Twilight, Soldier of War

Five years, three months after arrival

Twilight looked over the blue print Rolland had drawn up. It looked a lot like the original sketch drawing by Dr. Bevan a platform with three arcing beams all connecting at the top by a conductor. For a Teleportation device, it was crud by pony standers, then again only one third of the population could teleport. “So when the energy from teleporter A hits the object in the center it should appear in teleporeor B. Provided, of course, it doesn’t just fry the object.” said Twilight.

“That is true,” Rolland said next to her. “It took me months to go over the correction you made to the original documents and years more to secure funding for this.”

Twilight looked up from the blue print to the half built teleporter. It was twenty feet wide and another thirty seven feet tall. “All of this to send me home?”

“Technically, it’s to help the war effort. Being able to teleport people across the country at a moment’s notice has its advantages, but yes all of this was to send you home.”

Twilight looked at the pudgy cheeked man and asked. “Why?”

“Did I ever tell you why I became a scientist?” Twilight shook her head. “In short, it was because I believed in magic, not the pulling a rabbit out of your hat crap, but real magic the stuff you can do. In a way I wanted to prove that was real, because without magic I always thought the world would be a little bit duller. I believed the stories you told me about your home, every last one. I understand why you stayed, but, Twilight, this isn’t your mess to clean up. You should go to your peaceful land.”

Twilight turned her eyes back. ”I’m not ready to return, not until I see this through.”

“Well in any case, it will be years before we even start human trials. You know you could always come back and work here. I could use an assistant, and if I’m being honest I miss having someone who can keep up with me.”

“I appreciate the offer, but my place is at the frontline.”

***

Twilight could remember spending days sorting books by the dewey decimal system. It was both relaxing and fun, but now, as Twilight set in the middle of her library floor surrounded by books stacked up to her chest she felt nothing. Neither relaxing or joyful, just the same nothing she always felt. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt much of anything, even in the last few years of the war it was as if she was on autopilot. Breach in the line, go and repel. Counterattack, go and attack. There was the final battle in the war—for reasons she couldn’t explain, Twilight was looking at the books with renewed interest. She gathered up a hand full of books and began sorting through them.

The door open and Spike raced in with a smile on his face. “Twilight, I just had word from Archmage Hearing Colors he’s finish the spell to turn you back into a pony.” Spike said, as if he couldn’t get the words out fast enough. “It’s ready for you in Canterlot. I’ll get our bags packed.”

“Spike, stop!” The firmness in her voice stopped Spike cold. He turned back to face her as Twilight set her books to the side. “I want to stay a human…at least for now.”

Upon hearing those words it looked as if Spike’s brain shut down. He stared blankly with his mouth open. After the few moments it took for him to reboot his brain he answered. “Ooook, that is…perfectly fine. I’ll just send a letter to Canterlot right away.”

Twilight gave him a smirk. “Thanks, Spike.”

“No problem, I’ll just, um, go send that letter.” Like a fish out of water, he floundered out of the room.

Twilight turned her attention back to the books before her. “Ok, let’s try this again.”

***

Celestia set the newest letter from Spike down on the table and sighed. She and Luna were in the royal dining room. She was having breakfast while Luna readied herself for sleep, by drinking coffee no less. “I need more tea.” Celestia said.

“That much tea isn’t good for you this early in the morning,” Luna pointed out, while sipping at her steaming cup.

“It’s still better then coffee. How many cups have you had by now?”

Luna held her cup close to her chest. “You can have my coffee when you pry it from my cold dead hooves,” She got a snort from Celestia. “So when will Twilight be arriving?”

“She won’t be coming. According to Spike, she wishes to remain human for the time being.”

Luna raised an eyebrow. “I guess giving her time isn’t quite working.”

“It would have, if someone here had not tried to break into her mind mere hours after we agree to give her time,” Celestia quipped.

“You heard about that.”

“Yes, yes I did. Seriously, Luna, to hear Spike tell it you practically ask to have access to her every secret.”

“Technically, I did.”

“Luna!”

Luna set her drink on the table and readied herself. Tired as she may be she would never pass up a chance to correct the error of sister’s ways. “I will admit that I am not the most subtle of ponies—“

“Your idea of subtlety is a hammer,” Celestia interrupted.

“Be that as it may, I am fully aware that all injuries need time to heal, Twilight’s more than most. However, dear sister, you rely upon time and subtlety far too much. I understand that we are near immortal, but ponies, and I’m still not sure about Twilight on this, but ponies are not. Giving a pony time and few subtle hints in the right direction is not always the right method. Sometimes a more direct method is best. It may not always be pretty or nice, but it will cut to the heart of the matter, and once that is done true healing can begin.”

“Yes, I am going to need more tea.” with a bit of magic Celestia took ahold of the tea pot in front of her and refilled her cup.

“Then what will our next move be, Queen of Subtlety?”

With a single sip of a fresh cup of tea Luna’s words washed off of her. She looked to her sister in answer. “For now we must leave it to her friends. I fear that at this point our interference would cause more harm than good.”

Luna gave a nod. “In that case I will be off to bed.”

“Pleasant dreams, sister.”

***

Twilight and Spike set at the castles dining table having an early lunch. She still had to be careful about what she ate, as many of the common foods ponies ate would make her sick as a human. Spike, however, was more than happy to accommodate her, especially when he learned that her dietary requirement were quite close to that of griffons.

They had spoken a bit about Spikes new growth spurt and how, according to Dragon Lord Ember, Spike was undergoing what they called the Right of Greed. From what Twilight had gathered it was basically dragon puberty where Spike was no longer considered a hatchling but that of adolescents, much like the new Dragon Lord herself. In a few years Spike would grow wings, and about five hundred years after that he would be eligible to take a mate for himself, but when Spike had ask for more details on this the Dragon Lord has said, “idiot! Don’t talk to me about that for at least another five hundred years, also you are forbidden from talking about this with other females, it is dragon law!”

Twilight picked up the newspaper from the table. She wasn’t positive but she had a theory that the longer a country was at peace the thicker their gossip section was. She flipped through the newspaper until she came across something she wouldn’t have expected to see in Equestria. “Hey Spike listen to this. ‘After three days of intense standoff with authorities, the cult leader of the village Our Town has finally surrendered. All hostages were freed and the brainwashed townsfolk have had their cutie marks restored. The cult leader, whose name is being withheld, has blamed cutie marks for the downfall of society as she sees it. She is facing a long list of charges such as kidnapping, brainwashing, inciting rebellion against the crown, and a host of other charges. It is unlikely that this mare will be causing trouble for a very long time.’”

“What could cause somepony to hate cutie marks so much?” asked Spike as he finished off the last of his meal.

Twilight folded up the paper and tossed it on the table. “I bet it was something dumb, like she was the last in her class to get a cutie mark.”

Spike gave a laugh. “No way, that’s too dumb.”

“Or better yet, her friend got a cutie mark first and then immediately moved away,” Spike was in a fit of laughter and that was more than enough for her to continue. “I can see it now, her best friend gets a cutie mark and moves away, but our poor cult leader loses the mailing address. Swearing vengeance on the world, she takes over a village of fifty ponies on her first steps to world conquest. Of course!”

“What are you guys laughing about?”

Twilight spun in her chair with a scream. “Rainbow where did you come from!”

Rainbow didn’t bat an eye at the outburst. “From the front door,” She answered.

“You know you’re supposed to knock before entering someone’s house.”

“Yeah, but your house is also the headquarters for the Friendship council.”

“Fair point,” Twilight reluctantly said. “Then what can we do for you, Miss Council Mare?”

Rainbow gave a sheepish smile. “Not much really, say are you free today?”

Twilight looked from Spike back to Rainbow and said, “I don’t believe I have anything planned for the day, why do you ask?”

“What a coincidence, I also have nothing planned for today.”

“It’s almost as if it was fated,” the slight sarcasm lingered on Twilight’s words.

“Considering neither of us has anything to do, why don’t we hang out today.”

“You sound like you already have an activity in mind,” said Spike.

Rainbow waved him off. “No of course not, but on a completely unrelated topic, Twilight, you remember how you told us some of the battles you were in with the killing, and fires, and…explosives,”—she raised her eyebrows suggestively.

“Don’t worry Rainbow I think I know where you are going with this and I’m way ahead of you.”

Twilight rolled the dice across the board game. She wasn’t sure the game’s name or even if they were playing right, but Spike had managed to find it within a few minutes and set it up on the dining room table. Rainbow set at the table looking like someone had just stolen her heartwarming presents.

Twilight past the dice to Rainbow, “It’s your turn, Dash.”

Rainbow didn’t bother looking at the dice. She grabbed them in a hoof and dropped them in the same instance. “Oh look I guess I lose, too bad.”

“Is something wrong Rainbow? Are you not enjoying all of this…explosive fun?” Rainbow shot her the best stink eye she could manage, but Twilight just grinned devilishly. “Could it possibly be that you weren’t alluding to this most thrilling of board games. No, that can’t be. Clearly you have longed to play this game since my return, but do not fear we are going to play this game all… day… long.”

“OK, YOU WIN!” with a cry Rainbow threw up her hooves. “I want to see your guns. Are you happy now?”

“Doesn’t it feel good to tell the truth?”

Rainbow slouched in her chair with her hooves crossed over her chest. “I hate you.” she muttered.

“Now about my weapons, I had planned to dismantle them before somepony got hurt, but I guess it would be a shame to let all of that ammo go to waste.”

“Yes, a complete waste.” Rainbow agreed.

Twilight rose from the table. “Tell you what, if you go set up a shooting range behind the castle, I’ll bring my weapon.”

Rainbow shot from her set and flitted in the air. “Deal!” was all she said before becoming a blue blur.

Twilight lean out the dining room door and shouted. “Don’t face them towards the castle!”

“I think I’ll go give her a hand,” said Spike.

It took Twilight only a minute to get back to her room. Her rifle lean against the wall near her deck with both her pistol and her anizon case setting on top. She took a moment and opened the white case. The first of the four vial was nearly empty, and she doubted the little that was left would be enough for a single dose. She had been trying to cut back on her usage, and had even gone three days without using it before the shakes got too bad. Despite that, she was running out of time. If she couldn’t find a way to get more and soon shakes could be the least of her problems. As Twilight could see it, there was only two ways to get more of the drug; the first, and least likely to work, was going back to the humans, but that had the obvious problems and, even without the problems of getting there and back, the war over so anizon use was likely going to be on lock down.

The second way, and just as likely to fail as the first, she could give a sample to the ponies and hope they could revise engineer it, but the ponies had been fretting over her since her return and she didn’t want to give them more reason to do so. The other reason was that it had taken humans decades to make anizon and it was by large considered a failure.

Twilight closed the anizon case and placed it in the top drawer of the desk. She had time to think about that later. She grabbed the rifle from the wall and went to meet with rainbow.

Much to Twilight surprise, by the time it took her to retrieve her rifle Rainbow had set up four targets. They were more like signs hammered into the ground with a bullseye painted on them, and when Twilight took a closer look she saw that they were just that, with one reading ‘Welcome to quills and suffuses.’

Rainbow eyed the gun in Twilight’s hands like a foal eyeing a new toy. “Can I try it!” she asked excitedly.

Twilight held up a hand. “Not so fast. First we need to go over a few rules,” Rainbow gowned and took a seat at a picnic table. “First, never point it at something you don’t intend to shoot—“

“—Obviously.”

“Second, when you’re not about to shoot the gun be sure the safety is on,” she motioned to a small red button on the side.

“Sounds good,”

“And last, when the aliens attack be sure to shoot them in the head; the explosions are much cooler that way.”

“Got it,” Rainbow said, her head resting on a hoof and her eyes on her make shift range.

“Rainbow, are you listening?”

She straightened up with a jolt. “What, um, yeah…don’t point it at what I’m shooting, and all that good stuff.”

Twilight face palmed. “Yeah, Dash, that’s it on the nose.” Try as she may, she couldn’t really be upset with Rainbow; she vaguely remembered her own excitement when she first received a plasma rifle, however she had been more excited at trying to dismantle it, something that had gotten her yelled at quiet harshly by her NCO. “I’ll get you a demonstrate and then you give it a try, ok.” Rainbow gave a quick nod.

Twilight stood twenty feet from the first target and placed the rifle to her shoulder and fired. There was no recoil just a slight flash and the hole through the sign a split second later. She stood still for a moment and watched the hole, and could swear she smelled gunpowder. Turning the safety on, she stepped over and handed it to Rainbow. “Now considering its designed more for human anatomy you are going to need to use the table for balance while you aim.”

“Got it,” With a smile she held the gun with both hooves and aimed for the next target in the line. “Um, Twilight.”

“What’s wrong?” Twilight asked, stepping over to see the problem.

“How do I fire it?”

“What? You just pull…the…trigger...” Twilight looked to Rainbow’s hooves and then to her hands. “Ok, I may have forgotten about that,” She wiggles her fingers in explanation. All ponies, and most four hooved races, had a form of telekinesis in their hooves that helped them left and manipulate objects, however their dexterity was far below that of what a hand could do. Rainbows head hit the table.

It took her only a moment to think of a solution. It was far from what she considered a safe solution, but then again giving a gun to a pony wasn’t her idea of safe either. She grabbed a stick from the ground and slid it through the trigger hold. Rainbow seemed to follow her logic and grinned. “Hey that will work,” she said.

Rainbow held the rifle upright while it balanced on the table and pulled the trigger with the other. It fired but missed her target by a mile. She fired again, and again, all misses. Spike was covering his mouth but still laughing loud enough to be heard. “Um, Twilight…a little help.”

“More to the left,” Rainbow fired again. “No, my left…Ok too far left.”

“Twilight this isn’t helping.”

Twilight gave a sigh. She pointed at the aiming reticle. “Try and aim this were you want to shoot.”

Once more Rainbow aimed at the target and fired; this time managing to hit the outer ring. “YES!” she called.

“Nice work, see if you can hit the center,” Rainbow went to work firing shot after shot, and getting better with each one. When one target was little more than a stick in the ground she would move on the next.

Twilight watched and listened to the familiar sound of plasma rounds being fired in a steady whistle. She could smell gunpowder in the air. Faintly, she could hear someone calling out enemy positions. She reached for a sidearm that wasn’t there. She padded her pockets to find her case, but it was gone. She took slow deep breaths. ‘It’s all in your mind’ she told herself. Her eyes closed and she counted as she breathed.

Click, click, click. “Twilight, something’s wrong again.” Rainbow said as she kept pulling the trigger.

Twilight opened her eyes and only smelled the fresh air. “You’re out of ammo, Dash,”

“Oh…you got any more?”

“Sorry, that was the last of it,”

Spike stepped up next to Twilight. “Hey are you feeling ok? You look kind of out of it.”

Twilight turned to face him. “What…oh yeah. I’m ok, but I left something in my room. I’ll be back in a minute.” She didn’t give the others a second glance and hurried away.

Twilight crashed down into the seat of her desk. She nearly ripped the top drawer off its hinges and grabbed her anizon case. She didn’t open it and just stared down at it. ‘I don’t need it. I don’t need it.’ She repeated it over to herself, but she didn’t move the case. Slowly, her hands opened the case. ‘I don’t need it.’ She tried to tell herself, but her hand was already reaching for it; her resolve was already waning. “Hey Twilight!” Rainbow burst through the bedroom door.

Twilight slammed the case lid down and tossed the case back into the drawer, all in less than a few seconds. Rainbow raised an eye brow and asked, “What was that?”

“Nothing!” she said it too fast and it came off as more of a shout then intended. “Sorry…just…what do you need, Rainbow?”

“I’m, um, well I know you are out of ammo and that kind of sucks, but do you think we can still hang out? I haven’t been able to see you much all week.”

Twilight gave her a grin. “Of course, just give me a minute and I’ll be right down.” Rainbow nodded and trotted back out of the door, closing it behind her.

Twilight looked to the white case in the drew. She reached for it and in one quick movement she slammed the drawer shut. “I don’t need it.” She said.