O qui animarum vitam perdidi vivere in tormentis usque ad consummationem saeculi... (1)
"SHIT! SHIT! SHIT! SHIT!!!" Hi, my name is Wright Time. Running through the halls of the broken mansion, Wright's face was filled with panic. He was here for another job, hoping it was going to be easy since the home was so big. I'm a clock maker in Trottingdale. I get good pay fixing and making clocks. The entity behind him picked up a table and threw it towards its target earth pony. It hit him directly which caused him to scream in pain. Clearly, he was wrong..."Oh...anyone get the number on that cart....ugh..." I'm twenty-four years old, blood type O positive, and favorite color is sky blue.
Wright stood up with jelly legs and gazed up at his foe. I also have another job... The demon floating in the body of a unicorn laughed wickedly at the smaller earth pony. I work as a Ripper of demonic souls who threaten the living world within Equestria. Wright had just enough time to dodge an incoming wall of knives and watched as they stuck into the wall that he once stood in front of. His pupils shrunk and he shot his head to his enemy.
"That could have killed me!" He shouted angrily at the demonically possessed pony.
The being smiled with a sharp toothy grin. "I know!" The knives were pulled out of the wall and slowly turned towards him. Wright scoffed in annoyance. "NOW DIE!"
I get paid a ton of bits for my jobs if I end up saving most of the home or if the pony comes out alive. Another wave of incredibly sharp chef's knives rapidly shot towards him. Rolling under the wave, he jumped off his front hooves, and bucked the possessed pony in the face as hard as he could. The demon was forced out by the Holy Shoes Wright was wearing while wiping and whipping wildly his body in the air. He looked down at the unicorn maiden and winced. He realized that he just hit his employer, and broke her nose. It was bleeding and bent a little to the right. "That's out of my check...."
Wright turned his attention to the still recovering spirit. His glasses allowed him to see it, but beyond the frame he could not see what he was fighting. Now that it was out of the unicorn, his job just became a lot easier. With his employer out of the equation, the demon could not find a suitable host to latch onto. Only ponies who know ponies who know ponies that have haunted houses or objects of interest even know who I am. And only ten ponies I have not been able to keep my secret life to.
"Why you pathetic little being!" The demon roared in anger as it flew towards him at amazing speeds. They clashed, hitting each other with a forehoof and flew back from the force into opposite walls. Wright groaned at his displeasure of pain. He was used to getting hurt all the time, but it didn't help that he still hated getting hurt.
Wright pulled himself together and began feeling the magic within him. I am unlike normal earth ponies or ponies in general. I was born with the ability to focus magic I absorb naturally and use it to fight demons with. As the demon got up, the magic began to pool into his right forehoof while his left kept it steady. I've learned three different spells I am able to. The first is called Spirit Cannon, the one I'm using now. A ball of energy started to grow from the pooling magic. The demon roared once more and charged at him, time also felt as though it began to slow. Each step for the demon felt like minutes for Wright. The other two are Soul Ripper and Divine Edge. The Spirit Cannon takes all of my energy that I have at one point and fires it at my target, and never misses. However...I can only use it once a day, after midnight.
The demon was only four feet away when Wright fired the spell from his hoof. It blasted him back as he was not used to charging the spell so quickly, but it still had done it's job. The demon was hit directly through its head which came completely off, and a black foul liquid started to pool as the body fell over headless on the ground. He laughed weakly and fell off the wall landing on his own face.
He took a moment to recollect himself. Using the Spirit Cannon took a massive tool on his energy, and he could not move until he regained some of it back. Closing his eyes, he felt the magic in the home and in the air. While most of it was dark magic, some of it was the magic he could use. Wright took a deep breath in, feeling the magic draw closer to him. Out some of it was pushed away, but not as far as he breathed in. Again he breathed in and felt the magic touch his damaged body. Slowly he was able to stand, but weakly.
Looking over to the dead demonic soul he reached for the nearest object that wasn't touched by the demon. It was a small vase he hoped wouldn't completely drain his pay from use, and opened the lid while pointing the hole at the body.
"Per virtutem solis, hoc adstringo animam tuam.(2) The body and blood flowed into the vase and he closed the lid. "Contract complete."
He pulled his necklace off and threw it onto the ground. "Calling Princess Celestia and Princess Luna." Those were the first two to discover my abilities, and my secret life. They fully supported it much to my surprise as I had feared that they would do some horrible things to me.
An image of the two diarchs flashed before him. Celestia had a small smile on her face while her younger sister Luna held a much larger grin. They stood proudly over him, and despite the distance between them, he still bowed before them.
"What is it now?" Celestia calmly asked.
"Contract complete for Mrs. Woods, awaiting clean up and extraction of the Vessel."
"How badly are you hurt?" Luna asked, her voice sounding sad. It was true though. Wright was covered in scratches and bruises, and blood was leaking from different parts of his body.
Wright waved his forehoof and laughed. "Tis but a scratch dear princesses."
Celestia frowned with Luna. "It looks a lot more than 'but a scratch', Wright. Do you require medical aid?"
"Just get the clean-up crew here, and fix up ole Mrs. Woods. I didn't mean to break her nose, but it got the demon out of her."
They nodded and Celestia looked to her sister. "Could you send a team while I write the check for Mr. Time here?"
Luna nodded. "We shall be with you within the hour."
With a last bow from both parties, the image faded and he put back on his necklace. He walked over to Mrs. Woods and put her on a nearby couch. After that he put a pillow under the mare's head. Then he sat down and pulled a joint from his belt pockets. Lighting with a single match he took a deep puff and sighed contently.
"Another job well done..." He said looking out the window that had a crystal clear view of the ocean and of the full moon. I am Wright Time, Ripper and Clock Maker
The Stoned Writers Club Presents - The Holy Crusade
One Week Later
Wright smiled brightly at his newly made clock. Another master piece made of wood, bronze innards, and two hooves pointing straight up. With his last clock of the afternoon done, all that was left to do is sit back, and relax. He already made six clocks that day, and was way ahead of schedule. So all he had to do now was make the rest of the day as best as possible while waiting for the client to pick up their order.
He stepped off of his stool and took a moment to admire his work on the grand grandfather clock he had finished. All properly stained, and sanded, not to mention he crafted it from his very hooves. Truly a wonderful moment to have, he shared it with himself over a glass of the best wine he could afford. And he would drink while gazing up at his newly finished masterpiece.
Wright wiped his forehead and brushed back his bleach blond mane. His coat was a smooth chocolate color, and as he looked at the clock with his emerald eyes, he grinned. After that he walked up the stairs from his shop to his living area. His home sported two rooms with both having full master baths, and was two thousand five hundred square feet of space. Over all, he had a good job, good pay, sweet life.
After grabbing a bottle of Rainbow Drive, his favorite beverage of alcoholic nature, a shot glass, and a chair, he came back down and sat where he could see the front door and his finished work. He poured some of the dark blue liquid into the glass and downed it. It was past six, so it wasn't bad that he was drinking, it just meant that he couldn't drink to excess. This didn't stop him from pulling out his pipe and box of matches.
As he lit the bowl, the door to his shop opened up. First he watched as two guards walked in, then the princess oh the sun herself, Celestia walked in. She had on a small saddle bag, and was wearing the same sun-moon emblem he had around his neck. She had a smile on her face like always when she was around her subjects, and it wasn't like her visits to his humble shop and abode was out of the ordinary. No, she came to his shop every so often. Sometimes with a broken clock, or requesting one to be made. Other times, it was more than just that.
Celestia laughed as she smelled the burning herb. "That time of the day to take your 'medication' already Wright?"
Wright smiled while he inhaled through the burning pipe. The herb burnt brightly before he exhaled into Celestia's face. "Welcome princess." He took a moment to bow his head and looked back up at Celestia. "What can I do ya for?"
Celestia's horn lit up as she pulled out a slip of paper. "Here's your check for the contact of Mrs. Summer Woods. You did a good job, and repairs were done before dawn. She is sleeping peacefully in her home now that it is cleansed."
Wright looked down at his check and his smile grew wide. He looked to the guards at the entrance to his store, and back at Celestia. "You want to head up stairs? Have a friendly drink?" He paused to think. "If you have the time of course."
Celestia chuckled. "I would love to my friend. Guards?" They snapped their attention to her. "Stay there and guard the shop if there is a customer, come and tell us." They gave her a hardy salute. "Let's go then."
The two friends walked up to the living area of Wright's property. "I'd like to thank you for giving me the licence to take my medication once more princess."
"Please, call me Celestia, and it is no trouble. With all the pain and what-not, it must be very well worth it in the end."
Wright gave Celestia and himself two fresh glasses of Rainbow Drive. "How's work up in Canterlot?"
Celestia took a sip and smiled down at him. "Blue Blood wants me to stop funding the Crystal Empire, but he forgets that those bits are for the ponies who work to mine the crystals we sell to other kingdoms for a shared profit. Other than that, things have been calm."
Wright took another hit and coughed out a large plume of smoke. "R-*cough-cough* right! That's good then eh?"
She laughed and nodded. "I must say though...seeing how that herb helps you...perhaps it can be used to help the guards who have PTSD?" Wright noticed that she thought aloud and nodded. "You think I should legalize it?"
"Of course! Then I don't have to keep looking for new, trust worthy dealers! If you want me to continue my 'job' then you gotta stop cracking down on those so called 'major drug busts'. Seriously you spend how much on a few pot plants?"
Celestia realized his words and laughed. "Indeed you are correct, we waste bits on those don't we?"
He nodded again and leaned closer. "And think of how much you can get in profit!"
Celestia rolled her eyes and took the pipe from Wright and looked at it as though she were studying it. "Side effects are only minimal when it comes to those new medications coming out these days..." She was hesitant at first, but took a deep inhale while lighting the bowl with her magic.
Wright rolled back in laughter, realizing how fucked up he is, and how fucked up Celestia will get. "Have you ever...smoked before?" She shook her head, and he doubled back, clutching his sides.
Celestia felt a little tingle go down her spine. "Oh dear...." She gave him back the pipe and shook her head. "No more for me...for now. I'd like to see where this plays out." She coughed a couple times and smiled at him. "Any ways, there's another contract for you." She used her magic to hand him a scroll that was sealed with the royal seal.
"Straight from the top eh? What'd you need me to do?"
"My daughter Twilight Sparkle has found evidence that the spirit of the Nightmare is still in the old castle my sister and I used to live in before her banishment. She knows of you as much as I and is willing to pay a generous amount cleansing and defeating the spirit."
Wright took a look at the scroll.
Dear Wright Time,
There is an extraordinary amount of dark magic and corruption in the Castle of the Two Sisters. I have scanned it several times with magic and have concluded that it is best left to a professional like yourself. My mother has told me much about you, and of your strange abilities.You'd be most welcome in Ponyville and will get a reward of 30,000 bits. Do not worry about damages as I have already placed a spell to prevent further damages. I hope you accept this contract. You are not known for rejecting a pay this large, but stranger things have happened before. We can further discuss your payment further if and when you arrive in Ponyville. Tell my mother to send this contract with your name on it as proof that you have accepted, and I have time to set you up with the best room in the castle.
Sincerely,
Princess Twilight Sparkle
Wright scratched the scruff on his chin and hummed in thought. This contract wasn't from just a normal pony who's heard about him, this was from the crown. He looked up at Celestia and sighed. This was going to be hard to say no as it was from his best friend's daughter. Now he had eleven people who knew about his powers that he had to worry about.
"This sucks some stanky ass Tia..." He groaned, taking another hit off his pipe and downed a shot. "But I'll take it, need the bits anyways if I'm going to pay for my next shipment of supplies for my clocks..."
Celestia gave him a magical quill and he sighed the contract. It burst instantly into flames as he dotted his 'i' in Time. Leaning back he covered his face with his hooves. "Next stop Ponyville, the Town of Mares."
Celestia stood up with a nod. "I'll get you a first class ticket. How long do you think it'll take you this time?"
Wright thought about that question himself. It was a castle, two thousand years old, lots of dark hallways, infused with dark magic, and is in ruins. The more he thought about it, the more he wanted to rip of the contract he had just signed. It could take him up to a month to cleanse it, and another week to draw out the spirit. Further dangers included such as traps, said demonic spirit would try to kill him while he tried blessing the grounds. He fell forward and hit his head on the table only to give out a depressed groan.
"There goes my high..."
Celestia frowned sadly. "I'm sorry..."
Wright waved a hoof. "It's fine, I got a friend who can fill in for me. COPY CAT!"
With a flash of green fire from a nearby lamp, out from it came a Changeling. "Yes master!?" She ran over to him and bowed.
"You have a Changeling?" Celestia asked, eyes wide with surprise.
Wright nodded to Celestia and looked at Copy Cat. "I need you to fill in for me while I'm gone for a month and a half."
Copy Cat bowed. "Yes master! I will not fail you!"
He smiled and slowly pet the changeling. "Good girl, when I get back I'll give you the best day of your life." A smile grew on the Changeling's lips.
"Thank you master! I work extra hard then!"
"You pay it with what exactly?"
"Sex." They both said at the same time.
"And why do you have her with you?"
"Because I don't know a single pony that can turn into me to cover for my absences at the shop. Despite how much I get paid, I still got to keep this place up somehow. Plus, it lowers suspicion."
Celestia sighed. "Alright, I'll work on citizenship papers for her then. She...she doesn't actually hurt ponies does she?"
"Only intruders." Copy said with a smile. "I get extra love for dealing with them, right master?"
Wright nodded and Celestia sighed. "Alright, I guess today got interesting then for me. I smoked weed for the first time, and I met a changeling that's now on our side."
Wright winked with a toothy grin. "Yep!"
Episode 2: Welcome to Ponyville, City of Mares
Wright yawned awake as the train screeched to a halt. He looked out the window and saw a few ponies standing about on the platform, one of them waiting for him. She stood about as tall as Luna, maybe a few inches shorter, and her coat was a soft lavender. Her name was Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Magic. Next to her was a small dragon he guessed was Spike, Twilight's assistant. Wright felt a little bile rise up, but he swallowed it back down, unsure why he had a feeling in his gut that something awful was about to happen.
With his powers, Wright noticed that he could sense dangers, but unsure when they were to come. It could be a few days before anything would happen. He enjoyed having the abilities of a unicorn, a rare disorder linked through genetic mutation. He is technically a unicorn, just born without a horn. His forehead however had just a small little pump that was covered up by his mane. Many would confuse it for a goose bump, like when you hit your head real hard on something.
Ponyville, City of Mares. Mare population exceeds stallion population by a 3-10 ratio. Wright thought to himself. He often thought like this to help assess himself in a situation. Because of this, the spirit will likely be female which puts me in a tight pickle. He stuffed his necklace in his red jacket and put on his glasses. Mark, set, and point.
With his luggage in tow, he stepped off the train with a deep sigh. He approched Twilight, and gave her a deep bow.
"Greetings princess Twilight, I am Wright Time." He looked up at her then at her dragon, who's seemed to be a little larger from the last time he saw him on the papers. "And salutations to you Sir Spike of the Royal House."
"Hello Mr. Time. I am glad that you were able to make it here safely." Twilight gave him a soft smile and looked around. "Lets get to the castle where we can talk in private?"
"That would be wise princess."
"Please, call me Twilight. I'm not one wanting to carry titles."
"If you want me to, I will." Twilight nodded. "Right, Twilight it is then. Thank you for giving me permission."
Twilight giggled and Wright looked at her with a confused expression written across his face. "There isn't a need to be formal, really. I still think I'm a unicorn." Her voice makes one think she really does miss her old self. Perhaps she does. Before she was a princess, she had no idea Celestia was her real mother. "So-Welcome to Ponyville!"
"I feel welcome." Wright says, feeling the space around the town, so far he felt no added spirits to take care of. There were a few spirits who were new, and not quite ready to move on yet. They would in time, he didn't worry. "Such a peaceful town, I feel the magic of everypony here."
"Everypony here works hard, and sticks together. We have dozens of festivals every year! It's so fantastic!" Wright can't help but chuckle at how childish the princess had looked when she yelled with a smile. "Oh, where are you from?"
"I wasn't born in Equestria. My parents both lived with zabras in Zeborica." He answers. "I was born while on a boat to Manehatten."
"How long were your parents on the boat before you were born?"
"Four days."
Twilight looks at him with pure shock. "How'd they take care of you then?!"
"They didn't, they died by Griffin and Diamond Dog pirates. I was taken in by a Griffin named the Dread Pirate Rowers. He named me, and told me every day 'Goodnight Wright, have a good sleep! I will most likely kill you in the morning!'"
Twilight felt awful for asking. "S-sorry if I brought up bad memories..."
Wright smiled. "Not at all. My time on his ship was the best few years of my life. He took me to an island where a bunch of spirits were, and that's where I got my cutie mark."
Twilight looked at his flank and saw a skull with two white wings and a halo. Under the skull was a pitchfork pointing to his legs. "That's an interesting cutie mark..." She said with clear uncertainty. Twilight was unsure how Wright would react to most of her questions, and kept turning her around in every answer.
Wright continued to study Ponyville. He saw a few stallions here and there, but his estimations were correct, there were more mares than stallions by a ton. Soon he felt the magic pulse through his head and down his tail. His nerves picked up and his whole body locked up. There was such an influx of magic, it pulsed through him like a dozen demons, the whole force hit him. He fell over and felt his whole body take in such energy.
"Pinkie?" Twilight looked at a pink pony who looked down at Wright.
"HIYA! Who're you?!" When Wright failed to respond Twilight looked down at him with concern. This also made Pinkie pause from her greeting so she was a little confused herself. "Is he okay Twilight?"
Twilight stared down at him, his muscles made his entire body look like one of Rarity's manikins. "W-Wright? Yo-you okay there?"
Wright was able to adapt to the energy of the being in front of him and he stood up. Blinking around confused he coughed. "I-....I'm fine..." He looked over at the source of the surge. "Sweet Celestia! You're glowing!" He quickly took off his glasses and blinked at her. "My Faust....Y-you are a walking paradox. I refuse to believe that you exist...yet...." He laid down on the ground and covered his eyes.
"What's wrong Wright?" Twilight asked taking a careful step closer to him. "Pinkie...did you break him?"
"I didn't touch him I swear!" Pinkie raised her hooves in defense. "I'm trying like you say, at least I waited until he looked my way."
Twilight sighed. "Yeah, but he's the guy."
"Oh! We're not supposed to talk about that in public Twilight!" Pinkie said covering Twilight's mouth.
Twilight pushed her gently away and looked at her. "How'd you know?"
"Because he was talking to you when I heard and want to say high because I saw him with you and-"
She raised her hoof. "I get it Pinkie... Alright, Wright? Are you going to be fine?"
He looked up. "I am next to a paradox Twilight,,,,I am unsure what to do now."
"What do you mean?"
"I...I am unsure...." He shook his head. This is damn weird... "Oah....ah....Okay. She is infinite energy, she just...wow, expels energy at such a massive rate, she would be dead if...but...s-she's not..."
Twilight looks over at Pinkie and her horn lights up. She activated the spell beacon at her castle and ran the spell to teleport. Everypony there was the remainder of the elements. They all looked down at Wright who was still laying down with his eyes covered.
"What's up with him?" Rainbow asked with a short glance. "Is that the guy you hired?"
Twilight nodded and frowned. "Yes but...he has seen Pinkie unprepared. It's going to take him a moment, perhaps a few days..." She looked over at Pinkie. "I'm sorry Pinkie, but once he tell him what information he needs for the castle, you might need to keep away."
Her ears fell back, and she nodded. "Okay...I'm sorry Twilight."
Twilight gently gave Pinkie a hoof on her shoulder. "It's okay, at least you tried. I didn't expect him to react in this way."
"By any chance is this one of his...ahhem....'Abilities'?" Rarity asked.
This has seemed to snap out of his shock. A hater! A non believer of my work! He rushed over to her and glared deep into her soul. Lifting up his mane he showed her the bump. "I will tell you this once miss. What I have is very real. Why do you think Twilight hired me? Her mother and aunt take care of the shit, I take care of! I risk my life to defend these ponies!"
Rarity looked up at his little nub. "What is that? Did you hit your head?"
Wright water was about to boil over. "NO! I suffer from a genetic mutation that's bucking rare. It causes my magic to go through the rest of my body. The endings had to go somewhere, they grew out of my right forehoof and my eyes." He explained before sitting down. "Ugh....Ponies....You're Mistress Rarity correct?" Wright looked at the rest of them, except for Pinkie.
"Can we finish this up?" Apple Jack asked Twilight. "I need to work on the farm, it's nearly the end of Apple Bucking Season."
"Yes, lets do that!" Wright smiles and turned back to Twilight, avoiding Pinkie still. "My contract, lets talk about it."
"The girls and I have thought about raising your pay after the resent disturbances in the Everfree. It seems something has found out that we sent you here, and not even Zecora can live in her hut." Twilight's ears fall back. "We're sorry, but we hope the pay will cover it. I'm also willing to pull a few 'princess cards' if you get in trouble."
Wright scratched his chin slowly. "That does put a damper on things. So what's my raise?"
"Fifty thousand, can you still complete it in the time my mother told me?"
"At most another week has been added to my stay, but that's fine. Things pop up, I understand." He replied cooly with a smile. "I'm going to need a place close to the target to stay at. Is there a place I can stay at?"
"I have a spare room." Fluttershy raised her hoof slowly into the air. "I-if you want, I c-can host you."
"Ah, Damn Fluttershy, you are most kind." He bowed to her. "I gladly accept your hospitality."
Twilight clapped her hooves together. "Alright, one more thing. My mother wanted to give you a gift when you got here?" Twilight grabbed a few papers from a nearby desk, then gave them to him.
Wright sat down and examined them closely. He saw a picture of Copy Cat with a stamp over her face. There was also a stamp over a picture of her right forehoof.
Copy Cat
Official citizen of Equestria by orders of the Princesses Celestia, Luna, and Twilight Sparkle.
"Damn, she actually did it." He smiled and removed his gaze from the papers. "And you signed as well, thank you. I know your brother's wedding was ruined because of them. It must be a little awkward."
Twilight smiled back at Wright and nodded. "It was, but Celestia said that she wasn't part of the invasion, so she's alright. Can't place blame on an entire race when only one of two dozen queens decided it was okay to attack one of the most powerful nations in all of Equuis."
"Alright, I'm going with Fluttershy to her home, and I will come back to town to gather a few bits of information. If I could have access to all documents in relation to the castle in question, that would be nice also."
"You have full access, even to the locked archives. I'll get Spike working on another key."
"So we're done?" AJ asked. "Great!" She walked out.
Wright read her like a book. Earth ponies weren't all that hard to read because they were so grounded with nature. She was less than pleased to have someone like him enter their town. She was one of those ponies he guessed just weren't into his line of work. It was understandable, he messed with unrested spirits, he was sure that there would be hate towards him. It wasn't natural, nor was it safe.
Everypony else in the room wasn't quite sure what was going on though. Twilight looked a little unnerved about it as did the rest of her friends. Wright just continued to smile, occasionally glancing at Copy's citizenship papers. For him, he guessed his stay wouldn't be all that too bad.
"A-are you ready to go now Mr. Time?" Fluttershy spoke up next to him. He nodded with a kind smile and waved goodbye. Even though he knew that he was going to be seeing them later, he wasn't sure when though. He had a lot to do.
While they walked down the halls Wright looked to Fluttershy. "I need your help coming up with a cover story while I'm here miss. I have a few I can run down with you if that's alright."
"Why do you need a cover up?"
"Because right now, I have a changeling who's disguised as me, and I need a story if anyone finds out I'm here." He answered quietly. "So my first idea is that I'm your best friend from foal hood. Or we can go with the dating scene."
Fluttershy blushed up and squeaked, sparking a laugh from Wright. "U-u.....um...I-I don't kn-know...about that..."
"Come now, I can be a very kind stallion!" He laughed. "Friend it is then. I was only joking. I only brought it up because you are a very beautiful and kind mare."
"W-well....thank you..." She tried to hide her blush by looking away. "B-but I am the Element of Kindness...so..i-it's just a part of me I always had."
"If you'd like, I can tone myself down. I know I can be a little unbecoming." He smiled at her with a gentle stare. His eyes looking into hers with such softness and easy tone to his voice helped Fluttershy calm down from her slightly flustered state.
"N-no...it's f-fine..." She said back to him. "Y-you have nice eyes."
"See? We're friends already. I said something nice, and you said something nice. We're already there!" Fluttershy looked at the smiling stallion in his red coat. He just had this easy going personality, always moving around when it came to his attitude. Wright just seemed to adjust his tone and voice as conversations seemed to go on.
She took a careful glace at his cutie mark once more. It was slightly frightening, but the work he must do might be ten times or even twenty times worse. If he's accepting the contract Twilight and rest of them gave him, then he must have done worse before. He was calm when he was told issues had risen up since he first accepted, like he didn't expect things to just stay the same. Fluttershy walked, feeling like Wright was taking the lead when it was really her. Was it the way he walked, so high up in the air she was sure that was where his mind was. He just studied the walls with his glasses on.
His glasses were rectangular, sharp edged, and only about half the size of his eyes. They were brown in color, and from where she stood the lenses looked like they bent light into the rainbow. They way the light reflected from them made him look like he was some sort of graceful bear. She found herself blushing. I shouldn't be looking at him, I only just met him! She thought, shaking her head furiously.
"Everything alright Ms. Shy?" Wright asked sounding only slightly concerned.
"Y-yes, I'm fine." She replied with a soft squeak.
"If you say so." He said looking on ahead.
By this point they had finally exited the castle as two new friends. Wright kindly kept his distance to make all the other mares know that he wasn't quite with Fluttershy, but was still walking along side her. He kept his tail still, and his glasses on while he gazed around while still keeping Fluttershy in his view.
While he walked around, Wright studied the sky. It was clear enough for him to start seeing-and feeling- the magic he was looking for. There were hints of dark magic sewed within the ground, small seeds of destruction infused with nature and dark magic. They would grow out of control if it wasn't for the lighter magic that was also infused with the ground. Magics of all kinds were infused within the air, the ground, everywhere. The homes had spells and magic, the air swirled with colorful patterns with the scents of roses from the apothecary's shops. There were also strong after scents like apples, and the sweet smell of redwood the houses and homes.
Mares of all kinds strolled around with gentle smiles. Some gave him a curious glance while others looked generally interested to see who this new pony was that was walking with the town's shy beast master. Wright just kept looking up though, studying the streams of magic through his glasses, or glasses of revealing he was given by Princess Luna after his four job under them. It's been eight years since he was taken under the wings of both princesses, and since then his life had turned from bad to somewhat tolerable. While he worked hard, he still made enough pay to get around the fact he was risking his life each step he took.
"What are you looking for?" Fluttershy asked.
"Trying to find which ways magic flows through Ponyville." He said, still looking up in the air. "Pegasi leave behind magic when they fly and most don't realize they fly in the same paths so it makes for excellent directions around town."
"Oh, that's interesting." She scratched her neck awkwardly. "If I'm a bother, I can tell you where I live."
"Nonsense! You're fine standing next to me." He laughed. "Come, lets get going. I've gathered enough to know which way the magic flows in the air. Going to be a little hard with the ground though."
"Why?"
"Pinkie Pie messes up my senses." He explained with his right eye twitching. "Even from here I still can't get a hold of what's her energy or what's not, you know?"
"N-no, I don't. Sorry."
Wright shrugged. "Eh, true enough. I'm probably babbling on like some mad pony."
Fluttershy giggled. "Well, you sort of act like Twilight. She loves talking about her spells, and I know somepony who's worse than you." Her eyes opened wide, realizing how she just sounded. "Not like you two are bad or anything! I-I mean-"
Wright started to laugh loudly and fell back on his head. "Somepony who's madder than me!? Ha-hahahaha! Oh that's good!"
"Y-you aren't mad?"
Wright gave her this look that spoke 'Really? Mad? Me mad?' "Fluttershy, it's going to take a bad day with no medication, and ten evil spirits to make a day what you might conserder 'bad'." Wright smiled. "Please, even those don't make me mad. What makes me mad is something so stupid it doesn't make sense. Like Pinkie Pie, she makes me mad."
"Why?"
"I hate things I can't figure out." He explained. "I'm like a science nerd. I believe spirits are real because they give off different waves of energy that most can't feel. Those that do feel it generally don't even know what it is. The rare ones like me feel it because they have nothing better to do with their lives so they go 'why not?'. I do that. So when it comes to Pinkie Pie...She is a walking paradox, she isn't supposed to exist, yet she does. Limitless energy in such a small box. I wonder how she's even alive from not exploding."
"She has before..." Fluttershy smiled. "There was this massive party, she actually burned herself out and passed out on my couch."
"Hmmm....." Wright left the conversation off there, unsure how to go about it now. Now I just need to find out where she gets her energy. Perhaps I can try to create something like it to fuel my magic. His head also started to hurt less. He was gathering plenty of information, just Pinkie had managed to screw with his brain by just existing.
They made it to her abode in near record time Fluttershy thought. It was great to be back, and with her new company. She wasn't at all afraid of Wright. The princesses had seemed to have near complete trust in the stallion and his work. He however, stared out into the forest. His eyes seemed to have a wary look. The whole border seemed to have this strange fog that didn't expand into Fluttershy's land. He saw the fog bank up, instantly he realized her home was blessed like his.
"You have a very safe home Fluttershy." He commented, but his voice echoed worry which also worried Fluttershy. Wright just had this thousand yard stare into the forest, like something was up but he wasn't talking about it.
He took a step forward, his eyes narrowing in. The flow of magic was so chaotic, it was insane how these plants had adapted to it. They were misshaped and looked dangerous. Deeper in he thought he could see some Poison Joke and Lazy Ivy. Each tree, each vine, and each leaf had a dark aura resonating off of it. He shuddered at the sight.
"I have my work cut out for me..." He complained more than he was making a note of it. He already knew the forest was dangerous from what he read in news articles from his Sunday papers, but this was just stupid to him. He smacked his face with a hoof and groaned, though not from the pain, but how hard he has to work now. Not only did he have a castle to bless, but before he could do that, he had to passify the forest. "Faust bucking dammit...."
"Would you like some tea?" Fluttershy offered, standing by the door.
"Yes, a few gallons of it to get rid of the migraine."
"What's wrong Wright?"
"I can't do anything to the castle until the entire forest is cleansed." He felt like he was about to cry, tears swelled up in his eyes. "I knew that this wasn't going to be an easy job, but not an entire year's worth of work! WHAT THE BUCK!?"
Her eyes widened at his remark. "A-A whole year?!"
"Maybe an entire life time!" He huffed, sitting down and rubbing his temples in small circles to help ease is growing headache. It felt like he was getting hit by a speeding train full of jackhammers, on fire, and exploding-don't forget the explosions. "I'm going to need a tea leaf farm...just to make the tea, to get rid of this headache."
"How about some Codeine? That helps me whenever I had a really bad headache."
"I'll swallow the entire bottle and it wouldn't be enough." He fell over and wined with a groan. "Buck this, buck my life, buck that damn bucking contract, bucking dammit...Faust, son of a bitch, motherbucker, anal dwelling butt monkey, shit faced, flankhole, whorse."
Fluttershy stared at Wright, slack jawed at his foul language and use of said language. "I-I'm going to make you some tea. Is vanilla okay?"
Wright just nodded, laying in the grass while the other animals just stared at him with less than general interest other than who was this new pony. All the while he just seemed to curse on how he hated his life and accepting the contract that put him into this place. What the problem was was much too big for him, which meant he had to call upon another one of his own to help him out. The issue was that he hated this pony with a raging passion. Her name was Pastilla.
