The Adventures of Mighty Targe: Boys Night
The castle shines in its forever lasting silver sheen, but its beauty is lacking when compared to its master. Princess Twilight Sparkle looks up from her heavy leather-bound tome. She tries to smile as she looks me up and down, but her eyes betray her true emotions. “Mighty Targe,” says Twilight, “you've been my personal guard for a whole month now, and you've never taken any time off.”
“I take my duties and responsibilities seriously, Princess,” I reply, trying to sound as stoic as possible.
“I know, and I appreciate that. But I think it’ll be okay if you have a couple of days off for yourself. You deserve it after all, having to guard me all the time while wearing that heavy armor,” she says in a lightening tone.
“It is not the armor that is heavy, your Highness.” Twilight drops her eyes back to her book. She reads a few lines in silence and then her horn glows. The book turns purple and the page flips over.
“Then I guess I have no choice,” she says quietly.
“Twi-I mean, Princess Twilight, how can I be of service?” I bow my head and the green plum of my helmet bobs slightly.
“I order you to take time off.” My jaw hits the floor. I've been charged with some difficult tasks in the past but this seems impossible. Princess Celestia released me from her service on the final order that I serve Twilight, and as her only royal guard I must remain vigilant. Taking time off was out of the question. But this was an order, what am I supposed to do now?
“I…Twlight, Princess, I'm your only protection.”
“My friends and I have overcome many obstacles without royal guards. I’ll be fine for a couple of days. Do something for yourself, or better yet spend some time with friends.” Twilight magically places a bookmark in her book and then closes it. She stands from her throne depicting her cutie mark. Five similar elaborate chairs, each bearing a different cutie mark, are placed in a circle in the middle of the room. Twilight takes a deep breath and holds out one of her wings expectantly. She’d seen how my cousin Rainbow Dash and I clap our wings together sometimes. I immediately spread out my wing slap it against the Princess’s. She smiles.
“It’s only for two days?” I ask. Twilight sighs and then shakes her head.
“Yes, Mighty. And your time off starts now. Have fun!” Twilight’s smile grows even wider and she leaves the room. And then I'm standing in the middle of the castle, alone, wearing my light purple armor and protecting nopony. It isn't very often I have time to tend to myself. I suppose I should do as the princess asks and spend the weekend with my friends. I like to think the princess and her friends are my friends too, but I assume she means for me to have some fun with other ponies. But apart from Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack and the Princess, who else do I like to spend time with?
My locked quarters within Twilight’s castle seems to shine a little less than the rest of the castle, but it’s the only place I can truly be myself. Some ponies might call it sparse, but everything I need is right here, in the smallest room, the room Princess Twilight allowed me to choose freely. Here is my bed, my chest, my desk, and my armor stand.
I take off my armor and place it upon the pony-shaped mannequin, and then stretch my legs and wings. Outside my window, ponies smile and laugh as they trot through the streets of Ponyville. I see their faces and can’t help but remember my service to Celestia. The beasts I've faced still steal sleep from me most nights, but it was all for them; the ponies that live their lives in harmony. I fought so they wouldn't have to.
Then a chirpy little voice echoes down the hall. Spike passes by my door with a broom in his claws and an apron around his waist. He hums a rather whimsical tune as he sweeps the dust from the floor of an otherwise impeccable castle. Without thinking I rush out of my room and stop the dragon in his tracks. “Hey, Spike.”
“Hey, Mighty,” he says.
“I was wondering…” I clear my throat and look down at Spike, eyeing me expectantly, “I was wondering if maybe you wanted to hang out tonight?”
“Hang out?” the little dragon lifts a sharp claw to his chin in thought, “Sure! Sounds like fun.”
“Cool. I’ll go get dinner organized and see you later tonight.” Spike smiles and continues his humming and his sweeping. Looking back at the castle outside its door makes me feel like I'm disregarding all of my duties, like the princess inside will come under threat if I'm not there. But Twilight is right, and I shouldn't lie to myself, I do need a short rest. Though, I've been battling evil for so long now it doesn't seem right to abandon my position. But maybe that’s just paranoia. Ponyville is, after all, a pretty peaceful place.
The market vendors praise their goods in a voice that all that pass by can hear. More often than not a happy pony will stop at such a stall and purchase the vendor’s wares, departing with their bits merrily. My bag of bits still weighs heavily as I bounce it up and down in my hoof. Tonight is a special night and I don’t feel anxious about spending money on treats for me and Spike to enjoy. I'm just not sure what to get.
Big Mac emerges from the crowd with a loaded wagon in tow along with his sister Applejack, and she doesn't look happy. She says something inaudible over the noise of the crowd but Big Mac rolls his eyes. I walk closer to them. “D’you just roll yer eyes at me?” she says as she trots to stand in front of him.
“Uh, nope.” Brother and sister stare at each other for a short moment before Big Mac’s eyes dart to the ground and back. Applejack squints as she examines her brother’s face for any tell of resistance. Big Mac starts to sweat under his sister’s piercing gaze.
“Just sell as many apples as you can, okay,” says Applejack.
“Eeyup.”
“Oh, hey, Mighty,” says Applejack as she sees me approaching, “What are you doing in the market this time of day? I woulda thought you’d be guarding Twilight right now.”
“That’s just the thing,” I say as I run my hoof through my cut green mane, “she ordered me to have some time off work.”
“Good! It’s always smart to have a break every now and again,” Applejack chuckles, “But speakin’ of work, I better get back to the farm. Lots of paperwork to finish by Tuesday. See ya, Mighty. See you, Big Mac,” she says to her brother a lot more forcefully. Big Mac gulps as Applejack turns and leaves.
“Do you really have to sell all those apples?” I ask as I peer over his shoulder and the wagon filled with bright red and green apples.
“Eeyup,” Big Mac sighs and shakes his head.
“Sounds like you need a break more than I do, I say and Big Mac sighs again.
“Eeyup.” And then I suddenly notice the weight of the bag of bits in my hoof as if holding it for the first time.
“Say, how many bits for that wagon of apples?” Big Mac rubs his muzzles with his hoof and thinks. “Would this cover it?” I ask as I lift my open bag of bits in front of him. His eyes widen and the corners of his mouth rise slightly.
“Eeyup!”
“Then I’ll take ‘em, and you can have the night off as well,” Big Mac suddenly looks somewhat lost, “What’s wrong?” I ask with all sincerity having thought that such a hard working pony like Big Mac would relish the chance of having the night off for himself.
“Well, now that you've bought all these apples I'm not sure what to do with myself. I expected to spend all afternoon selling these that now I don’t know what to do.”
“If you’re interested, Spike and I were going to hang out later tonight. You’re welcome to join us if you’d like.”
“Well sure!”
“All right! I'm organizing dinner right now so just come along to Twilight’s castle in a bit and I’ll have everything ready.”
“Eeyup! I’ll bring the apples,” Big Mac says with renewed enthusiasm. I'm not the least bit surprised he’s excited for a care-free night.
The line for Sugarcube Corner starts outside the building, as usual, but I'm happy to wait for the perfect treats that wait inside. For Spike I’ll get something crispy, and with jewels if there is something like that available, and for Big Mac I’ll get a treat with apples and another one totally different like blueberries, just to mix it up a bit. For me, it’s chocolate muffins all the way.
The line inches a short distance forward and now I'm standing just inside the door. “Oh, um, hello, Mighty,” the quiet voice could only be Fluttershy’s. I turn around and see the yellow pony looking up from behind her flowing pink mane. Her eyes are light blue wells of caring, the kind of caring that everypony desires.
“Hello, Fluttershy. How are you?”
“I'm good, thank you. How are you?”
“I'm well, thank you. I've actually got a couple of days off from guarding the princess, so Spike, Big Mac, and I and getting together tonight.”
“Really? That sounds like fun,” Fluttershy lifts her head from behind her hair and she smiles a smile that could humble the most ruthless beasts. I guess that’s part of why she’s good with animals. I laugh, however awkwardly, and turn back around after Pinkie Pie calls for the next customer.
The pink pony, cheerful as always, practically jumps over the counter as she leans in to take my order. In just a few seconds she hands me a bag filled with the treats I was after and I hand her a few bits from a second bag of coins. It’s now that I realize how much I have in savings. “Boy, you sure did get a lot of goodies today, Mighty. It’s like you’re having a party or something!” says Pinkie Pie with as much energy as anypony in town would expect. I laugh.
“Not exactly, Pinkie. It’s just a get together with Spike, Big Mac, and me.”
“Sounds funerrific!”
“Could be,” I laugh again, unable to resist the urge to be happy around Pinkie. After all, all she wants is to make everypony smile.
“I know somepony else that could use a little holiday,” Fluttershy says in her gentle voice. I turn back around and see the yellow pony patting her hoof on the floor.
“Are you all right?” I ask her.
“I'm okay, but Discord’s been quite sulky lately. And no matter what I do to make things better for him he just seems to get worse.”
“Is that meanie draconaquessesses being mean to you?” Pinkie pounces on her friend and squeezes her in a powerful embrace.
“No, but he does seem a little down.” For a moment time stands still and my heart flutters as I gaze into Fluttershy’s eyes. Don’t stare, I tell myself. I turn my face to the side and sigh. I've met Discord only a couple of times before but I already know he and I don’t get along. But I want Fluttershy to be my true friend, and so for her I make the offer.
“Well, if you think it’ll cheer him up, Discord is welcome at my get together later.” Fluttershy brightens up immediately and her smile melts me to the core.
“Oh, really? You’d invite Discord?” I nod my head, unable to say anything nice about Discord. “Thank you, Mighty, I really appreciate it.” My wings spring to attention. Then Pinkie Pie suddenly grabs my face and gasps.
“Wow, Mighty! Did you just eat some reaaaally hot chilies?”
“No.”
“What about a spicy chimicherrychonga?”
“No.”
“Well, you’re as red as the inside of a strawberry jam doughnut!” My ears start to burn and Fluttershy bows her head to let her hair fall over her face, though I can see a small smile under her long pink mane. Out of all the ponies I've met across Equestria none have made me blush as much as Fluttershy. It’s been that way since we were kids.
“Ah, I gotta go now, see you later!” I rush out of Sugarcube Corner and take to the air as soon as I'm outside.
Without even realizing it I'm flying towards Rainbow’s house in the clouds. I land in front of her door and knock gently. A short moment later she opens the door. She wears a white towel over her rainbow mane. “Mighty!” she exclaims and she holds out one of her wings. We slap our wings together in a greeting me began when we were kids and then she hugs me.
“Hey Dashie,” I say and she waves me inside.
“So what’s up? How is it guarding Twilight? Do you get bored standing in the library all day long?” she falls on the couch and laughs so hard she loses her breath, holding in her sides with her hooves. I sit on a chair opposite the couch and think for a moment wondering how to tell her, how to ask her.
“I'm in love with Fluttershy. I always have been, but I'm afraid to say it.”
“Oh, that’s cool. She told me she loves you too, so just go for it.” At least that’s what I want to say and what I want to hear. Then I’m back in reality.
“Is everything all right?” Rainbow Dash asks. She rubs the towel on her head furiously, trying to dry it completely, before she pulls it off and throws it into a wash basket across the room without looking.
“Yeah. I just wanted to say hello. It’s good to see you after so long.”
“Buuut you still won’t tell me where you were all those years?” the question is more of a statement, a frustrated statement, than a question. I worked for Princess Celestia for years and the work I did for her and Equestria is to remain confidential. Even to my own cousin.
“You’re my family, Rainbow Dash, but like I said I can’t tell you about where I was or what I was doing. Maybe one day that will change, until then I can do nothing but be sorry.”
“Yeah, I know,” she says, defeated, almost sad. She takes a framed picture off the stand by the couch and looks at it for a moment before showing it to me. A grey Pegasus with a green mane stands next to a blue Pegasus with a rainbow mane. The two kids smile and hold up their competition ribbons.
“You beat me by about four seconds,” I remind my cousin. I used to be as competitive as her.
“That’s not what I see,” she says, “I see friends happily spending time together. And then you were gone.”
“Dash, we've been through this. You know how much I regret that, but…”
“But what?” Rainbow Dash folds her forelegs across her chest and pouts.
“I was doing important work that I can’t talk about. We’re okay now, though. Aren't we?” she eyes me up and down and eventually smiles a little.
“Of course we are! We’re best friends, we’re family!” If I hadn't had so much practice holding it back I would be crying now.
Rainbow Dash and I talk for an hour or so before I realize I have to get dinner sorted for my get together tonight. I say goodbye to my cousin and head for the door when somepony knocks on it. I look back to Rainbow Dash and she furrows her brow. She flies over and opens it. “Soarin?” Dash exclaims. The white Pegasus shakes his dark blue mane and drops his head along his forelegs.
“The Wonderbolts…they…want me to repeat the yearly agility test!” Tears well in his eyes and his lips quiver. Rainbow’s jaw hits the floor.
“Ahhh,” she groans, “but, you’re one of the best. Why do they want you to retake the test?”
“Well, I,” Soarin closes his eyes and little tears fall to the cloudy ground outside Rainbow’s door, “I forgot about the test and I came late. I had to make up the whole course in less time than everypony else. I finished short by eight seconds.”
“That’s not so bad,” Dash reassures.
“No, except I'm the only pony in Wonderbolt history to fail!” New tears start to form in his eyes but he lifts his head and wipes them away.
“You’re a good friend, Rainbow Dash. I've been given the chance to retake the test next week, but I don’t really want to be around the other Wonderbolts until I pass because I don’t want to be made fun of. Can I stay here until then? Please?” I know of only one thing that can help Soarin out right now, and that’s not spending a couple of nights with the most competitive pony there is. It’s relaxing, clearing his mind, letting himself heal before his test. I put my hoof on Rainbow’s shoulder before she can respond to Soarin.
“I'm having a little get together with a couple of friends tonight if you’re interested in joining us, Soarin? It’ll be relaxing, fun, just what you need.” The Wonderbolt thinks for a moment with wide eyes. He bares his teeth in a huge smile and nods his head rapidly.
“Yeah! All right! Sounds awesome, Mighty. Thanks.”
“Cool, come over to Twilight’s castle and I’ll have everything ready.” Soarin leaps into the sky cheering ‘whoohoo’ and performs a back flip.
“See you, Rainbow Dash!” he cries in the distance.
“That was nice of you, cuz,” says Rainbow.
“He’s a good stallion, we’ll have fun. See you later, Dashie.” I drop down from Rainbow’s house and spread my wings just ten feet from the ground, confident my strong wings will keep me from hitting the earth.
I trot through Ponyville and enter the Hay Burger restaurant. The cashier takes my order but then I decide to get another burger for Big Mac, just in case the large stallion is still hungry after his meal. I put a few bits into the cashier’s hoof and feel…happy to spend the money. Is it actually a good thing to spend money on others for virtually nothing in return? I guess it is.
I leave the Hay Burger and almost bump into one of the most beautiful ponies I've ever seen. Years ago I would have said she was the most beautiful, but time has taught me that beauty takes many shapes and forms. And even though my heart belongs to another, she still makes me blush. “Oh, hello, Mighty,” says the pony with a white coat and beautifully styled purple mane.
“Hello, Rarity. How are you?”
“I’m good! Thank you, Mighty,” she chuckles, “Actually I'm here to pick up my sister, Sweetie Belle. My, that’s quite a lot of food,” she says as she points her hoof to all the food in my saddlebags, “Twilight isn't making you work too hard, is she?” She bats her eyelashes and smiles. Her blue eyes shine as brightly as her most prized gem.
“Ahh, no. No, she, ah, gave me some time off, actually. Some ponies are coming to see me for dinner.”
“Oooh!” she coos, “That’s nice, glad to see you’ll be having some fun for once. Anyway, I’d better collect my sister before she runs off on some wild adventure. Again. See you later, Mighty.” All I can do is nod and smile. The words simply will not come. Rarity enters the Hay Burger and I eventually say.
“See you later, Rarity.” I shake my head at my own awkwardness and take to the sky, which is quickly getting darker by the minute.
Twilight’s castle shines as it always does. But an invisible dark cloud seems to hover over a group of unlikely candidates standing together in the middle of the room. Spike, Big Mac, Discord, and Soarin all seem to be in the middle of a conversation that ends as I enter the room. Discord folds his mismatched claw and paw over his chest and smiles, apparently the victor in whatever dispute the group was having, and happy about it. “Hello, everypony, I'm glad you all made it,” I announce.
“I thought it was just you and me, Mighty,” says Spike, “I mean I don’t mind if Sorain and Big Mac join us, but Discord?”
“Oh, come now, Spikey-wikey. I'm best friends with Fluttershy and Twilight. Can’t you be as open as those kind ponies?” Discord leans in and puts his paw around Spike. The little dragon grumbles and frowns. Soarin and Big Mac look at each other with concern. Then there’s silence.
“I've brought Hay Burger!” I exclaim. Suddenly, everypony’s eyes widen. Big Mac and Soarin lick their muzzles. “And I have desert from Sugarcube Corner! With gemstone muffins for Spike!” The little dragon’s jaw drops and his mouth waters at the thought of his treat. I hand out burgers to all of my guests and Discord twitches his nose.
“Of course Spike gets something special,” says the draconequus overtly sulky.
“And so do you,” I reply confidently, despite being in front of a spirit of chaos, the personification of all I oppose. Discord looks down at me, utterly confused. “You get a special lesson in friendship with me, a fellow student,” I say while watching my other guests tuck into their meals.
The spirit of chaos is not impressed. I laugh and throw him one of my chocolate muffins. He gasps is delightful surprise.
The start of the night goes well and everypony is content with their Hay Burger dinner. However, Big Mac would not have been had I not purchased an extra burger especially for him. Then I place a bag from Sugarcube Corner on the table and everypony playfully disputes over which desert is theirs. Spike’s bulging stomach deflates at the sight of a gem filled muffin and he digs in wholeheartedly. Soarin and Big Mac dig into a muffin of their own and Discord elegantly nibbles on his. Everypony looks up at me in shock and I wonder why. “What?” I ask, “Is there something on my face?” I wash my tongue across my face from right to left and get all the chocolate crumbs around my muzzle. I slurp it all down and laugh. But I suddenly remember that I'm Twilight’s only royal guard. I once worked for Celestia and now Twilight, a pony they know and respect, and here I am making a fool of myself. It’s not much of an advertisement for the princess. The first night I've been allowed time to be myself since I've been Twilight’s guard and I've already blown her reputation along with my own. I wait for their comments on my poor behavior, how bad a pony I am, how Twilight deserves a better guard than me. But instead, my guests reply with laughter. Even Discord laughs heartily.
The night continues to be enjoyed by all as we sit together at the table and talk. The night is filled with jokes and laughter. Discord tells us of an old adventure of his, using his chaotic magic to paint the perfect picture, making all of us laugh aloud. I've spent a good amount of time with Big Mac but I've never seen him so talkative. And Soarin’s troubles with the Wonderbolts seem long since passed.
Spike pats his stomach and eventually the dragon belches loudly. But along with it comes a scroll spiraling in green flame. The scroll lands on the table and everypony is silent. Spike picks up the scroll and unfurls is. He looks to me, his big green eyes full of concern. “What is it, Spike,” I ask softly.
“It’s from Princess Celestia. She’s warning us of an unknown monster that’s made a new home just outside of Ponyville.” Spike hands me the scroll and I carefully read each word. I curl it back up and slam it on the table.
“I'm sorry, everypony. But I need to return to my duties. Please, enjoy the castle, enjoy your stay. Goodbye.”
“Wait!” Spike cries as he leaps off his chair, his full little stomach swaying to and fro. “What are you going to do?”
“I can’t let such a danger exist so close to Ponyville. I'm going to make sure it never puts anypony in danger.” Without waiting for a reply I run to my room and put on my light purple armor.
“Mighty,” says Twilight, and I turn to see her, Spike, and my guests standing in my bedroom doorway. “You weren't planning on going alone were you?” the princess asks suspiciously.
“Yes,” I reply, “It’s my job to protect you and Ponyville. It’s nopony else’s duty.”
“As a princess, isn't it my duty as well?”
“Not while I'm here,” I say, and then Discord materializes in the space between the princess and me.
“It wasn't long ago,” says Discord, “that I learned that a pony can have lots of friends, and Fluttershy speaks highly of you now and then. Blah, blah, blah, long story short, I’ll go with you.”
“Really, you don’t need to, I'm fine,” I reply, albeit a little surprised to hear Discord speak such kind words relating to me.
“I'm going too,” says Spike.
“Me too,” Soarin adds.
“Eeyuup!” Big Mac chimes in. It seems my guests want to have some of the glory. Let’s see how they do.
“Come on, then,” I tell them, and I push open the window and leap out. I spread my wings and soar towards whatever danger awaits just outside Ponyville.
The cool night air flows through my feathers like the caressing hooves of a lover I've never known. Reminding myself that this is my purpose, to fight for those who cannot, allows me to fly faster, and I do so now. The practice I've had holding back tears is in full effect, as always.
It isn't long before I find a newly built nest just outside the Everfree Forest. I land on the ground and flex my wings, ready to jump, ready to strike. There’s nothing in sight so I strain my ears and listen. Discord appears from thin air beside me as Big Mac, Soarin, and Spike run to catch up. The faint sound of crackling emits from the Everfree Forest. It’s a haunting sound that could come from only one creature. And my thoughts are confirmed within a moment. A basilisk emerges from the dark forest on the edge of Ponyville and paces in front of its nest. It leans down on its front two legs and its long spiked tail whips about behind it. My wings spring out in anticipation, my body knows, just as much as my mind, that battle is about to ensue.
The basilisk’s scales rise and its reptilian eyes glow white. Instinct guides my wings to cover my face as the basilisk casts a series of white flashes, each one with the power to turn a pony into a wasting husk if looked at. I march forward through the pulsating waves of white flashes, wings still over my eyes, but my feathers start to burn to closer I get to the creature. “Mighty!” Soarin cries.
“Don’t look! Cover your eyes!” I answer. And then I get close enough to attempt to strike the basilisk. But then my right wing burns so hot that I have to pull it back. I inch closer. My left wing starts to burn more than my right and I have to retract that one as well. Now I can feel the heat of the white flashes through my face, and even though I'm clamping my eyelids shut the white flashes illuminate my darkness.
The basilisk crackles again, a sound that comes from the natural power within such a creature, and it casts a final white flash, one that burns my whole body at an almost unbearable heat. The white flash seems to take forever to consume me and virtually steal all life from me, but I know that’s just fear, an illusion. An illusion like the faces of all the ponies I'm seeing right now. Rainbow Dash, Twilight, Fluttershy, Spike, and everypony else in Ponyville, even my party guests, they all look at me. I can’t help but ask myself how many of them are actually my friends, or if they’re looking at me because I've failed them. I have only myself to blame for not letting them be my friends, for not taking the chance to let them get to know me. But now that chance is gone, and so am I.
Darkness. Feathers across my face. I can still hear the basilisk’s crackling. “Go, Mighty!” Soarin sounds like he’s standing right next to me.
“This one’s mine,” says Discord, his voice deep and somewhat frightening. And suddenly the white flashes stop and the basilisk wails in a high-pitched squeal. I lift up what I find to be Soarin’s wings off my face and look at him. He covers his own eyes with his hooves until I put my hoof on his shoulder. We both turn to the basilisk and see Discord riding the reptilian monster like a rodeo-pony might. I notice Discord’s eyes magically placed on the back of his head so he wouldn't get caught by the creature’s magic. Whatever Discord is, his magic sure is handy.
“Get it on its back legs!” I yell, and Discord, his paw and talon clamped over the basilisk’s eyes, reins backwards and tries to lift the creature up. Discord’s eyes pop back to the front of his head and he lifts with all his might. But the creature knows how to protect its weak spot.
“I know!” says Spike, and the little dragon runs up behind the basilisk. He breathes in deeply of the night air and then throws his head forward. He spits out green flame at the basilisk’s tail, forcing it to lift it from the ground and exposing a patch of unscaled flesh under its tail. Big Mac runs past me and spins. He bucks the basilisk’s exposed flesh as hard as he can and sends the monster flying through the air.
“Yeehaaw!” Discord hollers as he waves a cowpony hat wildly, obviously enjoying the moment despite the danger. That is until the basilisk crashes into a tree. It lands on its tail, back against the tree and hunched over itself. Discord materializes safely on his feet a second before the landing. All my guests start to cheer, but I know better.
“Lift its arms!” Everypony is confused by the request. They frown, look at each other and shrug. The basilisk, back against the tree, shakes its head and starts to emit that freaky crackling sound again. “Stretch it!” I cry, and immediately Discord and Soarin fly over and grab the basilisk’s short clawed arms. They fly to the sky, stretching the creature out like a long pancake. Its eyes start to glow immensely white. This is my only chance. Despite my wings still burning from the basilisk’s magic, I flap my wings as hard and as fast as I can. I dive forward and pull my right hoof back over my shoulder. Wings burning, wings beating, teeth grinding, I spear through the air. My right hoof shakes in the air, with anticipation, with fear, with excitement, with power. I drive my hoof into the basilisk’s exposed chest, unprotected by scales, and force all of its breath from its lungs, and all its fight from its heart. It closes its eyes and the white magical fury behind them disappears.
Spike, Big Mac, Discord, and Soarin look up from the collapsed basilisk. Even with all eyes on me I can’t help but feel good. “We did it!” I cry with all my heart and the others join me in my cheering.
It isn't long before the basilisk is sent to Tartarus and my guests and I return to Twilight’s castle. The princess and her closest friends sit in their thrones depicting each of their cutie marks. “Ponyville is safe again, Your Highness,” I tell Twilight as I bow my head. The others all sigh in relief.
“Thank you, Mighty,” Twilight replies.
“It wasn't just me, Your Highness. My…friends helped. I couldn't have stopped the basilisk without them. In fact, I owe them, big time.”
“You don’t owe us, Mighty,” says Spike, “that’s what friends are for.” Spike, Discord, Soarin, and Big Mac head down the hall. The princess and her friends, relieved and tired, smile and softly say their good nights. They each hug me before leaving the castle and I could've sworn Fluttershy hugged me longer than the others. Though, that could be wishful thinking. Rainbow certainly squeezed me tightly. And even though she’d never admit it, she can be a real softy at times. Twilight smiles and shakes her head.
“You were supposed to be having time off, remember?”
“And now that Ponyville is safe again, I’d like return to my little party. If that’s all right with you, Twilight?”
“Of course, Mighty. You've more than earned it.”
“Just doing my job,” I reply and head into the dining room where my guests await me.
I was wrong about Discord, Spike, Soarin, and Big Mac. They weren't after the glory of taking down a monster; they volunteered to help for the sake of helping. Whether they did it for Twilight, Ponyville, or me, they put themselves in danger for the sake of somepony else without the chance or offer of reward. And they didn't ask for one. Maybe I shouldn't judge ponies too harshly before they've had the chance to show me who they really are. Boy, I have a lot to learn. I wonder what I'm going to do tomorrow.
