Odyssey to Canterlot: Vital Components

Vital woke up, the sun glaring full force in the skies. He had a blanket over himself, something that he would have found comfort in if he owned a blanket. Vital pulled on his light green hair, trying to clear his mind. He remembered the mechs, and then talking to Spectrum. He groaned as he recalled the flashback. He took a deep breath to calm his nerves, trying not to have another episode.

“Looks like you're finally awake, so I can get going.” Vital looked over as Spectrum put a bowl of food next to him. “I’m only doing this because you helped me with the mechs. Not something I needed help with, by the way.” Vital chuckled as he got up and started stretching.

“Sorry, but even if you could have taken out all three by yourself, I doubt you’d be able to deal with the ones in Canterlot. I’m giving you one last warning not to go.” Spectrum and Vital stared at each other, both noticing the resolve within the other’s eyes. Spectrum smiled as he heard the thrum of her sword activating.

“And if I say no?” Vital smirked back at the cocky woman.

“Then I come with you. I know how to get into the town, and get past what could be considered the deadliest of all mechs. Besides, I need to check this whole ‘the princess is dead’ thing, and I may as well have some company for a trip back to that hell hole. So what do you say?” Spectrum glared at the boy, biting her lip as she thought.

“Why don’t you just tell me now? Besides, you aren’t one of the people who actually cares about my friend, so I don’t want you to be a part of the funeral.”

“As I said, I want to check on Twilight seeing as how I once worked for her, and we had a very good employee-boss relationship in my opinion. Besides, I would just take you; I wouldn’t be a part of the funeral.” Spectrum face palmed herself, sighing.

“Alright, either tell me how the hell you know a long-dead princess, or get out of my sight and admit you’re crazy.”

“I am not crazy, but if you want to bring up skeletons in the closet, why don’t you tell me who your buddy is and what exactly he did to deserve to die. That, and how about the fact that you have a magic sword, a weapon that isn’t exactly common. So, since it doesn’t seem like you like talking, why don’t we agree to shut up, work together, and ignore the fact that the two of us have secrets, but we don’t care.

Spectrum grabbed Vital by the collar of his shirt, pulling their faces within inches of each other. “I don’t need people. You’re a guy with a gun, so you could just shoot me in the back when I’m not looking. Working with you would be a death sentence. That, and you are just an earth pony yourself. You bring no skills to the table that I don’t have. So, do you have any reasons why I should work with you?” Vital met Spectrum’s gaze, never blinking, not even flinching.

Vital brought his metal case up slowly, barely undoing the clasp and grabbing a paper from within. Spectrum plucked it from the young man’s hands and unfolded it. “What the fuck is this?”

“A map. It has three different paths into Canterlot. One, is only accessible by a Wonderbolt level flier, and I don’t see a feather on ya. Next is through the catacombs. Enough mechs and beasts swarm that area that not even a mouse could get through without being devoured. The last one is a mountain pass which would take Daring Do five months to find, even if tipped off to where the entrance might be. So yeah, you might need me.”

Spectrum and Vital just stood there, watching each other. Vital saw the girl’s hand twitch next to her sword, reminding him how close he was to death. So close, so… “AHHHH.” Spectrum dropped him as the metal case clattered to the ground, Vital gripping his head. “No, I wasn’t doing anything. It was a rock, it was a rock!” Vital sat shaking on the ground, gripping his head, tears streaming down his face.

Spectrum backed away from the young man, whispering, “Vital, what’s happening?” Vital started to calm, breathing deeply. He looked up at Spectrum, trying to smile as his shoulders shook from his breathing.

“Sorry, just a small problem I’ve got. That’s all.” Spectrum sighed, stroking a hand through her hair, and then smacked Vital lightning fast.

“The fuck is wrong with you? That is not a small problem, especially if that’s why you passed out yesterday. Look, if you want to come along I’m going to need to know just how weak you are.” Vital started laughing, shaking his head as he got up.

“So, you do want me to come along? Sorry Spectrum, but I said we needed to let each other keep our secrets, and I may as well keep all I can, seeing as how you seem just a little tight-lipped. Sound like a deal?” Spectrum smiled at him.

“You’re damn right I don’t want to talk. Especially not to some weak ass punk like you.”

“I don’t know, it’s a long way to Canterlot, and it may get just a little boring if we never talk.” Vital smiled, extending his hand. Spectrum wished she could be happy. She wished that this young man gave her purpose. No, her purpose had been taken from her, and nothing was fixing that. This was a business partnership; no intimate details, only secrets. Shaking Vital’s hand, Spectrum knew this was how it had to be.