Parallel

Chapter 19: The Elements of Harmony (Part 2)

It had taken me the better part of a day to reach the other side of the Everfree Forest.

I tried to gather myself when I stumbled out of the Veil, but it was an impossible feat. I tumbled head over foot, and something metal and sharp hit my right leg. I hissed in pain when I finally landed on my back. When my head started to clear I noticed that I was looking up at the morning sky. My right leg was in a lot of pain, and my back ached from the landing, but I managed to sit up, and when I did my eyes widened.

I could see a familiar tower in the distance, its windows reflecting the sun. I was obviously still in the city, and it was as I stood that I noticed I was on a rooftop.

I took a deep breath.

The morning air was cold, but nothing that I couldn't handle.

A stinging pain ran through my leg again, and when I looked down to it I hissed, there was a cut on my outer thigh, but it wasn't large, and it wasn't bleeding too badly. I let out a sigh and turned around, a metal box with ventilation fans was behind me, and on the corner of it was some of my blood, "Ouch." A bit further back was what appeared to be a shimmer of reflective air, obviously the Veil.

On top of the vent box were the saddlebags I had flown through the Veil with. Twilight's tiara was sticking out of one of the bags, so I stepped forward and pushed it back in. I buttoned the bag back up and threw the strap of the bags over my shoulder. With a sigh I made my way to the door.

Luckily it was unlocked.

As I walked through the streets of the city I got a few strange glances because of the saddlebag over my shoulder, but I ignored them. It wasn't like anybody in this place owned a horse, so half of them probably didn't even recognize it.

I headed straight for the hospital, using the maps at bus stops to find my way.

When I came upon a bar on the side of one street I was surprised to see Cammi leaning on the wall of it with a beer in her hand.

I stopped in front of her, "Drinking so early in the day?"

She smiled, "I've been looking for you sexy boy."

I rolled my eyes, "And why would that be?"

"Because you're about to do something really stupid, you and that little nerd girlfriend of yours, and I wanted to help you out when it goes downhill."

I pulled the saddlebag off and pointed to it, raising an eyebrow at her, "You're telling me this isn't gonna work?"

She shrugged, "How the hell should I know? I only know as much about this other world of yours as you do. I mean shit, for all you know I could be a total raging bitch over there."

I laughed, "Really, you don't seem the type," I said sarcastically.

She tossed me the beer and I caught it with my free hand.

A Budweiser.

Cammi walked to my side, still smiling, "Like I said, I'm just here in case your little plan goes to shit. Me and that Celestine chick aren't exactly on good terms."

We started to walk. I put the beer in the bag and hoisted it back onto my shoulder, "What'd you do?"

She laughed softly, "It has to be something I did?"

I let the silence answer her question.

"Alright fine, I kind of tried to kill her student using her brother, and then tried steal the magical knowledge that they had."

"You WHAT?" I stopped walking, turning to give her an incredulous look, "How the fuck am I supposed to trust you after hearing that?!"

She flicked me on the forehead, "Because I regret it, and I was honest enough to tell you. I... trust you, Lord only knows why. Losing my nest put things into perspective for me."

We resumed walking, and I let out a sigh as we crossed another intersection, "Alright, I'll let you tag along."

She smiled, "Monsters have hearts too you know. I just happened to misplace mine for a few years."

"Either that or you've got a silver tongue."

Her voice dropped to a sultry tone, "Mmmm, why can't it be both?"

"Keep walking sister, this soldier's favorite color is purple."

"Booooring~"

It was around noon when Cammi and I made it to the hospital, and we were greeted by a hell of a sight.

In front of the hospital were six girls, all waiting for me.

Tammy was on her feet, a huge shit eating grin on her face.

'Looks like Hart finally let her out of the cage today.'

"Well," I said, "That's half of our problem solved."

Cammi giggled.

Phoebe skipped over to me and wrapped her arms around my neck in a tight hug. After a moment she let go, "Tammy told us everything that's going on Billy, and I have to say I'm super duper happy!"

I raised an eyebrow, "What... why?"

"Because we're friends in two worlds silly! Isn't that great?!"

"Uh... yeah, sure... great."

The next to step forward was the long haired blond girl, dressed in jeans and a T shirt. She extended a hand and smiled, "Ah don't believe we've been properly introduced. Mah name is Alice, Alice Jones."

"Nice to meet you," I said with a smile, shaking her hand, "Thanks for helping us, I didn't mean to get you dragged into this mess."

"S'far as ah figure, any friend o' Tammy's is a friend o'' mine."

I nodded softly, then gestured to the woman at my side, "Everyone, this is Cammi."

"Charmed," said Cammi with a smile, completely brushing off the glare Tammy sent her way, "I'm not here to sabotage anything, really, just here to lend a hand... or a claw if need be."

"And why should we trust you?!" shouted Tammy.

The other's looked confused at the librarian's sudden outburst, but I knew exactly why she was angry. I walked towards her and planted my hands on her shoulders, "Hey, calm down," I said softly.

She pouted, "You can't trust that woman, she..."

"I already know, just relax Tammy, she helped me get away from Discord's goons a while back, she's a friend."

Tammy took a deep breath and brought her hands up to mine, "Alright, but if she tries anything funny I'm blasting her."

As soon as Tammy said that I saw Cammi grin out of the corner of my eye, and couldn't help but chuckle a little bit.

"So how are we gonna do this?" asked Rachel, interrupting the introductions and the slight drama garnered from them.

Tammy smirked, "Well, I set up an area near the outskirts of the city, the other half of the plan is whatever William brought."

I held up the saddlebag and grinned at Rachel, "You in particular might not like this."

"Wha..."

Then I opened the bags and showed the contents to all of them.

Phoebe let out a squeal of excitement, I think Robin started to drool a bit, Alice shrugged, Tammy looked more interested scientifically than anything else, Felicia smiled when she saw what was inside, and Rachel...

Rachel just gave me a flat stare.

I laughed, "Told ya."

Half way to our destination Cammi had disappeared, leaving Tammy to mutter something about not being able to trust her.

The 'area' Tammy had set up looked like a makeshift half-sphere arena of some light blue, glass-like material. It was in a grassy field just outside of a remote housing area at the edge of the city. Not only that, but it was huge, twice the height of my apartment building, and enough breathing room to hold the Olympics.

"Tammy, won't people be able to see this?" I asked.

"Celestine helped me out, she cast a masking spell around this area. No one will know what happens here tonight but us. I made the duplication spell for the wall, but she was the one that used it, I need all the kick I can get for tonight."

I heard a low whistle behind me, "That's some damn good work girl. Ah wish I could use that magic stuff."

"Alright everybody," said Tammy, "Let's head inside."

As we approached the wall of the 'arena' Tammy lifted her right hand up in a jerking motion.

A part of the arena literally shattered, the glass like material scattering out as a doorway was formed for us.

The shattered glass stayed suspended, floating about like it was in zero gravity, and parting for us as we walked through it.

Tammy shook her head vigorously and let out a roaring laugh, "God it feels good to be out of that hospital!"

I let out a low laugh as we crossed into the arena. Tammy flicked her hand again when everyone was through, and the shattered part of the arena snapped back into place, leaving us in the dark.

"I've got a question," said Rachel, "This is all fine and dandy, but how do we get Discord here?"

I could almost hear Tammy smirk, "We don't, Celestine made sure to let him know we were going to be here."

And with that, the arena lit up.

Along the wall were candles upon candles, lighting up one at a time until every last nook and cranny of the arena was lit. It was almost blinding, but my eyes adjusted quickly enough. Even the floor beneath our feet was made out of that strange material from Atlantis.

Across from us stood a lone figure in a hoodie, hands in his pockets and a mad grin gracing his features, offsetting the dreadlocks the peered out from under his hood, "Twilight Sparkle," he said, "You never cease to amuse me. Not only do you completely ignore my warnings, but you even goad me into a confrontation on my home turf."

Robin huffed, "Home turf? What is this brute talking about? This is our city."

Discord laughed, it was a low and rumbling sound, and echoed off the walls like the growl of a demon, "You're sadly mistaken Rarity. Generosity was never the smartest element of the bunch, this is my city now. The gangs on the streets belong to me, and they love their new jobs. And you..." Discord pointed to me, "What are you even doing here? A man of war and strength such as yourself helping little ponies like these, is the estrogen getting to you or something?"

I laughed under my breath, "Nah, there's just the fact that you dug a thumb into my bullet wound and tried to have me killed. I think I'll side with the girls on this one."

Discord brought a hand to his chin, as if in deep thought, "Hmph, I guess I did try to kill you one or two times."

"Yeah," I said flatly, "Now it's my turn." I reached behind me, and in a flash the gun was out and pointed straight at Discord, who only grinned.

I pulled the trigger once.

Discord, against all possibility, side stepped it.

That was fine, my plan wasn't to hit him.

It would have been cool if I did though.

I pulled the trigger again.

Another miss, this time Discord started sprinting towards us.

"Stick to the plan girls!" I shouted.

I heard the flapping of wings, and saw Rachel and Felicia take to the air above us, a blur of cyan and yellow as their wings flapped.

Alice and Phoebe darted to the sides.

Tammy and Robin, the two mages, were by my side in an instant.

"No need to hold back in here!" shouted Tammy, "Let's have some fun!"

I could almost hear Robin's grin, "Oh how exciting!"

I stepped back, pointing the gun towards the ground, and the mages took my place.

Tammy lurched forward, spinning her hands and thrusting them forward.

A stream of fire erupted from her fingers and went straight for Discord.

He ducked it and jumped forward, hands inches away from Tammy's face...

Only to be blasted aside by an invisible wall that Robin had conjured.

Robin's jaw dropped, and she looked down at her own hands in shock, "I... I don't even... wow..."

"Focus!" I shouted.

Discord growled, "Enough games!" He brought his hands to the sky and thrust them down, and...

Nothing happened.

He cursed under his breath and tried again.

I grinned, "Your confidence is your weakness Discord!"

Discord gritted his teeth and let out a gutteral roar, "DAMN YOU CELESTIA, WHAT IS THIS TRICKERY?!"

Rachel was on him in the next instant, boots colliding with his face.

He went tumbling back, and Rachel flew back to Felicia, who grasped her hands and gave a firm nod.

Rachel tucked her wings and Felicia started to spin her.

After gaining some momentum she let go, sending Rachel fist first into Discord.

The spinning was a way to make up for not being able to gain height for a diving attack, Tammy's idea, and it worked wonderfully.

Rachel's fist connected with his cheek, sending him flying into the wall with a sickening crunch.

Alice and Phoebe were up next.

Alice moved like a woman possessed, brandishing her large knife as she approached.

Discord's eyes widened when she brought it down, stabbing his shirt into the wall as Phoebe skipped forward and planted her foot right on his chest, "Bad boy!" she shouted, "No moving, k?!"

Tammy muttered a spell and Alice's knife started to glow a faint purple color.

When the two girls stepped back Discord tried to struggle against the knife, but found that he couldn't move.

Then, all six of them were behind me again.

One by one they pulled their necklaces from their pockets and laced them around their necks.

Lastly, Tammy reached into the jacket and pulled out her tiara, planting it on her head.

"You're finished," I said.

Discord smirked, "No my boy, this is only me testing the waters you see."

I felt a hand on my shoulder, and turned to see Cammi with a worried look on her face.

"Where the hell have you been?!" I shouted.

"We'll talk about it later, you've gotta stop this!"

"What?!"

"This is exactly what Discord wants! Look... I know you don't trust me, and I know Tammy sure as hell doesn't either. I can't blame either of you for that, but if you don't stop the Elements from hitting Discord something horrible is going to happen!"

My eyes widened, and I turned to Tammy, trying to tell her to stop, but it was already too late.

The girls were already floating off the ground, their eyes glowing solid white.

"Shit."

I moved fast, pulling away from Cammi and sprinting to Discord.

I made it to him just as the spell activated.

The rainbow bursting out of the six of them was hardly what I thought would happen.

I placed my gun to Discord's head, "I will NEVER let your plans succeed." Then I aimed at the knife that was pinning him to the wall.

His eyes widened, "What are you doing? Wait!"

"Making sure you fail."

I pulled the trigger.

The knife clattered to the ground, and I leaned down and grabbed Discord by the collar, tossing him to the side.

"You little vermin!" he shouted, "How dare you?! You are MY pawn, MINE! You do what I want!!"

Then the spell hit me, and everything went white.