Mark of Baen

The following morning, Baen was sleeping the soundest he had ever before.  Several months of going from foreign bed to bed could not compare to the comfort of one’s own bed.  Currently, the barbarian wasn’t wearing his armor and lying on his back, his front hooves folded like a cat’s paws as one of his hind legs twitched.  A snore escaped his lips as he mumbled gibberish in his current state.  He snorted again and was blissfully unaware of the shape staring down at him.  The shape in question raised a cautionary hoof and went to poke him, but pulled back, thinking on the next series of moves.  The shape smiled deviously and extended a wing, a lone feather traced under his nose.  The gesture though minor to some, was a mild disruption for the barbarian who batted at the feather to make it go away before rolling over.  The feather reached out and traced along his spine causing the barbarian to tense up and roll away more.

“Snrk.”

The wing reached out once more and tickled his barrel causing the barbarian to roll away again…and off his bed.

“GAH!”

“PFFFFTHAHAHAHAHAH!”

Baen stood up abruptly and glared at the laughing culprit, “Rainbow Dash!  How in Tieg’s name did you get in here!?”

Dash wiped a tear from her eye, “Sorry, I couldn’t resist,” she gestured to Baen’s window, “you left it open, plus I have to make up for lost time.”

“Lost time on what?”

“Duh,” she hovered in the air and opened her forelegs, “pranking you!  You’ve been gone for so long that I never got to get any good pranks on you!”

“I assume the Pink One feels the same way?”

Dash rubbed her hooves together evilly, “She has a chart.”

Baen trembled, “Great….,” he then realized he was utterly naked and covered himself with his blanket, “would you mind?”

Rainbow blinked a few times then blushed, “Oh right…sorry dude.  I thought you were over that whole thing already with us.”

Baen shrugged, “Old habits.”

Rainbow nodded in understanding and flew into the hall, shutting the door behind her.

“Before I forget,” Rainbow began, “Twilight sent me over here to get you, we want to hear about how your vacation and stuff went.”

“This early?” Baen’s voice was muffled, “I understand the you all must want to hear about what I did, but couldn’t it wait till it’s a little further in the day?”

Rainbow’s expression was neutral, “It’s noon.”

“…..Oh.  So it is.”

Dash snickered, “You know, we did miss you, you knucklehead.”

Baen opened the door to reveal he was fully garbed in his armor, “That does mean a lot Dash.  I missed you all as well.”

Dash slugged him in the leg, “Don’t go getting all sappy on me, come on, Twi and everypony else is waiting for us.”

The two ponies left the house and started making their way toward Ponyville.  The streets were abuzz with activity as ponies young and old went about their business.  Some would stop to greet the two ponies as they walked, and they in turn, returned the greetings.  Continuing on, they stopped when they noticed two familiar mares.  One was grey the other white.  The noticed that the grey one was currently clutching a knick knack like it was her life preserver.

“No Vinyl, I refuse to part with this!  Everything else is on sale,” she said with great defensiveness, “but the ceramic swan stays with me!”

“Octy come on,” Vinyl neared the mare who hissed, “we need to make room, plus Berry really wants to buy it for a good amount of bits!”

Octy hid under the table as Berry became flustered, “Keep your grubby hooves off my swan!”

Vinyl shook her head but noticed Baen and smiled, “BAEN!  Aw, are you a sight for sore eyes.  Hey RD how’s it hanging?”

Dash hoofbumped the DJ, “Awesomely.”

Vinyl tapped her chin, “Hey Baen, could you give me a hoof with Octavia?  She’s refusing to fork over the merchandise.”

Baen nodded and casually walked over to the table, “Hello Octavia.”

“Good afternoon Baen, good to see you back,” she then added, “but I have no intention of giving up this swan.”

Baen nodded and looked to the girls, “One second,” he then reached under the table and yanked the mare out and held the swan aloft, with the mare still attached.

Baen gave a hard shake, but she held firm.  Gritting his teeth, he shook harder, but she held on stubbornly.

“MINE!”

Baen rolled his eyes.  He then jabbed a spot on her back causing her front legs to go slack and the mare to fall onto her back.  Baen passed the statue to Vinyl as Octavia whined on the ground and cursed at the stallion.  Vinyl gave the statue, and then the bits were given.

“There we go,” Vinyl walked to Octavia, “was that so hard?”

“You are sleeping on the couch,” she grumbled, “for four weeks.”

Vinyl blinked, “But I have my own room…”

“I don’t care.”

Baen leaned to Vinyl, “You might want to carry her.  Her legs will be like that for a good few hours.”

Vinyl levitated the fuming mare, “Thanks, I owe ya.”

“No trouble at all Vinyl,” he then approached Rainbow who quickly fell in step with him.

“How the hay did you do that?!”

“Another trick I picked up from A’dare,” he waved a hoof, “No big deal.”

Dash shook her head as the two came before the castle.    Baen nodded at it.

“Hm, I see she finally got the last of the cracks out,” he glanced at a snickering Rainbow Dash, “I assume she used much spackle?”

“Yeah,” she laughed as the door opened, “Twilight used all the spackle.”

A clearing throat drew their attention, “For your information, it was essential.  And for that matter, it was the construction crews who used the spackle.”

Both ponies snickered while Twilight stared at them in confusion, “Why does everypony laugh when I say that?”

Baen waved a hoof, “It’s nothing,” he glanced around, “where are the others by chance?”

“Oh, they’re in the library waiting for us,” she smiled, “since Cadance took the mirror back, there is a lot more space freed up.”

Baen walked side by side with Twilight and Rainbow as he glanced at her, “By the way Twilight, I was going to ask.  How is that….other trip coming along?”

Twilight smiled warmly and gave him a pat, “Be patient, I’m freeing up some time in the future for us when Cadance give the mirror back.”

Rainbow pouted, “I wanna go too,” they entered the library and were greeted by a chorus of voices.

Baen took a seat as the girls happily made themselves comfy.

“So Baen, first order of business,” Rarity stirred the tea she had in her magic grasp, “How did your personal vacation with dear Coco go?”

Baen smiled, “Well honestly, it went quite well.  Santa Carta was very sunny and we partook in what one calls,” he tilted his hoof a few times, “strolls by the beach.  The view was always good at sunset, the way the rays sparkled off the water.  Perfection.”

Rarity fawned, “A sunset stroll along the beach, how romantic,” she pouted, “Oh, why couldn’t you be more refined and have better manners.”

Baen pursed his lips as the girls laughed at Rarity’s blush at her comment.

Twilight smiled, “Well I’m glad to hear you and Coco had a good time.”

Baen nodded as Spike handed him a glass of punch, “there was just one minor thing that almost spoiled it for the two of us.”

The girls leaned in as he sighed, “All the damn vamponies.”

The girls blinked in confusion as he took a calm swig.

Applejack shook her head, “That’s a load a sour apples if ah ever heard it.”

Baen nodded, “Oh yeah, there are loads there.  They live in the caves near the seashore,” he placed his glass down, “But I digress.”

Pinkie Pie nodded, “Yeah!  What about the other places you saw?  Like the Minotaur kingdom!  OR OR OR THE ZEBRA KINGDOM!”

Twilight raised a hoof to calm her down, “Pinkie, why don’t we let him talk.”

Baen smiled and began to spin his tale.

*

As tales were told, another set of tales were just wrapping up.  Mulberry was sitting in front of Vida as shaved Diamond Dogs mined tirelessly for their mistress.

“And after Tirek’s defeat, Princess Twilight Sparkle was named the Princess of Friendship.”

“I see,” Vida stated half listening and half reading The Tome, “surely that can’t be it?”

Mulberry wracked his brain; he didn’t want her to be disappointed with him.  Then something clicked.

“Apologies my lady; it seems in my story telling I overlooked one critical detail.”

Vida nodded as she flipped another page from her perch.

“Before the climactic battle with Tirek there were several instances when these…I believe they were called demons,” Vida tilted her head and regarded Mulberry for a moment, “yes my lady, demons!”

Vida nodded, “And these demons,” she stated flatly as she flipped through her book, “how pray tell were they slain?”

“By a warrior that Princess Twilight thawed form stone,” Mulberry nodded as he remembered the name, “I believe it was, Baen.”

Vida stopped her page turning and slammed the book shut startling all present.

“What.”

Mulberry smiled weakly as Vida stood up and approached him, “That name.  Repeat it.”

“Baen, my lady?”

Vida’s eyes widened as something sparkled in them, “Hmm, now that is interesting.  Tell me, this Baen,” she crooked his chin with her forehoof, her voice tugging at Mulberry’s heart, “what does he look like?”

Mulberry blushed as his gaze became lidded, “He has a peach coat, a scar on his eye, green eyes and…”

Vida gently finished for him, “A rose red mane that is wild and untamed,” she smiled, “it IS him.”

Mulberry tilted his head in confusion as Vida licked her lips, “My lady?  Do you know him?”

“Extensively,” she mused but then a loud crash caused her to flinch.  She cast a glare to a shaved Fido who shrunk in fear.

“Why is it taking so long?” Vida scolded, “Is finding a book of stone so hard?”

Fido trembled under her stern gaze, “My lady, forgive me.  We search long but we no find the book you request.”

Vida’s right eye twitched but she inhaled as a small smile appeared, “Oh, no matter then.  I’ll just seek it out myself,” she trotted away, “Oh and Fido?  If I return and you have not collected for me five hundred gems as recompense for your failure,” she added in a sing song tone, “I’ll burn you to ashes where you stand.”

Fido whined in fright as Vida teleported away.

Mulberry gazed after her with longing.

*

Outside Ponyville, the sun was setting when a flash of green magic appeared on a nearby hill.  Looking around, the witch regarded the town with mild distaste.

“My book was brought here,” she snorted lightly, “how droll.”

Vida glanced nearby and noticed a thin earth pony stallion with an orange mane and yellow coat sitting nearby gazing at the sun.  She smiled and approached.  She halted when she noticed an errant magazine on the ground.  The mare wore a sundress with a matching sun hat and a pair of glasses.  Raising an eyebrow, her horn gave off a glow and soon she was garbed in an exact duplicate of the outfit.  The outfit was a darker shade of her mane.  On the dress, a gold floral pattern adorned it; the brim of her hat was trimmed with gold as well.  Smiling, she positioned her gold rimmed glasses and approached the stallion.

“Excuse me sir,” the stallion glanced over and gawked for a moment, “I’m looking for a book I seemed to have misplaced.  Would you by chance know where I could, reacquire it?”

The stallion shook his head to clear his mind a bit, “Oh, sorry about that miss.  Well originally I would have pointed you in the direction of Golden Oaks Library, but it kind of got…,” he tapped his chin, “blown up.”

Vida pouted, “That’s a shame, Mr?”

“Carrot Cake,” the stallion answered automatically much to his confusion, “Um…but Princess Twilight’s castle has a large library.  At least that’s what Pinkie Pie told me, she might’ve found your book for you!”

Vida smiled and approached the stallion who leaned back slightly as she got within an inch of him, “I see, my my,” she sniffed him, “do I smell cake?”

“Y…Yes, me and my wife make them.”

“Wife,” an ominous smile crept onto her face as she leaned forward…but she stopped, “on second thought….you’re too lanky for me.”

Carrot Cake was still caught as she turned to leave, “Wait miss, I could put on a few pounds, work out,” he fell face first into a mud puddle and shook his head, “What…what was I just doing?”

After the encounter, Vida scanned the town, searching for her book’s magical signature.  She managed to find faint traces and followed the strongest trail.  After many more hours of travelling, she turned a corner and stared up at the massive castle before her.

“Hm, impressive,” she shook her head, “But mine is bigger.”

Vida approached the main doors and knocked.  After a few moments of waiting, the door opened.  Vida raised an eyebrow and noticed nopony standing there.

“Um excuse me, down here,” Vida glanced down and notice the small purple and green dragon staring up at her, “Can I help you?”

“I am looking for the one known as Princess Twilight Sparkle.”

“Oh, you just missed her,” Spike couldn’t help but stare at the mare, “she went out for the night with her friends to eat with somepony who just got back from vacation.”

Vida nodded, but then her horn gave a violent pulse and her eyes snapped to the dragon as she magiced off her sunglasses, “Tell me drakeling,” she stated warmly, “would you have by chance come into contact with my book?”

Spike tapped his chin, “Um, I don’t know,” he blushed when her mane tickled the top of his head when she got to eye level with him, “m…maybe if you tell me what it looks like I can help anyway I can.”

Vida smiled and scratched under his chin, “Such a helpful young one you are,” she cooed, “very well.  My book isn’t that hard to describe,” She stopped her scratching, “It’s made from stone and it had a mark on it surrounded by spikes.  Surely you must’ve seen it.”

Spike nodded, “Sure did!  Actually, I pulled it out of the castle of Two Pony Sisters and brought it around to help a friend by showing her the Inspiration Manifestation spell.”

Vida nodded with a glimmer in her eye, “One of my finest works,” she tapped her chin, “but for somepony to use it….”

Spike didn’t hear her, “But the book drove my friend crazy so after a bunch of even crazier stuff happened, I ate it and that destroyed it.”

A pin dropped.

Vida’s smile was still on her face, “You…ate my book?  And destroyed it?”

“Yep, to save my friend Rarity,” Spike proclaimed proudly.

Vida’s right eye twitched, “A book, that I used to write all of my finest spells in during my studies with my mistress,” she stated calmly with her smile thinning, “you ate it.”

Spike nodded, the air growing thick.

“Uh,” Vida’s eyes fixed on him as the sun vanished behind her on the horizon, “I’m sorry?”

Vida leaned down, her smile as thin as thread.  Her irises then started to glow dangerously as she stated in a cold tone.

“You will be.”