Chapter 20

Homecoming

It was the day every student and teacher had been waiting for, the day they could leave the school for a month and spend it relaxing with their family and friends. Grey was eagerly packing his things in hopes of getting home faster. He had been away from home for close to six months and was eager to see his family again. Just as he finished packing, the chaotic hurricane that is Eris walked in and jumped on his bed. “So what are we doing?”

“I am going home.” He said as he continued to pack.

“Yeah, but I’m coming with you.” She said with a smirk.

“Why subject yourself to the slums when you could spend it at the castle?”

“Because that place is boring.” She whined. “Besides, if I see Blueblood staring at my tits again I may just have to kill him.” She said in a deadpanned tone.

Do the human race a favor and kill him now. He thought with a chuckle. “Fine, come along if you want, but expect company.”

“Like who?” She asked as they heard a knock on the door to the main dorm.

“Perfect timing.” He stood up and opened the door to see the other three mages from his team. “Ah good I was hoping you guys would come before you left.”

“Whatcha need?” Bolt asked crossing his arms.

“As you’re all aware, we have a match the week after we come back from break.” Grey said in a neutral tone. “The month off gives us a good opportunity to learn some new tricks and hone our skills. I’m sure the other team is thinking the same thing.”

“Who’re we playing against?” Roach asked.

“Not sure yet, but Armor said they’re good.” Grey stated. “Anyway, I want you all to practice during the break.”

“No shit Starswirl.” Winter said.

“And if you feel like it, you can come to me for some real training.”

“What do you mean by that?” Bolt asked.

“Only one way to find out.” Grey smirked. “I don’t expect you guys to come before Hearth’s Warming. I have family plans of my own, but after that it’s fair game. Just give me a heads up first.” The mages rolled the idea around in their heads as they left the room. Grey and Eris finished packing before leaving their room. On the way, the lightning mage caught up to the two.

“Hey Grey, sorry I missed the meeting last week. Had some...personal issues to address.”

“Fair enough. I won’t pry”

“I’ve been meaning to ask, who taught you about magic?” The man asked.

“An old cyclops by the name of Owl. Taught me how to use a blade and how to fight. Why?”

“Figured he could give me a lesson or two.” Bolt said as the white haired man laughed.

“Good luck with that one. He doesn’t teach anymore.” He said as he neared his train. “See you later Bolt. Take it easy.” Grey said as he and Eris put their bags above and found a seat.

~~~

Canterlot Castle.

Scarlet was walking with Fox who was grumbling to herself. “Oh calm down Fox.” The redhead sighed.

“Calm down? How can I calm down when all they’re doing is giving us shit jobs?” She huffed. “Want to know how many suits of armor are in the East wing? Three-hundred twenty-six. I know because I had to polish each and every one of them!” The girl was close to ripping her hair out.

Scarlet hated to admit it, but she had a point. Most of the jobs they were doing were menial tasks. “I’m gonna give the CO a piece of my mind!” Fox walked into Tucker’s office.

“Ah I was just about to call you two here. Saved me the trouble.” He smiled as he hung up the phone.

“We want a mission sir!” Fox said. Tucker leaned back in his chair and smirked.

“Oh really?”

“Sir, with respect, all we’ve been doing is bottom of the barrel work.” Scarlet said. “We’re ready for a real mission.” Tucker raised an eyebrow and glared at the two women.

“You’re right.”

“And another-....wait what?” Fox’s rant was cut short as she heard the words.

“You’re right. You two, along with Private Nova are by far the best privates we have and I believe you’re ready for a real mission.” He said getting up to a filing cabinet. The officer pulled out a red file sealed with tape that said, ‘Classified’ in big black letters. He threw the file on his desk and sat back down.

“This mission was put in by Princess Celestia herself. A mission like this can make or break a soldier’s career.” His tone was deep and serious. “I’m warning you, this mission will test every fiber of your being and every ounce of strength you have. Once you accept and open that file, you’re committed. There’s no going back, nor can I guarantee that you’ll make it back alive.” He said in a serious tone. “Do you accept?”

The two girls looked at one another and gulped. They both reached for the file and nodded. “Then may Celestia have mercy on your souls.” He said turning around in his swivel chair. “Please, don’t open it here. These walls have ears. You’re dismissed.” The two nodded and quickly made their way back to Scarlet’s room where Nova was lounging on her bunk.

“Sup gals?” she asked sitting up.

“Get up featherbrain. We’ve got a mission!” Fox smiled.

“Never knew you’d be excited about cleaning toilets.” Nova said in a perplexed tone.

“Those days are over.” The redhead stated. “We got ourselves a genuine mission.” She said opening the file and pulling out a sheet of paper. Her green eyes scanned the page and her blood boiled. “THAT SON OF A BITCH!” Both girls were taken back by the shout.

“Rosy, you’re scaring me.” Scarlet hissed and forcefully handed them the assignment. Fox was close to ripping her hair out, while Nova was giddy. “Yay! We get to go to a Gala! I’ve always wanted to go to one.”

“I’ll kill him. I swear I’m gonna kill him.” Fox hissed.

“Get in line.” Scarlet said jumping up to her bunk.

“Hey guys, it says that we need to buy dresses for the ball so we blend in better.” Nova squealed.

“How could this possibly get any worse?” The redhead said into her pillow.

“It says that the royal family, including Prince Blueblood will be attending.” Scarlet cursed again and rolled on her back.

“Why universe? Why? Is it money you want? Take all the money.” She had seen the Prince before and he was the pure definition of a pompous ass hole from what she’d heard from the maids. The girl stood up headed towards the door.

“Where’re you going?” Nova asked.

“To blow off some steam.”

“Firing range?” Fox asked.

“Yeah.”

“Well, get it out of your system, because we need to go shopping~” Nova giggled.

~~~

Grey awoke as the train pulled to a halt. His eyes adjusted to the light and he noticed Eris was napping on his lap. He gently nudged the girl slightly. “Eris, we’re here. Time to get up.”

“Five more minutes.” She whined.

“No.” He said as he started to stand up. The girl pouted and stood up as she yawned. The two collected their bags and made their way off the train. The man chuckled as he passed a cabin and saw Winter asleep, using Roach’s shoulder as a pillow. The man took Cinder out of his cage when he collected him, much to the bird’s delight and sat itself on his shoulder. Grey snapped his fingers and his shell changed his white hair back to black.

“Why do that?” Eris asked.

“Because I want to.” Grey said as they exited the train station. He looked up when he saw a familiar indigo haired scholar. “Hey Twilight.” He said coming up to her.

“Oh hey Grey. You changed your hair?”

“People recognize me better with my hair like this.” He said with a shrug. “Home for the holidays?”

“Mhm.” She smiled. She then noticed Eris and glared.

“What?”

“Thanks to your screw up, we did horribly on the synchronization!” The girl yelled as they started walking.

“We got a B on that.” Eris shrugged.

“That’s what I’m talking about! I’ve never gotten a B before!”

“Why do I believe that?” Grey sighed. “Twilight calm down, a B is not the end of the world. You need to relax.” The scholar crossed her arms and huffed. “Anyway, are you taking anyone with you to the Gala?”

“Rarity. She knows more about high society than I do. What about you?”

“My mother.”

“What!?” Eris glared.

“Her birthday is coming up and I’d like to do something nice for her. Besides it’s been a long time since she’s been to the castle.”

“Really?” Twilight asked.

“She was in the Royal Guard for a while. Then took early retirement.”

“What rank was she?” Twilight asked.

“Don’t know. She doesn’t like to talk about it.” The two stopped in front of a beautiful three story white house with a front gate. “This the place?”

“Yeah, it’s good to be home again.” The girl said as the door opened to show a woman with silver hair and a purple stripe running through.

“Twilight!” She said as she ran out and hugged the girl. “It’s so good to have you home again.” The scholar returned the hug and smiled.

“Nice to see you too mom.” The girl smiled turning back to the couple. “Grey, Eris, this is my mom, Velvet Sparkle.”

“Oh are these some friends from school?” She smiled.

“Sup?” Eris said. Grey walked up to her and stuck his hand out.

“Now I see where you get your nosiness from Twilight.” Grey said looking at the woman. Twilight pouted at the words. The older woman looked at the man’s silver eyes.

“I’m sorry, have we met?” Grey’s shell cracked revealing his white hair.

“It’s been a while Dr.V.” As his hair went back to it’s normal color. The name, the hair and eyes registered in Velvet’s mind.

“G-Grey!? Is that really you?” The man nodded.

“Wait, how do you know Sparkle’s mom?” Eris asked.

“I was her patient for a few months.”

“What kind of doctor are you?” Eris asked.

“Psychiatrist.” Velvet said with a gulp. “How have you been doing?”

“I survive.” He said in a flat tone has his shell turned his hair back to black. “Sorry, I can’t stay and chat.” He said picking his bag back up. “I’ll see you at the gala Twilight.” Grey and Eris started to walk away.

The remainder of the walk was spent in silence until they came to the far end of the city and approached the security checkpoint.

“Man that gorge is huge.” Eris said looking down over the edge. The two made it across and the bridge and made their way through the district. The two continued through the streets and the two were hit with senses of nostalgia. They passed a building slowly being rebuilt with red brick.

“I used to buy books there.” He said as they kept walking and saw several more buildings tor to pieces.

“The hell happened here?” Eris asked.

“War.” He said as they kept walking down the cobblestone road.

~~~

Bolt sighed as he dialed a number on a payphone in Baltimare train station. He waited as the dial tone range three times before being picked up. “Hello?” The voice belonged to the dueling team coach.

“Captain Armor? It’s Bolt.”

“Ah yes, how are you?”

“Fine. I just got off the train in Baltimare.” The lightning mage gripped the receiver and mentally cursed himself. “I have some new information regarding Grey.”

“Do tell.”

“He didn’t say much.”

“Figures.” The man sighed.

“He told me about his mentor. The person who instructed him in magic.”

“Well, it’s something to go on. What’s their name?”

“Not much to go on he said, and I quote, ‘some old Cyclops named Owl.’”

“Cyclops?”

“I’m guessing he has one eye.” The line went silent for a few minutes. “Sir?”

“Bolt are you absolutely sure that’s what Grey said?” The man’s tone shifted from confident to worried in a flash.

“Yeah, it’s what he said.”

“Okay, keep doing good work.”

“And our arrangement?” Bolt asked in a blank tone.

“The funds have been transferred to your account. Call me if you find anything else.”

“Yes, sir.” Bolt said in a jaded tone before slamming the receiver on the call box. He bit his lip and stormed off towards his home.

~~~

Canterlot Castle

The guard captain rolled the news over in his head as he looked out the window of his office. He rolled the name over and over in his head and looked through his files. The door to his office opened to show Princess Celestia. “Shining?” She looked around to see the files scattered. “Am I interrupting something?”

“Just looking for a file your majesty.” He sighed as he sat down. “I finally get a lead on Grey and I can’t find a file.”

“What file?”

“I found out a lead on Grey. His mentor’s name.” Shining stated. “Well, I think it may be more of an alias. Some guy named Owl.”

“Owl?” Celestia said in confusion.

“Yup, my contact claimed that Grey said he had one eye.” Celestia crossed her arms as she tapped her arm. The words passed through her mind and her eyes shrank as she let out a gasp. “M’lady?”

“The One Eyed Owl.” She gulped. Shining’s eyes flared as he put the pieces together.

“Y-You mean THAT Owl, but he vanished years ago! I thought he was dead!”

“He’s a sentinel. He won’t die so easily.” Celestia said. “You met him once.”

“Yeah, he refused to train me.” He bit his lip.

“Can you blame him for not wanting to train anymore guards?” Celestia sighed looking out the window. “I know a way to talk to him, but I doubt he’ll agree to see me.” The woman sighed as she left to find her office. Shining sighed and bit his lip as he processed the information.

~~~

Eris and Grey made their way to the far end of the city and came upon a house that looked newer on the outside. “Glad to see my money was well spent.” He said as he opened the door. Silence was all that was there. Grey let out a small sigh as he remembered the sounds of the previous occupants of the house. “Home sweet home.” He said as Eris stepped inside and he closed the door.

As the wooden door slammed shut the lights flicked on and the Changeling siblings came out with noise makers.

“SURPRISE!” They both yelled as they came out from the kitchen.

“Somehow I saw this coming.” Grey smiled as he gave them each a hug. Eris felt a little awkward in the situation. Sure grey had told her about his ‘siblings’ but never really knew anything about them. Dusk peered over his shoulder and saw the white haired woman. Grey then broke the embrace.

“Right, Dusk, Rogue, this is Eris.” He gestured to the chaotic being.

“Hi.” She smiled with a wave.

“Eris is-” She wrapped her arms around the man.

“I’m his lover.” She purred. Grey face palmed at the woman’s words.

“She’s also Discord’s daughter.” That made the siblings shiver a bit.

“Again, why do you always go after the crazy girls?” Dusk shook his head. Grey chuckled and joined his family in the kitchen where Willow was standing.

“Grey, it’s nice to have you home.” She then noticed Eris. “And you brought company.”

“Sorry, it was really last minute.”

“Oh it’s no trouble.” She smiled. Grey took a seat and let out a sigh.

“It’s good to be home.” The man smiled.

Author's Note

Sorry this took so long and the shortness of it.