The Apprentice, the Student, and the Charlatan - Side Stories

The Apprentice, the Student, and the Charlatan - Side Stories

Kicking and Screaming

TAGS:  Comedy, Romantic - Explains Nova's absence through Season 4 (most of it, anyway)..

A fanfare of trumpets sounded the arrival of the Equestrian dignitary to the Eurponean duchies.  A white pony with a bright blue mane and tail strode through the ranks of Germane guards as they saluted his procession.

Nova Shine had come alone on this Tour de Eurpone.  As a special request from Princess Celestia.  His visit to Eurpone undoubtedly had diplomatic purposes, but there was a far more secretive plot going on in Equestria, and he had been one of the few privy to what was going on.  Not even his fiancée knew what was happening, but it was of the utmost importance to keep her in the dark.

Especially since her new quest revolved around that chest and what was inside.

It had started in Canterlot shortly after Twilight and her friends left for Manehattan for the week.  Celestia and Luna had called Nova away from enjoying his new house in Ponyville with his fiancée to answer an urgent summons, which were to be kept off the books.

“We’re going to keep this short,” Luna had immediately said on arrival, and Nova was quite surprised to see Princess Cadance with the two sisters.  “Something bad has happened that you need to be aware of.”

“Oh dear,” Nova had said.  “What is Twilight and her friends going to have to beat this time?”

Luna pawed at the ground nervously and gave an apprehensive look to Celestia, who simply gave her a grave nod.

“If worst comes to worst, Lord Tirek.”

And for the first time since Twilight’s coronation, Nova Shine had been at a complete loss for words.  Celestia knew he had to know about Tirek, given Tirek’s recent history back in the Old Times, so she knew he could be feeling quite a bit of panic.

“You mean to tell me that one of the most powerful beings, one of the most evil beings in Equestrian history,” he repeated, actually sounding afraid for once in his life, “is going to have to be confronted by Twilight!?”

Luna nodded.

“We have been aware of his absence from Tartarus for some time, Nova,” she said.  “Not that long before the Royal Wedding, Cerberus abandoned his post and found his way into Ponyville, where Twilight had to return her.  Unfortunately, she couldn’t know that one of its residents had escaped, never having seen him before.”

Nova ran a hoof through his mane, his mind going a million miles an hour.  He had known that Tirek and Scorpus had attempted to invade a non-colonized Equestria from Dream Valley in the past, but a combination of Scorpus’ betrayal, Lord Star Swirl’s power, and the former king of the Kingdom of the North, King Crystalis, had defeated Tirek and had imprisoned him in Tartarus.

“What are we going to do about it?” he asked, already going over possible scenarios involving his return to the past to make sure Cerberus never escaped, among other things.

“Simply, we do nothing,” Cadance said.

“Do whaaaaaa--?” Nova said.

“We can do nothing,” Luna repeated.  “Tirek has done nothing, so we cannot track him down right now.  There will come a time when he grows strong enough so that Discord can find him, but that time is not now.  And in any of our plans, you don’t really have any impact.”

“Which leads us to the purpose of your visit,” Celestia intervened before Nova could protest.  “There are only two individuals we can count on to battle Tirek.  Discord--”

“--and Twilight,” Nova said, hanging his head.  “I’d just be in the way, wouldn’t I?”

“Now Nova, you know that’s not true!” Luna said, reprimanding him.  “I have known few spellcasters as brilliant as you can be.  You would not be in the way.  We are looking to remove you from the playing field, simply for insurance.”

“Insurance?” Nova asked, raising an eyebrow skeptically.

“Tirek will begin removing ponies’ magic as a means to recover his strength,” Celestia explained.  “We want you away from Equestria so that does not happen to you.  And if our plan fails, we know that you can stop him.”

“What’s so special about me?” Nova asked.  “I’m just a normal unicorn, with a slightly abnormal position.  What is there about me that--”

“You have much to learn about yourself, my former Apprentice,” Luna said, leaning down and giving Nova a nuzzle.  “There is something you don’t yet know about yourself that would be catastrophic if Tirek were to get ahold of your magic.  He doesn’t just absorb magic itself from ponies; he absorbs what makes them special. You’ll learn one day what that is for you, Nova.  I’m sure of it.”

“If you say so,” Nova responded, resigning himself to having to watch from the sidelines yet again.  “So, what will I be doing?”

{T} {A} {T} {S} {A} {T} {C}

“You’re leaving when?” Twilight asked, surprised by the suddenness of the assignment.  Nova’s departure day was two weeks after the meeting.  This gave him time to wait until after Twilight returned from her visit to Manehattan, so he could say goodbye for the foreseeable future.

“Two days,” Nova said.  “I’m supposed to go to Eurpone and work on some kind of treaty over there for the Princesses.”“H-how long will it be?” she asked.  Was she already upset by this?  Well, granted, this had happened during what was supposed to be a leisurely trip with Rarity and the mares.  To find out your fiancée was going to be separated for a few months immediately after?“At most two months,” said Nova.  “I think.  Don’t really know, actually.  Depends on how long it takes to get these treaties and charters nailed down, but hopefully not too long.  Don’t worry,” he added, leaning down to kiss her gently, “if they’re not done a week before the wedding, I’ll just come on back anyway.  I wouldn’t miss that day for the world.”She smiled and kissed him again, before going off to help him pack.

{T} {A} {T} {S} {A} {T} {C}

So here Nova stood, in one of the meeting rooms for the Germane Chancellor, waiting for Angela Mareket to make her entrance.  Final details from Celestia and Luna had revealed that all of the Eurponean dignitaries knew of the situation and were asked to find a way to deliberate until Tirek was defeated.  However long that would take.  Nova then stared Celestia straight in the eye and had given her his terms regarding the wedding.  Celestia had tried to protest, but she knew it wouldn’t stop him.

Not even the Germane forces could, even if they all marshalled to face him.The door at the back of the small room opened, and a somewhat elderly mare entered the room.  She was an earth pony, with a peach-colored coat and blonde mane and tail, and she wore a small pendant with the Germane eagle clasping the black, yellow-orange, and red flag.“Good day, Chancellor Mareket,” Nova said, bowing.“Good day, Night Master Nova Shine,” she said in her Germane accent, bowing briefly to him as well, before taking a seat on one of the cushions.  “Vat do the Prench bring to the table today?”.”A decreased tariff on Germane imports,” Nova recited, looking over a list he had taken when speaking with Prench President Prancois Hollande earlier that week, “an exchange of food and drink goods, less border security, and the promise to back down their bid and let you guys host the FIHA World Cup in twelve years.”Mareket chuckled, a pleasant sound that reminded Nova of his mother’s laugh.“Ah, so he knows how big of a hoofball fan I am,” she replied.  “But even so, leaders must put their state ahead of their desires.  But I cannot deny that the Vorld Cup vould bring a substantial increase of commerce and trade as ponies and griffons all came to vatch the spectacle…”At this point, Nova knew she was only speaking to herself--A spike of massive energy washed over Nova.  .He cried out in alarm and clapped his hooves to his head as it erupted in pain.“My goodness,” Mareket exclaimed.  “Night Master, are you alright?”Four guards burst into the room at the sound of her exclamation, only to find Nova clutching at his head and writhing on the ground in pain.  Despite the pain, Nova’s initial thought was of Envy and her initial attack after Hearth’s Warming, when a similar wave of energy had washed over him.But there was no mistaking the source of the magic.  There were traces of Celestia, Luna, and Princess Cadance in it.Something had happened to the Princesses.  Something BIG had happened to them.He had been aware for the longest time that something was wrong, having felt small magical imbalances all over the place, and all coming from Equestria.  Surely this meant Tirek was gaining in strength, but when would they step in to stop him?Nova wasn’t aware of them moving him.  The pulses of energy were huge, and they continued to ravage him, even as he screamed, writhed, and hurt.He felt a pinch on his arm, and suddenly, everything seemed to just fade away…

{T} {A} {T} {S} {A} {T} {C}

Another pulse of energy woke him up and caused the sedative to wear off.  Nova was screaming again, clutching his head with his hooves.  When would it end!?  What was--

No… no, that magical trace… it couldn’t be…Nova shot up in his infirmary bed, scaring the nurses attending to him.“TWILIGHT!” he bellowed reflexively.  He was afraid.  That energy source could only come from her, and it matched the imbalance.  Which could mean Tirek had taken her magic from her forcibly.He dashed out of bed, galloping as fast as he could toward the castle exit and toward Marelin.  Orders be damned, he was going to Twilight’s aid, and nopony was going to stop him--Nova suddenly had all the wind forced out of him as he was tackled by two Germane guards.“LEMME GO!” he said, kicking and shaking to try and extricate himself.“Herr Night Apprentice,” came the voice of Angela Mareket behind him, “your orders are to stay here, no matter the situation!”“My fiancée’s in trouble!” he said.“Und it vould take you a veek to get there by boat,” she said.  “Your orders from Princess Celestia herself are to stay here.  Und I vill sic the guards on you und throw you into the dungeons if I must.”“What the hell is going on in Equestria?” he asked, still trying to fight his way out from under the now-three guard dogpile.“Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and Princess Cadance have been locked in Tartarus, beyond that I do not know,” Mareket answered in an authoritative voice, “as vas anticipated.  Your orders have not changed, Night Master.  You are to vait until the crisis is over.”Nova, however, refused to give up, so Mareket turned to one of her aides.  “Another sedative.”For the second time that day, Nova felt a pinch in his haunch, and everything faded out.

{T} {A} {T} {S} {A} {T} {C}

Yet another wave of magic woke Nova from his sedated state.  Unlike the previous blasts of magic, this one felt… pleasant.  Gentle, even.

And at the center of it was unmistakably the love of Nova’s life.  He could just feel it.  Almost as if she was calling him home, telling him the crisis was over.Nova gasped, eyes bolting open, and he fell out of his bed.  Strangely, the nurses didn’t seem to notice.  They were too busy chatting quite frantically with some of the guards.  Probably something to do with him.“Oh!  Er vach ist!” one of them said, and the nurses scrambled over to help him.“Wuzzapening?” Nova said blearily, as he tried to take note of his surroundings.“Calm down, Night Master,” said one of the nurses, trying to help him up.“Wuzzapening?” Nova repeated.  He noticed he had to have sounded drunk, so he shook his head and attempted to clear his head from the strange feeling.  Seeing that he wasn’t struggling against him, the nurses left him to get to his hooves.“Etvas geschieht in Eqvestria,” Nova heard somepony say from the corridor outside.  “Jedoch, ich veiß nicht, vas.  Informieren sie den Nacht Meister.”The door banged open and Trotto von Bismarck, Chancellor Mareket’s army general, trotted in, looking a mite concerned.  Bismarck was a burly earth pony, wearing a silvery-grey military uniform that perfectly matched his coat, but the white moustache under his nose added the look of a pony not to be crossed.“You are the Night Meister?” he asked Nova, who was still rubbing his eyes to get everything to stop spinning.“Uhh, yeah,” he said, shaking his head.“Ve must inform you that it vould seem the Princesses have been reinstated, and it is safe for you to return to Eqvestria.”“Tirek’s gone?” Nova asked, suddenly feeling perfectly normal, albeit somewhat alarmed.“It vould appear so,” Bismarck said, shrugging.  “I know nothing of the situation, other than that vhatever turbulent happenings that have been occurring in Eqvestria as of late seem to have been reversed.  Indeed, it vould seem that the crisis is over, at first glance at least.  I vould advise staying and seeing vhat has happened before going.”So Nova resigned himself to at least one more day away from home.

{T} {A} {T} {S} {A} {T} {C}

Nova stood on the bow of the Germane airship as it neared Canterlot Airbay a week and a half later.  The crisis was over, he was free to return home, with the actual Equestrian ambassador resuming her job.  Nova appreciated the fact that unlike Equestrian airships, this had no intricate designs on the balloon.  It was nothing more than a simple red oblong filled with enough helium to lift them, and it gave Nova plenty of room to look around.

The first thing he noticed about Ponyville was the giant, shining tree-looking castle with Twilight’s star adorning a steeple.The second thing he noticed was that there was a lavender-hued blur shooting right for him.  Nova grinned.  She knew he was back!He backpedaled, then despite the guards attempting to charge in and stop him, he galloped forward and leapt off the ship, laughing giddily as vertigo took over.The lavender blur shot towards him, then under him, and finally Nova felt himself simultaneously being drained of oxygen and spinning at a pace that made him very dizzy.  Twilight had caught him and was now flying at an insane pace, while simultaneously spinning, probably unconsciously, and squeezing the life out of him.Wait a minute, she was flying while carrying him!  AT RAINBOW DASH SPEEDS!“Twilight!”Nova half-screamed, now holding on for dear life.  He had only meant for her to lower him gently to the ground after catching him!  “Back to Canterlot, please!  AND STOP SPINNING!” he added over the howling wind around them.She complied wordlessly, and the world around him materialized.  His dizziness, however, didn’t help matters.“I’m so glad you’re home!” she exclaimed, hugging him all the tighter.  “You have no idea what it’s been like with you gone!”“Uhh, We’ll talk about that when we land,” he said, feeling guilty.  “I did kinda know what happened over here.”She stopped in midair, having lifted him above the Germane airship in terms of height, but they were still a ways off from Canterlot.  This did not help Nova’s current levels of anxiety,“You knew?” she asked, puzzled.  “H-how?  I was only informed--”“Which is exactly why I went to Canterlot first, before planning on going to Ponyville.  Now can we please land!?”Twilight sped him towards the Canterlot airbay, where the airship was already docking.  Upon landing, Nova prostrated himself on the ground and spread his legs out as far as he could.“Oh, sweet earth, I’ll never take you for granted again!” he moaned, getting over that traumatizing flight experience.“Oh, get up Nova,” Twilight said, sounding amused.  “We haven’t even been reunited properly.”Nova got to his hooves in time for Twilight to grab him with magic and yank him towards her.  As soon as she was within reach, Nova wrapped his hooves around her and kissed her.To the wolf-whistles of the Germane and Equestrian guards as they watched.  Not to mention Shining Armor’s disapproval, which he made apparent as he trotted up to where of the two of them remained in blissful liplock..“Nova, could you not do that while her B.B.B.F.F. is watching?” Shining asked, as they separated.“Shiny, he’s my fiancée.  I can kiss him whenever and wherever I like,” Twilight said.  “Besides, it’s not like you didn’t do the same thing with Cadance.”“Cadance didn’t have an overprotective big brother,” Shining said, giving his sister a smirk.Twilight rolled her eyes, then demonstrated her latest rebellious streak by grabbing Nova by the cheeks and kissing him again for the next few seconds.Shining Armor just rolled his eyes and let it pass.“If you two want to visit Princess Celestia some time today, I would suggest moving your flanks,” another pegasus guard said as he trotted up to the two of them.  “Damn good to see you again, Nova,” Aegis added as he and Nova engaged in the manliest of bear hugs.After exchanging a few pleasantries, the Germane and Equestrian guards formed a mixed procession and marched up the streets of Canterlot, flanking the Princess, the Germane ambassador, and the Night Master to appear to have some kind of diplomatic importance, when it was really nothing more than an excuse for Shining, Twilight, and Aegis to catch up with Nova on what had happened in Equestria since he had left, and what had happened in Eurpone.“The diplomacy progressed vith no real incident, other than that we were asked by Princess Celestia to vaste time vith deliberations,” the diplomat explained, trotting alongside the group.“Waste time?” Twilight asked.  “Why would you need to waste time with--”“Herr Schweinsteiger,” Nova interrupted, “I think it is best that we do not openly talk of our diplomacy in the streets.  Not to keep you in the dark, Twilight,” Nova added, giving her an apologetic look, “considering I’ve been under orders to--”“Oh, keeping me in the dark again?” Twilight asked, sounding quite annoyed and exasperated.  “How many times in the last year have they done this?”“Twice,” Nova answered.  “First, pertaining to your possible ascension to princess-hood, and then there’s--”“I don’t think it’s the best idea to talk about the Princesses’ machinations in public either, Herr Novus,” Schweinsteiger said to Nova, giving him a small smile.  “Ve had best vait until ve are before the Princesses.  No doubt they vill vant a debriefing.”“If you all will give us just a moment, please,” Twilight said, sticking a hoof out and stopping Nova in his tracks, “I’d like a word with my dear fiancée.”“Princess Celestia is expecting--” Shining Armor tried to protest, but Twilight cut him off.“She’s expecting Nova Shine, Shiny.  I’m sure she’ll understand that he wants to meet his wife-to-be for some catching up before he meets her.”Nova had never known Twilight to use loopholes such as this.  She mustn’t have been happy with the proceedings and the information she had just found out, and to be honest, neither was he.The next thing Nova knew, he was lifted into the air and was being dragged off into one of the alleyways of Canterlot.“Save me!” he mouthed to Aegis, who merely snorted and trotted off with the rest of the procession.“Now,” Twilight said, as she sat him down on the ground, surprisingly gently, “what have you not been telling me?  Why were you gone so long for simple diplomacy, and why did Mister Schweinsteiger say they were wasting time with it?”“Can I plead the fifth?” Nova asked, only to receive Twilight’s angry face pressed muzzle-to-muzzle against his.“We don’t have a constitution like the Prench do,” Twilight answered, staring him straight in the eyes.  “Nova, what have you not been telling me?”“Would you understand if I said Princess Celestia told me not to tell you?” Nova asked.“I made it quite clear to her that, since I’m now the Princess of Friendship, I expect to know things that concern me, and Princess Luna agreed.”“Well, Princess Luna would agree, considering she came to my defense-- did you say, Princess of Friendship?”.Twilight backed off to give Nova some space, and while he know she was probably still not happy with him, he couldn’t miss that small smile that graced her face.“Maybe I’ll tell you how I found out, if you’ll tell me what Princess Celestia--”“What my sister has told Nova not to say is her business,” came a regal voice from up above them.  Nova looked up to see his former teacher, floating above them and looking down on the scene.“I know my former apprentice very well, Twilight Sparkle,” she admonished, descending to stand at the entrance to the alley.  “You would do well to pick better hiding places than the alleys he used to duck into whenever he was in town.”Nova hurried over to Princess Luna’s side, where she promptly nuzzled him quite affectionately, which he was only too happy to return.“However,” Luna continued, “as the crisis has blown over, you are released from your order to keep this under wraps, Nova.  You may tell Twilight everything we have discussed.  But before you grow angry at him for hiding these things from you, Twilight, allow him to explain everything, including our reasons for going about it in this way.”

{T} {A} {T} {S} {A} {T} {C}

“So, that about sums it up,” Nova said, as he reclined on his sofa for the first time in a few months.  It felt amazing to be home again.“So let me get this straight,” Twilight said.“Twilight, we’ve gone over this four times now!” whined Nova.  “Can you please let me get up and go grab a booze!?  I haven’t had Braytish brew in months!”“No drinking while Spike’s home,” she said, whapping him with a conjured newspaper.“Oh?  Spike’s home?” Nova asked.  Sure enough, upon extending the field of energy he could sense, he did sense the little dragon sleeping upstairs in his basket-bed.  “He’s asleep, I can get me some of AJ’s cider.”“No you don’t!” Twilight said, smacking him with the newspaper again.  “Just sit here and nuzzle me.”“Can do, darling,” Nova said, happily leaning his head down and enjoying the close contact between them.  “It’s so good to be home,” he sighed.Twilight gave a soft coo of delight and slid up closer to him, raising a wing and draping it around his barrel.“You know,” she said, and Nova suddenly detected a strange scent in the air, “Spike is asleep.”Nova blinked.  “Didn’t I just say that?”“You did, but don’t you think this leaves us with a good… I don’t know… window of opportunity?” she asked.“Window of opportunity?” Nova repeated, completely confused.  “Twilight, what’s up with you?  You’re a little more touchy than usual.  Not that I mind, of course,” he added before she could whack him with the newspaper again.“Come oooooon,” she begged, turning and giving him puppy-dog eyes, a technique he knew he had managed to make work, simply because of how annoying he knew it was to her.Hang on, there’s that scent again…“Twilight, do you smell that?” he asked, sniffing.“Smell what?” she asked, and Nova was even more confused to hear a sort of purr in her voice.“That strange smell in the air…” he said, sniffing again.  “If I didn’t know better, I’d say it OH SHIT YOU’RE IN HEAT!”The moment had hit Nova quite hard, and the instant it had, he had leapt up from his spot on the couch.  Twilight yelped as she was unceremoniously dropped on the floor, but Nova Shine was already scrambling out the door.“NOVA SHINE!” she screeched as she galloped after him.  “YOU GET BACK HERE THIS INSTANT!”And so it would seem that Nova’s… err… touching reunion with his wife-to-be came to an abrupt ending, which was immediately by Town Entertainment Night, as the denizens all sat themselves down around town to watch the dramatic (and lengthy) chase scene.