Angel by your sideby H550ChaptersLight in the darkShield at your backComfort for the lostStory by the fireA simple taleLight in the darkIt was dark. Fallen Beacon sighed as she looked around. Her Royal Guard enchanted gold armor, even though protecting her from dangers posed by enemies, was not built with scenarios like this cold in mind. The Crystal Caverns were dark, cold and ever so dangerous. Well the dark wasn't dangerous, just the things in the dark. A long glance around revealed nothing but crystals, crystals and even more crystals. Beacon looked around and muttered, "Damn changlings, why do you always take up nests in the nicest of places." The only sound was that of her armored feet tapping against the ground and the shift of her wings on her ultra dense, ultralight gold armor. "Go here and kill things with your squad," she imitated her captain, Shining Armor's, voice, "doesn't mention the fact that the tunnels are a Celestia damned MAZE!" she shouted the last word and listened to the echo. Due to the branching paths of the cavern, the 6 pony squad split up in order to cover more ground. A choice Beacon was regretting right now. Beacon fiddled with the sword sheathed at her waist. "This sword has history," her grandfather had said when he handed it to her, "It has survived many wars. It is said that the wielder of this blade is blessed by a being past our comprehension." As she recalled those words Beacon muttered, "I don't feel very blessed right about now." "I wouldn't be so sure" A voice mutters even tough she could not hear. Beacon marched deeper into the tunnels, hoping to find her objective so the squad could finish up this bug hunt and go out for some hard cider. Then she heard it, a small clicking of insectoid chitin on crystal. A sound revealing that she had found what she was looking for. She immediately tightened her grip on her ancient short sword and suppressed a shiver as her eyes darted around, trying to pinpoint the creator of the sound. The chittering sounded from behind her back. She caught her breath as her heart beat faster. She spun around and peered into the blackness. Trying to make her eyes pierce the foggy veil. Wait, fog? It wasn't foggy before. "Shit!" Beacon cried out as a dark blade swiped her armor, cutting into her side and knocking her down to the hard crystal ground. A hiss sounded from the darkness, and another, and another, and even more. Her eyes widened and her wings clutched her sides in fear. The hissed seemed to grow into a roar as they echoed off the crystal. Then she saw their eyes. Hundreds of sickly green eyes peaking out at her. She stared praying. To Celestia and Luna, hell, she prayed to Nightmare Moon! Anything to save herself! She was not prepared for this! She closed her eyes and curled on the cold crystal floor as the eyes and hisses drew nearer. As she closed her eyes and conceded to her fate, she heard a voice. An old voice. It spoke in a deep, calm voice. It's words echoed throughout the entire cavern. It said, "When darkness falls, who will light the way, Fallen Beacon? You will. Take my gift." At those words, she felt a strange burning in her shoulder blades and wings. Then she saw the light through her eyelids. An old, powerful light. It radiated from behind her. She no longer felt weak, or afraid. She felt strong. She opened her eyes and stood up, her wings flaring. She looked and saw the light radiating from her much larger wings, almost matching the Celestial sister's wings in span, and oh how they glowed. The holy, golden light emanating from the massive wings pierced the darkness and with a flap, she blew away the fog. The changelings fell away from the light, but Fallen Beacon didn't flinch. She raised her blade and saw the light start to flow into her right hand. Her blade caught fire and glowed. Maybe she was blessed after all. The changelings hissed and backed away, seemingly in fear. Fallen Beacon smiled, no longer afraid and walked toward the enemy with strong powerful steps. As she raised her sword, a smile graced her face as she prepared for combat against her foes. A lonely observer, dressed in a long tan coat and a simple hat watched from above. He spoke to himself, "A light shineth in the darkness and the Darkness comprehend it not. What will you do with that shining light Beacon? Protect or kill? Bring it to illuminate the shadows or to strike fear in all? It's your choice, make the right one. For your and this world's sake." He simple waked away as the light cast from Beacon's sword threw his long, winged shadow against the wall. Author's Note I hope you enjoy my experiment in a new style of writing. Tell me what you think and I may add more chapters if it gets interesting. This is NOT a crossover with Supernatural, so the person at the end is not Castiel. Put any thoughts in the comments and I'll try to answer them. Also, the people are anthro ponies, that means hands and feet, pegasi have wings, unicorns have gems on their hands, and they all have snouts. Shield at your backIt was scary. Shattered Glass looked out the window at the fires consuming the city. The nine year old child looked up and saw her father drawing their family sword and walking out the door to protect. She looked at her mother's grim determination as she readied the family's muskets. Voices were heard from outside. Shouting voices. Shattered heard her father's voice cut through the others. "TURN BACK, THERE IS NOTHING HERE FOR YOU. I WILL DEFEND MY FAMILY TILL THE END." The only reply was a laugh and many gunshots. Shattered and her mother froze. Then started crying. Soon, more sounds of death reached their ears. Simple men and women trying in vain to protect their families while the rebels tore through the town. Soon there was a thud at the door. Shattered Glass's mother looked up, her hands glowing, trying to make steady the shield that protected their house. Then with a sound, not unlike to Shattered's namesake, the door broke. Three rebels swarmed in. A women with an elaborate coat. two men with wings and one man without any special features. They surrounded the scared child and mother with swords and guns drawn. "This one looks nice," said one of the winged men to their, supposed, leader "can't we have a bit of fun with her?" "No," she replied "she is a unicorn. We can brainwash her into submission and have more soldiers for our army. Do whatever you want to the child though." Shattered didn't know what she meant by "whatever you want" but the look on her mother's face told her it wasn't good. Her mother threw up her hands, the magic glowing with the kind of anger that only a mother could drag up and prepared to cast a spell. The leader moved one hand in a dismissive gesture and her mother flew across the room, hitting a table hard. Then all froze as they heard a voice. An old voice. One that promised death to its enemies and glory to its allies. One more ancient then the country they stood in. It spoke out, loud as a thunderclap and clear as a crystal. Everyone froze. They all felt the power behind the words and the will in the speech. It said, "It is honorable to die for one's country, but true honor come from facing the enemy that threatens one's family. Rise heroes, like the phoenix and protect your home from destruction." Then the fallen rose. Soldiers who were dead from gunshots moments earlier stood up, wings of flame rising from their backs. They stood with swords of righteous fire clasped in their hands. Then they started to fight. The rebels fell before their charge, cut down by fists, blades and magic. Shattered's father burst through the door into the house. His eyes ablaze and sword aflame. The first winged man fell quickly, a clean sword slash across the throat left him falling to the floor, his hands trying in vain to keep his blood inside his body. The second winged man fell slower, parrying two strikes before taking a fist to the face that blew him clear across the room and through a stone wall. The third man tried to escape, only to be met by a blast of magic from the father. The man's skin browning at the intense heat thrown against him. The leader was smart, and grabbed Shattered; and with a gun to her head yelled "Let me go or we see what color your daughter's brains are." The father froze, almost unsure of what to do. His wife solved that problem for him. With a shout of, "GET AWAY FROM HER YOU BITCH!" she magically propelled a kitchen knife through the leader's throat before collapsing again. As the reunited husband and wife embraced each other in the joy of life, Shattered looked out the window. She had seen a flash of brown and wondered what it was. She gazed at a man standing alone on a hill. The sun rising to his right and the moon setting to his left. A simple brown long coat hung from his shoulders while a lighter brown, wide brimmed hat adorned his head. The rising sun cast a long shadow of him down the hill. Shattered Glass noticed that even though the shadow had large, flowing wings, he did not. She did not think much of it. Later in her life, Shattered was asked about one of her stained glass windows. It portrayed a mysterious man on a hill, a city in flames below him and the sun and moon in cycle to his right and left. His face shows him looking over his shoulder at the viewer. A sad, or was it happy, smile on his face. She replied, "I don't rightly know why I made that. I had a dream of one of my earlier memories, where he showed up. He stood on a hill, after my father had protected us from rebels, and smiled at me." When asked about the weirdly shaped, flat muzzle, she replied, "It looks more natural on him. I don't rightly know why I drew it. Author's Note please give any feedback that you think I need, pacing, details, setting, descriptions. I don't care. Just no flames, flames will be deleted with upmost prejudice. If this gets more view, I will put out chapters faster. Comfort for the lostIt was wet. The rain poured down on Rising Ember's burnt skin. What irony was her name. To lose her family, her beauty and her wings to a fire. She looked down from the bridge she was standing on and at the rushing and churning waters far, far below. Ember wondered if it would hurt. To end one's life because of a group of bullies. Even Ember thought is was cowardly, but in the end, it was the only solution she could think of. She stood up, her bonfire red jacket now damp with the light rain, and climbed up onto the railing. All it would take was for her to push off. A simple dive and it would be all over. No more tormenters flying above her grounded form. No more people asking why she had no parents. No more looking at her sister's grave and wondering why she was the one to die. Now, they would all be together. Ember stepped up onto the concrete block that held one of the bridge's supports. Stepped forward. And stopped. The rainclouds had parted just a bit, a single ray of light shown through and fell upon the bench next to her. She looked, if only for curiosities sake. A man in a long coat and a hat that concealed his face was sitting there, looking at her. A voice asked her, "Will you jump, or do you want to talk?" Ember was struck by the pure kindness in the voice, a kindness she thought only the princesses and the great Fluttershy had. She stepped back from the deadly precipice and it's fatal drop. "Why do you want to talk?" She asked. "Why were you throwing away your greatest gift? Because the bullies got to you?" "How did you know about the bullies!" She asked alarmed. "I have seen that expression many times, on many faces. All have been faced with the cruelty of their fellow beings and all had thoughts of making it all end." She pondered it for a moment, then asked, "Why me? Why did you come and talk to me? An orphan with burnt wings, no good to anyone." "Ah, that is where you are wrong. I know a great many people who would be disturbed by your death. One of your bullies actually. He prayed for you. But that does not matter. Who says you are no good? You have not found your mark yet." "My mark," Ember muttered, "I'll never get a good one. I'll be stuck working in the rainbow factory for my life." "Are you sure? I have a feeling your mark is more... profound than that." He smiled at those words. "How can you tell? Do you have some seer mark? Some mark that turns the dregs of society into PRINCESSES!" she shouted with anger tinging her voice, stepping off the concrete black and closer to the mysterious man. "Ah, now that reminds me of an interesting story I could tell you. But, that must wait for another day. We don't have much time together. No, my mark is a bit different from the ones you guessed. I help people. It doesn't matter who. I just help them. It is my job." "And how can you help me?" Ember asked. "Like so." He waved his hand and Ember felt a burning from her back. Like anyone sane would do in that situation, she panicked. Flailing her arms. Trying to see what was going on. She was so focused on her back, she didn't notice the concrete barrier to the edge of the bridge come up and hit her knees. She fell. The wind rushed by her face. Her eyes instinctively closing. She waited for the water's impact. It was ironic. When she choses not to jump, she falls. And what in Celestia's name was taking her so long to hit the water? Ember cracks open her eyes. And sees a tree rush by her face. Instincts that have lay dormant for years burst from her mind. Galvanizing almost lost neuron paths. She flaps her wings. Her flaming wings. Rising Ember pauses in the air. Looking down on the earth from a height she has not seen in such a long time. She was flying. SHE WAS FLYING! As Ember was soaring free for the first time in ages. She catches a glimpse of the bridge that she fell from. Empty, no mysterious man and no bench. "..and now please welcome the speaker Ms. Rising Ember to the stage." Ember walked on stage amidst thunderous applause. "I'm glad you invited me onto the show," Ember said, "Do you have any questions you want answered?" The anchor lady replied with a cheery, "That we do Ms. Ember. One of the first is actually from me. How did you get your wings, is it some complex spell? An illusion? An ability you have had from birth?" The anchorlady leaned closer with every question. Ember laughed, "No, my true wings are these," She flexed the nicely healed burnt nubs, "The wings I can fly with were a gift from someone." The anchorlady leaned close, "A gift huh? From a special someone?" She asked with a sultry wink. Ember laughed even harder and replied after composing herself, "No, it was a complete stranger, never got his name. I tried to commit suicide once. I've talked about it to plenty of schools, but the truth is this complete stranger talked me down from the ledge for no other reason than 'I help people'. I've been looking for him ever since. So, mystery man, if you're watching this. Thank you." From the back of a small, rundown, church, a small voice piped up quietly "you're welcome." The bearer of that voice walked away from a stained glass window that was made by a famous glass artist during the failed revolution. One of her more mysterious pieces depicting a coated man with a long, winged shadow/ Author's Note And another chapter done. Please post any theories you may have or any situations you want to see. Thanks for reading and I'll see you next time. Story by the fireLearning new things is one of Truth Seeker's most loved adventures. Nothing, absolutely nothing beats the satisfaction of seeing an ancient mystery unfold or a theory being updated by his data. He crawls through the ruins of some old and decrepit civilization long passes. These mysterious metal structures, recently unearthed, are some of the most advanced in the world. What happened to this race that used to occupy them? Where did they go? How were they so advanced that they have better tech than us? Those questions plagued the minds of all the ponies on the team. But we had just hit a breakthrough, the largest deposit of "Human" relics ever found. We don't know much about them. They were very technologically advanced and didn't seem to use much magic. Some scientists theorize that they were the precursors to ponykind. They stood and looked the same. No wings or magi gems though. The skeletons show that they could practically eat anything and their legs let them run for a very long time. The magi have come up with a spell that allowed you to peek into any souls that have not passed into the afterlife either by choice or because of a *shudder* violent death. A quick glance shows that all of my companions are out of the range and giving me the thumbs up. My soul gems glow as the spell is cast. A pulse of pure magic spreads around me and searches for a memory to lock onto, it finds one. The buildings straighten and clean themselves into a decent shape and the road gets repaired. "Humans" are sprinting down the same street, past and through me. Screaming. I look around at the flaming buildings, the running humans, and the fallen humans. With conspicuous red pools below them. I gasp as a child falls to some strange red energy blast to the back. A guttural roar tears my attention to the source of the blast. A beast that can only be described as a demon shoots past, and through, me. With eyes red as a flame, claws a black as night and magic as sickly as a changeling's legs, it pushes towards the people. Even through the spell, I feel fear. "Now do you understand why we are gone?" a mysterious voice breaks me from my thoughts, "We found an enemy we could not beat, not that we didn't try." At the last word, the beast is cut down by thunder cracks and flashes of light. Humans in a strange grey and brown uniform with a pattern that would give a fashion designer a conniption and strange complex looking muskets in their hands. The musket type weapons, "Stop calling them muskets, they're m4's with blessed rounds. Only thing we found the hurt these bastards." The voice interrupts my musings, "You need to find your own way to fight these things, they will come for you." I look away from the carnage and search for the ghostly voice. "Who are you? Where are you?" my small voice echoes across the landscape and over the sounds of battle. "Who I am doesn't matter, neither does where. All you need to know is that this is a warning. You must defeat them. They come from the gate of Tartarus, we sent many of our best to keep these demons down there until you could fight them off. I'm afraid to find out what happened to them." My eyes snap around and see a human sitting on a bench a long brown coat draped over his shoulders, a wide brimmed hat I have seen some of my more adventure oriented friends wear. "I have aided your race throughout the ages. From the Golden age of the Elements, to the revolution and even in recent times. My gifts and will have echoed throughout the ages." "What are those gifts? What is your will." I shout as the past viewing spell wears off. "Who were you shouting at, what were you talking about, what's going on?" My team's questions swirl around me as I gave at the place where the man was. No bench, no man. Just a burn mark in the shape of outstretched wings. "So explain this to me again," Celestia asks as I stand before her in day court, "What's this about Humans, Demons and Tartarus?" "We need to prepare for when these things attack us, your highness" I plead, "He says we don't have much time!" "Come walk with me." Celestia rises from her throne and beckons for me while ordering the guards, "Close up day court!" We travel down stairs I did not know the castle had and through tunnels lit only by Celestia's magic. "I have known about this person for a long time. He spoke to my sister and I when we ascended to the throne, warning us of this threat. If he says that there will be a problem, then there will be. He has never lied before." She muttered the last part under her breath. Our conversation continues as we enter a large cavern with to large arching columns coming to a point at the far end. A palpable aura of hope radiates from the arches. "He called them the broken doors," Celestia's voice pulled me from my musings "He said that when all was lost they would open, and I quote, 'bring down the wrath of a race long gone on the fuckers'. He was not very couth when talking with us." I giggle at the conspiratory voice she had said the last bit in. "What's his name?" I ask. Celestia grows serious, "For him and his kind, names have power. He never told us his true one. All he said was his name was..." A loud crash from the staircase cuts Celestia's sentence off as we rush out of the room to see what happened. "Names do have power, even false ones Celestia. Or shall I call you Solaria Regina?" A figure standing beneath the arches whisperes to no one. A simple tale"Come, come. Take a seat by the fire." I tell the three children as they enter my clearing. My long coat is splayed over the back of the log I'm using at a seat. The three children sit on the a log opposite of me. A glowing fire was sitting between us. "So, you want to hear a story?" I ask the three children. "Yeah!" The pegasus shouts at me, "It needs action, and heroes!" "A story with family." The one with a red bow says. "A story with magic." says the pale one with soul gems. I smile at their cheery expressions, "I know just the tale for you." It all starts when I was in my adventuring days. You wouldn't know it, but I was a top tier adventurer. Up there with the best. I was searching for a long lost temple to an ancient race the early inhabitants of Equus had left behind. Long story short, I found it. But the temple wasn't the most interesting thing I found. I found two beings, arguing. "Who were the beings?" the pegasus shouts, interrupting my story. "All in good time." I respond with a smirk. They were standing outside a beautiful temple, broke and weathered, sure. But beautiful none the less. Marble statues of beings with butterfly wings flanked the left side and being with wings of fire flanked the right. "Wings of fire? That sounds like Rising Ember's wings!" The orange child interrupts me. Again. "SHHH," the bow wearing child interrupts, "Let 'im finish the story." Anyway, the two figures were arguing, I could make out their conversation anyway. "...were told not to intervene!" a lady with pure white hair and a well fitted suit shouts. "I'm not one for orders," Calmly replies a figure wearing tan trench coat as he plays with a wide brimmed hat, "Besides, I've been doing good. I thought you Glories were all about that?" This jab seemed to have struck a chord with the suit wearing one. She seemed to be flustered and responded quickly with, "What would you know about doing good. You're just a soldier! You gained your wings through bloodshed and chaos!" "And you gained yours through prayer and hiding from the world." He calmly replied. She flustered at that comment, rolling her shoulders like something hidden was sitting heavily behind them. "Look, you're my sister and I love you, but this is my job. I am a jailer whose jail is almost broken. So instead of guarding a broken door, I'm bringing these people to our level. I'm giving them the fighting chance we never had until it was too late. So if you're planning on taking me back and away from these people, there aren't enough Glories in heaven." He cut in harshly. "We will fight you... hold on. It seems we have a eavesdropper." Her voice trails off as she looks at me. Her pale blue eyes gaze into mine through as her long white hair. She strides towards me as she says, "We can't be having people hear what is going on here. I'm sorry but you will have to leave. "Oh no! Story teller is in trouble!" The pale unicorn shouts! "SHH!" The other two shush her. "We want to know is about to happen." "No." A metallic snikt following the flash of metal from a wickedly sharp machete punctuated the word. "I will not allow you to kill him." The women in the suit, referred to as a Glory, steps back as if in shock. Then rolls her shoulders as beautifully colorful butterfly wings unfurl from behind her. "You wish to side with the inferior animals. So be it." says dejectedly as she draws a blade of her own. An ornate silver rapier with runes carved onto the hilt. "Its getting late kiddos." I say as I glance at the setting sun "What! You're leaving us at a cliffhanger. Not cool dude, not cool." the orange pegasus yells, outraged. "Hey, the cliffhanger is leaving us with a story to imagine for tomorrow." The bow wearers says, "You will continue the story again." "Same place, same time." I confirm as they walk towards the farm in the distance. I stare into the fire for a while as the sounds of the night surround me. Birds singing their nightly songs, crickets chirping, children screaming, branches bre... wait WHAT! I jump off my log and rush towards the screams. My wings flaring behind me, boosting my speed. The blade at my side flicks out of its sheath as I scan the area. The 3 children, surrounded by 7 timberwolves, "I don't think the wolves are asking for directions to grannies." I mutter to myself with dark humor. I spring into the clearing. Dropping onto a wolf from the skies using my wings and machete to take it out. I rose into a stance I had seen someone take to defend me before. Blade down at his side, wings flared, back to me and shoulders squared towards the enemy. A stance of defiance towards death. "No." my voice echoes around the clearing, cutting through the sounds of nature. The wolves seem confused, who was this man to stand against them. They were the apex hunters, the kings of this forest. A timberwolf on my left tenses to leap as I slowly pull my shining machete from the shattered skull under my feet. A growl and charge. The timberwolf thinks I don't see it. The wooden legs release their tension as it leaps. My arm does the same as it flies to my side, carrying the 18 inches of razor sharpened, spell enhanced steel flashing towards its head. A soon to be bisected head. The flashing steel slides easily through its snout and eye. My foot pivots along with the blade, doing a pirouette of death carrying the blade through its path with the final destination being the wolf's throat. A timberwolf's leap. An attack to be feared. Halted in a flash of steel. And that action only started the dance of death centered around me. 2 down, 5 left. A young wolf charging from my right. Jump into the sky. Propel down with wings. Crush the magical core with my boot. 3 down, 4 left. Two charging from my front and back. Duck. They hit each other. Rise with fury and use one the beat the other to death. 5 down, 2 left. The last two seem afraid, after all they just saw all their pack members torn apart under 10 seconds flat. A loud growl from my back alerts me to the presence of a new combatant. Of course, so did the scream of the children. "Its an Alpha! were doomed!" a squeaky voice cries. "Not yet." I growl. My voice more akin to the wolves I am fighting instead of pony's. My brown trench coat flutters from the Alpha's stinking breath. It was massive, teeth the size of my machete, limbs the size of the children and corrupted wooden spikes as sharp as the weapon held my hand. This will be difficult. "Run." I tell the children, "Run to the town and get help." They go to ask me a question. I interrupt them with a yell, "RUN!" They run. I twirl my machete. The three timberwolves, now emboldened, ignored the running children for the one who killed their pack. "I wonder if I will be able to finish telling them my story?" I ask them, "Of course I will, who am I kidding. You're no threat." The Alpha seems to have heard my insult and understood. It in response howled at me. A cry echoed by the two other wolves. It readied its self as I readied by blade. Crouching low in order to achieve a strong stance and good degrees of movement. My head swiveled as I tried to anticipate which wolf would jump at me first. A growl was my only warning to a lunge. The two wolves opposite me leap at me, jaws open. I hit to cold, firm ground. The crunch of wood was my cue to rise, slashing upward with my blade. A worrying thunk sent chills down my spine. A shake of the wolf's neck sent my flying and my machete stuck in the wooden wolf's spine. I stare, disarmed, at the three wolves growling at me. The Alpha seemed to be laughing. And it Ticked. Me. OFF! Rain started to fall as I stood tall against the wolves, replying to their growl with my own. Thunder crackled overhead as I stand in a torrential downpour. I look up and get a bolt of inspiration. If I don't have a weapon. Well, I'll have to become one. I crouched. flaring my wings, and tensed my legs. With a roar, the wolves charged and I leaped. I rose higher and higher into the air. Passing the tree tops. The cold air grew hard to breath. But I rose still. I finally broke through the clouds. Then I wove my pegasus magic. The storm below me answered my calls. Thunder striking me and charging me to levels never before seen. And I fell. I fell. And fell. The electricity coursing through my veins sharpened my vision so I could see the ground approaching. Very, very fast. I flip and land in a perfect three point landing and discharge all of the energy. A sound alike a thunderclap echoes throughout the forest as I hit the ground. And as I will soon try to coin, "Thunder and Lightening, bringing the pain." The electricity discharging from my system hurts. like. HELL. The discharge snaps out into everything around me, trees, ground and wolves all together. And every thing the discharge touches, gets a lightening bolt. You get a lightening bolt! You get a lightening bolt! And you get a lightening bolt! The thunderous lightening fried the wolves, and a bit of my coat, and wings, and my everything. I rise from my, very painful, three point landing to look at the utter destruction surrounding me. For 10 yards in either direction he ground is scorched black with arcs of ash traveling to piles of shattered firewood that I think were either trees or timberwolves. Eh, doesn't matter. I nearly collapse as a wave of exhaustion washes over me. "That. Was. AWESOME!" A squeaky voice from some bushes on the edge of my blast radius cheers out. My head snaps up and I nearly pass out from the blood rush. "HOW DID YOU DO THAT! YOU HAVE TO TEACH ME! YOU ARE ALMOST AS AWESOME AS RAINBOW DASH!" The small child yells as she runs towards me. "Whelp," I mutter to myself, "Never doing that again." And promptly start making out with the dirt as the last of my energy decides to take a vacation to the crystal empire. "I will admit, that was cool. you would have to ground yourself better if you wanted to pull a trick off like that, but still, impressive none the less." "You're just jealous, brother." "Now why would I be sister?"
Light in the darkIt was dark. Fallen Beacon sighed as she looked around. Her Royal Guard enchanted gold armor, even though protecting her from dangers posed by enemies, was not built with scenarios like this cold in mind. The Crystal Caverns were dark, cold and ever so dangerous. Well the dark wasn't dangerous, just the things in the dark. A long glance around revealed nothing but crystals, crystals and even more crystals. Beacon looked around and muttered, "Damn changlings, why do you always take up nests in the nicest of places." The only sound was that of her armored feet tapping against the ground and the shift of her wings on her ultra dense, ultralight gold armor. "Go here and kill things with your squad," she imitated her captain, Shining Armor's, voice, "doesn't mention the fact that the tunnels are a Celestia damned MAZE!" she shouted the last word and listened to the echo. Due to the branching paths of the cavern, the 6 pony squad split up in order to cover more ground. A choice Beacon was regretting right now. Beacon fiddled with the sword sheathed at her waist. "This sword has history," her grandfather had said when he handed it to her, "It has survived many wars. It is said that the wielder of this blade is blessed by a being past our comprehension." As she recalled those words Beacon muttered, "I don't feel very blessed right about now." "I wouldn't be so sure" A voice mutters even tough she could not hear. Beacon marched deeper into the tunnels, hoping to find her objective so the squad could finish up this bug hunt and go out for some hard cider. Then she heard it, a small clicking of insectoid chitin on crystal. A sound revealing that she had found what she was looking for. She immediately tightened her grip on her ancient short sword and suppressed a shiver as her eyes darted around, trying to pinpoint the creator of the sound. The chittering sounded from behind her back. She caught her breath as her heart beat faster. She spun around and peered into the blackness. Trying to make her eyes pierce the foggy veil. Wait, fog? It wasn't foggy before. "Shit!" Beacon cried out as a dark blade swiped her armor, cutting into her side and knocking her down to the hard crystal ground. A hiss sounded from the darkness, and another, and another, and even more. Her eyes widened and her wings clutched her sides in fear. The hissed seemed to grow into a roar as they echoed off the crystal. Then she saw their eyes. Hundreds of sickly green eyes peaking out at her. She stared praying. To Celestia and Luna, hell, she prayed to Nightmare Moon! Anything to save herself! She was not prepared for this! She closed her eyes and curled on the cold crystal floor as the eyes and hisses drew nearer. As she closed her eyes and conceded to her fate, she heard a voice. An old voice. It spoke in a deep, calm voice. It's words echoed throughout the entire cavern. It said, "When darkness falls, who will light the way, Fallen Beacon? You will. Take my gift." At those words, she felt a strange burning in her shoulder blades and wings. Then she saw the light through her eyelids. An old, powerful light. It radiated from behind her. She no longer felt weak, or afraid. She felt strong. She opened her eyes and stood up, her wings flaring. She looked and saw the light radiating from her much larger wings, almost matching the Celestial sister's wings in span, and oh how they glowed. The holy, golden light emanating from the massive wings pierced the darkness and with a flap, she blew away the fog. The changelings fell away from the light, but Fallen Beacon didn't flinch. She raised her blade and saw the light start to flow into her right hand. Her blade caught fire and glowed. Maybe she was blessed after all. The changelings hissed and backed away, seemingly in fear. Fallen Beacon smiled, no longer afraid and walked toward the enemy with strong powerful steps. As she raised her sword, a smile graced her face as she prepared for combat against her foes. A lonely observer, dressed in a long tan coat and a simple hat watched from above. He spoke to himself, "A light shineth in the darkness and the Darkness comprehend it not. What will you do with that shining light Beacon? Protect or kill? Bring it to illuminate the shadows or to strike fear in all? It's your choice, make the right one. For your and this world's sake." He simple waked away as the light cast from Beacon's sword threw his long, winged shadow against the wall. Author's Note I hope you enjoy my experiment in a new style of writing. Tell me what you think and I may add more chapters if it gets interesting. This is NOT a crossover with Supernatural, so the person at the end is not Castiel. Put any thoughts in the comments and I'll try to answer them. Also, the people are anthro ponies, that means hands and feet, pegasi have wings, unicorns have gems on their hands, and they all have snouts.
Shield at your backIt was scary. Shattered Glass looked out the window at the fires consuming the city. The nine year old child looked up and saw her father drawing their family sword and walking out the door to protect. She looked at her mother's grim determination as she readied the family's muskets. Voices were heard from outside. Shouting voices. Shattered heard her father's voice cut through the others. "TURN BACK, THERE IS NOTHING HERE FOR YOU. I WILL DEFEND MY FAMILY TILL THE END." The only reply was a laugh and many gunshots. Shattered and her mother froze. Then started crying. Soon, more sounds of death reached their ears. Simple men and women trying in vain to protect their families while the rebels tore through the town. Soon there was a thud at the door. Shattered Glass's mother looked up, her hands glowing, trying to make steady the shield that protected their house. Then with a sound, not unlike to Shattered's namesake, the door broke. Three rebels swarmed in. A women with an elaborate coat. two men with wings and one man without any special features. They surrounded the scared child and mother with swords and guns drawn. "This one looks nice," said one of the winged men to their, supposed, leader "can't we have a bit of fun with her?" "No," she replied "she is a unicorn. We can brainwash her into submission and have more soldiers for our army. Do whatever you want to the child though." Shattered didn't know what she meant by "whatever you want" but the look on her mother's face told her it wasn't good. Her mother threw up her hands, the magic glowing with the kind of anger that only a mother could drag up and prepared to cast a spell. The leader moved one hand in a dismissive gesture and her mother flew across the room, hitting a table hard. Then all froze as they heard a voice. An old voice. One that promised death to its enemies and glory to its allies. One more ancient then the country they stood in. It spoke out, loud as a thunderclap and clear as a crystal. Everyone froze. They all felt the power behind the words and the will in the speech. It said, "It is honorable to die for one's country, but true honor come from facing the enemy that threatens one's family. Rise heroes, like the phoenix and protect your home from destruction." Then the fallen rose. Soldiers who were dead from gunshots moments earlier stood up, wings of flame rising from their backs. They stood with swords of righteous fire clasped in their hands. Then they started to fight. The rebels fell before their charge, cut down by fists, blades and magic. Shattered's father burst through the door into the house. His eyes ablaze and sword aflame. The first winged man fell quickly, a clean sword slash across the throat left him falling to the floor, his hands trying in vain to keep his blood inside his body. The second winged man fell slower, parrying two strikes before taking a fist to the face that blew him clear across the room and through a stone wall. The third man tried to escape, only to be met by a blast of magic from the father. The man's skin browning at the intense heat thrown against him. The leader was smart, and grabbed Shattered; and with a gun to her head yelled "Let me go or we see what color your daughter's brains are." The father froze, almost unsure of what to do. His wife solved that problem for him. With a shout of, "GET AWAY FROM HER YOU BITCH!" she magically propelled a kitchen knife through the leader's throat before collapsing again. As the reunited husband and wife embraced each other in the joy of life, Shattered looked out the window. She had seen a flash of brown and wondered what it was. She gazed at a man standing alone on a hill. The sun rising to his right and the moon setting to his left. A simple brown long coat hung from his shoulders while a lighter brown, wide brimmed hat adorned his head. The rising sun cast a long shadow of him down the hill. Shattered Glass noticed that even though the shadow had large, flowing wings, he did not. She did not think much of it. Later in her life, Shattered was asked about one of her stained glass windows. It portrayed a mysterious man on a hill, a city in flames below him and the sun and moon in cycle to his right and left. His face shows him looking over his shoulder at the viewer. A sad, or was it happy, smile on his face. She replied, "I don't rightly know why I made that. I had a dream of one of my earlier memories, where he showed up. He stood on a hill, after my father had protected us from rebels, and smiled at me." When asked about the weirdly shaped, flat muzzle, she replied, "It looks more natural on him. I don't rightly know why I drew it. Author's Note please give any feedback that you think I need, pacing, details, setting, descriptions. I don't care. Just no flames, flames will be deleted with upmost prejudice. If this gets more view, I will put out chapters faster.
Comfort for the lostIt was wet. The rain poured down on Rising Ember's burnt skin. What irony was her name. To lose her family, her beauty and her wings to a fire. She looked down from the bridge she was standing on and at the rushing and churning waters far, far below. Ember wondered if it would hurt. To end one's life because of a group of bullies. Even Ember thought is was cowardly, but in the end, it was the only solution she could think of. She stood up, her bonfire red jacket now damp with the light rain, and climbed up onto the railing. All it would take was for her to push off. A simple dive and it would be all over. No more tormenters flying above her grounded form. No more people asking why she had no parents. No more looking at her sister's grave and wondering why she was the one to die. Now, they would all be together. Ember stepped up onto the concrete block that held one of the bridge's supports. Stepped forward. And stopped. The rainclouds had parted just a bit, a single ray of light shown through and fell upon the bench next to her. She looked, if only for curiosities sake. A man in a long coat and a hat that concealed his face was sitting there, looking at her. A voice asked her, "Will you jump, or do you want to talk?" Ember was struck by the pure kindness in the voice, a kindness she thought only the princesses and the great Fluttershy had. She stepped back from the deadly precipice and it's fatal drop. "Why do you want to talk?" She asked. "Why were you throwing away your greatest gift? Because the bullies got to you?" "How did you know about the bullies!" She asked alarmed. "I have seen that expression many times, on many faces. All have been faced with the cruelty of their fellow beings and all had thoughts of making it all end." She pondered it for a moment, then asked, "Why me? Why did you come and talk to me? An orphan with burnt wings, no good to anyone." "Ah, that is where you are wrong. I know a great many people who would be disturbed by your death. One of your bullies actually. He prayed for you. But that does not matter. Who says you are no good? You have not found your mark yet." "My mark," Ember muttered, "I'll never get a good one. I'll be stuck working in the rainbow factory for my life." "Are you sure? I have a feeling your mark is more... profound than that." He smiled at those words. "How can you tell? Do you have some seer mark? Some mark that turns the dregs of society into PRINCESSES!" she shouted with anger tinging her voice, stepping off the concrete black and closer to the mysterious man. "Ah, now that reminds me of an interesting story I could tell you. But, that must wait for another day. We don't have much time together. No, my mark is a bit different from the ones you guessed. I help people. It doesn't matter who. I just help them. It is my job." "And how can you help me?" Ember asked. "Like so." He waved his hand and Ember felt a burning from her back. Like anyone sane would do in that situation, she panicked. Flailing her arms. Trying to see what was going on. She was so focused on her back, she didn't notice the concrete barrier to the edge of the bridge come up and hit her knees. She fell. The wind rushed by her face. Her eyes instinctively closing. She waited for the water's impact. It was ironic. When she choses not to jump, she falls. And what in Celestia's name was taking her so long to hit the water? Ember cracks open her eyes. And sees a tree rush by her face. Instincts that have lay dormant for years burst from her mind. Galvanizing almost lost neuron paths. She flaps her wings. Her flaming wings. Rising Ember pauses in the air. Looking down on the earth from a height she has not seen in such a long time. She was flying. SHE WAS FLYING! As Ember was soaring free for the first time in ages. She catches a glimpse of the bridge that she fell from. Empty, no mysterious man and no bench. "..and now please welcome the speaker Ms. Rising Ember to the stage." Ember walked on stage amidst thunderous applause. "I'm glad you invited me onto the show," Ember said, "Do you have any questions you want answered?" The anchor lady replied with a cheery, "That we do Ms. Ember. One of the first is actually from me. How did you get your wings, is it some complex spell? An illusion? An ability you have had from birth?" The anchorlady leaned closer with every question. Ember laughed, "No, my true wings are these," She flexed the nicely healed burnt nubs, "The wings I can fly with were a gift from someone." The anchorlady leaned close, "A gift huh? From a special someone?" She asked with a sultry wink. Ember laughed even harder and replied after composing herself, "No, it was a complete stranger, never got his name. I tried to commit suicide once. I've talked about it to plenty of schools, but the truth is this complete stranger talked me down from the ledge for no other reason than 'I help people'. I've been looking for him ever since. So, mystery man, if you're watching this. Thank you." From the back of a small, rundown, church, a small voice piped up quietly "you're welcome." The bearer of that voice walked away from a stained glass window that was made by a famous glass artist during the failed revolution. One of her more mysterious pieces depicting a coated man with a long, winged shadow/ Author's Note And another chapter done. Please post any theories you may have or any situations you want to see. Thanks for reading and I'll see you next time.
Story by the fireLearning new things is one of Truth Seeker's most loved adventures. Nothing, absolutely nothing beats the satisfaction of seeing an ancient mystery unfold or a theory being updated by his data. He crawls through the ruins of some old and decrepit civilization long passes. These mysterious metal structures, recently unearthed, are some of the most advanced in the world. What happened to this race that used to occupy them? Where did they go? How were they so advanced that they have better tech than us? Those questions plagued the minds of all the ponies on the team. But we had just hit a breakthrough, the largest deposit of "Human" relics ever found. We don't know much about them. They were very technologically advanced and didn't seem to use much magic. Some scientists theorize that they were the precursors to ponykind. They stood and looked the same. No wings or magi gems though. The skeletons show that they could practically eat anything and their legs let them run for a very long time. The magi have come up with a spell that allowed you to peek into any souls that have not passed into the afterlife either by choice or because of a *shudder* violent death. A quick glance shows that all of my companions are out of the range and giving me the thumbs up. My soul gems glow as the spell is cast. A pulse of pure magic spreads around me and searches for a memory to lock onto, it finds one. The buildings straighten and clean themselves into a decent shape and the road gets repaired. "Humans" are sprinting down the same street, past and through me. Screaming. I look around at the flaming buildings, the running humans, and the fallen humans. With conspicuous red pools below them. I gasp as a child falls to some strange red energy blast to the back. A guttural roar tears my attention to the source of the blast. A beast that can only be described as a demon shoots past, and through, me. With eyes red as a flame, claws a black as night and magic as sickly as a changeling's legs, it pushes towards the people. Even through the spell, I feel fear. "Now do you understand why we are gone?" a mysterious voice breaks me from my thoughts, "We found an enemy we could not beat, not that we didn't try." At the last word, the beast is cut down by thunder cracks and flashes of light. Humans in a strange grey and brown uniform with a pattern that would give a fashion designer a conniption and strange complex looking muskets in their hands. The musket type weapons, "Stop calling them muskets, they're m4's with blessed rounds. Only thing we found the hurt these bastards." The voice interrupts my musings, "You need to find your own way to fight these things, they will come for you." I look away from the carnage and search for the ghostly voice. "Who are you? Where are you?" my small voice echoes across the landscape and over the sounds of battle. "Who I am doesn't matter, neither does where. All you need to know is that this is a warning. You must defeat them. They come from the gate of Tartarus, we sent many of our best to keep these demons down there until you could fight them off. I'm afraid to find out what happened to them." My eyes snap around and see a human sitting on a bench a long brown coat draped over his shoulders, a wide brimmed hat I have seen some of my more adventure oriented friends wear. "I have aided your race throughout the ages. From the Golden age of the Elements, to the revolution and even in recent times. My gifts and will have echoed throughout the ages." "What are those gifts? What is your will." I shout as the past viewing spell wears off. "Who were you shouting at, what were you talking about, what's going on?" My team's questions swirl around me as I gave at the place where the man was. No bench, no man. Just a burn mark in the shape of outstretched wings. "So explain this to me again," Celestia asks as I stand before her in day court, "What's this about Humans, Demons and Tartarus?" "We need to prepare for when these things attack us, your highness" I plead, "He says we don't have much time!" "Come walk with me." Celestia rises from her throne and beckons for me while ordering the guards, "Close up day court!" We travel down stairs I did not know the castle had and through tunnels lit only by Celestia's magic. "I have known about this person for a long time. He spoke to my sister and I when we ascended to the throne, warning us of this threat. If he says that there will be a problem, then there will be. He has never lied before." She muttered the last part under her breath. Our conversation continues as we enter a large cavern with to large arching columns coming to a point at the far end. A palpable aura of hope radiates from the arches. "He called them the broken doors," Celestia's voice pulled me from my musings "He said that when all was lost they would open, and I quote, 'bring down the wrath of a race long gone on the fuckers'. He was not very couth when talking with us." I giggle at the conspiratory voice she had said the last bit in. "What's his name?" I ask. Celestia grows serious, "For him and his kind, names have power. He never told us his true one. All he said was his name was..." A loud crash from the staircase cuts Celestia's sentence off as we rush out of the room to see what happened. "Names do have power, even false ones Celestia. Or shall I call you Solaria Regina?" A figure standing beneath the arches whisperes to no one.
A simple tale"Come, come. Take a seat by the fire." I tell the three children as they enter my clearing. My long coat is splayed over the back of the log I'm using at a seat. The three children sit on the a log opposite of me. A glowing fire was sitting between us. "So, you want to hear a story?" I ask the three children. "Yeah!" The pegasus shouts at me, "It needs action, and heroes!" "A story with family." The one with a red bow says. "A story with magic." says the pale one with soul gems. I smile at their cheery expressions, "I know just the tale for you." It all starts when I was in my adventuring days. You wouldn't know it, but I was a top tier adventurer. Up there with the best. I was searching for a long lost temple to an ancient race the early inhabitants of Equus had left behind. Long story short, I found it. But the temple wasn't the most interesting thing I found. I found two beings, arguing. "Who were the beings?" the pegasus shouts, interrupting my story. "All in good time." I respond with a smirk. They were standing outside a beautiful temple, broke and weathered, sure. But beautiful none the less. Marble statues of beings with butterfly wings flanked the left side and being with wings of fire flanked the right. "Wings of fire? That sounds like Rising Ember's wings!" The orange child interrupts me. Again. "SHHH," the bow wearing child interrupts, "Let 'im finish the story." Anyway, the two figures were arguing, I could make out their conversation anyway. "...were told not to intervene!" a lady with pure white hair and a well fitted suit shouts. "I'm not one for orders," Calmly replies a figure wearing tan trench coat as he plays with a wide brimmed hat, "Besides, I've been doing good. I thought you Glories were all about that?" This jab seemed to have struck a chord with the suit wearing one. She seemed to be flustered and responded quickly with, "What would you know about doing good. You're just a soldier! You gained your wings through bloodshed and chaos!" "And you gained yours through prayer and hiding from the world." He calmly replied. She flustered at that comment, rolling her shoulders like something hidden was sitting heavily behind them. "Look, you're my sister and I love you, but this is my job. I am a jailer whose jail is almost broken. So instead of guarding a broken door, I'm bringing these people to our level. I'm giving them the fighting chance we never had until it was too late. So if you're planning on taking me back and away from these people, there aren't enough Glories in heaven." He cut in harshly. "We will fight you... hold on. It seems we have a eavesdropper." Her voice trails off as she looks at me. Her pale blue eyes gaze into mine through as her long white hair. She strides towards me as she says, "We can't be having people hear what is going on here. I'm sorry but you will have to leave. "Oh no! Story teller is in trouble!" The pale unicorn shouts! "SHH!" The other two shush her. "We want to know is about to happen." "No." A metallic snikt following the flash of metal from a wickedly sharp machete punctuated the word. "I will not allow you to kill him." The women in the suit, referred to as a Glory, steps back as if in shock. Then rolls her shoulders as beautifully colorful butterfly wings unfurl from behind her. "You wish to side with the inferior animals. So be it." says dejectedly as she draws a blade of her own. An ornate silver rapier with runes carved onto the hilt. "Its getting late kiddos." I say as I glance at the setting sun "What! You're leaving us at a cliffhanger. Not cool dude, not cool." the orange pegasus yells, outraged. "Hey, the cliffhanger is leaving us with a story to imagine for tomorrow." The bow wearers says, "You will continue the story again." "Same place, same time." I confirm as they walk towards the farm in the distance. I stare into the fire for a while as the sounds of the night surround me. Birds singing their nightly songs, crickets chirping, children screaming, branches bre... wait WHAT! I jump off my log and rush towards the screams. My wings flaring behind me, boosting my speed. The blade at my side flicks out of its sheath as I scan the area. The 3 children, surrounded by 7 timberwolves, "I don't think the wolves are asking for directions to grannies." I mutter to myself with dark humor. I spring into the clearing. Dropping onto a wolf from the skies using my wings and machete to take it out. I rose into a stance I had seen someone take to defend me before. Blade down at his side, wings flared, back to me and shoulders squared towards the enemy. A stance of defiance towards death. "No." my voice echoes around the clearing, cutting through the sounds of nature. The wolves seem confused, who was this man to stand against them. They were the apex hunters, the kings of this forest. A timberwolf on my left tenses to leap as I slowly pull my shining machete from the shattered skull under my feet. A growl and charge. The timberwolf thinks I don't see it. The wooden legs release their tension as it leaps. My arm does the same as it flies to my side, carrying the 18 inches of razor sharpened, spell enhanced steel flashing towards its head. A soon to be bisected head. The flashing steel slides easily through its snout and eye. My foot pivots along with the blade, doing a pirouette of death carrying the blade through its path with the final destination being the wolf's throat. A timberwolf's leap. An attack to be feared. Halted in a flash of steel. And that action only started the dance of death centered around me. 2 down, 5 left. A young wolf charging from my right. Jump into the sky. Propel down with wings. Crush the magical core with my boot. 3 down, 4 left. Two charging from my front and back. Duck. They hit each other. Rise with fury and use one the beat the other to death. 5 down, 2 left. The last two seem afraid, after all they just saw all their pack members torn apart under 10 seconds flat. A loud growl from my back alerts me to the presence of a new combatant. Of course, so did the scream of the children. "Its an Alpha! were doomed!" a squeaky voice cries. "Not yet." I growl. My voice more akin to the wolves I am fighting instead of pony's. My brown trench coat flutters from the Alpha's stinking breath. It was massive, teeth the size of my machete, limbs the size of the children and corrupted wooden spikes as sharp as the weapon held my hand. This will be difficult. "Run." I tell the children, "Run to the town and get help." They go to ask me a question. I interrupt them with a yell, "RUN!" They run. I twirl my machete. The three timberwolves, now emboldened, ignored the running children for the one who killed their pack. "I wonder if I will be able to finish telling them my story?" I ask them, "Of course I will, who am I kidding. You're no threat." The Alpha seems to have heard my insult and understood. It in response howled at me. A cry echoed by the two other wolves. It readied its self as I readied by blade. Crouching low in order to achieve a strong stance and good degrees of movement. My head swiveled as I tried to anticipate which wolf would jump at me first. A growl was my only warning to a lunge. The two wolves opposite me leap at me, jaws open. I hit to cold, firm ground. The crunch of wood was my cue to rise, slashing upward with my blade. A worrying thunk sent chills down my spine. A shake of the wolf's neck sent my flying and my machete stuck in the wooden wolf's spine. I stare, disarmed, at the three wolves growling at me. The Alpha seemed to be laughing. And it Ticked. Me. OFF! Rain started to fall as I stood tall against the wolves, replying to their growl with my own. Thunder crackled overhead as I stand in a torrential downpour. I look up and get a bolt of inspiration. If I don't have a weapon. Well, I'll have to become one. I crouched. flaring my wings, and tensed my legs. With a roar, the wolves charged and I leaped. I rose higher and higher into the air. Passing the tree tops. The cold air grew hard to breath. But I rose still. I finally broke through the clouds. Then I wove my pegasus magic. The storm below me answered my calls. Thunder striking me and charging me to levels never before seen. And I fell. I fell. And fell. The electricity coursing through my veins sharpened my vision so I could see the ground approaching. Very, very fast. I flip and land in a perfect three point landing and discharge all of the energy. A sound alike a thunderclap echoes throughout the forest as I hit the ground. And as I will soon try to coin, "Thunder and Lightening, bringing the pain." The electricity discharging from my system hurts. like. HELL. The discharge snaps out into everything around me, trees, ground and wolves all together. And every thing the discharge touches, gets a lightening bolt. You get a lightening bolt! You get a lightening bolt! And you get a lightening bolt! The thunderous lightening fried the wolves, and a bit of my coat, and wings, and my everything. I rise from my, very painful, three point landing to look at the utter destruction surrounding me. For 10 yards in either direction he ground is scorched black with arcs of ash traveling to piles of shattered firewood that I think were either trees or timberwolves. Eh, doesn't matter. I nearly collapse as a wave of exhaustion washes over me. "That. Was. AWESOME!" A squeaky voice from some bushes on the edge of my blast radius cheers out. My head snaps up and I nearly pass out from the blood rush. "HOW DID YOU DO THAT! YOU HAVE TO TEACH ME! YOU ARE ALMOST AS AWESOME AS RAINBOW DASH!" The small child yells as she runs towards me. "Whelp," I mutter to myself, "Never doing that again." And promptly start making out with the dirt as the last of my energy decides to take a vacation to the crystal empire. "I will admit, that was cool. you would have to ground yourself better if you wanted to pull a trick off like that, but still, impressive none the less." "You're just jealous, brother." "Now why would I be sister?"
