That’s rather cryptic, if not philosophical,” Celestia nickered. “In the words of Itcahi Uchiha, and I quote; ‘each of us lives bound by our individual knowledge and our awareness all that, is what we call ‘Reality.’ However both knowledge and awareness are equivocal one’s reality might be another’s illusion we all live inside our own fantasies…’” I grinned. “Wise-arse,” Blaze lightly punched my shoulder. “I’ll have to think about that, Rick,” Cellsy simpered, “you’ve given me quite the ‘train of thought,’ so to speak.” “You got his eyes, didn’t you?” Blaze grinned. “Nope,” I beamed, “don’t need ‘em, don’t want ‘em.” “Even though he could manipulate time in an illusion upon placing someone into said illusion,” she raised an eyebrow as Ember landed unto her back, “you’re strange, Rick, you know that?” “I think we established that upon first contact, Blaze,” I laughed. “Like the fact that most of what you have in your rucksack isn’t even legal?” she chortled. “Touché,” I nodded, Snowdrop quickly landed on my shoulder whereas Winter Bell landed on my head, and Honey Heart perched herself on the other shoulder. “You never told me how you got half of it anyways,” she raised an expectant eyebrow. “And I don’t think I ever will,” I smirked, she shot me an icy glare, “Riften, and that’s all I’m telling you, Blaze.” “So, what can Ember do, magic wise?” Grey glanced toward the small, winged Quilava. “Well, I can use Dad’s ‘Dragon Aura’ and Teleportation, and both Mom and Dad’s Dragon-Slayer Magic…” Ember mumbled. “What’s ‘Dragon Aura’?” Erza blinked alongside her comrade/fellow Guild-members. “Can I?” Ember glanced toward me, I nodded; she burst into flames; that of which morphed into an exquisitely detailed Whitish-Golden/yellow aura with razor-sharp claws extending from where its feet and hands were. “That’s incredible!” Cadance gasped, suddenly glancing toward me; “how old did you say she was?” “I’m only twelve, but I’ve already learnt so much from Mom and Dad!” Ember chimed, nuzzling into me, “But I’ve still a lot to learn from Dad, after all, he’s a Demigod!” “Only by title and longevity, nothing more,” I laughed, “Ember, if you ever need to learn, just ask, Ok?” “Ok Dad,” she smirked, the Aura around her suddenly vanishing with a burst of sparks, replaced with scales on her arms, paws and face. “Ya’ll mean ta’ tell me that Ember here’s a Dragon Slayer?” Applejack gaped, staring at Ember with a look of nothing short of pure, unadulterated horror, “that’s impossible!” “I don’t see Ilona or Winter Bell complaining,” Blaze growled. “But they’re a pony an’ eon, respectively…!” she retorted angrily, “Ah guess Ah’m not used tah anything different using magic like that…” “So be it then,” I nodded, turning to Ember, “Ember, from here on, I will continue to teach you all I know about Dragon Slayer magic, and I mean everything.” “You will!?” she awed at me, wide-eyed in mild surprise, I nodded, again, “just so long as you promise not to use it unless absolutely necessary, I’ll show you what I can.” “Thank you!” she cheered, leaping at me, clinging onto my front as I draped a wing around her… Two weeks passed, and Ember began to quickly grow as a Dragon Slayer, not in mere power, but also in skill and knowledge also; “Ursa attack,” Roseluck, Lily and Daisy shrieked as they galloped passed as Twilight, her friends, the alicorns of Equis, Celestia, Firefly, my friends, family and I marched toward the beast; “So, whose turn is it this time to take out the trash?” Blaze glanced toward me with a sly grin, I shook my head. “May I?” Ember raised a paw, standing upon my shoulder. “If you think you can, go right ahead,” I bit my lip, “just be careful. “Okie Dokie Dad,” she laughed, climbing down my back, charging toward the large Bear-like creature, inhaling copious amounts of air as she went, suddenly stopping as she exhaled a gigantic stream of emerald flames that enveloped the beast, “Fourth-Generation Dragon-Slayers huh,” Blaze smirked, arms folded as she grinned at me with a sly smirk. “Same as Amber Note no doubt,” I nodded as the Ursa practically melted from view, receding into the earth as Ember clambered up onto my head, nuzzling into me “I see,” she smiled, “so, how goes the training?” “Bad timing, much..?” I chortled, just then noticing the scales in Ember’s being. “So it is,” she rolled her eyes in a somewhat-amused manner. “How in tarnation did she just do that?” Applejack Bellowed. “I don’t see anyone else complaining?” Blaze snapped. “Ah’m not complaining,” the farmpony frowned, “Ah’m just surprised that she did that so easily!” “Rick, be a dear and have all of your magic ripped from Equis would you?” Blaze snarled toward the orange pony, “I find it a fatal offense that such magic should be treated so lowly as that, even barbaric as it may be!” “No can do I’m afraid,” I sighed, “I can either tear my heart from my being and create a new one, or I can stop using it, either one is only temporary.” “What’s yer problem?” Applejack glared icily toward Blaze. “What’s your problem with my daughter?” Blaze barked, “I could end your life in an instant if I so wished, so I’d think twice before insulting her abilities and our way of life, equine.” “And you ain’t gonna stop her?” she turned toward me. “I won’t and besides, chivalry.” I shrugged. “You stopped Nightmare Moon, didn’t ya?” she scoffed. “Tell me when a shadow-based demon from the eleventh layer of hell counts as a god, let alone a lady, Applejack,” I folded my arms with a wide grin. “And Nyx…?” she stepped backward. “Nyx has heart, you clearly don’t,” I raised an eyebrow, my grin quickly fading from view. “Ah’ve got a family!” she rebuked with an almost-rabid snarl. “So have I, and I always will, be it dead or alive,” I tutted. “…At least you’ve got parents…” she mumbled, giving me a frigid, dagger-like glare. “And that’s meant to insult me?” I laughed. “Try again later.” “I meant to say that you’re lucky!” she boomed. “So are you, at least you have memories of being born into a paradise such as Equestria.” I smiled, faintly. “No, no Ah don’t…” she muttered. “Any reason for it?” I blinked. She shrugged “the Hay if Ah know, but Ah’m gonna find out! If you help me with that, I might just forgive ya.” “There’s no need for that, Honesty,” Faust declared, beaming. “Why..?” Was all Applejack replied with… “Applejack,” Firefly began, “I don’t know how best to tell you this, so I’ll say it like this; you weren’t born a few decades, nor a few years ago like the other citizens of Equestria, you were created like Rick was, just opposite side of the corridor in the science labs also, you were made as a pony, but with the powers of an eon, and the ability to change your form, those twin abilities would eventually be passed on to all Equestrians, pony and Human alike, but you were the forerunner for it all, haven’t you ever wondered how you managed the things you’ve done with Rick here, awkward as they may be?” “Indeed,” Faust added grimly, “it is from all those years ago and the great war against darkness incarnate itself that you’re here today, having been encased in a magical barrier that ceased your aging for a whole eon, you were reborn, so to speak, with no memories, so we gave you new ones, and a new family, we gave you all that you could’ve asked for, and so we left you be, erasing both ourselves and your memory of our being from your mind, leaving you to live, love and work under Celestia’s sacred sun, and such brings us to now,” she nodded toward me “Ya’ll mean ta’ tell me that, Ah don’t have any actual family?” Applejack collapsed to her haunches, tears welling in their ducts at the corners of her eyes “And people in Skyrim had the nerve to label me a monster…” I spat, irately. “Need we mention that thy cutie mark is also manufactured?” Luna gazed upon the orange pony, who shook her head “They know don’t they, Big mac and Applebloom an’ Granny?” Applejack blared, tears finally beginning to stream down her muzzle. “They do, but fret not,” Iris smiled almost-graciously, “yours is a special element, Applejack, for should you search within yourself far enough you’ll find more than you could ever hope for…” “So, even Mah names fake?” she snarled. “That it is,” Faust nodded, “though your name won’t appear as it is now in any history books, no matter how far you might look, your old one will definitely resonate through the ears, minds and hearts of almost every librarian in Equestria, Terra.” “So, what do Ah do now?” Applejack shuddered, turning toward me, draping her arms around me as I crouched down to her level, crying into my shoulder, Ember moving to Blaze’s back as the Typhlosion stood on all-fours. “Well, running away won’t help,” I began, draping a half-folded wing around her back, “So the only thing you have to do is stand up against it, and once it’s over with, you can live as you see fit, it’s your life after all, Applejack, and besides, you’re one of the strongest people I know on Equis.” “Thanks Sugarcube,” she gave a light giggle, sitting beside me, changing to her anthro form, glancing down at herself, blinking as she glanced back toward me, leaning into me, “Ya’ll are alright, for an eon born in a test tube or somethin’…” she laughed, “no offense o’ course.” “Meh, I’ve heard worse,” I shrugged, again. “So ya have, Rick, so ya have,” she pecked my cheek, “Ya can call me Terra if ya wan, by the way, Ah feel as though Ah can get used to it…” “If you say so, Jackie,” I smiled. “Ya’ll remember then?” she laughed. “You’re Nakama, of course I’m going to remember,” I smirked. “This is the one known as ‘Rick’?” a large, (and by ‘large’ I mean around eight-foot-high,) pitch-black minotaur raised an unamused eyebrow upon noticing me in the throne room alongside the deer, Gryphon and Zebra from before, my family, friends and I standing as a small crowd at the centre of the room as the others stood in a circle around me, with Twilight, her friends, Spike, and Celestia stood by Cellsy, Grey Erza and Natsu stood beside Blaze, Ember and I. “Is there a problem?” I raised an eyebrow. “Not at all, human,” he laughed, “it’s just that when I heard of a ‘Demigod’ who’d apparently; ‘Saved Equestria as we know it,’ I’d imagined them to be something… well more,” he gestured toward me with a sly grin, “Surely you understand..?” “But of course,” I smirked “Though I wouldn’t expect too much from what we hear vy means of rumours and hear-say.” “You dare insult me!?” he boomed at the top of his lungs, drawing his weapon from his back, the weapon being a large two-sided battle-axe, readying it. “I’m just saying that I would rather find out for myself what the rumours say, rather than relying on them as an opinion, rather than making my own,” I sighed, agitatedly,” you wish to bring about a fight, or even war from such a thought, so be it, I won’t step you.” “You’re stubborn,” he chortled, standing his weapon against one of the nearby pillars, “brave, but stubborn, as for war, I wouldn’t dream of angering the dragon’s greatest ally, Human, to do such a thing would mean extinction for my species as a whole, and I currently wish for no such thing.” He roared with laughter, stepping forward, holding out a clenched fist, “so be it, I shall allow the Grand-City know to you Equestrians as ‘Minos,’ to be an ally to Equestria alongside the Dragon Empire.” “So be it,” I nodded, lightly tapping my fist against his, turning to face the Gryphon and Zebra “We also wish to join as allies,” the Gryphon gagged at the term “seeing as war, violence and the like aren’t going to solve anything, we shall allow our population’s remains to be integrated into that of Equestria, Human. But we shan’t be as kind as the Dragons or the others, but we shall still respect the laws, rules, terms and conditions nonetheless.” “So, that’s how many titles that you have now?” Blaze grinned. “How about immortal,” Blackjack laughed, “I haven’t seen an injury that’s actually kept him down for more that long, chronologically speaking,” “Yeah well, I’ve the Daedra to thank for that one,” I grinned. “Azura, Boethiah, Meridia, Nocturnal, Hircine, Hermaeus Mora, Clavicus Vile, Malacath, Mehrunes Dagon, Molag Bal, Namira, Peryite, Sanguine, Vaermina, Mephala, and Sheogorath, to be precise,” “The Daedric princes and princesses, sometimes referred to as ‘Daedric Lords’, or ‘The Old God’s by the Reachmen,” I shrugged. “So, what do they do? Who are they?” Cadance blinked. “They’re the semi-dark gods of Nirn, each with their own realm in Oblivion,” I began, “they mostly deal with mortals for their own gain, save for Azura, Meridia.” “Why those two?” she tilted her head. “Because they’re the only two out of the lot that won’t outright have you murdered, or at least try to, even indirectly,” I laughed, “Azura’s the princess of Dusk and Dawn, often referred to by many as the ‘Mother of The Rose,’ and ‘Queen of the Night Sky,’ mostly by elven kind, and Meridia’s the Princess of life and infinite energies, and also has a fiery passionate hatred for all things both dark and undead.” “So, what do they do?” Celestia smiled. “Offer rewards in return for the tasks they hand out to those lucky enough to be offered I suppose, I’ve not really thought to invade on their business, what with them being gods and all,” I hummed. “And just what are these rewards?” Cellsy smirked. “The Dawnbreaker for one, and The Star for another,” I glanced toward Twilight who levitated the artefact from her saddlebags within a magenta-ish glow. “That’s… that’s beautiful,” Cadance stepped forward, taking the star in a cornflower-blue aura, her horn now ablaze with an identical aura as she studied it, ”what is it exactly?” “A Soul Gem,” I beamed, the star was quickly levitated over to me, dropped into my hands as Cadance went a pale green colour. “What’s a soul gem?” Grey blinked “Basically, when I defeat an opponent, their soul gets contained within the star, which is then used in enchantments.” “That’s sickening!” Twilight snapped. “Such is the way of things in Skyrim, and all of Tamriel, I’m afraid,” I gave a forlorn sigh, “besides, who are we to question a god?” “And that’s not mentioning that Azura and Meridia are basically the only Daedra who care about their followers’ wellbeing,” Blaze smiled. “Followers’…?” Luna blinked also. “Every god has at least one follower, wherever that person or entity might be in the universe,” I gleamed, “Azura’s only one in all of Skyrim, and as for Meridia, well, I do not know the number of her audience, let alone where they are.” “And what of your status with the supposed ‘Gods,’ Rick..? Where do you stand on their little chessboard, as it were?” Faust nickered. “He is my champion,” The Sacred star of cyan and silver rose from my hands, emanating with a vibrant golden glow on one half, and a silvery/pearly-whit on the other, speaking with a feminine, echo-y voice “And you, Faust would do well to remember not to meddle with his affairs, you are but a mere pony in comparison to my power, mortal, see to it that you anger me no further!” “And as for you,” Azura once again began to speak through the her Sacred star, “You, Rick, shall be offered a chance at taking a place of your own in my realm; Moonshadow, will you accept, and be carried through to my home with those of whom you cherish, or will you stay, and sacrifice more to these mere equines? Know that I shall be watching over you, no matter your decision here.” “You’re her champion?” Cadance gasped, Celestia and the others stared at me, gaping as I laughed. “You have a problem with that?” Azura growled, “it is my choice for Rick to be my champion, he has served me well, and I’ve no doubt that he will continue to do so, ell into the future, little pony!” “Serve her?” Cellsy scowled, “Rick is my knight and mine alone, other than that of the gods of Equis, Azura!” “Is that what you want? Or is it what has actually happened out of the kindness of his heart?” she barked. Suddenly, there was a blinding eruption of light, when it faded, rather than the star; there stood a large winged unicorn with a blue-ish/silver coat with a cobalt mane and tail with suns and moons held within, with the Sacred Star for a cutie mark, and brilliant golden-yellow/topaz eyes “Must I use the form of one of your kind to properly communicate with you equines?” Azura frowned, “Honestly, you’re worse than the Dremora.” “And who might you be; little one?” Azura cooed, as she turned her head to gaze upon Ember, who’d since leapt onto her back. “I’m Ember,” Ember beamed, “Will you be my friend?” “I can be your guardian, if you so wish, Little Ember,” Azura chimed with a slight amount of tranquillity present in her voice. “Okie Dokie Azura,” Ember laughed, leaping from the Twilight goddesses back to my shoulder and then clambering unto my head. “Newpony..!” Pinkie Pie merrily bellowed with a grin, bursting through the double doors with a row of laughter, racing in a pink blur, fast as lightning. “Is she always so jovial, no matter the situation?” Azura stared at me, eyebrow raised. “Just wait until your birthday party,” I rolled my eyes, “I’m assuming that’s an absolute ball of a time!” “Rick, you’ve never attended one of Pinkie Pie’s parties on your birthday,” Twilight frowned. “And I don’t intend to anytime soon,” I winked. “Why?” she scowled. “How old do I look? And how old do you think I am?” I rolled my eyes “You look to be around thirty, and you said that you’re three-hundred, why?” she shot me an icy glare. I snapped my fingers, spontaneously creating a small fireball above my index finger; that of which was orbited by nine, smaller crystals, each one a carrying shade of colour, and it was at that point that the zebra, Gryphon and Minotaur exited the castle; “It’s a ‘Mimi-me’ Solar-System,” Blaze laughed. “So it is,” I smiled. “At least you don’t bugger around whilst you’re in the UNSC,” she gave a light, somewhat-curt nod. “That’s another of our differences Blaze, I do what’s right and what’s necessary, rather than just muck around in filth,” I snorted “you give me a reason enough, and point me in the right way, and you’ll have entire armies levelled and deep-sixed within a matter of hours. Besides; someone needs to take out the trash.” “My Brother doesn’t ‘muck around,’” Twilight exclaimed in an irate manner. “I’m sure…” I slowly nodded. “He doesn’t!” she bellowed. “That’s not what I’ve seen,” I shrugged, “we humans may be arrogant by nature, but when it comes down to it, we don’t let anything such as ‘Pride’ get in our way, or at least, the UNSC doesn’t. We do what’s necessary, and what we feel is right, trey to keep up, won’t you?” “Anything you can do Shining Armour’s already gone and done it!” she rebuked. “What have I said before about humans and forerunners being the only ones able to use such technology in order to save the galaxy?” I laughed. “I do believe this is either the third or fourth time I’ve heard you initiate this argument, my Dear Champion,” Azura hummed, “why do you persist, knowing full-well that she’s not going to give so easily, if at all?” “Heck if I know, why does she persist on insisting that her brother is better than all of what humanity has achieved in its lifespan as a species?” I grinned. “Touché,” she smiled. “Even so, where my brother may fall, Celestia shall surely prevail!” Twilight growled. “You’re a princess, right? Why don’t you start acting like one and stand up for yourself rather than needing to hide behind others for support?” I folded my arms “And you do?” she spat. “I do indeed,” I nodded “you harm one of my family or friends, or threaten them; and I’ll gladly gut you like a fish and have your entrails paraded through Canterlot, little pony…” “You wouldn’t dare!” she barked. “I’m a General, there’s not a lot I can’t do,” I raised an eyebrow, “I said to Littlepip that I failed once, and that it wouldn’t happen again, and what d’ya know, it bloody well happened again, twice!” “But I’m… we’re…!” she bit her lip. “You’re nothing,” I turned and left, my friends and family quickly following me as I vacated the throne room, Azura also following me as I exited the great chamber. “So, that happened,” Blaze frowned, “I don’t blame you for saying what you did, but couldn’t you show a little restraint when around Ember?” “I’ll do better next time, Blaze, trust me on that.” I nodded. “So you will, Rick, so you will,” she beamed. -=- “So, how’s Amber Note?” I glanced toward the fire Dragon Slayer with a grin; “She’s alright, how’s Honey Heart?” he smirked. “She’s as good as gold, if not better,” I glimmered. “So, what was that with the lavender horsey back there then?” he laughed. “I wouldn’t pay attention to her, she’s just going to be crying herself to sleep for days on-end as-is,” I sighed. “But still, dontcha think that was kind of harsh?” he tilted his head. “Imagine how you felt when you were split from Lisanna, and imagine going through it three times at once, that’s what it feels like,” I scowled. “…We don’t talk about that,” he frowned. “Just trying to get something to compare it to,” I held my hands defensively, “besides, she’s back, isn’t she?” “Still, I don’t think it’s the best topic for conversation,” he smirked. “Yeah well, I’m not exactly feeling too talkative either,” I pouted, the two of us quickly bursting into fits of laughter. “So,” I began, having finally calmed down, “how many times have you been dragged off to we-know-where in Canterlot with Lyra?” “How many times have you been?” he grinned. “Once, and that was to make sure you weren’t tearing the place apart,” I rebuked. “Touché,” he chortled, “so, how’s Autumn Heart?” “She’s as she’s always been, god-damn-perfect,” I whistled. “What about Lyra?” “She’s alright, couldn’t really ask for a better girlfriend,” he shrugged. “I could argue, but I don’t want to risk you tearing the whole town to shreds in anger,” I laughed. “I’m not that sensitive,” he frowned with a gleam. “So, what’s it like, having a foal?” I folded my arms, again… “Don’t you already know?” he beamed with a smug grin. “I’m asking for your perspective and opinion, so long as you don’t mind of course,” I simpered. “It’s not bad actually; I mean… Sure I have to walk her to-and-from school every day, but that’s when I truly get to bond with her as a parent I suppose. And besides, someone’s got to go to the parent meetings every other week… and that being said, I still love her as I feel I should, what about you?” he blinked. “Never thought you for the fatherly type, Natsu,” I chuckled, “but, I suppose I should at least give a guy a chance, so to speak, and you’ve done more than that, so congrats on that I s‘pose.” “Thanks, I guess,” he smiled. “Welcome,” I nodded behind us, where the others were stood; smug grins aplenty. “How long have they been standing there?” Natsu glanced toward me after taking a quick peek at each of our figurative ’audience.’ “Long enough,” I smirked. “You set this up, didn’t you?” he frowned. “Not really,” I shook my head, “you said it, we just so happened to all be here.” “So, I’m perfect am I?” Autumn Heart stood beside me, nuzzling into my side, “I might have to reward for that silver tongue of yours later~” she sat beside me as I sat cross-legged, Ember leaping onto my head, Snowdrop and Winter Bell both sitting in my lap, Scootaloo, Gracy Gloom and Honey Heart leaning into me at odd angles as I draped my wings around each of them. “Element of Sacrifice, much..?” Blaze laughed, “I know, right?” “So, who’s the little one?” Crystal and Angel smiled. “I’m Ember,” Ember held out a paw, which the twin eons gently shook. “And this makes seven?” Crystal and Angel shared a light giggle. “Eight, technically,” I bit my lip. “Ooh-Ah,” Crystal chortled, “Who’s the lucky one this time?” “That’d be Dinky, or Derpy, depending on your context-of-speech.” I winked. “Trying to impress, or are you going for a new World-Record?” she laughed. “If I was trying to impress I’d do that but since I haven’t done so in around a century or two, I see no need for such actions,” I smirked. “No…” Blaze gasped, wide-eyed and slack-jawed, “sure you don’t mean…!” “Yes, Blaze, yes I do,” I grinned, “But more on that later, with any luck.” “So, Dinky…” Angel beamed. “What about it?” I hummed. “Shouldn’t you be taking care of her?” she frowned, lightly. “I trust Silver enough to take care of Dinks. Besides, I’m not needed around there anytime soon, unless there’s another gala happening soon.” “Why, what’d you do?” Crystal smirked. “Nothing I’m telling you, my little Gem.” “Rick offered to foal-sit Dinky whilst Derpy went to the gala,” Blaze simpered with a sly smile. “Aww, that’s sweet of you,” she cooed, pecking my cheek as she hovered beside me. “It’s what I do,” I winked. “Remind me why we’re up here again?” Blaze frowned as we (‘We,’ being myself, my friends, family, the princesses, Celestia, Twilight, her friends and Spike), stood atop the great mountain on which Canterlot rested. “Just testing a theory,” I winked, turning toward the sky, inhaling as I did so; “O-Dah-Viing!” I bellowed, as a rift in the fabric of reality torte open above us, and a great crimson dragons burst forth from its depths, circling the peak of the mountain a few times before landing before us with a slight ‘crash’ so to speak… “Greetings Dovahkiin,” The almighty wyvern beamed as he glanced to the others, “And I see you have an audience with you, no doubt to bear witness to your Thu’um, no?” “Not exactly,” I laughed. “What…” Twilight was almost speechless, almost, “who are you?” “Ah, Krosis, I beg your pardon for not Gristal, introducing myself,” Odahviing huffed, “I am Odahviing; Former Right-hand and lieutenant to Alduin, the Duaan, the World-Eater, now, however, I align my services and life to the Dovahkiin, for he has proven his mastery twice-over to me, and the Dovah.” “Forgive me for being blunt, but in what language are you speaking?” Celestia blinked. “Ah, Krosis, forgive me for not explaining the language of the Dovah, the dragons, to you, Malkey.” Odahviing hummed with a slight grunt, “it has been centuries since I last spoke to a Joor, a mortal, what do you wish to ask of me?” “And what, of this ‘Dovahkiin’?” Cellsy frowned, nodding toward me. “Ah, the Dragonborn,” the crimson drake gave a sagely nod, “what of him?” “Dragonborn..?” Luna blinked “It’s to do with my ‘Dragon Soul,’” I beamed, “when I had it planted in my being, I became a somewhat, ‘false’ Dovahkiin, but a Dragonborn nonetheless, so I got quite the amount of attention when I went to Skyrim.” “Speaking of which,” Odahviing raised an eye-ridge, “where are we, if you do not mind my asking?” “Equis,” I smiled; “Ah yes, home-realm to the Malkey, Amokriin, and the weaker Dovah that were made by Akatosh,” he laughed “I’ve been meaning to come here, if only by asking the ones you mortals call, ‘The Divines.’” “So, how old are you?” Celestia cocked an eyebrow “I am countless millennia in age, third-born from Akatosh,” Odahviing seemed to be pondering in thought mid-reply, “it has been too long, and I have lost track of my age, little Malkey, but, I ponder not on things such as time, or chronology, that is for Akatosh to rule over, not a mere Dovah such as me.” “So, who is Akatosh exactly?” Twilight sat on her haunches alongside the others in an arc behind me. “He is the deity and ruler of time, and took the form of an almost-inconceivable dragon during the ‘Oblivion Crisis*,’” Odahviing began, “it is from he who we Dovah, we dragons, originate, or at least, those from Tamriel.” The dragon grumbled, “he is one of the nine so-called ‘Divines*’ as they are referred to by the Joor, the mortals of Skyrim.” “So, what other divines are there?” Cadance raised a reluctant hoof. “I truly know only one other of the ‘Divines,’ a being named Kynareth,” Odahviing gave a slight grin, “it was with her permission that Paarthurnax was allowed to teach the Thu’um to the Joor, to the mortals of Tamriel, and in doing so, allowed for the defeat of my former leader, Alduin the Duaan, the ‘World-Eater.” “Who’s Alduin?” Rainbow Dash frowned. “An Apt question to come from a Malkey, a pony,” the dragon laughed, “Alduin the Duaan, or in your tongue, the World-Eater, my former ruler and leader of all Dovah, all Dragons of Tamriel, he always was the arrogant with his power, as was the way of the First-Born of Akatosh,” he smiled, “but there was a , shall I say, opposition, to his will? There were Nord heroes who used a Kel, and Elder Scroll, to banish him through time itself.” “They sent him into the future?” Luna blinked. “Not intentionally,” Odahviing sighed with a slight ‘rasp,’ “it was due to the efforts of those heroes that Skyrim and all of Tamriel was, for a time, saved, but eventually, Alduin returned, and so to, did his destiny as the Duaan.” “But he was stopped, right?” Twilight gave a nervous giggle. “Eventually, yes, once upon Paarthurnax’s Strunmah, his mountain, as it were, and again in the land of the dead, in Sovngarde,” he grumbled, again. “You want to the land of the dead?” Cellsy gasped. “Not by choice,” I shrugged, “someone had to do it, so why not me, he who was destined to defeat Alduin?” “But, how did you get there?” Twilight stared at me, gaping. “Magic, both figuratively and literally,” I beamed. “I guess you had no other choice, huh?” she smiled with a sly wink, Odahviing glanced toward me eye-ride raised, I shook my head at him. “So who created us then if Akatosh created you?” the lavender mare gave a forlorn glanced toward me, then turned to face the dragon in question; “My guess would lead toward Kynareth,” Odahviing smirked, “she is the strongest of the ‘Sky Spirits*’ and the goddess of the air, heavens and sky, it is from her doing that you ponies were brought into being, as was the same for all peaceful beings of nature.” “But what about Lulania…?” Cadance tilted her head; “Ah, you know of the ‘All-Maker,’ as the Skaal refer to her as?” Odahviing hummed “she is mostly null in form, but she has been known to take the form of either a Malkey, a pony, or a Jul, a human. It was she who bought life to both ‘The Divines,’ and ‘The Aedra,’ and, in turn, the Daedra,’ and, eventually, all Gods and Demigods alike” “But that would mean that Rick’s the co-creator of the universe!” Twilight shrieked “if it weren’t for their meeting, we wouldn’t be here!” “So you wouldn’t little pony,” Lulania appeared via telepor5taion in a small eruption of light, standing beside Twilight; “It was when I created a lifeless universe, free of all planets, with only stars, constellations and nebulae as its population, that I fell impregnated, and yet, that same impregnation lacked a ‘Spark,’ or ‘Essence’ so to speak, I created Earth, and with it, all species that came to live upon its surface, in its skies, and under its oceans, it was then that I duplicated myself, constantly changing form with the passing ages and era’s alike that I met Rick, and thus, I found the spark, and the essence along with it, and so, when the clone re-fused with me, that was when I gave birth to the gods of the universe, who then made their own planets, galaxies and the like, complete with their own population and species of both flora and fauna, the rest is history as clear as Crystal.” “And nobody on Earth suspects a damn thing!” Blaze burst into a fit of laughter. “Quite so,” Lulania giggled. “And that’s why I’m the reason for my own existence,” I laughed. “It’s an alternate ‘Bootstrap Paradox.’” “That means you’re technically related to everyone and everything that exists, will exist, or has done so before passing on, Rick,” Blaze stifled a row of laughter, biting her lip as she did so. “Well, there go my morals involving anything to do with coitus,” I shuddered. “Dad, what’re morals?” Ember tilted her head, having since perched herself upon my shoulder. “They’re basically a person’s sense of right and wrong, my little Ember,” I smiled. “Oh, Ok then,” she giggled, climbing upon my head. “You seem to be taking this all-too rather well, Sir Rick.” Lulania smiled, pecking my cheek with a faint grin. “It’ll kick in eventually,” I beamed, “if I gave you the ‘Spark,’ does that make me… Y’know?” “You and you alone, are the co-creator of the universe,” she nodded. “And yet I lack the ability to hold such a title,” I chortled. “Do you?” she raised an eyebrow, beaming, “before we were separated, I placed a fraction of my power –a fifth at most, into your core, as it were, all you’ve to do is wish for it to surface, my little eon. I should warn you, however, that it is a deterrent force that should only be used sparingly, and therefor shouldn’t be wasted on common foot-soldier-level opponents.” “Well that explains a lot,” Blaze guffawed, “no offense, Rick…” “None taken, Blaze,” I smiled, “Besides, it had to be explained eventually as to where most of my power comes from, right?” “Indeed,” Lulania nickered, “I’ll see you later,” and with that, she vanished, teleporting elsewhere. “Well, this has been quite the revelation,” Cellsy and the others stared at me, “what?” “You’re the co-creator of the universe…” Twilight mumbled. “So I am…” I hummed, glancing toward the sky, where Odahviing now circled the heavens above the mountaintop, eventually flying into the distance. “So, you’re a demigod, and yet you’re the forerunner for all gods, and therefore, all beings in existence,” Blaze smirked, “do I count as a being created by Kynareth?” “I suppose there’s only one way to find out,” I clicked my shoulders, “and she just left, so it means we’re going to have to wait,” I added, changing to eon form, Ember moving to my back as Snowdrop, Scootaloo, Gracy Gloom, Winter Bell and Honey Heart hovered beside me. “Are we ready?” I glanced toward Snowdrop Snowdrop and the others nodded; “Ready when you are Daddy,” they chorused, soaring down the mountain, Snowdrop flying above me with Winter Bell and Scootaloo on my left side, and Gracy Gloom and Honey Heart opposite them, Winter Bell and Honey Heart breaking formation, performing corkscrews as they glided with me toward Ponyville, Scootaloo and Gracy Gloom doing the same as Snowdrop accelerated somewhat as I sped up, the five of them flying close as they could to me without actually making contact. A barrier-like ‘shield’ began to form before us as we gradually changed direction back toward the heavens, breaking as we rocketed through the sky, the five fillies breaking off and soaring across in front of me, landing on my back as I headed back toward Canterlot, forming a rainbow trail behind me that, instead of the usual prismatic design, was a mix of icy-blue, snow-white, Whitish-Golden-Yellow, Pitch/Matte-black, Vivid-crimson, and pale/rust orange mixed with a vibrant-Magenta shade of colour, all fused into a single, multi-layered rainbow design behind us… “That was…” Rainbow Dash stared at me, quite visibly awestruck as we landed in the gardens, “How…?” “Magic,” I laughed, glancing back toward Ember, “are you alright, Ember?” “That was awesome!” Ember cheered with a sense of pride in her voice “can we do it again Dad?” “Maybe another time, perhaps,” I chuckled, “ “It appears that you’ve attained another level of the ‘Sonic-Rainboom,’” Celestia smiled. “Perhaps, perhaps not,” I shrugged as my family landed beside me, safely landing with all four paws/hooves on the ground, reverting to human form with a grin. “But that can’t be possible! I invented it!” Rainbow Dash growled. “Or maybe it’s us eons that invented it, and just wished for it to be erased from history?” I shrugged. “Correct,” Faust smiled, “it is you who made the spell, and it is you who shall continue to do so until the end of your species. “I wonder where the changelings come from,” Autumn Heart hummed. “My guess would be the humans who stayed on Equis, which were then morphed into the Flutter-ponies, and then mutated by one of the elements of creation into what they are now,” I hummed. “How did you..?” Faust gaped, awing at me with a somewhat mortified expression, standing beside her elemental comrades; I raised an eyebrow, “they were corrupt, they had to be dealt with; surely you understand?” “So, rather than trying to give them a chance to change their ways through your little ‘Harmony Squad,’ as Midnight Rose called it, you just alter them to your whim? And you said that they were corrupt yes? Well, I’ve a question for you, what makes you so much better?” glancing behind me, I saw Natsu, Grey, Erza and Wendy, staring at me in apparent awe “And who are you to oppose me, should we choose to remove your titles here on Equis, you are but nought to us, a pest that is about ready to be disposed of!” she snarled. “I have decency, I have a heart, mind and soul, I have a family to look after and care for,” I snapped, “and at least I know how and when to give people a second chance, Element of Life. That being said, someone has to take out the prideful, arrogant trash, don’t they?” “You’ve got nothing!” she boomed. “I’ve got the balls to stand up for what I think is right, rather than to take that of which is most important away from someone because I feel like it, Faust, if that is your name.” I smirked. “You are but a flaw in the universe, Rick, you always were the one to change things for the worse,” she snorted derisively. “This coming from a shit-streak of a pony who mutated an entire species for her own gain?” I laughed, “Besides, if you’ve a problem with me, instead of whining for days on end, how about you actually get off your arse and do something about it? That is, if you feel like you’ve got the balls.” “Are you questioning my power?” she growled. “So, Power-Hungry, corrupt and arrogant and prideful?” I beamed, turning and walking away, my family quickly following me alongside Autumn Heart, Blaze, Blackjack, Littlepip and Velvet Remedy, “It’s like my actual Nakama are the only ones I don’t have any problem with…” When I’d ‘calmed down,’ I headed with my friends family and the four Fairy Tail Wizards into the throne room alongside Twilight, her friends, Crystal and Angel. “A moment please,” Celestia raised a hand, both her and Luna standing opposite one another in their anthro forms, horns ablaze with golden-primrose and cobalt-blue aura’s respectively; I’m playing ball with my sister…” “But… Where’s the ball..?” Natsu, Wendy, and Twilight blinked; All of a sudden, the earth shook as the sky seeming roared with a definite shaking “You aren’t….” Blaze mumbled, glancing toward me, I shrugged. “It appears that the ‘ball’ would seem to be a series of nearby planets,” I hummed, “I’m just wondering if said planets have any sentient life on them…” “I wonder if you could do that, Daddy,” Snowdrop lay atop my head, comfortably perched between my horns. “Highly unlikely, unless of course all of said power is in that Soul dew I have locked away in the lounge.” I raised an eyebrow, glancing toward the icy-blue filly with a curious expression, “what d‘ya reckon we should do with it?” “Try consuming it,” she giggled. “Now isn’t that a risky option?” I smiled as the earth rumbled again. “I was just trying to suggest something that might help you get your old powers back,” she gave a faint smile. “And I thank you for it, my little Snowflake,” I beamed, changing to eon form as the other of my ‘Next-of-Kin’ leapt onto my neck and back respectively. “We love you Daddy,” the six of them chimed, “And I love you, my little family,” I glimmered. “So, about that Soul Dew…” Blaze grinned, I winked, retrieving said Gemstone from my inventory, said gemstone then hovered in place before me, pulsating with crimson light. “So,” the Soul Dew began, “you wish to absorb my power, and rightfully take back what is yours? Then come and get it!” and with that, the pulsating erupted into a blinding beam of energy that struck me straight in the chest-symbol,. My family quickly landing on the floor as I reverted to human form, Triggering both ‘Dragon Force’ and ‘Lightning-Flame Dragon Mode,’ devouring the magic energy as it came from the shining orb. “So, you’ve done it,” the Soul Dew laughed as I collapsed to my knees in agony, “you’ve gone and absorbed all my power- no, all of your power, use it well, will you, Rick?” I collapsed to my front, grimacing with pain racking throughout my body in a series of excruciating waves as ‘Dragon Force’ was torn away from me. “Let the pain run its work, for you are stronger than you’ve ever been before,” the orb floated down to my side, “you always were a reckless being, Y’know that? Always willing to take risks and make the ultimate sacrifice what you felt was right, and I’m glad to see that that part of you hasn’t been altered any during your warping to Earth, and you’re reverting to an infantile state, Rick.” “Is that it?” I mumbled in varying degrees of pain, barely managing to stagger to my feet, ‘restarting’ ‘Dragon Force,’ bursting into Whitish Golden Flames, the Whitish-Golden-Yellow aura overwhelming me completely, “Hardly felt a thing,” I laughed, my attire changing with the aura to that of an open-fronted waistcoat which had black trimmings, with black-ringed ‘False-Clockwise’ trousers/bottoms with heavy-duty boots a dozen blood/dark-crimson dragon-head-shaped entities appeared in a ring behind me, hovering in place. “The third Stage of Dragon Slayer magic, disregarding basic-level magic…!” Blaze stared at me in horror alongside Twilight and her friends, Spike included; “How d‘ya feel?” “Like I can change everything,” I beamed, bursting into flames that enveloped my already-present aura; that of which erupted into a great pillar of fire that burst through the many layers of the castle above me. “So, you’ve awakened it then, Lulania appeared besides Faust, Firefly, Iris, Galaxia an Celestia in a grand burst of light, standing beside Luna and Cellsy, “you’re ‘Dragon Soul’ has finally emerged in its grandest state, Rick, use it wisely.” “I say it’s about time,” Firefly laughed, now I can fight him seriously!” “Me, fight you?” I chortled, “Unless I’ve a good reason for it, I remain chivalrous, or I’d like to think as much anyways.” “And thus you remain weak, even in that state,” she snorted with a smug grin. “So long as I can protect those of whom I care about, I don’t care how weak or strong I am, Firefly,” I grinned. “And so you do,” Iris smiled, “congratulations on retrieving your previous being’s powers, Rick.” “I too, wish to congratulate you on your attainment of your old ‘prowess,’ so to speak,” Galaxia nickered, “Can you change back?” It took a while, but I eventually grasped the ability to change between forms, “That took long enough,” Blaze smirked. “So it did, Blaze,” I smirked. “Uh, Rick,” Autumn Heart nodded upward, gesturing toward the ceiling. Looking toward the now-present/large hole in the ceiling, I saw a rather frightened pony staring right at me; “Coco..?” I blinked “Didn’t know she was still here,” Blaze hummed, glancing toward me “she here for you or her own business?” “Rick?” Coco Pommel blinked, leaping from the hole, and into my arms. “How cliché, the damsel falling into the hero’s arms,” Blaze laughed, I shot her an icy glare. “I didn’t know you were visiting, Rick,” Coco nuzzled into me as I set her down, sitting beside me. “Yeah, we were hoping to get the ‘drop’ on you, but it appears that you got us instead,” Blaze cackled somewhat insanely. “So it does,” she giggled, climbing up my back and pecking my cheek, “my little eon…” “Look out below!” a familiar, snow-white pony with a burgundy mane and tail yelled, prompting me to dive forward, catching her. “Palette Swap,” I blinked, “what’re you doing here?” “I was with Coco helping her design a new set of clothing when that hole suddenly appeared,” Palette Swap pointed toward the hole in the ceiling. “Fair Do’s,” I smiled, setting her down on the floor, albeit, carefully. “Also, I’ve something I’d like to say to you, if you don’t mind,” she winked a little slyly, “I’ve heard Coco Pommel sing your praises for the past week, and I have to admit, I envy you, not for any of your abilities or the like, but because of who you are, and… well… I love you…” “Well,” I blinked “that’s a new one…” “How is it new?” Blaze grinned “there was one point that I heard about where you had the whole of Ponyville chasing after you at one point, wasn’t there?” “One time Blaze, and one time only,” I frowned. “Oh… I’m sorry for my intrusion then…” Palette Swap muttered, beginning to walk past me, only for me to stop her with a gentle hand on her shoulder as I crouched down to her level, placing my lips against hers as she turned, she quickly wrapped her arms around my neck, forcing me onto my rear as she parted. “Well, what happens now, my little eon?” Palette Swap grinned, quickly placing a hoof over my mouth as I began to speak, “never you mind anything, I just figured it out…!” -=-=-=- “Are you serious?” Blaze and Natsu shared a laugh. “Really, Rick, you do let the strangest things happen” Autumn Heart giggled, pecking my cheek, “even if one of those things is letting basically every mare in the room have their way with you,” “I don’t see anyone else complaining,” Blaze smirked. “I wasn’t complaining,” Autumn Heart climbed onto my back, loosely hanging her arms around my neck as she began to nibble on my ear. “I probably don’t want to know…” I mumbled. “Basic pony-based foreplay,” Cellsy smirked, the dominant ones often begin by nibbling or gently biting on the other one’s ear.” “Is it awkward enough that I don’t care?” I gleamed. “You’re letting her do that, to ‘dominate’ you, so to speak?” Firefly laughed. “She’s my wife, I’ve a right to care for her don’t I?” I felt a sudden thud as Autumn Heart landed on the floor, her hoof twitching every now and then. “She just fainted,” Blaze grinned, “now what do you plan to do?” “I’m your wife am I?” Autumn Heart’s face suddenly appeared right before me “Well, in that case, I do,” “What?” I blinked “‘I do,’ meaning; ‘I will marry you,’” she beamed,” is that alright, my darling Rick?” “Why wouldn’t it be?” I smiled, pecking the tip of her horn with a smile. “I now declare you to be colt and mares,” Cellsy smiled, “you may kiss the bride.” Autumn Heart glanced toward Celestia, beaming; then turned back to me, draping her arms around my neck, Palette Swap and Coco Pommel leant into me, pecking either cheek as I draped a wing around either of them. “So, where do we live then?” Palette Swap winked, “I shall fund for any changes that may be necessary to your home, Rick,” Cellsy winked. “Thank you, Princess,” Coco Pommel bowed alongside Palette Swap. “There is no need to be so formal, I am merely doing what I feel is right for you four,” the solar goddess beamed. =-=-=-= After the house had been extended further, and the additions to each of the rooms having been dealt with, Palette Swap and Coco Pommel quickly grew accustomed to their new rooms, and to the rather cavernous art room that’d been merged with the previous one. “Isn’t it beautiful?” Coco Pommel cooed as she stood beside Palette Swap and Autumn Heart, nuzzling into me. “Much like Autumn Heart and Palette Swap,” I grinned. “What about me?” she blinked. “You’re adorable, there’s not much more that needs to be said,” I shrugged. “Thank you, Rick,” she climbed upon my back, pecking my cheek as she loosely wrapped her arms around my neck. “-=-” “So, have fun?” Crystal smirked. “Somewhat,” I gleamed. “Why do you ask?” “I’m just curious as to how you ended up with the whole town chasing you, my little eon,” she winked as we stood/hovered in the throne room once again. “I’m guessing it had something to do with a local Heat-Wave,’” Celestia giggled, “they always happen this time of year, especially to Earth-Ponies.” “Because they’re more connected to the earth and therefore, nature, right?” Snowdrop chimed. “That is correct,” Faust smiled, “speaking of nature, I’ve something to say to you, Rick;” she added, beaming, “every time you use your new power, and your new form, you ascend unto god-like levels of power, and thus, become an ‘Element of Creation.’” “So, he’s a ‘Demi-Demigod,’ where the demi is both in on itself, and the ‘God’ part,” Blaze chortled. “Quite so,” Firefly gleamed. “His power ascended far enough to be called as such, but is therefore a deterrent force, as Fust and Lulania may or may not have stated before.” “I bet Makarov’s gonna go mental upon hearing that,” she laughed. “Most likely,” I nodded slightly, Honey Heart having perched herself safely between my horns with a wide grin. “So, what’s that you keep saying about not being a god?” she smirked. “So what if I am? It’s only temporary, Blaze,” I simpered. “Try using it now then,” she folded her arms, I did, initiating the god-like abilities via use of ‘Dragon Soul’ and ‘Dragon Force,’” Not bad…” “I don’t see what’s so great about me, I mean; Natsu beat a God-Slayer, Laxus beat one of the Ten Wizard-Saints, Wendy can use ‘Dragon Force,’ Ember can use ‘Dragon Soul,’ and Erza beat one hundred demonic entities, at least thirty of which were S-class,” I explained in a somewhat-indifferent manner. “That little girl,” Cellsy pointed a hoof toward the Sky Dragon-Slayer, “can use Dragon Force?” “Basically,” I smiled. “Please tell me you’re joking…” she mumbled. “Nope,” I beamed. “But don’t you have Lightning-Flame Dragon Mode’?” Cadance blinked. “As does Natsu,” I raised an eyebrow. “But thou hath magmatic abilities, dost thou not/” Luna stepped forward “And in an alternate universe, so does someone else,” I rolled my eyes, “not to be rude or anything, but whatever I’ve done, someone else in the universe has probably already done it. That being said, I doubt it’d be a pony, no offense.” “Explain,” Celestia frowned. “I can’t imagine a pony with Magma-based abilities, fire, maybe, but not magma.” I bit my lip. “So be it,” she nickered. “So, you’re a god?” Blaze patted my back with a wide grin. “Apparently so…” I mumbled. “So, what happens now?” Blackjack placed a fragile hoof on my side. “That is indeed the question, Blackie,” I smiled. “So, do we keep quiet about this or reveal it to all?” Littlepip giggled, standing beside me, leaning into my side. “Keep it quiet,” I winked, “there’s few outside of Equestria who’d believe it anyways, my Littlepip.” “So they wouldn’t, my little Eon,” she smiled. “We could keep a secret, my little Ricky-o,” Crystal and Angel shared a light giggle. “Of course, you can,” I rolled my eyes. “So enters the Fourth-Generation of Dragon-Slayers,” Velvet Remedy smiled as Ilona and Winter Bell hovered on either side of me, surrounded by Snowdrop and the others. “Indeed it does, my little Remedy,” I grinned. “‘Fourth Generation’..?” Celestia blinked. “First-generation are those who are taught magic by a dragon; Second-Generation are those who have it implanted via Dragon-Lacrima, Third-Generation who have it both taught and implanted into them, and Fourth-Generation are those who gain it through genetics and/or inherit it from their parents.” I explained, beaming. “You mean to say that Snowdrop and the others with you are…?” Celestia gaped, glancing toward each of my family in turn… “We’re all Dragon-Slayers!” Honey Heart chimed alongside Snowdrop and the others as I ‘disengaged’ ‘Dragon-Soul.’ “So, who else can use ‘Dragon Force?” Celestia shuddered a little. “There’s me, Blaze, Wendy, Natsu, Rogue, Sting, and I think that’s it, for now…” I smirked. “I wouldn’t say that Wendy needs ‘Dragon Force’ though,” Blaze grinned, “if she uses ‘Vernier,’ Arms;’ and ‘Armor,’ her breath attack is just as strong as your ‘Lightning-Flame Dragon’s Roar’!” “You’re joking…!” Natsu, Grey and Celestia gawked toward the Sky-Dragon-Slayer. “Yeah, when they were going to activate the mechanism which would’ve eradicated all of Fiore’s magic,” I frowned, “yet, somehow, she and Carla managed to do the impossible…” “And you also did the impossible by saving them from the subsequent explosion;” she gleamed, “your ability to fly through reality and then back again saved their lives.” “I just so happened to be there, nothing more, nothing less,” I barked, changing to eon form, “So you say, but we both know that you went with her to make sure she ‘pulled through,’ so to speak” Blaze grinned. “Eh, think what you will..!” I was silenced as the Sky Dragon-Slayer walked toward me, pecked my cheek, and climbed onto my back, beginning to gently scratch behind my ears, which I leant into, unfortunately. “You have that form only for entertainment purposes, dontcha Rick?” she beamed. “Getting beaten by a little girl again?” “This ‘Little Girl’ just so happened to have defeated one of the nine demons of Tartaros from the Book of Zeref,” I glimmered. “So she did,” the Typhlosion laughed. “She did WHAT!?” Twilight bellowed; I shot her an icy glare as Wendy clung onto me. “I think the phrase I should be saying to you is, ‘You’re outclassed here,’” I chortled. “But she’s…” she rapidly shook her head “she’s just a little girl!” “Even her size hasn’t changed due to everyone in Equestria having the same longevity and near-immortality, she’s around thirty,” I raised an eyebrow. “You do realize she’s riding you like an equine, right?” Natsu grinned. “Like you’re one to talk, remember that time with Asuka?” I laughed. “That’s different…” he mumbled. “Really? How so..?” I folded my arms as Wendy released her iron, vice-like grip on me, lightly pinching the corner of my ear, ‘tweaking’ it slightly. “Well, that was part of a challenge, besides, it was only for a day,” he grinned from ear to ear. “As you say, Salamander,” I beamed, Wendy having chosen now-of-all-times to lie along my neck, placing the side of her head atop mine, using me as a bed-and-pillow. “So, how long do you plan on keeping her up there?” Grey grinned. “As long as she wants to,” I shrugged, “So long as she’s safe, I see no problem in her actions.” “So, you do care?” Blaze smirked. “Of course I do, she’s one of my Nakama, why wouldn’t I?” I growled. “Nakama..?” Wendy bolted upright, staring down at me, eyes like pinpricks, “I’m you’re..?” Without warning, she leapt from my back to the floor, spun on her heel/toes so she stood before me; and then placed her lips upon my own, giving my chin area a light scratch afterward, I promptly collapsed to the floor. “I didn’t think she had it in her…” Natsu burst into a fit of laughter, Wendy, playfully, poked her tongue at him, taking me by the claw and dragging me from the room. “Help me…!” I groaned. “Why’re you complaining?” Blaze beamed. “I Dunno, why am I complaining?” I laughed, quickly being dragged through the castle’s front gates to the gardens, specifically, in a small clearing behind a tree and a few large bushes, rolling me onto my back, sitting upon my stomach as I lay against the tree-trunk… -=- “So, how’d ya take it?” Blaze grinned. “I hope that’s rhetorical, Blaze,” I frowned. “And why should it be?” she beamed, Snowdrop having perched herself atop my head, whereas Gracy Gloom lay along my neck, and the others were positioned on my back. “Because I have foals on board,” I glanced toward my ‘Next-of-Kin,’” one shouldn’t need to hear things at such an age. That being said… How strange can things get?” “Rick, you woke Cellsy with a love song; Twice,” Crystal laughed. “I was bored, a’right?” I scowled. “So, anyways, on a completely different topic…” she beamed. “Is there a reason as to why there’s enough bottle caps in you inventory to make a series of sleigh bells?” “You have sleigh bells?” Angel grinned. “Don’t get any funny ideas…” I grumbled. “Why not, we’re red and white, you have makeshift ‘sleigh-bells,’ and I’m sure Cellsy has a chariot large enough to serve as a sleigh!” she chimed. “It’s not even winter…” I muttered, “Besides, who’s going to paint the chariot in the first place, and this is assuming I’m even up for the idea.” She grinned, raising an eyebrow at me “I’m not pulling that thing Y’know!?” “Why not..? You’d make an excellent reindeer!” Crystal grinned from ear-to-ear, “Besides, someone has to do it.” “You’re serious?” I blinked, she smirked. “So you are…” “So, are we going to do it then?” Angel giggled “You’re not getting me to pull that chariot, sleigh/thing, whatever you call it,” I growled. “Aww, don’t be such a kill-joy!” she laughed. “And don’t forget, you already wore reigns once, didn’t you?” Blaze smirked, beaming from ear-to-ear; “Thanks to Littlepip anyways.” “Oh?” Crystal gave a wide, smug, grin, “Where are they now?” “Destroyed,” I snorted, “you didn’t really think I’d keep them, right?” “You’ve proved yourself stranger in the past, so I wouldn’t really be surprised,” she raised an eyebrow. “So I have,” I nodded as Wendy clambered safely to the ground. I reverted to human form, beginning to focus my magical energy into my now-clenched fists, grinning as twin spheres of pure, un-diluted darkness appeared around them “So, the same power from three centuries ago as unearthed, itself; hmm?” Blaze raised an eyebrow. “But I thought you had all of the Dark magic extracted from your very being!? What are you up to?” Celestia scowled. “Dark by nature, not by element, Celestia,” I quickly bowed. “I wonder, j7ust how many elements do you have?” Crystal smiled. =-= “Once I was back in the new form, with the now-prismatic/rainbow-coloured spherical dragon heads floating behind me “Fire,” I began as the middle-left head opened its maw, charging up a large fireball, “Ice, Wind, Water, Thunder, Light, and Shadow, Rise…!” as I spoke, the other orbs opened, creating multi-coloured fireballs respectively as I inhaled, exhaling alongside the ‘Dragon-Orbs,’; creating a devastation/titanic breath attack that annihilated the crowds areas of the arena, travelling at supersonic speeds toward the East “Endymion Dragon’s Roar..!” “Is this…! The power of a god…!?” Blaze echoed standing beside me with a somewhat disturbed expression. “And that was without ‘Second Origin,’” I laughed, reverting to normal. “And that was also with most of your Dragon-Slayer magic sealed away…!” Blaze awed, gaping at me as the others made their approach, Grey Natsu and Erza having left for the guild. “So it was,” Celestia, Luna and Cellsy shared a nervous glance, “Perhaps you should have it sealed?” “If it’s what’s necessary, so be it,” I nodded, with a flash of light their horns tapped upon my chest and head. “’tis done, Rick.” Luna smiled, “thou should rest a moment, as the slight amount of weariness should be taking effect at any moment.” “That’s certainly not a joke,” I collapsed onto my arse as I staggered, Snowdrop and the others leaping toward me, colliding with me at great speed, knocking me to the ground. “You’re brilliant Daddy!” Honey Heart gleamed, “I hope to be as strong as you someday!” “And so do I!” Snowdrop chimed. “Me too!” Winter Bell chorused. “I’d also like to be like you someday,” Scootaloo almost cheered, nuzzling into me alongside the others. “You’ve a fan-base,” Blaze grinned. “So I do, Blaze, so I do,” I laughed. “Just like the question ‘Knowledge, speed, or power?’ eh Rick?” Blaze winked. “I choose knowledge or speed, power is nothing, if you don’t have the knowledge of how to control it, let alone actually use it*,” I smirked, “besides, hit fast and punch hard, it actually gets things done; or at least, it can do.” “You’ve got the form of a pony, haven’t you?” she beamed. “Probably, I mean, even if I have, I’ve certainly never used it,” I shrugged. “Do it,” she chortled. “Nope,” I smirked. “Why not,” she blinked. “One word, Blaze, Arvak,” I grinned. “You’re not going to…” she gaped. “No, not now, maybe on Nightmare Night,” I winked. “So, there’s no chance of showing your pony form?” she gave me her best ‘puppy-dog’ eyes. “Alright, but just this once, and that’s even assuming I have one,” I grumbled, my form changing with a small eruption of light to that of a large Matte/Pitch-black stallion with a crystalline horn and solid and/or holographic wings with a dark, blackish-grey and poison green mane and tail with glowing neon green highlights running through both. “So, that’s your new form,” Blaze smiled, “I must ask, are you an alicorn, a Pegasus or a unicorn?” “Both a Pegasus and unicorn, but at the same time, neither, for both wings and horn are, or at least, seem to be, artificial, so technically, I’m just a deformed earth pony,” I laughed, Wendy choosing now of all times to climb onto my back, patting the back of my head with a gentle hand. “Where do you wish to go?” I glanced toward the young Dragon-Slayer. “Home, back to the guild,” Wendy smiled, and so, I took off, with the ‘Lady of Sky’ clinging onto me as I glided toward Ponyville --=-- When I landed back onto solid ground with a light tap, I trotted into the guild hall. “Thank you,” Wendy smiled again, giving a light giggle as she clambered safely to the floor, pecking my cheek, by now, all eyes were on me, even that of Makarov himself. “Just be careful, and stay safe, Ok?” I chuckled. “I will,” she giggled, (again?) “So, who’s the new guy?” A certain sniper-wizard beamed. “Why don’t we ask?” the woman next to him smirked. “Alzack and Bisca, was it?” I grinned, “How do you…?” Alzack gasped, my reverting to normal shut him up. “So, why were you in that form?” Bisca laughed. “I was just being considerate is all,” I chortled, “There’s nothing to it really.” “So you say,” she grinned from ear-to-ear as Natsu Erza and Grey walked into the hall. “Did anybody catch the pony that’s just walked in here?” Grey smirked, everyone minus Makarov pointed toward me as I changed to eon form, Wendy climbing back onto my being “So, you give rides now?” Alzack glimmered. “To friends and family, maybe,” I winked. “Well, it’s only logical that Wendy’s with you now,” he smiled, “she hasn’t stopped talking about you since you left, Singing your praises every now and then, just what did you two get up to during your various missions?” “Doing what we’re supposed to do,” I shrugged, “with both speed and efficiency, might I add?” “So you say,” Bisca beamed, “I reckon there’s something going on that we’ve yet to find out, isn’t there?” “What makes you say that?” I laughed; she pointed toward my head, where Wendy wa lying along my neck, resting her head side-on to the top of mine, “Fair play…” -=-=- “So, what other items do you have in your inventory?” Celestia smiled. “Well, there’s always this,” I ‘retrieved’ a certain ancient, legendary bow from my inventory “Ah yes, Auriel’s Bow,” Blaze began, beaming, “A legendary artefact of Tamriel, Crafted by the Anui-EL and then wielded by Auri-EL in an equally legendary battle during the Dawn-Era.” “I’d never of thought such an item to have existed,” Cellsy glimmered, perhaps I should get out more, explore the universe every now and again.” “And you’d probably be surprised as to where the bow gets its mythic power form, Princess,” I gleamed. “Where?” she giggled, I simply pointed upward, having returned to the castle nce Wendy and I had parted ways, returning with my family, Blackjack and the others separating ways also, if only temporarily. “The sky,” Rainbow Dash grinned “Higher?” I smirked. “Is it the moon?” Twilight nickered. “Similar distance, now think oppositely,” I winked. “It gets its power from the sun?” Celestia stared at me as if I’d grown an extra head. “Well, yes, and no,” I laughed, “It gains its power from Aetherius itself, using the sun itself as a ‘solar-gateway,’ so to speak.” “How is such a thing possible?” she blinked. “Well, the one who wielded it in the war was said to be a demigod, and the ones who created it were, in turn, gods or could be considered such.” I explained, smiling. “And what may be the reason for its oh-so faint, yet oh-so dazzling glow?” Luna awed at the artefact, eyeing it from end-to-end. “It’s enchanted to do triple damage toward undead, whatever that might be, skeletons, Draugr, zombies, ghouls, all dead, be it peacefully or otherwise…” “Draugr..?” Twilight shuddered. “Zombies, basically, only Nordic,” I scoffed, “they inhabit most of Skyrim’s dungeons, which are otherwise inhabited by bandits, Frostbite Spiders, Skeevers other forms of the undead, necromancers, fiendish-spellcasters , and the like.” “Such an amazing thing of beauty…” Rarity gawked at the ancient weapon, “Where did you say it’s from?” “Part of my adventures with the Dawnguard,” I simpered. “I just thought of something,” Blaze glanced toward me with a malevolent grin. “Celestia Dawnbreaker, how’s that sound?” “You’re naming a solar goddess after a light-based weapon?” I raised an eyebrow, she shrugged, “What do you think, Princess?” “I’d be honoured,” Celestia giggled, “But I must ask, what is this ‘Dawnbreaker’ you speak of?” “Oh this..?” I unsheathed the Daedric blade, which shone with the light of one-thousand suns from hilt to the tip of the blade, “it’s just another Daedric artefact,” I laughed, “I had two, but I changed the other one to the Duskfall.” “Why does it shine like that?” she gaped, gawking toward the ebony blade with shock-and-awe. “Magic,” I replied with a faint grin, “it’s enchantments to do extra damage to undead, and then trap their souls into soul gems, which are then, in turn, used in enchantments, or it recharge its own enchantment “Like necromancy?” she frowned. “I don’t think Meridia would approve of such a thing,” I laughed, again. “Ah yes, the Daedra you mentioned before,” she smiled, “how did you get into contact with such a being?” “I found her beacon, that of which I used to eradicate the shades from her monastery.” “I’ll bet you did,” Blaze chortled. “Blaze, she’s a demigod, and secondly, I don’t she’d go for someone like me,” I blinked, “Damnit…” “So, what do you plan to do with the crown?” she grinned. “What crown?” I blinked. “The Aetherium Crown of course!” she cheered, patting my back with a somewhat-affectionate paw. “Oh, that thing,” I rolled my eyes, bringing a mild-golden crown with cyan-coloured gemstones embedded into it from my inventory. “What other artefacts do you have?” Autumn Heart laughed softly. “A few important ones, and a few, not-so important ones,” I smiled, bringing out a large crate from my inventory, placing it on the floor beside two others. “‘A few’…?” she smirked. “I was in Tamriel for a while, let’s leave it at that,” I winked. “That’s a lot of gems,” she whistled upon opening the first crate; that of which was brimmed with crystals of varying types and sizes. “Yeah well, I had a lot of work in a certain guild that needed to be done,” I chuckled. “And what’s with these masks?” Rainbow Dash lifted an intricately carved mask from the second crate, glancing down at the others. “Ancient Dragon Priests wore those masks; that of which are said to bend the laws of time itself,” I smirked. “How…?” she blinked, I shrugged. “Hell if I know, I just thought they’d sell for a good price in Tamriel, never did get to sell them though, oh well…” I exhaled sharply. “And what’s with these?” She opened the third crate, glancing between several-dozen small/medium glass boxes, each filled with a different alchemical ingredient. “Rick had quite the name for himself as n alchemist in Skyrim and Raven Rock.” Blaze smiled. “Fake magic?” Twilight frowned. “The only such things as fake magic is that of which has no heart, Sparky,” I grinned. “Hexes, curses and the like are all fake, my magic, real magic, comes from within,” she placed a light hoof over where her heart was. “if you want to believe otherwise, I won’t stop you, Rick.” “Be it faith fortune or prayer, all are a form of magic, so why should alchemy be any different? Is it because it comes from an outside source? Or because of the atrocities people have done using said magic? Either way, it’s magic, and all magic comes from a heart that believes, Sparky.” I chuckled. “You had to paraphrase Makarov Dreyar?” Blaze chortled almost irately. “I thought it’d help, if only a little,” I shrugged. “Who’s Makarov?” Celestia blinked. “The Fairy Tail Guildmaster,” I beamed. “What’s he like?” she smiled. “Strong, Smart, knows what he’s doing, also knows what to do and when and how to do it, perfect for the job,” I nodded. “Speaking of ‘Fake-Magic,’ Blaze flashed a grin toward Twilight “does that mean your Thu’um is also a ‘Fake’ magicka, seeing as it originated from an outside source?” “I daren’t question Paarthurnax’s wisdom, and let’s leave it at that,” I laughed. “Fair do’s,” she smirked. “Thu’um?” Celestia giggled. “How do you think I summoned Odahviing?” I raised an eyebrow. “You got that magic, from where exactly?” she gaped. “It originated from the dragons, one of which, Paarthurnax, bequeathed it to the denizens of Tamriel, with the permission of Kynareth, of course.” “What happened then?” she stepped forward, forming a crowd before me as I closed each of the crates, placing them back into my inventory, alongside the bow, standing alongside the others. “The humans, three Nords in particular, used their newfound power against Alduin, defeating him, albeit, with the use of an ancient artefact, but that’s a story for another time.” “Aww,” glancing around my feet, I saw Snowdrop and the others crowded around me, staring at me with ‘puppy-dog’ eyes, playfully pouting. “Maybe later, Ok?” “Ok Daddy, we love you,” the five of them chimed in unison, almost chorusing as they did so. “And I you, my dear little family,” I smiled, “and I always will…” Snowdrop squee’d, hovering unto my head as Winter Bell and Gracy Gloom sat on either shoulder. “Never thought you to be a storyteller, Rick.” Cellsy nickered, “Why the change?” “Why would I change?” I simpered, “I’m just passing-on what I know, that’s all.” “So you are,” she smiled with a nod, “Safe travels, my little Shmoopie.” “Shmoopie,” Crystal frowned, “Rick’s my little eon, and that’s the end of it!” “I’m different, so there’s always that,” she shot me an icy glare, cold as the core of the arctic circle during mid-winter, “Sorry…” “I suppose you have a point, you are unique, there’s not a being like you in the universe, I reckon,” she smiled, pecking my cheek. “Not true, per se,” Lulania cleared her throat with a slight wince, “there is another being, just as different from his kind as Rick is to yours, Crystal, he is a being that goes by the name of Takua, have you heard of him?” “The Chronicler? Who hasn’t?” Crystal blinked, “last I heard, he was morphed into a toa, and then to a Titan-sized being, why?” “Curiosity,” the all-maker smirked, “I see that you’re memory far surpasses my own, congratulations, Crystal.” “Do not think of me as some animal that needs to be disposed of, pony, creator or not, you touch my little eon, and I will end you!” Crystal scolded the ancient goddess. “And I don’t doubt that, which is why I severed our relationship short long ago, two-millennia ago, in fact.” Lulania snorted derisively. “I’m all-too aware of your and Cellsy’s actions, pony,” she snapped, “can’t say I’m impressed with your childish actions, rather, quite the opposite.” “A God falls for a human, or vice-versa, said god then leaves for elsewhere, creating other gods, demigods and the like as she goes, and then the god councils with her greatest, the rulers of sun and moon, who betray the human, causing him to fall into discord, eventually bringing us to where we are, no?” Blaze scowled. “It’s almost mythic,” I shook my head, “And thus, I have another question…” “What is it that plagues your thoughts, Sir Rick?” “Do you, perhaps, know of a wise one known as ‘Holo’…?”
chapter I arrival‘Tesla’ The name didn’t mean much to me –as not much did- it was just a name, and that’s how it would stay for the remainder of my days “First question, where am I?” I asked the nine beings ahead of me, three larger than the others with wings and horns, one smaller one with wings and a horn one was lavender, the second was white, the third indigo, and the fourth was pink “On the outskirts of Ponyville; Equestria; Equis” the white being’s eyes narrowed at the small ferret-like being atop my head “Like from the kid’s show” the ferret-like being known as blaze, the Quilava, smirked from atop my head “I don’t understand” she blinked “Perhaps we’d better go somewhere else for the Q-and-A session” I chuckled “Indeed” the indigo entity spoke with clarity and grace, with a great flash of light I found myself in a great hall with marble floors, walls and sky-high ceiling “You look pale, are you going to be sick?” The white quadruped smiled “Just a little motion sick; right TK?” Blaze laughed, I nodded “So, who are you?” the pink one spoke with a tone of apparent humour “Teslakana, or Tesla, for short” I held out a hand, she shook it with a hoof “and this is Blaze, my sister” “She’s your sister, but you look nothing alike!” the small white what appeared to be a unicorn gasped “She’s my adoptive sister, her parents were killed by poachers” I bit my lip “Oh” she blinked “I’m sorry to hear that” “Don’t be, wasn’t your fault” Blaze mumbled “So who might you ‘ponies’ be, did I get that right?” I tilted my head the larger white winged unicorn chuckled “We are ponies yes, I am Princess Celestia, this is my sister, Princess Luna, my niece, Princess Cadance, and my student, Princess Twilight” Celestia smiled “You don’t have a Prince, or a King or Queen?” Blaze blurted out, quickly covering her mouth with a paw “We haven’t had a king or queen for a billion years” Luna sighed “But we’ve a prince, two of them in fact, one of which is Twilight’s brother” Cadance turned a one-eighty on the emotional scale, somewhat “And who might you be, little one?” I glanced toward the cyan Pegasus who was hovering before me “I’M Rainbow Dash, fastest flier in Equestria!” “Self-proclaimed or actual?” Blaze yawned “Actual of course!” Rainbow Dash glared at her “I bet I could beat either of you in ten seconds flat!” “Blaze and I shared a glance, then burst into laughter “What’s so funny?” Twilight nickered “The fact that your air-headed friend seems to think she’s the best at what she does” “You have wings, don’t you, why don’t you test them?” Rainbow Dash snorted “Careful there pardner, we don’t know what he’s capable of, so why dontcha think before charging in head first, Ok?” the orange pone with a blonde mane and tail both styled like ponytails with a Stetson atop her head chuckled “Sorry there Sugarcube, Rainbow Dash dun half get excited when it comes tah competition” she smiled “Name’s Applejack, Ah run the farm down the road from Ponyville, feel free tah visit if ya get the chance” “We will, don’t worry” Blaze smirked down at me “Wont we, brother?” “Why not?” I shrugged “Watch out!” she yelled, I leapt into the air as twin white pegasi armed with swords and clad in golden armour brought their swords down to the ground where I’d been standing “Gem Dragon Talon!” I growled, bringing a suddenly-ignited foot down to the ground between them, the shockwave of which both sent them flying, and cracked the marble floor “That was magic,” Twilight gasped “you used magic!” “Still feel like taking him on Rainbow?” Applejack smirked at her cyan friend “Maybe I miscalculated a little” Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow “Stand down” Celestia also raised an eyebrow as the guards stood either side of me “How did you do that?” “I’m a dragon slayer” I grinned “You’re a murderer?” Twilight gaped “I may have the title, but I’ve never, and will never, kill dragons, especially if they’re my friends or family” I frowned “And how did you get such magic, or rather, where?” Cadance giggled “Classified” I bit my lip “With all-do respect princesses, I can’t let just anyone go there” “Fair enough” Celestia smiled “So, what is it that you are; creature?” “I’m an eon, or in this form, a human” I smiled “This form,” she eyed me up and down “explain” “By all means” I bowed, changing to my eon form “Are you a changeling?” she frowned “I don’t know what that is, some sort of shape-shifter I assume?” I tilted my head “They’re a race of sentient, and yet dangerous, bug-like species that feat upon love in order to sustain themselves” Cadance shuddered “If that’s how they survive, there’s not a lot we can do about it, unless you plan on driving them to extinction” I shrugged “We may have our dislike for them, but we’d never end them as a species” Celestia blinked “tell me, what is it that you eat?” “Fish, chips, pizza, salad, gems; the usual” I rolled my eyes “You eat gems,” Twilight stared at me in apparent surprise “you’re a dragon?” “In part, yes” I nodded “But you look nothing like one!” Rainbow Dash rebuked “I’m from an alternate world, your argument is invalid” I laughed “You win this one buster” she grinned with a slight leer “I believe it is time for dinner, sister?” Luna’s stomach grumbled with a slightly comical tune “Indeed it is Luna” Celestia nodded “I believe we can continue this at the dining table, Tesla” When we got to the dining hall, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy, having introduced themselves to me, I sat at the end opposite Celestia and Luna “What’s with the animal?” a three-tone dark blue mane and tailed unicorn clad in purple armour eyed me up and down “He is our honoured guest, Prince Shining Armour” Celestia glanced toward me, I merely smiled “Just be careful” Shining Armour stared at me in apparent suspicion “I have ways to easily make you disappear” “Feel free to try” I shrugged “Fine, you, me, arena, after dinner” he smirked “Is that how you got your title, by being arrogant?” I tilted my head again “I’m the captain of the guard!” he snapped “And I’m a brigadier of the UNSC, congratulations” “How old are you?” Twilight blinked “In human years, eighty, in eon years, naught-point-seven” I glimmered “So, how did you become a dragon slayer?” Celestia sipped her tea rather casually, all eyes were on me “I got my abilities from eating a certain type of gemstone known as Dragon Lacrima; whilst most second generation dragon slayers get it implanted into their bodies, whereas I’ve got it running through my veins” I explained “Second gen?” Twilight blinked “First generation get taught by a dragon, second generation get it by gemstone, and third are by both” I clicked my tongue “Taught by an actual dragon?” she stared at me in horror “Precisely” I nodded “Most of our world is peaceful; yours seems to be an interesting one, Tesla” Celestia smiled as I reverted to human form, still wearing my clockwise goggles and usual regalia, complete with goggles resting between my spiky brown hair and blaze, and my rucksack, which contained a soul dew, my laptop, with charger, a torch, and a few, ‘extra items’ “I must ask where you got that impressive attire Tesla!” Rarity stared at me like a predator does its prey when it gets a fresh kill “An alternate world” I shrugged “You have space-travel?” Twilight gazed at me, almost salivating “I can travel anywhere, and anytime, just by thinking about it,” I laughed “there isn’t a part of reality I can’t journey to” “That’s incredible!” Cadance whistled “It has its uses” I smiled “So, where do thou originally come from?” Luna simpered “Earth, population of around seven billion” I deadpanned “Seven billion?” she gasped “Tia, we haven’t even reached two hundred million yet, how long do thou think these humans have lived for?” “Around three hundred million years” I answered for her “How old is this ‘Earth’ you speak of?” Celestia “As far as we know, four and a half billion years old” I raised an eyebrow “why?” “Just curious” she gave a weak smile -=- After dinner, Shining Armour and I stood opposite one another at the arena “Get ready to lose, human” Shining Armour smirked “I’m not paid to do such a thing,” I chided “Neither am I,” he grinned, as the referee, one of the guards, lowered his hoof “Begin!” I went in to hit Shining Armour square in the face only for him to teleport away “You run from battle?” I laughed with glee “how ironic” “I never run” he hit me from behind, I turned around, he hit me from the side, and again, this time, from the other side “You say you’re a dragon slayer yet you have no weapons that I can visibly notice, why is that” he grinned “I use magic, not might” I sighed, igniting my fists in an emerald flame, catching him just on the tip of his mane as he tried to swat at me “gotcha” “Not so fast” he caught me in the side again Closing my eyes, I began to sniff the air around me, turning my head, suddenly sensing something from behind me, turning on my heel and bringing my fist down, right down on his skull, cracking his horn as the ground splintered open, rumbling in the process “There’s no way…!” Rainbow Dash gasped from the crowd “I believe that’s checkmate, Shiny” I smiled as he rolled onto his side, Twilight and her friends, alongside the princesses, teleporting beside us “Well played, for a human” he coughed, wearily getting to his feet, only to collapse, I caught him as he fell “How did you do that?” Twilight stared at me, mouth agape “Perception” I winked “That’s a dirty trick” Shining Armour scoffed as he managed to balance himself, standing upright again “In war nobody’s going to care what’s dirty or not, what matters is survival” I clicked my neck, shoulders and knuckles “Touché” he slowly nodded “I believe it’s time for some rest” Celestia smiled “Noted” I smiled back, falling onto my back, blaze curling up on my chest “Are you serious?” Cadance nickered “Here’s as good as any” I sighed “I refuse to have a well-mannered guest such as you sleep out in the cold” Celestia raised an eyebrow “Why not, some people count sheep to get to sleep, I count stars” I smirked “You do?” Twilight blinked “Stargazing’s an old hobby of mine” I clicked my tongue “it’s therapeutic I guess” “It is we who raise the moon and stars every night, fair Tesla” Luna stated with a tone of utmost authority “And I thank you for it” I glanced at her for a moment, staring back up at the stars “Now, where’s Orion?” “There he is” Blaze pointed to a certain cluster of stars “So he is” I nodded, “and there’s Aquarius” I pointed to a different constellation “And Leo “she pointed elsewhere” “And the phoenix” I gestured to a fourth constellation “And Draco” she pointed toward a fifth “Thou truly appreciate the night?” Luna bit her lip “Why not?” I shrugged “it may be cold and dark, but that doesn’t there’s nothing good to it” “Goodnight Tesla” Blaze yawned “Goodnight Blaze” I tutted, quickly falling asleep -=-=- When I awoke the next morning, I felt myself lying next to something warm and fuzzy “What in the fudge?” I blinked; Luna had chosen to sleep by my side, apparently in hopes to keep me warm with a wing draped over my stomach, Blaze was stood on her hind legs beside me, trying not to bust a gut in laughter “Tesla got himself a quadruped duvet?” Blaze grinned “Oh shut up” I chuckled, trying to sit upright, only to be pulled back down to the arena floor, Luna wrapping her hooves around me “Don’t go… my love” Luna mumbled in her sleep “That just cements it” Blaze cackled with laughter as Luna gave my cheek a long’ hard, lick, nuzzling into me “Pinch her lightly on the ear, see if that works” “Might as well try” I pinched Luna lightly on the earlobe, which caused her eyes to flutter open, staring at me as they went half-lidded, pecking my cheek “Good morning, Fair Tesla” Luna smiled “Hello” I mumbled “Do I make a good pillow?” “Nay, but thou doth make a ‘more than satisfactory’ teddy bear” she giggled, pecking my cheek again “Good to know” I slowly nodded “So it is” she nickered, clinging onto me “Don’t make us move from here, Ok?” “Fair enough” I bit my lip as Celestia, Cadance, Twilight and her friends trotted up to me from the castle “What’re you doing?” Twilight smirked “Apparently I make a good teddy bear” I nodded “So you do” Celestia raised an eyebrow “Luna?” “Give us five more minutes Tia, one does not simply leave from this comfortable position” Luna sighed “Why don’t you return the hug?” Blaze glimmered “Because I don’t want things to turn awkward?” I suggested “Tesla, you’ve only been here a day, and the co-ruler of practically what could be the whole planet is fondling you like a stuffed animal, what’s more is she’s doing it in front of her sister” she chortled “I fail to see how this could get any more awkward” “Damn you for being right” I cursed “I’m lovely aren’t I?” she cooed “If a little eager” I rolled my eyes as Luna finally released her grip on me, standing upright as I attempted the same, only to me met with a resounding crack “And there goes my back” “Are thou well?” Luna smiled “I’ll be fine” I pulled myself upright steadily getting to my feet “If thou are sure” she winked suggestively “Anyway, I do believe it’s time the sun was raised” Celestia glanced toward her sister, who nodded, her horn glowing as the moon was lowered, and the sun took its place “That’s impressive” I smiled “We thank thee” Luna smiled “Ain’t a problem” I shrugged, stretching my two sets of wings “So it isn’t” Celestia gave an expression as if to say ‘are you serious?’ I shrugged “Have you decided where you’ll be staying, Tesla?” “Not yet” I tilted my head “Thou can stay with us” Luna purred “Aren’t you getting a little ahead of yourself?” Celestia chuckled toward her lunar sister “Are kindness and generosity not two of the elements of Harmony, Tia?” Luna raised an eyebrow “Fine, but if Tesla says that something’s uncomfortable, you stop, Ok?” she simpered “Perish the thought dear sister!” Luna guffawed “Then it’s settle then” Celestia sighed “Tesla, you shall be staying with my sister until we can get you other arrangements” “Thank you, ‘Tia’” I smirked “Call me that again, and you get sent straight to the moon” she said, her voice sweeter than honey “Better stargazing for me then” I shrugged “Touché” she slowly shook her head, both her and her sister disappearing with a great flash of light “Did that seriously just happen?” Rainbow Dash laughed “Did what just happen?” I blinked “You just got hooked with Celestia’s sister” she grinned “I didn’t get ‘hooked’ with anyone” I frowned “I just so happened to get the arrangements for a decent living space, that’s all” “Keep telling yourself that” Blaze perched herself on my head as we walked into the castle for breakfast “I trust you had fun last night?” Shining Armour grinned at me like an idiot “Yeah I got used as a ‘Human teddy bear’” I laughed “How’d that work out for you?” he raised an eyebrow “Besides the concrete floor, not too bad” I smiled “You actually slept on that thing?” he burst into roars of laughter “And I suppose having a tattoo on your arse makes you any better>” Blaze smirked “It’s a cutie mark, everypony gets one when they find their special talent” Celestia ‘observed’ “Fair enough” I shrugged “Do humans get Cutie marks?” Twilight raised an eyebrow “Not unless it’s an actual tattoo or guild emblem, like so” I rolled my sleeve up, revealing the bird-like mark of the Fairy Tail Guild “It’s somewhat beautiful” Rarity hummed “how is it placed there?” “A magic, stamp-like device” I tiled my head “I’m not sure what the actual mechanics are, and I don’t want to get a headache from asking” “You had that stamped on?” she raised an eyebrow “It’s harmless” I chuckled “You humans really are interesting creatures” Blaze tutted “If a little odd” I nodded “Indeed” Luna simpered “So what’re you going to do for work, my little eon?” “I’ve no idea” I muttered “Well, how about you live with us?” Celestia smiled, all eyes were either on her or me “For what reason would you let a complete stranger into your castle?” I chuckled “not that I mind the offer of course” “Because I do not believe your intentions are that of malevolence” she simply replied “If you were; would you honestly believe that I would let you stay, even for a moment?” “Most people can be changed, if not reformed, you just need to know which nerve to pull, and how, when, and where to do it” I shrugged “Oh,” she raised an eyebrow, not looking at all pleased “and what would you know on the subject?” “Not a lot, just a tad of what I’ve heard on the topic of psychological warfare” I bit my lip ‘Definitely the wrong thing to say!’ “And what have you heard?” her eyes narrowed slightly, I felt as though I had a spear of pure light aimed at my neck “Nothing important” I gulped ‘Thank Christ!’ “Good,” she smiled “Now, about that offer?” “Might as well” I sighed “things are only going to get weirder from here on anyways” “Good, then I assume that you shall happily hold the honorary title of Prince Tesla?” she grinned “I what!?” I boomed “on what part of what imaginary contract does it say that I’m a prince?” Celestia teleported in a rather thick scroll which unrolled in my lap “Well I’ll be damned” I whistled “When was this made?” “Two-thousand years ago” Luna smirked “And yet you lot don’t look older than thirty at most” I blinked “Immortality has its perks” Celestia gave a forlorn sigh “And- here… never mind” I clenched my fists, rolling the scroll up as it popped out of view “You were about to say that you thought you looked good for your age, weren’t you TK?” Blaze gleamed with a sly smirk “Damnit” I held my head in my hand “We are most flattered, Tesla” Luna’s cheeks turned a vibrant pink tint “Not every day you get to meet such refined people” Blaze rolled a paw in mid-air, as if suggesting me to continue “Refined doesn’t even begin to- what?” everyone in the room was staring at me “Aunty, must we keep such a callous being in our midst?” A snow-white unicorn wearing a collar and suit complete with a flower to go with it and a mustard-ish coloured mane and tail raised an eyebrow toward Celestia “He’s our guest” Luna smiled “And an honoured friend” “He’s an animal” the unicorn spat “I’m also sentient” I snapped “So you can talk, what else, can you do?” he laughed “You don’t want to know” I growled “You dare threaten me?” he scowled “Not yet anyhow” I waved a hand dismissively “maybe if your intentions are ill of heart, then I might consider it” “So I see” he frowned “I’ll see you later, maybe” “Amen” I chuckled -=- “Tsuki Hoseki Ryu; Metsuryū Ōgi Guren Bakuhoshijin” I roared, releasing twin torrents of silvery-coloured flame toward the far wall of the arena, melting the outermost layer of stone to little more than sludge “Not bad” Blaze hummed “but why did you name it that?” “I’ll explain later” I smirked, inhaling sharply, exhaling a torrent of flame “Tsuki Hoseki Ryu Hokou!” “Star-Gem Dragon roar” Blaze blinked “Really?” “I thought it’d be fun, all things considered” I shrugged “Mushy” she laughed =-= That night, I failed to get any sleep whatsoever, so, doing what I thought to be natural, I got dressed and headed out into the corridor “Princess Luna is not to be disturbed” the guard outside Luna’s room deadpanned “I just want five minutes with her, that’s all, nothing sensual or anything of the sort” I raised my hands “I’m sorry sir, but I can’t allow that” he sighed “Look, I just want to talk to her for a few minutes, that’s all” I bit my lip “Alright, I have to award your perseverance though” he smiled, opening the door slightly, I nodded, walking into the room “We thought we made it clear that we weren’t to be disturbed!?” Luna bellowed “Luna, it’s me, it’s Tesla” I gulped, she turned to face me from her position on the bed “Oh, we did not know, please forgive us Tesla” she mumbled, her eyes were bloodshot with tears streaming down her face “Are you Ok?” I blinked, her appearance was heart-rending “We are fine” she sniffled “Tell me, what happened to you, you go from being the loveliest pony I know, I come to talk to you, and you’re like this, why?” I cooed “We have trouble socializing after our banishment” she stated coldly, gesturing for me to sit beside her, I did She explained to me about her transformation into a deity known as Nightmare Moon, her banishment, her return, and her apparent defeat by Twilight and her friends “I see” I slowly nodded “and this is why you have trouble, because all of your friends of old are… dead?” “Very much so” she wiped her tears away “Well, why don’t you start with me?” I smiled “What do you mean?” she raised an eyebrow toward me “I’ll be your friend, if no one else will” I draped a wing around her “Thou would, even after all we have told thee?” she gasped “A friend is someone who accepts your past and who you are, and learns to live with it, considering your beauty, I don’t think it’s going to be a problem” I smiled “Thank thee!” she cheered quietly, clinging onto me, eventually letting go “but tell us, what, was thy life like, before meeting us?” “Troubling, to say the least” I cleared my throat “if it weren’t for my dad taking me away from my mum, and this is before I even turned a year old, I’d be dead, simple as that” “How?” she frowned “Negligence” I shrugged “I was a literal human bag of matchsticks, had several nurses at the clinic in tears over the whole ordeal“ “Then how are you alive?” she gaped “My dad may’ve beaten the hell out of me up to the age of eighteen, but I moved out eventually, got a job down at Wareham forestry commission and everything” “Is that where thou are from?” she smiled faintly “Yep, one of the more refined places on earth, I reckon” I nodded “And you had to put up with that for seventeen years?” she blinked, I nodded again Her horn glowed a bold, cobalt colour, her eyes narrowing slightly, then widening “Thou are, telling the truth” “Oh thou poor thing” she draped her wings around me “here why don’t you sleep with me for tonight?” “Technically I’m supposed to be here anyway” I shrugged, stripping down to my boxers and getting into bed with her “So thou are” she giggled, draping a wing over me, using me as her personal teddy bear “Is this right?” I glanced toward her “What do thou mean?” she frowned “I mean, we’re to different species, aren’t we?” I flinched “Thou thinkest that we care?” she laughed, pecking my cheek “Touché” I nodded, pecking her on the snout, causing her to shudder slightly, I chuckled, my vision fading to black as I fell asleep -=-=- When I awoke the following morning, Luna was already awake “Sleep well Sugarbear?” Luna cooed “No thanks to you, yes” I smirked “We see thy cheap remark and raise thou one” she laughed, her horn glowing a deep blue colour as the bed slightly warmed up, its softness escalating exponentially “Oh Sweet merciful Thor that’s amazing…” I groaned “Would you like us to continue?” she smirked “By all means, do what you want” I shrugged she practically squee’d, the door burst open and Celestia appeared “Believe me it’s not what it seems” I bit my lip “What’re you doing?” Celestia raised an eyebrow “Tesla wanted to talk to us, and so he sought us out, we talked, he told us about his earlier life, and we about ours, and he accepts us for who we are” Luna smiled “Really?” Celestia glanced at me, I nodded “I won’t do something the two of you don’t want me to do, princesses” I bowed my head in respect “Then I’ll see the two of you at breakfast” Celestia smiled, walking out of the room “Luna,” I began, she turned to face me “I’ve a request I’d like to ask of you, if that’s alright” “Name it” she nickered “I’d like to be your knight” I blurted out “Thou want to be thine knight?” she held a hoof to her mouth “By all means, we don’t see why not, Sir Tesla” “Thank you, Lady Luna” I bowed “Now, thy princess demands love” she grinned =-=-= As I staggered out of Luna’s room, with the dark-coated princess by my side, I was caught short by a small ferret-like being running up the back of my leg and perching itself on my head “Have fun, Tesla?” Blaze laughed “I don’t know how to answer that” I blinked, walking with Luna down to the dining hall =-= “What was that racket I couldn’t help but hear?” the white unicorn from yesterday snarled toward me, Twilight and her friends sat beside me “What racket?” I blinked “The one coming from your room” he frowned I blinked “don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to, human, if necessary, I’ll protect my family from scum such as yourself with my life” “Three things” I raised a trio of fingers “one, you couldn’t fight your way out of a wet paper bag, let alone find water if you fell out of a damn boat, two, you’re being hypocritical calling me scum, and three, that’s my job now” “You what?” he alongside Rainbow Dash, Rarity Twilight and Applejack blinked “Perhaps you’d like to explain yourself?” Celestia raised an eyebrow “Well, it’s quite simple really” Blaze chortled “when a man and a woman love each other very-!” “Blaze, you are not helping” I quickly covered her mouth with a free hand “Aren’t I?” she fought her way free “Apparently you are a magnificent beast” “Luna?” Celestia grumbled “Is there nothing wrong with love?” Luna stated rather poetically “ “I’m not saying there is, I’m just asking you if you truly believe that this will work” she tilted her head “That’s what I said” I smiled “So be it” Celestia sighed As I stood in the centre of Ponyville, Blaze still perched atop my head, I tilted my head slightly “So, work” Blaze patted my head “Back to the crux of the matter” I mumbled “I’m sure you’ll find work fairly easy” Twilight nickered “How,” I raised an eyebrow “Well, I’m sure your anatomy has its advantages in comparison to ours” she smiled “Like?” I sighed “Well, you can reach higher objects without needing to fly, so there’s that” she suggested “Only by three or so feet, not much of an advantage if you ask me” I folded my arms “Well, ya‘ll could always try down at the farm” Applejack smiled “Might as well” I shrugged, walking with her and the others down to the farm “Welcome tah Sweet Apple Acres” Applejack gleamed as we entered the farm “It’s…” Blaze blinked at the surrounding area “It’s huge, you really own this?” I stared at the orange mare “Mah family’s had it fer generations” Applejack shrugged “it’s mah home, and ah’d not trade it fer the world” “Amen” I smiled “So what is it you want me to do?” I stood under the shade one of possible millions of trees in the orchard “Kick it” Applejack smiled “Or hit it” Blaze winked down at me, I winked back, bringing an arm in front of my chest, clenching my hand into a fist as I tensed my muscles, striking the tree, dead-centre, causing a barrage of apples to fall from the branches, landing in several large/wide buckets around it’s stump “You did that, in one hit!” Rainbow Dash gasped “How strong are ya?” Applejack whistled “Strong enough that he looks as though he’s broken his hand” Blaze tutted “honestly Tesla, you ought to take care of yourself” “Are you Ok?” Twilight gazed at my now bleeding hand as I let it fall “It’s nothing” I smirked, walking over to another tree that had buckets circling it’s base, reverse-roundhouse kicking it, causing more apples to fall “Ah think that’s enough, ya’ll can stop, Ah don’t want a potential employee ta get hurt, ya hear?” Applejack chuckled “Ya‘ll can carry the apples over to the cart, that’d be good enough” “Fair enough” I shrugged, lifting one of the containers, slinging my arm through the ropes that made up its handles and then did the same for the other, carrying both with relative ease “How in the hay” she whispered rather loudly “not even Big Mac’s that strong” “Guess I’m just that good” I muttered, carrying the apples over to a nearby cart, placing them down on said cart “Are thou sure that thou should be working here?” an ethereal voice giggled from behind me, turning around I saw Luna and Celestia “I’m used to it, Forestry commission and all” I smiled “Except that was with berries rather than apples” “We didn’t know that thou were this strong, perhaps we miscalculated?” she giggled “Hardly” I simpered as we walked back to Applejack and the others, picking up another two containers full to brim with apples “Howdy there princess” Applejack tipped her hat in respect “what can Ah do fer ya?” “We are merely here to see if Tesla has found himself a viable form of work” Celestia smiled “I’m not complaining, so there’s something” I chuckled “Quite” Luna winked -=- The rest of the morning was spent carrying apples from the trees to the carts, and then returning to said trees, in an almost endless cycle “Soup’s on everypony!” Applejack cheered as she rang a rusty metal triangle hanging from a low branch “Are ya sure you’ll be fine princesses?” “We are satisfactory, for now” Luna smiled “I’ll be fine” Celestia glanced toward her sister, then toward me “I’ll be there in a minute” I nodded “Suit yerself” Applejack nickered as she galloped toward the farmhouse as I forward flipped, landing on my hands, standing on said hands with ease, blaze climbing up my back and sitting on my feet “Are thou, trying to impress us?” Luna smirked as I stared doing push-ups (stand-ups?) “Nay, I’m merely working out, since I don’t think there’s a gym here” I grunted as Blaze used the space between my feet as a hammock, resting her rear on one foot and her neck on the other “Keep going on, eh Brother?” Blaze laughed “That I will” I bit my lip “How long can you usually last?” Celestia raised a smug eyebrow “And your sister just asked if I’m trying to impress you?” I blinked “Oh, the irony” “Putting that aside, I asked you a question” she chuckled “Maybe two hours” I clicked my tongue After Applejack and the others had finished lunch, they stopped as soon as they saw me “Well, well, well, look at you, getting tough are ya?” Applejack laughed, I said nothing, only continuing “Why is Blaze using yer feet as a bed?” “It’s comfortable, sort of” Blaze giggled “If ya’ll say so” she sighed “feel like doing a little more handiwork, stretch?” “Using my anatomy as a joke, that’s a new one” I nodded, Blaze clambering down onto the ground as I fell onto my front, stopping myself with my feet, standing upright “So, how many kicks does it take?” Luna grinned Kicks?” I backhanded the nearby tree, causing another barrage of apples to fall into the containers “why risk breaking my legs, gonna need them for walking” “Touché” she nodded as I carried the containers over to an empty cart, walking back with a slightly injured hand “You’re hurt” she stammered, her horn glowing, a spectacular cobalt colour as my hands were healed “Thank you, Tsuki” I chuckled again “Tsuki?” she blinked “It’s Japanese for moon, which, translated into Latin, means Luna” I explained “It’s beautiful” she smiled as I carried another duo of containers to the large cart, placing them down on said cart, rolling my shoulders, flexing my arms “Be careful not to strain thyself, Sir Tesla” she chuckled “I’ll be fine” I winked, carrying a third pair over to a third cart, placing them down “Next thing you’ll be pulling the three carts without a hitch” Rainbow Dash laughed “Flame of rebuke?” Blaze offered “If you would” I smirked, she nodded, breathing golden flames over me, which I ingested, eating all that she encompassed me with, eventually stopping as sudden, large amounts of power exploded from within me, causing me to burst into flames rather erratically “‘Dragon Force’” Blaze began as scales appeared on my arms, face and hands “the final, penultimate form of Dragon slayer magic, said to be in equal terms of power to that of an accrual dragon” “Watch the flames stretch” Applejack chortled “Sorry” I rubbed the back of my head as the flames died down, grabbing onto the ‘arms’ of the front cart, the other two being already connected and loaded with foodstuffs including cakes, pastries and so on “No way…!” Rainbow Dash laughed, walking beside me as I, slowly-at-first, began to pull the carts “Holy Buck!” “Rainbow,” Twilight snapped “all things considered I’ll let that one slide, this time” “So, are we taking this to Ponyville then?” I gave a smug grin “Sure are” Applejack giggled, walking with me alongside the others toward Ponyville “Is he really managing to pull those?” one pony stopped and stared at me as I pulled the carts into the market “Looks like it” anther one whistled “I’ll bet ten bits he’s hooked already” “Twenty” the first pony retorted “Fifty” a third butted in “Deal” the other two nodded in agreement, all three staring at me in apparent wonder as I stopped the carts at the end of the market stalls “Ah don’t know how ya’ll just did that, but Ah sure am grateful, thanks Tesla” Applejack glanced toward the three mares who had a laser-like focus aimed at me “Looks like ya’ll have got some unwanted attention pardner” “Don’t I just?” I clicked my neck, letting go of the ‘handlebars,’ clicking my shoulders, “Well, we’re not so sure, the moon looks to be a rather interesting vacation spot this year; don‘t thou think so, sister?” Luna chuckled “It’s Tesla’s choice” Celestia simply shrugged “My choice for what?” I blinked “Herding” she smiled, I suddenly felt rather pale “Are you Ok, you look a little unwell” “I’ll be fine” I shuddered as Applejack handed me a medium-sized bag that clinked when she placed it in my hand “Here, for your work, Ah suppose ya’ll be coming back tomorrow?” Applejack smiled “That I will” I grinned =-=-= That night, I found myself hovering in the middle of a road, invisible to all but myself in the realm of dreams “Who are you?” I blinked at the sight of the two unfamiliar humans, the woman, my mum pushing a baby carriage as a car with beaming headlights soared up toward them “Look out!” but it was too late, the man had already run to the other side of the road, where as it was too late for the woman, I looked away as the car hit her, tears on the edge of cascading down my face as my vision faded to black -=-=-=- I bolted upright, panting for breath; Luna draped a wing around me “Bad dream?” Luna cooed “Not half” I mumbled “Here, allow me to see what you witnessed” she placed her horn on my head as it shone with a deep blue glow, removing it a moment later “That’s terrible” she gaped, draping her arms around me “I don’t know what to do, Lulu” I muttered “Let us replay it, together, I shall be by your side this time” she chimed “Thank you” I bit my lip as I found myself on the same road as in the dream “Hold on” I squinted, staring down at the humans “They’re familiar, aren’t they?” Luna stated flatly “Mom…Dad…” I whispered as I watched my dad run to the pavement, whereas my mom= pushed the carriage out of the way of the car, getting hit in the process, she was dead before she hit the ground, my vision fading back to reality “My mom… saved me…” I gaped “She did, she saved thy life at the cost of hers” Luna nodded “how doth thou feel?” “Sick to my stomach” I cringed “We think Thou had best stay here, we shall get Celestia” and with that, she left, allowing me to get dressed before she returned with her sister “Luna tells me you’ve had quite the dream,” Celestia began, how, do you feel?” “Like I’m going to puke” I shuddered “I saw it too, I’d never of guess that-” I cut Blaze off with a glare “Sorry” “It’s not your fault” I sighed “I would’ve been honoured to meet her,” Celestia smiled “your mother I mean, sacrificing herself for her child without a second thought” she exhaled sharply “Although I suppose we’re stuck with you for now” “You hear of a friends’ family member dying and yet you joke about it” I shook my head, Blaze perching herself atop my head as I left the room, storming down the corridor and out of the castle “Do your arms still ache from yesterday?” Blaze stared down at me in curiosity as I took-off from the entrance of the castle, gliding toward ponyville “Not much” I tutted “They really know how to push a guy’s buttons, eh Telsa?” Blaze sighed “I know right?” I gave a sarcastic laugh as I landed at the entrance of Sweet Apple Acres “Ya’ll are here early” Applejack chuckled “Eager to start the day early or somethin’?” “You could say that,” I smiled “So what comes first then?” “Well, ya could start carrying the containers to the carts, same as yesterday, or you could plough the field that needs doin’” she shrugged, gesturing toward a rusty plough “That thing, really,” I blinked “you haven’t thought to replace it?” “Don’t have the funding” she shrugged again “And yet you somehow have me more than a months-worth of wages yesterday” I tiled my head ever-so slightly “Is there a problem?” she frowned “Not at all” I smirked, starting to ‘buck’ the nearby trees, collecting apples from them, and then carrying the containers onto the carts “Where’d ya get tha strength from anyhow?” she laughed “Classified” I winked “Ah’m sure you’ll tell us eventually” she grinned “I’m sure I will” I nodded, carrying another container over to a fourth cart, followed by another two “How many carts do you have?” “Quite a few, we need ‘em for all the apple trees we have” she whistled “I’m sure I spotted an orange tree somewhere” my eyes darted from side to side “There ain’t no orange trees here pardner,” she chuckled “nice try though” “I honestly don’t know what I was thinking” I rolled my eyes, placing yet another container down onto yet another cart “Ya’ll are doin’ great work there, Stretch” she nickered, running up to a nearby tree twisting on her front heels and slamming her rear hooves against it, causing it to shake as a proverbial rain of apples fell from the tree, I stared at her “what?” “Remind me never to annoy you” I glimmered “Nah, ya’ll are fine with me Tesla,” she laughed “just apple buckin’ the ol’ fashioned way” “I don’t suppose there’s another way a pony can do it, is there?” I folded my arms other than magic, or doing it by hand of course” “Nope” she simpered “So what’s living with Princess Luna like?” I hit another tree, resulting in a small sea of apple falling into the containers resting at its roots “She’s right behind me isn’t she?” I mumbled, turning around, only to find empty air, facing forward again “It’s interesting to say the least; she’s got well-mannered, beautiful, fun to be with, caring, wise, and a little cute” “Ah’m sure she’ll be glad to hear ya say that” Applejack smiled “Ya’ll seem to be cut out for this sort of work, where’d ya get the experience from?” “Wareham forestry commission” I shrugged, continuing the process of shedding trees of their apples into containers and then placing said containers onto the nearby carts Worked with them for a while until I got enough money to live alone, I don’t want to talk about the rest” “Fair enough pardner” she tipped her hat in apparent respect as an unfamiliar ‘filly’ (I think) with a golden yellow coat with a scarlet mane and tail wearing a pink ribbon appeared on the doorstep, staring at me in what seemed to be a mix of awe and horror “Hello, little one” I smiled “What are ya?” the filly eyed me up and down “A human, an eon, and a dragon slayer” I gleamed “You can slay dragons, like in the Fairy-tales?” she gasped “That I can” I nodded “Ah thought Ah saw somethin strange pullin’ those carts yesterday” she gave me the most adorable smile I’d seen thus far “name’s Applebloom, Applejack’s sister” she rushed up toward me, holding out a hoof, which I shook, crouching down to her level to do so, and then standing back upright “Did you really buck all them apples,” she glanced at the carts, and then back at me, I nodded “that’s amazin’!” “It is merely what I can do” I shrugged “But, how, how can you do such uh thing,” she blinked “it shouldn’t be possible!” “When you put your mind to it, nothing’s impossible, that’s the magic of life itself I suppose” I grinned “Ok” she nickered “You want these over at Ponyville?” I clicked my neck “There’s no way ya‘ll can pull all o’ them!” Applejack stood beside a large, bright red pony with a short pale brown/ginger mane and tail “Watch me” I smirked as Blaze breathed her trademark golden flames over me, inhaling and ingesting them, triggering ‘Dragon Force’, waiting until the flames died down, scales appearing on my arms, hands and face in the process “How did ya’ll just eat fire, mister?” Applebloom gaped “Magic” I winked as she clambered up my back, perching herself on the back of my head, resting her head upon mine as Blaze sat on my shoulder “Well alright then” Applejack sighed, placing the carts into double file, bringing out a large selection of foodstuffs, twice as much as last time “good to go Tesla” “Right-o” I beamed, straining my arm and leg muscles as I began to pull the carts, all six of them “Making good time TK” Blaze smirked as I picked up slight amounts of speed “I’d like to see you try this” I laughed, tensing my muscles as I picked up a little more speed “I’m not that strong ya know” she rolled her eyes “Fortunately, I am” I chuckled, nearing the town “It’s him again” the same trio of ponies from yesterday sighed dreamily, leaning over a haystack placed beside a nearby building, staring at me as though I were a knight-in-shining-armour “Good Morning” I winked at them, the one on the left blushed a deep red colour; the other two fainted “You can clip my rose anytime…” the creamy-coloured mare with the rose-coloured mane and tail with lilac-ish highlights cooed, waving lightly over to me as I set the carts up at the market “Flower pun” Blaze chortled “Ah don’t get it?” Applebloom blinked as the large red stallion folded down the sides of the carts, turning them into a series of stalls “I’ll tell you when you’re older, maybe” I chuckled, crouching down as she clambered down to the ground “Looks like ya got yourself a keeper, Stretch” Applejack laughed “Whoopee” I rolled my eyes as ‘Dragon Force’ wore off “There might be a few things ya’ll can do down at the farm, just follow Applebloom” she nickered “Will do” I nodded, following the yellow filly back to the farm -=- I can hear your footsteps you know?” I clicked my neck, glancing behind me; I saw the same creamy-coloured pony from before “Sorry, it’s just that I wanted to get to know you better” she flinched “Fair enough,” I shrugged, continuing to walk toward the farm “So who are you?” “I’m Roseluck” she smiled, but most of my friends call me rose” “And that’s the reason for the pun earlier?” I grinned “I’m sorry” she flinched again “I don’t mind, it’s not the worst that’s happened to me” I bit my lip “That’s both disturbing and somewhat relieving at the same time” she gave me a look of apparent curiosity “I’d rather not talk about it” I shrugged “And I wasn’t going to ask” she nickered “you are a strange being..?” “Tesla” I held out a hand, which she shook, smiling graciously “That’s a bold name, mind you, considering your strength, I’m not surprised” she eyed me up and down “I take that as a compliment” I laughed, finally making it to the farm “They still have that ghastly plough?” she sighed “and after all this time I still ask them to replace it with a new one” “I can do that for them,” I smiled “all I need is some steel primer and sandpaper” “I could probably get you those” Rose winked “wait right here buster, I’ll be back” and with that she left, galloping off at full speed down the road to Ponyville “Tesla got himself a girlfriend?” Blaze smirked “I don’t know” I hummed “It sure looks like it, “Cellsy’s gonna kill you for that you know?” “I can handle it” I shrugged “Could you now?” a soothing, yet regal voice echoed from behind me, turning on my heel, I saw Celestia and Luna stood there “Tesla, I apologize for laughing when I shouldn’t have earlier” Celestia bit her lip “I’ll think about it” I sighed, turning to Applebloom “So what needs doing, Applebloom?” “Well, we were gonna plough the fields, but since you thought of a solution for us, Ah think we can wait” Applebloom, nodded behind me, I glanced behind me again, Roseluck was galloping back toward me with a pair of what looked like saddlebags “Here we go” Roseluck smiled, handing me a tub of steel primer, a sheet of sandpaper and a brush “What are thou doing?” “Fixing an age-old problem” I smiled with apparent glee, walking over to the plough, scraping the rust away with the sandpaper, and then applying the primer using the brush “It worked..!” Applebloom stared at the plough as if it were brand new, seeing as that’s how it looked “now what?” “Now, we wait for a couple of hours” I sighed, placing the tub down by the plough, setting the sheet of paper beside it and resting the brush on the lid “How did you know about that?” Roseluck blinked “I worked at the Wareham forestry commission, had to repaint on of the vehicles once” I shrugged “What are you anyway?” she eyed me up and down “A human, an eon, and a dragon slayer” I tilted my head “You can slay dragons?” she blinked “Not sure on that one, probably” I hummed “Well I wish you luck either way, I’ll see you later” she winked as she started to jog back toward ponyville “A friend, we assume?” Luna smiled “Roseluck” I smiled “Ah yes, she runs a florists in town with her sisters, fancy a rose?” Celestia smirked “I’d rather have Crystal” I shrugged “What?” Luna blinked “It’s nothing” I mumbled as what appeared to be a rift in the fabric of reality itself tore open between us, and a familiar eon fell through “Crystal?” I blinked “Tesla,” the crimson eon gasped, pinching my cheeks, lightly tugging them, eventually letting go “it IS you!” “Who else?” I grinned “And blaze!” she whistled “Long time no see girlfriend!” “You know it!” Blaze smirked as the rift closed “So, how are things?” I smiled; Crystal clung onto me, almost crushing me to death “Great now that you’re here” she exclaimed “Can’t… breathe…!” I gasped for air as she let me go “Sorry, haven’t seen you in ages and all” she laughed “It’s been half a week” I raised an eyebrow “Same difference” she poked her tongue at me “Shall we, my love?” “When I see your smile Tears roll down my face I can't replace And now that I'm strong I have figured out How this world turns cold and it breaks through my soul And I know I'll find deep inside me I can be the one I will never let you fall (let you fall) I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all (through it all) Even if saving you sends me to heaven It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. Seasons are changing And waves are crashing And stars are falling all for us Days grow longer and nights grow shorter I can show you I'll be the one I will never let you fall (let you fall) I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all (through it all) Even if saving you sends me to heaven Cuz you're my, you're my, my, my true love, my whole heart Please don't throw that away Cuz I'm here for you Please don't walk away and Please tell me you'll stay woah, stay woah Use me as you will Pull my strings just for a thrill And I know I'll be okay Though my skies are turning grey I will never let you fall I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all Even if saving you sends me to heaven to fade” I sang with Crystal as a duet “To us” I grinned, holding out a fist, which she bumped with her own “How long have you two been together?” Celestia raised an eyebrow in my direction “Just over sixty years” Crystal pecked my cheek “And I’m glad we’re back together” “How’re the others?” I simpered “Aero’s doing great, Ruby and Blue Bolt have had a daughter named Flora, Angel’s going ballistic that you’re missing, and I’m here” she giggled “although Lyra’s sacrificed most of her energy getting me here, getting any more than one eon here would’ve killed her” “Damn” I swore “It’s Ok; Angel will be here soon enough” she winked “Speaking of which, where are we?” “Equestria” Celestia smiled “Fair enough” Crystal nuzzled into me “what I meant to say was why’re, we at a farm?” “Different world and I don’t have any legitimate money on me” I smirked “Seems legit, ironically enough” she chuckled “I know, right?” I laughed “So what’re we doing for work exactly?” Crystal giggled; I nodded toward the plough “seriously?” “The days-worth of goods is already being sold, so I don’t need to do any more on that department” I shrugged “And there’s no way you could prepare more for the next day?” she gave me a smile that melted my insides “You are the perfect eon” I deadpanned “I try” she laughed softly before saying “so, who’re they?” “I am Princess Celestia, co-ruler of Equestria, and this is my sister, Princess Luna” Celestia eyed Crystal up and down “I’m intrigued as to how you got here, but I can wait until another time” “Magic” Crystal winked toward me suggestively “So I see” she nodded “Tesla, we shall take our leave now, farewell” and with that, they teleported back to Canterlot “Friends of yours, Tesla,” Crystal gleamed “Sort of” I smiled “Tesla…” she groaned “Look, I didn’t want to end up as Luna’s personal teddy bear alright?” I mumbled “Aww, that’s nice” she nickered, sort of “Tesla,” Applebloom smiled up at me with her amber eyes practically shining in the light of the sun “Yes Bloom, what is it?” “Blackjack” she glimmered as something whacked me around the back of the head, forcing me to black-out -=- When I could stand upright, it was as though someone had shut off the sun, only to have it turned on again “Surprise!” practically the whole town of Ponyville cheered as Pinkie Pie bounded in circles around me “What the hell?” I blinked “I never got to give you your ‘welcome-to-equestria’ party, silly!” Pinkie Pie laughed “So you didn’t” I rolled my eyes as she passed me a glass filled with a strange orange liquid “What’s this?” “Zap-apple cider” she giggled “Fuckin’ awesome” I slowly nodded, downing it, tow which she replaced it with another “How strong is the cider?” “Strong enough, pardner” Applejack laughed “First timers are usually tha ones who last the shortest in drinking the stuff anyway” “In comparison to some alcohol from earth, this isn’t actually that bad” I smiled again “Thanks, it’s one o’ our leading drinks here in Equestria” she smiled “And I can see why” I nodded, downing the glass So what brings you to Equestria…?” Rarity glanced toward Crystal “Crystal” Crystal held out a claw, which, Rarity shook “And you two are, well acquainted?” Rarity smiled, crystal and I shared a glance, and then burst into roars of laughter “Did I say something amusing?” “It’s just that we’d have been well-acquainted sixty years ago” Crystal wiped a stray tear away from her eyes “Sixty years?” Twilight stared at me “you don’t look any older than thirty!” “Near-immortality” I smirked “I’ve got another almost billion years left in me yet!” the immediate area fell deathly quiet “A billion years?” Rainbow Dash whistled “don’t waste it, big guy!” “Wouldn’t dream of it” I held my hand with Crystal’s, changing to eon form, hovering beside her “So, are you special somepony’s then?” Twilight stammered “What’s that mean?” I blinked “Coltfriend and marefriend?” she rolled a hoof “We’re married” Crystal held out a golden ring with a diamond-shaped diamond in it “Congratulations” Applejack held up a glass, followed by everyone else present mimicking her, smiling at the two of us “Thank you” I smiled “So, how did ya’ll manage to pull all six carts this morning pardner?” she nickered “I’m stronger than I look,” I grinned “given who I’m betrothed to I kind of have to be” “Beg pardon?” she glimmered “Tesla thinks that I’m dumb enough to go falling for another eon, or that I’ll go missing and never return” Crystal chortled “It’s called ‘me-giving-a-damn-about-someone-other-than-myself,’ Crystal I frowned “give me a break” “I think it’s rather poetic, really” Rarity hummed “be sure to keep him Crystal, he’s definitely a refined eon” “What’d you do this time?” Crystal folded her arms, sighing as she turned to face me “Other than get used as a princess’s personal Teddy bear, not much” “Tesla we could here you down the hall” Twilight cleared her throat “Doing what?” Crystal clicked her knuckles “Loving Luna” Blaze smirked “That’s for not telling me,” Crystal punched me lightly on the shoulder, then pecking me on the cheek, and then punching me again “What’s the last one for?” I blinked “Not inviting me, dumbass” she laughed “What?” I blinked “It’s an open relationship, Tesla, don’t ruin it” she winked “This is going to take a while to explain then” I shook my head “Isn’t it just?” a familiar pink winged unicorn cooed, glancing behind me, I saw Cadance alongside Luna and Celestia “I’m guessing that you sensed the rift in the fabric of reality and were drawn here by that?” I tilted my head “No, I was drawn here by the sheer amounts of love radiating from the pair of you” Cadance giggled “Say what now?” I blinked “Celestia is the princess of the sun, Luna is the princess of the moon, whereas I am the princess of love” she declared rather merrily, eyeing me up and down “you’re actually kind of cute, you know that?” “You’re going to let her say that?” Crystal raised an eyebrow “I thought you said it was an ‘open relationship’?” I folded my arms “It is, I’m just curious to see what you’re going to do” she gave a sly grin “Tell that to Angel” I chuckled “She already told me about that” she raised an eyebrow “naughty, aren’t you?” “Tesla did the nasty?” Blaze laughed “Yes, apparently so” Crystal sighed “and here I thought you were off spending time with your friend” “Technically I was” I grinned “Quite” she giggled “Now, what’re you going to do?” “What do you want me to do?” I shrugged, she raised the other eyebrow rather sultrily “Best not answer then…” “If you say, Tsuki no Ryu” Blaze guffawed “Lunar Dragon..?” Crystal glanced toward Luna, and then back to me, eyebrows still raised “You really went all the way with her didn’t you, speedy Gonzales” “Just don’t get me smashed out of my brains and I’ll be fine” I chuckled, again “What’s the date?” Blaze murmured “Third of January twenty-seventy-five” Crystal grinned “your birthday in just under three weeks” “The twentieth,” Rainbow Dash beamed “Twenty-second” I smiled “How old will you be then?” Twilight smiled, leaping onto my back “Seventy-nine” I glimmered “That’s older than most ponies get to live” Rarity sighed, I flinched “What?” “It’s nothing” I smiled “Don’t lie; Tesla” Luna stood beside me “remember what you told me, about your earlier life, and that dream you had” “What dream, is it naughty?” Crystal laughed, I glared at her “Nay, it is tragic” Luna bit her lip “doth thou, wish to see it?” “I do” Crystal nodded as Twilight, her friend and a small, purple, bipedal lizard stood on her back “Hold on then” she held out a hoof, Crystal held onto it as Twilight and her friends connected their hooves with hers, I did the same, holding onto Crystal’s claw -=- We were back in my dream, the speeding car rocketing toward my parents as my dad ran to the pavement, leaving my mom to die, crushed under the car, but not before pushing me out of the way, still lying in the carriage, then the dream ended -=- “Who were they, and who was in the carriage?” Crystal blinked “Me” I bit my lip “Tesla,” Twilight gasped “that was you!?” “Then those humans were…” Crystal stared at me in awe “My parents” “Your mother died saving you, and you’ve grown into quite the… man?” Cadance giggled “I fail to see how one can leave their wife and child to die like that!” Rarity snapped, an awkward silence echoed over the farm “Nothing important here folks” I waved, everyone went back to their current ‘happenings’ as it were “But how,” Rarity gazed at me with intent “how can you live knowing that he-!” I raised a hand “I don’t really care, I’ve outlived all of his wrongdoings, and he himself, what more could I ask for?” “Your mother?” she shrugged “People don’t come back from the dead, Rarity, not ever,” I growled “not ever!” “Tesla,” Crystal clung onto me “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” “I only found out about it with the dream I had last night…” I struggled to breathe “and I didn’t want to ruin our reunion” “You…” she cried “always thinking about others “That’s me” I grinned like an idiot “Are we still friends?” Luna bit her lip, I sighed, rolling my eyes, gently lifted her head with a claw, pressing my lips against her, she forced her lips back against mine hard enough to the point where I fell on my back “Thank thee, Sir Tesla” she nickered, standing beside me as I rolled over, climbing onto my back, hovering beside Crystal “Not a problem, Lady Luna” I smiled “Lady Luna?” Crystal gave a smug leer “Apparently I’m a ‘magnificent beast’” I slowly nodded “So you are” she glimmered “my little eon” “My little gem” “What about us?” Luna gave me her best puppy-dog eyes “My little Tsuki” I smiled “Thank thou” she sighed “So I hear you’ve a somewhat addicted fan-base” Blaze laughed “That I do” I slowly nodded, noticing the three familiar ponies from earlier “watch this” I smiled “good afternoon, the previous fainters fainted, again, Rose just blushed “That did not just happen!” Crystal burst into a fit of laughter “I was not aware that you had fans” Celestia stifled a giggle “Neither was I until yesterday” I chuckled, again -=-=- Ah’m telling ya’ll that we can get our cutie marks on spelunking” Applebloom guided m, a small Pegasus named Scootaloo and a just as minute Unicorn named Sweetie Belle into a cave in the everfree “Are you sure this isn’t dangerous?” Scootaloo blinked as a low growling could be heard “That ain’t me” Applebloom glanced toward Sweetie Belle “Nor me” Sweetie Belle shook her head, Applebloom gazed up toward me, I shook my head, another low growl as six lion-like beings emerged from the darkness, all armed with razor-sharp teeth, scorpion tails, and bat wings “Girls, run!” the three fillies ran as I blasted a great fireball toward the lead creature, angering the rest, as I let loose a dragon’s roar of fire at a second, the third got me in the side with its tail, the piercing feeling coursing through my body as I ripped its tail out, using it as a whip, knocking the other three unconscious “And that’s game” I felt like vomiting Changing to eon form, I flew to the edge of the forest, crashing down on the edge of town, collapsing flat on my face, my vision fading to black once again =-=-= As my vision blurred I heard voices, alongside a repetitive beeping “Are you alright?” The pony at the foot of my be dressed in a doctors uniform smiled “Who are you?” I blinked “Doctor Wheatley” he chuckled “you’re lucky to be alive, Tesla” “What happened?” I sat upright, now in my human form, glancing to one side, I saw Twilight and her friends alongside Sweetie Belle, Applebloom, Scootaloo and Luna “You were poisoned with enough Manticore’s venom to kill a pony, that’s what!” he exclaimed “if it weren’t for these fillies you’d be dead, we barely managed to get all of the venom out, but we had to do a blood transfusion, fortunately we had a donor on-hoof” I glanced toward Twilight “no, sorry” Rainbow Dash “warmer” Applejack “Sorry pardner, yer Gettin’ there” Rarity “I would if I could darling, believe me” Luna..? “We’d do anything to save thine beloved” Luna gleamed “So, when can I leave?” I smirked “Any time you want, your blood levels are all normal and all of the venom’s gone, so I see no reason to keep you here any longer” and with that, we left “So what do you reckons gonna happen now?” Crystal glided down beside me, Blaze perched herself on my head as she leapt from eon to human “If I were a normal human, the magic infused blood in me would cause me to absorb more magic until I go into an aneurysm, killing me” I deadpanned, and then grinned “fortunately I’ve a few ways of getting my magic from one person to the next” “About that” Applejack lightly prodded my knee “can ya’ll really breathe fire like an actual dragon?” “To defeat a dragon a dragon slayer needs to take the power of a dragon upon themselves” I riddled “That doesn’t explain anything” she blinked “I refuse to use any form of offensive magic in a civilised area” I folded my arms “That’s rather noble” Celestia smiled “perhaps you’d like to demonstrate your abilities at the arena “This should be fun” Blaze chortled -=- Once at the arena, I called upon my dragon slayer magic, bursting into flames “Shall we begin?” Shining Armour nodded, I smiled “Eigo Hoseki Ryu” I inhaled sharply, Twilight, her friends and the princesses in the stands alongside Crystal “Hokou!” I let out a sudden torrent of pitch-black flames toward the armoured unicorn “He breathed fire!?” Twilight gasped as Shining Armour appeared unscathed, stood behind an almost broken shield “Not bad, Human, but you’re going to have to do better than that!” Shining Armour laughed “And do better, I will” I grinned, charging toward him, both fists ignited in flames, striking the shield, gleaming as it shattered like glass “Eigo Hoseki Ryu Tai No Tekken!” the second blazing fist hit his helmet, sending him sprawling “Told you so” “So you did” he grumbled as he wearily got to his hooves, staggering toward me, his horn glowing for a moment as he flashed a brilliant golden colour for an instant “Care to try again?” “He’s asking for more than he can chew” Crystal laughed “What do you mean?” Celestia blinked “Just watch” she smirked ‘Mom, this one’s for you, I’ll never forget you’ “Time to end this,” I spat, charging at Shining Armour, bringing forward a leg, kicking him high into the air “Metsuryū Ogi, Shiranui Gata; Guren Kuro Hōō Ken!” I burst into pitch-black flames, launching myself via said flames toward Shining Armour, hitting him dead-centre in the stomach, then doing a forward flip and bringing my heel down onto his back, sending him crashing into the ground, landing back on the now-cracked arena floor “Ah don’t believe it!” Applejack gasped “there ain’t a pony alive who could match yer brother Twi” “Tesla’s no pony” Crystal scoffed, gliding down to me, pecking my cheek “well done, my love” “Why black flames?” Cadance blinked “You can have it in whatever colour you want, so long as it’s black” I laughed “Probably from Luna’s blood transfusion though” “You had a blood transfusion?” Crystal stared at me “I would’ve done it, had I been there Hun” “I know you would’ve dear, I love you too” I glimmered “You crazy bastard” she scuffed up my hair; I returned it to normal as she started laughing “why aren’t I surprised?” “Cause it’s me” I grinned “Too right” Blaze perched herself on my head “So, what’re you going to do now?” Twilight glanced up at me “I trust that the market job’s already been done?” I clicked my neck “We’re waitin’ on ya for that” Applejack chuckled “Then that’s what I’ll do” I smiled, walking to the farm “Are ya sure ya’ll are Ok with this?” Applejack raised an eyebrow as I kicked a nearby tree, sighing as a small wave of apple from said tree “How do you mean?” I beamed “Ya’ll got enough venom in ya ta kill a pony” she stammered “I’m no pony” I smirked “So Ah see” she laughed as I carried a pair of full containers over to a nearby cart “Still wearing the clockwise gear then?” Crystal smiled with apparent interest “Why wouldn’t I?” I gleamed, continuing with my work “Just asking” she slowly nodded “So you are” I sighed Around an hour or two later, and I was starting to sweat “That’s starting to get uncomfortable” I shuddered “What do ya mean-?” Applejack stopper herself as I hung my jacket and shirt on a nearby branch “I can’t work wearing that whilst I sweat” I raised an eyebrow as she eyed me up and down “You alright AJ?” “Ah’m just peachy” she shuddered, her face turned a light scarlet colour “You surprised me there Pardner” “I’m full of surprises, stops life from being dull and boring” I chortled “Ah suppose so” she bit her lip “Are you Ok?” I tilted my head, carrying another container over to the final cart “Ah’ll be fine, ya’ll don’t need tah worry about me Sugarcube” she chuckled as Blaze breathed her trademark flames over me, which I ingested, triggering ‘Dragon force,’ pulling the series of carts to Ponyville “There he- Oh my..!” Rose gasped as she and the two other mares eyed me up like a piece of candy “Mornin’” I nodded, they fainted, rose’s face turned, well, rose-coloured, almost blood-red crimson, I chuckled, pulling the carts into the market, letting go of the handlebars as Twilight and her friends trotted/glided toward me “What on Equis?” Twilight eyed me up and down “You try sweating whilst wearing that clockwise gear” I folded my arms “it’s not exactly comfortable” “Your muscles structure’s rather unique” Twilight smiled, prodded my stomach with a gentle hoof “I wonder if I could make a new set of attire for you to wear as well as that other clothing that you wear, what was it, ‘Clockwise’?” Rarity nickered “Basically” I nodded as “Why do you have scales now?” Twilight nickered “Just a part of dragon slayer magic” I shrugged “What else can you do?” Rainbow Dash smirked -=-=-=- When I awoke, I smelt burning Steadily getting to my feet, I looked around, ponyville was burning, and Twilight and her friends were circled around me, surrounding by an army of greyish-purple bat-winged ponies with fans and lavender armour “Give us the human” one of the armoured ponies snarled “Why should we, you’ve already taken the princesses, what else does nightmare moon want?” Twilight snapped “Nightmare moon?” I blinked, remembering what Luna had told me “I think not!” I launched myself into the air, creating two large fireballs in either hand, slamming the combined inferno down on them, reducing them to ash “Eigo Hoseki Ryu No Koen!” “Tesla, you’re awake!” Twilight simpered “What the hell is going on?” I growled “Ponyville’s been under siege, Nightmare Moon’s back, the princesses have been captured and there’s an army of shadow ponies after our hides” Rainbow Dash frowned “An army versus me, what I like” I grinned “Where is she?” “Are you crazy, there’s no way you could beat Nightmare Moon by yourself! Twilight shrieked “Watch me” I raised an eyebrow “now, where is she?” “She’s in the everfree forest, in the princess’s old castle” Rainbow Dash slammed her hooves together “The let’s go” I deadpanned, sprinting toward the castle in the forest “Well what do we have here?” a pitch-black winged unicorn the size of Celestia stood before clad in teal armour, Celestia and Luna lying at the entrance to the main hall “Luna…” I crouched down, placing a gentle hand on her chest; she was breathing “thank Thor…” “Yes, that’s right” Nightmare Moon smirked with sly grin “she’s defeated, as is her sister, now, will you rule by my side, Tesla, I can give you anything you want, just say the word, and it shall be done” “Luna told me about how she wasn’t loved one-thousand years ago,” I began “but look at you, you’re beautiful, scary, but in your own way, stunning” I went on “I think they were fools not to love you, you are and always will be a part of Luna, and seeing as how I love her like family, if even more, I love you also” I bowed “You, you actually love me…?” she gasped “I’d never have thought such a thing were possible!” “But yet somehow it is” I beamed “it’s true that there are animals and plants in the world that grow, feed and live during the night, but the day is just as important, ponies thrive under it, as do the many species of fauna and flora that co-exist across this planet, they deserve just as much happiness on this planet as you do, and vice-versa, don’t let your gears get the best of you, without heart your love for your subjects will never progress , so please, stop this madness” “I…” she stammered, bowing before me “I surrender” “How on Equis did thou manage to do that?” Luna had somehow found a way to stand upright, as had her sister “I can’t say” I winked “You’ve a silver tongue” Nightmare Moon chuckled, pecking my cheek “I will gladly serve you to the end of our days…?” “Tesla” I held out a hand “can I call you Nyx?” “Why?” she blinked, shaking my hand with a timid hoof “Nightmare moon makes you sound like a vile beast, and something that belongs in the darkest of ponies’ dreams, whereas Nyx is actually kind of, well, cute” “You may call me that, if it’s any easier” she nickered “Well Ah’ll be” someone from the entrance let out a giggle, turning around I saw Twilight and her friends stood there with finely crafted jewellery hung around their necks, and a tiara resting on Twilight’s head “How’d ya manage to do it?” “I only fight when I have to, or when I’m really annoyed” I clicked my neck “and I think we can let Nyx go for now” “You’re going to allow her to roam free?” Celestia raised an eyebrow “I will do as instructed, per Tesla’s command” Nyx bowed quickly “Then it’s settled then” Luna faintly smiled -=-=- As we stood in the main square of ponyville, the citizens of said town crowded before us, muttering to one-another, staring at Nyx in curiosity “Can we have your attention please?” Blaze yelled, everyone present in the crowd turned to face us, now silent “Nightmare Moon is no longer our enemy, rather, she’s now an invaluable ally, and a friend, and I hope to see her treated as such, and I’d like for her to help restoring the town back it its original state “That I shall” Nyx nodded “Are there any questions?” I smiled, no hooves were raised “then I’ll let Celestia take it from here” and with that, I walked back to Sweet Apple acres -=- “Great work out there brother” Blaze sat atop my head as I carried a container full of fruit over to the first cart “Thanks Blaze” I sighed “where’s my coat?” “Here” she climbed onto and perched herself on a nearby branch, where my shirt and jacket were still hanging “That’s good” I went about my work, shedding trees of their fruit and then carrying containers of said fruit over to the carts (technically, they’re wagons, and shall be called as such from now on) “Wouldn’t want such a priceless gem to be broken, would we?” she laughed “Perish the thought dear sister!” I chortled “Now you’re sounding like Luna” she giggled “I did not mean to cause offense” I winked “Of course you didn’t” she smirked “Why would such a roguish being such as yourself want such a thing?” “I don’t know” I chuckled “maybe the universe is breaking at the seams and we’re all going mad as a result” “Wouldn’t surprise me” Blaze tutted “What’s goin’ on?” Applebloom appeared at the doorstep to the farmhouse “We gained a new ally” Blaze laughed “Who,” Applebloom blinked “Nightmare Moon, AKA Nyx” I smiled “Nightmare Moon’s back!?” she screamed “She’s our friend now” I cooed “you don’t need to fear her anymore” “But what about the night?” she bit her lip “That’s still Lady Luna’s job, so don’t worry, she, and the others will protect you, me included” I saluted “Ya will?” she ran up to me, perching herself on the back of my head after clambering up my leg “I’ll defend my friends with my life, if need be” I nodded “any friend or family of Applejack’s is a friend of mine” “That ya’ll” she yawned “Tired?” I simpered “More than!” she laughed with a tired look in her eyes as I placed the final container on the last wagon, crouching down as she climbed down to the ground “Now, run along, get some shut-eye” I winked, she nodded, skipping back into the house, closing the door behind her “Didn’t know ya’ll were good with foals” I turned around, Twilight and her friends were stood beside me alongside the princesses and Nyx, eyebrows raised “And you’re not wearing your upper clothing because why?” Celestia smirked “You try sweating in it, it’s not exactly comfortable” Luna grinned “don’t get any ideas” “Perish the thought, my love!” she laughed “Do you require assistance?” Nyx smiled “Just do what you do and look pretty whilst you’re at it” I shrugged “not that that should cause any problems, right?” “Of course not” her cheeks went a deep shade of maroon “Good” I chuckled, again “So ya’ll are interested in herding?” Applejack gave a sultry look “I might be,” I shrugged “Why?” “No reason” she chuckled “Just curious” “Sure” I slowly nodded, “Element of Honesty” she winked “Element of what now,” I blinked “Honesty, oh, that’s right, you haven’t been told yet” Twilight nickered “We’re the elements of harmony; magic, Generosity, Laughter, Loyalty, Kindness and honesty” she gestured to herself then each of her friends, Blaze perched herself atop my head “Cool beans” I shrugged, blaze once again breathing her trademark lames over me, which I ingested, as per the usual, beginning to once again pull the six wagons into town “He’s back again!” Roseluck waved over to me as we entered the main square of Ponyville, the sun gradually rising above the horizon “You didn’t raise the sun, dear sister” Luna blinked “I don’t always need to do so, merely because I can, Lulu” Celestia raised an eyebrow as I stopped the wagons into the centre-most area of Ponyville as the citizens that were busy helping repair the damage stopped and stared “I see you’re doing what you can, Tesla,” Crystal glided down to me, eyebrows now raised “why’re you... Y’know?” “You try sweating in that clockwise gear, it’s not exactly doable” I frowned “Fair do’s” she giggled “So, what do we do next, Sir Tesla?” “We do what we can” I sighed “and here I was, never thinking that this could happen” “Anything’s possible, my love” she pecked my cheek “Supposedly” I nodded -=-=-=- It took a couple of weeks, but eventually, the damage to ponyville was repaired “Greetings fellow subjects,” Celestia stood before the countless mares, stallions, cots and fillies that made up the population of ponyville “it is with great pleasure that I welcome four new citizens to Equestria,” she lifted a wing, pointing it toward me, Crystal and Nyx, Blaze sat atop my head “please, step forward “Hello Equestria,” I began, smiling, all were silent “I’d like to introduce myself, as some of you may know already, I’ Tesla, or Teslakana, this is my sister Blaze, and my wife, Crystal” a hoof was raised that of which belonged to Roseluck “yes?” “You look nothing alike” Rose giggled “My parents were killed by poachers” Blaze deadpanned “What about Crystal?” Rose stammered, I changed to my eon form, and the reverted back again “Fair enough” she cooed “So, what are you exactly, one of the ponies eyed me up and down “A human, an eon, and a dragon slayer” I smiled “You can slay dragons?” another one gasped “I can, but I refuse to do so unless provoked” I frowned “So, you’re a good guy then” Sweetie Belle stood beside me after climbing onto the stage alongside Scootaloo and Applebloom “That’s a matter of perspective” I chuckled “What’s that mean?” Applebloom blinked “It means a particular attitude towards or way of regarding something; a point of view, basically” Sweetie Belle batted her eyelids at me “Correct” I nodded “Are all ponies like you, wise beyond their years, or is it some kind of rare gift?” “I don’t know…” she stared at me dreamily, gazing at me as Applebloom dragged her away alongside Scootaloo “Just another fan to the list, eh Tesla” Blaze laughed “Looks like it” I smiled again -=- As I went about my usual work, filling and carrying containers of apples to the wagons and then repeating the process, I noticed a certain trio of fillies stood at the entrance to the barn, staring at me as I worked “You three Ok?” I smiled as Sweetie Belle Scootaloo and Applebloom smiled “We’re fine Tesla, just thinking about how we’re gonna get our cutie marks” Scootaloo nickered “What about dragon slayers?” Sweetie Belle winked at me “One, that’s borderline suicidal, two the process of even becoming such is painful beyond anything you’ll probably ever experience and three, you’re too young to learn such magicka” I sighed “Look, I can see in your eyes how badly you want it, just don’t be reckless, Ok?” “Ok” the trio chimed “Huh, odd” I blinked, turning back and getting on with my work “Tell me about it”, I glanced toward a nearby tree, Applejack was stood there, grinning “they’ve been tryin’ tah get their cutie marks for ages now” “And your advice on the matter..?” I raised an eyebrow “Let time do its thing, let nature run its course” she smiled “Ya’ll really are something, aren’t ya?” “Why’d you say that?” I tilted my head slightly “Well fer one, yer a human, now Ah can respect that, but a dragon slayer? That just doesn’t happen on Equis, hasn’t happened so far anyways, and then ya’ll reveal that yer also an eon, whatever that is, then ya’ll have been coming here for the past two tah three days and helping us with tha farm without a second thought, why?” “Cause, I’m trying to be nice” I shrugged “Ok, but why Nyx?” she raised an eyebrow “Not all that is dark is evil, merely misunderstood” I cracked my knuckles “That bein’ the case, why do ya‘ll have those things on yer arms?” she nickered “They hold my physical strength back, but not that of my magic” “Try taking them off” she smirked “If you say so” I sighed, removing the metal bracers around my lower arms, each one create a sight rumble as it hit the earth “So why do ya’ll need ‘Dragon Force’ to pull them wagons?” she giggled “’Dragon Force’ increases both physical and magical prowess” I explained “How heavy are these anyway,” she picked up one of the bracers, weighing it in her hoof “Sweet Celestia, now that’s heavy” she whistled and you’ve been carrying them around for how long?” “Around forty years” I shrugged “they’ve been enchanted so the stronger I get, the heavier they get” “You’ve had what on for forty years?” I turned around again, Twilight and her friends were stood there beside Nyx “These” I passed her one of the bracers “How heavy are these meant to be?” “The stronger I get, as I said before, the heavier they get” I glimmered “But that would mean…” she gasped as I backhanded a nearby tree, making a large indent that went through from one side to the other “That’s coming of yer pay ya know?” Applejack laughed “Fair enough” I shrugged “And since the human leg is anything up to five times stronger than the arm, you can imagine what that’d do” “Five times stronger,” Twilight stared at me, eying me up and down “how strong are you?” “Strong as I need to be” I hummed, carrying on with my work, whistling a familiar tune as I did so “Ya‘ll are that strong?” Applebloom blinked “That I am, Applebloom” I smiled “So, I heard that it’s a rather special day tomorrow” Twilight simpered “What’s the date?” “Twenty-first of January” she gleamed “So it is” I sighed “Congratulations, Aniki” Blaze chuckled “Are you gonna celebrate it?” “Not really?” “What?” Pinkie Pie gasped “you have to celebrate your birthday; otherwise it’ll just be another boring day!” “I’m not going to bother explaining it” I face-palmed “So, no party?” she pouted, giving me a look that, by the laws of physics, should’ve given me a heart attack “Do what you want, I won’t stop you” I shrugged again, pulling the wagons toward Ponyville, Sweetie belle Scootaloo and Applebloom jumping into the one at the front “Mush” Blaze laughed as I stopped the carts at the market, same as always, the same three ponies leaning over the same haystack by the same building, on the same part of town “Ah expect ya’ll are expecting a reward for yer work?” Applejack raised an eyebrow “Not really” I clicked my tongue “Well, here ya are anyway” she winked, handing me a large bag of coins “The extra’s fer yer absence fer the time ya’ll were poisoned saving mah sister” “No argument here” Blaze smirked “Blaze, manners” I warned her, walking back toward the farm with the bag of coins, Applebloom Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo following me there “So, what do you plan to do with it?” Blaze grinned down at me “I know that look, brother; you plan on doing something you probably shouldn’t” “Charity Blaze, charity” I corrected her, walking into the barn, placing the bag down under a large pile of hay, turning to Applebloom “Alright, little one, in a few days, maybe even tomorrow, when I give the signal you to try and get into the house with the bag I’ve just hidden, go nuts with it, if you manage to get any passed your sister, Ok?” “Ya’ll mean that?” Applebloom gasped “Blaze doesn’t need it and I don’t want it” I shrugged “go bonkers little one, take it now if you want, I don’t mind” “thanks Telsa!” Sweetie Belle pecked me on the cheek, the three of them rushing back toward town with the bits split between them in their saddlebags “What was that about?” Applejack blinked as I continued with my work “What was what about?” I tilted my head, pulling the now renewed plough along the edges of a nearby field “Mah sister and her friends just galloped passed me like they’ve jus’ seen a ghost, what’s more is they’re praising you like Celestia” she raised an eyebrow “Ya‘ll wouldn’t happen to know about that, would ya?” “Is it important?” I shrugged “If it involves mah family, Ah’ll say it’s got higher priority than the rest of Equestria” she frowned “Amen” I nodded “And where’s that bag o’ bits Ah gave ya?” her eyes narrowed “Did you give them away?” “Tesla’s now giving charity” Blaze grinned “Is that so?” Applejack hissed “Well in that case there’s one thing Ah’m gonna have tah do” before I could react she had stood on her hind legs, pinned me on the ground and planted her lips onto mine, eventually parting “What..?” I blinked “Ah reckon Princess Luna’s a might lucky to get somepony as considerate as you for a coltfriend” she giggled “Ah’m honestly jealous” “Right…” I stammered, getting back to my feet, now pulling the plough a little faster, nor working in the inner parts of the field “Did Ah say somethin’?” she smirked “Not at all” I finished the field as fast as I could, stretching and clicking my back vertebrae afterward, followed by my shoulders and ankles “Ah also see that ya‘ll fixed our plough, thank ya there pardner” she smiled “There ain’t any type of rust that steel primer and sandpaper can’t fix” I grinned “So Ah see” she nickered, I sat under a nearby tree after placing my shirt and jacket back on, picking them up from the low branch “Might as well remove those too” I rolled up my trouser legs, removing the hidden leg bracers on my lower legs “How many o’ those things do ya have?” she laughed “Just the set of four” I chuckled, standing up and walking back toward Ponyville “Tesla” Applejack called out, I glanced behind me “Ah love ya” “Fair enough” I grinned, continuing the trek toward the town “It’s the hero!” A pony from the entrance to a nearby house pointed toward me, to which the many citizens of ponyville crowded around me “Three cheers for Tesla!” he whistled “I didn’t sign up for this…” I mumbled -=- After the somewhat different hilarity was over with, I sat on the bench by the fountain “Are you Tesla?” a silvery/light grey mare with a long dark grey mane and tail with a pink bowtie and mulberry eyes sat beside me on the bench “That’d be me” I nodded “My name is Octavia and I’ve, got something I like to confess…” Octavia’s cheeks turned a slight pink tinge “Go on ahead, say what you need to” I smiled “I’m in love with you” she bit her lip, flinching “How so,” I hummed “I hot a glance at you when you arrived here with the princesses in canterlot, and then I saw you using your strength to haul those wagons in, and now I’ve heard that you saved the princesses, and now that I’ve gotten up close and personal, I do find you rather attractive” she giggled “do you accept my love?” “What would you say if I was herding” I whispered, leaning in closer “I’d be honoured” she bowed quickly, skipping off into the distance “Sounds interesting” Blaze cackled with laughter “Can it, torch” I snapped “Ooh, alright then, who pissed in your porridge?” she laughed “I skipped breakfast” I muttered “So you did” she smirked “Ruby and Angel are gonna kill me” I moped “I’m sure they’ll understand” she stifled laughter “Easy for you to say” I sighed “Yes, I suppose it is” she giggled as my stomach let out a rumble “Someone’s hungry” she chortled “And I gave my cash to Bloom and her friends” I sighed again “That’s karma right there” “No, Karma would be walking into that confectionery over there and finding a few muffins left out for you by those friends of hers” Blaze pointed toward a large gingerbread house “Let’s test it shall we?” “Might as well” I shrugged, walking with blaze to the shop, walking through the front door “Well if it isn’t the local hero?” a cyan blue pony with a pink mane and tail smiled “I trust that you’re the one Sweetie Belle left these out for?” she pointed to a card box, looking in aid box I found a set of triple chocolate muffins “Looks like I owe you and Applebloom now” I laughed “thanks for these” “Take care now” she smiled as I left “You owe who now?” Blaze grinned with a sly smirk as I sat back on the bench “Alright, I was wrong and you were right, again” I mumbled “Aren’t I brilliant?” she laughed “You’re my sister, so there’s something” I chuckled “And you’re a human, so there’s that” she retorted “Ferret” I simpered “Stretch” she tutted “At least I’m not a midget" i grinned “At least my arms are proportionate to the rest of me” she snorted “At least my backside doesn’t light up every time I get excited” I folded my arms “You gonna eat those?” she grinned “Obviously” I rolled my eyes, quickly finishing the muffins, Blaze burned the box, and I hid the ashes under the bench “That’s better” I walked toward the town hall, which had a notice pinned to it “A dragon problem?” I hummed “this should be fun” As I trekked up the mountain, heading toward what I’d hoped to be the dragon’s lair, I heard footsteps “I can hear you, you know?” I frowned; glancing behind me I saw Twilight and her friends “You heard about the problem too then?” Twilight pointed toward the thick trail of smoke “It’s on the noticeboard in town” I shrugged, continuing the walk up the mountain path “You don’t really think you’ll be able to beat it, do you?” Rainbow Dash flew alongside me “Never question our skill” Blaze gleamed “Tough guy eh?” she laughed as we arrived at the entrance to the lair, which was about twenty feet tall “What size do you reckon it is, sister?” I smirked, cracking my knuckles “Thirty to forty feet, probably bigger” “Just might make it to lunch then” I grinned “Who’s going to do what now?” a low, husky voice echoed from the cave as a large blood-red dragon with golden spines, wings and tail-spike walked to the entrance “You’re causing a problem for the towns below as your smoke is blocking out the sun” I frowned “Not my problem” he shrugged “How about I make it your problem?” I snarled “You think you can take me?” he laughed “I can kill you” I beamed “Try me” he gestured for me to attack, I did, letting loose a dragon’s roar followed by a brilliant flame “Flame of rebuke, let’s go” “Aye, sir..!” Blaze cheered, engulfing me in her trademark flames, which I ingested, letting loose another roar as scales appeared on my face, arms, and hands “Is that it?” the dragon growled, bringing a scaly fist down toward me, I backpedalled faster than he bought his arm down, lunging forward, igniting both fists in a whitish-golden flame, striking both down across his chest, forming an ‘x’ shaped scar “Eon Gem Dragon wing attack,” I spat, bringing a blazing heel down upon his crown “and talon!” I heard the resounding crack of his skull splitting open, “That’s your first dragon, well done Tesla” Blaze clapped her paws, applauding me as large amounts of blood poured from the dragons skull “No pulse?” I kicked one of the dragon’s spines, resulting in no movement from the dragon whatsoever “no pulse” “I reckon that head would go well mounted on your wall” Blaze laughed “You killed it…” Twilight gasped “Dragon slayer” I rolled my hand “besides, I was hungry, and annoyed, and I needed something to do” “You’re going to eat it!?” she shrieked “I’m an omnivore, and yes, yes I am” I clapped my hands together “Itadakimasu” “Chow” Blaze clapped her paws together, Twilight and her friends galloped at full speed as I tore out one of the dragons’ fangs, using said fangs as a crowbar to remove the scales, piercing a slab of the meat, using my dragon-flame breath to heat the flesh, eating it, one bite at a time “Give us a piece then” I handed her the fang, she nibbled a bit of the meat, quickly swallowing it “Spicy” “And savory, with a slight amount of mint” I nodded, munching away at the delicacy “if there a gryphons on Equis, we could probably hand this recipe to them” “Dragon-flame-grilled-dragon,” she laughed “hah, the irony!” “Ahem?” I turned around; Celestia, Luna and Cadance were stood there “Oh, hi” I waved, licking my lips “You said you wouldn’t kill a dragon” Celestia frowned “Unless I was annoyed, which I was, no thanks to tall green and gruesome here, but that’s over now” I smirked “We do not allow murder in Equestria” her eyes narrowed “And yet the creatures of the everfree do it all the time” I tilted my head “That’s beyond our control” she scoffed “And so am I apparently” I sat cross-legged before the large pile of gold, gems and jewellery that the dragon had left behind “besides, I was hungry” “How does that justify killing?” she scowled “When something gets hungry it hunts, it kills, and it eats; that’s nature” I shrugged. Handing Blaze another bite, which she all-but devoured “Go back a hundred million or so years and humans did it all the time, we still do it now, it’s called hunting, and it’s also a sport, only now we do it with semi-automatic weaponry” “You’re sick” she spat “I’m a human, what did you expect?” I sighed, taking another bite of meat, ingesting it with glee “So it’s nature that condemned this dragon to die?” she raised an eyebrow “It’s one of the laws of the universe” I tutted “it’s life, kill or be kill, hunt or be hunted, welcome to the proverbial jungle, Cellsy” “Noted” she sighed “very well, if you wish to do this so-called ‘sport,’ this ‘hunting’ I won’t stop you, just keep it within reason” “I’m not an animal, I know my limits” I huffed as they teleported away -=-=- “That was appetizing” Blaze and I let out a synchronized yawn as I carried the dragon down the mountain, leaving it on the edge of the forest as I walked back into town “So I heard you stopped the dragon at the mountain” a white unicorn with a spiky two-tone, blue mane and tail wearing magenta shades grinned “You could say that” Blaze laughed, the both of us having at least a third of the dragon “How’d ya do it?” she laughed “We ate him” I deadpanned, the three of us burst into sudden laughter “no really, I ate him” “You killed a dragon?” she gasped “What’s he taste like?” “Spicy, savory, and with a touch of mint” Blaze licked her lips rather fervently “Where is it?” she chortled “Can you even eat meat?” I blinked “I’m used to it” she waved a hoof dismissively “I still order those meatballs from Gryphus that Octavia still doesn’t know about” “Bitching” I smirked, leading her to the dragon carcass “Holy buck this is big!” she whistled “and you carried it here, by yourself?” “That I did” I nodded as I breathed a light dragon flame over the dragon, using the fang to cut a small slice off, handing it to her, fang included “This is amazing,” the alabaster unicorn cheered “it’s just as you said. Spicy, savory with a tad bit of mint!” “Should we be concerned that she can eat meat?” Blaze laughed “Vinyl!” someone screeched, glancing behind me I saw Octavia stood there, rigid, and livid, glaring at ‘Vinyl’ with pure hatred “you told me you stopped eating meat?” “I did” Vinyl gulped audibly “And I suppose that means that it’s Tesla’s fault?” Octavia hissed “Not entirely” I bit my lip as Vinyl finished the slice of meat, licking her lips as it went down her digestive system “And why’s that?” Octavia blinked “I got a rid of the local dragon problem, what happens to it then is anyone’s game” I shrugged “You’re eating it?” she gasped “Humans are omnivores” I flinched “Well I suppose I can let it slide just this once” she sighed “but you better clean yourself afterwards Vinyl Scratch, you hear?” with that she trotted away “Vinyl Scratch,” I smirked “Tesla,” she grinned, bumping her hoof against my fist “Nice to meet ya” “Likewise” I nodded, giving her another slice of dragon-flame-grilled-dragon-meat “This is absolutely delicious, it’s like when you work for your food, and you really work for it” blaze was gorging herself on her own Blaze-grilled slices “I know, it’s actually kind of awesome” I broke another fang off, carving out a steak, heating the scales with fire and then grilling the steak “That’s almost god-like” Vinyl gasped as I sliced it in half, giving her half, and blaze the other half, carving out a smaller steak, grilling it also, devouring it “How are we still managing to eat any more?” Blaze laughed “Magic” I chuckled, carving out three more steaks “good thing this isn’t on one of those TV cooking shows” “Just as well, dragonscale souffle “Scales aren’t edible, it’s be too much like eating glass” I shook my head “Let’s just eat” -=-=- “That was rather filling” Vinyl let out a yawn “I know, let’s just hope we don’t get any problems tomorrow” I laughed “you gonna clean yourself up then?” “Are you?” she purred “No” I chuckled “Neither am I,” Vinyl leapt at me -=- “That was fun” Blaze chortled as I rested myself against a tree down at the farm, staring up at the sky “What constellations can you see this time brother?” she smiled “There’s Leo, there’s Virgo, there’s Draco, and there’s the Phoenix” I pointed to each one in turn “And there’s Sagittarius” Blaze pointed toward the archer in question “Oh yeah, nice catch” I smiled “Tesla, this spot taken?” a rather dead voice sniffled, glancing beside me, I saw Vinyl stood there, her magenta shades on her horn, revealing a pair of lavender eyes, which were bloodshot “By all means” I patted the ground beside me, she lay down, tears in her eyes “What happened?” “She kicked me out, and now I’ll have to find somewhere else to live” Vinyl let her emotions out as she clung onto me “Easy, Vinyl, let your emotions out, it’ll be Ok” I cooed, draping my wings around her “How?” she wept “I’m at a loss at what to do here Tesla, I don’t know what I’m gonna do” “I’ll talk with her in the morning, Ok?” I smiled rather faintly “Ok” she sobbed, curling up on my chest “Goodnight Tesla” “Goodnight, Vinyl” I sighed
chapter VIII changelingAs I sat on the edge of the stage in the now-empty theatre, on the following month I placed my rucksack beside me, rifling through the infinite space, having had it enchanted to hold an unlimited load, eventually finding what I wanted, and what I needed to use it Placing the especially made Pipbuck upon my left arm, hidden underneath the sleeve of my jacket, I turned it on, slipping the sleeve back over it as it clicked and let out a faint whirring as it activated, standing up and walking with my friends and family toward the main hall, rucksack closed up and slung over my shoulders “I trust that you’ll be joining us for breakfast, Tesla?” Cadance smiled as she skipped past me, stopping momentarily “Maybe” I sighed, she giggled, trotting merrily down the corridor, standing at the entrance to the castle, taking a glance at the Pipbuck attached to my arm, “Dawn of the Light-bringer” Blaze and I spoke in unison as the sun’s light basked the surface of Equis, not visible as it peeked over the horizon “Quite so,” Velvet Remedy smiled “she would’ve loved to have come here, toaster repairpony or otherwise “What was it they called you again in the wastes, a dragonoid or something like that?” “They called me a prodigy, the dragon-seer” I chuckled “now that I think of it, just how smart am I?” “Very,” Pepper nickered “or so I’ve been told” “You’d have to be smart to survive in the wastes, brother;” Blaze chimed “lest ye suffer an eternal damnation in an abstract, barren, hell” “Only with megaspells instead of hellfire and brimstone” I rolled my eyes “but it’s probably just as bad” “Will you allow us,” Celestia stood by my side, having apparently walked up from behind me “to see what you look like without the magic keeping your appearance up?” “Go ahead” I bit my lip, her horn flared, and four of my wings disintegrated, followed by both arms and my leg; replaced moments later by mechanical counterparts, my jacket now in ruins as scars were visible across my torso, the sleeve that hid the Pipbuck now missing “Now you see me for who I am,” my eyes locked onto hers as she gaped in horror at my new battered “I’m a right mess, and I deserve none of what you ponies give me, but you do so anyway, and I thank you for that, Celestia” “I’d never have thought;” she eyed me up and down “how’re you even alive!?” “Luck,” Blaze sighed “Tesla says he’s as lucky as a chocolate fireguard is useful, but we know better” “What’s that?” Celestia gestured toward the Pipbuck “It’s my inventory, and my Geiger-counter, among other things” I reached out to her, she took a step back “Tesla, I don’t think I can…” she exhaled sharply “I just need to think for a while, I’ll see you at breakfast” with that she teleported away, my form reverting to normal “That’s what you normally look like?” Littlepip gasped “Don’t get used to it, my dear Littlepip” I flinched, crouching down to her level, she suddenly lunged toward me, wrapping her arms around my neck “Don’t you ever go anywhere without telling us first; you hear!?” she lightly smacked me across the cheek, placing her lips against mine, standing before me, winking at me “I understand,” I nodded “come hell or high water, I’ll never leave any of you, ever, under any circumstances” “Thank you, my love” she smiled “Now if only we could find Blackjack-” Blaze was interrupted as I was knocked to the floor, held there by four metallic appendages “Hello Tesla” a white unicorn clad in black armour with barely any of her original parts showing with glowing orangey eyes smirked at me “How did you get here Blackjack?” I sighed as she let me go, “Same way you did, you didn’t just give Velvet a little of your power, Y’know?” Blackjack grinned “from what I hear, you’ve quite the herd” “We’re more than just herd-mates,” Littlepip nibbled on my ear, clambering onto my back as I crouched, stroking Blackjack’s Black and crimson two-toned mane “we’re lovers” “Isn’t that the whole point?” she laughed “So, what are you?” Pepper blinked “Cyber-pony, originally a unicorn,” Blackjack sighed “this is what happens when you bring an entire ship down on yourself and several others, to put it bluntly” “That, and taking a lot of fire” I nodded “Perhaps we can get that armour off, Blackjack” “Is that an invitation?” She raised an eyebrow “It’s a suggestion, unless it’s a part of you now” I smiled “The legs are my own, as are my wings,” she frowned “if you can return me to normal, now that I’m no longer fighting for my life, I’ll gladly repay you in kind” “I’ll see what I can do” I hummed -=- As we entered the dining hall, all eyes were on us as Blackjack sat next to me alongside Velvet Remedy and opposite Littlepip “What, is, that?” Twilight stared at Blackjack in apparent horror “Hello” Blackjack waved, Fluttershy and Rarity fainted “I think the question is not what, rather, but Who?” I chuckled “Indeed” Luna eyed Blackjack up and down “who art thou?” “Blackjack, or as I’m known as in the wastes; ‘Security’” Blackjack simpered “Can you remove your armour?” Celestia glanced at me, then toward Blackjack “It’s a part of me, which is why I asked Tesla to see if there’s a way to return me to normal, per se” she sighed, again “And you thought that here was a good a place as any?” Cadance nickered “I came here in search of my Alpha, so to speak” Blackjack nuzzled into me “and I found him” “You do realise he’s mostly machine,” Celestia raised an eyebrow “as are you, so it seems” “It’s not what people say, do, or seem to be that matters,” Blaze Blackjack and I smirked “it’s who they are that’s important” “Why is it, brother,” Blaze began “that wherever you go, you’re ridiculed, hated, and now, it seems, feared, for what you are?” “I don’t know,” I sighed “it’s getting annoying though” “One part dragon, three parts machine” Snowdrop perched herself upon my head once again “I do believe the quote is ‘one part brave, three parts fool’” Velvet Remedy smiled “Eragon reference if I’m not mistaken, Tesla” “That it is” I nodded “Tesla..!” Celestia was cut off as I stormed out of the room, followed by my family, friends, and Blackjack -=- “She really knows how to piss you off, does she not?” Blackjack glanced toward me as I reached into my rucksack, bringing out a set of a certain rollerblade, replacing them with my normal footwear “What, the heck, are those?” She laughed “Air trek, supposedly” Blaze smirked “They’re supposedly able to give one the ability of flight, even without wings” “But there aren’t any brakes” Pepper tilted her head as Blaze and Snowdrop landed by my side “Who needs brakes?” I grinned, pressing down with my feet as I leant forward, catching up in speed rather rapidly as I raced around the gardens, spiralling up the tallest tree I could find, turning and leaping toward the castle walls, figuratively soaring before I hit the stone wall, gliding up across the completely level surface, taking to the air as I practically rocketed from the roof into the skies above doing a triple backflip as I spun around, sliding back down the wall diagonally “That’s incredible!” Blackjack stared at me as I landed beside her and the others “That’s basic stuff” Blaze glimmered “you put those things on, and the whole world becomes your plaything, a giant, multi-levelled rad, as it were” “What’s all the commotion?” Celestia teleported in front of us alongside Twilight and her friends “Learning to fly, without using my wings” I chuckled “And that dreadful screeching?” rarity shuddered “Wouldn’t you like to know?” Blaze clambered onto my shoulder as I took off again, gliding across the ground, racing up the castle walls once more “Here, comes the boom,” she gleamed with a sly grin as I took to the skies a second time, leaping from my shoulder, spinning forward into a wheel-like formation, engulfing herself in her own flames, hitting the ground with a sickening crack, creating a sizeable crater “Blaze bomb!” “He’s actually flying,” Twilight and Rainbow Dash stared at me as I took off from the castle’s roof into the space above the gardens “How is that possible?” they blinked as I landed “Momentum,” Blaze laughed “put down enough pressure on those things and you can do anything” “Try doing an attack with them on” Celestia glanced down toward the ‘Air Trek’ “If you say so, princess” I shrugged, grinding the last word to spittle as I took to the sky one final time, igniting my hands and feet, “Suishō hasu, Karyu Ken,” I beamed, firing off Gatling-like punches, gradually slowing to a halt as I started to continuously flip forward, hitting the ground with the back of my feet, creating a ring of fire around me as I kicked the ground, creating another crater “Eigo Hoseki Ryu Kaiten Kagizume” “That’s quite impressive,” Twilight gawked at me, quickly shaking her head “Where did you get them?” “Alternate earth,” I shrugged “cheap too” “Spent ten years trying to get it right” Blaze quickly covered her mouth “How old are you?” Celestia’s eyes narrowed “Why do you care,” I snapped “last time I tried to talk to you, you ran, so why should I try again, knowing the result’s going to be the same?” “Because I love you” she bit her lip “Now you love me<” I scowled “when it’s all fun and games you say that you love me, but as soon as I mention anything to do with my past or what I’ve been through it all goes awry,” I glowered with unadulterated rage “with ponies like you; is it any fucking wonder Nightmare Moon exists?” I spat, changing to eon form, Pepper, Littlepip, and Velvet Remedy climbing onto my back, Blaze unto my neck, and Snowdrop unto my head, but not before slinging my rucksack over my shoulders, Blackjack flying alongside me as I left =-= “Too harsh,” Blaze chortled as we flew through the Everfree forest “I don’t care” I scorned as I entered the castle in the forest, gliding toward the throne room “all I care about is getting to Nyx” and there she was, as I entered the throne room, there, stood all her glory, teal armour and pitch-black coat with a royal blue mane and tail filled with stars, smiling down at me, was Nyx, my family and friends immediately made for the floor as I reverted to human form “I’ve been expecting you, Tesla,” Nyx smirked “have you come to redact your knighthood to the supposed ‘princesses’?” “I have” I nodded, walking up to her, having replaced the ‘Air Trek’ with my normal boots, drawing the Dawnbreaker, handing it to her as I bowed on one knee “Ah yes, the Dawnbreaker, or so I’ve heard<” she simpered, her horn glowing a brilliant sapphire as the light that echoed from the enchanted sword turned black as night “Now better known as the Duskfall,” she placed the blade against either shoulder “I hereby Dub you; ‘Sir Teslakana of the midnight Blaze” I felt a burning sensation as my wings were somewhat altered, glancing back, I saw that they’d also turned pitch-black “I’ve also given you half of my magic, changing it into something compatible for you, dragon slayer” she winked “Mayonaka no honō no Kishi” Blaze and I smiled as we marched into ponyville “That’s a mouthful and a half” “And the magic she gave me is making me feel numb” I cringed “It’s going to take time for your magic to match hers, just wait a bit, and see what happens” Littlepip smiled “Might as well” Blackjack and I rolled our eyes “You didn’t tell me you were allies with Nightmare Moon, tesla” “I think she prefers the name ‘Nyx,’” I chuckled “I came up with it because I don’t want her name to sound akin to that of an actual nightmare, or a monster” “Nyx is adorable, as a name I mean, Daddy” Snowdrop chimed “So it is” I smiled “Also your jacket’s changed colour” Pepper nickered, I glanced down at my jacket, it’d gone from a mildly coloured brown with golden trimming, to a vivid, dark, indigo colouration with black trimming “That’s interesting,” Blaze hummed “perhaps it’s to do with the magic input you received from Nyx” “Blaze, do you realize what we could do now?” I gave a smug grin “And risk destroying you r new home?” she blinked “don’t think so” “And here I’m usually the one who says that” I tilted my head ever-so slightly, since Snowdrop had, once again, perched herself there “now who’s up for waffles?” -=-=-=- The following morning, I slouched out of bed, quickly getting showered and dressed, walking down to the main hall, my friends and family joining me as I did so “So, ready to test out the newly upgraded spells, yet, brother?” “Upgraded?” Twilight, Spike, her friends –save Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie-, and the princesses appeared before me, trotting toward me “What does she mean, Tesla,” Celestia glanced at my wings and I also notice that your wings have changed in colouration, why is that exactly?” “Magic infusion” Blaze chortled “Where were thou yesterday,” Luna’s eyes narrowed “and why doth thy presence seem darker than before?” I raised an eyebrow “You didn’t,” Celestia stared at me “Tesla, you’re a fool; how much magic did she give you?” “I’m not saying a damn thing” I snapped “because if I do you’ll just try to vanquish her like you did the last time, isn’t that right, princess?” “I’m not going to do anything; I only wish to help you” she raised an eyebrow “That’s what he said” I muttered under my breath “And look what happened then” Blaze sighed as I walked with my friends and family out onto the arena “Feel like using magic yet, TK?” she smiled “I’m gonna to try something new” I smirked “That’s what she said” Blackjack laughed “So she did” I nodded, placing one arm out straight in front of me and the second bent beside me, firing the latter arm, both fists ignited and instantly pulling back, firing what seemed to be a sphere of black, fiery magic that cracked the far wall “Karyu no Higan” Blaze nodded “Not bad, but now let’s see what multiple attacks can do” “Metsuryū Ogi,” I grinned, my fists still blazing with a pitch-black flame “Yami Suishō hasu Karyu Ken” After the attack finished, there was nothing left of the far wall or the seats that were built behind it “Now that’s what I call firepower!” Littlepip Blackjack guffawed “Pun intended?” I smiled “But of course” she laughed -=- As I burst into the throne room of the castle in the Everfree, I saw Nyx stood there, staring down at eight familiar ponies in apparent fear “You have reduced Tesla to nothing but a shadow of his former self” Celestia snarled “how do you plead?” “I will gladly give my life for Tesla” Nyx bowed her head “do what you will, I will not resist your punishment, princess of the day” it was then that I noticed twilight and her friends wearing a set of rather intriguing jewellery, which shone as Twilight’s eyes glowed, I rocketed toward Nyx as a rainbow beam of energy arced toward the ceiling, and down toward her, using myself as a shield, setting myself alight with a pitch black flame The rainbow beam collided against my body, seemingly disintegrating as it rebounded to the far corners of the throne room “Is that it?” I clicked my neck “No wonder the megaspell from the crusader mainframe failed” “I can’t believe it,” Twilight gasped “why didn’t the elements work!?” “It’s only logical,” Celestia sighed “the elements of harmony always stay true to their creators and masters, the elements of nature, and as such, would never harm them, regardless of who the bearers of either sets of the elements might be,” she went on “you knew that, right?” “There’s nothing I know about my kind, as an eon, I know next to nothing other than the fact that I’m an element -or bearer of an element of nature-, besides, I only got here not a year ago” I shrugged “The elements of harmony were created by the eons as a somewhat weaker failsafe, in case there was such an event in which darkness swept across the country,” Celestia frowned “to think that you, of all ponies, would kneel before Nightmare Moon as her knight, the irony of it all” “Mayonaka no Honō no Kishi” Blaze perched herself atop my shoulder “Ore wo dare da to omotte yagaru?” I grinned “Which translates to what, exactly?” Nyx nickered “Who the hell do you think I am?” I smirked “Quite so” Luna’s eyes narrowed “We’re not leaving until Nightmare Moon is no longer a problem, to anyone” Celestia glared daggers toward Nyx “Didn’t you yourself allow her entry into ponyville?” I raised an eyebrow “That’s in the past, this is now” she snapped “First you take everything from me on earth, and now you’re trying it on again,” I glowered “there’s just no end to your tyranny is there?” I shook my head “I’m not doing this for me,” she looked hurt “I’m doing this for Equestria, if she’s not here, then the dragons, gryphons Minotaur’s and other inhabitants of Equis have nothing to fear” “No because they’ll be too busy running from your iron-handed rule,” I spat “I think Faust would make a much better ruler, but then, that’s my opinion” “How can you say such a thing,” Twilight screamed” I’d like to see you do any better!” “You would?” I blinked “Blackjack here’s the queen of the wastes, and I’m the leader of the dark Brotherhood, the companions’ guild the thieves’ guild and the champion to the dark gods of Skyrim known as Daedra, what you gonna do?” “You worship the dark gods?” Celestia scowled “One, I don’t worship them, I do their work for them,” I snarled “and two, not all that is dark is evil, simply misunderstood, like Nyx here” “Thou would allow her to roam free to do as she pleases?” Luna growled “Within reason, yes, I would,” I tutted “I would rather perish than see one of my beloved friends fall to the likes of you, Celestia, and you as well, Luna” “You dare defy us?” if looks could kill, It would have done just that “Just look around you, princesses,” I gave a sly grin “the people of the world are builders, but if you look deep into their hearts, you’d also find the power to destroy,” I went on I am that power, I am destruction, and I WILL destroy you, if need be” “You are an element of natured, Tesla,” Celestia scowled “we are elements of creation, that of which cannot be harmed by a minute power such as yours” “Zancrow said something like that, and he’s a flame god slayer, and look what happened to him!” Blaze laughed “Why would you go that far just for one pony,” Twilight frowned “it’s not logical!” “I thought you ponies were the ones who revelled in friendship, and yet you haven’t the slightest idea of the concept, illogical as it all may be,” I chortled “you talk to me about such things, I’ve only one thing to say to you, twilight Sparkle; you’re out of your league!” “But why,” she shook her head, gawking at me “why go so far as to risk your own life to protect your friends?” “Because I don’t want to lose anyone again,” I blurted out, flinched “Celestia’s the one who manipulated my life, and therefor separated me from the one being who made my life worth living, that’s why I’ll fight until I die,” I went on “if you so even as much as think as doing it again, it’ll be a downright bloodbath!” “He ain’t lying” Applejack looked at me dead in the eyes “Ah dun believe it, why’d ya do it Princess?” “I…” Celestia stammered; everyone in the room was staring at her as a snow-white figure walked up beside her; she gasped “Mother I-!” “I’m disappointed in you, Celly” Faust frowned “I warned you about delving too much time into Tesla and what he was doing, I could allow taking a peek, but changing him like that, possibly scarring him for life, how could you think to do such a thing ?” “I… I’m sorry, truly” Celestia glanced up toward her mother, then toward me “I think you’d better go to your room, Celestia” she raised an eyebrow, Celestia teleported out of the room, she turned to me, trotting toward me, stopping no further than a meter away from me “Tesla, I’m sorry for all the trouble she’s caused you, if ever you need anything, don’t be afraid to ask, Ok?” she winked “I can’t thank you enough” I bowed quickly “And as for you” Faust toward Nyx “you are free to do as you please, within reason, Nyx” “Thank you, Faust” Nyx glimmered “Are you an element of creation?” Snowdrop perched herself on my head “I am,” Faust nodded “I am the element of life; Celestia is that of light, and Luna, of Darkness” “I think I’ve an idea of what your element is, Brother” Blaze clambered up onto my shoulder “Sacrifice” “Too right,” Blackjack rolled her eyes “you sacrificed your mobility just to save a few foals in danger from a group of raiders,” she smiled “and once you got new limbs you did it again for Littlepip and her friends” “Ore wo dare da to omotte yagaru?” I reiterated “Indeed” Faust giggled “How long have you been standing there, your majesty?” Snowdrop “Long enough,” Faust smiled “and you don’t need to call me by my title, practical as it may be” “And as factual as it may be” I raised an eyebrow “You flatter me, truly” she giggled again “I’d hate to ask a lady her age,” I bit my lip but how old are you?” “Two billion years old” she flashed her eyebrows at me “why, you’re not going to try anything are you?” “Perish the thought!” I laughed “I’m offended, don’t you love me?” she gasped in fake/apparent shock “I was just going to say that you look good for your age, brilliant even” I sighed “I know what you meant Tesla” she quickly pecked me on the lips, winking at me “as for me looking good for my age, so do you” “I’m two-hundred years old,” I raised the other eyebrow “And I’m two eons old, no offense” she gleamed “You say that now, yet just try using the spell that reveals what someone actually looks like “If you say so,” she slowly nodded, her horn flaring a bright scarlet colour as she tapped it against my skull, my form changing to what I normally looked like, without magical interference “Well there’s somethin’ ya don’t see every day” Applejack whistled “Indeed” Luna eyed me up and down “thou art two centuries young, are you not?” “That I am,” I nodded “Why?” “You lied to us” Twilight frowned “Whether it be once century or two, either one is a geographical blink of an eye,” I shrugged “an instant, if you will, less than a second” “You’re…” Rarity stared at me in unadulterated horror “you’re a machine!” “Only in part, I’m still at least one-third dragon” I mumbled “See what I mean, hated, ridiculed and feared” Blaze spat “Just like humans, they fear what they don’t understand, and they hate what they fear” “We/I don’t fear you” Pepper, Blackjack, Littlepip, Velvet Remedy, Snowdrop, Blaze, Faust and Luna smiled, faintly as Faust’s horn flared again, my appearance returning to normal “That’s eight of you, what of the other eight?” I clicked my tongue “I don’t fear you, my little Eon Knight” Nyx pecked my cheek, her armour seemingly dissolving and becoming a part of her mane and tail “I take care of you, and you me, we’re a couple now, but, since you’re herding, I suppose I can share, but just this once” she nickered “Now I’m not sure whether to be worried or not” I smiled “Rest assured; I won’t do anything you don’t want me to do or say” she bowed quickly “That’s encouraging,” Blaze laughed “Although simultaneously sentimental” “And besides, I’m sure we can be better than humans” Rainbow Dash grinned “I’d like to see you build a warship that can travel faster than light itself” I smirked “Touché” her eyes narrowed as she gave a sly smirk “But I bet you can’t perform a sonic rainboom!” “If by that you mean breaking the sound barrier, then yes, I can” I shrugged again “Any eon can do so if they try hard enough” “That’s a lie!” she sneered “Its basic aerodynamics, and also, science” I exhaled sharply “Now, shall we make way to ponyville?” -=-=- As we walked/glided into ponyville, everyone present stopped what they were doing and bowed toward Faust and Luna, and stared in awe at Nyx “What,” I gleamed “can’t the two princesses of the night come homeward bound?” “In that case,” Pinkie Pie inhaled sharply as the entire area underwent a rather apparent change, from that of the main square of ponyville, to the abstract main hall of the castle “Congratulations!” “Weird,” I blinked “perhaps another time though” I walked away from the main hall, down several corridors and flights of stairs, ending in a hallway with several prison cells on either side, Snowdrop and Blaze sitting either side of me as I sat between cells “What’s the matter,” a slightly husky, feminine voice echoed from the cell behind my left side “did you take a wrong turn in life, or are you here of your own volition?” “I’m here because I wandered in the wrong direction,” I hummed, glancing behind me I saw what looked like Sapphire, only pitch black with a horn, cyan eyes and pale blue wings, complete with fangs “Who are you?” “I’m Black Beetle,” the being croaked “of course, down here, that doesn’t mean shit, not to Celestia, not to Luna, not to anyone, why?” “Because it sounds like I’m the only one who cares” I smiled, weakly “what’re you in here for?” “The guards found me unconscious outside the town they call ponyville, dragged me in here when I failed to cooperate” Black Beetle frowned “you’re not with them, are you?” “That depends on whose side they take in the upcoming storm” I sighed, again “So it does” she raised an eyebrow “who, or what, are you?” “I’m Tesla, a human, an eon, and a dragon slayer,” I held a hand through the bars, Black beetle shook it “You can slay dragons,” she blinked “how?” “Magic,” I winked “so, what happened, before you were found by the guards?” “I can’t remember much,” Black Beetle hummed “we were supposed to invade canterlot, take over the castle and capture Shining Armour; his love for Cadance would’ve fed our queen for generations to come, and then she would feed us with segments of that love, it is our lifeblood you see, we need it to survive, lest we perish, and fade to the dust, that of which we’ve built empires over, we thrive on emotions, but none greater than love” “You feed on love, like food?” I tilted my head “Exactly, without it, we starve, and our shells begin to crack, for without it, we are but mere insects to her majesty, but we all know of the respect and love she treats us with, and we love her back for it, even though we’re not supposed to” she gleamed “finally, someone who understands what we’re truly like, can you release me, please, I’d be indebted to you if you did” “Stand back” I stood upright as she backed against the far wall of her jail cell, I drew Duskfall, slicing through the rusted bars like paper, forming a circular-shaped hole, sheathing the blade afterward “Let me do the talking” I smirked as she clambered onto my back, wrapping her holed hooves around my neck “Alrighty then” Black Beetle nickered as we entered the main hall, the music that was playing stopped dead; all eyes were on us, or Black Beetle, to be specific “Is that a changeling?” one pony gasped “I thought they’d all been annihilated by Cadance and Shining Armour’s love” another spat “to Tartarus with it!” “Yeah, why should it deserve to exist?” a third snarled “You really are hated aren’t you?” I bit my lip “It is only natural,” Blaze climbed onto my shoulder “they fear what they don’t understand, and they hate what they fear” “We are not afraid of that, that thing!” a fourth pony screamed “bring it down here and we’ll show you how afraid we really are!” “Violence,” I spat “bullying, just proves my point, bullies often do what they do out of jealousy and fear, you are no exception” “What did you say!?” a fifth pony shrieked “I don’t hate Black Beetle, I love her, as I do all my friends and Nakama, which translates to ‘a friend that’s closer than family,’” I smiled softly as I glanced toward the bug-pony hybrid upon my back “if you can’t understand that, then I suggest you leave my presence, immediately” =-= “What was that about?” Applejack frowned toward Black Beetle as she and the rest of Twilight’s friends, Spike included, trotted toward me “Equality,” I frowned in return “clearly it doesn’t exist here on Equis?” “You mean the theory that everyone is equal and that Nopony is above or below anypony else?” Twilight blinked “It’s not a theory; it’s a practice, and a concept, much life your so-called ‘friendship’” Blaze snapped “Sure the idea’s not perfect and it has its flaws, but don’t we all at some point or another, we’re only mortal after all” “You speak with the wisdom of an eon, young one” Faust teleported into view beside us “and it is with a warm heart that I free this changeling from imprisonment, eternally” “Ya‘ll can’t be serious!” Applejack spat “I am but one changeling, what possible harm could I do?” Black Beetle cooed, nuzzling into me “cause another invasion?” at that moment in which she finished speaking, what seemed like a metaphorical/proverbial earthquake fused with a tornado swept through the room, the glass shattered as more changelings burst into the room, the main double doors sent flying alongside what seemed to be an armada of guards-ponies that of whom were sent sprawling across the floor “Well what do we have here?” a gravelly, mildly dark voice echoed through the room as a larger, meaner-looking changeling marched into the room beside a squadron of armoured changelings the larger one in question had a dark cerulean mane and tail with cat-like green eyes and slightly lobnger fangs “Black Beetle, what a surprise,” the large changeling smiled with apparent glee “and here I thought you’d been captured!” “I was, Tesla here saved me” Black Beetle nickered “I have to thank you, ‘Tesla,’” the changeling held out a hoof “Chrysalis, queen of the changelings” “Tesla,” I shook her hoof “Dragon slayer” “You can slay dragons,” she eyed me up and down with a stifled laugh, “how so?” “Magic,” I smiled “I’m assuming you’re here for her?” “That won’t happen” I turned around; Celestia was stood there, glowering at me “I thought I told you to go to your room?” Faust frowned “I cannot allow this creature to invade my kingdom a second time, mother” Celestia growled “Whose kingdom is it?” Faust raised an eyebrow “Yours, mother” Celestia lowered her head in apparent defeat “Oh, this is rich,” Chrysalis burst into a fit of laughter “shall we get some popcorn whilst you two argue?” “State your intentions, Queen Chrysalis” Faust gave a deadpan stare, no emotion in her voice whatsoever “I am here,” chrysalis winked at me “to do two things” “Name them” she smiled, faintly “Firstly, to free those of my kind you have held in your pitiful dungeons,” Chrysalis licked her lips as she stared at me “and secondly,” she turned back to Faust “to align a peace treaty with your lovable little subjects,” she continued “I surrender” “You, after all you have done, specifically to my niece, would dare ask for repentance?” Celestia spat “I think that blast has given you dementia, chrysalis” “If I may interject” I raised a hand “there’re a couple of things I’d like to add” “Go ahead” Faust smiled “Freedom is the right of all sentient beings, no matter how odd they may seem,” I smiled at Chrysalis, whose cheeks turned a bitter shade of red “and secondly, you feed on love, yes?” “We do” Black Beetle and Chrysalis smiled “Love is fleeting, but we must cherish it. Though it may change before our eyes, we can find solace in love as long as it is there,” I slowly nodded as more changelings marched through the door Twilight and her friends stood beside Celestia “that is all” “You’re too kind, Sir Tesla” Chrysalis nickered awkwardly “Then I accept your surrender” Faust smiled “welcome to Equestria” “Thank you, your majesty” Chrysalis quickly bowed to Faust, and then to me “we cannot thank you enough, you will always be a hero to the changelings, Sir Tesla” “Just Tesla works,” I chuckled “or TK, if you’d prefer” “Then we’ll be off,” Chrysalis laughed “Black Beetle, I’ll leave you in Tesla’s care, if that’s alright with you” “I’m fine with it” Black Beetle simpered “Then we’ll see you later, Sir Tesla” she nodded, leaving back the way she came, her army of changelings following her out “Don’t look now, but I think she loves you” Blaze chortled “Changelings know nothing of love, only how to destroy it!” Celestia snarled “That’s a lie!” Black Beetle yelled, standing beside me as she glared daggers at the solar goddess “we changelings lived in peace until you ponies came along,” she glared toward Celestia “we all got along nicely, but then sunbutt over there had to reign on our parade, almost literally!” she hissed “we changelings have lived with love since our creation by a certain deity, some may call it a curse, I call it a blessing, so if you think that we know nothing of it, I suggest you shut the fuck up!” “Owned,” Blaze chortled “Sunbutt just got her ass handed to her by a changeling, how’s that going to affect her?” “Need some ice for that burn?” I grinned “What would changelings know about love?” Twilight scoffed “One, probably more than you,” I smirked “and second, take it from someone who knows what they’re talking about” “Her majesty was right, you are too kind” Black Beetle laughed “I’m only looking out for my friends, something I have not seen happen thus far on Equis, not counting that of which has come from my own friends Nakama, and family” I shrugged “Who do you think you are,” Celestia glared “I am who I am, there isn’t a person or otherwise in the universe that can change that, save a scarce few” I raised an eyebrow “but you separated me from her, leaving me with the friends I have now “Do you have any idea what they’ve done to our kind, to my subjects?” she glowered “‘Subjects,’” I blinked “a tad close to the word ‘underlings,’ is it not?” I gave a smug grin “and besides, Blackie told me what happened, the apparent ‘invasion,’ as she called it” “And do you have any idea of what you did to us?” Black Beetle scorned “it’s because of you we’re grasping at straws just to survive, but that’s the difference between our species,” she scowled “we don’t care if we die, so long as it’s to continue the specie’s guaranteed survival, we don’t care if we do if it’s for the rest of the hive, we don’t care- no, I don’t care if I die, if it’s for my friends, my family, and my hive, I’ll gladly lay down my own wings for the greater good of my kind” she lectured “So if you think that violence and murder is going to solve anything, think again!” “But we can still kick your flanks!” Rainbow Dash slammed her hooves together “What did I just say about bullying?” I spat “it’s from fear and jealousy that behaviour like that should arise, if at all” “And what’d you know about it?” she tutted “Why don’t you ask your so-called god!?” I clenched my fists “I only wanted you to be with me again,” Celestia blurted out “Her shame revealed as worlds cross over” Blaze slowly shook her head “it’s pitiful, nay, it’s pathetic” “Just when I thought I wasn’t disappointed enough already” Faust frowned “Go back to your room, for the next week or two would be best” “I’m so sorry…” Celestia had tears streaming down her muzzle as she teleported out of the room “How can anypony put a single being through so much pain?” Littlepip stared at me in apparent awe and/or horror “It’s unbelievable!” “It’s tyranny” Blaze frowned,, turning her gaze toward Twilight and her friends “tell me, little ponies, how far would you go for someone, knowing that they’ve done that sort of thing to my brother, regardless of their being royalty?” “We…” Twilight began, biting her lip “I don’t, I don’t know” “You know the metallic bar-like objects that connect pieces of carpet underneath doorways?” she folded her arms, Twilight nodded “Tesla here got that instead of a cane, the sharp end to” “Where; exactly?” Black Beetle gulped audibly “Faust, if you would” I removed my shirt and jacket as her horn flared a brilliant scarlet in colouration, my mechanical limbs and scars returning once again as I turned, my back facing Twilight and her friends, glancing back toward them, Fluttershy fainted “That’s horrific!” Rarity gasped “I ended up in hospital for several months, unable to move my back in any way plausible all the while,” I hissed “that’s another thing you can thank your so-called ‘princess’ for” upon my back were several disturbing/off-putting scars, each one at a different angle, I quickly put my shirt back on “That’s cliché, but it’s what happened” I shrugged, again “there Ain’t no changing the past, no matter how much I may want to” “Ya’ll really have been through a lot haven’t ya?” Applejack sighed “Ah’m sorry, fer judging ya’ll before” “Do not judge, lest ye be judged” Blaze slowly nodded -=-=-=- “So, what’s this about again?” I yawned only having just woken up, stood in the corridor outside my room “You know what this is about,” Celestia scowled “ever since you came here, you’ve been attempting to dethrone me, well I tell you now Tesla, it isn’t working”! “Had I wanted you gone, believe me, it would’ve happened by now,” I rolled my eyes, stretching my limbs “besides, this world needs someone to light the way to the future, pun and cheesiness not intended” “Your sentiment is indeed noted, although that doesn’t change my thoughts on the matter” “You hate me, what I’m doing, how I’m doing it and about the changelings, are you not?” I tilted my head “What’s your point?” she spat “I’ve two pieces of advice for you, Celestia,” I sighed “let it go, and get over yourself” “What did you say!?” she bellowed “Guards!” nothing happened “what have you done?” “Whilst you were sulking in your room, Faust had the guards answer to her, and her alone, no matter how many times you call for them” I smirked “besides, this is something you can’t avoid, nor can you call for someone else to deal with it for you, you need to deal with it yourself, Princess” “And how would you suggest I go about that, human?” she glowered “I just said,” I exhaled sharply “Get over it, and let it go” “Are you trying to anger me, Eon?” she growled “Again, if I were to try to do that, I’d of done it by now” I shrugged, again “Later’s” I winked, walking down the corridor toward the main hall, Blackjack, Velvet Remedy, Littlepip following me there, Snowdrop perched between my horns, and Blaze stood on my shoulder, and Black Beetle clung onto my back “Who pissed in her porridge?” Snowdrop suddenly burst out laughing “Blaze,” I groaned “I haven’t taught her anything!” Blaze held her paws in mock surrender “Right, and I’m related to Mozart” I slowly nodded “Fine, maybe I taught her a few words, it’s not my fault if she just so happens to use them of her own volition!” she pouted, folding her arms “I just got an idea” I grinned “Tell me, tell me!” Blaze gleamed “‘Crystal lotus, flame dragon’s guardian angel’” I smirked “Cheesy, how does it work?” she grinned “I’ve no idea yet, but it probably involves the remaining Dawnbreaker and Duskfall blades that I’ve got” I shrugged “Neat, hope to see it soon” Littlepip smiled “As do I” Black Beetle placed her head on my other shoulder “We too, would like to see it progress” Blackjack and Velvet Remedy simpered “I’ll show you when it’s finished then” I smiled “till then I suppose we’ll have to wait, now who’s up for waffles?” “What’s a waffle?” Black Beetle blinked One does not simply ask what waffle is,” Blaze chimed “did I get that right?” “Perfect” I nodded “Seriously, what is a waffle?” Black Beetle tilted her head “One of humanities ‘finer’ creations” I licked my lips” “Amen” Blaze nodded “is that with or without the chocolate sauce?” “Again, you use a term I’m not familiar with, why is that?” she raised an eyebrow “You’ll find out when we get there” I winked As we entered the dining hall, I noticed Twilight and her friends already sat there, and Faust was sitting where Celestia usually was, the lunar and solar diarchs sitting either side of her “What d’ya know; pancakes instead of waffles” Blaze stifled laughter “Anything for thine little Sugarbear” Luna winked “Good morning to you too, my little Shmoopie” Faust simpered “ “How can you tolerate him as if he has done nothing wrong?” Celestia glanced toward her mother and sister “Because if he’d of done anything wrong, I would’ve told him so” Faust smiled “Much like Crystagia” I tilted my head ever-so slightly, Celestia glared toward me, teleporting out of the room “Quite so,” she smiled “I’ll have a word with her later, my love” “You’re what?” I blinked “Are we not committed?” she tilted he r head “When soaring through on the wings of angels…” Blackjack nodded toward me “Blaze through with the hearts of eons” I finished “Tenshi no hane no difensu ga kōtō suru to, nagai nengetsu no kokoro o kaishite Kasai” “Was that an anime reference?” Blaze blinked “Nope, just something we made up in the wastes” Blackjack and I gave a smug grin “You didn’t answer my question,” Faust giggled “I’ll most certainly think about it” I gleamed “I’ve a question, seeing as my brother won’t ask you directly, your majesty,” Blaze beamed from ear to ear “Are all winged unicorns such as yourself as beautiful as you are, or are the three of you just that lucky?” “Really, dear sister, you had to ask that, of all questions?” I grumbled “Well someone had to,” she tutted “besides, all we need now is an answer, Dear Brother of mine” “I’m flattered that you think such things,” Faust’s cheeks turned a bright scarlet, much like her horn when she used magic “it is our immortality that gives way to such traits, or, no doubt by your mind, gifts” “Being able to watch your friends family and loved ones die before your very eyes isn’t a gift,” I frowned “It’s a constant state of hell, you just have to learn to live with it” “You’re wrong, there’re four alicorns in Equestria,” Rainbow Dash Gestured toward Twilight, whose cheeks turned beetroot “Rainbow, you know you don’t have to treat me like a princess,” Twilight smiled “I think three four alicorns is enough already” Celestia appeared at her seat via teleportation “The hay we don’t!” Rainbow Dash glimmered “I’ll bet you could lead the guard better than he could!” “What’s the population of Equis?” Blaze grinned “Two to three-hundred million; why?” Luna blinked “All dead, within a week, I’d say” I clicked my shoulders “How,” Rainbow Dash scowled “there’s no way you could do that much in one week!” “Assign various fireteams to strategic points through the country, armed with standard MA37 assault Rifles, M6 sidearms and fragmentation grenades, then sit back and enjoy the fireworks” I shrugged “That’s not including the sniper rifles that have a range of roughly five miles, maybe further” “And also not counting the Magnetic accelerator cannons that could turn the nearest town into little more than timber and rubble” Blaze scoffed “And your point to this is what, exactly?” Celestia raised an eyebrow “Victory is secured, not from the throne, but from the front lines,” I sighed, again “I didn’t get to be a brigadier by pissing around on some mediocre chair in the middle of a ruined covenant citadel pretending to be all high-and-mighty,” I scowled “I got it by actually doing something with my life, we of the UNSC are like the changelings, we will fight and die for what we believe is right, our country, home and loved ones included, can you dare say the same, Celestia?” “And what of your metallic limbs?” I could tell she was refraining from screaming at me “Dismemberment isn’t a viable excuse to attempt to win the war, decapitation, however, might be” I gave a dark grin “You’re sick” she looked as if she was about ready to vomit “You didn’t answer the question” Blaze smirked “I can dare say the same, for you are not the only beings to experience war,” she sneered “ you are waging war in my wake, human<” she went on “whatever you have borne witness to, I have already seen and gotten over” “Try witnessing an entire city reduced to glass via excavation beam from a CCS-class battleship in orbit around the planet” I raised an eyebrow “Touché” she slowly nodded, her face now bearing an expression of slight horror “You say you’ve gotten over war, but you can’t get over the emotions and trials of a simple foot-soldier, or Spartan, in my brother’s case” Blaze spat “Like the ancient warrior?” Twilight blinked “Try, a half-tonne, heavily armoured, super-solider who’s humanity’s last best hope against extinction” I laughed “Thou weight half a tonne, but how do thy wings support such weight?” Luna blinked “I myself weigh around seventy to one-hundred kilos; it’s the armour itself that adds on so much weight” I simpered “Where is it?” Rainbow dash eyed me up and down suspiciously “Inventory,” I simply shrugged “If it weighs so much, how can you bear it’s weight in the first place?” Celestia raised the other eyebrow “Augmentation,” Blaze smirked “the Spartan candidates are enlisted into the program, and then mentally and physically augmented above any human-like standards, they become their own league of monsters, per se,” she explained “smart enough to crack this world’s smartest supercomputer, and strong enough to make holes through concrete, just try annoying my brother” “If you can do all this, then why don’t you?” she raised both eyebrows “Because I know my limits” -=-=-=- “Tesla,” Celestia stood before me as I turned around, Blaze stood upon my shoulder, Black Beetle clinging to my back, and Snowdrop perched between my horns “What is it princess?” I quickly bowed “You needn’t bow to me, Tesla,” she bit her lip “I,” she sighed “I was wrong, you are what you are, and I was a fool not to see that, I was stubborn, and refused to allow you an easy life here in your new home, and to make matters worse, I separated you from… her,” she had tears in her eyes “I do not ask for your forgiveness, I only want to know what you think of me, as a pony, do not let events gone by cloud your judgement of me, I judged you wrongly, and now I rightly bear the blame” “Well, you’re beautiful, like I said to Faust, you’re wise, loving, caring, and probably stronger than me, so there’s a start” I shrugged “You flatter me,” she smiled, faintly “but it’s not praise that I look for, it’s what you truly think of me, and I won’t leave until-” Princess Celestia, most powerful, all-knowing, all-wise pony, diarch of the sun, was slapped across the face “You’re a foo, but not for the reasons you think,” I rolled my eyes, shaking my head “I don’t hate you anymore, Cellsy, you’re my friend, and I love all my friends, you included,” I smiled “don’t blame yourself on something that’s long since passed, what would your sister think if she saw you now, no offense” “You truly are too kind for your own good,” she had tears streaming down from her bloodshot, lilac eyes “here,” she held out a hoof as whitish-golden flames encompassed it, I quickly ate the flames she provided “what can I ever do to repay you, Sir Tesla?” “Just Tesla; or TK” I smiled “Ok, she giggled “What can I ever do to repay you, Tesla?” “Live, that is all I ask of you, my little Dawnflower” I turned and quickly walked away “So, she’s finally ‘let it go,’ as you so kindly stated?” Blackjack laughed “When oaring through on the wings of angels,” Snowdrop nickered, standing beside me and the others at the arena “Wings of angels…” I mumbled, quickly snapping my finger and thumb “Snowdrop, you’re a genius!” “I am?” she giggled “Just stand back and enjoy the fireworks” Blaze chuckled ““Metsuryū Ōgi, Shiranui Gata, Guren Hōō Ken,” I bellowed, bursting into whitish-golden flames, just like the ones Celestia had given me, soaring skyward, “Yokugeki,” I grinned, igniting both fists as I did so, slashing my arms across in front of me, performing a forward flip, creating a whitish golden fireball around either hand, slamming the two great spheres together, “And Koen,” I boomed, landing beside Snowdrop and the others “Suishō Hasu, Karyu no Shugo Tenshi” i grinned “Using Celestia’s flames to use a crimson phoenix blade, followed up by a wing attack, and then a brilliant flame, that’s genius” Blaze smirked “It’s incredible!” Littlepip gleamed “You truly are worthy of your title, dragon slayer” Velvet Remedy smiled as Black Beetle clung onto my back, her hooves wrapped around my neck, Snowdrop perched herself upon my head, and Blaze clambered up unto my left shoulder as Black Beetle placed her head on my right “So you finally did it,” Blackjack chortled “The crystal lotus, Fire dragon’s guardian angel” “That we did,” Blaze clapped her paws together “What’s next?” “I’ve a few ideas,” someone from the crowds purred, glancing toward said crowds, I saw Faust, who instantly teleported before me, trotting toward me and planting her lips on mine, gradually parting “Stay around for a while, my love” she smiled, as Black Beetle, Snowdrop and blaze cambered back down to the ground “Why not” I pecked her horn-tip, she leapt at me -=-=- “Never knew you could use frosting and icing like that,” Blaze, Littlepip and Velvet Remedy stated in a monotonous unison “Neither did I” I shuddered “What happened?” Celestia giggled “I’m not sure I’m ready to tell anyone just yet” I felt sick “By the way, not that I’m complaining, but why are you here, not that I’m stopping you of course, it’s your kingdom, you may do as you please, princess” “Mother says she wants you as her king,” Celestia nickered “And you called me your little Dawnflower, Tesla,” she smirked “my little Firefly” “I am no king, only an eon, a human, and a dragon slayer” I winked “And her little Firefly” Blaze grinned “And your little Firefly, my little Dawnflower” I smiled “Thank you, My Little Firefly” Celestia simpered, pecking my cheek as her Lunar counterpart teleported into view, appearing right beside her “And what does that make us?” Luna raised an eyebrow “My little shooting star” I shrugged “Thou will always be our little firefly” she smiled “Teslakana of Earth” -=- “Tesla, there’s something I have to confess” Celestia bit her lip as we sat at the dining hall “You’re not the first human we’ve encountered in the past fifty or so years” “Let me guess, one of the bearers of the elements of harmony vanished and it took approximately two weeks to find her and get her back, therefore ruining any relationship they might’ve built with the creatures that resided in the location she was sent to?” Blaze grinned “Yes, how on Equis did you know?” she blinked “Internet” I shrugged “Kind of annoyed when I first read about it, but then I suppose there’s nothing I can do about it, is there?” “My little Dashie,” Crystal sat beside me alongside Blackjack, Littlepip, and Velvet, I nodded “damn” “Too right” Blaze bit her lip, glancing toward Rainbow Dash as Twilight, her friends, and Spike sat along the opposite side of the table, Rainbow Dash glared at her “On another note,” I winked toward Blaze “How’s Sombra been lately, returned to ice, or K.I.A?” “He hath been reduced to ash and dust, last we checked” Luan raised an eyebrow “Twenty quid says that Telsa here can make a better villain, or rather Bea batter villain, or at least sound like one” Crystal laughed “This should be fun” Rainbow Dash chuckled as I cleared my throat “Who goes there?” I growled in a rather guttural, somewhat level voice “The whole world shall kneel before the new Crystal Dragon King,” I continued, stopping “How’s that sound?” “You’d make a good actor,” Faust nickered “were it not for your angelic singing voice, or so I’ve heard” “That’s not even my best one” I glimmered putting on another guttural, more dark/grim/grave tone “This is not your grave” “How in the hay are you doing that?” Rainbow Dash stared at me in apparent horror “I’ve no honest idea” I shrugged “I just can, I suppose” “Well it’s honestly scaring the buck outta me!” she shuddered “And here Ah thought ya said that ya‘ll weren’t scared of anythin’” Applejack smirked “What changed?” “Nothing,” Rainbow Dash blurted out “Fear is not evil, it’s what tells you your weakness, and once you acknowledge your weakness, you may become stronger, kinder, and more gentle” I smiled -=-=- As Twilight and her friends took a tour of the castle in the everfree I heard Spike mumbling to himself as he ‘inspected’ a comic he was reading “You can return to the place you started when the Mane-iac is... defeated." Huh? "Take a closer look to join the adventure in this book, what does that even mean?” When I could see again, no thanks to a blinding light and a strange warping sensation, I felt, bigger, somehow “Holy personas, guys, you’re the power ponies!” Spike gasped at the sight of his now somewhat altered friends “As am I apparently” I clicked my neck, the resulting crack sounded rather metallic, almost mechanical “What am I?” “A giant awesome-looking robot,” Rainbow Dash eyed me up and down “that’s amazing!” “It is interesting, I’ll admit” Nyx hovered at the side of my now enlarged heard alongside Celestia, Luna, and Cadance, looking down at myself, I saw that I’d turned into a giant, crimson, mech, one with a face-like design on its torso, complete with boomerang-like glasses and fangs “I’m Gurren Lagann!?” I screamed “Where’re the others?” “We’re safe Daddy” Snowdrop’s voice echoed from inside my head as it opened at the top, the icy-blue mare hovering before me, flying back inside the cockpit “Yeah, there’s no harming us now that you’re like this!” Blaze chortled from inside my head as it re-closed “And Littlepip, Blackjack and Velvet” I blinked “In here” Velvet Remedy’s voice called out from inside my stomach area “So this is Gurren Lagann,” Blackjack whistled “impressive interior TK!” “I’d agree that it’s interesting” Littlepip giggled “How did they get here and where are they?” Twilight blinked as the face on my chest’s mouth opened, revealing the three unicorn mares at the secondary cockpit “That’s little awkward” “That’s Gurren Lagann!” Blaze cheered “Let’s go, brother!” “But what are we supposed to do, and where are we meant to go?” I tilted my head slightly “Ask the professional,” Rainbow Dash gestured toward Spike, who was dressed like robin from the world-famous comic series “He was reading a comic; my only guess is that we’ve somehow been transported inside said comic” Littlepip smiled “So all we have to do; is find and defeat the villain “So where are they?” I hummed, peering ve the rooftop we were stood upon, down at the base of the building opposite the one we’d been teleported to was a greyish/pale lavender ‘anthro’ mare with a vivid dark green ‘mane’ that stretched into mile-long tendrils that went practically everywhere “Who, or what, is that?” Blaze chortled “The mane-iac,” Spike stood on the edge of the skyscraper “the villain of what Littlepip called a ‘comic series,’” he spat “You need to get out more,” I laughed, leaping over the edge “Hold on!” I landed with a loud crash, creating a large crater, standing opposite the ‘Mane-iac’ “And so the hero approaches” the mare scoffed with a sly grin, holding a dark blue/indigo orb that crackled with what appeared to be lightning contained within it as she threw it at me, it cracked upon impact, and all of a sudden the world seemed more down to the scale I was used to “Damnit,” Blackjack spat “I was hoping that’d last a bit longer” “No matter,” I shrugged, creating my arm into a large drill, just like before “she’s the villain, we beat her, and then we go home, all of us” “I wasn’t always the villain you know,” the mane-iac scowled, walking toward me, using her tendril- like mane to old my friends against the walls, creating what seemed to be a blackish sphere around each of them, and another, large sphere around the two of us “now you’re mine, hero,” she grinned as her tendrils coiled themselves around my drill-arm, squeezing down on it, the drill shattered as she tied a tendril around each arm and leg, quickly removing my lower attire “What do you want?” I bit my lip “I have what I want,” she grinned, “you, my love” she coiled a softer, more gentle tendril around my balls, softly playing with them a bit, causing my erection to spring as she held me against the wall of the skyscraper “and now I want your sweet, sweet innocence, hero” “Tesla” I blurted out, her ruby/emerald eyes piercing into my soul “What,” she frowned “what are you talking about “My name, it’s Tesla” I shuddered as she took the end of my dick in another tendril, sliding it down to the hilt “Very well Tesla, state your name, it’ll make my revenge all the sweeter!” she laughed, I attempted resisting her binds, only to come up with failure after failure “Ah, ah, ah, you can’t escape now that I’ve got my prize, Tesla,” she wagged a finger at me, winking, as her eyes shone, a chair suddenly appearing out of nowhere as she forced me onto it, holding me down as she knelt before me “Suck or fuck?” she licked her lips “What?” I blinked as her grip loosened to absolutely nothing, her tendrils returning to her side as she sat in my lap “Suck or fuck, it’s a simple question, Tesla” she giggled, pecking my cheek “I’ve been a bad girl and you have to punish me, have your way with me, do as you see fit, I’m yours to command, my holy knight” pre began to leak out of the end of my length “you seem to have a leak, shall I fix that for you,” she purred, kneeling before me, taking my head into her maw, pressing her lips down on it, I placed a gentle hand on the back of her head, encouraging for her to go further “So you prefer oral, Ok then” she pressed her breasts against either side of my cock, bringing a soft, thin tendril around the lower-neck of my manhood, pressing her lips back around the head, twirling her tongue around it, pumping both her head and the tendril along my girth, pressing her mammaries against it like mild lavender cushions, I replaced my head gently on the back of her head, stroking her ‘mane’, hearing bolts of magic and fireballs being fired from outside the sphere, but nothing happened “They shan’t get to us now, I’ve used the powers of my own imagination to make that shield impenetrable to all but the hammer of the creator of the universe herself” The Mane-iac giggled, gently wrapping my balls in yet another tendril, placing her hands in my chest, keeping my in place as she slid her tongue along the base of my shaft “you taste salty, that is good, Sir Tesla” “Glad to help, I think?” I tilted my head as she took the other head into her mouth, deepthroating, quickly bobbing her head up and down, I kept her head down as I came into her, she gagged, managing to swallowing all that I had to give, I removed my hand as she came back up, licking her lips, and then using her tongue to lap up any remains “Have I been a good girl, Tesla?” she purred, climbing onto my lap, rubbing my dick against her folds “have I been good, or naughty, punish me anyways, I love the attention you give me, hero” she quickly hilted me on her entrance, letting out a gasp as she leant against me, placing her lips against mine, our eyes locking as our lids did the same, gradually parting “fuck me, boy, I want you to cum, and I want you to do it to the point where I scream, are we clear?” I nodded silently “Good” =-= As she bounded up and down on my lap, I gripped onto the sides of her hips, she grinned, pecking my cheek as she sped up even faster, placing her hands on my shoulders, I slammed into her, bucking my hips in sync with hers, repeatedly hilting her, pounding into her, continuously slamming my phallus into her cunny, bringing her down on me as I climaxed, filling her with white, hot, sticky, spunk She collapsed onto my slouched form, pecking my cheek once more “Punish me some more, Tesla,” she lifted me into the air above the couch, placing me on the ground as she bent her backside over the chair, pulling me against her my length prodding against her flankhole “Yes there,” she stared at me with apparent glee “fuck my asshole, ravage me until I am but a shell, yours to do with as you please, I-!” I silenced her by hilting her, yet again, grabbing onto her ass cheeks, pummelling her, grunting as I ‘plundered her plot,’ per se “Yes, fuck me!” she practically cheered “Have your way with me Tesla, see to it that I am broken into nothingness, see to it that I am your bitch!” I glimmered with a sly grin =-= After I’d filled her with what she seemed to be a considerate amount of love-juice, she handed my clothing back, I quickly put it on as I winked at her, the couch and spheres vanished as she cowered on the ground as my drill-arm returned, I held it high above me, winking again “Now what have you to say for yourself?” I grinned maniacally “Tesla, you’re alright!” Littlepip gasped, crowding around me alongside Twilight, her friends, Spike “Why wouldn’t I be,” I chuckled darkly “Gurren Lagann somehow got, shall we say, ‘put out of commission’?” “You still have the drill, do you not?” The mane-iac stammered “Touché” I nodded “I ask again, what have you to say for yourself?” “I…” she stammered, exhaling sharply “I only wanted to be noticed, be it by the power ponies, or by you, or even the smallest of significances, I just wanted to be acknowledged, I accept all punishment bestowed upon me, Hero” the drill-arm seemingly faded back to my arm “What are you waiting for!?” Spike growled “She’s the villain, she has to be defeated!” “Not all victory comes from fighting, little dragon,” I spat “she isn’t evil, just misunderstood, not unlike Nyx, just for a different reason” “And I still say that Nightmare Moon should be banished back to the moon” he scoffed “And perhaps you’d like to join her, wall lizard,” I snapped “the lack of air pressure in space would cause to your head to instantaneously explode as soon as you went there, the only reason Nyx is with us is due to magic, simple and pure magic, dark as it might be, it’s still magic,” I held out a hand “here, pull yourself up” “Thank you Hero,” the Mane-iac smiled, pulling herself up as she held onto my hand “Just Tesla will suffice,” I smiled “or TK, whichever you prefer” “Thank you, Tesla” she nickered “Now how about you show me what the rest of th world looks like?” Before I could state a response there was a blinding flash of light When I could see again, we were back in the castle a new, mild lavender mare with a vivid green mane and tail clung unto my back in place of Black Beetle “Hello Tesla” The mane-iac grinned “How in the hell did she end up here?” Blaze laughed “Magic,” I smirked “simple and pure, magic” “That it is” she sighed “What’re you holding?” Twilight gestured to my hand, I bought it up in front of me, a small, tennis ball-sized cobalt blue orb was held within my grasp “A Soul dew,” I blinked, glancing back to the Mane-iac “where did you get this?” “The closest museum” she shrugged “wasn’t even heavily guarded for Fornicating sake “Whose soul is it?" Blackjack gazed at the translucent sphere held in the palm of my hand “An eon’s soul,” I began to explain “when an eon dies, their body transfers itself into energy, per se, and that energy is transformed into one of these,” I went on “there’s probably a cache of them somewhere in Equestria” “That contains an eon’s soul,” The Mane-iac tilted her head, pecking my cheek” then you may keep it, seeing as I have ‘lost’ my powers, I no longer have any use for it” she nudged my back at th word lost, which probably meant she was refraining herself from using them “Here’s a question, how do ya‘ll suppose we introduce her to tha rest of Ponyville?” Applejack raised an eyebrow =-=-= “Remind me why we’re here again?” Blaze stood upon my shoulder, Snowdrop perched upon my head, and Black Beetle clung to my back as Littlepip, Blackjack; Velvet Remedy Twilight, her friends and Spike, Who was, as per the usual, stood on Twilight’s back and the Mane-iac stood by my side alongside Chilly Pepper “We’re here,” Rarity chided “to welcome Trenderhoof into Ponyville, as the ‘ponyville days’ festival doesn’t host itself “Rarity you were chosen to be the pony of ceremonies, so you’re the host” “This is sounding more and more like it’s straight out of a television programme designed for toddlers; oh wait, it is” Blaze gave me a ‘high-give,’ grinning from ear to ear “I know, right?” I stifled bursting into laughter “And Gurren Lagann is better because how?” Spike rolled his eyes “Because of two things,” I gleamed “one; its epic to the point where a beer and volcanic eruption are mandatory; and two…” “It’s got a fifty-two-point-eight billion light-year-tall mecha made of pure awesomeness and spiral energy!” Blaze chimed “That’s impossible!” Twilight stared at me “It’s Gurren Lagann, nothing is impossible,” I chortled “When soaring through on the wings of angels,” Snowdrop beamed “Blaze through with the hearts of eons!” Blaze and I grinned, bursting into a bright/vivid green energy, a bright flash of light, and everything seemed smaller “We told you!” Blaze, Snowdrop, Velvet Remedy, Littlepip and Blackjack burst into laughter as I looked down at myself, id, once again, become Gurren Lagann “Now how do I turn back?” another flash of light, and everything was back to scale “Now that’s awesome!” Black Beetle cheered as a tall, brown unicorn with a golden mane and tail stepped off the train with a dark green cardigan and two crossed-out orange diamonds as a cutie mark “That’s Gurren Lagann,” Snowdrop chuckled “It’s bound to be awesome” “So you can morph into a large crimson machine, interesting, the unicorn mumbled, writing down who-knows-what on a notepad “Is there anything else about you I should know?” “This is Tesla, a human, an eon, and a dragon slayer” Black Beetle chimed “You can slay dragons,” the pony snorted “I doubt that” “I’d like to see you do better” I raised an eyebrow “I don’t need to, I already have; I work for Equestria magazines writing down and contribute what I can, about the things I write about whenever and wherever I can” “And I work for the United Nations Space Corps, helping to defend scum such as yourself, against the covenant empire, have been doing so for the past hundred years, “ I spat “I’d like to see you stop a halo ring from firing, when the only ones who can are humans and forerunners” “Horseapples,” he scoffed “why would I listen to such conspiracy theories that obviously aren’t true, how do I know you’re not just a familiar summoned by the princesses to do their work for them?” “At least I’d be working for decent ponies, unlike you” I snarled “and they’re my Nakama, that means they’re closer to me than family, it’s not a concept trash like you would understand, but I’m saying at anyway,” I growled “go ahead say another word about me or they, may Faust have mercy because when I’m done there won’t be enough of you left to fill a can of beans!” he quickly boarded the train, I watched alongside Blaze with a sly grin as the train left the station “How can you say and do such things?” Rarity scorned “He asked for it, and we gave it,” Blaze shrugged “I think Tesla was refraining himself from doing something insane, weren’t you brother?” “Damn straight,” I glowered, walking with my friends away from the station “That bastard’s dead to me” “So you and the princesses are together now,” Twilight and her friends quickly caught up with me “how so?” “Divine intervention” Littlepip glimmered “You and Princess Celestia finally worked things out eh?” Rainbow Dash gave a smug grin “She’s my little Dawnflower” I beamed “You’re with Celestia?” The Mane-iac blinked “I guess I was a fool then?” “No, you just didn’t Brilliant Emerald” I winked “Is, that my name?” she gasped “It is, if you want it to be” I slowly nodded “I can’t thank you enough, Tesla” she bit her lip, tears in her eyes “You just did” Blaze smirked at me =-= After my next concert… =-= “That was phenomenal!” Vinyl cheered alongside Octavia “It’s called ‘keep holding on,’” I smiled “it’s a work of art, in my opinion” I winked “the one before it was called ‘firework,’ and the one before that was called ‘counting stars’” “We eight singers, that of which form the Eons Of Equis, cannot be outclassed by such beings as the ponytones, no matter the circumstances” Littlepip shared a laugh with me, Velvet Remedy, Blaze, Snowdrop, Blackjack, Chilly Pepper and Crystal “still feel like one of the ‘Glee cast,’ Tesla?” “Not as much, but the notion’s still there” I nodded “I see you’re still wearing those shades I gave you, Vinyl” “Darn straight,” Vinyl grinned “ever since you made them for me, the amount of ponies showing up at my concerts has almost tripled!” “I wish you luck, Vinyl” “And we you” Octavia giggled “Thank you, my little octave” I bowed quickly, she fainted “Did we do something wrong?” “She’s been waiting for you to say that for a year now” Vinyl laughed “So she has” I changed to eon form -=-=- “I bet they wanna see it” I hovered beside Crystal, glancing around at the now-filled crowds of the arena “Probably,” Crystal smirked, “Fusion?” “That’s the one,” I nodded, Blaze perching herself upon my head, my eyes shining with a brilliant snow-white glow as Crystal; and Blaze merged with me, “San no kyūkyoku kumiai” I grinned, Crystal and Blaze’s voice also fused with my own, as were our powers and stats “Moeru Hoseki den'atsu” my wings were now shining blades of an onyx-type colouration, being held in place by what looked like spiral energy, all four of them, that is, my claws now turning into more hand-like structure, lengthening slightly as my body erupted with a great crimson flame “Combine the powers of twin eons with an unceasing inferno;” Blaze seemingly grinned, “Moeru Kaminari Hoseki Ryū!” did I mention my overall size had practically doubled? “And this,” I beamed from ear to ear, both fists blazing with a rainbow-coloured flame, firing off Gatling-like punches, “is why you don’t annoy an eon, let alone two of them, Suishō Hasu Gurren Hoseki Ryu Ken!” “Didn’t know you could do that,” Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow as we sat at the dining hall Crystal hovering beside me as Blaze stood on my shoulder, everyone being in their usual places “Neither did we” Luna smiled “Perhaps now Trenderhoof will learn to keep his venomous trap shut” I smirked “Thou can combine, like Gurren Lagann?” she winked “Like it, but also, unlike it,” I tilted a hand “when I fused with Aero, the resulting power level was almost astronomical, he’s far stronger than I am, even with all my magical prowess and experience with the war” “But you said you head weapons that could level cities!” Twilight retorted “And Aero could do it in a minute, alone,” I shuddered “don’t annoy him, and definitely don’t mess around with his sister” “Who’s she?” Celestia smiled “That’d be me,” Crystal waved “How does that work?” Rarity blinked “I got lucky” I bit my lip “Indeed you did, but take note, my love, that you’re not the only one who got an ‘upgrade,’ shal we say, from Crystagia?” she grinned “What does that mean?” Cadance smiled “We’re both dragon slayers” crystal gave a sly smirk in my direction “I am Tesla’s equal in both his life and power and intellect, maybe more who’s to say, maybe Tesla’s met his match” “Pun not intended” Blaze laughed “Of course not,” she nickered “Tesla and I aren’t an item, we’re a couple, and I’m happy with just being his mate, even if he is herding, if that’s what he wants, I won’t stop him” she pecked my cheek “I’ll always be here for you, my little R- Eon” she nuzzled into me “You almost said something there, what was it?” Celestia smiled “It’s not important” Crystal frowned “So it isn’t she slowly nodded “Might as well say it,” I sighed “get it over with” “Are you sure, my love?” Crystal blinked, I nodded “Ok then, if you’re sure” “My name isn’t Tesla; it’s just a name I picked up for myself,” “Say what?” Rainbow Dash stared at me “Then what is it?” “It’s Rick,” I bit my lip “Rick Hawkins” “That’s both a bold and somewhat cute name” Faust simpered “it suits you, Sir Rick” “I’d rather this not get out, only to my friends, no one else” I mumbled “If that’s what you want, Tesla” Celestia raised an eyebrow “Rick ‘Teslakana’ Hawkins; sounds awesome” Blaze chuckled “but then, so am I” “Egotist!” I laughed “Human!” she rebuked “Ferret!” I grinned, changing to eon form “Big ears” she smirked “Rodent” I grinned “Stretch” she tutted “Midget” I folded my arms “Lanky” she clicked her tongue “Half-pint” I chuckled “At least I don’t have a permanent wing-boner” she huffed “That’s because of my solid bone structure, nothing else!” I scorned “And I suppose that means I can blame my own biology for my head lighting up, like so,” she unleashed a miniature axe-blade-shaped fire from the middle of her crown, diminishing it quickly after “I don’t bother with attacks that my kind’s supposed to use like dragon pulse and Luster purge,” I shrugged “I’ve my own series, thanks to Crystagia” “Whereas I don’t use the so-called ‘magic’ you do, I use what I’m supposed to use, Tesla” Crystal sighed “if you keep using it it’ll go to your hard, then who knows what’ll happen to you” -=- “So that’s what you used in the arena,” Brilliant Emerald blinked as we stood,hovered in the gardens “Dragon slayer magic?” “Pretty much” I smiled, scales appearing on my hands, arms and face, my fangs extending by all of whole millimetres, Ember appearing above me as my eyes turned to slits “And who is this?” Ember smiled “I’m Brilliant Emerald, Tesla’s servant, if you will” she bowed quickly as a low rumbling occurred, per se, from behind me “Here’s a theory,” I glimmered turning around to reveal an oh-so familiar dragon “Aero’s a dragon slayer “The other eon I trained?” Crystagia smiled “he is twice as strong as Tesla, but his platonic love for his sister clouds his judgement, leaving Tesla to overshadow him” “I’ll be damned” Blaze whistled “Is there anything else you may require?” she simpered as Crystal hovered beside me, Twilight, her friends, Spike, Celestia, Faust, and Shining Armour walked up beside me alongside an unfamiliar orange Pegasus with a cobalt mane and tail “That’s my brother in law you’re talking about” I grinned “And my brother” Crystal smirked “You’re betrothed,” Crystagia glanced at Crystal, then toward me “congratulations, the pair of you, may your love be able to reshape the world as you see fit” “Why don’t we do the same?” The Pegasus nudged Twilight’s shoulder “How many times do I have to tell you,” Twilight leapt onto my back “I’m not interested” “That’s a base-breaker” I chuckled “And who’s this?” Crystagia smiled down toward Chilly Pepper and Blackjack “I’m Pepper” Pepper giggled “And I’m Blackjack” Blackjack bowed quickly “It’s an honour to meet you Crystagia” “Please, any friend of my son’s is a friend of mine” She winked, glancing toward Ember “and you are?” “Ember, Tesla’s ‘guardian ghost’ per se” Ember smiled “Charmed” Crystagia let out a soft laugh “You’re the son of a dragon?” the Pegasus standing beside me gasped “You say it like it’s a bad thing,” I frowned “may only the truth and clarity come forth from thy trap lest you wish to keep having one!” “I meant no offense by it,” I held up his hooves defensively “it’s just that nopony on Equis as had a dragon fort a mother or father, other than the dragons themselves, it’s just unheard of!” “We don’t hear Natsu, Wendy, or Gajeel complaining,” Blaze and I shrugged, “Nor that of Igneel, Mettallicana or Grandeeney, the flame, iron and sky dragon kings and queen respectively, different world as it may be, it happened regardless,” I tilted my head “why’re you here anyway?” “I felt it when you used the spiral energy that was given to you when you gained your mechanical arm, Tesla” Crystagia smiled “I’m connected to you, remember, I know all that of which you do, no matter what it might be, or where you are, I will know everything about your actions on Equis” she passed me a two-three foot-tall crystalline block “open it” “What’s inside?” Crystal tapped the box, the sides and ceiling of said box disintegrated, revealing a notably sized ‘machine’ of sorts with a creamy silver coloured coat of metallic skin, a flacon’s beak-shaped head with six gems on its head, two one either side, which where a pearly white colour, the two above those were a bright emerald green, the ones above those were a vivid pink, and the one in the centre of the crown was an extraordinary golden primrose colour, with two-tod feet that seemed to be armoured, forming a type of ‘boot,’ so to speak the chest-piece being somewhat triangular, pointing down the centre of it’s cramped-looking Torso it’s arms tucked against its body, the small, slanted, rectangular holes in front of the gems seeming to be its eyes, the shrapnel like holes at the front of the beak-shaped head, which atop a thin, angular, neck, completed the figure “It’s…” she blinked “It’s ugly” Rarity gagged “It’s a Myr” Celestia smiled “the legendary architects of eons passed, if you do see one, be it in pieces in a rather expensive trinket shop, or complete like this, keep it, as they’re priceless artefacts” “I am more than an artefact, Celestia” The Myr snapped “I am a guardian of all that I am programmed to defend with my very core” “It’s talking!” Crystal leapt backward “Hello, eon, Tesla,” the Myr smiled “I am Mithryl, or just Myr, at your service” the metallic being bowed quickly “what would you have me do, Tesla?” “How do you know me?” “Because one-billion years past, is served you as your liaison, you’re first-lieutenant, and your assistant, an eon passes, and I still remain, as do my duties as your little helper” Mithryl chuckled awkwardly “What are you exactly?” Twilight eyed Mithryl up and down with apparent curiosity “A planeswalker, I can cut across dimensions in search of what my masters need or want, anywhere, anytime, anyhow,” Mithryl seemingly smiled, how she did it without a mouth I didn’t know, and knew better than to ask “How old are you?” Crystal blinked “Several-hundred-billion years-old, your human theories of the universe being so young is all faked, by us, to make sure you keep quiet about the end of your pathetic world” Mithryl scoffed “Where were you made?” Blaze snapped “Here, on Equis, before the time of ponies came to daw on Equis, or Eldus, as it was called back in the day of humans and Planeswalkers alike, we were a humble sort, but then the nameless one appeared out of the darkest corner of the planet, corrupting all of whom he came across, reducing them to shells of their former beings” “That’s impossible, as all records show that Equis is only three billion years old!” Twilight scorned “Nothing is impossible, little pony,” Mithryl gave a mechanical tut “I could lecture you about the dark truths of this world, but I doubt your rulers would take too kindly to it” “Best keep the talking to the professionals” Blaze smirked “That way, you don’t get your literary arse handed to you via cheap monologue” =--=--= “So, what’s this event called again?” Brilliant Emerald tilted her head “The Grand Galloping Gala, second one I’ve been to actually,” I sighed “let’s hope this one doesn’t go awry like the other one we heard about” “Too right” Blaze laughed as I hovered in the centre of the main hall of the castle, Blackjack, Littlepip, Velvet Remedy and Chilly Pepper sat upon my back, with Snowdrop perched upon my head, and Blaze lying along my neck “And what about you, Tesla,” Twilight and her friends trotted toward me “ “I would love to stay, but I’ve other things that need doing,” I smiled softly “Like what,” Rainbow Dash frowned “This is the most important event of the year in all of Equestria, don’t tell me that metallic thing that some dragon gave you is going to change that!” “I’ll live my life how I want to live it” I snapped “Besides, Nyx’s probably worried again, and that’s something I don’t want” “She’s Nightmare Moon,” she scowled “you- we don’t need her anywhere on Equis; she might as well go to Tartarus for all I care!” “What do we keep saying about bullies?” I sighed, beginning to walk toward the entrance of the castle, “some people just don’t change for the world, it’s no wonder he let you go” “What was that!?” she screamed, gliding around in front of me, glowering straight at me “you, take, that, back!” “Or what?” I raised an eyebrow “your hoof will break long before my heart, soul and sprit even so much as begin to flicker, violence will only lead to retaliation, which will only lead to a never-ending cycle of events, think before you act, Rainbow Dash,” I glided around her, “But that doesn’t mean I can’t try!” she snarled, I quickly soared out of the castle “Everfree castle,” Blaze exhaled sharply, I nodded “good, it’s getting tiring in Canterlot, and here’s hoping you find something interesting this time, eh Tesla?” “Here’s hoping” I nodded, flying toward the castle in the forest -=-=- “Tesla, what a pleasant surprise” Nyx chimed as I flew through the door to the throne room “I’ve someone for you to meet she says that she knows you rather well” she sidestepped, revealing a cyan blue quadruped creature with long diamond shaped ears with a crest made out the large diamond-shaped appendages, the one in the middle overlapping the two on either side of it the teal eyes and dark blue ear and tail tips –its tail being like one of its ears-, shining like a crystal as it glowed in the filtered light “Who’re you?” I tilted my head, Snowdrop, Blaze, Littlepip, Velvet, Pepper, Snowdrop, and Kiary glided to/landed on the floor beside me as the creature, identifiable to some as a Glaceon, slinked toward me “Don’t you recognize me, Aniki?” the Glaceon purred, licking her lips “Ellie,” Blaze and I gasped “What, how, when?” I stammered “how did you get here?” “I wished upon a star,” Ellie giggled “I asked to be united with my one, true love, and now I’m here, cheesy as it may seem, I’m with you now, Tesla, I love you, and I’ve been waiting so long to say that” “Ellie, I’m with Crystal, she may not mind, but I’m afraid-” “About what?” she blinked “we’re together now, and there’s nothing to stop me from having my way with you, except them” she nodded toward my friends “Will you accept my love, Tesla?” I reverted to human form, walking toward her, crouching down to her level “I will” I smiled “if you’re that insistent on being with me, then I can’t stop you, Ellie “Please, call me Winter” she winked “If that’s what you want, Winter” I nodded -=-=-=- “That was fun,” Winter panted for breath as she lay upon my neck, her head perched upon my own as I glided through the castle in canterlot, my friends walking alongside me with Nyx as we ended up in the main lobby “Same time tonight?” “Never knew you could use ice type move like that,” I chuckled “and yes, I suppose I could manage tonight” “Thank you, my love” she pecked my cheek as I glanced back toward her, nuzzling into my back, she then sat upright, allowing Snowdrop to perch herself on my head “And who might you be little one?” “Snowdrop” Snowdrop giggled “And I’m winter, one being in what seems to be a never-ending line of Tesla’s mates” she gave a soft laugh “Is that so?” I turned around, Twilight, her friends, Spike, on Twilight’s back, Celestia, Faust and Cadance were there, eyebrows raised “And how long have you known her, Tesla?” Celestia smiled “I met Winter, previously known as Ellie, a month or Two after Crystal,” I bit my lip “I can feel your love for Tesla resonating in leaps and bounds,” Cadance nickered “How long have you felt like this?” “Ever since he saved me, I’ve felt a bold love for him,” Winter gleamed “what I first thought to be infatuation, turned out to be love, and even Lyra said so” “Lyra’s Ok, I presume?” I glanced back to the Glaceon “She’s perfectly fine, she sent me here without a problem, said she’d send Angel next” “And when did she say she’d be able to do that?” I sighed “In the next week or so” she smiled “but until then you’ve me to deal with, almost literally” “That’s not exactly I’d expect Ellie to say” I blinked “I’m not ‘Ellie’ anymore” she purred “So you aren’t,” Blaze smirked “What d’ya reckon we should do Tesla?” “How am I supposed to know,” I grumbled as an unfamiliar object/being landed “Uncle,” Gracy Gloom cheered, nuzzling into me “I’ve missed you so much!” “And I you Grace, and I you” I smiled, as two guards-ponies were somehow flung past me, landing behind me “We are here, for the filly” a creamy yellow pony with a vivid scarlet mane and tail with sideburns and an eye-patch growled “Winter; I want you to take Grace and run” I growled “That I will” Winter smiled as she ran deep into the castle, Gracy Gloom galloping beside her, I quickly reverted to human form, walking between my friends and the newcomers “You want my niece, you go through me” I snarled “We are not here to fight; we are here to retrieve a necessary element to our ideals and plans” the stallion grumbled, behind him stood what seemed like an army of hooded figures, “step aside boy” “And if I were, to decline?” I snorted “Then we would need to be rid of you, however possible” he smirked, his horn flared a sickly green as an energy bolt flew toward me, followed by a wave of them, I gave a deadpan stare as they impacted against me, creating an explosion “moron” “Is this really a fire based spell,” I gagged as I inhaled the flames from the explosion “cause these are the worst flames I’ve ever tasted!” “That’s impossible,” he snapped as I finished eating the flames “You should be molten ash by now, how are you still standing!?” “Magic,” I grinned from ear to ear “Dragon slayer magic, to be exact” “In that case,” he scoffed as one of the hooded figures passed him a large mirror “try this!” “A mirror?” I tilted my head “how cliché” “Ok, I’ll admit that was a little pathetic” he facehooved “We are here, for the elements of harmony” “Why not go for Tesla here, he’s an element of nature, that of whom and which created the elements of harmony” Blaze patted me on the head “Is this true?” he turned to face Celestia” “He is, but he’s not going anywhere with you!” Celestia barked “Then our objective has changed,” the stallion huffed “you’re coming with us, by choice or by force, make your decision!” “I’ll go,” I slowly nodded “Good then we leave at once-!” “With my friends” I smirked “I’m not going anywhere with the likes of you, Metsuryū Ogi Shiranui Gata, Gurren Hōō Ken,” I leapt back, and then lunged forward, fully ignited from head to feet in whitish-golden flames, slashing my arms across in front of me as I charged into the army, Yō kūgeki,” I growled, performing a forward flip, creating two large spheres of golden fire in each hand, slamming them together “To Koen!” “Suishō Hasu Hoseki Ryū Shugo Tenshi!” “That was incredible,” Luna stared at me as I landed beside her and the others “Crystal lotus; Gem dragon’s guardian angel” Blaze and I chimed in unison as what I guessed to be the whole solar royal guard march the figures away, their hoods now tatters, revealing their changeling-like appearances, just like that of Sapphire “Looks like we found their so-called master” I lifted the stallions seemingly lifeless body “Turns out to be an old acquaintance” Shining Armour stood beside me, I suddenly glanced toward him, he nodded “he used to be a Sergeant for the royal guards, until his accident which cost him his wife, it was tragic, and his foals were put into foster care as he couldn’t retire in his former position, I’d heard rumours that he’d committed suicide due to post-traumatic-stress-disorder, turns out that they were half right” “Half right?” Blaze tutted “The Buckshot I knew is dead as far as I’m concerned, what with Sapphire’s appearance at Gracy Gloom’s home; he’s declared himself an enemy to Equestria” Shining Armour scoffed “Sapphire’s alright isn’t she?” I bit my lip “She’s continuing her sentence, as per your and Celestia’s request,” he nodded “why?” “Just curious, besides, he said that he needed Grace, Sapphire said that her master needed her, so there for, by the transitive property, it’s all Buckshot’s problem, not Sapphire’s” I smirked “How do you know all of this?” he suddenly burst into laughter, levitating the fallen guard onto his back “Logic, common sense, and a lot of NCIS” I gave a sly grin “I’m wondering what you’re going to do with those changeling-like beings” “What’re you going to do about it?” he raised an eyebrow “you involved yourself in this as much as I have, if that makes sense, you hold responsibility over Gracy Gloom, and I over the guard, and they over the prisoners, for now anyways” “I’ll do what I can to set things right, that doesn’t mean having them jailed, if they’re truly innocent, then I see no reason to keep them locked up” I smiled “You’re as wise as you are powerful” he chuckled “I’ll see you later, Sir Tesla”
