Bound by Harmonyby Feral ErisChaptersPage onePage twoPage threePage oneIt was late into the afternoon when the group settled into Amelia's' home. Their multi-colored cloaks, save for a violet color, hung on a rack by the entrance as the group sat around their hostess' table. Amelia took in the lot presented in front of her as she came up to the table with a pitcher of freshly brewed mead and milk. The first to her right sat young Twilight, a scholar of the queen. The prodigy of queen Celeste and highly intelligent. Her expertise lay in her weaving, spells and the like. She had a horn adorning her forehead. Still young, at a good age of ten and eight years. Light skinned from her days spent in her library and long midnight hair Twilight held herself with a straight-laced composure. Beside her sat Fauna, another young lady with fair skin and pale pink hair. How she achieved that interesting color was beyond Amelia. The girl, looking the same age as Twilight, was of a timid nature. Even now as Amelia looked the girl over she seemed to try and sink farther into her seat, casting her eyes every which way. She was of the cloud folk, her wings folded at her back daintily and her long tail fretting along the floor. Seeing Amelia's' eyes on her Fauna flinched and nodded her head in acknowledgement. Next to her was another cloud fold, Raine. Her hair was as interesting as four-headed bear, bearing the hues of a rainbow. Literally. Unlike her companion Raine sat in a way not proper for a young lady, and her body language spoke in volumes how little she actually cared. She was about a year older then both Twilight and Fauna. Just by looking at her Amelia could tell she was going to be a pain in the neck. and she grinned at her as if welcoming the unspoken challenge. To her grin Raine bit her thumb at her and snorted mockingly. Close to her was a lively looking girl, the youngest by the looks of it, about seventeen years she'd say. Again like Fauna She sported a pink hue in her mane, only it was a deeper shade. She was fiddling with a fiddle she had "found" and was plucking at the strings in excited wonder, all the while giggling in sheer delight at the sounds they brought out. She was of the earth like herself, though she had scaled that bound as if she were a pure-blooded cloud folk. The girl was called Diana. Finally to Amelia's' left was the final member of the group. She still wore her cloak but had removed her hood. She was as pale as moonlight with a deep violet mane, nearly matching her cloak. She bore a simple leather choker on her neck with a single diamond in its middle, held in place by a Celtic knot. Not unusual to see really but somehow seeing it on her didn't seem right. Had the leather choker been a black or grey color it would look fine but a brown strap made it seem......off. They called her Reina, who was also a weaver. Her ears were sporting gold rings and silver studs shining like new. She was a petit thing (has she had a decent feed lately?) but had a mature air about her. Judging by the length of her horn she had to be about twenty-two. If so, Amelia had her beat by a year. What was slightly aggravating was that the mare wouldn't look Amelia in the eye, let alone toss out a casual greeting. Amelia decided to let it be and served up the mead, sliding pints to each and every one of them with a precise nudge of her hand. She finally took a seat herself and drank deeply from her own mug. She sighed loudly and wiped her mouth with her hand. "Alright. Get to explainin', if'n ya please. What was it you be needin' me help with?" Twilight cleared her throat and rested her hands atop her mug. "Surely you've heard tell of the happenings in our kingdom of Canterlot. How Drust, master of chaos, has been set free from his imprisonment and has enslaved our people." "I'd be lyin' if I said otherwise. I still dun understand though. You have all these mares at yer side. And regardless of that pitiful display from earlier, I know none of ya used yer full potential, not even a smidgeon." Raine scoffed loudly and took a swig from her mug, her long colorful tail swishing about in annoyance. Amelia arched a curious brow but said nothing to her. "Well, He has usurped control of the kingdom from Queen Celeste, banishing her to the void he was imprisoned in. She cannot defend the kingdom from there." Amelia nodded to Twilight, telling her to go on with her explanation. "We know you are a bearer, just as we are." Twilight brought up her hand and displayed her insignia emblazoned in the center of her palm. The others, save for Reina, showed theirs as well. Fauna moved the collar of her tunic and revealed hers to be just below her left collar bone. Raine brought down the front of her tunic and displayed hers to be on her right collar bone, with Diana showing hers to be on her left shoulder. Everyone looked to Reina, who merely raised her nose to the air with a huff of "Mm-mm!" and shook her head, making her wavy locks sway slightly. Twilight merely groaned out and returned her attention to Amelia. "Well?" It took Amelia a moment to realize it was her turn, and with a growl of annoyance she stood on her chair and brought the lft side of her trousers down to reveal her own insignia, right on her left hip. They all looked on in awe at seeing it, then Amelia covered hit and got down from her chair. "You're gettin' to yer point when again?" "In order to take down Drust, we need all bearers to achieve this goal. ALL bearers." Amelia nods in understanding, taking another grateful swig of the mead. "An' who exactly is keepin' the rest of Canterlot afloat while you lot are away from the front? I don't see why all o' ya had to come down 'ere an' pluck me away from me family's farm." Suddenly Diana shot an excited hand into the air, waving it fast and wildly about. "Ooh! Ooh! Me! I wanna say it! I know this one!" Fauna interjected. "We needed everyone to find you, um, since all of our insignias are connected. They only resonate once all of the insignias are in harmony with each other." "Aww~" "S-Sorry." "Plus we have the scholars assistant keepin' everyone alive over there until we get back.", interrupted Raine as she picked her ear. "I was able to conjure up an isolation spell that'll last for at least a fortnight." Amelia rubbed her chin at hearing all this. "An' how long has it been since you came to get me?" The scholar fidgeted at the question, becoming sheepish all of a sudden. "That was.....eight nights ago." Amelia ran her hand down her face as she let out a groan. "Even if we all get after him with our combined forces, in the state you lot are in we'd be knocked onto our backsides a hundred times over. Have you thought on how ya were gonna go about all o' this?" "Of course we did! That's also why we need you to lend us your strength, Amelia. Because of this." Twilight reached out with her hand and pointed to the right side of Amelia's' covered face. Amelia flinched and defensively knocked her hand away. "No." "Amelia, just hear us out-" "I've heard enough, Twilight. And I said no. I will return to Canterlot with all o' ya, but do not ask that of me again." Amelia rose before anymore could be said. "I'll get ya a place to rest fer the night. Tomorrow we train." "Train?!?!", they all exclaim. "Y'all deaf as well as daft?! TRAIN!! And no complainin' either!" And with that Amelia went to get a room ready for her guests. In the dead of night Amelia wandered away from the house and walked through her family's farm, meandering through the cornfield and traveling past the apple trees. As lovely as the night was she walked with a destination in mind, her hooves carrying her by memory. A lone breeze blows by, cooling her and causing her mane to swish slightly. Once she made her way out of the trees she came to a clearing close to a cliff, with nothing more then an aged boulder to greet her. It looked unassuming and was located well away from prying eyes. Amelia raised a hind leg and simply nudged it a few feet away. Something makes her stop and still her movements. Reaching to the concealed dagger she keeps strapped to her ankle Amelia throws it keenly in the direction that drew her attention and heard a distant 'thuk!', followed by a cry of alarm. Shaking her head she puts the boulder back in its place and walks back into the trees. Amelia comes across the source of the sound, confirming her suspicions. There, stuck to an apple tree with the dagger holding her in place by her hood, was Reina. She let out a chuckle at seeing the pale skinned mare struggle to free herself. "Are you TRYING to kill me?!" "And jus' what are you doin' followin' me all the way out here missy?" Reina huffed out indignantly and crossed her arms over her chest defiantly. "Look, as amusin' as this is, ah hafta get to somethin' important. Sit here a spell an' ah might let ya outta that." As Amelia turned to leave, a harsh whisper caught her ear. "I hate you....." She turns to confront the woman but her annoyance leaves her body as quick as a breath as Amelia sees Reina letting thick tears slip over her cheeks. The farmer becomes confused instantly and goes to stand face to face with the overly dramatic mare. "Not that ah mind being hated but just what warrants you, a woman who just met me, to come to hate me so quickly?" "You....You don't remember, do you?" "If'n ah did, ah'd sure as hell settle the matter.", Amelia mumbled as she yanked the imbedded dagger out of the tree and freeing Reina. Their eyes met and for the briefest moment Amelia felt the heat of Reina's anger flicker in her deep blue eyes. It didn't help that she had a pained expression on her face either, and Amelia became truly confused. Reina bowed her head as her shoulders shook, her wavy tresses falling over her face as she moved. "Y-You.....honestly don't remember me......do you? Amelia, 'the mountains' bane'......" Her ears twitched again at the mention of that name. That's the second time someone's used these names given to her many moons ago in a single day. She narrowed her eye at the woman and braced herself for anymore surprises. Reina took a fierce hold of her cloak and tore it away from her body, revealing her torso clad in a black bodice and white tunic, with her white skirts swaying from the removal of her cloak. Her skirt had a single slit running down the right side, revealing her insignia to be on her right hip as well as a garter belt strapped around her thigh. Had it not been for the small scabbard on the garter Amelia would've thought she had equipped it to catch the eye of a young colt. She watched as Reina gathered energy at the point of her horn and both her hands, the building force causing her to levitate off the ground. Amelia was used to facing a weavers' art, but something about this one seemed........disturbing. She didn't have enough time to dwell on the thought though, as Reina locked eyes with her again, tears still streaming forth. "......Damn you....." It was a harsh whisper that soon escalated into a full blown roar as Reina let loose her power aimed for Amelia. The look in her eyes was akin to a woman scorned. "DAMN YOU!!!!!" -End Author's Note Continuation of "Coming together". Cover art is not mine. Page twoAmelia raised her hands up in a defensive stance as the angry blue energy washed over her, burning fur and flesh. She bit back a cry as the attack came again and again. It was no longer a wide stream of energy but now it was a whip, slashing through the air and striking Amelia's arms. With each violent lashing Reina let out an enraged shriek, becoming blind in her fury. Having been roused from their sleep the rest of the group came stumbling out from the house to where the source of the disturbance came from, to see Reina lashing out at Amelia. "Reina! What're you doing?!?", cried Twilight. The pale weaver paid them no mind and continued her assault, switching from a whip to bringing down a heavy hit of magic like a fist. She was putting everything into her offensive magic, intensifying its output until it singed her nails. She was not holding back at all. "Are you mad?! Amelia, get her to stop already! What're you-" Amelia cut of Raine's words with a hard glare and a strong voice. "Leave her be!" They all gave her a curious stare at her words. As the attack continued they could see the burns on Amelia's arms growing in size, the woman wincing with each blow that landed. They all knew she had within her the power to stop this senseless fight, she could even win if she so desired. She could easily retaliate and overpower the madwoman in a fluttering of a hummingbird's wing beat. And yet...she stayed her hand. Tears were still falling from Reina's eyes, her teeth grit in fury as she flung her magic at Amelia. She stopped long enough to charge her magics, concentrating all of it into her palm until it crackled wildly on her finger tips. Her hair danced with the currents of energy spiraling around and her jewelry clinked noisily. With a cry of effort Reina released the gathered powers and hurled the ray at Amelia, her eyes wide with unbridled rage as her voice screamed for Amelia to die. Time seemed to slow down as Amelia waited for the attack to come. She put her arms down and rolled her head over her shoulders, cracking her joints and groaning in annoyance. 'Ah hate this part.....', she thought to herself. Taking in a deep breath she opened her mouth wide and took the hit directly, devouring the huge burst of magic as it came. Everyone watched in frozen horror as they witnessed Amelia swallow Reina's attack. Even Reina herself gave pause to her madness as she saw what the mare had done. As it neared its end Amelia craned her head in order to fully take in the power. The enormity of the blast lit up the night sky as if it were a small supernova. Amelia stood there with full cheeks as everyone looked on. With effort, she swallowed it down, grimacing as if she were drinking cod liver oil. The arch of her throat bobbed when she swallowed, letting out a Smokey belch as she patted her chest. "Gugh! Awful stuff, that." The entire lot stared on with their mouths gaping open and wide, disbelieving eyes. "How did-", Twilight sputtered. Before she could explain, Reina tackled Amelia to the ground. The two tumbled over each other until they stopped back out in the clearing. Reina had Amelia pinned beneath her and had her hands at her throat, breathing heavily through clenched teeth. "I hate you! I hate you! I HATE YOU!!!!", she screamed. With a grunt of frustration Reina tore the choker from her neck and brought it up for Amelia to see, nearly striking her square on the nose in the process. "Do you still not remember? Does nothing come to mind? Does it?!?" She let the simple accessory fall from her hand and reared her arm back. Amelia never flinched, didn't even brace herself for the blow that came down onto her face from the weaver's small fist. She just let it happen, blow after blow after infuriated blow. "Fight, damn you! Strike back! Stop playing 'coward' and fight back, you BEAST!!!" After one last blow Reina leaned over Amelia's battered face, bracing her weight on her arms with each of her hands near the sides of Amelia's face. Her tears stopped for the time being, a slim sheen of sweat forming on her brow. Her long violet tresses fell over the sides of her face and formed a curtain, narrowing her line of sight like blinders. Amelia stared straight into Reina's eyes, ignoring the throbbing in her cheek. A thought comes to her mind and she reaches out a tentative hand towards the disgruntled weaver still straddling her. Reina flinches but does not back down from the approaching appendage. Instead of settling over a pale cheek Amelia brought her hand up to Reina's forehead and with her index finger, she pressed the tip of the mare's horn inward as if pressing a switch. Her ears flicked as Reina let out a sneeze. The farmer's eyes widen in realization, seeing as how she just proved her theory. "I-It's you....the wee lass Ah took from that marauder!" Seeing the realization in the farmers' eyes, Reina let out a shaky breath as her lower lip quivered. Twilight and everyone hung onto the scene unfurling in front of them as Reina broke down in tears again, wailing as she fell over Amelia and latched her arms around her neck. She cried harder as a patient hand caressed her hair. "You....left me! You left me all alone! Why?! Why did you leave me?! You promised me, damn you Amelia!" She sobbed into the farmer's chest as she clung to her. Amelia's ears drooped at hearing the painful words that came from her mouth, the sting of such raw honesty making her heart quiver in pain. She closed her eyes and encircled her arms around the slim woman on top of her, running one hand down her back in stroking motions as her other hand held Reina to her bosom. Everyone and everything was still for a time until Amelia decided they had been out too long. She'd have to return here later, right now all she wanted was a few pints of ale and a good nap. Seeing how things were, however, she'd have to have a talk with everyone first. "Come on then, back to the house we go. And as soon as you lot get yer jaws back up from the ground, Ah'll explain this all in its entirety." As she tried to get up on her arms a small squeak of protest held her back, making her groan out and fall back down. "If'n Ah'm allowed to get up that is." Fauna flinched audibly as she wrapped the bandage around one of Amelia's burnt arms. While the balm served to calm the irritation it didn't stop the huge blisters from forming, nor did it stop them from bursting as she tried to work around them. Reina stood on the other side of Amelia's seat and worked on the other arm, her ears drooped and her eyes hidden with her mane in shame. Amelia had a thick branch clenched between her teeth as the two mares worked on her wounds. With each touch and each burst of a blister she let out a hissing growl and bit down a swear. "Well....That was dramatic.", Twilight said as she cleaned off her glasses. Raine and Diana were playing a game of poker on the table as the others shuffled about tending to Amelia. "It explains why the priss was hell-bent on coming with us. Gimme three." Diana took the discarded pile and dealt three over to Raine. "That was uber scary! I don't think I've ever seen Reina THAT angry before, not counting the time an arrow messed up her hair! Flush!" Diana spread her cards out onto the table and revealed a full hand of clovers. Raine swore and slapped her cards down as the pink haired girl giggled and gathered the cards. Twilight brought her chair around and addressed both Amelia and Reina, with a relieved Fauna cleaning up the mess made by binding her arms. "So....what happened all that time ago between the two of you?" Amelia ran a tired hand through her blonde hair and looked towards the pale skinned weaver sitting beside her. She was clutching the leather choker to her chest dearly and looking away like a scolded child. Without needing further bidding Amelia spoke. "It was about eight years ago that we met. I was but lass of fifteen then......" Lightning cracked loudly across the skies and thunder boomed overhead as a heavy rainfall fell over the land. Whether it was day or if it was night was hard to tell. Deep in the confines of an underground cellar soft crying could be heard in the shadows, with only a single torch to light the damp area. Inside the cellar an older stallion was appraising his latest catch while putting a wooden chest down among his stored parcels; it was a small weaver child with a white horn and azure gems glistening on her right hip curled against a pile of straw, chained at the ankle to the wall. He left the chest forgotten and approached her trembling frame, scratching his chest as he bent down in front of her. He lifted her chin up with a harsh jerk and looked over her features. She was fighting back a dry heave as he breathed on her, reeking of ale and sweat. He grinned a rotten smile and laughed. "Oh-ho-ho-hooo! I caught me a rare one, I did! Wonder what the goin' price is fer a beauty like you, mah dear." The girl whimpered and twisted her face away from his snout, feeling sick and suffocated. He loomed over her until he pinned her to the stone cold wall of the cellar. Nothing but the rain dripping in and the girls whimpers could be heard. "Puh....p-please let m-me go...." She was silenced with a cruel back hand across her cheek from the male, the force from it splitting her lip and making her cry out. "SHUT YER 'OLE!!! I say what happens to ya, hear me?!" He shook her roughly by the collar of her dress as he yelled. She nodded her head obediently and kept her face turned away. Though she could not see his face, the young girl felt his hands tug at her front. She snapped her eyes open as he tugged her collar lower, looking into the top of her dress. "So it's true, girls do grow faster then boys. And from the looks of it, dearie, you're growin' a little too fast. Ooh, I bet I'll fetch a fine price from Sombra. He's been needin' a new flower to......." With a fierce pull he tore her top apart, making the fabric hiss violently in his hands as the girl screamed a pleading wail. He licked his lips crudely and grinned again. ".....pluck." The girl began to squirm and beg, crying out for her mama and papa as she kicked fruitlessly against the bigger male. He pinned her down with both her wrists in his one hand as the other went to unbuckle his belt. "Nothin' wrong with samplin' a bit o' honey, eh dearie?" As his drawers came down, so did a wooden chest over his head. The thing broke into splinters as it came down once, twice four times more before the shrouded assailant stopped long enough to notice he was out. For good. The girl looked up from where she was left, hearing hoofs crunch against the floor of the cellar, and saw the second person step into the little bit of light. It was a mare with tanned skin and long blonde hair, clad in nothing more then a farming tunic, slacks and a dirty brown mantle standing there, a disgusted scowl on her freckled face as she stood over the stallion's body. The chest she used to fell him cracked the skin on her knuckles and fingers, leaving red scrapes in their wake. "Next time you decide to pilfer a chest from another's cart, make sure there be no one inside, ya ass!" She kicked at the body and spat at it, her snout scrunched up in disgust. Her ear twitched and her green eyes fell on the little girl still cowering against the stone wall. Carefully the mare made her way over to the girl, holding out her hands and whispering to her. "Easy there now, lass. Ah ain't gonna hurt ya none. Ah'm jus' gonna get that chain off yer leg." She came to kneel in front of the frightened child. Their eyes were locked as she reached down with steady hands to the anchor fastening the chain to the stone floor. Never letting her eyes leave the weaver child the blonde mare broke the chain and let it fall away from the pale leg it was once holding. "Do ya have a name, sugarcube?", she spoke softly. The girl spoke out a shaky whisper, "R-Reina." "T'is a fine name fer ya, lass. I'm Amelia. My older brother and younger sister call me Ames fer short, so you can too if'n ya like." Amelia smiled gently at her then and reached out to her with a careful hand. "Come on then, help me spruce this place up a bit so that we can weather this rain storm." Reina looked at her in uncertainty, but she still reached out with a trembling hand and took hold of Amelia's warm and rough hand. "We spent the next five years traveling together after that fateful night.....until she decided to abandon me, that is! Repairing your gladius, my left flank!" Amelia groaned for the thousandth time and turned to a sulking Reina. "I did not abandon ya, woman! I left ya in the care of Mac and granny! Sure as if ah stayed there and took care o' ya myself." "You promised to stay with me! That you wouldn't leave me." "Hey uh, Ames?", chimed Raine. "Um, Amelia.", Twilight spoke up then. "Hm?" Twilight scratched the back of her head as she tried to use the right words for what she had to ask. "Not that it's any of my concern but are you and Rei-" "Did you rut her like a bucking bronco?", Raine blurted out. There was soul shattering silence as the question hung in the air. A muscle twitched in Amelia's cheek as Reina stood aghast. In no time at all both Reina and Amelia pounced onto Raine and gave her quite a rough up, shouting out and chastising her as she hooted and hollered in boisterous laughter. Twilight slumped in her chair and rubbed her temples, trying to stave off an on-coming headache. "Celeste help me.....", she groaned out. -End Page threeThe morning sun had not yet risen when Twilight stirred from her slumber. The bed creaked as she shifted onto her elbows, using one hand to rub the sleep out of her eyes. A sound caught her ear as her senses slowly began to function. Getting up and making her ay to the window Twilight could see Mac and Amelia going about the farm. Mac manned the plow and began to till the earth, making way for a new cabbage patch to form. Amelia was off to the side a ways and chopping some wood to use for the stove. She guessed this was what made her wake up. It was still much too early to be up, but once she was awoken there was no going back to sleep. Sighing, Twilight rose from bed and quietly stepped out of the room, careful not to wake anyone else up. She met an elderly mare walking calmly down the hall, carrying a basket of laundry and humming to herself. Even the matriarch herself was awake at this hour? "Mornin' to ya, young 'un. Had a good rest did ya?" She stood at least a head or two shorter then herself, with white hair wrapped in a bun and clad in an orange dress and white apron. Her fur was a faded pale green tint and her eyes, sunken in by age, were as bright as a young filly. "Oh! Uh, yes ma'am. Thank you so much for your hospitality and letting me and my friends stay the night in your home." "Oh, drop the 'ma'am' if'n ya please! Call me Smithy!" "Smithy?" "'Course! Any friend of muh granddaughter's a friend 'o' mine after all. Please make yourself at home. Breakfast will be ready in about 20 minutes. Be a dear and wake yer friends 'fore then." "Yes, ma- Er, I mean, Sure thing Smithy." Giving Twilight a nod Smithy went back to walking down the hall and disappearing around the corner. "She's a spritely ol' gal, ain't she?" "Yes, Miss Smithy is such a kind-" Twilight gave a start as she turned to see Amelia standing behind her, smiling with a stalk of wheat between her teeth. "AH! Oh, my! Amelia!" "Hahahahaha! Sorry, Twilight. Couldn't resist it." Amelia moved beside Twilight and peeked into the room, chuckling as she saw Raine hanging halfway off her bed. Diana was sleeping with her feet on her pillow and her head resting at the foot of the bed. Fauna was sleeping soundly, snuggling into her pillow. Reina was snoring slightly, with her hair disheveled and drool coming down the corner of her mouth. The farmer closed the door quietly and turned to Twilight. "Glad to see they're restin' well. So what woke you so early, Twi?" "Well, I heard something outside of the window and I guess that was what woke me." Amelia nodded her head and scratched her ear nervously. "Ah. Sorry about that. We're all early risers, getting the work started even before the sun has come out. But since yer up, ya can help me with the equipment ready." "'Equipment'? Why are we using equipment?" "Ya got a better way to train?" Twilight rolled her eyes and followed Amelia outside. Together they walked out of the house, traveling past the barn and heading out to the fields. They were going back out to where they had found Amelia and Reina duking it out, back to that same unassuming boulder. Moving it aside, it revealed a wide hole with a ladder leading down into an underground cellar. Twilight followed Amelia down the ladder and stepped into the cellar. It was lined with stone bricks and shelves, with a single and long couch made for resting on. The shelves were lined with an array of weaponry, ranging from old-fashioned crossbows and swords to the more high-tech laser edged gladius and long swords, energy shields, pyro daggers and stinger pistols. She also had on display an impressive collection of armor, some that were kept in mint condition while the other sturdier sets of armor showed signs of use. "So......do the others know?", Amelia spoke as she entered in a code into the number pad of the weaponry case. "'Know'? Oh! You mean.....about you?" Amelia sighed as she disengaged a breastplate from its stand. "Ah haven't been called by that name in three years, Twi." Twilight swallowed a thick wad as guilt washed over her, steadying herself by gathering a few daggers and sliding them into their appropriate scabbards and then attaching them to the right frogs. "I apologize for resorting to that, Amelia. I know you're still sensitive about that but I needed to convey the seriousness of the current situation. Drust has been released, and is now causing trouble in Canterlot. Since Celeste has been imprisoned it's been only me and Spike defending the people. The others have been helping as well, but they are limited. That's why......we decided to take Drust down. For good this time. And to do that....we need you to not only bring about the elements full strength, but to use your power." Twilight pointed to the covered part of Amelia's face. Amelia turned away as she carried several stacks of armor toward the ladder. "That....is askin' too much of me, Twi. Ah said ah'd help ya but....I will not rely on this power to do so." "Amelia...." "Now quit yer gabbin' and help me get this ready. We've not much time and Ah need to get the trainin' started if we're gonna have a ghost of a chance." Securing the armor to her back Amelia climbed the ladder and disappeared above ground. Twilight sighed and did the same, gathering the daggers and securing them to her back.....only to cry out in alarm as she toppled over from the unexpected weight, crashing to the ground with a loud "OOF!" and causing the weapons to clatter noisily and spread all over the stone floor. She groaned as she noticed a sliver of color coming over the sky as she eyed the entrance. "It's going to be a looooong day....."
Page oneIt was late into the afternoon when the group settled into Amelia's' home. Their multi-colored cloaks, save for a violet color, hung on a rack by the entrance as the group sat around their hostess' table. Amelia took in the lot presented in front of her as she came up to the table with a pitcher of freshly brewed mead and milk. The first to her right sat young Twilight, a scholar of the queen. The prodigy of queen Celeste and highly intelligent. Her expertise lay in her weaving, spells and the like. She had a horn adorning her forehead. Still young, at a good age of ten and eight years. Light skinned from her days spent in her library and long midnight hair Twilight held herself with a straight-laced composure. Beside her sat Fauna, another young lady with fair skin and pale pink hair. How she achieved that interesting color was beyond Amelia. The girl, looking the same age as Twilight, was of a timid nature. Even now as Amelia looked the girl over she seemed to try and sink farther into her seat, casting her eyes every which way. She was of the cloud folk, her wings folded at her back daintily and her long tail fretting along the floor. Seeing Amelia's' eyes on her Fauna flinched and nodded her head in acknowledgement. Next to her was another cloud fold, Raine. Her hair was as interesting as four-headed bear, bearing the hues of a rainbow. Literally. Unlike her companion Raine sat in a way not proper for a young lady, and her body language spoke in volumes how little she actually cared. She was about a year older then both Twilight and Fauna. Just by looking at her Amelia could tell she was going to be a pain in the neck. and she grinned at her as if welcoming the unspoken challenge. To her grin Raine bit her thumb at her and snorted mockingly. Close to her was a lively looking girl, the youngest by the looks of it, about seventeen years she'd say. Again like Fauna She sported a pink hue in her mane, only it was a deeper shade. She was fiddling with a fiddle she had "found" and was plucking at the strings in excited wonder, all the while giggling in sheer delight at the sounds they brought out. She was of the earth like herself, though she had scaled that bound as if she were a pure-blooded cloud folk. The girl was called Diana. Finally to Amelia's' left was the final member of the group. She still wore her cloak but had removed her hood. She was as pale as moonlight with a deep violet mane, nearly matching her cloak. She bore a simple leather choker on her neck with a single diamond in its middle, held in place by a Celtic knot. Not unusual to see really but somehow seeing it on her didn't seem right. Had the leather choker been a black or grey color it would look fine but a brown strap made it seem......off. They called her Reina, who was also a weaver. Her ears were sporting gold rings and silver studs shining like new. She was a petit thing (has she had a decent feed lately?) but had a mature air about her. Judging by the length of her horn she had to be about twenty-two. If so, Amelia had her beat by a year. What was slightly aggravating was that the mare wouldn't look Amelia in the eye, let alone toss out a casual greeting. Amelia decided to let it be and served up the mead, sliding pints to each and every one of them with a precise nudge of her hand. She finally took a seat herself and drank deeply from her own mug. She sighed loudly and wiped her mouth with her hand. "Alright. Get to explainin', if'n ya please. What was it you be needin' me help with?" Twilight cleared her throat and rested her hands atop her mug. "Surely you've heard tell of the happenings in our kingdom of Canterlot. How Drust, master of chaos, has been set free from his imprisonment and has enslaved our people." "I'd be lyin' if I said otherwise. I still dun understand though. You have all these mares at yer side. And regardless of that pitiful display from earlier, I know none of ya used yer full potential, not even a smidgeon." Raine scoffed loudly and took a swig from her mug, her long colorful tail swishing about in annoyance. Amelia arched a curious brow but said nothing to her. "Well, He has usurped control of the kingdom from Queen Celeste, banishing her to the void he was imprisoned in. She cannot defend the kingdom from there." Amelia nodded to Twilight, telling her to go on with her explanation. "We know you are a bearer, just as we are." Twilight brought up her hand and displayed her insignia emblazoned in the center of her palm. The others, save for Reina, showed theirs as well. Fauna moved the collar of her tunic and revealed hers to be just below her left collar bone. Raine brought down the front of her tunic and displayed hers to be on her right collar bone, with Diana showing hers to be on her left shoulder. Everyone looked to Reina, who merely raised her nose to the air with a huff of "Mm-mm!" and shook her head, making her wavy locks sway slightly. Twilight merely groaned out and returned her attention to Amelia. "Well?" It took Amelia a moment to realize it was her turn, and with a growl of annoyance she stood on her chair and brought the lft side of her trousers down to reveal her own insignia, right on her left hip. They all looked on in awe at seeing it, then Amelia covered hit and got down from her chair. "You're gettin' to yer point when again?" "In order to take down Drust, we need all bearers to achieve this goal. ALL bearers." Amelia nods in understanding, taking another grateful swig of the mead. "An' who exactly is keepin' the rest of Canterlot afloat while you lot are away from the front? I don't see why all o' ya had to come down 'ere an' pluck me away from me family's farm." Suddenly Diana shot an excited hand into the air, waving it fast and wildly about. "Ooh! Ooh! Me! I wanna say it! I know this one!" Fauna interjected. "We needed everyone to find you, um, since all of our insignias are connected. They only resonate once all of the insignias are in harmony with each other." "Aww~" "S-Sorry." "Plus we have the scholars assistant keepin' everyone alive over there until we get back.", interrupted Raine as she picked her ear. "I was able to conjure up an isolation spell that'll last for at least a fortnight." Amelia rubbed her chin at hearing all this. "An' how long has it been since you came to get me?" The scholar fidgeted at the question, becoming sheepish all of a sudden. "That was.....eight nights ago." Amelia ran her hand down her face as she let out a groan. "Even if we all get after him with our combined forces, in the state you lot are in we'd be knocked onto our backsides a hundred times over. Have you thought on how ya were gonna go about all o' this?" "Of course we did! That's also why we need you to lend us your strength, Amelia. Because of this." Twilight reached out with her hand and pointed to the right side of Amelia's' covered face. Amelia flinched and defensively knocked her hand away. "No." "Amelia, just hear us out-" "I've heard enough, Twilight. And I said no. I will return to Canterlot with all o' ya, but do not ask that of me again." Amelia rose before anymore could be said. "I'll get ya a place to rest fer the night. Tomorrow we train." "Train?!?!", they all exclaim. "Y'all deaf as well as daft?! TRAIN!! And no complainin' either!" And with that Amelia went to get a room ready for her guests. In the dead of night Amelia wandered away from the house and walked through her family's farm, meandering through the cornfield and traveling past the apple trees. As lovely as the night was she walked with a destination in mind, her hooves carrying her by memory. A lone breeze blows by, cooling her and causing her mane to swish slightly. Once she made her way out of the trees she came to a clearing close to a cliff, with nothing more then an aged boulder to greet her. It looked unassuming and was located well away from prying eyes. Amelia raised a hind leg and simply nudged it a few feet away. Something makes her stop and still her movements. Reaching to the concealed dagger she keeps strapped to her ankle Amelia throws it keenly in the direction that drew her attention and heard a distant 'thuk!', followed by a cry of alarm. Shaking her head she puts the boulder back in its place and walks back into the trees. Amelia comes across the source of the sound, confirming her suspicions. There, stuck to an apple tree with the dagger holding her in place by her hood, was Reina. She let out a chuckle at seeing the pale skinned mare struggle to free herself. "Are you TRYING to kill me?!" "And jus' what are you doin' followin' me all the way out here missy?" Reina huffed out indignantly and crossed her arms over her chest defiantly. "Look, as amusin' as this is, ah hafta get to somethin' important. Sit here a spell an' ah might let ya outta that." As Amelia turned to leave, a harsh whisper caught her ear. "I hate you....." She turns to confront the woman but her annoyance leaves her body as quick as a breath as Amelia sees Reina letting thick tears slip over her cheeks. The farmer becomes confused instantly and goes to stand face to face with the overly dramatic mare. "Not that ah mind being hated but just what warrants you, a woman who just met me, to come to hate me so quickly?" "You....You don't remember, do you?" "If'n ah did, ah'd sure as hell settle the matter.", Amelia mumbled as she yanked the imbedded dagger out of the tree and freeing Reina. Their eyes met and for the briefest moment Amelia felt the heat of Reina's anger flicker in her deep blue eyes. It didn't help that she had a pained expression on her face either, and Amelia became truly confused. Reina bowed her head as her shoulders shook, her wavy tresses falling over her face as she moved. "Y-You.....honestly don't remember me......do you? Amelia, 'the mountains' bane'......" Her ears twitched again at the mention of that name. That's the second time someone's used these names given to her many moons ago in a single day. She narrowed her eye at the woman and braced herself for anymore surprises. Reina took a fierce hold of her cloak and tore it away from her body, revealing her torso clad in a black bodice and white tunic, with her white skirts swaying from the removal of her cloak. Her skirt had a single slit running down the right side, revealing her insignia to be on her right hip as well as a garter belt strapped around her thigh. Had it not been for the small scabbard on the garter Amelia would've thought she had equipped it to catch the eye of a young colt. She watched as Reina gathered energy at the point of her horn and both her hands, the building force causing her to levitate off the ground. Amelia was used to facing a weavers' art, but something about this one seemed........disturbing. She didn't have enough time to dwell on the thought though, as Reina locked eyes with her again, tears still streaming forth. "......Damn you....." It was a harsh whisper that soon escalated into a full blown roar as Reina let loose her power aimed for Amelia. The look in her eyes was akin to a woman scorned. "DAMN YOU!!!!!" -End Author's Note Continuation of "Coming together". Cover art is not mine.
Page twoAmelia raised her hands up in a defensive stance as the angry blue energy washed over her, burning fur and flesh. She bit back a cry as the attack came again and again. It was no longer a wide stream of energy but now it was a whip, slashing through the air and striking Amelia's arms. With each violent lashing Reina let out an enraged shriek, becoming blind in her fury. Having been roused from their sleep the rest of the group came stumbling out from the house to where the source of the disturbance came from, to see Reina lashing out at Amelia. "Reina! What're you doing?!?", cried Twilight. The pale weaver paid them no mind and continued her assault, switching from a whip to bringing down a heavy hit of magic like a fist. She was putting everything into her offensive magic, intensifying its output until it singed her nails. She was not holding back at all. "Are you mad?! Amelia, get her to stop already! What're you-" Amelia cut of Raine's words with a hard glare and a strong voice. "Leave her be!" They all gave her a curious stare at her words. As the attack continued they could see the burns on Amelia's arms growing in size, the woman wincing with each blow that landed. They all knew she had within her the power to stop this senseless fight, she could even win if she so desired. She could easily retaliate and overpower the madwoman in a fluttering of a hummingbird's wing beat. And yet...she stayed her hand. Tears were still falling from Reina's eyes, her teeth grit in fury as she flung her magic at Amelia. She stopped long enough to charge her magics, concentrating all of it into her palm until it crackled wildly on her finger tips. Her hair danced with the currents of energy spiraling around and her jewelry clinked noisily. With a cry of effort Reina released the gathered powers and hurled the ray at Amelia, her eyes wide with unbridled rage as her voice screamed for Amelia to die. Time seemed to slow down as Amelia waited for the attack to come. She put her arms down and rolled her head over her shoulders, cracking her joints and groaning in annoyance. 'Ah hate this part.....', she thought to herself. Taking in a deep breath she opened her mouth wide and took the hit directly, devouring the huge burst of magic as it came. Everyone watched in frozen horror as they witnessed Amelia swallow Reina's attack. Even Reina herself gave pause to her madness as she saw what the mare had done. As it neared its end Amelia craned her head in order to fully take in the power. The enormity of the blast lit up the night sky as if it were a small supernova. Amelia stood there with full cheeks as everyone looked on. With effort, she swallowed it down, grimacing as if she were drinking cod liver oil. The arch of her throat bobbed when she swallowed, letting out a Smokey belch as she patted her chest. "Gugh! Awful stuff, that." The entire lot stared on with their mouths gaping open and wide, disbelieving eyes. "How did-", Twilight sputtered. Before she could explain, Reina tackled Amelia to the ground. The two tumbled over each other until they stopped back out in the clearing. Reina had Amelia pinned beneath her and had her hands at her throat, breathing heavily through clenched teeth. "I hate you! I hate you! I HATE YOU!!!!", she screamed. With a grunt of frustration Reina tore the choker from her neck and brought it up for Amelia to see, nearly striking her square on the nose in the process. "Do you still not remember? Does nothing come to mind? Does it?!?" She let the simple accessory fall from her hand and reared her arm back. Amelia never flinched, didn't even brace herself for the blow that came down onto her face from the weaver's small fist. She just let it happen, blow after blow after infuriated blow. "Fight, damn you! Strike back! Stop playing 'coward' and fight back, you BEAST!!!" After one last blow Reina leaned over Amelia's battered face, bracing her weight on her arms with each of her hands near the sides of Amelia's face. Her tears stopped for the time being, a slim sheen of sweat forming on her brow. Her long violet tresses fell over the sides of her face and formed a curtain, narrowing her line of sight like blinders. Amelia stared straight into Reina's eyes, ignoring the throbbing in her cheek. A thought comes to her mind and she reaches out a tentative hand towards the disgruntled weaver still straddling her. Reina flinches but does not back down from the approaching appendage. Instead of settling over a pale cheek Amelia brought her hand up to Reina's forehead and with her index finger, she pressed the tip of the mare's horn inward as if pressing a switch. Her ears flicked as Reina let out a sneeze. The farmer's eyes widen in realization, seeing as how she just proved her theory. "I-It's you....the wee lass Ah took from that marauder!" Seeing the realization in the farmers' eyes, Reina let out a shaky breath as her lower lip quivered. Twilight and everyone hung onto the scene unfurling in front of them as Reina broke down in tears again, wailing as she fell over Amelia and latched her arms around her neck. She cried harder as a patient hand caressed her hair. "You....left me! You left me all alone! Why?! Why did you leave me?! You promised me, damn you Amelia!" She sobbed into the farmer's chest as she clung to her. Amelia's ears drooped at hearing the painful words that came from her mouth, the sting of such raw honesty making her heart quiver in pain. She closed her eyes and encircled her arms around the slim woman on top of her, running one hand down her back in stroking motions as her other hand held Reina to her bosom. Everyone and everything was still for a time until Amelia decided they had been out too long. She'd have to return here later, right now all she wanted was a few pints of ale and a good nap. Seeing how things were, however, she'd have to have a talk with everyone first. "Come on then, back to the house we go. And as soon as you lot get yer jaws back up from the ground, Ah'll explain this all in its entirety." As she tried to get up on her arms a small squeak of protest held her back, making her groan out and fall back down. "If'n Ah'm allowed to get up that is." Fauna flinched audibly as she wrapped the bandage around one of Amelia's burnt arms. While the balm served to calm the irritation it didn't stop the huge blisters from forming, nor did it stop them from bursting as she tried to work around them. Reina stood on the other side of Amelia's seat and worked on the other arm, her ears drooped and her eyes hidden with her mane in shame. Amelia had a thick branch clenched between her teeth as the two mares worked on her wounds. With each touch and each burst of a blister she let out a hissing growl and bit down a swear. "Well....That was dramatic.", Twilight said as she cleaned off her glasses. Raine and Diana were playing a game of poker on the table as the others shuffled about tending to Amelia. "It explains why the priss was hell-bent on coming with us. Gimme three." Diana took the discarded pile and dealt three over to Raine. "That was uber scary! I don't think I've ever seen Reina THAT angry before, not counting the time an arrow messed up her hair! Flush!" Diana spread her cards out onto the table and revealed a full hand of clovers. Raine swore and slapped her cards down as the pink haired girl giggled and gathered the cards. Twilight brought her chair around and addressed both Amelia and Reina, with a relieved Fauna cleaning up the mess made by binding her arms. "So....what happened all that time ago between the two of you?" Amelia ran a tired hand through her blonde hair and looked towards the pale skinned weaver sitting beside her. She was clutching the leather choker to her chest dearly and looking away like a scolded child. Without needing further bidding Amelia spoke. "It was about eight years ago that we met. I was but lass of fifteen then......" Lightning cracked loudly across the skies and thunder boomed overhead as a heavy rainfall fell over the land. Whether it was day or if it was night was hard to tell. Deep in the confines of an underground cellar soft crying could be heard in the shadows, with only a single torch to light the damp area. Inside the cellar an older stallion was appraising his latest catch while putting a wooden chest down among his stored parcels; it was a small weaver child with a white horn and azure gems glistening on her right hip curled against a pile of straw, chained at the ankle to the wall. He left the chest forgotten and approached her trembling frame, scratching his chest as he bent down in front of her. He lifted her chin up with a harsh jerk and looked over her features. She was fighting back a dry heave as he breathed on her, reeking of ale and sweat. He grinned a rotten smile and laughed. "Oh-ho-ho-hooo! I caught me a rare one, I did! Wonder what the goin' price is fer a beauty like you, mah dear." The girl whimpered and twisted her face away from his snout, feeling sick and suffocated. He loomed over her until he pinned her to the stone cold wall of the cellar. Nothing but the rain dripping in and the girls whimpers could be heard. "Puh....p-please let m-me go...." She was silenced with a cruel back hand across her cheek from the male, the force from it splitting her lip and making her cry out. "SHUT YER 'OLE!!! I say what happens to ya, hear me?!" He shook her roughly by the collar of her dress as he yelled. She nodded her head obediently and kept her face turned away. Though she could not see his face, the young girl felt his hands tug at her front. She snapped her eyes open as he tugged her collar lower, looking into the top of her dress. "So it's true, girls do grow faster then boys. And from the looks of it, dearie, you're growin' a little too fast. Ooh, I bet I'll fetch a fine price from Sombra. He's been needin' a new flower to......." With a fierce pull he tore her top apart, making the fabric hiss violently in his hands as the girl screamed a pleading wail. He licked his lips crudely and grinned again. ".....pluck." The girl began to squirm and beg, crying out for her mama and papa as she kicked fruitlessly against the bigger male. He pinned her down with both her wrists in his one hand as the other went to unbuckle his belt. "Nothin' wrong with samplin' a bit o' honey, eh dearie?" As his drawers came down, so did a wooden chest over his head. The thing broke into splinters as it came down once, twice four times more before the shrouded assailant stopped long enough to notice he was out. For good. The girl looked up from where she was left, hearing hoofs crunch against the floor of the cellar, and saw the second person step into the little bit of light. It was a mare with tanned skin and long blonde hair, clad in nothing more then a farming tunic, slacks and a dirty brown mantle standing there, a disgusted scowl on her freckled face as she stood over the stallion's body. The chest she used to fell him cracked the skin on her knuckles and fingers, leaving red scrapes in their wake. "Next time you decide to pilfer a chest from another's cart, make sure there be no one inside, ya ass!" She kicked at the body and spat at it, her snout scrunched up in disgust. Her ear twitched and her green eyes fell on the little girl still cowering against the stone wall. Carefully the mare made her way over to the girl, holding out her hands and whispering to her. "Easy there now, lass. Ah ain't gonna hurt ya none. Ah'm jus' gonna get that chain off yer leg." She came to kneel in front of the frightened child. Their eyes were locked as she reached down with steady hands to the anchor fastening the chain to the stone floor. Never letting her eyes leave the weaver child the blonde mare broke the chain and let it fall away from the pale leg it was once holding. "Do ya have a name, sugarcube?", she spoke softly. The girl spoke out a shaky whisper, "R-Reina." "T'is a fine name fer ya, lass. I'm Amelia. My older brother and younger sister call me Ames fer short, so you can too if'n ya like." Amelia smiled gently at her then and reached out to her with a careful hand. "Come on then, help me spruce this place up a bit so that we can weather this rain storm." Reina looked at her in uncertainty, but she still reached out with a trembling hand and took hold of Amelia's warm and rough hand. "We spent the next five years traveling together after that fateful night.....until she decided to abandon me, that is! Repairing your gladius, my left flank!" Amelia groaned for the thousandth time and turned to a sulking Reina. "I did not abandon ya, woman! I left ya in the care of Mac and granny! Sure as if ah stayed there and took care o' ya myself." "You promised to stay with me! That you wouldn't leave me." "Hey uh, Ames?", chimed Raine. "Um, Amelia.", Twilight spoke up then. "Hm?" Twilight scratched the back of her head as she tried to use the right words for what she had to ask. "Not that it's any of my concern but are you and Rei-" "Did you rut her like a bucking bronco?", Raine blurted out. There was soul shattering silence as the question hung in the air. A muscle twitched in Amelia's cheek as Reina stood aghast. In no time at all both Reina and Amelia pounced onto Raine and gave her quite a rough up, shouting out and chastising her as she hooted and hollered in boisterous laughter. Twilight slumped in her chair and rubbed her temples, trying to stave off an on-coming headache. "Celeste help me.....", she groaned out. -End
Page threeThe morning sun had not yet risen when Twilight stirred from her slumber. The bed creaked as she shifted onto her elbows, using one hand to rub the sleep out of her eyes. A sound caught her ear as her senses slowly began to function. Getting up and making her ay to the window Twilight could see Mac and Amelia going about the farm. Mac manned the plow and began to till the earth, making way for a new cabbage patch to form. Amelia was off to the side a ways and chopping some wood to use for the stove. She guessed this was what made her wake up. It was still much too early to be up, but once she was awoken there was no going back to sleep. Sighing, Twilight rose from bed and quietly stepped out of the room, careful not to wake anyone else up. She met an elderly mare walking calmly down the hall, carrying a basket of laundry and humming to herself. Even the matriarch herself was awake at this hour? "Mornin' to ya, young 'un. Had a good rest did ya?" She stood at least a head or two shorter then herself, with white hair wrapped in a bun and clad in an orange dress and white apron. Her fur was a faded pale green tint and her eyes, sunken in by age, were as bright as a young filly. "Oh! Uh, yes ma'am. Thank you so much for your hospitality and letting me and my friends stay the night in your home." "Oh, drop the 'ma'am' if'n ya please! Call me Smithy!" "Smithy?" "'Course! Any friend of muh granddaughter's a friend 'o' mine after all. Please make yourself at home. Breakfast will be ready in about 20 minutes. Be a dear and wake yer friends 'fore then." "Yes, ma- Er, I mean, Sure thing Smithy." Giving Twilight a nod Smithy went back to walking down the hall and disappearing around the corner. "She's a spritely ol' gal, ain't she?" "Yes, Miss Smithy is such a kind-" Twilight gave a start as she turned to see Amelia standing behind her, smiling with a stalk of wheat between her teeth. "AH! Oh, my! Amelia!" "Hahahahaha! Sorry, Twilight. Couldn't resist it." Amelia moved beside Twilight and peeked into the room, chuckling as she saw Raine hanging halfway off her bed. Diana was sleeping with her feet on her pillow and her head resting at the foot of the bed. Fauna was sleeping soundly, snuggling into her pillow. Reina was snoring slightly, with her hair disheveled and drool coming down the corner of her mouth. The farmer closed the door quietly and turned to Twilight. "Glad to see they're restin' well. So what woke you so early, Twi?" "Well, I heard something outside of the window and I guess that was what woke me." Amelia nodded her head and scratched her ear nervously. "Ah. Sorry about that. We're all early risers, getting the work started even before the sun has come out. But since yer up, ya can help me with the equipment ready." "'Equipment'? Why are we using equipment?" "Ya got a better way to train?" Twilight rolled her eyes and followed Amelia outside. Together they walked out of the house, traveling past the barn and heading out to the fields. They were going back out to where they had found Amelia and Reina duking it out, back to that same unassuming boulder. Moving it aside, it revealed a wide hole with a ladder leading down into an underground cellar. Twilight followed Amelia down the ladder and stepped into the cellar. It was lined with stone bricks and shelves, with a single and long couch made for resting on. The shelves were lined with an array of weaponry, ranging from old-fashioned crossbows and swords to the more high-tech laser edged gladius and long swords, energy shields, pyro daggers and stinger pistols. She also had on display an impressive collection of armor, some that were kept in mint condition while the other sturdier sets of armor showed signs of use. "So......do the others know?", Amelia spoke as she entered in a code into the number pad of the weaponry case. "'Know'? Oh! You mean.....about you?" Amelia sighed as she disengaged a breastplate from its stand. "Ah haven't been called by that name in three years, Twi." Twilight swallowed a thick wad as guilt washed over her, steadying herself by gathering a few daggers and sliding them into their appropriate scabbards and then attaching them to the right frogs. "I apologize for resorting to that, Amelia. I know you're still sensitive about that but I needed to convey the seriousness of the current situation. Drust has been released, and is now causing trouble in Canterlot. Since Celeste has been imprisoned it's been only me and Spike defending the people. The others have been helping as well, but they are limited. That's why......we decided to take Drust down. For good this time. And to do that....we need you to not only bring about the elements full strength, but to use your power." Twilight pointed to the covered part of Amelia's face. Amelia turned away as she carried several stacks of armor toward the ladder. "That....is askin' too much of me, Twi. Ah said ah'd help ya but....I will not rely on this power to do so." "Amelia...." "Now quit yer gabbin' and help me get this ready. We've not much time and Ah need to get the trainin' started if we're gonna have a ghost of a chance." Securing the armor to her back Amelia climbed the ladder and disappeared above ground. Twilight sighed and did the same, gathering the daggers and securing them to her back.....only to cry out in alarm as she toppled over from the unexpected weight, crashing to the ground with a loud "OOF!" and causing the weapons to clatter noisily and spread all over the stone floor. She groaned as she noticed a sliver of color coming over the sky as she eyed the entrance. "It's going to be a looooong day....."
