Glory For Power

After several days of relaxing and speaking with Zecora in the Everfree, Paolina finally decided to scout for a nice little mountain range to live at instead of near a town. That way she had a bit of privacy and plenty of space to train without needing to worry about possibly injuring anyone. This time on her way to town she had decided to land a bit outside of town and simply walk in.

It turned out a bit better than she expected when she was given stares of curiosity instead of an empty street full of fear. Stares of curiosity she could take, being alone in a bustling town she could not. She made sure to make her way to town hall this time to see what the possible conversion rate of Zenny to Bits could be so that she could get some cash to spend on food and seeds. She let her mind wander a little as she walked, trusting her feet to take her to town hall as her mind went over what kinds of seeds she wanted to use for her garden. It would have to be a pretty big one to keep up with her appetite... definitely a wide variety to make sure she wasn't just eating the same old thing day after day.

Oh... That would be tricky, getting hold of various types of meat to work with... On second thought, maybe just fish. Yeah, she learned plenty about sushi to make her own Makizushi, all she needed was the dried red algae seaweed for the wrap. It was something that was possible that she would be able to get in a pony marketplace due to the seaweed being palatable to herbivores and omnivores... but... maybe it was just too exotic for the ponies to think about it. She'd have to check when she got to the market and started getting ready for the journey to her plateau.

Soon enough she found herself outside the same official building as a few days ago, she quickly opened the door and walked into the much-cooler air of the mayoral office building. The secretary at the desk was leafing through a few papers before she looked up and gave a small smile. "Hello! My name is Scratch Ream, although I prefer Miss Ream... if you would like you can take a seat just over there.." the teal earth pony says as she points to a row of benches with a hoof. "...and I'll let Mayor Mare know that she has a visitor, it shouldn't be too long of a wait, the town has really quieted down over the past couple days." Paolina nodded before taking note of the paper and quill-shaped mark on the mare's flank as she went into one of the back rooms to speak with the Mayor.

"Well... at least everything's going according to plan..." Paolina hums as she leans back a little. "Maybe I could stroll around for a while after I'm done he-..." She stops as she notices Scratch Ream re-enter the room with a small, sheepish smile.

"I'm sorry, the Mayor is currently with the town contractor discussing reparations for recent damages to the town, it may take a few hours for her schedule to clear up. I can write you in for a later appointment if you don't mind." the teal mare started to brighten a little as her emerald-green mane bounced with each step.

Paolina let out a small sigh and nodded. "Sure, what's the soonest you would estimate her being free?"

"The best I can estimate is about four in the afternoon, since a lot of houses near the Everfree received a bit of structural damage and even houses on the opposite side of town had cracked or shattered windows."

The Saiyan let out a small wince as she heard the damage report. "Well, I can come back after four then."

"Great! I'll put you down for four-thirty." Ream replied with a broad smile, letting Paolina get up and leave so that she could explore the town for a while.

The first thing that caught her attention when she left though was something that made her quickly hide in the bushes. Not even ten yards away and the lavender unicorn she had come to know as Twilight was speaking to a rather excited Pinkie Pie. Paolina had quickly learned to avoid that pink menace whenever possible since it always seemed that she moved faster than Goku ever had. There was a bit of a heated debate before the fashionista mare joined in a few seconds later, seeming to get lost in some sort of fantasy until being interrupted by the pink menace that Paolina could've sworn was a Majin by the way she bounced around everywhere and seemed to stretch like the bubblegum she got her color from.

Once the violet mare began to eat though, that was something that interested her more than the possibility of needing to avoid the majin-pony for the rest of the day when both of the fighting guests started to walk away. It was only a drip at first as the clouds over ponyville began to darken while pegusai pushed dark clouds together above the town. She watched as the ponies pushed the clouds together and made them all clump into one giant, dark cloud that started to drip rain faster and faster. She began to think of it kind of like a dance, one where the weather was forced into doing what the ponies needed... in a way it didn't feel fair to the weather that it was manipulated into doing what the ponies needed... But the more she thought about it, the more it seemed that humans and Tuffles were trying to get the same results with far less success.

Here ponies were, simply pushing rainclouds where they needed to be, while humans still were at the mercy of nature when it came to whether rains came on time or not. Her attention was turned to the nearby restaurant as the violet unicorn was looking around in confusion at the ponies fleeing inside, Paolina actually had the same little bit of confusion. "it's only a little rain... nothing like a real storm..." she thought before Twilight looked up to reveal the Cyan mare, Rainbow Dash, had kept a spot in the clouds open just for her. "oh... that's nice... but... why just for Twilight and Spike?" Paolina thought before Twilight gave Rainbow dash a harsh look, and very likely equally-harsh words, giving the pegasus mare reason to pout and close the hole like a zipper which caused Twilight and Spike to get soaked, eliciting a giggle out of the Saiyan who happened to be watching the whole spectacle. She was about to vanish back to Zecora's hut before she noticed how agitated Twilight seemed to be getting.

While it would've been a fairly friendly idea to see what's eating at Twilight, she had a feeling that actually asking her would lead to the little unicorn biting at her, so she simply stepped out of the bush after Twilight had passed with a slightly-dripping Spike in tow. Paolina picked up her pace just enough to fall into step next to Spike, once he noticed she was next to him she gave him a smile. "Hey... Spike, right?"

He nodded with a smile. "Yeah! What's up?"

"Hehe, I was actually going to ask you the same thing, since Twilight seems to be a bit upset..." Paolina replies as she takes note of Twilight's ears twitching in her direction.

"Oh yeah..." Spike sighs a little. "...All of Twilight's friends found out she has an extra ticket to the Grand Galloping Gala and now they all keep trying to do favors for her to sway her in their favor."

Paolina let out a little giggle. "So eloquent for such a little tyke, but... What's the Grand Galloping Gala?"

Spike made a noise with his tongue and glared a little at the tickets in his hands before answering. "It's just some stupid, girly dance that all the nobles go to every year... Once Twilight got old enough for Celestia to allow her to go she had been dragging me along with her... and every year it's the same, boring stuff... Just nobles listening to quiet music and talking about themselves."

"Sounds rough... You guys want to stop by my place and get a bite to eat?" Paolina asked as she finished listening to Spike's explanation. Within seconds she realized her mistake as Twilight rounded on her with a very angry glare.

"NO! No Favors! I don't want to give anypony more of a chance than the others!" She shouts before picking up Spike in her magic and taking off to another part of town.

Paolina blinked dumbly for almost a minute as she was stuck between a few emotions; Offended for having such a low-strength being yell at her and get away with it, her Saiyan side most likely, and that would've only gotten a goddess of the sun on her case... Surprised at having Twilight yell at her for asking such a simple question... and a little sad that the mare had taken her genuine offer and thought so little of it. It was actually one of the few things that did hurt, mainly because it was a blow to her pride... She never expected favors from anyone and did what she could to not ask favors of others, but this... This felt like a spear of ice had been plunged right into her core.

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, opening them slowly as she let the breath out. "...I'll just have to make sure that she knows the difference between a favor and a friendly gesture." the Saiyan said with determination as she took to the sky, looking for a good spot to view the whole town.

Spike bit his lip as he picked up his pace behind the nearly-sprinting unicorn. She may not have been a professional sprinter, but she was still faster than the stubby-legged dragon that had to watch where he was going unless he wanted to trip over his own feet. "Twilight! I... I think she wasn't asking... for a favor!" he panted as his caretaker started to slow down. "I... Whew... I mean it... Twilight... I think... She just wanted... to give us... a break..."

Twilight let out a small sigh as she began opening the door to Golden Oaks Library. "I hope so Spike, I'll apologize to her later, but right now I just need to get something to eat..." Once the door was open all the way though, she couldn't help but groan in exasperation. "...Fluttershy? You too?"

In the halls of Canterlot Castle both of Equestria's diarchs were face-to-face with a creature they had never encountered before. It was similar in a general shape to the Saiyans, but that's where the similarities died; It's skin was a milk-white, not unlike Celestia's own coat, and the eyes that went with them were a deep crimson. Within them both Celestia and Luna were able to get a sense that this creature had fought incredibly powerful enemies and nearly-impossible odds... much like their Saiyan friend. The creature's skin had lines running all along its length like the veins of a plant, moving along every curve in its arms, there were even some pink patches of skin where it seemed like muscle bulging out against a very thin clothing material. It had a slightly-squared chin that tapered to a cleft as he stood with a slight smirk among the groaning bodies of defeated royal guards. His antennae twitched on each side of his curved spine-ridge as he began to speak in a smooth baritone.

"Sorry about the mess..." He says as one arm moves his white-cloth cape out from around him. "...but your guards could certainly use more training."

Celestia gives a small chuckle as she covers her mouth with a hoof, Luna simply sits with her hooves across her chest. "Back when we were actually ruling the guards would've certainly given thee a proper fight... even would have bested thou since they used to practice with us."

Celestia smiles a little as she calms her chuckles. "Yes, quite right sister... although, I do have to ask, what manner of creature are you?" She asks with a quirked brow.

The creature bows a little as his cape covers his purple clothes that were modeled in a similar style to his mentor, Piccolo, "I am Cello... I am known as an Albino Namekkian. It's a pleasure to meet you both..."

Luna actually smiles and bows a little in response. "A warrior like thou commands much respect from fellow warriors, what brings thee to our castle?"

"I am actually quite curious as well." Celestia hums before looking off to the side. "Prim, Proper..." She calls out, seeming to summon two very fancy-looking unicorns, a mare and stallion of nearly similar yellow-tone coats and slicked dark-ochre manes. "Could you please bring us some tea, I believe we shall be having an extended conversation in the gardens." With identical nods both unicorns smile and leave the room as silently as they had arrived. With a similar, warm smile Celestia gets up from her throne, followed closely by the still-filly Luna as she beckons Cello to follow them both to the gardens.

Once outside they each take a seat on some rather lavish benches as the two unicorns from earlier appear with a steaming pot of tea. Celestia dismisses them both with a nod and they both seem to disappear once again.

Luna lets out a small sigh and puffs out her cheeks a little. "If only servants had been this efficient a thousand years ago..."

Celestia gently brought Luna's attention back to their guest. "As you were saying..." she prods.

Cello gives a small nod. "It was actually at the request of the Supreme Kai of Time, she informed me that my friend, Paolina was part of this world now and that the position of guardian of Equus was empty. When she let me know that there were two actual gods ruling over one of the countries I thought it would be only polite to ask permission if I could become Kami of this planet." he explained before taking a sip of his tea.

Celestia smiled just a little bit more. "It would be nice to have a Kami of the planet again, since one of the trials to become the new guardian is to defeat the old guardian we have had little chance to get a new guardian since none have been able to defeat his spirit..."

Luna seemed a bit dejected as she heard the news, but smiled a little bit. "Yes, the Guardian is granted longevity by virtue of their position... it would be nice to have another being of personal longevity to speak with again."

"Of course you are more than welcome to test your mettle against the previous guardian to see if you may be the new guardian." Celestia says. "If you would like we can take you to the lookout that served as the previous guardian's home and temple."

Cello smiled a little bit as he finished his cup. "I would be honored..."

Paolina couldn't help but let a smirk form on her face as she watched Twilight get chased around town by ponies that were frantic to get her extra ticket. A little part of her was a bit satisfied that this was punishment enough for the little unicorn snapping at her earlier, another part felt just a tad guilty that she simply hovered by as her friend was being run ragged through the town. She finally tilted herself towards where the Violet unicorn was being herded to a dead end.

Twilight had turned to see the huge crowd of ponies that had gathered in an attempt to bargain for the spare ticket and she started to panic, every sense was yelling at her to leave... to be anywhere but where she was... and it was a slight relief, though she didn't know it at the moment, when she felt an arm around her neck, pulling the unicorn and her dragon assistant to their Saiyan friend just before the world seemed to shift in an instant from a crowded dead-end alley to the inside of a hut.

Paolina smiled as she let both of her friends go, chuckling as they rolled away in their exhaustion. "you guys want something to eat?"

Twilight's head snapped up to look at who had saved them and her eyes began to brim with tears as her mouth wobbled a bit, she quickly got up and leapt to the Saiyan, embracing her in as tight a hug as she could. "I... I can't take it anymore... So many ponies... I... I don't want to disappoint them or my friends... please don't ask for the ticket too..." She sobbed as she buried her face on the chestpiece of her friend's armor, surprising the Saiyan just a little.

Paolina's surprised look turned into a small smile as she gently pet the scared unicorn's mane. "Hey... like I told Spike earlier... not interested, I don't do formal events. But you're welcome to relax a bit out here..."

After sniffling a little Twilight looks around. "Where... where are we?"

"We're at my friend's home in the Everfree." Paolina replied with a smile.

Twilight's sobs stopped dead. "WHAT!?!" She shouts as she pulls away and starts trotting in place in a panic. "You... you brought us to the most dangerous forest in the world!? Why!?"

"You looked like you wanted to get away from the crowd... Stick with me and the Everfree will leave you alone." Paolina replied with a shrug. "Besides... I don't think you want to go back to Ponyville with that crowd after you and they wouldn't bother to look here for you either. So... Zecora should be back in a little bit so we can all relax for a few hours before you two head home."

Twilight took a small breath as she started to calm down, looking over to her dazed assistant as he started to get up and shake some sense into his head. "I think we could take a break for now..." She says.

Twilight actually lets out a relaxed hum as she leans against the smooth stone bank of the hot spring Paolina had led them to. "Wow... you really weren't kidding when you said we needed this... and the stone is so smooth... I would've thought it would be a muddy bank."

"It originally was, but I couldn't deal with getting out of here just to step in mud, so I helped Zecora by getting the dirt packed with stone, it was actually a pretty fun way to ease my stress from my first trip to town."

"What happened?" Spike asked with curiosity as he slipped in across from the girls. "I doubt there's a lot that would stress you..."

"Well, you're part right Spike." Paolina says with a tiny laugh as she sinks a little in the relaxing water. "...Every pony in town simply disappeared when I landed in the marketplace... It was one of the creepiest things I had ever seen, and... well... I don't quite handle creepy all to well..."

"Yeah... I know what you mean... I read this weird comic book one time, had this one creature called a Grue, I wouldn't sleep without a night light for three months afterward..." Spike chuckled sheepishly.

Twilight rolled her eyes. "Three months... No, try, a year. Besides, I thought that was the reason why you still sleep with one..." She smirks a bit as the little dragon shoots his adopted sister a glare, his puffed out cheeks and tiny wisps of smoke coming from his nose making him look so much more adorable than any dragon normally could.

"You know, I think a lot of your cuteness comes from you still being a baby dragon." Paolina says as she looks over to the fuming lizard. "Although... I got to see Gohan's pet dragon Icarus, he was pretty adorable... though I think he was a drake instead of a dragon, since he never really got too much bigger than when Gohan had met him."

Twilight let out a small groan of happiness as she could feel all the tension slipping from her body. "This spring really does make it worth being out here in the Everfree..."

"Well Twi, I think you should be getting back to your friends soon, so let's get dried off so you can talk to them." Paolina suggests.

"Sure, but don't think this has gotten you out of an interrogation on how your magic works." Twilight says with a smirk before her expression changes to confusion.

Paolina has a flat look as she looks at the mare. "It's Ki, not magic, magic is a completely different source of power."

Twilight sighs and shakes her head. "Still, we're going to be talking about it later, and how you have so much."

Spike smiled as he thought of more time being spent around the source of power that was making his dragon instincts want to hoard it, it was an interesting prospect to be sure as he watched the Saiyan and mare both quickly get out of the spring. With a little hop up from the shallows he gets out and shakes himself dry, patiently waiting for the other two to get themselves dried off.

Once they're both dry and Paolina simply put on a light orange gi she got them both ready to teleport again. "I'll just drop you two off, I'm sure you can handle it from there." She says as they vanish from the bank of the spring so that they could reappear in the Library just before Paolina vanished again.

After Twilight had realized her friends were waiting for her in the library she had explained to them why she was planning to send the tickets back to Celestia, since her friends' happiness was worth more to her than a fancy party. They all became ecstatic as Celestia had sent her reply and seven tickets to the Gala, all of Twilight's friends had offered to take their mutual friend to dinner but they all paused as Spike burped up another letter from Celestia, each watching in confusion as he unraveled the scroll to read it and take the eighth ticket.

"...And one for you too Spike?" He reads with a bit of confusion as he looks at the two tickets in his claws. "Why would I need one when she already sent seven?"

Twilight brought her hoof to her forehead as an idea formed in her head. "I think one of those two tickets are for Paolina, she's the one that helped us get away from that mob after all, she should be counted as one of our friends." That brings out a round of 'oh's from the rest of the group as they make their way to one of the local restaurants.

Spike actually starts smiling a bit as he remembers that Twilight was definitely planning to bring Paolina to the tree house more often. "Maybe she could give me some tips on how to get Rarity to notice me...?" He starts to grin a bit at the prospect.