Megan's Quest

Megan, Warrior Woman!

"Megan!"

"Yay Megan! Woohoo!"

"Welcome back, Megan!"

As Wind Whistler landed in the courtyard outside Dream Castle, Megan found more then a dozen ponies galloping around and prancing happily through the meadow, eager to welcome their dear friend home. So many dear friends from over the years- Gingerbread, Sweet Stuff, Masquerade, and Paradise- mares she new by heart. These were ponies whom Megan had been on a thousand adventures together with, ponies whom she had protected, and they had protected her.

"Hay, good ta see ya, Megs!" A boisterous voice called out from the crowd, as a white mare with a green mane with a red streak in it.  "How ya been?

"Hey Gusty," Megan called back, smiling back. "It's good to see you again."

An over energetic tomboy with a short temper, Megan knew this unicorn with the autumn leaf cutie mark all too well.  Adventurous and grouchy, Gusty had gotten Megan and the other ponies both into- and out of- trouble more times than the former cowgirl could count. It was good to see such a familiar face from her childhood here, reaffirming her decision to leave her old life behind.

"Welcome back, Megan,." A slightly  timid voice called out from the back of the group, one Megan recognized instantly. "Welcome back."

Her face brightening, Megan waded through the small crowd of ponies, and made her way to the white earth mare with the red heart cutie mark.

"Sundance..." Megan exclaimed, hugging the pony tightly. "Oh Sundance... it's so wonderful to see you again!"

While all of the ponies who had gathered were near and dear to her heart, Sundance had been Megan's most frequent companion and friend during her many visits to Ponyland. She was the pony who Megan had helped find her confidence, and Sundance was the pony who had carried the girl on her back through a thousand fantastical journeys. The two friends went together, everywhere. And were inseparable as any  two friends could be.

"It's wonderful to see you again, all of you!"  The young woman declared, embracing several of the ponies all at once. "It feels so good to be back home again!"

Megan and the Ponies crossed the drawbridge into the castle, where many more ponies lined the hallways to greet her. Dream Valley's castle guards raised their hooves in salute as she passed, a gesture of respect to Dream Valley's greatest human friend. Finally, the ponies all escorted the young woman to the room perpared for her, then departed to lave her to settle in, save for Sundance.

...

"Wow, Majesty sure thinks highly of me to give me such nice quarters." Megan sighed, looking around at the white lace canopy bed and lovely embroidered curtains. "This place looks like something out of a fairy tale!"

"She's very grateful for everything you've done for Dream Valley, just like the rest of us are." Sundance exclaimed, sitting Megan down in front of the room's vanity mirror. "You've done so much for us over the years, ever since Firefly first brought you here to fight Tirek."

"I'm really not that Special, Sundance. I just did what needed to be done." Megan replied, as her pony friend picked up the brush off the vanity, and began brushing Megan's long, silky hair. "So anyway, how are things in Dream Valley these days?"

"Oh, the ususal. Ponies getting into trouble, ponies getting out of trouble." The white earth pony giggled, getting the tangles out of her golden locks.. "A few weeks we did have four young mares disappear the castle- Firefly's daughter, Shady's little girl, Fizzy's offspring, and Twilight Shine's niece- all just vanished one evening while playing pony polo."

"Why, that's terrible!" Megan exclaimed, looking back at the mare. "Is the queen doing anything to look for them?"

"Majesty is having Masquerade launch a full investigation." Sundance replied, getting Megan to turn back around, and going back to work on her hair. "She thinks a group of goblins might be involved, but we really can't be sure yet."

"Well, as long as something's being done about it." Megan replied anxiously, settling back into her chair. "I need to start accepting the fact you ponies can take care of yourselves."

There was a few moments of silence, before Sundance finally spoke again. "Megan, why did you want  to give up your life over in the human world? I mean, you just walked away from the world where you grew up, without even looking back."

"Oh Sundance, why wouldn't I give it up?" Megan groaned, rolling her eyes. "Nasty smog, filthy pollution, greedy and selfish people  who only care about themselves, and how big a pile on money they can hoard up. I'd much rather have Ponyland's fresh air and sunshine!"

Okay, as long as you're sure." Sundance replied knowingly, finishing up brushing her friend's hair. "I was just making sure you're doing what you're doing for the right reasons."

Puzzled, Megan was about to ask her what she meant, when a knock came at the door

"Come in." Megan called out, looking back at the doorway.

The door swung open, and a regal white unicorn in a golden crown trotted into the room. Sundance immediately bowed, and Megan rose and curtseyed to the royal monarch of Dream  Valley.

"Oh, hello your highness!"  Megan greeted Queen Majesty. "Thank you so much for the wonderful room, and for letting me live here in Dream Valley!"

"Ah, Lady Megan! It's so great to have you here  with us once again!"  The queen inclined her head to the young woman respectfully. "We hope your life in Dream Valley will be a prosperous one, and it should please you to know that we have arranged a banquet in honor of your arrival, to be held one hundred days hence. And all of your great friends and allies from all across Ponyland shall be invited!"

"Why thank you, great Majesty! I'm truly flattered!" Megan said gratefully, curtseying again. "But I was wondering if I could help out around here in Dream Castle, in some way."

"We have considered this, oh great champion of Ponykind." The monarch replied with a smile. "We wish for you, along with your friends Wind Whistler, Gusty, and Sundance, to embark on a great quest for ponykind. We trust that you will be able you handle with much courage and a warriors skill, as you have handled such situations many times before."

"I-I am honored you think so highly of me, your Excellency." Megan replied politely. "But I hardly see myself as a warrior, and I wouldn't dream of asking my friends to join me on any kind of a perilous quest!"

"You don't need to ask us, Megan!" Sundance replied happily, nuzzling the young woman. "Windy, Gusty and I would follow you to the ends of the world!"

"Thanks Sundance." Megan smiled down at her, petting the pony's head. "That really means a lot to me."

"We are aware that you are not much of a warrior, Lady Megan. It is therefore why we expended a great deal of resources and magic, to have the royal smith ponies craft for you an enchanted suit of armor that will protect you from all harm."

"Great Majesty, that sounds like a wonderful gift!" Megan replied happily.

"Indeed! This armor’s enchantment will allow you to breathe underwater, as well as survive comfortably in harshest environments. We have been working on this gift for you for over a year, and it would be nearly impossible to replicate another artifact of it's kind of it's kind." Majesty said proudly. "And since we did not know much about making human armor, we relied heavily on advice from your brother."

"My queen, words alone cannot express my gratitude for this gift!" Megan exclaimed, as Majesty handed the young woman a black diamond choker. "But tell me, how do I activate it?"

"Merely place the choker upon your neck, and you will don the armor in it's full glory." Majesty bowed to the former cowgirl. "Consider it a thank you gift, for all you have done for ponykind." She turned and trotted back out the door. "Good night, Lady Megan, we shall see you in my throne room tomorrow, where you and your companions shall be given your quest."

After the queen was gone, Megan and Sundance were left staring at the enchanted diamond choker.

"Wow, my own suit of enchanted armor!" Megan exclaimed, remembering hearing about the magic armor from those  Dungeons and Dragons games her brother used to play. "What do you think it is, Sundance? Chain mail armor? Full plate?"

"Gee, I don't know Megan. It's usually the soldier ponies who know about stuff like armor and combat." Sundance replied. "Why don't you just try it on?"

"All right, I will." Megan replied, snapping the choker around her neck. Suddenly there was a flash of light, and the former cowgirl felt an almost electric sensation shoot all through he  body. Suddenly, Megan felt stronger, faster, and more powerful than she had ever had before! The armor even shifted around her appearance, making her a much taller and intimidating looking warrior!

"This is great!" Megan yelled. "Sundance, I feel wonderful!"

But as the light faded, Megan found her pony friend staring at her with eyes wide in shock. And it was then that the cowgirl felt something was off.

"Sunny, why do I feel a draft in here?" Megan asked, unnerved by the look on the mare's face. "And why does my back hurt all of a sudden?"

"M-Megan? You better take a look in the mirror." Her pale friend replied, turning a shade paler. "I don't think  you're gonna like this...at all."

"Huh?" Megan spun around to gaze in the vanity. And what gazed back from her reflection reminded her of the main female characters from her brother's favorite video games, Gauntlet and Golden Axe. And it was then that the twenty two year old felt the revenge of a little brother, whom she had sent to bed early one too many times as a kid.

"DANNY I'M GONNA $%&!-ING KILL YOU!"