Chapters Second Dreams of a chance(Re-edited)
He could feel every ounce of Tenno steel that made up his blade as it hung over the Colorful pony. He knew what he needed to do, but something inside him made it difficult. When suddenly an old memory played across his mind. The suddenness of this memory was matched only by the quickness of his actions he scooped the hurting Bloom into his arms and bolted into his linset. He laid the pony down and started to punch in data into the holo map. Ordis flared into being close by,
“Operator what are you thinking…*Infected do not make good pets*." He glitches, and the Red pelted frame didn’t even spare him a glance as he kept putting in coordinates. “Operator do you know something I don’t…..” he looked at the data and stopped. “This… these points Ordis knows these points.” The frame nodded, and Ordis looked at the infected Bloom he had put in stasis to slow the infection. He prayed to an entity he no longer remembers the name of and guided the linset to its destination. They arrived shortly, and the frame grabbed Bloom from stasis and sped through the tower. He had a plan, he didn’t know if it would work, but the Frame knew he most likely wasn’t going to survive to find out.
Everything felt heavy and sluggish. Bloom's body ached, and her mind was a storm of thought and emotions. She felt the dream of the giant beetle and the red alien with the talking lights named Ordis start to lift right as the giant tree monster had hurt her. Usually, she would have woken up after such a scary dream yet she still dreamt of apples, of her sister calling her name. She could feel herself lift up she wondered if this is what it felt like to fly. Then everything turned cold she could remember gold lights with white stones like the princess’s castle.
But that cold and gold place it seemed to seep into her very fiber. Her body felt heavier all of a sudden, and she squirmed and tried to move To fight, breathing was getting hard. She flopped and heaved trying to force air into her lungs. Her mind started to slug, and everything began to grow dark.She wanted her sister, her Brother. But what she wanted most was her dad. She heard singing, it was strange, flowing and she couldn’t understand any of it. But it filled her with a warmth like family surrounded her. The song grew louder like the song was demanding her to follow it. Suddenly she could understand more and more of what words were. They sang of home and family both new and old of lost homes of the Void. The words made her miss her family. She could feel herself grow warm and her brain was starting to fall deeper into the songs of the Void as they sang her a lullaby to sleep.
The light started to filter through the farmhouse’s windows signaling the start of another day. But this day was unlike few others. For as the suns rays fell into AppleBloom’s room, the filly curled tightly in her bed starting to stir. But the fog of more than just sleep clouded the fillies mind. The sun hit her eyes, and she flinched at the sudden light. She heard several familiar voices in the distance. But one that shouldn’t have been familiar. The Blue light that spoke in her dream why was it here now? She tried to move her hoof, but it wouldn’t budge. She started to panic a bit when the rest of her body wasn’t responding to her efforts either. She focused on moving her hoof and poured what energy and focus she could. The limb twitched in response, but even that felt unnatural. The conversations stopped suddenly, and she wished she could move her head to see, but that proved too much for her. Like something had cast a spell on her.Then she heard Ordis’s voice again she strained her ears trying to pick any clue as to what was going on. Her mind must have been messing with her Ordis wasn’t real it was a dream nothing more. She heard the soft southern drawl of her sister.
“Wake up Bloom… Can you open your eyes?” she asked, and Bloom poured everything into what should have been a simple bodily movement.Her eyes slowly opened to see the smiling face of her sister. The site was comforting up until the part where she heard Ordis speak.
“Ah, Operator Bloom is awake. A most joyous occasion.” Blooms eyes still a little blurry dilated suddenly at the realization that Ordis was, in fact, real. She started to squirm and move trying to get up, run, do anything at that moment. “Operators motor functions seem to be impaired hmm running synchronization diagnostics.” Something suddenly made an audible click and suddenly all that focus and attempting to move propelled Bloom off the edge into the wall causing her to rebound under her bed. Bloom could only let out a groan at the impact. But the bed offered, cover for her to orient herself. She started to rock a little in the space that was tighter than she remembered but that thought was pushed aside by the bright blue light that was Ordis appeared right in front of her. “Oh, happy rotation the operator is alive and well.” Bloom's response was to scream. She was breathing harder, and harder lightheadedness was starting to kick in. Applejack crouched down to try and calm down the filly.
“Look, Sis you’ve been asleep for a good bit and from the tales that’s been told, you’ve been through a bit of hell.” She said softly, but that didn’t help with Blooms growing panic levels.
She was scared out of her mind; Darkness was starting to creep into her vision as she continued to hyperventilate. Her mind scrambled for anything to help her.
“I want meh daddy…” she cried out in her head.
“Bloom stop! Breath” the voice was deep and tickled a familiar memory. One she couldn't quite touch. "Slowly" he commanded gentle, and she listened to it. Slowly drawing breath in and out till the dizziness left. She was still scared out of her mind, though. Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at her sister. Who flinched as her eyes met Blooms the filly darted forward into her sister’s arms and let the tears fall.
“Sis I was so scared. There was this ship, and then some aliens popped out, and they seemed scary but nice, and then there was a huge one that wasn’t and …and I got hurt… And sick….” Bloom opened her eyes and found the large mirror that stood in her room. Then her eyes meet her own, and she stopped mid-cry. Something was glowing in her eyes. She unclenched her sister and trotted over to it slowly. The face she stared at wasn’t her own. She touched her face and noticed her the end part of her hoof wasn’t orange like what it was supposed to be it was silver and had a slight swirl on the bottom of it. Her eyes glowed and swirled with stars and power she felt like she could stare at them forever. She traced a hoof down the lines on her face and cheeks taking in every new detail with a strange sense of curiosity as she did. Then it clicked she remembered the infection, The ancient.
“I’m still sick aren’t I…,” she asked without looking away from her new self. But she could see her sister stiffen up at the question she didn’t know. But the bright light that was Ordis her cephalon floated gently into view.
“Operator Bloom… The infestation has been purged, from your system. And this planet. The Warframe Chroma saw to that personally. He gave himself to protect you, though Ordis is still confused on how, but my systems show you are healthy once more.”
Bloom looked at the A.I briefly before her eyes returned to her own eyes. Applejack moved slowly behind her and stood to the side of her Sister. In truth, the older Apple was scared what if this wasn’t her sister anymore but some weird alien that was working their way into her home, but she was doing her best to block those thoughts as they came this had to be her sister. Blooms eyes flared suddenly catching Aj’s eyes tears started to well in those big bright eyes.
“I’m a monster now aren’t I…..” the little apple cried out and on instinct AJ pulled her close.
“No you’re, not Bloom …. You different now but... You’re not a” her sister started but Bloom went ridged, and more tears started to fall.
“you're lying you're scared of me I can feel it. you’re not sure I am your sister and …. And I don’t even know anymore.” Bloom fell to the floor crying, and AJ’s doubt stopped her from immediately going to her. Till, strangely enough, Ordis flared his lights.
“Operator Bloom!!!” He called out “No Operator of mine is a monster… The Tenno use their Warframes for the good of the system. Chroma would not have entrusted himself to you if you were anything else but worthy to wear his frame. Ordis know how it feels to doubt one’s self Ordis is a little glitchy and my memory is not fully intact, but I would be honored to serve the new operator.” Bloom looked at her cephalon and couldn’t help but smile. “Now operator… It’s time for you to sync up.” Ordis floated towards a large golden and white container. Bloom moved slowly towards the imposing locker. She could feel great importance flow off the gold and pure white of it.
“Operator Bloom please turn around and wait for synchronization." She did so she could hear the locker hiss open and mechanization whir and turn. She was starting to get nervous when something dropped onto her back almost unbalancing her it was heavy and felt leathery.Her legs threatened to buckle when she felt something like screws being tightened straight into her spine it started with a pinch and became something near unbearable in a mere second. Bloom felt the leathery hide wrap around her midsection as the pain continued.
She fell to the floor her eyes held tight and her mouth in a wordless scream her sister urged forward, and Ordis popped up in front of her.
"No you cannot interfere with the process!" but she passed through the projection and laid a hoof on her sister trying to help the filly. She didn’t try to remove it for fear of hurting Bloom, but she felt so helpless. She stroked Bloom's side and whispered encouragement.
It was like a fire burning through Bloom's body as the time passed by when suddenly everything stopped. She laid there with what had just attached itself to her. It was too heavy for her to move and the pain was too fresh in her mind to try. But Bloom could feel something stroking her back, and she opened her eyes to see her sister nearby it was comforting. Ordis spoke again
"Transference is holding strong... booting up main systems." Bloom looked at her hooves to see them flash white. Images started to pop into her vision lines pop up, and two numbers appeared. Bloom felt the power flow through her, and she started to get up slowly. "Health systems, Activated," she flashed Red, and the red numbers started to climb rapidly. "Shields Cycling now" the same process repeated but with blue. "Warframe power balancing and energy recover low but functioning." the line in the right corner of her vision filled with blue, and she felt stronger. She stood as more strength filled her body. Her head swam with colors and words on her face. But what freaked her out the most was she could feel this presence in her mind she froze up as she thought about it.
“Who are you?” She managed to think, and she could feel the presence seem to move. When a black box popped in the upper corner of her vision. It read Chroma, and it showed the face of the red frame she remembered.Then it spoke in that voice that had told her to calm down. It filled her with a sense of calm yet again.
“I am Chroma, we are the Warframe, and we are the Operator now.” Those words filled her with a sense of pride she couldn’t explain.
“You saved me… you sacrificed yourself for me?” she asked, and he nodded she could feel the hide she wore warm up in a comforting fashion. She actually nuzzled against it for some reason it felt like an old loved garment she hadn’t worn in ages. It made her feel like she wore the greatest suit of armor the world had known and nothing could get past it. She felt strong.Suddenly she was brought back to reality by the sound of her sister calling her name right in front of her. She saw her sister's eyes full and scared for her.
“Bloom are you ok you started to shake then rub yourself on the hood of this thing like it was a family member?” she asked plainly and very concerned.
“I guess in a way it is sis,” Bloom said, and Aj blinked a couple of times trying to process what she meant.Bloom trotted over to the mirror again to look over herself but with Chroma this time.The pelt covered her kinda like a hoodie there was even a part that included her tail It moved like it was attached same with the rest of Chroma's pelt the pain was gone now replaced with a warm sense of security. It took her back to a time she really couldn’t remember very well. She mentally thanked Chroma again, and he chortled softly. While AppleBloom looked herself over in the mirror Applejack was wrestling with that thought of is this really her sister. She started to look at a particularly ticklish spot the filly had and slowly pushed out a hoof to attack it. At the sudden touch, Bloom squirmed away and looked at her sister… until Aj put her whole, hoof into trying to tickle her sister. Bloom squirmed and laughed at her sister’s hoof until she moved out of the reach of the offending appendage. She looked at Applejack with her new eyes and with the Chroma on her back she looked rather fearsome. Suddenly Aj grew fearful as her sister stuck a stance. The fear hit a peak when Bloom launched herself at her sister. Applejack screamed in real concern up until the point where Blooms lips touched her belly and rash berried her sister until she begged for mercy. Applejack laid on the floor and looked at the ceiling as she regained her breath. Bloom had plopped on her sister with a smile. She looked back at her hair and noticed something missing, and she laid her head on her sister’s chest…
“Sis do we have Ma’s bow?” the question silenced a significant portion of Applejacks doubts on the subject, and she smiled.
“Ya, we got it Ordis said he cleaned it up real nice for you. It’s on your nightstand.” At the mention of her beloved bow she looked over, and sure enough, her mother’s bow sat pink as ever on her nightstand. Bloom smiled and sighed with relief.
“It’s always the little things ain't it?” she asked, and her sister responded more like her brother than anything.
“Eeyup.” That’s about the time voices started to come from the other side of the room.
“No Ordis it’s not some sort of sneak attack training it just a sibling thing….. Oh for Celestia’s sake no their not trying to cause harm to any pony….. Quite snickering every time I say that it’s the proper term you Flashy computer.” It was definitely twilight’s irritated voice to be echoing as it came up the stairs. "Sorry to interrupt but Ordis won’t leave me alone till I check to make sure you’re both fin….” She stopped mid-sentence when her eyes made contact with Bloom and Chroma. “Is that the Warframe Ordis has been talking about?” she asked, and her eyes lit up almost as bright as Blooms. Her eyes started to rush as she picked up Bloom in her magic and carried her away from Applejack. Bloom began to flail a bit in the purple unicorn’s magic.A quill and scroll popped out of nowhere and started to jot down everything as she circled the poor hybrid like a shark, but instead of blood, this one was out for knowledge. And it was somewhat scary from Bloom’s perspective. Even Chroma was scared at the way Twi looked at them.
“Bloom this one scares me I can’t move, and we don’t have enough energy to activate any of our defenses….” “I don’t even know what that means” Bloom cried out loud, and AJ tried to get Twilight to stop.
“Twi please you’re freaking… Well, to be honest, every pony…” AJ tried to bargain as she followed the hyper unicorn.
“But I can learn so much from just observing this alien life and how it’s bonded with Bloom.” She didn’t even drag her eyes away from them. Chroma squirmed, and Bloom waved her hoof till twilight looked at it.
“Twi please let me down Chroma’s starting to call you names like corpus and a salad named V… please!” she gave her the best puppy dog eyes she could she could even feel them glowing slightly. From Twilight's perspective, everything stood still as her eyes locked onto Blooms eyes filled with the stars filled in with an orange galaxy that swirled into them. She put her hooves on either side of Blooms face and pulled her closer so she could look into them. Hell, she even looked into the alien's eyes that set on top of Blooms head…. Even they were doing their best to be cute and try and persuade her… She shook her head and realized how she was acting. She set Bloom down and laid in front of her.
“I’m sorry Bloom I got excited.”All of a sudden there was the sound of hooves clopping up the stair.
“It seems old habits die hard my dear student.” Bloom looked over her shoulder to see the solar princess herself walking up the steps into her room. Bloom quickly turned and dropped to a bow as did Twilight. But then Chroma lifted himself from her back with a slight hiss of pressure. The pain on her back flashed briefly, and Chroma bowed itself to the sun princess. Bloom peaked an eye, and she nearly lost her composure at the shocked expression the princess wore on her face. Then she smiled and bowed back to the Frame. Everyone gasped, and Chroma chirped in shock then looked at Bloom who looked back to him.
“It is you who I must thank Tenno you saved one of my little ponies with no thought to yourself and even sacrificed a part of yourself.” She gave the Chroma pelt a soft smile and Chroma growled and chirped while the translation ran over Blooms view. “He says that it is a sacrifice Tenno are prepared to make to protect the system.” Celestia nodded with a bit of concern.
“A brave statement from a brave warrior one who has latched themselves to one of my peaceful ponies… I appreciate what you have done I still worry about what this may have brought to this world.” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath and released a heavy sigh. Chroma and Bloom looked at each other with a bit of worry….
“I can’t tell if she likes me or wants to slay me…” Chroma said, and Bloom nodded in worry. But both snapped back to the Princess when she opened her eyes.
“But at this point in time, we must celebrate the recovery of young Bloom. And I believe your granny has prepared quite a feast for all of us. Come along Twilight we can discuss what to do next about these developments.” She turned and flicked her tail and Twilight followed close by. Aj started down the stair then looked at her sister.
“You feeling a little-overwhelmed sis?” She asked, and Bloom nodded then looked at Chroma, and her sister left her alone.
“I sense you have a lot of questions…. Bloom.” She looked at her frame and sighed
“You could say that partner… But more than that I’m worried what are we, what are you and why am I like this now…”Chroma touched a claw to his face and seemed to think for a tick.
“We are two different Races, species, and even… planetary origins… but now we are one, In Mind and body.” Chroma hovered and bowed his head at her and Blooms eyes reflected the shock she felt at his words.
“Does this mean I’m not an apple anymore…..Or does that make you an apple now… Or … or Ah my heads all spiny now.” She cried out softly and put a hoof to her head to try and stop the feeling.
“Much of the question you ask are hidden from me as well I cannot remember where the tenno came from I only remember the Orkin and their void… But little else has been revealed to us. Whether our connection to the Lotus has been severed I don’t know I hope not the Lotus is wise and kind… not unlike your princess.
“There’s two of them. Well, three princesses actually counting that Cadence alicorn in the crystal empire.” Chroma floated just for a second until something clicked.
“Just as powerful as you say Celestia is?” he seemed to panic slightly. Bloom felt a course of fear run through him. Celestia reminds me of the Orokin and what little my memories are the Orokin still scare me. He seemed to grow small and Bloom’s heartfelt his fear. She reached out and wrapped the pelt in a hug. He warmed up to her touch. And she smiled when an elderly voice called from downstairs.
“Bloom suppers gonna get cold if you don’t get your hide down here." Chroma chuckled at the hide part and floated to her back and sealed himself back on. Bloom’s eyes watered, and she let out a Pony feather in a very pained manner. Chroma heated up and eased the pain a bit.She felt power flood into her limbs, and she did a little prance to get her legs working again, and she jumped the first flight of stairs to land with a thump but when she attempted the second she slipped and ended up falling down the rest. When the world stopped bouncing, she found herself in front of the whole family the princess and twilight. She blushed and righted herself and slinked to the table embarrassed. Everypony giggled, and Bloom could feel her ears heat up. “Well, it's about time young en.” She motioned for the young hybrid to dig in, so she did the second the young frame touched the food she didn’t stop shoveling apple or dessert her hunger hitting her like a train. Tears started to well in her eyes as she took in the smells of home and food. Everypony looked at her with a little worry. “You might want to slow down, or you’ll choke,” Celestia warned, and Bloom paused and looked at her family. “I was scared I wasn’t gonna be seeing any of you again…..” she sniffed and wiped away the tears and gave a smile “it’s good to be home." Everypony smiled, and Bloom suddenly perked up in her seat.
“Oh oh did Ordis tell you what I did before the creepy crawler got me?” she said with such pride the apples all leaned forward. “Bloom pulled up the holo-screen out of her hoof and brought out the piece of shiny metal. “I sold an apple!” she proclaims with the utmost pride. Ordis blinked in and nodded “yes the young Bloom did.” All the ponies around the table stared for a minute then fell into a loud fit of laughter Bloom looked around confused
“What aren’t you proud?” she asked and Applejack nodded
“We're just happy your home Bloom.” Bloom smiled, so she grabbed another fritter and munched on it a lot slower as she looked over her H.U.D the symbols in the right corner caught her attention, and she focused on the first logo, and it glowed white and read spectral scream. She shrugged and went back to eating.Then she burped, and a small jet of flame shot out for the briefest of moments. Applejack who was sitting across from her eyes were like dinner plates in her head and Bloom shrunk into her chair
“sorry sis...” Bloom sheepishly let out everyone was stunned until Ordis suddenly proclaimed
“Oh, happy solar cycle Operators first Spectral scream Ordis will save this to his personal data banks.” Everypony fell into laughing.
Elsewhere in the system.
A Large frame sat in meditation in his liset a blue cephalon blinked into view.
“Operator you have a new message….” He looked and nodded before holding out his hand and pulling up the message. “Tenno we found him.” The message closed and the cephalon reappeared
“A new location has been discovered want me to plot a course?” he asked, but the frame was too busy sending a new message. Once done he nodded to the A.I while several other lisets flew into view. They all made the jump to the void his ship leading the charge. They dropped out around the new planet and entered the atmosphere.The hunt was on.
Once the feast was finished the princess departed asking for updates and letters on Blooms progress which Twilight more than eagerly agreed to. Everypony departed, and Blooms body felt sluggish again. She yawned, and AJ chuckled “looks like somepony is ready for bed again” Bloom looked at her with dim eyes nodding her head in agreement. But she asked Chroma a question in her head.
“Why am I so tired yet I’ve only been awake a couple of hours?” she asked as she climbed the stairs.
“Your body has gone through many different changes it needs more time to adjust tomorrow you’ll be stronger and able to do more, I promise. But while your body rests your mind will train.” She gave him a questioning look but she crawled into bed Chroma and all and her eyes closed with sleep taking her quickly. But Bloom's dreams brought her to stark white void with a small building and halls littering the landscape. There Chroma floated in front of her.
“Here we will train to better use the frames powers and abilities, but we will also learn about the threats that spread throughout the origin system if they were ever to come to this place. Chroma spoke clearly and with authority giving Bloom that feeling of familiarity again. Suddenly a large two-legged creature appeared next to Chroma it was roundish and bulky looking it had a head shaped like a pumpkin with two glowing yellow eyes it looked around and twitched every now and then.It had a long weird tube in its hands. At First, she didn’t know what to make of it when suddenly her brain filled in the blanks. It was a gun a crude and archaic weapon called a grakata fast fire rate with average damage output. “Good Transference is holding strong it's giving what I know too, you. Now, these.” There was extra weight on her back all of a sudden, but her body worked on autopilot she reach her hooves to her back and stood on her hind legs using the extra weight of Chroma’s tail to keep her balance. The Dex Dakra were gripped by the claws Chroma provided on her hooves. The weight was weird and wrong until yet again her body kicked in and told her it was right they were perfect for striking. Chroma nodded and faded out of view when he did the Grineer readied his weapon and prepared to fire. Bloom ears heard the click and lunged forward removing the upper half of the Grineer from its torso. Bloom looked back, and the pony part of her brain started screaming as she saw the blood on everything, her hooves, the blades she was shaking. The world was weak. “Why did you make me do that why did I have to kill it why…WHY?" She screamed the last bit out loud she felt tears start to sting her eyes
“Bloom you're panicking your disrupting transference….Bloom” Chroma’s voice was cut off by the yells of several more Grineer advancing on her. But Bloom was frozen in terror the lancer came up and smacked her to the ground with his rifle Chroma’s voice was scratchy and sounded very far away. Bloom curled up and could feel tears falling as two parts of her brain fought for control. They surrounded and started to fire on the crouched hybrid it stung and made her yelp each hit caused her shields to blink and drain they were beginning to drop rapidly. I’m scared is all the filly repeated again and again as they fired on her then Chroma’s voice whispered in her head.
“Me too.” Her eyes snapped open, and her shields flared and died, and a bullet hit her side, and she screamed at the hot pain it brought, but something else came bubbling to the surface something that made the little bar right under those images fill slowly. Rage pure rage, It filled Blooms systems the pain dulled as she got up slowly and glared daggers at the cloned mutants in front of her. She saw what their empire did to those who weren’t them, she saw the brutality they inflicted upon those who were weaker than them saw the death and destruction they brought. She screamed, and flames followed. The first lancer in front of her fell to smoldering ashes within her fire. The other ones started to back away slowly looking at each other and speaking in their broken language. She saw what they would bring to Equestria if she didn’t stop them she saw her Family and friends in danger to these creatures. She turned her flame to the rest each fighting briefly before falling to her flame the last actually tried to run before being burned away. She stood in the middle of dancing flame and death. She breathed slowly and calmly Bloom surveyed her hoof work and found herself taking comfort in the chaos that they had caused. She had the power to make a difference, and she vowed to use it to protect her family an planet she promised to be a Tenno. Chroma appeared again he looked worried Bloom wore a grim expression as she looked at her frame, and he bowed making her arch an eyebrow.
“I’m sorry Bloom But you panicked, and transference made it so I couldn’t stop the training I” she held up a hoof, and he stopped.
“This frame has a lot of power and responsibility to it and… I need to learn to grab it by the tail and own up to it to protect my family." Chroma dipped his head again.
“Sleep Bloom you’ve earned it." The world evaporated, and she closed her eyes again.
Only to open them to a cold and pitch black area she couldn’t move, but her hoof hurt and her vision in one eye were tinted a sickly orange it hurt to breathe she felt something twitch under her. All her hooves but one touched something leathery under her, but she couldn’t see or make anything she was seeing or feeling. She felt a tug on her mind, and she fell back to sleep.
Elsewhere.
Applejack sat at the dinner table and tried to sort her head out. On one hoof her sister was back, on the other, she got hurt and now had an alien attached to her… A creak alerted her to granny smith entering the room. The elder took a seat across from her granddaughter. “It’s good to have Bloom back home The Princess sent a letter to Mac he'll be back in a few days,” She said with a small grin on her old face. But Aj looked at her still wearing that grim expression.
“But what if it isn’t actually Bloom?” she asked and granny without missing a beat.
“then we'll beat the tar out of 'em for lying to an Apple and find the real one, but; I can feel it in mah bones this is our Bloom even if she’s different and looks a little funny, she’s still our Bloom." The elder smiled and trotted off to bed leaving Aj with a bit of a smile. She looked out the window to the stars and made her way to bed.
Author's Note
Reedited and improved I'm actually going to shorten this chapter and move a part of it to the next chapter
Does it come with a Warranty? (Re-edited)
The next morning
Bloom woke up and jumped out of bed. She looked at herself remembering where the Grineer had shot her, but only a ghost of a bruise remained. She stretched out and greeted Chroma in her head who returned the greeting, and they both set for the bathroom. Once the water was running Chroma removed himself, and Bloom jumped into the tub. She reached a hoof to the frame, and it looked at her confused.
“Bloom what are, you doing I don’t need a…. a bath.” He said the last words like he didn’t quite know them. She dragged the dragon pelt into the water and squirmed around.
“Ya well I do I’ve been Celestia knows where and I’ve slept for days, and I need your help reaching all these new hard to reach spots you created.” She pointed a sponge at him making him flinch at the spray of water. Bloom turned her back to him and pointed a hoof at her back. He sighed, and she looked back at him.
“Please?’’ he picked up the sponge and started to work diligently Bloom sighed and relaxed at the soothing scrubbing. She reached over and grabbed the shampoo which she lathered in her hooves and began to run it through her hair. She noticed her hair was thicker than before and was having a harder time running through It. She pressed on rubbing more and more until the soapy bubbles were threatening to run down her face and in her eyes. She picked up the bucket filled it with water with a sigh and poured it over her head. She repeated the steps until she was sure all the soap was gone, and Chroma had announced he was done. She smiled and turned to him sponge in a hoof. Chroma looked at her then to the sponge the little lights that made up his eyes grew in size, and he tried to exit the tub. But Bloom already had a hoof on him.
“Now hold still it’s only fair you washed mine I get yours it’s how this works.” Whatever protests Chroma had shattered as Bloom started to work the sponge through the lines and parts that made up her frame. After a while, the only sounds that could be heard besides the soft splash of water was Chroma letting out something between a rumble and a purr. Bloom had to hold back her giggling. She pulled the plug on the tube. Once the water was gone and she had dripped dried a bit, she grabbed the towel with her mouth and started to shake and dry. Chroma looked at her then pulled his arms in tight, and the little bar on her H.U.D drained a point or two, and a wave of heat rolled off him causing all the water on him to steam and evaporate off of him. Bloom gave an impressed look when a knock on the door startled her.
“Give me a minute I’m almost out.” She called out, and a loud gasp could be heard behind the door. Before Bloom could say anything else, the door flung open, and two fillies stormed in with huge eyes and smiles plastered on their faces. But what Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle saw made them stop. However, Bloom instantly took action she slammed into Chroma reconnecting immediately making her yelp opened the window and jumped out. But what Bloom had forgotten was that the bathroom was on the second floor or would have been a problem for her old self. Here and now she made the landing and ran out into the orchard like it was nothing. Applejack came running in seconds later to see the two fillies standing there. She saw the open window and put two and two together and sighed.
“We saw pinkie making the welcome home Bloom banner, and we rushed here to greet Bloom but…. But that didn’t look... well it kinda did then she put something on her back and jumped.”
“Oh, why the hay did I do that why did I run? And why did I jump from the second floor like that?” she shot a glare at Chroma “is that a Tenno thing to jump from high places likes its nothing? I could have played it off. But now I'm just an armored freak.”
“with superpowers” a high pitched squeak called out, and Bloom looked just in time to see, Scootaloo and Sweetie belle careening towards her at top speed on the scooter. Before Bloom could run again, Scootaloo pitched the scooter sideways. Sweetie flew into Bloom soon followed by Scootaloo. Knocking Bloom to the ground, they held her tight not wanting to let go. Scootalloo was the first to break the hug she grabbed Bloom by the face and looked her dead in the void eyes “just to get this out of the way
“Ya?” Bloom responded by raising an eyebrow
“Good” then the Pegasus hugged Bloom so hard her shields dropped by a fraction of a point. Sweetie got up and hugged Bloom from behind. She marveled at how warm the red parts were even if they looked leathery.
“Feeling better?” Chroma asked, and Bloom nodded
“Much.” The other crusaders looked at her in confusion.
“Who are you talking to?” Scoots asked. She let them go and let Chroma introduce himself. She felt Chroma detach with a hiss and could feel the other's eyes grow like dinner plates. They gasped and backed away.
“This is Chroma” He then bowed his head and spoke in Bloom's head.
"Yep, that's Scootaloo." He pointed at Sweetie
"Marshmellow?" He didn't feel that was correct.
"Her name is not Marshmellow!" Bloom sputtered and blushed Scoots fell to the floor laughing, and Sweetie turned red.
"It's Sweetie Belle" She corrected, and Chroma held his claws out in an Apologetic manner. He bowed, and Sweetie dipped back. Scootaloo who had recovered from her laughing fit was now looking the pelt over from a bunch of different angles.
“You kind of look like a dragon…. Can you breathe fire?” Scootaloo asked, and excitement filled her eyes soon Sweetie joined in just as hard. Bloom could see the pride fill Chroma’s eyes and she rejoined with the dragon. With the sharp pain that came with. Sweetie put a hoof on Bloom's shoulder as she cringed for a bit. Once the pain subsided, Bloom nodded to Sweetie then regained the determined smile and with a flick of her tail told the other to follow her as she leads them to the farmhouse.
But as they neared the farmhouse, Bloom got rushed by a purple blur and Applejack. Twilight grabbed the filly hybrid and examined her all over again. Before Bloom could ask what she was doing, Twi’s magic flowed over her and tossed her the height of the farmhouse into the air only for Bloom’s agility to kick in, and she flipped and spun and landed softly on all fours. Twilight looked her over and scanned her with magic. Bloom yet again was about to ask why when Twi fired a bolt of magic straight into Bloom's side causing the hybrid to flinch and her shields to flare. The flare died down, and she jumped when twilight poked her stomach.
“Twi what are you doing?” Bloom asked.
“Notes” the purple unicorn answered curtly and once Bloom's shields were done recycling she poked her again. Then magic up a wooden cut out of a “Bad pony.”
“Burn it,” she said and pointed to the cutout. This interested the other crusaders, Chroma shrugged, and Bloom focused on her first ability, channeling her energy like she did last night. Everything came back to her the smell of blood the heat the pain everything was just like it was in her dream the smell of the fire the orange flames. She could see the Grineer But she did not panic, she did not cry. She cut off the ability when she saw nothing but ashes and smaller fires that had been set around the target. She stomped them out and looked at her Friends who all cheered for her while the book mare looked traumatized. She was muttering something Bloom got closer a little worried.
“2400 degree’s Bloom your fire is hot enough to melt most rock.” She looked scared. But the mood was quickly shattered by Scootaloo.
“Sweet!”
“So if that’s all the test you want to run… Then I’m gonna go eat breakfast!” Bloom quickly stated then ran off with her friends in tow. Leaving Applejack and twilight alone
“Twi?” the earth pony asked putting a Hoof on the Unicorns shoulder. Twilight looked at her.
“I need a Warframe.” She said, and the intensity in those eyes scared Aj quite a bit.
“What” Sweetie squeaked when Bloom called her out on her staring. Scootaloo had stopped mid-cake to look at the other two. Sweetie’s brain worked frantically to come up with the right reason. “Blooms taller than us now!” she blurted out causing Scootaloo to look at the hybrid.
“your right Pony feathers… and you’re a fire-breathing pony slash alien hybrid… you might come close to rainbow dash for most awesome.”
Somewhere over Ponyville.
Rainbow had a sudden pain causing her to cramp in her Awesome organ. “I sense a disturbance in the awesome…” she then rocketed towards Ponyville. Sweetie sat at the Apple's table trying her best to push away whatever weird thoughts were coming up. When Rainbow’s top half burst through the nearest window with a determined look.
“Alright Everypony who said something is more awesome than me?” she scanned Everypony in the room one by one till her eyes found AppleBloom. “Hey, Bloom? You look different,” she barked out, and Bloom looked at her eyes full with a pancake hanging out of her mouth. Dash looked into Bloom's eyes and found herself dumbstruck. She removed herself from the window and floated closer to Bloom she got almost uncomfortably close to Bloom’s face. Dash help up a hoof
“Bloom when did you get A, taller B, those kick flank contacts, and C, this awesome fake dragon hide hoodie.” She poked the dragon frame with a hoof and Bloom huffed to explain everything again.
“That’s her new eye color, his real his name is Chroma, and he’s an alien that saved Bloom's life, and he’s pretty awesome.” She said, and then Scootaloo piped up
“Ya and now she’s like a superhero, she can jump really high and Breath fire!” she beamed to her idol making Rainbow cock an eyebrow in skepticism.
“Prove...” before she could finish the challenge Bloom spat a quick puff of fire just inches from the prismatic mare’s snout causing her to recoil.
“And she had these, cu... Neat fangs see” Sweetie pulled Bloom's cheek back to expose the small canines to Bloom’s none amusement. The pony hybrid swatted away Belle’s hooves and told Chroma to say hi. Though he didn’t entirely detach merely unwrapped one arm and waved with a head dip. Dash froze, and her eyes didn’t leave the hide for a good couple of minutes. Long enough for Aj to get a plate and dump some pancakes onto it and walk back to the kitchen.
“Holy crap… that pretty awesome.” She bopped her head with an impressed look on her face. AJ, however, smacked her with her tail as she passed scolding her on language.
“Well, you’ve met one of the newest members of the apple clan….I’m pretty sure the other new additions will be around soon. He said something about going for a fly around town.” She said nonchalantly before sitting down and beginning to dig into her own cakes.
“So he’s a Pegasus?” dash asked and right before Aj could smile and shake her head no the sounds of silent engines passed over the farmhouse and the linset set down, and dashes jaw hit the floor at the alien spacecraft. Then Ordis popped into the farmhouse all gleaming and giddy.
“Oh Good solar cycle Operator and family, this town is so wonderfully *Primitive* Quant!” he spoke with glee. He blinked out then reappeared in front of dash sudden enough to make her jump.
“OH my, what a most unusual *Mutation!* Color combination Ordis’s sensors are *Bleeding* Pleased. Ordis then scanned Rainbow who covered herself like it was gonna stop something. Then he moved again, this time, in front of the CMC’s he studied Sweetie first.
“This one makes me wish I had arms it's so cute…Maybe to…cute hmm marked potentially lethal to cardiovascular organs….” Sweetie laughed at his weird voice. Then the A.i moved to Scootaloo who looked defensive. Ordis looked at her then to Dash then back to Scoots.
“Same species, No relation But your flight systems seem to be impaired… are your internal systems damaged?” Ordis asked seeming to be genuinely concerned for the filly. But the look on Scoots face wasn’t a happy one. Bloom gave the Cephalon a harsh look and Ordis Recoiled.
“Did Ordis say something wrong, But according to what the knowledge Twilight sparkle gave Ordis this is abnormal.”
“Ordis stoooop, she’s sensitive about her wings!” Bloom tried to get him to stop.
“Ordis see’s…. But according to the age, your size suggest your flight should be accessible by now. Possibly something in the hardware…maybe software. Ordis suggest a full diagnostic and then contact the manufacturer.” He said so matter of fact like he had done a great deed in pointing out the little Pegasus’s flaws. Scoots for her part chuckled though not without considerable effort.
“Thanks, Ordis…. I’ll get right on that.” She chuckled again, turned away from Everypony, muffling a sniffle she started out the door. “I’ll meet you girls at the clubhouse….” Once she passed the threshold, she bolted towards the clubhouse.
“It was excellent to meet you Scoot-a-loo.” Ordis beamed, and Everypony stared at him in shock. “What?”
“That was awful Ordis…” Bloom started, but Dash butted in
“What the hay you overcharged light bulb no one talks to my fan like that.” Dash hovered right in his hologram and Ordis shifted and flowed
“Ordis is confused, I merely offered a suggestion to help fix the glitch in her flight systems.”
“I don’t understand,” Ordis said again trying to wrap his systems around what they meant. When Chroma of all folks spoke up “Ordis Scootaloo’s operator’s abandoned her… Forever.” Ordis Froze dead at this. Bloom waved a hoof in his hologram, but he didn’t respond. She huffed ran out the door. She didn’t get far before Ordis blinked out and the engines of the ship roared to life. Chroma appeared on her screen in a panic.
“Bloom drop to the floor spread your arms and legs!” he nearly shouted before The ship knocked Bloom over. She managed to get into position before the Linset dropped on her scooping her up. But with enough force to bounce her off the interior of the linset before ordis took off with enough speed to throw Bloom down a ramp.
“Oh, Ordis is so *Stupid* insensitive!” Ordis fretted as he flew through the orchard. The stopped so fast Bloom hit the window with a thwap! Bloom's head was spinning from the blows.
“Oh forgive Ordis, I did not know you were abandoned Ordis is sorry, Ordis was once abandoned to for a very long time. I am broken because of this as well.” Ordis fazed on the filly a little more, than apparently got frustrated and turned red and Glitchy. “Operator get down here and be the arms Ordis is lacking for this Pony gesture!!” he shouted. Bloom made her way down the ramp and hugged the now slightly crying filly alongside Ordis for what it was worth.
Ordis suddenly flashed red, and Bloom had to do her best not to panic. Her heart sunk as Ordis began to blare an alarm. It was all too close to what had happened with the ancient. “Operator a ship had landed, and the void shows several ships are entering the planet’s atmosphere.”
“Chroma what does this mean?” she asked, and Chroma shook his head.
“Depends on a couple of things,” He asked sounding a little grim.
“Like what?”
“Well for starters if they know were Tenno, and two if they’re not dicks…” Bloom wanted to scold him for cursing. But more pressing matters were popping up.
Author's Note
(So i moved some of what use to be that last chapter here because i felt it worked better. Also reedited)
Pairing trap Prt1 (Re-edited)
Dash was flying low enjoying the sweet air When the sound of footsteps broke her concentration.
“you haven’t seen anything yet I was going easy on you since you caught me by surprise buuuut.” Rainbow left a prismatic trail for Volt to ogle at as she sped away into the distance.
“kaio what now?”
Volt kept putting more and more energy trying to keep up. But it was useless. He stopped and leaned on a tree in shame. Rainbow circled around and walked up with smugness in every step.
“You know I might need another title your right… Rainbow dash the pony who kicked your flank!” She smiled right into his face and Volt looked at her
“Ok enough games I’m on a mission.” He straightened up, and Dash held her hooves out in a fighting stance. Volt held out his hand, and a screen with a Front, side and back View of Chroma appeared.
“This is Chroma a Warframe like me. Have you seen him? His last location was on this planet?” Dash Recognized the Name and Chroma’s pelt… She felt a pang of fear.
“Can you take me to him?” he asked, and dash nodded Volt jogged in place slightly.
“see that Red farmhouse?” She asked pointing a hoof to the apple farmhouse, Volt followed the hoof.
“Ya”
“Race Ya But this time, I’ll give you a chance I'll even run beside you no flying this time.”
“Ready Sparky?” she joked, and Volt smiled in his helmet. They set off at Breakneck speeds.
Applejack was bucking apples like she always did. She was in deep thought about all that had happened. Bloom and Chroma all the craziness that just kept piling on. That’s when a linset flew overhead almost blowing her hat off.
“Dammit Ordis!” she called out shaking a hoof till she noticed the color of the Linset was not the white of the ship she was expecting but instead an Orange and green. The revolving door opened and out dropped a Warframe to match the color of its Linset. He had an odd helmet with two round eyes and what looked like a mustache that would have fit on one of those Flam Brothers. His suit had Green pinstriping, and he wore a large scarf. The Linset Flew off, and Applejack swallowed slightly.
“Oh, Celestia….” The frame stopped walking and seemed to adjust something on his frame in the glowing menu.
“Hello?” He leaned forward as if not sure if that was the right language.
“Ya, that’s the right Greeting.” He stood up and put a hand down his suit as if straightening it.
“That’s good the info is reliable. and this planet is friendly right?” The Frame asked looking around
“Ya, at least, Us Pony folk are… as long as you are Partner.” She raised an eyebrow, and he looked her over.
“Well one of us is gonna have to change color, or this might get confusing.” He pointed at her with a laugh. He got the message loud and clear don’t start any trouble, and no trouble would be found.
“Names Applejack what do you call yourself Mister,” She asked with a tip of her hat.
“Vauban Trapper and tinkerer.” He returned the tilt and held up an image of Chroma but before he could talk Applejack stopped him.
“I figured why you're here in mah orchard and it’s not sightseeing… But you better spill what you plan to do with Chroma right here and now because he’s attached to mah sister and you’re not taking her without a heap of trouble.”
“What do you mean attached?” his voice was calm and reminded Aj of those Flin and Flam Brothers.
“She got hurt by something that followed Chroma, and he did something to save her. Now she wears him like a suit.” Vauban’s body posture seemed shocked, and he put a hand to his chin.
“That makes this a whole lot more interesting… But our mission is to find him and reestablish his connection to the lotus. From there, she makes the decision of what we do.”
“We?” she asked, and he nodded.
“Ya the rest of the squad landed in different places to spread out and try and find him… You know where he is?” the trapper asked and Applejack put up a hoof.
“DO you all know how to speak like us?” she asked and Vauban nodded. “They’re not gonna stir up anything right? cause we weren’t ready for aliens to start popping up left and right.”
“They shouldn’t Tenno are masters of stealth and can usually go entire missions without being.” That’s about the time Rainbow and Volt came to Careening past them heading towards the farmhouse. Vauban’s words died in his throat.
Applejack looked at him with a mocking look. “What was that partner?”
He facepalmed. “Profit be damned….” He brought up Volt’s commlink
“What in the name of the void are you doing you speedy idiot!” his voice filled with rage.
“Can’t talk now focusing on not losing again…and I found Chroma the local is taking me to him…”
“Losing… never mind where are you going? we’ll meet there.”
“Big red structure called a farmhouse.”
“Got it.” Vauban closed the link and let out a sigh making Applejack raise an eyebrow at him.
“Soooo mind explaining what the hay just happened…” Vauban started to rub the bridge of his helmet.
“So that was Volt, and apparently he was racing something back to that bright red structure over there you know it?” he pointed back to the farmhouse.
“Ya, that’s my home…Dammit dash, come on we better go and get them before they wreck the place.” Applejack started to trot, but the frame pointed to her apple cart and buckets still on the floor.
“What about those?”
“I’ll have to come back and finish the bucking anyways no need to drag them all the way back just to take them back, now let’s get a move on if I know my friend she’ll have beat your friend and be gloating right now.” She continued to trot towards the farmhouse. Vauban looked at her.
“Bet Volt wins…” Applejack gave him a sideways look
“Ha, no way Dash is the fastest thing that isn’t Pinkie, Nah I reckon Dash has this beat.” She shook her head, but Vauban wasn’t convinced.
“One of Vaults powers Is Speed. He’s obsessed with it, he modded his frame for power and running speed.” He was sure Volt could win against a “Pony”…..
“Wait what’s a pinkie?”
“Y'all gonna be in Ponyville for more than a couple of hours?” she asked with a concerned look.
“Possibly… why?” he was starting to get a little worried. This pony hadn’t batted an eye at him or his ship, and now she was concerned about this thing called Pinkie? Something wasn’t right.
(Fluttershy’s cottage)
“Oh my what’s going on?” she asked with great concern. To which the animal all replied… at once
“No hold on I can’t hear all of you at once… Now Mister blue jay you’re always the best at telling things clearly what’s going on?” The bird tweeted and chirped his story, and Fluttershy grew excited. A huge new animal was in the area, and it wasn’t a dragon. It had disturbed the forest by landing, and the creatures wanted her to check it out.
Once in the forest, the animals lead her to the giant shiny beetle like thing. It was white and gold. It made a slight whirring sound, and Fluttershy was starting to worry her theory was right. She flew over to the beetle and began to coo slightly.
“It’s ok I won’t hurt you.” The whirring continued, and she started to rub a hoof up and down its smooth side, in what she hoped was a soothing gesture. “It’s ok you can talk to me what’s wrong.”
“Nothing as far as Ordis knows all ship systems are running at optimal performance.”
“Oh well, that’s goo..” Fluttershy at that moment realized that the voice wasn’t the sound of an Animal…it was standard equestrian…… she looked to her side slightly and say a glowing bunch of cubes that floated looking at her. She squeaks as she clung to the linset.
“Actually... Hmm.” He blinked out for a fraction of a second “Oh How embarrassing you were right, small winged creature. The left side engine needed a slight tweak to the dispersal system which produced a tone that Ordis wasn’t even scanning for!, Thank you small horse thing. The information we received said you all were *primitive* lacking in technology. But you clearly know your linsets… I'd shake… whatever you shake if I could….”
“Hey, I think it's waking up…..” A calm female voice asked
“Ordis didn’t mean to shut it off we were merely complimenting it on its discovery!”
“I know Ordis you were trying….”
Fluttershy opened her eyes to see a big creature in gray and green standing over her. Floating next to it was the strange creature made of floating boxes.
She fainted again… A bunny came flying out of nowhere and landed a foot on Nyx's helmet trying to save his owner. Nyx for her part was stunned at the sudden attack but looked at her shield bar to see it hadn’t even taken a number off. She lifted the angry bunny off her helm and looked at it. It was throwing a fit and kept looking at the fainted pony. Nyx tried to communicate.
“Hi, Shes ok just fainted…” But her words didn’t reach the angry bunny. So she went with plan b she poured a small amount of her energy pool and entered the bunnies mind. Angels concern was front and center but more for the provider of food than any real attachment. Nyx repeated her messaged, and the bunny nodded slowly. She put him down, and he pointed back towards the cottage. She noticed all the different type of wildlife that had at this point surrounded her. Things that looked small and cute to things that reminded her of The Rhino frame. In Sheer size and possible strength. She reached out gently with her mental powers. She tested the water of several of them until a Big and Furry creature let her in
His name was Barry, the bear… he was concerned about the pony… so was every animal in the area they knew her well and she cared for each of them they were ready to defend her. Nyx breath slowly and let her Presence seep into them all letting them know she was no threat and would take the Pegasus Fluttershy back to her cottage to wake. The animals all seemed to relax but watched her carefully as she wrapped the pink and yellow Pegasus in her arms to carry her. She followed the white rabbit back to the quaint little cottage. Nyx couldn’t help but find the cottage homely and inviting. The second she stepped in. She laid the Pegasus down on the cozy couch and started to walk away. Only to hear a soft mew and some shuffling coming from the couch. Fluttershy opened her eyes slowly to see the gray and green frame standing in her cottage. She squeaked, and Nyx reached out with her mental powers to try and calm the Pegasus. Fluttershy’s eyes turned into a piercing glare, and Nyx froze under the sudden pressure. Fluttershy felt a tug on her tail but didn’t break the contact for fear of releasing the creature that had entered her home. But Angel didn’t stop his tugging till Fluttershy, at least, acknowledged him
“Not now Angel, Mommies got to focus on this creature….. What!” she instantly broke eye contact to look at her bunny. “Really… Oh….Oh my I just used my stare on a… a *squeak*” she fled into her hair and whimpered slightly. Nyx was rather stunned still this pony who had just paralyzed her with a look and stopped her mental suggestion… And was now timidly hiding in its hair….. Nyx started to walk away slowly. When Fluttershy shined those huge Blue eyes at her again,
“Have you seen Something like this?” Fluttershy studied the image and hid slightly.
“it looks like a dra… dragon….No” she squeaked in fear and Nyx flinched at the unexpected pitch.
“what's the matter?”
“I'm terrified of dragons… What is he?”
“He’s like me a Warframe, he’s a friend and teammate of mine that was last detected on this planet.”
“You’re… your friend?” Fluttershy brightened up at that. “Well if I haven’t maybe My friends can help us, there really good at helping others out.”
“You think they’d help me out even if I’m not from this place?”
“It might make it a bit easier if you explain what you are I guess….”
“Oh, I’m a...”
(Seeing how if you’re reading this you already know what a frame is and I’ve explained it partly in earlier chapters.)
“So your intergalactic space ninjas who each have a specialized set of powers brought on by you Frame of choice and your peacekeepers right?” She asked, and the frame finished another cup of tea.
“thaaats a great oversimplification of things but Ya I guess…..”
“Ok,” Fluttershy finished her glass and smiled at her new frame friend.
Author's Note
Ya i Apologize right now this chapter took way to long to write and im still not totally happy with how it turned out.
View Online
The Meeting(The chapter the pun stood still) (Re-edited)
Bloom scanned the horizon while sweetie and Scoots asked Ordis questions and Ordis asked his own it soon turned into a game of tick for tack Bloom half listened but couldn’t dive into it. Her focus was on anything that might be a threat it was weird to her. Before sitting that still and that quite would make her antsy. But now it felt like second nature. It worried her quite a lot.
“Bloom calm down your starting to worry your friends, your still to young to be like this” Chroma tried to relax her with his voice but his choice of words urked her.
“Hey, you calling me little?” She puffed her cheeks a little and Chroma must have seen it somehow or just knew because he chuckled and the pelt snorted on top of her head.
“No, just that save getting quiet for when it’s needed don’t forget to be a foal when the opportunity arises.” “So you're saying not to waste my youth?” she felt him shake his head yes and she smiled. But she was a little high strung at the moment. Her ears perked up at a question Scoots was asking.
“So Ordis what happened that you were abandoned?” Bloom turned around to hear his answer.
“It was a very long time ago… So long that Ordis does not remember much but what I do remember was something had happened somehow the war was over and the Operator… The tenno was being stored and put to sleep each being hidden somewhere in the void until they were needed again and Ordis was left alone for a very ….*It was cold* Long time.” Bloom felt for the Cephalon, and so did the other crusaders.
“Operator bloom a pony approaches just over that hill she seems distressed.” The sudden change in tone snapped Bloom into what she was starting to call tenno mode only for the pony who was in distress to be Rarity. She trotted briskly towards the bunch and stopped when she saw Sweetie.
“Oh, there you are… You said you and Scootaloo were coming back to the boutique to play I was worried something had happened to…” Her eyes looked from Scoots to Bloom to Ordis then back to Bloom. Her hoof went to her mouth, and her eyes seemed to water a bit. “I’m sorry but you look like dreadfully like a pony we all miss dearly Is that why Sweetie dragged you here Miss?” it took a bloom a second but Rarity didn’t fully recognize her. Once she remembers how she looked now, she really couldn’t blame her, but it didn’t stop the slight twinge in her heart.
“Miss rarity it's me….. Bloom.”
“but your so much bigger now and these lines and, and those eyes like stars in a great storm…” she trailed off as she lost herself in those eyes of the void. Bloom blinked and moved her head to break the stare. She was starting to realize that her eyes may be a problem for other ponies if they kept having staring contests at her. Rarity blinked and cleared her throat.
“I'm sorry it's unladylike to stare but what happened to you and…what are you wearing it almost looks alive.” She walked to Blooms back, and the little hybrid rolled her eyes as the fashion mare looked her over.
“Miss Rarity.”
“My word is this Leather how barbaric… Surely whatever or wherever you were it wasn’t necessary to kill and wear another creature in such a ghastly display its… it's” that’s when Chroma detached, and Bloom heard her scream. “Oh, my goddess is it a parasite… stay back!” the white mare scooped up her sister and was huddling against a tree, flailing a hoof in Chroma’s direction. Sweetie’s face was the definition of DONE. She Flung off her sister's hooves and started to walk towards Chroma. “No Sweetie stay away from that ghastly creature!” Bloom flinched at the words, but Sweetie walked calmly towards the pelt.
“Sis how could you!” Sweetie started, and Rarity perked up “I thought it was unladylike to judge others based on appearance and you're hurting the feeling of my Friends!” she stretched the friends out and smiled at Bloom then got close enough to hug Chroma who chortled softly. “His name is Chroma, and he brought Applebloom back to us.” She finished, and Rarity looked at the Dragon pelt and searched over him looking for his eyes when she found them she searched them for signs her sister was telling the truth. What met hers was a soft yet intelligent glint, and Rarity bowed her head. Chroma spoke to Bloom, and she Relayed it to Rarity.
“He says he forgives you for yelling at him,” Bloom spoke softly, but there was still an edge of hurt in her voice. Rarity didn’t miss it, and her ears laid flat.
“that’s very generous of him….. some element I am if there is anything I can do to make it up to you please don’t hesitate.” She trotted forward, and bloom looked away before she could trance her again with her eye of the void. But she wasn’t prepared when Rarity pulled her into a hug “I’m sorry bloom we were all so worried for you.. what happened to you” Bloom opened her mouth to start to explain when the air got cold. She pushed rarity aside and jumped back just barely dodging the torrent of ice and cold that hit a tree directly where she was standing.
“CHROMA!” she screamed, and the pelt flew to reconnect with her. She braced for the pain, and it was a biting as ever, but she didn’t have time to worry. She faced the direction in which the blast had come from. Something Big and regal bathed in Red and gold with white lines running through his frame. G.old flowed and arched over his helmet. Bloom could see her breath cold radiate off the frame she could feel his power.
“Bloom this a Frost Prime he's balanced high shields and great armor. Unarmed like we are, we are no match I suggest we run and run being as we are, we definably have the mobility bonus here.”
Bloom breathed slowly letting Chroma’s power… her power warms her. She took a step closer, and the Frost reached for his sword in a defensive stance. “your marked Friend.” Bloom gave her best smile, and she could fell the Pelt on her back take a sharp breath, or it felt like it at least. Then Bloom looked at the tree’s, and her smile hardened. She approached the tree, and the Primed frame sidestepped not once dropping his ready stance or letting his hand fall from his sword. She placed a gentle hoof on the tree, and in a rush, all of its discomfort from the frost crashed into Bloom. Chroma physically jumped almost off her at the jolt. Rage filled her at the damage the frame was causing to her family’s trees. She whirled around and glared into the frames helmet. It responded by pulling the sword just a little out of its sheath. She took a breath in, and he drew the sword and put it between himself and her. But it didn’t do much about the torrent of angry words that followed.
“Stop Freezing the Tree’s they don’t like it and your hurting my families crop!” her mouth was halfway between baring her new fangs and a sneer and the frame dropped its sword a little and looked at her. Like it was checking to see if that was all it was going to do. After a minute, it dropped its guard and looked at the trees around it, then to the frost he had brought to them. She resheathed his Nikanna and brought his hands up seemed to take a deep breath released it slowly moving his hands lower as if focusing on something. The temperature rose, and the frost faded away. Bloom bowed quickly then rushed to the tree she had touched earlier and concentrated till Chroma heated up then rubbed slowly on the area where the frost had gathered once it was at a normal the temperature she repeated the process again and again till the trees in the immediate area were adequately cared for. The frame had watched her the whole time fascinated by her care. He looked around, and sidestepped till he was out of any kind of range of any tree then motioned for her to come closer. She approached cautiously he looked around then threw his hands out and a large dome of Swirling ice formed over the top of them both. Bloom looked around and could see Scootaloo, Rarity, and Sweetie Belle rushed the globe only for Rarity’s hoof to be forced back with biting cold. Bloom started to panic.
“What are you doing!” the frame knelt down.
“Peace be peaceful please I must reconnect you with her.” He reached out, and bloom controlled her rapid panic. She met him halfway his hand was cold no surprise there. What came next was, though. Everything turned white like her dream the other night. Chroma was still on her back, and she searched the void for anything that would tell her why she was here.
“I thought we lost you, Tenno.” A female voice called like a siren her words echoed around Bloom's head bouncing off the pony side of her but latching deeply in her Tenno side. She felt Chroma pull her to turn around for him to see. Bloom turned slowly and saw a tall woman with a large hat or helmet that blocked most of her face except her lips. “your Life signs dropped from my sensors, and we were worried. Then your signal reappeared, and I sent your squad to find you immediately when you did not return we feared the worst.” She bent down to Bloom's eye level and petted Chroma’s pelt fondly. Chroma for his part chortled and almost purred at the touch Bloom, however, was reaching levels of discomfort on one side and feelings of nostalgia on the other. She didn’t know which side was which, and it bothered her. She jerked her head, and the lotus stopped and looked at Bloom. “Forgive me in this state I merely couldn’t help myself…. What is your name little one.”
Bloom wanted to protest, but something kept her from doing so. “Bloom miss. Applebloom.” She spoke curtly and as polite as she could. The lotus let out a sigh, and she seemed sad.
“ So young… I've seen the reports of you and your world… I’m sorry.”
“for what?” Bloom was starting to feel defensive.
“Your world is so Young and Peaceful…. Untouched by conflict and harm this must be a tough experience for a “pony.” With that Blooms Fuse was lit her eyes flared with energy
“what do you mean by that..”
“Ordis told me all about your world bloom.”
“Ordis doesn’t know anything about Equestria he’s still learning still seeing and so are you!” If it was anything, Bloom couldn’t stand being looked down on. “You look at us… and you see little mud ponies sitting at the bottom just because we're not as fancy as you…..” the lights on Chroma flared with her anger.
“You know nothing of the Horrors the Origin system holds Little pony!” The Lotus's voice sounded just like a mother telling her foul about the
“dangers of the ever free” it added fuel to Bloom's fire.
“I've had a peek at what your world holds.”
“Then you know how dangerous it is…”
“you think we're just happy little ponies going on are way floating through life…” Bloom shook her head she Knew the hard work her family put on the farm. “Well, you know what I've seen with my own eyes, Miss.”
The white void grew darker, and a Cackle thundered through “I've seen a mare who could block out the sun and hold us all in darkness” The Lotus stood up as a mare of pure black with a mane that flowed with nightmares sharp, savage teeth in a predatory grin.
“The Night will last forever!” Nightmare moon cackled again, and the Lotus could feel the fear Bloom had felt looking at the Mare of shadows.
The shadows faded only to be replaced with pink clouds that rained up and for the void to wobble and distort. “I watched as a God wrecked our world. Turned everything upside down for his fun messed with the very Laws of nature just to amuse himself.” Discord puffed into view sitting on his throne drinking his “Glass” of milk before tossing it to an explosion. The lotus watched as everything she knew to be Physically impossible is done before her eyes just to amuse this being. He smiled and waved at her as she saw a Tenno turned inside out.
I've been kidnapped by legions of creatures that can turn into anypony they want that feed off any positive emotions you have till there’s nothing left. I’ve been face to face with their queen watched her do horrible things.” The changelings swarmed into the void just a tidal wave of swarming darkness that clung to every surface. They chittered and twitched with those blue crystal-like eyes. Then a giant one with a jagged horn walked, and they parted like a sea at her hooves. The queen looked over The lotus and with a smug smile morphed into her tapped her chin then turned into a Red what looked like a charred version of her, and it spoke.
“Hello NATAH.” The lotus stiffened at its voice. The queen chuckled and morphed back into her buggy self.
“But you know what stopped each and everyone and More?” Bloom's voice was booming now, and a Rainbow of lights was starting to form behind the Villains
“My sister and her Friends!” The rainbow lights became a solid beam of colors and the villains shattered to the elements of harmony shining proudly behind Bloom. “And now whatever comes this way it's my turn to Protect my family, Equestria, and this world!” Bloom took a bold step forward and snorted flames. She heard Chroma sniff “that was Beautiful.” She smiled at the dragon.
The lotus was taking back the power she had felt the grineer were powerful and physical, but these creatures wielded the very laws of nature.
“whats a matter Mommy Dearest, A little shaken up?” Discord leaned on her shoulder examined his claw while his other twirled her cables that trailed off her mask. He wasn’t a projection of the void he was here. She jumped back and called her weapon. “Oh don’t bother flower power… I’m merely here to bring a little chaos to your discussion ill be going… See you in a couple seasons Bloom!” he called out, and bloom went wide-eyed as he snapped his claws and disappeared.
“Ah pony feathers, I gotta write to the Princess now!” Bloom slouched and fell to her haunches.
The lotus walked forward slowly “All of those creatures that thing! its all true isn’t it?”
“Ya, I can pinkie Promise that one.” Bloom nodded the lotus bowed.
“you are right I have misjudged the ponies of this world, But you are not alone my little tenno.” As she spoke several more frames stepped into view, and the lotus smiled warmly “But before I leave I must ask something of you.”
Bloom perked an ear at her. “the Power you hold in your han… hooves you realize what you have?”
Bloom took a second and felt Chroma hum softly on her back “I hold a Warframe…. But I also hold a Friend a part of myself we are one, and there is so much power. I can feel it.” The lotus nodded slowly.
“I promise on the Apple family name to use it to protect not just the ponies of my world but anything that needs it… I promised Chroma the same thing, and Us apple don’t break promises.”
“then I welcome you Tenno Appleblo..”
“Natah yet again I find you coddling the tenno, what is this creature!” a male voice cut her off. Bloom Followed the sound to its source a slender man in bronze clothes with a very wide brim helmet that covered his eyes much like the Lotus.
“Tenshin this does not concern the conclave how are you even in this transmission!” The Lotus sounded furious Bloom looked back and forth between the two.
“It does when you seek to weaken the Tenno further a Tenno must be strong alone with himself!” The man pointed to the floor to push his point further home. “A tenno must be like a tree strong standing on its own unbendable, unyielding to the forces that be that is the truth of the tenno.” Bloom cocked an eyebrow. She waved a hoof as if clearing away something.
“Hold on mister you talking about two things I know by heart. Family and tree’s!” she looked him dead in the glowing orb thing that she had to guess was his eye. “Chroma ain’t just some suit I wear, He’s part of me, and because of that, he’s part of my kin that makes him an apple. And apples stick together now all this stuff of lone tree’s is good for the main parts, but what keeps a strong tree standing is its roots… a strong family is like those roots yes the tree is strong but only because its roots made it that way!” Bloom poked the air in Tenshin’s direction, and he crossed his arms and stroked his chin. “and there isn’t any tree’s stronger than the Apple family!” she finished her speech. The Lotus nodded, and Tenshin kept stroking his chin before turning suddenly.
“Tenshin?” the lotus turned the name into both a question and the beginnings of a threat. “I will make preparations in three solar cycles I will see how strong these apples are…” he faded out, and the Lotus lets out a sigh. “So stuck in the ways of old….” The lotus shook her head and returned her gaze to Bloom. “There are other Tenno near you Bloom Learn what you can in what time you can… I leave you in their capable hands until we meet for real my little tenno.” Bloom nodded, and everyone kneeled and the void faded.
Bloom opened her eyes laying on her side in front of Frost who was kneeling in front of her both of them were still inside the snow globe. Frost stood in one smooth move and waved his hand the Globe faded. And the three ponies that were kept on the outside came rushing in Rarity moved Applebloom away from the Frost golem in front of her, and the other two stood to form an adorable wall between their friend and her assumed attacker.
“Did he hurt you, darling, you collapsed, but we couldn’t get through the ice are you ok?” Rarity asked panic on the edge of her usually smooth voice. Bloom looked over her shoulder and saw a large ugly red and slightly purple spot on her otherwise pristine coat. “Oh my goddess I'm fine but your not what happened miss rarity?” Bloom asked, and Rarity flinched.
“My reward for trying to force my way into the sphere dear but it's nothing” at her words Frost put his hands between Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle and moved them away from Rarity she glared at him with every bit of intensity she could. “You won’t lay a hoof or claw on her again you ruffian!”
“I won’t but your hurt, and it’s my fault let me help.” His voice was crystal clear and deep but strangely warm. “Wa, huh?” was Rarity’s undignified response. He sat cross-legged at eye level with her with a gloved hand outstretched in a sign of friendliness. Bloom walked out from behind rarity and sat beside her “He’s not the bad guy he’s here to find Chroma and me. Now that he’s found me he’s gonna be a teacher.”
Bloom couldn’t keep the excitement out of her voice. Rarity Looked from her to the frame “Well it’s hard not to trust someone with such a fantastic coat.” Rarity let out a breath and sat in the grass with Scoots and sweetie coming back to sit next to bloom. Both the other fillies had the same burns that Rarity did, and Bloom felt both guilty and touched that they had tried to save her.
Frost looked at the party and seemed to sigh “First off I'd like to say I'm sorry” he pulled up the holo menu tapped a few options and threw out a disk in the middle of all of them. It releases a burst of something and Sweetie Twitched suddenly.
“Whoa what was that?” she accidentally squeaked, and Frost looked at her.
“Little orbs of energy that scan you and see what needs to be fixed then they fix it good as new. It’s a standard Tenno piece of gear for those who think ahead, and since it was my globe that caused the frostbite its only right, I fix it.” Rarity nodded
“That is very generous of you mister?”
“My frame type is Frost.” He pointed a thumb at himself
“Well thank you, Frost, I guess it should have been rather obvious based on your apparent skill set with the element.” Rarity giggled at her own comment and Scootaloo raised a hoof which was glowing as the little orbs fixed it.
“Ya and Applebloom can breathe fire now that’s… wait do all of you aliens have powers like that?” Her eyes went wide in as she pictured the possibilities.
“Ya each frame has a different power set the rest of my squad are planetside and should be meeting us here soon so you can ask them.” You couldn’t see Frost’s face or knew if he had one, but his voice was cheerful enough to guess if he had one he’d be smiling.
“cool” Was Scoot’s response.
“Are they all Nice like you?” Sweetie Belle asked, and frost looked up for a bit he put a fist to his helmet
“You could say there rather CHILL!” Everypony groaned Bloom face hoofed and one of Chroma’s arms came up and high-fived Frost.
“Nyeh heh heh!” Everpony Froze, Frost just thawed there. Bloom looked over to see a bright pink pony wearing a red scarf around her neck and a white piece of armor over her barrel. She looked at Rarity who looked at her, and her eye wandered back to the pink pony only for the Scarf and armor to be gone and but frost was wearing a blue winter jacket over his frame he looked like a statue. Bloom dared another glance at rarity who in turn looked at her when she looked again the pony was now eating a plate of spaghetti, and the Bluejacket was nowhere to be found. Nopony or frame moved as their brains tried to catch up to what just happened.
“Bloom I'm scared….” Chroma whispered in her head, and Bloom risked a yeah out loud.
It was like the whole world was trying to catch up to all that had just transpired. Pinkie pie tapped at a Notepad in her hooves with a pen and everyone collectively let out a breath they didn’t know they were holding. “So everyone Would you say you had a bad time getting here?” Rarity cleared her throat
“Hello Pinkie darling how are you?” she said politely deciding to just forget such things ever happened.
Author's Note
I was listening to the Undertale soundtrack when i reached that last part.
View Online
Pairing Trap Prt2 (Edited and Combined with Reunion)
"Oh, I'm wonderful. I have so many new friends to throw a welcome party for!" She threw the notepad aside and clapped her hooves together happily. When Frost put his arms out in a wait a minute fashion.
"Are we not gonna talk about what just happened?"
"Ya sorry that's just Pinkie for ya." Bloom let out sounding resigned about the anomaly that was Pinkie.
"what do you mean that's just "Pinkie." He made air quotes with his hands then looked to Pinkie only see empty space and a note.
"I better go and get ready gonna need plenty of supplies. See all of you there!"
"you're freezing the grass again..."
"It's healthier if you don't think about it too hard," Scootaloo said, and the rest of the group including Chroma nodded.
Frost held out his hands and seemed to stare into the void for a second reevaluating his life. Once that bit of meditation was over he stood and put a hand on his helm.
"Frost to all others I've found Chroma."
"Is there anywhere that stands out we can all meet?"
Excalibur stood on a hill overseeing the town taking it all in. So many words came to mind yet the only one he could say was peaceful. So much so it made him laugh, it looked so primitive so defenseless. He could make out the tiny animals that inhabited this world. "Ponies," he said the word out loud just to hear it spoken again.
Something appeared next to him. It hadn't just snuck up on him at. First, it wasn't there now it was. It didn't feel like another frame nothing showed up on his H.U.D., but the thing didn't feel threatening. The creature walked into his sight it was pink, intensely so.
"Hello, Mister Frame."
"you like the view?" he looked back over the town and could feel the sight bring a little happiness. He looked back to the pink pony and nodded.
"what's your name, Mines Pinkamenia Diane Pie, but you can call me Pinkie!"
"Excalibur"
"Neat I'm gonna call you "Cal."
"It's nice to meet you too Cal, you're looking for Chroma right?"
"Come on Fancy space ninja your new mission is to help me make a party for you and your friends."
Cal held a friendly hand to decline only for his Objective to change to "Throw a party" and a green waypoint to be placed somewhere in the small town. He looked at the walking pony and couldn't do anything but shrug as he followed her into town.
Chroma bloom lead the way back to the farmhouse while Frost walked close behind with sweetie belle on his head and Scootaloo on his shoulders he seemed quite pleased with the whole situation and answered most of the question the fillies had for him, Rarity was studying his coat from any angel see could sneak. Frost chuckled and held his arms out to either side catching rarity off guard.
“What I thought you like to get a better view of the sides. Frost chuckled again at Rarity’s blush of being caught.
“I’d love to Fabricate one for myself it looks exceptionally, warm and stylish to boot.” Her voice had recovered her smooth accent.
“I don’t think you can build my frame with materials found on this planet you’d need all the blueprints, not to mention all the materials.” He shrugged his shoulders causing Scootaloo to rise slightly, and Rarity looked at him confused.
“What no! I’m going to use fabric and dyes not whatever you just listed… are you saying I could manufacture you if I had the right things, Mister Frost?” She looked at him concerned.
“Maybe not me But you could make the Frost frame I wear, ok maybe not a prime anymore but the Frost part you could if you were a tenno.” Rarity went quiet and lost herself in thought.
Bloom piped up instead “So if I had the right things I could be a Frost?” Frost stopped at the question and put a hand to his chin.
“I don’t actually know how far your hybrid goes… its possible but you may have to create a new blueprint based on your body type, or it might mold you into the default shape…. I don’t really now.” He shrugged again.
“You wish to replace me already?” Chroma joked, but bloom instantly backpedaled
“No id never replace Kin!”
“Bloom it is alright frames are situational and are meant to be switched if the situation arrives. If you can switch frames, I don’t think it will harm our connection, and I encourage you to expand your knowledge.” He had that fatherly tone again, and something nagged at her mind, but she brushed it off.
“Ya lets hold off on any switching I still haven’t gotten used to this yet let alone adding other Frames.” Chroma laughed/chortled again. They all say the farmhouse and everything looked peaceful till they got within earshot of the arguing.
“What do you mean you lost, I put plat on you.”
“That’s probably why I lost you jinxed me by betting….”
“Ha, you going use that as an excuse I whipped you twice..” Rainbows brash voice boasted
“She’s not lying ya’ll” Applejacks confirmed.
The group finally got close enough to see Volt on the floor looking defeated, and Vauban with his hands in the air in defeat, Dash doing victory loops in the air and Applejack holding her hoof out for the bits she just won.
“What in the name of the void happened...”
Rainbow came down and got really close. “well your boy volt over there on the floor came down and was all like he is speed and no one was faster than him so we raced and I won. Then I made it a hoof race, and I still left him the dust. And whatever happened to the other guy and I think he owes AJ some money now or something.” She rolled her hoof to make her point of not knowing/caring.
“Really Dash that’s so cool!!” Scootaloo squealed behind Frost's shoulders causing the frame to jerk his head at the sudden high pitch. Which dislodged Sweetie on his helmet who he caught in his arm.
“Oh hey, squirt did Ordis apologize and junk?” Scootaloo nodded
“Ya, he made things better, and we meet Mister frost here he's a Cool Guy…” Even frost groaned at that one.
“So I’m guessing you're some kind of Ice Frame?” she asked with a sharp air of indifference and Frost nodded and he bent down letting the fillies climb down.
“And I'm guessing your some sort of…” he put his hand to his chin as if trying to think. “Sky horse?” he asked with the same indifference she asked him with.
“Hey I’m not just a sky “pony”…. I’m the sky pony!” Dash puffed out her chest with every ounce of pride she could. “and I can beat you in any race!”
Frost held out his hands “I don’t doubt you I’m an iceberg were not known for our speed or our bragging.” He held out a hand and dash took a breath and put her hoof in it.
“Sorry about the bragging I can be full of myself sometimes.” Everypony there scoffed at the sometimes bit and Dash glared at them for a split second before continuing. “Anyways welcome to Equestria.” They shook on it
Vauban shook his head again and had to do a double-take when he saw Chroma's pelt.
"By the void is that you? Chroma?" he knelt in front of Bloom but didn't seem to notice the pony under the pelt. His hand reached out but hesitated, before finally resting on the pelt's head. He seemed mournful. "Is this all that's left of you?"
"I'm Applebloom, Whats, your name mister?" She asked cheerfully. He reached out and shook the hoof.
"Vauban's the Frame Trapping is my game." He said with a hint of pride.
"Cool! Mines Breathing fire!" she huffed a tiny flame to demonstrate. He chuckled still bewildered at the whole situation.
"I heard about it but to see a Frame in such a way it's different to comprehend," he said, and Bloom couldn't help but feel he wasn't looking at her as a whole but just the pelt on her back. Chroma rumbled and appeared on his H.U.D
"I'm still here, Walrus!" The trapper yelped and nearly fell on his butt. Volt looked at her when the comms opened for Chroma.
"Oh shit its Chroma. Yo Dude! what happened?" he jumped up to look her over "And why are you so small?"
"Ah think that's mah fault." she held up her hoof and Volt nodded as if he understood anything about the current situation.
"So your Chroma squad?" she asked looking over the three frames in front of her.
"Not quite, We're still missing two that landed her Nyx, and Excalibur. Any of you seen them?" The other Frames shook their heads
"Let's just hope they're not causing trouble" he put a hand out, and pulled up his comms "Nyx you there?" After a moment the Green and grey frame appeared on his hud.
“Ya got sidetracked…” She sounded and looked slightly sheepish when she said it. Then started moving energetically.
"So we landed, and I was scanning the area for any frame signals when this Yellow pony flung herself onto my linset, and she was whispering to it, and I guess Ordis heard it and he went out to her then back in did something to the ship and returned to the pony. This was when I went outside and got a better look at it and…. And it Was ADORABLE! With its wings and giant eyes I was overwhelmed, and I squealed… just a bit and the pony dropped off my spaceship, and I was like OMG its dead and Ordis said that may be loud noises were fatal and I almost cried till I noticed it was still breathing and I felt better but then this huge bear was like RAWR!! And I used my mind powers that’s when I learned that the pony was the caretaker of all those animals and they were worried about her and stuff and I had to tell them quickly that I didn’t mean to and I was peaceful and all that stuff.”
“And that’s why you're not here?” Frost asked, and Nyx Rubbed the back of her head lightly…
“Well, I'm not done explaining… So after that, I carried the pony who is called Fluttershy, by the way, Like come on even the name is adorable.” Frost cleared his throat for her to get back on topic.
“Oh, ya anyways so I let the animals lead me back to her home, and it's this cozy little cabin at the edge of the forest. This is like my new favorite planet you think the lotus would let me take a vacation here it's just so… so CUTE!” she waved her arms in front of her overcome with the thought of getting to stay on this planet. Frost sent her a blank-faced emoji to once again encourage her to get on topic.
“Well once inside the pony woke up and I got to introduce myself and the animals spoke kindly of me so apparently that got me major sym points because she opened right up. And she insisted that she serve me tea… so Heh heh that’s why I'm late..” She sent an emoji with a huge smile and Frost began to rub the bridge of his helmet.
“Well, this world is full of surprises… You know where..” Frost looked at the sign in front of the farmhouse and read it out “Sweet apple acres is?”
“No I didn’t make it that far mind setting a waypoint?” she asked and Frost marked it.
“See ya soon.” Frost then cut the call and looked to everyone. “hey has anyone seen Excalibur?” Volt looked at Vauban who Shrugged, and Frost facepalmed and put his hand back out.
“Excalibur comes in I know you're alive…. Come in… We have the target, and we have a new mission where are you.” At first, silence met his calls until the sword frame blinked onto the screen. The camera was moving and unsteady, and he had white powder and several sticky lumps of…. Something… all over his arms. “what in the name of the void happened to you…” Excalibur sighed letting his shoulders drop but right before he could speak two pink hooves appeared and took the screen and turned it onto herself.
“Oh hey, Mister Frost! I needed help getting the party together, and I needed someone who knew the culture and stuff, so I grabbed Cal here, and now the party is right on track!” Her words sent a chill down frost spine…. Out of habit, Frost sent a concerned emoji and instantly regretted it when Pinkie lit up. “Omg you use those two, well I guess it makes sense seeing how it's probably hard to emote with those suits.” She sent 4 winky faces Frost's brain was close to overheating only a tenno had access to the typing how had she done… “Well gotta go Parties to plan and food to bake, see you all soon.” The video feed ended, and Frost was seriously wondering what weapons he’d need to mount a rescue mission against one with no regards to the laws of tenno… and physics.
“Mister Frost are you alright darling you seem tense,” Rarity asked, and he almost didn’t answer her.
“This Pinkie she’s a friend right?” Rarity raised an eyebrow and nodded slowly. The question got Dash and AJ’s attention as well. Frost might as well have been made of ice “Is she dangerous….” He asked, and it sounded strained. This got Vauban and Volt to stand up suddenly. The fillies backed up, and Volt began to generate arcs of electricity again.
“What no She’s odd and energetic but she’d never hurt anyone or anything…” Rarity pleaded
“Ya she’s the nicest pony you’ll ever meet well maybe besides Shy…” Dash asked, and Aj gave Frost a hard look.
“Why whats going on partner…” there was an edge to her voice and Frost meet her Green eyes with his golden optic.
“She has Excalibur, and I just watched her break about everything I thought possible in the two short instances I’ve interacted with her….”
“Ya, that's just Pinkie for you trust me Chroma’s adjusting to her to Don’t worry if anything she’ll have the perfect party all ready for us all by the time we get there.” She waved the hoof nonchalantly, and Frost relaxed a bit. But Volt looked confused.
“what all did you see her do?” Volt asked he sounded concerned. Frost explained what had happened with Excaliburs screen and the emoji’s and the other frames were just as worried as Frost now. Despite Everypony else’s Assurant that breaking physics was only a "Pinkie thing" and was better left unanswered.
“So what’s the plan squad lead…” Volt asked. Frost sighed
"Well..."
Author's Note
So i removed reunion and combined the two chapters also edited everything
Pinkie Partys and Weapon Theif (Re-edited)
Whatever plan Frost had. Certainly was not what happened. As what did happen was Nyx and Fluttershy showed up, and a waypoint labeled party appeared on all of there H.U.D's Now all five frames were standing in a room decorated with their clan colors with lotus streamers hanging from the walls and a large table of gold and white cupcakes that looked like void keys. A now clean Excalibur stood next to a bouncing Pinkie as they both took in how the other frames reacted. Frost was begrudgingly impressed at the display and attention paid to every detail in such a short time.
Volt and Rainbow looked excited to try the keycakes. Vauban was using a hand to admire the Lotus Streamers. Nyx had her hands on either side of her helmet squealing again about how cute and awesome this planet was. Pinkie bounced up clearly unable to contain herself any longer.
"so what ya think, what ya think? Did I do good or did I do good?" She stopped bouncing to shoot a beaming smile so genuine and bright Frost almost expected his shields to take a hit.
"It's impressive, how much consideration you took. Do you treat every guest to your planet this way?" he asked
Frost jerked back from the frowning pony, the universe somehow felt a little colder seeing that sight. But she bounced back with a determined look.
"Bloom! I need to borrow Ordis I must throw a party for the whole universe now!"
"Whoa slow down girl, I think that might be biting off a bit much even for you." Applejack said holding a hoof out
"Ya plus if you do that who'll throw parties here in Ponyville?" Rainbow added helping to rein in the party pony.
"Oh ya, I guess you're right." Pinkie said, but the look on her face said she hadn't completely abandoned the idea. Frost rested his palm on the hilt of his Nikanna. But his hand met empty air, and the space around him dropped several Degrees rapidly.
"Where is it?" he asked her his optic blared, and Frost started to grow from his feet.
"Wheres what?" she asked playing innocent only for his to lean over her. Pinkie fell on her back, and Rainbow flew between them.
"Wow, wow what happened?"
"Pinkie!" he warned sounding close to losing it.
"You mean your super space ninja sword and weapons?"
"Yes." the vacuum of space was warmer than how he said that one word.
"there on a table in the back!" Pinkie shouted pointing a hoof to the side, then smiled awkwardly.
Frost straightened up and took a calming breath before storming off to where she pointed. Rarity followed him closely.
"Whats wrong?" Applejack asked skipping the nickname in concern for not just the frame but her friends as well.
"She's pretty thorough," he said and picked up a cake.
"What about you sparky aren't you gonna be all huffy now?" Rainbow asked Volt who merely shrugged
"I didn't bring anything but energy restores," he said nonchalantly as he stood near the Trapper wanting to see his verdict on the snacks. Fluttershy was shaking a bit behind Nyx.
"Oh my he's.. scary when he's mad." she looked at the frame she was hiding behind then got scared that maybe she was mad at pinkie to. The thought almost made her cry.
Frost rounded the corner steaming. Rarity on his heels
"Please don't be too mad at her, she obviously took things a tad bit too far. but she means the best I promise."
"Tenno weapons are sacred to us. They prove how far we've come! Nothing should be able to take them without us nothing."
"I'm sorry she's wounded you in such a way, surely if you talk to her she'll"
"No, it shouldn't be physically possible our weapons are linked to our frames. To lose them sends a signal showing us where they are. For my sword to be there one second then gone the next with no warning. To think she! Can do that without even a second thought, It scares me." Frost admitted, and Rarity looked at him taken aback.
"Pinkie has always had this ability to do the impossible. But I assure you she had never used that ability to be purposefully mean or hurt anyone." she looked over and noticed the Familiar Sheath and smiled a little. "But overall she tries her best." Rarity pointed to the table, and Frost looked at the little shrine the party pony had built. His Dragon Nikanna sat on a stand and incense burned on either side. His pistols lay paired and shinier than when he'd last seen them as if someone had cleaned them. He kneeled in front of the shrine. Rarity sat next to him looking over the weapons so tastefully displayed. The urge to pick up and genuinely admire the beautiful instruments was almost overwhelming.
"The Orokin had a way of blending Form and function," he said with a hint of pride he ran a hand over the golden arches on his helmet.
"If I may gush some more without being disrespectful of course. But such a well-designed sheath. surely it must house a stunning blade."
"if the blade is drawn. Blood must be paid," he said wanting to judge the ponies reaction. Rarity simply glanced at him then back to the sword.
"Oh, how much darling?" he looked at her but couldn't hide a small chuckle.
"its more about honoring the weapon then the amount."
"I see. is it sentient?" she asked catching the Tenno off guard.
"No" He shook his head surprised at the question.
"I'm sorry that was a rather dumb question, I've heard stories of Blades or weapons enchanted in such a way. I fear my flight of fancy got away from me a bit." she chuckled got the impression he was doing his version of a smile to her.
Excaliber's Skana stood out of a stone proudly waiting for its master to draw it. Nyx's Hiku stars laid in their holders in front of a tree.
Vauban's Table was the fullest. His Hek shotgun and Dual wraith vipers sat on a thick rope net that was draped over the table. His Hammer was leaned against it. The Table that should have been empty wasn't. Volt's table had lightning bolts all over it.
But the part that made Frost actually snort was the fact unlike the other weapons put on display like art. Volts whip was in a cardboard box that said: "For Space Ninja who forget to check their pockets."
"Oh, my that's a bit rude by pinkie pie standards." Rarity said, but Frost shook his head
"Maybe but Volt will find it hilarious. I've sulked enough better apologize." he waved her to follow, and she let her eyes linger on the revolvers just a moment longer before doing so.
They walked out to find Twilight had joined the party. But Pinkie ran over to the frame and stood on her back legs with a bow with Cal standing behind her.
"I'm super sorry I didn't mean to offend you, Cal explained how important your weapons were to Tenno. I guess I just wanted everyone to have a good time."
"What do you mean I left it on the ship!"
"the box says otherwise." he hooked a thumb back towards the tables and Volt ran over. It didn't take long for him to zoom right back.
"By the void Vauban! what did you expect to run into on this planet, Lephantis?" he shouted and the trapper shrugged
"Don't leave the Linset without my Hek."
"whats that Partner?" Aj asked
"Well, its a four-barrelled shotgun named after the tyrant of a grineer councilor Vey Hek. Pretty powerful but slow." Volt explained.
"Sounds like a handful." she whistled, and Vauban nodded there was the sound of hydraulics, and he shoved the whole cupcake in where it disappeared under his mustache. Volt watching his fellow tenno with baited breath. The lights on his suit flared, and he seemed a bit stunned. "By the void!."
"Good or bad! Good or bad man?" Volt begged for the go-ahead to eat.
"My God." Volt let out sounds amazed
His head slowly swiveled to look a Pinkie. Who was beaming happily in a blue blur Volt was kneeling in front of her. The sounds of soft crying were heard. "I will follow you to the deepest void if you keep making these."
The Magic in You (and Your Horn) Re-edited
Twilight was frantically scratching down notes as she observed each frame. From Frost's Demeanor, Nyx's energetic yet calm nature, Volt's Brash and competitiveness, And Vauban's down to earthiness Personally she wondered if each frame had variable stats or if each shared a baseline.
She'd managed to get some data out of Ordis on some of the different frames. But out of the ones here only Excalibur, Nyx, and Volt were ones she had any prior knowledge of. She took note of temperament, how they interacted with each other and the ponies. She didn't notice the frame standing over her until she felt a chill. Shivering she looked over to see Frost reading her notes over her shoulders.
"Your quite studious aren't you?" He observed
"You mean egghead, and no one is more eggheaded then Twi," Rainbow corrected with a snort. Then went back to watching Pinkie and Volt have a cupcake eating contest. Twilight Growled and blushed, and the Frame chuckled.
"so what do you know of the Tenno?" He asked and Twilight's brow knit.
"The Tenno themselves not much. Ordis has been tightlipped about them. Your frames I was able to get a little about Excal, Nyx, and Volt. But only abilities, Which Nyx's psionic talent would be fascinating to learn more about." She looked at the frame, but Rainbow had floated over eavesdropping.
"Wait, your Psychic?" she pointed a hoof at Nyx next to Flutters. Who perked up at the question.
"Yes, I am Nyx Manipulator of minds! and lover of cute stuff!" she called proudly.
"Cool Prove it!"Rainbow called back only to be pulled into a hug by the green and grey frame. Nyx started nuzzling her cooing and Rainbow struggled to free herself.
"NO! not that part! The Psychic part!" Everyone laughed, and Rainbow huffed smoothing her hair trying to regain cool points.
"Oh ok" Rainbow got the feeling Nyx was staring really hard at her.
"So whose this Spitfire and is there suppose to be a hole in her uniform?" Nyx asked innocently, and Rainbow turned bright red. As all the ponies stared in silence for a second before Pinkie and Applejack hit the floor laughing. Twilight blushed from second-hand embarrassment, and Rarity covered her mouth to laugh like a lady.
"That's what ya get for poking a bear Dash," Aj said between snorts.
"Ya, ya laugh it up" Rainbow let out annoyed and stalked back over to a corner. only for Volt to slide over.
"So where was the hole?" Dash buried her head in her hooves.
"Shut up, Just shut up." she shook her head and Volt shrugged. Popping another cupcake behind his mouth plate.
"Your mind is so busy, It just teams with questions."
Twilight's eyes flared white, and a purple orb started to charge at the tip.
Fluttershy rushed to Twi's side but got a jolt of magic that sent her wings on end. in a familiar way.
"Girls it's the elements!" the remaining ponies rushed over.
"OK then what do we do?" dashed asked and Fluttershy looked Between Nyx and Twilight.
"Twilight might be able to release the magic she's used to it but what if Nyx can't. So Um OH Celestia what do we do?" Fluttershy looked at the two rapidly.
"Maybe we can siphon the energy out of her. We are the elements after all." Rarity offered and Started to approach Nyx.
"But we can't take a change with Twi's life she's our friend!" Rainbow argued flying in front of the white unicorn. Rarity looked uncertain, and the Frames gathered around them.
"Somebody explain whats going on!" Frost shouted over the confusion. As he approached Nyx only to get Lashed by the magic. Shaking his hand to regain feeling, He looked at the ponies for an answer.
"it's Magical overload we need to dissipate it... We six can possibly do it for Twilight, But That would leave Nyx on her own." Rarity explained, and Frost shook his head.
"Our frames are conduits for energy maybe we can do the same."
"And I'm sure as hell not abandoning my friend!" he shouted getting pumped.
"I have no honest idea whats going on. But let's do it." Vauban came up still munching a muffin.
"So she can see all the good in this world can offer and laugh about it!" He shouted determined, and Pinkie whooped and grabbed Twilight's hoof. Her eyes glowed
"OOH Tingly!" Pinkie giggled as Rarity Gripped her hoof letting the energy travel. Frost grabbed Cal by the shoulder His light's flickered and blared. Volt and Dash joined their friends in unison. Vauban and Applejack nodded at each other and took there place in the chain. Fluttershy grabbed Dash's tail her wings stood on end. The magic was intense, and it felt like fire running through there veins and frames. But they could handle as it cycled and flowed slowly getting weaker as it fed through the ponies. The Tenno was convulsing and shaking as the magic wrecked there systems.
"It's not enough we need one more!... One more Tenno!" Vauban shouted like he was speaking through grit teeth. Bloom shot forward
"were too small, To new, we'll Burn out!" Chroma yelled in her head, but she didn't stop.
"We gotta help!"
She grabbed Vauban's Syandana in her teeth. She tried to hold in her scream as the magic flooded her system and very being but she couldn't almost letting go but held on.
"Just a bit more! We need just a bit more!" Frost yelled Pinkie eye's still a glow perked up. She placed a back hoof on Twilight and her tail on Rarity's hoof maintaining the power link and Reached into a white void. Pulling back like a fisherman.
What came out was a very surprised Nekros. She tossed him at the Tenno chain, and Vauban caught him by the arm. The single light on his faceplate blared a sickly green as he panicked. The poor frame screamed
As the energy burned through the new frame. The power pulsed kicking Chromabloom out of the loop sending her flying back off a wall. When her vision cleared, she saw part's of the frames start glowing with bright colored light.
Frost fell to his knee's. The unwilling Nekros was flat on his back. Frost looked at the burning on his shoulder where the red leather had been branded by the Magic. Three diamond shapes were etched into his frame. The Nanomachines that ran through his systems filled and healed the mark. But instead of getting rid of it. It filled with a metallic blue similar to the gold on his helmet. He stared fascinated by it. Cal got to his knee's in front of his sister. On his abdomen, three pink balloons were stamped. Volt groaned Face down with a Light blue thundercloud with a lightning bolt coming out the bottom between his shoulder blades. Vauban was touching three misshapen objects on the right side of his pectoral area. It took him a second to realize they were red apples. Nyx had three pink butterflies under her left breast it was softer in color them her brothers bright neon pink. The still catatonic Nekros has a purple star with sparkles on his hip.
Frost rubbed his optic to clear his head, but his gaze landed on Rarity's Flank and saw the same three diamonds. Nyx stirred and Cal moved back for Fluttershy to rush in
"Are you ok how do you feel?"
"Oh by the void. It was like fire, then it exploded like a rainbow in my MIND!" She cried out excited. Cal thumped her hard enough her Shields recycled.
"Ow what was that for!" she rubbed her helm where he hit her.
"You almost died you fucking clutz!" then hugged her.
"Never, Again. Never doing that again!" Twilight cried out Groggy, and her friends tackled her, Fluttershy joining the pile last. "Woah ok easy still woozy from the overload girls."
"What happened Twi!" Rainbow asked hovering in her face. Twi used a hoof to edge her away.
"When SOMEBODY!" She yelled at Nyx "Got a little too handsy with her powers. She touched my magic, then connected to the Elements any they, they lashed out."
"lashed out or spread?" Frost asked pointing to the blue diamonds on his shoulder. Rarity gasped and looked at her cutie mark.
"What! How? Did you do or say anything?" she asked pointing a hoof to all of them.
"I said I'd give my life before losing a teammate," Frost answered.
"How generous" Twi commented and looked at Volt as he groaned and sat up
"I said something along the lines of I'd never abandon a teammate."
"Loyalty," Twi said, and Volt looked at her funny.
"I honestly had no clue what was going on, but I think I helped." Vauban put out there raising a finger. Twilight didn't say the obvious.
"Excalibur said he wanted Nyx to experience all the good in the world," Fluttershy said, and Cal nodded looking at the Balloons
"So laughter and Nyx is kindness for the kindness she showed the animals. That just leaves one question." She pointed to Nekros "Who the buck is that and why is he the element of magic?"
"Not sure I understand fully but Nekros are Tenno Shaman of the dead, so magic is right up his alley."
"But how'd he get here?" She asked, and Pinkie popped up next to the prone Tenno.
"Oh, we needed a sixth tenno for plot reasons, so I pulled him from your house. Must have gotten lost on the way to the party. Let me show him where he can drop his pointy things. She grabbed the Tenno in her teeth by the back of his Helm and dragged him into the back.
Once out of site she looked at the frame and smacked him hard enough his Shields flared. He jolted up and scrambled away from the pink pony.
"Who? What? How? what are you!" Pinkie gave him a hard look. "The reports said nothing about" he waved a finger at her then back towards the main room. "THAT!" he got up"First I'm in this tree library place, then there's a book and a pink arm. Then I'm being pulled through the void it'self!" he was very expressive with his hands and single optic that blared as he talked. She got right in his face.
"I know what you were up to and for the record, if you want info on this planet you ask! not snoop through my friends home!"
"I am the Tenno Reaper of souls! I hold dominion over Death it'self!"
"And I'm Pinkie Pie." He jerked back trying to comprehend just what manner of being he dealing with. She turned around "Don't forget it! Put your weapons on the table all of them! I can see the holstered ones." She let out Uncharacteristically harsh.
But the Skeletal frame didn't know that. Nekros turned his head to see the "Uninvited guest" table. She walked around the corner, once he was sure she was out of site the pony leaned on the wall letting the pure terror show on her face as she put a hoof to her chest in an attempt to calm her thundering heart.
Author's Note
This was posted a quickly on limited internet access so if you see errors point them out Plz and Thx
Author's Note
This ones a bit shorter then my last sorry
Phagy (Re-edited)
The Tenno of death Thought about ignoring the pony, but the cold chill he received down his spine. Made him hastily take his weapons and place them on the table. The AkMagnus laid paired, and the Ether Reaper leaned on the side. But as he removed the Phage from his back he was met with a problem.
It squirmed and mewed pitifully everytime it was brought close to the table. The Tenno felt terrible for it didn't like being left in strange places. He looked conflicted between the table and the sickly green eye that matched his in color that stared at him pleadingly (Trust me on this one). With a sigh, he held the living beam shotgun and walked back to find the pony to explain.
When he came back to the main room, it seemed everything had returned to somewhat usual standards as everypony and Tenno were paired up talking about the new marks. Chroma and Bloom were recovering from the magical shock they'd received with the other CMC's. The hybrid noticed the Nekros looking out of sorts and trotted over followed by her friends.
"I'm Applebloom, Are you ok?", He looked down at her
"You're the Pony... Tenno," he spoke like the words were weird to get out of his faceplate.
"And you're a Shaman?" she asked interestedly. "Like Zecora right?"
"If this Zecora communes with spirits and draws power from death. Then yes I am like this Zecora." He said a little pretentiously. Bloom rolled her eyes.
"Then whats the matter?" she asked bluntly causing him to glare at her unimpressed tone.
"The pink one told me to leave my weapons, But this one is fussy..." He trailed off like he was embarrassed.
, "It's a Phage, a decent beam shotgun type weapon made from infested tissue," Chroma began to explain, but Bloom's eyes went wide in panic hearing the word.
"INFESTED?" she cried out loud.
"It's none contagious and safe to be around unless it's fired at you....I still recommend washing your hooves after handling." Chroma finished before she could go into a full panic mode. Nekros somehow managed to look more annoyed at her outburst. By this point, all the frames and ponies started to gather.
"What's going on?" Frost asked, and Nekros seemed embarrassed.
"Well it's," he trailed off and Frost tilted his head to look at the shotgun.
"What do you mean? whats wrong with your weapon?" The bony frame didn't speak merely went to set the thing down only for it to start wiggling and grunting. Every Tenno and pony promptly took a step back and stare at the dark horror before them.
"What? Why? How there suppose to be like lab made inactive!" Volt shouted hiding behind Vauban who stared at the weapon with an amused posture. "we made those in a BioLab there not suppose to be all alive and shit!" He flailed his arms
"well, mine just has a bit more, Personality." He brought the weapon close in a protective manner.
Fluttershy hovered closer looking at Nekros asking permission to approach. He looked at her a bit confused but slowly held the Phage out for her to see. She looked into the Green eye the white part she assumed was light being reflected moved to look back. Which gave Bloom chills. But Fluttershy cooed softly to the weapon. Putting a gentle hoof on its spine "Your a cutie aren't you" Whether it understood fully or not it mewed happily wiggling its prongs at her tone. "Are you hungry little one?" she asked, and Rainbow who was hiding behind the chain of Vauban and Volt Poked her head over Volt's shoulder.
"Flutters I think it wants to eat us." Volt nodded rapidly, agreeing with that thought. But the yellow pegasus ignored them.
"What does he eat?"
"Mostly what I shoot him at but he'll eat anything Vaguely organic." Nekro's said proudly. Fluttershy scooped up a cupcake and brought it over.
"See if he likes this." It looked at the sugary treat and used it's front prongs to grip it Firing its corrosive beams intermittingly testing its meal. It let out an unholy screech that made everyone except Nekros and Fluttershy cringe. Then ate it happily.
"Seems like someone enjoys the cupcakes." Pinkie said as she walked in balancing another tray of them on her head.
"No I was feeding um, Whats his name?" the shy Pegasus asked.
"Phagy." Nekros let out with no small amount of embarrassment.
"Hold it right there Missy I know for a fact you call your tortoise "Tanky" and absolutely adore that animal more than anything." She scolded Dash in a motherly tone. The cyan mare looked really sheepish. Volt was taken back then looked Dash straight in the eyes.
"That sucks, but she's got nothing on me." And proceeded to continue to laugh. Till Nekros stuck Phagy's prongs to Volt's smug faceplate.
"Good feeling is gone." He let out lamely and hid behind Dash.
"Hey! that thing would probably go through me faster than you Mister space ninja!" She cried out.
"Ya, but as it goes through you, I can make my daring escape."
"What about Loyalty you ass!"
"Does that mean all the time?" He asked, and Dash shot him a hard look.
"Yes!"
"Fine!" he switched places standing heroicly between the Phage and Dash. "Then I'll sacrifice myself so you can flee." He let out dramatically
"I can't let you as the element of Loyalty I'd never let my friend take the hit. So that means!" They hugged each other
"We'll die together." They finished together.
If Nekros had eyebrows, it'd be twitching. His eye drifted away to see Pinkie crying softly into a tissue. Muttering something about a tragedy of friendship. He looked back to see the pair had booked it the second he looked away.
"Silly frame as if I'd ever be that mushy!" Dash mocked from a distance. Pinkie started jumping up and down cheering he almost missed what Volt said
"Ya Loyalty is making a dramatic distraction so everyone can get evac." He heard the two high five more than saw it. He was about to vent his anger when a hoof held a bright green Cupcake to his faceplate.
"I know you have a mouth open," Pinkie ordered, and He didn't know why he actually did open his mouth plate. But she wedged on in it and gave another to Phagy with a pat.
"First try to food before blowing." Nekros took the whole thing in one bite more out of spite than anything. His whole body changed straightening in surprise.
"By the void tell me there is more!" Frost lead him to the table. Where Nekros Tenno reaper of souls became Nekros Devourer of sweets, no Cupcake was safe from his reign of terror.
Sweetie, Bloom, and Scootaloo were sitting together talking about Bloom's talk with the Lotus and Teshin.
"Was she scary?" Sweetie asked, and Bloom shook her head no.
"Nah she seemed really nice and caring, but between her and Teshin you really feel like a foal. But Teshin is like granny smith but a hundred times more intense and he's on his way here!" Bloom suddenly panicked. Excalibur sat next to the little Tenno
"Peace little Tenno, That's one reason we're here to help train you and prepare." She took a sigh of relief, and Cal's steady hand on her shoulder helped.
"What about school?" Sweetie Belle asked nonchalantly eating a cupcake. Causing Bloom's face to erupt in pure terror.
"Ah forgot about school!" she lamented and smacked her head on the table hard enough Animated James felt it and caused her shields to flare.
"Huh, at least we know those systems work," Cal grunted.
"Ah was gone what close to a month, That's got to be a ton of homework I missed!" Her lamenting continued
"actually while you were missing everypony was really worried. Cheerilee only assigned I think three things to try and teach but the whole town was searching. Now that I think about it we should probably take down all those Missing posters." Scootaloo swooped in to calm her down. The thought that everypony cared so much filled her with happiness.
"Ya, when things didn't look good the whole town had a vigil for you," Sweetie added sadly.
"Wait, so most everyone thinks I'm dead?" Bloom asked raising an eyebrow. The thought turned her insides into a knot.
"Not me I always knew you were ok." Scoots added toughly, but Sweetie wasn't having it.
"Na uh you were crying with the rest of us even Diamond Tiara, and Spoon were down." Sweetie hugged Bloom remembering the vigil. Bloom appreciated it. Chroma used an arm to pat Sweetie's back
"I'm surprised Applejack let you out of site. She yelled at everypony at the Vigil Big mac had to drag her home." Scootaloo said casting a glance at the Farm mare.
"It'll happen I think she's in shock right now," Bloom said but kept the other thought to her self. The thought that Aj didn't believe she was actually AppleBloom. That thought hurt her. Chroma heated up to comfort her and Sweetie let out a pleased "oooooh" Chroma lifted the arm he had placed on the other fillies back, and Sweetie looked at the two. Cal looked at them also curious.
"What was that?" Scootaloo asked
"Chroma got really warm all of a sudden, and it felt really good on my back," Sweetie exclaimed.
"He does that when I'm worried or get stressed, It helps," Bloom said nervously.
"That's really sweet of him." Sweetie let out. Scoot looked at the pelt with a tiny bit of longing. What she didn't expect was that the hide was watching her. It unwrapped from bloom and pulled all three into a hug and heated up. Bloom Relaxed, Sweetie, smiled But Scoot's eyes grew misty, and the Pelt let out a concerned rumble.
"He want's to know if you're ok. Scoots are you ok?" Bloom asked noticing her friends trembling lip. Sweeties head popped to the side to look at her friend. The bashful filly pawed at her eyes
"I'm fine *Sniff* just really happy your back Bloom."
"How do you not suffer internal Failure?"
"What do you mean Cal... Do you?" Chroma asked.
"Yes." He answered simply before a line of blood fell from the crevice of his Helmet. All four screamed in unison Chroma, and Bloom reunited, and he walked her through the simple steps to revive a fellow, Tenno. After the green mist washed over the Fallen Frame his hand shot up giving a thumbs up. Somewhere else Bloom's Ordis updated Sweeties profile from potential to Lethal Adorableness
Tale Of Tail Winds and Scooters (Re-edited)
Author's Note
Watch out for link It's what she's humming
Tale Of Tail Winds and Scooters (Re-edited)
Two Ships flew over the Everfree forest stopping near the outskirts of town. Dropping their respective Tenno. The ashy grey and fire orange Ember landed gracefully, and Zephyr Floated slowly enjoying the Equestrian air. Ember sucked the clear air through her intake, and her entire frame lit up with bright, healthy flames.
"So you feel it too huh?" The dark purple and Black Frame asked as she effortlessly hung and hovered around her friend.
"YES! it's like this place is so clean so and fresh I think my efficiency went up five ticks." Ember balled her fists and flexed her arms.
"I know right!" Zephyr squealed. "I could just, OH!" She took off into the air suddenly leaving her Firey sister to attempt to yell after, her.
"Wait you know where we're going you featherbrained Frame!" Ember looked around at the unfamiliar scenery "What do I do now!" The directionally challenged Tenno growled at the world around her. A couple ponies looked at her direction but quickly made themselves scares fearing the new firey monster would wreck the area.
"Ordis has told the operator to fix her mapping systems." Her Ordis told her passive aggressively.
"I know, I know but a lot of the time I just follow the others and were fine!" She whined. The Cephalon huffed
"Then why not Call the other Tenno." He suggested.
"No they'll just keep making jokes!" she shook a fist at no one imparticular. Ordis sighed the only one who ever said anything was Volt. But his operator wouldn't have listened even if Ordis had spoken that particular line of thought for she was already storming off.
Zephyr zipped through the air gleefully almost effortlessly. The air felt charged and alive as if brushed against her frame. It felt so good like a gentle and warm hand that greeted her with each pulse of her Tall wind. Before she even realized the solar cycle had ended. She looked around seeing the orange sky and landed on a roof to look around. She remembered where she was supposed to be going and pouted seeing it was half the town away.
"Oh, Ember we're so far away." She pouted then realization struck her when she was met with silence. "Ember?" she looked around her "Oh she's gonna be mad at me." Zephyr shrunk a little on her perch. When a rustling sound caught her ears. She looked down into the dirty ally to see something small and orange. She watched the little orange filly knock over a can and start rummaging through it.
"Operator, Are you not going to course correct to meet the other Tenno?" Her Ordis said, and she shushed him. "Operator, only you can hear me," Ordis said confused, then looked through her main view. Ordis Brought up the Data showing it was a Pegasus filly. Zephyr hovered slightly above it
"Are you ok little one?" Scootaloo yelled and jumped back shocked as. Her eyes looked over the floating Bird-Frame.
"another one?" she asked in disbelief, and The frame got closer.
"Have you ran into another Zephyr already?" She asked fascinated. She knew other Tenno were planetside but not sure which frames they were using.
"No, but you're a Warframe right?" Scootaloo asked, and Zephyr nodded happily, If not a bit goofily. The Frame tilted her head looking at the filly Noticing her little wings.
"Your widdle wings are just adorable." The second the words entered the air Scoots tried to hide her wings and looked upset. She tried to hide it in anger.
"Ya what of them!" she said defensively. Zephyr as bird-brained as he was noticed the fillies distress.
"I'm sorry I didn't know you were sensitive about your wings."
"well, maybe you should wait before calling out Features on ponies you never met before!" Scoots let out harshly, and the frame recoiled. The Frame waved her arms, and a mini tornado lifted the filly off the ground, with a cry. Into her arms as she floated gently to the ground. Once they rested against the ally wall Scoots looked into the beak-like helmet of the frame. Zephyr held up her arm, and Scootaloo noticed the blackfin like feathers that trailed off the arms of the frame.
"These are my wings and feathers pretty weird right?" Scootaloo reached a hoof out and touched them marveling at the weird leathery feel of them. "Yet I can still fly. Maybe you just need some guidance. Whats your name?"
"Scootaloo."
"Zephyr it's nice to meet you Scootaloo. Where do you live?"
"The Orphanage." The filly trailed off slowly.
The word made no sense to the frame until Ordis pulled up a translation "An orphanage is a place children without homes or parents are cared for." It took a second for it to sink in but when it did Ordis had to check the operator's vitals for fear something had snapped.
Outside her mind, the Orange filly was waving a hoof in front of her helmet and beginning to wonder if that slight grinding sound was something to be worried about.
"We don't get many chances to be peaceful. We fight for balance and honor but fear going back to sleep when there is peace. For what use is a warframe if there is no war." She pulled her knee's close to her chest and Scootaloo could hear a faint heartbeat.
"What do you mean going back to sleep." The Frame looked off down the ally and held a hand out that shined a light projecting moving images.
"there are hundreds of theories as to why or how the Orokin fell. Scootaloo saw golden halls with ivory walls and ever-flowing water. It reminded her of the Princesse's castle but colder. "But when the Orokin empire fell, The Tenno were hunted and forced to hide in what remained of our home. The Void wrapped us in gold and cold."
"Then the Lotus called on us frantic and worried. So many had died in there sleeping. Others to the Grineer and their blind hatred." The image was blurry, but Scoot could see smoke then the ground rushing up to meet the Tenno in the past. The broken language of the Tall Green monsters with there yellow eyes and misshapen bodies scared Scootaloo. She heard a voice she couldn't understand, but it felt motherly, and it hurt her heart to listen to it with such concern and fear.
A flash of red and a blast of ice and she Recognised Mr. Frost. The Grineer cried out, "Others awoke, and others were fighting.", Zephyr in the video got up and was thrown a weapon. A simple looking curved sword but she wielded it to cut down the monsters. "We reminded them of what we were, Warframes." The video stopped. "I've made friends, and I've lost them. This place feels like a dream untouched by all the horrors of our system. I just pray it stays that way." Scootaloo looked at the Frame holding her and Curled up against her.
"You sound like you've been through so much."
"It is the only life I've known. But we Tenno fight for whats right. That is what makes it worth all of it." She looked down at the little pegasus whose eyes were dropping from the warmth of being held and soft beat of whatever beat inside the Frames chest. She began to hum and old orokin tune. Then softly chanted the unknown lyrics as the filly drifted off to sleep.
Silently Freak out, She didn't know what to do with a sleeping child. She thought about putting her down but looking at how peaceful she looked the idea seemed monstrous. So she called Ordis for pick up. Softly the ship came in on whispering engines. Once inside Ordis popped up.
"Operator WHY did you *KIDNAPP* Bring the small pony?"
"I don't know I panicked ok!" She yelled while still whispering even though they were on a private link.
"Operator please! we were told to follow all rules and regulations on this planet. The Tenno do not capture nonmarked targets, you simply must put it back." Ordis scolded then saw her hand pull up the options menu. "Operator I swear by the Void you mute me. *I'll shut off every system*"
"Don't worry I'm just turning your volume down a teeny bit" She put two fingers really close together to mime how much she was adjusting "So you don't wake up little bird."
"Little Bird." Ordis asked in Disbelief.
"Ya, I don't know just every time I look at her I just see little bird." She shrugged guiltily. Then looked down at the filly you could almost feel the soft smile radiate from her helm "She's my little bird." Zephyr sat on the ground near one of the orbiters walls, and her lights dimmed. Ordis checked her vitals to find her sleeping or the Tenno equivalent.
"Operator is so strange sometimes." Ordis thought and put the linset in Orbit and went into monitor mode as they drifted around the Green and blue planet.
Mornings With the Apples (Re-edited)
Bloom stirred in her bed as the sun rose. The memories of the party last night still playing in her dreams. The rooster crowed, and she knew the day had to start. With a groan she got, almost immediately Chroma popped up on her H.U.D.
"Morning"
"Ya, Ya" She waved a hoof at the image absently as she stretched.
"you ok?" he asked, and she could practically hear the eye he didn't have raise.
"Not awake... Let me get mah morning apple, and a bath." She mumbled. Her other half chortled.
"Don't forget School today." He reminded her, and she glared at nothing for a second as she walked to the door.
"Yay, as if I don't have enough to worry about." She groaned and made her way downstairs.
The kitchen was livelier than usual. Bloom walked in to find Granny Smith and Vauban. She was cooking and chatting up a storm as the Frame listened with a cup of coffee in his gloves.
"So there I was lost deep in that forsaken forest with nothing but mah wit's and my good ole' fryin pan. Then in a flash of lightning, I see Twenty of the beasts. Eye's green and hungry. So I did the most sensible thing I could and ran like the dickens. But them critters were smarter than your average hungry beast. They kept popping up, Leading me where they wanted, and it certainly wasn't back to my warm bed that's for sure."
"Morning youngin I was just telling one of your alien friends about when I discovered the Zap apples." The Frame took a sip of the brew
"I was expecting it to be informative, but this is on par with a Tenno mission in peril."
"You'll have to tell me one of those tales next." Vauban nodded.
There was a series of hoofsteps that signaled Applejack was up. The thuds went up a bit stopped sounded like she said something Then rapidly descended the stairs as she burst into the kitchen.
"Granny Blooms." Applejack stopped when she saw Bloom, Chroma, and Vauban sitting in the kitchen looking at her. Her eyes were still wide as her brain fought to wake up. Granny put on a happy face.
"Blooms right her Aj. She just beat you to the punch that's all. I also got a response from Mac he'll be home in a couple of days or so." Bloom woke up a bit at the news.
"That's great he can see Blooms back." She trailed off her brain working overtime to catch up to reality. Granny looked concerned but returned to a happy face when Bloom looked at her. She slid Bloom an extra fritter with a wink. Then Vauban two who nodded and thanked her. Applejack's stupor broke a little as breakfast sat in front of her.
"So whats on the agenda for today?" Gran asked
"School." Bloom let out blandly
"Tending to South field." Applejack let out absentmindedly.
"I think I help out if you don't mind," Vauban spoke up looking at the Mare hoping not to intrude but was curious how farm work was done without hands, or thumbs, or Magic. AJ nodded, and he'd figure he'd have to ask later when she was more awake.
"Operator Bloom's Training starts today." The Cephalon's hologram blinked into view at the end of the table, beaming happily. "Today Excalibur and Volt will be teaching Melee and Movement." Bloom perked up slightly "After Bloom *Pony* school has ended of course." And right back down she went.
Granny whistled "Sounds like you got a full day youngin. Once your washed up and ready go on we warned as much of the townsfolk as we could. Hopefully not too many of em faint." Granny laughed at her joke. Bloom shook her head and finished her breakfast, and Making her way back up the stairs towards the bathroom.
"You seem pretty relaxed." Bloom pointed out.
"Baths while not as Efficient as the sonic cleaning Tenno use. But are far more Enjoyable. He looked very content even closing his four eyes to enjoy it further.
"They're better after a hard day." She smiled and began to fill the bucket to rinse off.
Once everything was rinsed, and the tub emptied they reconnected, and Chroma flash dried them both with a puff of steam. She shuttered from the reconnection then set out to prepare her saddlebags only to find them missing. She searched, well aware of the dwindling time. Just for granny to call out.
"yer bags down here Youngin, Slipped mah mind I had to put a letter from the princess explaining a thing or two for your teacher."
"Oh Ok" Bloom tried to cast a glance at Chroma but realized she couldn't see the hood of the pelt she knew was there. The Pelt chortled at the filly as she almost turned a full circle trying to glace at him. She heard the chortle, but he didn't show up on her screen to add an extra bit of jest.
"Your grannies old for a pony and maybe a tad forgetful." Chroma reasoned. Bloom decided to cast her suspicious glance at the wall since her other half could obviously tell what face she was making. But Bloom knew better about Granny Smith. She liked to play up the old act. But Bloom brushed her teeth and Hair putting her Bow under Chroma's hood, so it still stuck out. Ordis popped up on her screen.
"Ordis would love to take the Operator to her pony school." Bloom looked at the Cephalon with a raised eyebrow.
"Ordis ya do know it's only ten minutes down the road right?"
"Oh but Ordis can make it there in point one of a second operator, please. Ordis used to take the operator to all of there, missions. It has been so long since Ordis has done *ANYTHING* that." Bloom sighed relenting
"Fine but keep a low profile." Ordis did a little dance on her screen and flicked out, and she heard the linset's engines. Rolling her eyes, she walked downstairs and waved goodbye to everyone and opened the door to the expected ship waiting like an expectant puppy. It wasted no time rushing her inside. She felt the ship launch. Then stop.
"We are here Operator." Bloom looked out the glass and saw Prance...
"Hmm, I will attempt to bypass these faults." The ship sped up then stopped again.
"Canterlot." Bloom let out unamused.
"Getting closer operator." Bloom face hoofed.
While one Tenno tried to get to class another meditated in the same gardens she just passed over. Oberon Floated peacefully, in the Castle gardens several birds had rested on his antler crown. He felt a warm presence Trott up, and he opened his senses to see the Solar princess watching him.
"Good morning Princess." He greeted, and she bowed her head with a smile "Good morning Oberon. I'm glad to see you enjoy the gardens." the Tenno put his hoof like boots on the ground and stood causing the birds to flutter briefly before resettling.
"How could I not Princess they are breathtaking."
Celestia's smile grew, enjoying the fact these Warframes could find peace here. But that smile brought a sour thought to the end of it, What else would visit there planet and If such powerful Guardians as these were needed to keep the peace how would her ponies deal with such things.
"Princess Celestia?" Oberon caught her attention in a respectful manner
"Oh I'm sorry I got lost in thought" She tried to play here worries off and refocused on the Tenno.
"I asked what was wrong?" The voice sounded grown and mature but the way he asked made this warrior seam like a child. This worried the Solar Princess.
"I worry what else might find this planet and if we can deal with it." She voiced her real concerns hoping direct answers might quell her fears. The Tenno nodded understanding too well.
"This planet is not in our origin system, But somehow connected by the Void in a remote pocket. Someone or something would have to know exactly how to get here for anyone to find it." Oberon stated, and Celestia found it soothing to her mind to know they were so off the beaten path. But such close-minded thinking to isolate themselves from the whole universe she now knew was out there. Would that be wise? So much knowledge lost due to fear. It didn't sit right in the Pony Princesses gut. When a loud warcry split the peace sending the birds flying away, and Oberon tensed.
"Oh, no Valkyr! I'm sorry something must have set her off. I'll go and make sure she doesn't cause any harm!' Oberon spoke fast and started to run only for the frenzied Frame to burst from the bushes frightening them all. The Orange and Black, frame was in hysteria mode her long energy claws blazed like orange fire as she looked every which way for something she was undoubtedly hunting.
"Whatever or Whoever made you mad more than likely didn't mean it, Valk, you gotta calm down." Oberon urged, but the Frame was deaf to his words. She looked at the sky, and Oberon followed her gaze. His gut dropped it was Luna the Princess of the Moon.
"Valk?" he tried to ask, but she launched herself at the Blue Princess with a growl. "Valk NO!" But instead of Her shredding the Princess and all of them being declared criminals His worst fear for he liked this place. The Lunar Princess laughed joyously and dropped under her as Valkyr frantically reached for her with her claws like a cat whose toy was out of reach.
Luna Fell to earth and Oberon noticed she had Full plate armor in her Dark blue. A mighty helm with a blade under her horn. Even her wings had plates to protect the joints. Oberon Marveled at the craftsmanship of the silver that ran through in flowing lines. She had Heat marks on a couple of places, but nothing more then misses. Valkyr landed and without losing momentum bounced back up in the air to relaunch herself. The Princess launched right back into the fray with a hearty chuckle. She blocked the Frames initial punch with a straight silver sword. Then threw the Frame's weight overhead. Luna Dropped rolling to avoid the kick that followed. The rattle of plate on stone and Valkyr's warcry filled the one peaceful garden. Luna unfurled her wings and glided back out of rage of the paralyzing energy wave. But Valkyr pushed herself harder and faster. Spinning claws out like a whirlwind of fury Valkry swept towards the Princess. The immense heat burned a trail on Luna's Armor, but the Frame's hands never made physical contact. The uppercut left Valkyr exposed, and Luna planted her sword between the two and Spun the frame into a throw that landed her rolling near Oberon's feet. Valkyr rubbed her head, and her Hysteria fizzled out as she ran out of energy.
"Valkyr by the void what is going on!" he demanded an explanation, But instead the Frame's hand shot out stopping inches from the center of his chest. Her pointer finger shot out tapping him on the chest.
"Tag" her rough voice came out almost amused then she collapsed into a sitting position. Celestia's Laughter drew his attention.
"Sister, how much of our Castle have you destroyed in your game?"
"No one was maimed, Dear sister." Luna dodged the question, and Oberon looked between the two
"This, That was a game of Tag?" Oberon asked in disbelief.
"A game which I have yet to lose Tenno." Luna challenged looking straight at Oberon. Valkyr Chuckled
"Good, Luck." Oberon threw her a look then reached behind him to draw his Gram. A double-edged plasma greatsword
"The rules Princess?"
"Land a solid hit, and I will attempt to do the same back. A more fun version of Tag if you will Tenno." She excitedly said. Her accent was coming out in her speech.
"Simple enough" Oberon nodded and held the greatsword two-handed out in front of him. Luna dropped low Sword pointed over her shoulder. They began to circle each other sizing there opponent up as they walked. Oberon felt he was using the wrong type of weapon here. She was fast and agile something the gram was not. But if used right it's weight might help capitalize on any missteps the princess might make. His thoughts were interrupted when the Lunar princess charged him with a beat of her mighty wings flying straight at him. He answered by jumping like a bullet and swung his Gram. The heavy weapon went right through her causing his heart to stop momentarily. The Princess poofed in a cloud of sparkly royal blue dust. Almost too late he realized the fake for the real Luna was upon him, their swords clashed rapidly. The grams weight was working against the Tenno in speed. After a block, he tried to swing but She'd dodge it effortlessly with simple moves. Then she'd put him right back on the defensive with a barrage of swings. Changing tactics, he flipped backward avoiding her swing as Luna advanced he swung the Gram around his back spinning with his body putting more significant momentum into the blade's upward strike. The Princess rolled to the right. Not stopping the momentum he let it swing back around. Shifting his grip he spun with the blade out. As the spinning top of a Tenno blade neared her she jumped over him Striking out with her silver blade. The Tenno dove to the right side using the rest of the spinning motion to knock the Princess's sword away in the nick of time. Rolling back to his feet Tenno and Princess looked at each other,
"Masterfully wielded Tenno." She praised.
"More than I ever expected your highness." He admitted. He ran at her full force and swung with his whole arm using the sword as an extension of it to reach out and try to touch her. She flipped away from the attack. He let it swing fully. The Gram spun on his back, as he went to catch the hilt. Luna's blade stopped the motion and tried to flick it off his back. Luckily he found it by the very end of the grip. Oberon turned into the movement with a spin as he shifted it to both hands channeling as much strength and energy he could into this last swing. His whole frame glowed and sparked as he swung. The sound of shattering metal filled the garden, and Luna spun away with a hop to a respectable distance away. Her sword laid broken in two, and her breastplate had shattered.
"The match is mine." Oberon declared Luna's ear perked up at her supposed defeat.
"What makes you say that?" she asked, and Oberon pointed the Gram at the shattered pieces of her sword.
"Your weapon is broken. the match is over." He declared again, and Celestia sipped her tea calmly. Right before Luna laughed making the Tenno feel tense.
"Why would losing one sword stop the Princess of The Night, noble Tenno?" she asked as her eye blared white and the sky darkened causing the Tenno to look up. Magic circles formed all around Luna Six exact copies of the very same sword he just broke floated and circled in a halo of blades behind the princess's flared wings. Her breastplate repaired it'self. A longer silver sword with curved horns for a hilt floated out of the circles. Then a stone slab with simple grooved grip. The whole thing was taller than the Paladin Frame. She held them in her magic. This battle wasn't a fight he could win not as he was. This was a squad armed with ballistics and a Trinity battle.
"No, it is simply my turn to tag you." He voice echoed, and lightning flashed. Oberon panicked and hit her with his Smite. The second that ball of Radiation hit her Oberon knew he messed up. Her head whipped to the side, and the green proc of the radiation washed over her. She looked at him, eyes aglow her weapons lit with magic blue flames.
"You DARE! Use my sister's energy against ME!" Her voice produced physical gusts of wind. She floated into the air above him and raised that Slab now ablaze with ruins he couldn't read but had a feeling weren't for his benefit. He could practically hear an. Orchestral choir lamenting what was about to happen.
"By the void..." He managed to let out before being Oneshot through a solid marble wall.
Author's Note
I really wanted to introduce my version of the princesses. I hated when they're thrown away to the side and treated like there useless Canon be damned.
Almost an hour later Ordis managed to arrive right outside the schoolhouse. with only five minutes to spare
"Operator would you like me to drop you off a little further away to maintain concealment? he asked, and Bloom shook her head
"No time drop me." She trotted to the indent and laid flat. It revolved, and she fell two stories right smack dab in the middle of some of her schoolmates. Some ran others stared. Sweetie Belle smiled watching her friend tumble and land with the grace of a gymnast. She ran up to here where others ran or just stared in shock.
"Morning Bloom, Morning Chroma!" She greeted.
Bloom smiled, and Chroma's hide flared happily in greeting.
"Morning Sweetie Belle." Sweetie looked up to where Ordis sped away.
"Nice landing" The unicorn commented causing Bloom to rub the back of her neck.
"Too much?" She asked sheepishly looking around at the ponies who either were running or staring.
"Is it really you? Applebloom?" a familiar voice asked, and Bloom turned her head to see Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon staring and squinting at her. Bloom went on the defensive.
"The whole town thought you were..." Diamond started
"What happened? you look weird." Spoon finished. Before Bloom could start Sweetie stepped between them.
"She got hurt really bad by some bad alien then a good alien named a Tenno used a part of himself to heal her." She pointed to Chroma "That's what he is. That's Chroma on her back, He makes her a Superhero."
The bullies faces were stuck in disbelief.
"That is the most ridiculous story-" Bloom cut Diamond off with a quick spark of fire and a cocky grin at her look of shock. The two scrambled back.
"You're a freak!" Spoon shouted scared.
"No, she's awesome!" Sweetie yelled, and Bloom blushed a little at the sudden praise. Bloom opened her mouth, but Chroma spoke in her mind.
"Tenno are silent in the face of their enemy."
"You want me to not talk?" She asked and felt the hood nod slightly
"Silence can affect an opponent as much as talking can let's try it."
Bloom closed her mouth let a simple smile grow and turned away from them to walk towards the schoolhouse. She looked at Sweetie and motioned for her to follow. Sweetie looked confused but followed. Diamond and Spoon watched them trot away before starting to make several disgruntled noises. Bloom couldn't stop the giggle that escaped her mouth. Sweetie covered her snicker with a hoof as they entered the school.
"Good morning every- Oh Celestia is that you?" Miss Cheerile asked thinking she saw a ghost.
Bloom nodded slowly looking into her teacher's watery eyes only breaking contact to dig the scroll out of her bag. The teacher took it gingerly like she was afraid it would poof away. As she unfurled it, Bloom stood awkwardly not quite sure what was actually written on the Royal scroll. Until a British voice called out.
"Whose the new student?" Bloom turned to see Pipsqueak and a huge smile shot across her face. The colt eyes went wide, and he put a hoof on his chest as if to contain his surprise.
"Blimy it can't be Apple Bloody Bloom back from the great beyond to give us one last hurrah I see!" he shouted, and Bloom hopped over to him excitedly. Her eyes blazed happily, and her tail swished Pip jumped forward till he noticed some of the changes,
"Woah what happened to you? That looks bloody close to a dragon on your back!" He started looking her up and down. She crossed her leg like she was covering herself. "Anyways I'll have to get the full tale at break I'm super happy your back Applebloom." He said so happily it brought a tear to Bloom's eye. She drew him into a close hug. Not noticing the confused and kinda hurt look from Sweetie who pushed it aside not fully understanding.
After a moment Pip drew away. "Blimy your warm that's gotta be some sort of dragon." His smile turned into an eager grin "This is gonna be one heck of a story." The colt went to his seat, and Bloom turned back to her teacher. Cheerilee wiped an eye and looked at the little hybrid.
"You've been through a lot haven't both of you." Cheerilee looked into Bloom's eyes that yearned for something ordinary causing them to glow and swirl. Quickly refocusing on her nose than the extra set of eyes that were on Chroma's hide. "I'm Miss Cheerilee welcome to my class Chroma. Both sets of Chroma's eyes formed happy half circles and Cheerilee watched in both parts horror and fascination as one of Chroma's arms unwrapped from Blooms front legs and was held out in a handshake gesture. The teacher recoiled then saw the hopeful look Bloom and her new friend had. As if pleading to not be rejected, so Miss C took a deep breath and put her hoof in its claw.
After they shook Chroma put his arm back around Bloom's leg where he was molded to fit. Bloom looked at her with an encouraging smile.
"See that wasn't to bad right?" Bloom asked, and the teacher let out a breath a little ashamed. Bloom sat back on her haunches and held out a hoof shoe up in a nonchalant fashion. "Don't worry Miss C we get it this is really, really.... Really weird." She gave an awkward shrug to show she was trying to make this easier for the teacher and Cheerilee nodded understanding.
"Welcome back I'm glad your ok Bloom." She said simply
"We're glad to be back. Is my seat still mine?" She asked turned to look, and Cheerilee smiled.
"I'm sure no one will stop you."
Bloom and Sweetie made their way to their seats. Every student that entered stopped to stare at Bloom to make sure they weren't seeing things. Some that walked in really late didn't even notice her merely rushing to there seats to not be counted tardy. But Bloom noticed that Scootaloo was missing still. She usually was here by now if not earlier. Bloom wanted to ask Sweetie, but an Idea came to her head.
"It probably won't work she doesn't have a communications unit theirs no-way she could receive the signal-"
"Hey, Sweetie Belle you seen Scoots?" She asked in her mind, and Sweetie suddenly sat a bit straighter her horn was glowing slightly, and she looked surprised. She looked at Bloom raising an eyebrow.
"Oh cool, you can hear me!" Bloom's face remained neutral, but her mental voice was excited.
"How in the void!" Chroma suddenly exclaimed, and Sweetie flinched, and Chroma's volume dropped "You must be using her horn as some sort of antenna to relay communications."
"Who said that! and what do you mean my horn?" Sweetie thought in her mind, and Bloom could hear it. She had to stop herself from wiggling excitedly.
"Oh, this is so cool! So, Sweetie, it's Bloom see we Tenno have something that lets us talk between us and somehow I added you to my squad talk! But have you seen Scoots?" She asked again, and the unicorn said no trying not to physically speak.
"How is this possible?" Sweetie asked, and Bloom's voice changed to Chroma's
"I'm not entirely sure..." Sweetie couldn't help but be shocked by hearing the pelt speak.
"YOU!-" She started aloud but quickly closed her mouth and tried again "You spoke like words."
"This is how Tenno usually communicate but somehow Bloom's connected to you." Chroma once again mentally scratched his head
"You have a really cool voice Chroma...Wait I didn't mean to say er think that or that AppleBloom is-Don't think about it, Don't think about it, Don't think about it...." Sweetie repeated that mantra as Bloom slowly turned her head towards her.
"Have you seen Scootaloo?" Bloom asked aloud, her friend broke out of her mantra then shook her head no. Bloom looked concerned turning forward, then looking back.
"We'll talk about that later," Bloom said somewhat forebodingly, and Sweetie stiffened and didn't respond.
Cheerilee started attendance reading of the list yet Scootaloo was still absent. Bloom began to worry the part of town the pegasus went through was rough by Ponyville standards. What if some cosmic horror had followed the tenno.
Chroma popped on her screen. "We would have detected any void fissure or ships." He stated, but Bloom's mind was wondering towards the worst.
"Ok, what if some bad pony got her?" Bloom asked
Ordis popped up firey red on her H.U.D "Then we will find them, and they will choke on their intestine!" Ordis spoke like he was glitching but the whole statement, not just parts. It happened so fast Chroma was the only thing keeping her in her seat. But Ordis's sudden rage spooked Chroma as well judging by how full his optics were when he returned to her vision. The subtle hum of a linset whooshed over the school, and Bloom grumbled.
She prepared to scold him when Scootaloo walked into class looking frustrated and awkward. Soon followed by an unmistakeable Warframe. She walked in all dignified until she saw the class. She put her hands to her beak.
"This planet is too much." The bird frame saw Bloom and stood there for a second till something audibly clicked, and her feathers ruffled.
She pointed a purple hand "Your the missing Chroma. By the void your just as cute as the rest of this world!" She gushed, and Bloom looked utterly betrayed. "I'll just have to get to know you later. Right now I'm just dropping off Little Bird." Scootaloo groaned, and Bloom cocked an eyebrow.
"Miss!" Cheerilee called to the frame who jumped over to her and shook her hoof enthusiastically. She and the teacher exchanged words, but Bloom couldn't hear them seeing Zephyr nod several times then walked out waving cheerfully to the teacher and Scootaloo. Scootaloo for her part was trying her best to become one with her desk.
As soon as the frame was out of the room, a blue colt raised his hoof then began speaking in a panicked rush.
"What was that and who slash what is sitting in Bloom's desk?"
"Well, Archer you see um..." The teacher started but floundered on a proper explanation. Bloom sighed and got up to the front of the class feeling awkward as everypony's undivided attention was on her. She took a deep breath, It was gonna be a long day... (About two chapters long of a day)
Author's Note
Wanted to cut this one into two so you all didn't have to wait any longer for a new chapter.
Bloom shifted awkwardly in front of the class "It's me Applebloom I'm back and ok but well things have changed as you can probably see." Bloom looked at the sea of confused faces when an encouraging "Woo" came from the British corner of the class. Then Sweetie cheered and Scootaloo raised a hoof in support. Somewhere in the middle, a filly asked the critical question.
"What happened?"
Bloom took a breath and began to tell the story again. A couple kids gave her looks of disbelief when she described the Ancient. Others looked scared. When she got to the end everypony seemed stunned till one hoof went high.
"Did you die?"
Bloom opened her mouth to answer, but the full question hit her brain. "No, I'm right here..." She couldn't muster the conviction behind. Miss Cheerilee stepped in trying to save Bloom from any more questions, but Archer couldn't hold back.
"But what was that purple alien?"
Chroma gave Bloom the cliff notes version of Zephyrs codex entry.
"She's a warframe that controls air letting her fly and form tornados and even shield herself from harm. She's styled after an ancient bird." Bloom repeated back out loud.
"Aw so Little Bird has a Momma Bird how cute-" Diamond Tiara's teasing was cut short by a gust of wind sweeping through the class blowing open shutters and throwing paper everywhere. Diamond shut her mouth as she recentered her namesake tiara. Everypony cleaned up there papers and Cheerilee once again tried to start class.
The subject was the solar system, but Bloom really couldn't focus. She had accepted a lot at face value. She may not have reacted well at first but past that she was just along for the ride.
"Your not paying attention. Whats wrong?" Chroma asked
"I thought you could read my mind?" She thought
"I can, but you appreciate when I ask." She nodded and let out a sigh closing her eyes for a moment
"Ya, I do. did I-"
"What do you mean the *pony* Princesse's actually control the sun and moon?" An all to familiar voice cut off her thought. Bloom's head whipped around so fast by all logic and physics her neck should have snapped.
"Ordis!" She growled the Cephalon didn't seem fazed at all merely greeting her as cheerful as ever.
"Hello Operator."
Miss C looked like she needed several long drinks as she tried to remain calm and collected. "Oh is this another of your new friends Bloom?"
"I am Cephalon Ordis faithful liset and helper to Operator Bloom. What a pleasure to be in your *Dojo* Class Miss Cheerilee." He introduced himself happily.
"And It's certainly a pleasure to welcome you Ordis." The teacher's smile was a little forced. "Ordis why are you suddenly in my classroom?" She asked, and Ordis happily floated and rearranged his shapes
"Ordis was trying to learn more about this planet, and its *ponies* but was struggling with some of the basic ideas that work on this planet. So Ordis felt it was best to start on a basic level and then work towards more advanced topics replacing any old information with new."
Cheerilee looked impressed. "Well Ordis I'm glad to have you but to answer your question yes the Princesses raise both the sun and moon with their magic." She held up a hoof to stop the next question she had a feeling would be coming " Any questions on magic will be answered in our next topic or you can ask Twilight she is well versed in the topic. For now, pay attention there is a test at the end of the week." Several Fillies and Colts groaned at this. Ordis nodded his Hologram happily and set to take notes rapidly.
Bloom shook her head refocusing on what she was trying to say. "Did i-"
"You are Applebloom, and I am Chroma together we are ChromaBloom. I don't know everything that happened I lost some of myself saving you. But we're here, and that's what matters. Now pay attention I won't help you on the test if you don't try." Chroma reassured her and Bloom nodded with a smile and refocused on the teacher taking notes.
A couple hours later and Cheerilee dismissed them for recess. The class rapidly emptied as all the colts and fillies raced out to take their break. Ordis flicked out and reappeared next to the teacher giving her a start.
"What the ponies know of the solar system is *Primitive* limited but not wrong per say." This caught Cheerilee's attention. "How the pony names and what many in the Tau system call the planets match up so neatly it's so *Convenient* Improbable."
"Really?" She asked
"Yes, it's fascinating actually."
"where do you come from Ordis?" She asked
"Oh Ordis came from *Missing* hmm it seems Ordis has misplaced those memories," Ordis said casually, and Cheerilee looked concerned. When a colt came running up
"Miss C!"
"yes rumble?"
"their a huge red beetle on the playground." The colt asked concerned, and Cheerilee rolled her eyes.
"I'm sure it's just a normal beetle."
"Are normal beetles big enough to use as a slide?" He asked, and Cheerilee's eye bugged out, and she rushed outside to see the red liset sitting between the playground and a field. Some fillies and colts were climbing on it and sliding down the smooth sides. ChromaBloom walked out and stared flabbergasted.
"Ordis!" She shouted, and the hologram flicked near her. "Why, How did you park the liset here?"
"Ordis is a stealth ship and would normally never be so bold, but this planet is just so safe." He said not seeing the fault. Bloom, however, smacked a hoof onto her face.
"Ponies aren't used to spaceships! I'm not even used to spaceships yet!" she shouted at him He dimmed a little making Bloom feel bad.
"My apologies operator I did not mean to anger you." He let out sadly Bloom rubbed the bridge of her nose.
"I just don't want ponies to panic or someone to get hurt ya know?"
"Ordis understands." he blinked out and the Liset's engines rumbled and the kids all scrambled off. Except one who sat petrified with fear in the middle of the hull. Bloom readied herself to jump up and move the little colt, but Ordis popped up next to him.
"No need to *Scream* be frightened I merely need you to move." He spoke calmly, and the little colt's eyes went wide. But with Ordis's gentle guiding he slid off the hull safely.
"Thank you young one I'll see you in class." Ordis took off quietly. The little colt ran up to Bloom.
"Your shiny friends really cool." Bloom smiled and nodded. She saw Pip trotting up looking at the sky where Ordis had left.
"Todays just full of surprises. Dead friends back from the grave, Alien spaceships, wish every day was like this!" He said with a head toss and a giddy trot in place. He stopped looking at Chroma again. "That looks alive," Bloom smirked, and Chroma waved at him with a chortle. The colt jumped back with a curse. Cheerilee gave him a harsh look, and his ears flattened. "Sorry caught me off guard, That is really wicked. Are you some kind of dragon?" The hood nodded, and Pip went starry-eyed. "Can you breathe fire?"
Cheerilee's ears perked for this answer. Bloom let out a lick of fire, and Pip pranced in a circle overcome with awesomeness.
"That is bloody COOL!" Pip geeked out, but Cheerilee expression was stern.
"You know this add's to the don't burn anything lecture we had after the firefighting cutie mark you tried to earn last summer right." Cheerilee raised an eyebrow, and Bloom looked at the ground nodding. "Good." the teacher walked off, and Bloom went to seek out her friends. Pip walking alongside her the whole way gushing about how cool this all was.
The unicorn and pegasus sat a bench, and as Bloom approached Sweetie waved, and Scootaloo gave her a look. Bloom raised her eyebrow.
"Whats up?"
Sweetie took a look at pip "Aren't you popular today." She had a good-natured smile, and Bloom giggled
"it'll fade." she looked at Scoots "But whats with you and bird frame?" Apparently, this was the trigger because Scoots threw her hooves in the air and groaned.
"She's crazy! I was walking home minding my own business when she comes out of nowhere." She waved her hooves even more to make her point.
"I thought I caught you digging in the trash?" The bird frame's voice suddenly came out of nowhere again! Scootaloo had a look of utter horror as her friends all turned to her.
Author's Note
Choose your meme!
Round about
or
It was at that moment he knew
"You told us you'd never do that again Scoots!" Bloom said sternly
"And you'd ask for help!" Sweetie added as both barreled down on the orange filly. The tiny pegasus wouldn't meet their eyes.
"I can take care of myself." She said stubbornly. Both her friends opened their mouths to speak, but Zephyr floated down to the small table.
"We know." She said matter of factly which silenced both fillies. Scootaloo looked at the frame.
"Then will you leave me alone?"
"Nope." Zephyr popped the word out seeming happy.
"Why?"
"Cause I know what it's like to be alone, Scared and powerless." Zephyr sat on the table looking at the sky, then to Scootaloo. "And I remember someone reaching out to me the same way I'm reaching out to you." Everypony looked at the frame
"When were you powerless?" Scootaloo asked in disbelief. Zephyr sighed
"It feels like a dream it was so long ago. "She" reached out and saved us," Zephyr spoke wistfully, and Scenes and sounds flashed in Bloom's mind so fast she couldn't understand but the feeling of being scared then safe, then furious flooded her mind. She bared her teeth in an angry snarl, and she slammed her hoof on the table.
"Then they took her away!" Sweetie and Scots jumped at Bloom's outburst. The little hybrid looked deadly her lights flared, and orange energy flowed in streams along her back and shoulders, down her arms. Her breath carried tiny flames. Her lights went back to normal, and she put her aching head in her hooves. Everyone looked at her concerned.
"What just happened?" Sweetie asked, and Bloom shook off her fading headache.
"Both Chroma and I's memories fighting for space, ow." She rubbed her forehead. Chroma offered a soft sorry, and she waved him off with a hoof. "Did they really take the women that helped us?"
Zephyr's fist tightened. "Yes"
"What happened after that?" Sweetie asked looking between the two frames. But Zephyr just shook her head.
"I don't remember just fighting and more fighting till we went to sleep." She shrugged looking down at the grass.
"You want to help cause someone helped you?" Scootaloo asked, and Zephyr immediately perked right back up.
"Yep." Scootaloo looked at the bird frame mouth open at such a simple but powerful response. She looked down at the table.
"Thank you." It was uncharacteristic small and heartfelt for the filly, and her friends hugged her. Zephyr appeared to be smiling as she watched the friends.
Cheerilee rung the bell signaling the end of recess and with several groans all around the schoolyard everypony started heading back into the schoolhouse. Zephyr waved as the CMC walked back with the rest of their class. The rest of the day went smoothly with no otherworldly visitors no interruptions. The boring school like was almost refreshing to bloom as she listened to the teacher talk about the lesson. As the time went by and closer she got to the end of class bloom started thinking about what lessons she'd learn from the other tenno today.
Until Ordis reminded her, she had an ever-present helper tied directly to her brain and appeared on her face suddenly enough to make her jump and for Cheerilee to raise an eyebrow at her. Once she waved off the teachers concern, she looked at Ordis.
"What is it Ordis?" She asked in her head.
"Your lessons with Tenno Excalibur is about Melee fighting and Blocking, and Tenno Volt is helping the operator with movement and agility. They have asked you to arm yourself we will need to stop at the orbiter before then."
Arm herself like real weapons she thought and Ordis replied "Yes." Bloom sighed remembering that her thoughts were not private at that moment. "All of your old weapons are still available, so there is a wide choice for Operator Bloom to choose from and Experiment with."
"How many exactly?" Bloom asked.
"86" Ordis said and disappeared as Bloom thought about all the choices.
When the final bell rung and all the kids went running off excited to get out of the little prison called school. The CMC moved at the rear of the stampede. As Scootaloo crossed the threshold and out onto the dirt path, a mini tornado lifted her into the air causing her wings to snap open on instinct. She was raised right into a flying hug by Zephyr. The bird frame snuggled into the soft pegasus as they floated to the ground.
Sweetie let out a soft "Awww" which made Scoots blush. Cheerilee came out of the school looking at the scene. She seemed happy but unnerved at the same time.
"Miss Zephyr, can I speak to you for a moment?" The frame got up still holding Scootaloo, but the teacher pointed a hoof. "Alone please." Zephyr wilted and sat Scootaloo down and followed the teacher.
Ordis popped up "Operator Bloom is it time to get ready." Seconds later the linset landed off to the side. Bloom felt a little nervous but started that way. Sweetie spoke up before she got too far.
"Can I come?" Bloom stopped and looked at Ordis excitedly.
"Ya. Wait can she?" she asked, and Ordis looked between the two.
"The Orbitor is completely safe, and the training is basic hmm. Yes if Operator Bloom wants to bring *Heart Hazard* she can." Oridis agreed, and the two did a little cheer. Sweetie looked at Scoots, but the pegasus shook her head.
"I'm gonna wait for Zephyr I have a feeling this is about me anyway. Go on I'll catch up later." She waved a hoof and Bloom nodded.
"Just promise to not dig through any more trash ok," Bloom said sternly, and Scoots smiled and nodded. Her and Sweetie bound up the ramp excitedly. The inside was big enough for both fillies where another Tenno would fit snuggly. Ordis took off, and Sweetie watched amazed as they left the planet. From their, it was a quick jump. Once in the Orbitor Bloom looked around just as amazed at the ship as her friend. Everything had a smooth roundness to it. Looking at everything invoked this sense of comfort Bloom hadn't felt anywhere expect the farmhouse.
"Operator as amazing as the orbiter is. Being late to your lesson will not impress anyone and certainly not master Teshin." Oridis reminded, and Bloom made her way to the armory. Bloom stepped into the familiar module. Suddenly she could see herself from the third position.
"Woah." She tried to move her hoof and only rotated her whole body like she was on a turntable. So, of course, she spun her little body as fast as she could.
"Bloom focus." Chroma reprimanded sounding a little dizzy.
"Heh sorry couldn't resist." She giggled and noticed the tabs on the menu and Chroma walked her through. She settled on theThe Supra, The Dex Dakra , andThe Ak Vasto .she wouldn't lose her way carrying them. She wore them proudly after coloring all her weapons to match her color scheme of Orange and Red with blue energy. She felt powerful stepping out of the armory her swords giving her steps a sway to them. She was ready to begin, ready to train to be the best Tenno she could be! Until she noticed a dome off to the side and bounded over to check it out.
Author's Note
I couldn't help myself. SO now you all know my Chroma load out in warframe
She inspected the dome seeing incubator was written in floating letters in a box. She activated the panel to be greeted with a list with a single name.
Wolfy, and the symbol for male. She touched the name with her hoof, and inside the dome the hiss of hydraulics, and it lifted. Blooms eyes turned into giant swirling void dinner plates as she stared at the biggest non-mythical dog she'd ever seen. It was white and gray with large ears and a nose like a bat. It's coat looked wiry and course. It moved and stretched letting out a big yawn. It saw Bloom and jumped up bowling her over, she let out a terrified yelp as Wolfy pinned her to the ground and let out a growl.
Then it sniffed her. The growl turned into an excited yip and ran its long tongue over Blooms face making her sputter and paw at the giant dog. Sweetie came running down the ramp to see what was going on only to see the size of Wolfy and freeze. Bloom shoved the giant dogs face away from her's. She saw Wolfy look at Sweetie and dread filled her when it leaped off Bloom at Sweetie.
"No Wolfy! Friend!" She called scared only for the giant dog to drop low in a playful manner wagging its short tail. He licked Sweetie's face with excited barks. Bloom and Chroma both relaxed from the dread in their systems. Oridis spoke over the speaker system.
"It's time for training."
Bloom, Sweetie, and Wolfy went back towards the linset. Ordis looked at the beast and sighed inwardly. He detached the liset, and they made their way back to ponyville. Once back Oridis dropped them off Litterly. Thankfully Bloom landed first and caught Sweetie. Somehow Wolfy just appeared behind them looking around at all the new things and smells. He looked adorably excited. They were all at Ponyville Tennis Court. Things were lively it sounded like a battle was going on. But when they got closer they understood... well understood was a strong word for what they were seeing.
On one end Excalibur stood. He was deflecting a tennis ball with his Skana. His arms were a blur deflecting and returning the ball. His opponent Pinkie, who was using two rubber chickens tied together as nunchucks to return the ball with equal power and speed. Bloom tried following the ball the best she could until even chroma lost track of it. Then the ball caught fire making it slightly easier to track. But four more hits and it puffed into char and dust. Everypony watching clapped, and Wolfy barked. The two players bowed.
Cal didn't rise from his bow to speak to Bloom. "Now your training will hopefully be less ridiculous."
Pinkie who was rubbing Wolfy's belly as his leg kicked in bliss. Spoke up with a raised eyebrow. "With me here? Not likely. Bloom think fast!" She tossed something at Bloom who jumped back avoiding the pastry that Wolfy slid on his back to catch. He chewed happily as Bloom looked confused.
"Was that a cupcake?"
Pinkie held something over her shoulder that looked like a ball launcher. "Yep, except this thing isn't filled with pastry." Chroma and Bloom barely had time to get the twin swords off her flank before Pinkie started firing tennis balls at them. Bloom leaned back on her hind legs using her tail as a counterbalance so she could Swat and swing her blades. The launcher shot at weird angles but using Chroma's muscle memory nothing got through. One ball flew over Wolfy's head, and he took after it. By the time the launcher ran dry Bloom's arms were beginning to get sore, and she was breathing a tiny bit heavier.
"How am I doing so far?" She asked, and Cal nodded
"Your meeting expectation." That's when Pinkie rolled up with a blue and pink cannon Shouting
"More Training!" Before pulling the string. The cannon went off with a bang that rattled everyone's bones. Bloom crossed her swords hoping to deflect the ball. But when the actual cannonball hit the little unprepared Tenno, it pushed her swords up and hit her chest sending her several feet back.
She and the cannonball separated ways, and she rolled with a pained grunt. When she got her feet under her slowly, her chest was on fire. She peaked at her stats with one eye as the other winced. Her shields were gone, and so was a large chunk of her health. She sneaked a peek at her energy bar to see it was half full. She looked back towards Pinkie and Cal as they argued Wolfy was running towards her.
Three things happened Cal slapped the cannon, and it went off again, Wolfy started to glow, and Bloom heard a crackling sound. She felt her armor get heavier. She lowered her head like a bull as the iron projectile came her way. Everyone watched in shock as the cannonball smashed directly into Bloom's head kicking up dirt and dust. As the dust settled Bloom stood firm. The iron orb was split into three different pieces on the ground. Two on either side of her and one lying directly under her lowered head.
Her head fell, and she collapsed on her side. Wolfy reached her first and let out a distressed whine. Pinkie and Excalibur ran towards the unmoving hybrid fearing the worst. Cal looked at her seeing most her health was still there and she wasn't bleeding out. He breathed in relief.
"She's ok just knocked out." He reported, and Pinkie put her hoof to her chest.
"Oh thank Celestia! I'm so sorry Bloom!" She pleaded Cal touched her hide and Chroma's hide flared, and a shudder went through the little hybrid. Wolfy barked excitedly, and Chroma Bloom stood shakily. When Bloom's eyes opened, they were dim, as if there wasn't any power. Cal nodded his head and Pinkie looked between the two. Sweetie made it to the scene she rushed up to Bloom catching her dim eyes she let out a worried whine.
"What's wrong is something broke?" She asked, and Cal held out a calming hand.
"Blooms out cold, Chromas using his half to help get them home," Cal explained, and Chroma nodded he looked at Wolfy who laid down for the Dragon to get on his back. Using his claws to latch onto the wiry fur, Wolfy stood up smoothly.
"I guess I did take things a little far didn't i." Pinkie admitted playing with her front hooves guiltily. Chroma made a noise and Cal laughed.
"Just a bit he says, But Bloom showed she can block. Threat assessment will come later." Cal assured, and Pinkie nodded as they begun to walk back to the farm. A little later as Pinkie rolled her ill-fated cannon still feeling rather crummy for what she'd caused. She did the math in her head and realized she'd cost Bloom a half a day. Which meant less time for her to train for the meany "Tin-Shin." got here. She made a distressed noise, and Cal noticed slowing down to walk beside her.
"There is a lesson to be learned here, for both of you." He said sagely.
"Ya maybe some..." Her face scrunched up as she tried to say the alien words. "Restraint?" She asked as if unsure if that was the right word.
"Yes, that word." The frame chuckled "And hopefully Bloom learned some problems can't be faced head-on." He waved his pointer finger out, and Pinkie nodded. Pinkie began to think about how she really didn't know all that much.
"Hey Cal?"
"Hmm?"
"Fighting and training are like uber important to Tenno right?" She asked seeming unsure of where she was going with this. Cal looked at her cocking his Helm to the side giving the impression he was raising an eyebrow.
"It makes up the majority of our lives yes," Cal answered, and Pinkie stared really hard at her cannon in a rare moment of complete seriousness.
"Can you teach me to?" Excalibur stopped dead. Pinkie stopped to look at him.
"Why do you want to learn?" He asked pointing a finger Pinkie looked into his helmet.
"So I can better understand my Tenno friends." Pinkie spoke with conviction, and Cal nodded approvingly.
"Ok."
Pinkie smiled and quickened her pace to catch up.
Bloom was back in the white void.
"Am I dead?" She asked the void and heard Chroma chuckle.
"No merely knocked out. Your body hasn't been tempered for such abuse like most Tenno have been."
Bloom nodded understanding. "Hmm, so what was that ability we used?" She asked and a small screen popped up in front of her.
"Vex Armor, our third ability." Chroma started, and the screen showed a little version of her. Her shields and health appeared where Bloom could see them. Two Grineer popped up on either side of tiny Bloom and started firing. "Vex Armor hardens are hide forming a protective shield around us. The more Sheild Damage we take, the more armor we have." The tiny Bloom's shields ran out, and she started taking health damage. "The more health damage we take, the more damage we do back at the enemy." At this point, lil her pulled out the supra and mowed the two down quickly.
"So if I'm going to use this ability I'm gonna have to take a lot of damage?" She asked warily.
"We have excellent armor compared to most Tenno. We're whats considered an offensive tank. compared to Frost who is a Defensive tank." Chroma explained, and Bloom furrowed her brow.
"What like Rainbows tortious?" She asked and could feel Chroma shake his head.
"What?" He asked confused, and a video of the reptile flying around with Rainbow showed on the screen. Chroma looked at it for a second.
"Kind of except we breathe fire and don't fly."
"Fair enough." Bloom bobbed her head approvingly. Then she clapped her hooves together. " But I need to get tougher." She admitted seriously.
"Training and propper modding can help with that. Did you learn the other important lesson from today?" He asked
"Pinkie has access to an actual cannon," Bloom said in the most serious tone. The pelt unwrapped a claw from her front leg to face-claw.
"No... while useful information to have. The lesson was sometimes you can't face your problems head-on."
"oooooh. Like with Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon."
"Exactly!" The pelt said excitedly that the Filly was getting it. Bloom looked at the white floor thinking deeply.
"Then we headbutt our problems?" She asked, and the Pelt chuckled
"Get some sleep, Bloom." The filly nodded and curled up the white Void faded away.
Bloom opened her eyes to see that dark and cold place again. She felt warmth under her but before she could look around. The songs of the Void pulled her back to sleep.
After a couple of dreams about being a heroic space ninja. Something moved next to the little hybrid enough to tell her something was in bed with her. She slowly opened her eyes to the dark room. The orange glow of her eyes illuminated a couple of inches in front of her snout. She looked behind her to see Wolfy curled at her back hooves sleeping soundly. Laying in the curl of the space dog was Sweetie Belle sound asleep Her head was on Wolfy's hip, and her ear flicked every couple seconds as she slept. Bloom smiled at her friend who probably stayed the night because she was worried about her. Feeling a yawn coming she turned back and drifted back to sleep.
The morning sun pulled Bloom out of sleep once more. Before she opened her eyes, she noticed a kubrow sized warm lump in her back and a smaller one to her front. She opened her eyes to be snout to snout with Sweetie Belle who had migrated from Wolfy to Bloom somehow during the night. The unicorn was still asleep, and Bloom laid there a bit stunned. She saw her eyes cast orange light on the white fillies face as they flared. Sweetie stirred at the light and Bloom's face scrunched up as the white unicorn opened her green eyes.
Sweetie saw Bloom's void eyes swirl and sparkle. Sweetie's pupils expanded seeing the orange galaxy's.
"So Pretty."
Bloom turned red and covered her eyes with her claws. Sweetie snapped awake realizing what she had just said and rolled over. As she turned a similar shade of red, Bloom felt a long flat tongue go over her mane from behind telling her that Wolfy was the one behind her. Also telling her that Chroma wasn't on her back she sat up and looked around before calling out mentally to the pelt.
"Just letting Winona out." Chroma reassured, and Bloom nodded
"Thanks. Let's get this day started."
"Meet you in the bathroom?" The pelt offered and they nodded in unison. Bloom stood up wiggled her tail a bit before front flipping off the bed and landing on her back legs gracefully. Wolfy barked his applause and Bloom did a bow. Then took off to the bathroom when she got there Chroma was already getting the bath ready. Bloom brushed her teeth taking extra care of the new canines she had. Then jumped in the two made quick work of the initial cleaning. She had to take the brush to clean out all the gunpowder and iron on Chroma's hood.
There was a little knock announcing Sweetie Belle at the door.
"Hey, Bloom?"
"Ya?"
"Where is your mane brush and can I use it?" Sweetie asked, and Chroma/Bloom looked over to see the brush on the sink.
"Ya it's in here it's ok to come in."
With the permission given the door swung open, and Wolfy trotted in with Sweetie laying on his back. She waved lazily at the two and got the brush. Both Bloom and Chroma gave disproving looks at the fillies lazy use of the space dog. But Sweetie paid them no head as she lightly patted the dog's hindquarters. Wolfy panted happily tongue out as he reversed out of the room and Sweetie closed the door in her magic. Bloom shook her head, and they finished getting cleaned up. After running a few claw strikes through her mane, they made their way downstairs.
Granny was at the table with Rarity, and Bloom overheard their conversation as she came down.
"Applejacks in the fields already this is early even by her standards." Rarity's posh voice said concerned. Bloom stopped to listen; She heard Granny sigh.
"I fear she's still not sure about Bloom," Granny admitted, and Bloom's chest tightened.
"Really now? but what alternatives would that mean?" Rarity sounded taken back.
"I don't know deary... But what I do know is every one of those Tenno folk have told us nothing but the honest truth about Bloom. Even if it hurt to listen to whether they're the plum best at lying, I don't know. But so far they've been good to us and good to the farm." Granny reasoned
"I've heard some of their stories gruesome and violent tales I truly hope we never see how much "war" these warframes can bring." Rarity paused for a moment "Do you think they'll drag poor Bloom away again?" She asked, and Bloom felt a little cold knowing that she was already training to do just that.
"That dragon gave himself to save her, But in doing so merely passed a torch. But if I know my Bloom she'll fight, and she'll give them hell, and I'll be proud of her."
Bloom looked at her arm then to the hide. "Whats wrong?"
Chroma fiddled with his claws "I didn't want to get in the way of the moment." he admitted sounding unsure.
But Bloom smiled at him "We're together, that means we get comforting hugs from Granny together too." She reached her hoof out, and Chroma looked at it then to Granny. She nodded approvingly, and he floated closer both ponies pulled him into hug full force. Rarity Dabbed at her eye touched by the moment. Sweetie came down the steps yawning but on her hooves at least. Wolfy followed happily behind. He saw Bloom and barked trotting up with and running his tongue over the back of her head. Getting a giggle from Bloom.
The three pulled apart and Bloom reconnected with Chroma noticing the pain from reconnecting was now a tolerable pinch. Granny opened a can, and Wolfy's ears perked up, and he looked at the elder apple with unconditional love. Winona came running through the dog flap to sit near her bowl. Bloom watched both dogs wondering how they would get along. Wolfy studied Winona for a second then sat mimicking the smaller dog panting in time. Granny scratched both dogs on the head and poured out two cans of dog food which they happily chowed down.
Granny looked at Bloom mischief in her eye. " Don't let Fluttershy see'em, that girl will be on him like a tick." Bloom laughed, and Rarity snickered, but Granny wasn't done. "But hell dip a squirrel in shit, and she'd still adore the thing." Bloom had to cover her mouth not to spit out the apple she was eating because she was laughing too hard. While Rarity tried to hold back her own laughter to a ladylike degree but snorted anyways,
"Granny that so crass of you." She lightly scoffed, but Granny didn't miss a beat.
"Ain't if it's true deary."
Rarity could only lean her head and try not outright agree. So she levitated a pair of saddlebags to her sister. "Please next time you have an impromptu sleepover inform me and be prepared." Sweetie let out something like "ok Sis" through a mouthful of apple that had Rarity grimace. "And don't talk with your mouth full!"
Soon after Bloom, Sweetie, and Wolfy started out the door. Before Ordis could pop us, she silenced him with a hoof. "Not today, Ordis we'll walk It's ok." Ordis seemed confused and lost then nodded and blinked away.
Sweetie gave her a look. "What was that about?"
Bloom rubbed the back of her neck. "ya remember yesterday when-" Wolfy growled, and the hair on her neck stood up straight. Bloom jumped back mid-sentence as three throwing star hit the ground where she had been making Sweetie squeak and fall backward. Bloom stood drawing her Dakra from their hidden spot on her hips. She scanned the area, Something big was moving tree to tree. Another warframe? She wondered until glint in the sun warned her of more stars. She knocked them away with her dual swords.
"Good your senses are not as dim as I feared young on." The clear voice boomed like a river. That's when the Master of the Conclave jumped down from on high. Teshin! Bloom felt a cold sweat go between her and Chroma. He put a hand on the glowing molten sheaths of his dual Nikanna.
"I have seen these apple tree's you spoke so highly of." In one fluid motion almost like he was in slow-mo, he shifted his foot back and drew the silver sword.
"Now prove your roots are just as strong!"
Author's Note
Teshin is here.
If you see any glaring issues let me know
The kids understandably were wary of the six-foot-tall man in the bronze wide-brimmed hat that covered his face with a cycloptic eye. When Pip spoke up, "You one of Bloom's out of town friends?" He walked up boldly and spoke bolder.
Teshin put his hands on his hips proudly. "I am Teshin of the Tenno Conclave. I would like to spectate the game your about to play."
Pip smiled at him "Sounds alright to me mate. what about you lot got any issues?" All the other colts and fillies shook their head no, and Pip Squeak pointed to Featherweight. "oh Featherweight give em the rundown he can ref with you." The mentioned pegasus stepped forward on long spindly legs.
"Hi, mister." The Pegasus greeted a little unsure.
"Hello, Featherweight. Tell me how many teams are there?" Teshin asked
"Two sir." Teshin smiled and turned dramatically with his arm out
"The teams shall be Team Sun and Team Moon you all should agree on which team is which," Teshin announced
Pip and Rumble looked at each other with a competitive grin. Both colts were designated captains, and the teams were picked. Feather Weight gave Teshin the rundown on Hoof ball rules. It was remarkably similar to Lunaro just without holding the ball. As the teams were finalized Teshin knelt down and looked at the Skinny pegasus colt,
"Do you not wish to play with the other?" He asked, and Feather looked at his whistle.
"I'd like to, but Ma doesn't want me rough housing it's really easy for me to break something, and I'm not fast enough to avoid getting hurt." The white and brown Colt shrugged.
"It's good to know one's limit but do not let them define you.' Teshin let the words of wisdom sink in.
"Ya, but there is something I'm real good at I have an eye for detail which is why I'm good at Photography and spotting cheaters and other stuff that would ruin the fun for others." The colt smiled proudly, and Teshin smiled proudly. The two teams came up, and Teshin looked at them with approval it seemed each teach was built with a role in mind for each player.
"Which Team is which?"
Pip stepped forward "We're Team Moon."
"And were Team Sun!" Rumble countered proudly. Teshin nodded and looked to Feather Weight.
The white colt cleared his throat "Alright everypony I want a clean fun game." He floated to the center of the field for the bit toss. Feather looked at both captains. They nodded, and he flipped the bit, It landed Moon. Before Feather could make the announcement, Teshin spoke with a booming voice like he was talking through a megaphone.
"Team Moon has the Ball." He held out a fan, and both teams got into position. They watched the fan eagerly. He dropped it and shouted, "Begin!"
Pip took off moving the ball furiously downfield. Teshin was impressed but not surprised by the little colts speed. Rumble dived to steal, but Pip kicked it past him and leaped over the Pegasus. But another Colt took the ball as Pip tried to catch up. Teshin watched in amusement as the ball passed back and forth between the Colts and Filles. Team Sun was racing towards Moon's goal.
Rumble turned and bucked the ball as hard as he could. Teshin prepared to raise the score fan when Moon's goalie a purple filly caught it in her front hooves.
"An Impressive save by Team Moon." Teshin praised, and the Filly looked incredibly proud of herself. Feather Weight looked horrified. He ducked behind Teshin. The Filly pulled a leg back
"Pippy NO!' Pipsqueak tried to warn but too late. The Filly kicked the ball and produced a resounding smack and the ball shot over most players heads to land all the way across the field on the other teams out of bounds.
The purple filly with orange pigtails looked guilty. "Oops."
Pipsqueak face hooved. "Aww, Pippy we told you not to kick it that hard."
"Sorry I got really excited." The filly said embarrassed. She said with a very southern accent. Teshin stroked his chin.
"It's ok Pippy just next time roll it to one of us." Pipsqueak explained, and she nodded with a smile and the game continued. Feather Weight stopped hiding, and Teshin spoke.
"That girl has tremendous strength." He said impressed. Featherweight looked at him with wide eyes.
"Sir you don't know the half of it, that was fairly calm for her. One time she kicked the ball all the way crosstown and still knocked Miss Lyra right out."
"Does she have issues controlling her strength?" Teshin asked. The skinny colt shook his head.
"No usually she's fine, it's just when she get's super happy." Feather explained, and Teshin nodded.
The game was close but when the bell rang Team Sun was the victor.
"Team Sun had turned Team Moon to ash." Teshin announced the victor and Rumble's team cheered "But our greatest lessons are learned in defeat." Teshin reminded, and Pip's team nodded already planning for the next game. Both Teams joined in one group buzzing and chatting about various parts of the game, and Teshin approached the purple filly he crouched to be on her level.
"I am Teshin what is your name little one?" He asked, and she was a little unsure but introduced herself.
"Pippy Longtails."
"You showed tremendous strength out there." He praised, and she blushed and tapped his chest. There was a crack, and Teshin's face tightened for a split second.
"Thanks, Mister Teshin have a nice day," and the filly bounded off happily leaving the Master of the Conclave as he struggled to keep a calm expression. That "Tap" felt like an Atlas punch to the sternum. Featherweight trotted up to him.
"You ok Mr. Teshin?" He asked raising an eyebrow, and Teshin looked at him perfectly calm.
"Hmm yes I'm merely admiring the grass and soil it's so rich." His voice was perfectly calm, and he even smiled, and the Colt gave him a weird look before continuing to class. Teshin kept calm and collected as he scanned the area to make sure no one else was around him before falling to his knee's putting a hand to the stinging in his chest. Wolfy trotted over and licked his face.
Teshin let out a groan and patted the dog as he stood.
Author's Note
All will fear Pippy Destroyer of Worlds. A good short cute chapter before we get serious.
The rest of the day went by in a blur for the little hybrid. She felt a bit better about Teshin. Before she was ready, the bell rang, and everyone charged out the door expect Bloom, Sweetie, and Scoots. Cheerilee looked at the three nervous herself at was might happen.
"Maybe I can talk to him." She offered, but Bloom shook her head
"He came all this way to test how strong Chroma and I are together. It wouldn't be right to weasel out of it now." Bloom admitted and got up taking a breath she walked towards the door with her friends behind her. Cheerilee bit her lip as she watched them go and followed. When Bloom stepped outside Teshin stood with his Nikanna's on his hip arms crossed as the wind blew softly warning of a storm on its way.
"Are you finally ready to answer my challenge pony Bloom?" He asked, and Bloom nodded and stepped forward. Sweetie and Scoots walked to the sidelines standing next to the teacher. Teshin knelt, and Bloom walked ahead and did the same a few feet from the Master of the Conclave.
A Countdown started in her H.U.D 3...2...1..."Begin" Teshin declared and stood smoothly. His hand rested on his Nikanna, but he did not draw it. Bloom stood on her hind legs and pulled the Dex Dakra from the hidden spot on her back. Teshin nodded and crouched low readying himself. They circled each other. Slowly trying to size the other up looking for attack angles.
Bloom was tense and purely on the defensive. While Teshin was calm as a pond each step or slight motion he took flowed into the next. Trying to follow Chroma's constant stream of "calm down" she took a breath. Only for Teshin to draw his blade in a quick horizontal strike. Bloom hopped back, and Teshin stepped forward to strike downward. Teshin's attack left no room for Bloom to retreat. She blocked, but the blow landed heavy and precise threatening to rip her dual blades right out of her claws. Teshin did not relent strong, solid strike one after another. Bloom made adjustments to how she guarded by Chroma's instruction, but Teshin left no room to counter-attack.
The Conclave master started pushing her back, and Bloom felt her panic rise. Bending his knee's Teshin slid his blade under her and used both hands to swing upward. Sliding her tail under her to Sheild her less armored underbelly the Nikanna glanced off but lifted the hybrid off the ground tearing her Dex Dakra out of her grip. She caught one in her mouth then flipped backward putting distance between them and landing herself next to where the other had fallen in the grass. Getting an idea, she picked the other up with her tail where it seemed to click into place firmly. She gave it a flick, so it flipped out on her right. Opposite of the one in her mouth. Her shields started to recycle, and Teshin flicked his blade flinging a red streak onto the grass below. Bloom glanced at her energy bar she only had enough for Spectral Scream. Bloom felt the swords hilt in her mouth and felt more comfortable. Bloom leaped into a gallop head low like a charging bull.
Teshin raised his blade and charged forward to meet her head on. He swept the Nikanna horizontally, but Bloom jumped over the strike curling into a disk with both swords in a downward slash like long teeth on a saw blade. Teshin had to pull his sword back quick to block the sudden change in tactics. Pushing the pony powered saw blade up, and away from him Bloom landed on her feet and ran a small circle building up momentum for another run. Putting Teshin on the defensive as she spun at him again. Except for this time when he blocked the first blade the second changed sides and went from a slash to a jab.
Bringing his guard higher to stop from getting the red blade to the face. But in the process gave a Bloom a pivot point and momentum to swing back up for a slash inside Teshins guard. The old Master reacted on pure instinct and struck out with his palm far harder then he had intended. Bloom went sailing through the air with a pained yelp. Lossing both blades as she rolled to a stop. One landed a few feet from Teshin. Stuck blade down in the ground. The ponies from the sidelines cried out to her.
Cheerliee Pleaded to Teshin "Stop you've already proven who's better!"
Teshin didn't even look her way. "This was never about who is better." Bloom stood a little shaky, but she stood. Teshin smiled. Her chest burned from the hit and her breathing was heavy.
"Bloom you ok?" Chroma asked, and she nodded gritting her teeth. She snorted fire and changed her active ability. "Bloom what are you doing?" The Pelt asked concerned, and Bloom gave a wild smile.
"It's time to Head-Butt my problems." Her and Chroma let out a roar loud enough to make the rest of the CMC and Miss Cheerilee jump. Teshin readied himself for another attack. Then Bloom headbutted the ground hard enough it shook. She paused then did it again. Cheerilee put a hand over her mouth as she watched Bloom hurt herself.
"Whats a matter Bloom, have you lost to your frustration?" Teshin tainted, but there was an underline of concern "Maybe he had pushed her too far" the thought crossed his mind. Bloom stopped took a breath and Shot straight at Teshin head first. When Bloom got closer, she poured every last bit of strength she had left and lunged at him like a red and orange bullet. Teshin Put his blade out flat bracing it with his other hand. He could feel when her shields gave out. But when his blade hit Chroma's hide, it felt like a four-foot chunk of iron going Forty miles per hour.
A cold sweat went through the head of the Conclave when he felt his blade slip. The chunk of iron that was Bloom impacted directly on the spot where Pippy had left a hoofprint on his Sternum. Teshin Master of the Conclave went flying backward a step to land on his back. Bloom fell to the ground and laid there panting heavily. Teshin got to one knee and rubbed his bruised chest while grinning.
"You have exceeded my expectations and have proven yourself as Tenno young ChromaBloom."
Bloom raised an exhausted hoof in the air "Thank you Master Teshin.... Wooo" She celebrated breathlessly. The hoof fell back to the dirt, and she tried to get her hooves under her again.
"Rest Tenno Bloom you've earned it." Teshin got to his feet and approached the stubborn hybrid.
"I've got choirs to do back... At the farm." She tried to stand again, but Wolfy came over and licked the back of Chroma's hood. Teshin picked up the tired hybrid and walked off with the CMC in tow towards the farm. Miss Cheerilee watched them go. She looked back at the grassy hill where Bloom's swords still laid. She looked at the one that stuck out of the ground. A marker to the battle that had happened.
The thought of leaving it ran through her mind. But if she did one of the little ones would hurt themselves. She started to retrieve the weapon only for a grey bi-pedal frame to jump down from a tree. Startling the teacher a step back, the Frame was grey and brown with bone white tusks on either side of its helmet. The frame pulled the sword from the ground and placed it on it's back. It walked past Cheerliee to pick up the other one. The teacher watched it with fear. It turned to her put it's finger to where its mouth would be and made an SHSSSS motion then disappeared in a puff of smoke. The teacher back away from the scene and galloped back into the school.
Author's Note
Not happy with how this chapter came out. Let me know what you think.
Bloom woke up to the sound of shouting. It sounded like Big Mac. But Big Mac never shouted. She thought as she threw off the covers.
"Chroma whats going on?" She asked, and the pelt seemed anxious.
"Your brother came home he's..." Chroma hesitated "He's not taking recent events well."
"How not well Chroma?" She asked swallowing a lump in her throat.
"He wants me removed from you." Bloom took a step back shaking her head frightful.
"What he can't!... Can he?" She asked scared.
"No, we are more connected than simple proximity. We are two halves of a whole being." Bloom jumped out of bed.
"Then we need to talk to him." She rushed downstairs hearing more.
"You need to leave mister!" Mac shouted. She heard Teshin speak back.
"Young Bloom has made her choice to accept Chroma." He spoke openly and with authority.
"The Gift of being a weapon?" Mac was only getting madder.
"Tenno are blades for the greater-" Bloom reached the last step only to watch in horror as Mac headbutted Teshin through the kitchen wall. The Conclave master flipped to land on his feet sliding in the grass. His hand on his Nikana his face was furious. Mac snorted and scrapped the ground. "GAH you to close to the ground to see the sky!" Teshin yelled, and Mac cocked his head.
"And what does that mean?" The red stallion shouted back.
"It means your being a short-sighted Id'jit!" Granny shouted madder than hell. Mac hopped into the yard, and Granny threw up her hooves with a snort. Mac glared at Teshin scraping the ground leaving angry ruts in the grass. Teshin readied for another charge. The wind blew signaling the storm was about here.
"Mac stop!" Bloom shouted. Mac turned his fury on her.
"Stay out of this Bloom!" He shouted, and the filly froze eyes wide.
"But-"
"Stay out of this AppleBloom!" Mac refocused on Teshin and charged full throttle. Teshin drew the Dragon Nikanna and aimed the hilt at the stallions head. Only Mac wasn't blind charging turning sideways falling on his side he dodged the strike and slid close enough to give Teshin a double-barrelled punch with his front legs. Teshins shields took the brunt of the attack, but the force pushed him a foot back and knocked the sword from his hand hissing an Ancient curse word.
Mac grabbed the Nikana with his teeth and stood ready fire in his eyes. Teshin showed his teeth in a furious growl and held his hand out to call his weapon to him. But Mac held fast even if it felt like his teeth were going to break and he was slowly pulled forward by the unseen force.
Teshin lost his patience. "A blade does what the hand that guides tells it to do!" Teshin pulled harder on his sword and Mac about lost it when something grey sliced through the air. It slashed Big Mac down the side of his body, and he cried out letting the blade fly back to its master. Once the Nikana was in his hands, Teshin turned to see who dared intervene in such a way. In a puff of smoke, a warframe appeared Brown and grey with a white bone helmet with tusk near it's jaw-line.
"You have no right to touch the master's weapon with your filthy mouth!" The frame shouted, but something sounded off. It sounded like a Girl trying to sound like a Neighponse man. The Warframe jumped away as Bloom jumped into the fray with a Spectral Scream of fire. Bloom stood protectively over Mac with her teeth bared.
"Big Mac you ok?" She asked then turned her head when he didn't respond. The red stallion was staring wide-eyed at her "Mac?" she asked again this time more worried.
"What are you?" Her brother asked, and it felt like a punch to the Fillies heart. Shaking her head, she looked away refocusing on the new Warframe.
"Chroma what are we dealing with?" She asked out loud, and the Frame struck a pose.
"You're dealing with an Ash, the true ninja warframe!" She responded still trying to sound macho then threw something on the ground and disappeared in a puff of smoke. Bloom dropped her stance a little lower and scanned the area.
"Yep standard Ash user." Chroma commented dryly. "Ash Warframes are stealth frames based solely on using tools and abilities ripped straight from a ninja movie. They tend to come in three types.
"You'll never see me coming little half-frame!" Ash's voice came from a Treetop to the right. Bloom acted like she didn't hear her.
"I'll take Edgy for Two-hundred Alex." Chroma joked, and Bloom smirked. Pushing off the ground, Bloom stood on her back legs and pulled her Vasto. The high recoil of the Vasto took her by surprise and the shot when high. But the Ash let out a comical yelp as she fell from the tree to land on her helmet. Teshin stepped in
"I thought Ninjas were supposed to be "silent" and deadly." Bloom taunted, and Teshin chuckled. Ash flipped to her feet growling,
"You won't be joking after my Blade Storm!" In her anger, she dropped the accent. Chroma let out a roar activating Vex Armor.
"Wait what does that me-" Bloom tried to ask before another Ash appeared over her. Bloom's eyes went wide, and the Ash clone stabbed a wrist blade into her back. Bloom dropped to the floor, and the Ash clone puffed away.
"Bloom!" Mac shouted trying to get to his hooves. The Ash let out a satisfied "Tsk" and put her hand matter of Factly on her chin.
"I told you a Half-Frame was no match for an Ash." She patted herself on the back.
"Son of a- GAH!" Bloom shouted as she jumped to her hooves dancing in place as she rubbed where she'd been stabbed. "Gally that hurt worse than Pinkie's cannon for fricks sake!" She stood in one place and held her head teeth grit holding back painful tears. Mac looked stunned and relieved at the same time.
"Bloom seeing how you were just stabbed... You can curse. Once." Mac said, and Bloom nodded.
"Fuck!" She shouted and stopped rubbing her head. "Hey, that did help." She grinned, and Mac nodded
"Eeyup. Now get her Bloom." Mac urged and both siblings now on the same page looked at the stunned Ash. Who was looking mighty worried at this point,
"Hey Ms Ultimate Ninja? You know one of the best parts of a Chroma's Vex Armor?"Bloom asked with a grin.
"Um, extra armor?" She guessed, and Bloom nodded.
"That sure." Bloom shot her with the Vasto. Incapacitating the squishy stealth frame on her back, "And added Damage with health lost." Bloom finished with a smirk and blew the smoke from her revolver. Teshin approached the downed Ash and squatted over her.
"Leave this planet. You have made a fool of not only yourself but of me and the Conclave with your behavior. DO NOT come back till you have relearned your manners!" Teshin warned and the Warframe dissolved into pixels as they returned to the orbiter. Wolfy licked the wound on Bloom's neck causing her to whine in pain and jump away holding the spot.
"Where the hell were you?" Bloom asked angrily, and the dog tilted his head at her panting with his tongue hanging out cutely. Then Bloom noticed the Apple cart attached to the Dog. With Applejack and Vauban close behind.
"What in Sam hell happened?" Applejack asked looking from Mac to the stab wound in Chroma/her little sister.
"Mac started a fight he couldn't finish," Granny called from the hole in the house which Aj hadn't even noticed till she saw Granny lean out of it. But this seemed to answer most of her question, so she looked at Mac unamused.
"Been awhile since you did that Mac." She commented, and the hurt stallion snorted and rolled his eyes. Getting to his hooves, he walked over to Bloom and sat on his haunches to look at her wound. It was small but deep. But looking at Bloom, it seemed more like a bad cut then a stab wound to the neck.
"Judging by the throwing star in the yard I'm guessing an Ash?" Vauban asked setting down the barrel he was carrying.
"Ya got me pretty good in the neck." Bloom pointed at the spot and Vauban nodded.
"Let me guess they were all like "I am a master of stealth, and you'll never see me coming" right?" He asked doing the same poses the Ash had done making Bloom laugh.
"Ya exactly."
"Ya, Ash seems to come in-"
"Three Flavors ya Chroma told me, and this one was definitely Edgy heh heh" Bloom joked about her injury and Mac shook his head.
"Not even two minutes and your already joking about being stabbed?" Mac sounded astonished, and Bloom looked over her shoulder.
"What about you? You don't have an alien to help protect you are you ok?" Bloom asked looking at the cut down his side.
"Its only a graze, I get the feeling Ms. Ninja isn't that accurate." Both siblings shared a laugh. When Teshin knelt in front of them and bent over hands on the ground, the laughter stopped.
"The actions of the student reflect the teacher. I am deeply sorry for the damage she has caused." Teshin apologized, and Mac's face grew stern.
"What you said about swords. Following what the hand tells them to do is that how you see my little sister?" He asked angrily. Teshin did not rise from his grovel.
"Bloom is a weapon like all Warframes." Teshin reaffirmed, and Mac looked at Bloom but couldn't deny it after seeing her in action. "But I am not the hand that guides the Tenno. The Conclave and I are the hands that hone and sharpen the blade if she chooses." Teshin explained.
"I chose to be a Tenno Mac. Having all this power and not doing anything with it just doesn't sit right Big Brother." Bloom urged for Mac to understand. "There's a whole galaxy out there with really bad things doing bad things to good people, and if I can help in any way. Please understand Mac."
Big Mac let out a deep sigh. "You don't even have your cutie mark and already out to save the whole universe huh?" Mac smiled "Ma and Pa would be proud." Tears welled in both their eyes as Bloom shot forward to hug her brother. Aj wiped her eyes seeing the two embrace.
"Alright, Foods on let's get inside and get patched up and cleaned up before dinner," Granny called out, and Everyone started that way. Wolfy gave a happy bark as he jumped in through the hole with Winona on his heels. Bloom stopped when Teshin didn't move from his kneel only sitting upright.
"Go on and eat Bloom. You and your brother fought well." He urged, and Granny peaked out from the hole once again.
"Nah she's wondering why you ain't moving your feet for dinner." Teshin seemed shocked by the invitation. Bloom smiled and Walked behind him, and head-butted his back urging him to get up.
"Come on Master Teshin you heard Granny. We apples don't let little spats get between supper." She explained, and Teshin smiled and nodded getting to his feet as they all walked in.
A little while later
As they all sat around the table, a breeze blew in sending a chill through the table, and Teshin lowered his head.
"I'll help fix the wall..."
Somewhere on the outskirts of Ponyvile at sunset
A lone lumpy ship landed. When the boarding ram lowered, a single bulbous figure stood in green, and black armor with two yellow eyes in his skull like faceplate which was tilted slightly to the left. This man looked around at the beautiful scenery and colors and let out a single word
"Clem."
Author's Note
Gra...ka...ta.
Ember and Zephyr sat at the top of Ponyville Clocktower. Idly chatting as they watched the ponies below.
"I can't believe you left me behind!"
Maybe idle chatting wasn't the best turn for what was happening.
"I'm so sorry Emby!" Zephyr pleaded with her hands together as Embers flames flared.
"You know I have navigation issues!"Ember said hurt and the bird Frame bowed lower.
"I know, I know I'm sorry!" Zephyr apologized again.
Ember huffed but thought for a moment. "It wasn't all bad I guess. So by the time I gave up I was face down in the dirt just done with the world when this little purple and green thing waddles up to me asking if I'm alright and guess what."
"What?" Zephyr asked eagerly.
"It's a dragon like an actual fire-breathing dragon!" Ember put her hands on either side of her helmet excited, and they both cooed excitedly. "Even better he's a baby dragon!"
Zephyr took a deep intake of air then "EEE'd" excited while Ember nodded just as happy. The Bird-Frame went quiet as a thought went through her head.
"Wait why was a baby dragon all alone?" She asked worried, but Ember held up a hand to hang on.
"I thought the same thing and trust me if that cutie was all alone I'd have snatched him up and never let go." She mimed snatching him up and snuggling the little dragon affectionately
Zephyr nodded thinking deeply about Little Bird. "Then you really would have been a mother hen." She said pointing up. Oblivious to Embers glare at the chicken joke. Until her fiery friend pushed her off the tower. But Zephyr jet streamed back up to her perch casually before rubbing the back of her neck and laughing airheadedly. "Sorry forgot about the chicken jokes Emby."
Ember shook her head at her friend as they looked off into the afternoon sky.
Elsewhere in Rarity's Boutique.
Rarity watched with dazzled eyes and baited breath as Frost formed giant fractals in his hands. Each a unique design as Rarity sketched each one down to the last detail. A nice cup of cocoa steamed pleasantly in the chilled air.
"Simply magnificent Frost darling. These will make my winter line." She paused for effect. "Perfect!" She marveled as Frost moved the Fractal to the bin with the others. The Red Prime leaned over to look at the masterful recreations of his work. The Icy designs weren't the only drawings. There were several sketches of him as he made the ice, each in varying degrees of detail.
There even seemed to be a hat based on his Prime helmet for a pony. Where the arches sat behind the ear and his single optic rested just where the bridge of the muzzle started. There was a downright perfect Vasto laying on its side sketched to the last detail.
"You really liked my Vasto didn't you?" Rarity paused at his words and looked at her drawing again.
"There just so elegant and efficiently designed." Rarity explained, and Frost nodded understanding perfectly. The Vasto's aesthetic was Ninety percent what made him choose the pistol in the first place. Rarity's eyes flashed wide with inspiration "Idea!" She sang out then flipped the page and began feverishly sketching out a pony form of Frost's coat with one of the Fractals designed into the back. But stopped suddenly "Frost dear what is it you said your coats made out of again?"
Frost rubbed the back of his head. "I'd have to check the wiki but I dought anything you could find on this planet in enough quantities," Frost admitted hoping he didn't kill the mares ambition.
"Hmm right... I may be able to use some alternatives. But Frost spider thread takes so long to deliver." She let out with a slight whine trying to think. When Sweetie Belle walked in with a juice box.
"Why not ask Ordis Sis? He can take you anywhere you need to go." She said nonchalantly, and Rarity looked from her sister to Frost as her eyes slowly filled with stars at the idea. Frost started to back away slowly raising his hands as if to defend himself. His fear grew the larger her smile got.
"Oh no."
Elsewhere at Golden Oak's Library.
Twilight sat with a notepad as she organized her notes. Nekros sat in the loft pouting still. Here he was the Tenno of death stuck on the most colorful, most sickly cute planet ever, with nothing to do. He turned his head to look at the purple unicorn whose mark he shared due to cosmic humor.
"Ok just to make sure I have this right." Twilight started, and Nekros groaned letting the back of his helmet bang against the tree wall.
"We've gone over this three times already!" He groaned.
"Ya well, "Mister" dominion over souls and Death it'self isn't very clear." She fired back, and he sighed.
"What do you even want with Necromancy anyway? You gonna revive your lost pet or something? News flash I don't operate like that." He snipped waving a hand dismissively.
"But it's not Necromancy," Twilight stated bluntly this got Nekros to look at her.
"What did you say?" He asked with an edge to his voice.
"It's like saying Arch-duke theory and Mage theory are the same things." She mocked, and he glared at her from above. "They may look similar, but they're not." She finished and waited for him to argue. He jumped down next to her, and she didn't flinch when he crouched down to look her in the smug eyes. He grabbed her by the barrel and tucked her under his arm growling slightly. She teleported out of his grasp in purple pop. "What are you trying to do Nekros?"
"I'm taking you to the biggest graveyard in the area, and I'm showing you that I'm a Necromancer!" He huffed, and Twilight's eyes flashed happily as she smiled.
"Finally a demonstration! But it's still not Necromancy." She added with a smirk and Nekros threw his hands in the air.
"What part of raising the dead is not Necromancy?" He shouted at his wit's end.
"Look Necromancy is the full reanimation of a corpse. Everything you've described is taking your energy and molding it into the shape of whatever you "killed."
"Why were there quotations there?" He asked and put a hand on his hip.
"Because you haven't killed anything here," Twilight said quickly, and the frame stormed off, but Twilight looked the other direction. "Um, Ponyville cemetery is that way?"
"I said the biggest Cemetery Light Bright. The biggest is the one full of fruit." Necros said as he continued to walk. Twilight felt a chill go down her spine but followed the skeletal frame. "in the meantime explain what the difference between Arch-Duke and Mage." Nekros heard her take a breath and turned around quickly giving her a stern look. "Sentences not Paragraphs light bright!" She recoiled but looked thoughtful as she tried to think out her wording as they walked.
Even more Elsewhere at Fluttershy's Cottage.
Nyx stared at a chicken intently, she was down on all fours looking at a red and orange chicken. "Ember is that you?" She asked trying to sound serious despite holding back giggles. "How'd you get so small?" She finally couldn't hold it in any longer and burst out laughing at her own joke. The Rooster did not appreciate being laughed at as he fluffed up letting out a war crow as he flung himself at her helmet. Nyx yelped at the poultry which was pecking his way through her shields.
"Ah! Fluttershy help!" She cried out as she flailed her arms and stood not wanting to hurt the animal.
But Fluttershy was deaf to her cries as she stared at the gold and pink throwing stars. She thought about everything Nyx had told her about the world. A whole universe of people and animals, doing terrible things to each other. So many bullies she thought remembering her own tormentors from school. She imagined if she'd had a warframe what kind of good could she do. The yellow pegasus reached a hoof out and touched one of the stars.
"Holy void farts why are their so many!" Nyx screamed as she ran past the window covered in chickens that pecked and scratched at her. Startling the Pegasus, Fluttershy yelped pulling back a bleeding hoof putting it in her mouth to stop the bleeding as she flew out to help frantically shouting chicken names.
The Final FrontElsewhere.
Pinkie trotted alongside Excalibur as they walked through Ponyville market. It reminded the Frame of Cetus. He and Pinkie were talking about the parties. Pinkie was planning next.
"So we still need streamers and balloons right?" He asked looking up from the list to make sure he was right.
"Yepa ronnie. for the Birthdays at least." She sang out, and Cal switched lists.
"We also need wood and straw for practice dummies."
"Exactly." She said a tiny bit more serious. Cal switched to the third list.
"Three Birthdays, two newcomers, and one anniversary just today." Cal looked through the rest of the lengthy list. "By the Void how do you keep up with it all?" He asked feeling his head spin from the sheer amount of details needed to be remembered.
"Because it's my special talent silly. To bring smiles to all my friends." Pinkie said as if it was the most natural thing. Cal stopped
"But everyone is your friend..."
"I know isn't it great!" She cheered throwing her hooves in the air with confetti out of nowhere. Cal shook his head,
"Pinkie you fascinate and terrify me all at the same time."
"I know I get that a lot." She chuckled as they kept walking passing booth after booth. When they passed a corpus man sitting cross-legged on the floor behind a blue mat filled with all kinds of trinkets. A Grineer lancer with a crooked head stood idly by as he waved at all the colorful ponies.
"Hey Tenno." The Corpus man greeted with an accent that could only be described as Brooklyn car salesman. "Clem" The lancer greeted the only way he could and Cal waved
"Hey Darvo, hey Clem." He greeted back without thinking as they walked past. The Excalibur stopped mid-step with the sound of breaking glass as his brain caught up to him. The set of blue "eyes" blared brightly, as the Frame turned his head so fast by all logic it should have snapped.
"DARVO!?"
Author's Note
(Darvo Voice)
Darvo hung there in the Tenno's arms as the Excalibur shook him angrily.
"how did you get here Darvo?" He asked with enough venom in his voice it should have caused a poison proc. The arms dealer reached into his pocket and pulled out a slip of paper.
"Hey lay off Tenno I'm legit this time I swear." The sleazy Corpus said nonchalantly. This only made Cal madder,
"Bullshit Darvo." He spat, and Darvo looked to the side.
"Trust me, Tenno, I'm just as shocked as you are." Cal took a breath like he was going to say more but was interrupted.
"Clem"
Darvo and Cal looked over to see Pinkie and Clem looking at each other as they went back and forth.
"Clem"
They went like this as Darvo and Cal kept looking between the two as they "Talked" to each other. Until Clem switched it up and said,
"Grakata!" excitedly and Pinkie proclaimed one final "Pie!" then they both touched their chins and nodded like they understood everything.
"What just happened?" Cal asked, and Pinkie jumped to face him with her trademark smile.
"Oh, my new friend Clem was explaining that they got a booth permit from mayor mare, As long as they didn't sell anything dangerous or volatile." Darvo chuckled,
"Nice lady if your into that kind of thing." Darvo shrugged chuckling again. "Didn't leave me much in the way of wares to sell though." Cal looked at his booth to see some Orstrons pottery, and inflatable Grineer blunts, Alongside several Grineer containers with price tags. Cal looked back to Pinkie.
"I shouldn't be surprised anymore should I?" He asked,
"But that's part of the fun about being near me!" She exclaimed and threw confetti out of her hooves. Clem said his name excitedly as he watched the shiny pieces fall to the ground.
"How'd you do that?" Darvo asked
"Do what?" Pinkie asked, but when Darvo looked at the ground again, the confetti was gone.
"What...How," Darvo started confused, and Cal set him down to pat his shoulder.
"Darvo meet Pinkie, Pinkie you probably already know Darvo." Cal introduced, and Pinkie nodded
"Now your catching on." She praised, Then reached behind her and grabbed a clipboard. "Your Darvo Bek, the son of prominent Corpus Board member Frohd Bek. A freelance ex-Corpus merchant who regularly sells equipment to the Tenno, either through the Market or through your own shop located on any Relay's second floor. Usually at a big discount from standard market prices." As Pinkie read Darvo's eyes got wider, and his jaw hung lower
"What the, how the hell! Give me that!" He snatched the clipboard and read further only to sputter. "How the hell did you get my Bank number and pin! where did you find all this info!" He shouted confused and scared. Pinkie merely smiled and closed her eyes, and Cal even said it with her.
"I'm Pinkie Pie."
They said in perfect unison even if Cal sounded a bit tired in his recital. Darvo looked at the pony with fear.
"Also I wanted to make sure you didn't rip off any of my friends while you were in town." Pinkie finished with an innocent giggle. Darvo looked between her and the Tenno nervously.
"Whose your friends?" He asked with sweat on his brow.
"Oh, that's easy." Pinkie waved a hoof at him "Everyone!" She said happily, and Darvo chuckled then realized something
"By profit your not kidding are you."
"Oh, I never kid Mr. Bek. Come on Clemmy let go get you your first ever Pinkie pie Cupcake you'll love them!" She motioned for the Lancer to follow and he did with an overjoyed "CLEM!"
Darvo watched them go then looked back at the clipboard only for it to be gone, he looked all around in case he dropped it, but it had vanished into thin air. "Tenno I'm scared." He admitted, and Cal nodded understanding that feeling.
"And Darvo if you leek the location of this planet to anyone I'll find and burn all of your stuff," Cal added but felt his threat wasn't nearly as good as Pinkies. "Enjoy your stay." He left patting Darvo's shoulder as he walked away. The Corpus man stood there with a petrified face of doom for several seconds before a pony walked up and asked about the pottery.
Elsewhere on Sweet apple acres.
"Ok, so Arch-Duke theory is when you use fate to power your magic and Mage theory is using straight up power right?" Nekros asked, and Twi waved a hoof back and forth.
"Closer but still not wholly accurate. Let me try this a different way. Say your Warframe is your spell matrix and you cast your abilities through it. That's Arch-Duke Theory. But if you could cast your abilities without the frame that's Mage Theory because you create the matrix instead of using a template." Twilight explained, and Nekros stopped and looked at her.
"So every Warframe works off Arch-Duke theory, huh" He touched his chin.
"Well, I was merely making an example not declaring a hypothesis." Twilight backtracked, but Nekros stopped her with a shake of his head.
"But you're right Light Bright!" He held his hands out "The Warframe is a Spell Matrix, Every Nekros can cast the exact same abilities. But we can't cast say Snow Globe each Frame is limited to the same power set and base stats of that Frame."
Twilight understood now. "You can't cast outside your Matrix, and only the powers each Frame's Matrix allows. So by Arch-Duke Theory the Tenno are just walking enchanted suits of armor.... Wait are there other Nekros?" Twi asked catching another detail.
"Hundreds probably hell every member of my squad might have a Nekros in their inventory."
"Exactly like you?" She asked, and Nekros shook his head
"No there probably different colors and attachments but same powers and same base stats. We all have our favorite Frames, so that's the one we use the most."
"Fascinating!" Twilight said as the gears in her head turned to a different thought.
"Does that mean I could be a Nekros?" She asked with a serious face, and the Frame didn't like the look in her eyes.
"You're not a Tenno Twilight." He used her real name for the first time. "Plus you'd have to farm Lephantus, and I don't see a pony ever doing that." The casual tone came back, but Twilight wasn't done.
"What about Bloom?" She asked, and Nekros looked away.
"We don't even know how or what Chroma did to fuse himself to the pony so she could operate a Warframe." Twi opened her mouth again, but Nekros cut her off. "Were here drop it."
Twilight closed her mouth with a glare and looked at the apple trees. She knew the Apple family used the trees as monuments to the dead, but she didn't think they actually buried them in the orchid. The thought coupled with how many trees there were made a chill go down her spine.
"Now it's time to prove I'm a real Necromancer!" He shouted dramatically getting in character. Twi looked at him sideways.
"Didn't we just establish you run off Arch-Duke theory?" She argued, but Nekros was already in character again.
"Silence puny horse mortal! And witness the power of a Nekros!" He started moving his hands like he was drawing energy from the ground as sickly green mist slowly filled his hands with each pull. The green mist oozed from him as green wisps of it floated and circled him as he cast. He raised his hands ceremoniously to the sky and dropped them all the energy faded. Twi looked around but saw nothing.
"That looked impressive, but I don't see any-"
"What kind of Voodo are you trying to pull in my orchard!" Granny shouted angrily as she walked up. Nekros took one look at her and stood a bit straighter and crossed his arms smugly.
"Told you I was a real Necromancy."
"WHAT?"
"I raised an undead minion therefor I am a Necromancer." He declared, and Granny mouthed "Undead" with a cross look.
"Nekros that's just Granny Smith!" Twi pointed out, and Granny glared at her. "I mean she looks nothing like a corpse." Twi tried to save herself.
"Well I raised someone's Grandmother I mean look at her!" He crouched to Grannies level, and Twi could sense danger. "The Sickly green coat and flesh, The wispy grey hair, and look her skin is old and hanging off her bones clearly this is a Zombie." He finished right as Granny rose on her back legs and Clanked him in the face with a frying pan.
"I'M AS BEAUTIFUL AS FRESH FLOWER!" She shouted as Nekros landed on his back. Twi watched in horror and more amusement then she should as she continued to hit him. Till all that was left was a bend and dented pan and a half dead Nekros. "Next time you do any of that Voodo around my families trees your gonna have to raise your own bony butt from the dead ya heathen!" She warned as she stormed away in a huff repeating the word "undead" in disbelief to herself.
"Nekros are you ok?" She asked concerned, and He pried the pan from his helmet and rubbed the spot.
"I think..." he groaned and Twi took a relieved breath before falling on her back laughing. While Nekros glared at her.
Author's Note
Sorry this is a bit shorter then i wanted but it seemed like a good place to leave this one.
Author's Note
Warning this Chapter has Second Dream and War Within spoilers. If you haven't played or seen those quests MILD SPOILERS AHEAD
Told you this one would be longer.
Tales of Ponyville P3
Elsewhere but not far actually
Bloom and Chroma were doing their regular chores as Granny passed by fuming. They paused to watch her storm inside.
"Wonder what happened?" Chroma asked, and Bloom flinched when she slammed the door.
"We'll ask after she's calmed down a bit." She decided to stay on the safe side. A grunt made them look to see Teshin plowing the field wearing Big Mac's yoke around his neck as he pulled the metal plow through the soil. He'd taken off his shirt revealing tanned muscles of a warrior and many scars. His ever-present wide-brimmed hat offered some shade as he worked. "You sure you don't want to use the garden rake?" Bloom offered again. He paused to through his head back and laugh boastfully.
"Haha No! This is the work that steels your body and strengthens a man's soul! Fresh air in my lungs! The fertile soil underfoot! Work only for the hardy!" He shouted happily with his hands on his hips.
"Well, he's energetic," Bloom commented and felt Chroma nod in agreement.
"It was generous of him to offer to take over Big Mac's chores while he recovers." Chroma offered.
"At this rate, Big Mac might not get his job back," Bloom stated plainly as Teshin ran past with a wide grin on his face.
In the south fields, Vauban tossed a vortex orb in his hand a couple of times trying to find the perfect spot to throw it. He spotted a flat place between four threes.
"There," He tossed it, and it latched to the floor before floating creating a small black hole. The Tenno made Singularity started sucking apples off the branches and harmlessly orbiting them around it like an atom. He had to smirk at the fact he'd calibrated the grenade to treat apples as pickups. Vauban picked up the apple bucket and held it firmly under the atom of apples until the power timed out and they all fell in. The bucket overflowed, but when he looked over the trees, it seemed it wasn't efficient. Less than half the tree's apples had been plucked. The Frame stroked the front of his helmet.
"It was worth a shot," he said before shrugging and bending down to pick up the loose apples. When he remembered something Applejack had done. It seemed crazy but yet again worth a shot. He walked over to a tree to his right and placed his hand flat against it. Reaching out through his transference into the tree. "I don't know your name like the other Apples do. I can't harvest like they do. Not without hurting you so allow me to try a different way please." He asked but felt nothing. Letting his hand drop from the tree he shook his head feeling like a fool for even trying.
When an Apple fell next to him, and he looked at the tree. Now the logical side of his brain told him his vortex probably loosened it, and normal gravity did the rest, but he threw out another vortex anyway. This time all the apples came to him as if the Trees were willingly throwing their fruit his way. He felt it inside that he'd gotten through and pumped his fist in the air in victory.
"I TALKED TO A TREE wow that sounded better in my head." he lowered his arms Applejack who had watched the whole thing chuckled as she bucked her own set of trees.
Ailleurs dans Prance
Rarity and Frost sat at a cafe near the river. Rarity sat in her stylish black top and red beret. Frost sat casually with his hand on his Nikanna as he told a story.
"So Volts making a mad dash for the vault door as it closes and I'm telling him "look you can't make it" but he, of course, says "Trust Mister speed!" as he runs face first into the closed vault door." Frost finished, and Rarity hid her giggle politely as she fanned herself with a purple fan. They had the misfortune to land in Prance right in the middle of a record heatwave and Rarity refused to change out of her fashionable outfit.
"Volt and Rainbow are so remarkably similar it's a wonder they don't hate each other really." Rarity pondered, and Frost nodded
"I think this falls into Birds of a feather type deal." Frost pointed out and Rarity Hmmed thoughtfully.
Frost took a drink of his Iced Coffee "So where next?" Rarity pulled out a paper, and at first, it didn't look too bad. Until he noticed that it continued under the table and well into her purse "Oh Void dammit..." he sighed.
"Oh buck up dear Frost with you and your darling little ship we'll be done before you know it." Rarity cooed, and Sweetie Belle trotted up. The little filly was wilting in the heat, so she plowed her face into Frost's side with a relieved sigh.
She mumbled something into Frost's side, and Rarity gave her a disapproving look. "Sweetie Ladies do not mumble."
Sweetie pulled her face out "Sis it's so hot." She whined then made a cheerful expression "Pretty! but hot." She put her face back into the walking ice pack that was Frost. The Frame chuckled and picked her up and set her on his cool lap. There was a sizzle when the overheating filly touched his lap, and she sighed in relief. Rarity hid her pout of jealousy knowing how good that must feel.
"Our next stop is just another block away, and I only need two things." She explained, and Frost nodded, but Sweetie made a panicked face, then turned red
"One problem Sis?" Sweetie interjected
"Yes, Sweetie we can wait till you cool off." Rarity rolled her eyes, but Sweetie shook her head no.
"That's the problem..." She blushed harder, and Rarity raised an eyebrow
"Sweetie what does that-"
"I think my butt froze to Mr. Frost." She admitted turning into a tomato. Rarity looked down and swallowed pursing her lips as her brain processed it all. She choked back a chortle clearing her throat fighting to keep a socially acceptable face. Until she said what had happened in her head in an attempt to control herself only to break her mental dams. She smacked her hoof on the table, and ugly laughed till she snorted and nearly fell out of her chair.
"RARITY!" Sweetie whined, and Frost brought his temperature up while holding his own giggles in. "NOT YOU TO! This is your fault anyway!" She smacked his chest with her hoof only making him laugh harder.
"I'm sorry." The Frame apologized, but Sweetie glared at him cutely.
*SPOILERS FROM HERE ON*
Meanwhile in Canterlot
Oberon walked the hedge maze. He'd been walking the hedge maze for two hours now and was fighting to keep his calm demeanor as he walked into another dead end. Turning around promptly taking a left which only brought more hedges. He trudged on determined to find his way out without cheating. But it seemed the deeper he went into the maze, the deeper he fell into his own thoughts.
He left his calm brisk walk for a jog determined to outrun his own thoughts. He stepped into a Corpus hallway blue and Silver with windows out into the inky vastness of space. The distant Corpus loudspeaker echo's to his ears, and he stopped to look only for it all to be gone. It had been a wall of blue flowers that had triggered that memory. He put his hands on his helmet and gave himself a shake.
"You're losing it Kree." He whispered to himself and kept walking. He calmed down and took a right. Right into a Grineer corridor bathed in red light. The sound of machinery clanking and grinding barraged him. Ever present just like the Grineer war machine. His walk became a run than a full-on sprint.
"There just flowers!" He repeated to himself over and over. The sound of endlessly marching boots chased him as they got closer and closer till they sounded like they were walking on his skull. He could hear them shouting in there broken language words that seemed like he should know them but screamed and twisted into hate-filled vessels of Grineer domination.
He tripped and stumbled into a different scene. He stopped and found he'd changed. Once a Warframe now a teenager in a white and grey operator suit. He was pale white with brown hair, and he was terrified. He remembered this ship.
The Zariman Ten Zero
Children's screams of pain, fear, and lost echoed through the ghost ships halls. They got closer and louder until they became a wail that dropped Kree to his knees covering his ears in a desperate attempt to silence them.
"We need to kill them before they kill us!" Angry voices shouted at him, and he shook his head.
"No we, we can't." Kree pleaded for them to understand.
"They are animals now!"
"No, we can carol them lock them up." Kree tried again.
"US OR THEM!" The voices grew angrier as they warped themselves into a violent frenzy of shouts and grunts of blades and hammers and adult voices screaming in agony. Everything turned red as Kree fell to the floor crying.
"No Mom, No Dad, NO!"
"Son you-" A southern voice tried to ask as he put a hoof on the young Tenno. Kree screamed in terror at the unexpected contact. Pushing out his hand shooting a Void beam behind him. Luckily for the Ground Keeper, he was shorter than anything the Tenno expected. Kree was back in the gardens, or instead, he'd never left and had returned to his senses.
The Keeper touched the burned edge of his had before speaking again. "Son are you ok?"
Kree wiped his face furiously "Ya I'm fine..." He lied and the Keeper knew he was but didn't press him about it. Kree looked behind the Dark brown pony in overalls to see his Oberon laying face down on the floor from where he had tripped. Any other time the fact he literally fell out of his Warframe would have been funny right now, he was shaken.
The Grounds Keeper turned and waved a hoof for him to follow. "Come on I'll show you the way out." He offered, and Kree nodded before returning to his Warframe. Once the familiar void surrounded him, and he was looking from behind the warframe again he felt better. "You need to keep a clear head to wonder these paths least your thoughts or something else take over." The Keeper warned looking behind him at the twisted statue of Discord that Kree had been mere feet from when he found him. The stone seemed to be laughing at them as they walked away.
The Keeper led them back to his shed where he told Kree he was safe to step out if he wanted. The Tenno was eased out of his armor with hot cocoa and was told he didn't have to talk. So they sat there in silent company enjoying there drink.
Valkyr saw the void beam from Luna's window. He'll be ok she thought as she laid her head back down on Luna's side as they napped together peacefully on the floor.
Valkyr in her dreams were bashing Grineer heads together and merrily going on a rampage. She Riplined a lancer in half and smacked another with it before sinking her Venka claws knuckle deep into a Ballistica's chest. She stood on top of the corpse and crouched low giving her butt, a wiggle as she prepared to lunge at another. When a Lunar Broadsword came and swiped her target in half. She followed it to its owner to see Luna in full armor one again.
"Are your dreams always so fun Tenno?" She asked with a grin as she scoped out her next target. Valkyr scratched her head then pointed at Luna. "Oh yes, I am here, in your dreams." Luna started to explain
"Again," Valkyr said giving Luna pause.
"Again? This is the first time I have dream walked with you Tenno." The Princess of the Night asked confused, and Valkyr thought about the first time Luna was in her dreams. Luna let out a surprised snort and back away "Valkyr how did you get so small?" She asked, and the Tenno looked down to see she was out of her Warframe and in her Operator cloths. She also realized she was laying on another Luna's back.
"Um..." The Teenage girl stammered. Luna looked at her and the scene. No longer a feline-like Warframe but a young girl in a black hooded suit and leggings. She had black half-rimmed glasses and long raven black hair that went down to her back. The girl covered her face with her hands.
"Don't look your not suppose to know about this!" She shouted her voice was smooth utterly different from the growl Valkyr made when she spoke. Luna smiled and trotted over, the dream Luna evaporated, and Luna used a hoof to bring the Tenno's head up gently.
"The Realm of Dreams is hard to control, and it often shows ones true self. Is this your True Self?" The Princess asked, and the girl nodded still covering her face. "Do not worry as Princess of the Night it is my duty to guard those who dream in our kingdom. Your secret is safe with me Valkyr."
"Kaylee... My real name is Kaylee." Kaylee peeked out from her hands at the smiling Princess.
"Hello, Kaylee it is wonderful to meet the true you." Luna encouraged the Tenno further, and she dropped her hands slowly. "let the armor fall and relax Tenno you are safe." Kaylee nodded and disappeared from the Dream Realm, and Luna looked around till she felt a poke in the waking world. Opening her eyes, she saw Kaylee smiling nervously at her and Luna opened her wing for her to rejoin her in there nap.
"COME ONE COME ALL TO THE GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE'S NEW SHOW!" A blue mare with a white mane and tail shouted in the town square catching Bloom's attention.
"Trixie?" She asked turning to where the showmare advertised. Trixie had a whole new outfit. A white cape with blue stars and top hat to match. But something about it struck a cord with Chroma.
"You know her?" He asked,
"She came to town months ago she's a traveling Showmare. Bigger ego then that Ash. Sis isn't a fan cause she lies a lot. Plus she almost got the town destroyed by an Ursa Minor."
"THAT WAS NOT TRIXIE'S FAULT!" The magician shouted hearing Bloom. "How was Trixie suppose to know those two idiots would find a real Ursa minor and lead it to town!" Trixie grumbled. "BUT REGARDLESS! TRIXIE HAS RETURNED TO THIS DEARY LITTLE TOWN WITH AN EVEN BETTER SHOW!" She returned to character. She scanned the area for one mare in particular. "Where is Twilight Sparkle?" She asked mostly to herself.
"Why?" Bloom asked giving the great and powerful Trixie a start. Trixie nearly lost her new hat till she fixed it and grumbled. "Is it so you can challenge her to a magic duel?" Bloom asked. Trixie shook her head no.
"NO, if I can impress her all others will flock to Trixie's show. I'm using this dinky little town as a testbed." Bloom rolled her eyes.
"I don't know where Twi is but hope the show goes well." Bloom waved her off. At first, Trixie snorted and looked away when her eyes went full locking on Bloom and Chroma.
"WAIT!" She shouted, and Bloom stopped. Trixie ran up catching her ill-fitting hat before it fell. "Trixie is feeling generous so have two free tickets to the show." She practically shoved the tickets at them. "The show is in one hour, center of town. Trixie will see both of you there!" The showmare demanded and trotted off leaving Bloom confused.
"That was weird." Bloom held the Tickets in Chroma's claws and scratched her head with the other.
"Wait she said both of us...." Chroma realized. Bloom looked at the tickets with a small feeling of dread. "Looks like we have a show to see." Chroma stated dramatically looking in the direction of Trixie.
Bloom kicked a leg "It's not for an hour. Wanna get a milkshake?"
"Ya, that sounds good." He relaxed, and they trotted to Sugarcube.
The cube was pretty busy this time of day on an average day, But today, when they walked in the place, was empty and an odd sense of doom hung in the air. Mr. Cake saw them come in and rushed to meet her.
"Hi... Mr. Cake whats going on. You look a little stressed?" She asked, and Mr. Cake did look stressed his hair was messy and his eyes were flicking back to a corner booth. Bloom looked behind him to see what was causing the stress. It was a Warframe one Bloom had never seen in town before. He was tall and skeletal wrapped in brown bandages with the head of a dog as he sucked down a milkshake. His tenth one judging by all the empty glasses. Mr. Cake put a hoof around her and whispered frantically.
"He's been here all afternoon, He's scared away every other customer!"
Bloom grimaced. "Has he been rude?"
Mr. Cake paused "No, just menacing and Creepy and I could swear I've seen bugs crawling around him."
"Well, he is an Inaros." Chroma stated, and Bloom cocked an eyebrow.
"We'll talk to him for you Mr. Cake." The Yellow stallion sighed with relief.
Bloom trotted over putting on a friendly smile. "Hi, mister." She greeted cheerfully, and the Sand Frame looked at her
"You're the pony Hybrid everyone is looking for." He spoke with an accent Bloom couldn't place
"Ya, I'm Chroma and Bloom who are you?" She kept the conversation going.
"I am Inaros, the guardian, the hungry." Bloom looked at the empty glasses and sweet foils.
"I can see that." Bloom chuckled
"No Bloom you don't understand, Inaros drains and eats every enemy in their path literally. He sucks the life out of them." Chroma warned, and Bloom gulped. Inaros chuckled putting Bloom on edge.
"My presence scares the yellow one doesn't it?" He asked, and Mr. Cake ducked behind the counter. Bloom rubbed the back of her head.
"Not gonna lie mister, from what I just heard you're pretty terrifying." Bloom blurted then a gold beetle crawled out of his arm from under the bandage and grabbed a crumb that had fallen only to skitter back into the Frame. Bloom watched it silently freaking out. She nearly jumped out of Chroma's pelt when a glasses fell over. She saw another golden beetle sitting in the glass cleaning up whatever was left.
Then Bloom put the pieces in her head "Wait are you like a Mummy Frame."
"A what?" He asked
"Ya like an Egyptian mummy. Like that one movie, Applejack told me I couldn't watch but did anyway then had nightmares for a week. They dug up a mummy and suffered his curse. He drained his victims dry to rebuild himself." Bloom rambled a little-scared remembering how much that movie had freaked her out. Inaros watched the filly as she pretty much told him the entire plot of the film. As she was talking she hopped into the seat across from him and he motioned for two more Milkshakes.
By the time she finished, Mr. Cake had brought the shakes, and Inaros nodded and pulled out two brown bags. Mr. Cake raised an eyebrow. "One is payment the other comes with a tale," Inaros said mysteriously.
Mr.Cake felt both bags they both weighed the same, but one jingled. Opening it to find it was filled with gold jewelry and other beautiful things well over what the Frame owed. The other filled with sand.
"Sand?" He asked, and Inaros nodded.
"Sand for protection and prosperity. A ritual that runs deep with the lore of Inaros." He explained. Both ponies looked at him curiously, and he motioned for Mr. Cake to sit. "Come to sit and hear the tale of Inaros."
"Many years ago the civilization of Mars was terrorized by golden skymen who came and stole their children away. After many years a Savoir came. One of the Skymen's own warriors could not stand the abductions anymore and protected them. This warrior was Inaros who ascended as their king to watch over the people of mars. When a great infestation hit the people prayed again and again for Inaros to save them. Summoning a great sandstorm, he defeated the Infection but at significant cost to himself. So the people of Mars took the battered pieces of Inaros and hid them away in tombs so he would rest till he was needed again. Placing sand in your home or under your pillow to grant Inaros's protection became a practice." He finished, and Bloom and Mr. Cake looked astonished.
"Is that all true?" Bloom asked, and he nodded.
"So you're a king?" Mr. Cake asked
"No I am not the original Inaros, But I wear his Warframe because I want to protect like he once did." He stated and finished his milkshake happily and stood up. "Thank you for the refreshments, I apologize for running off your business. I hope that is enough to cover what you may have lost." He bowed his head and left leaving Mr. Cake and Bloom thinking about the story.
Chroma watched him go. First the Showmare, Now another Tenno outside of the squad showing up. Something was going on, and he didn't like the implications. The dragon pelt looked at the clock.
"Oh right!" Bloom downed the rest of her milkshake and hopped off the stool to stumble and rub her head at the brain freeze she'd given herself. Shaking it off she waved to Mr. Cake and ran off. The yellow stallion smiled and looked at the two bags again. He looked around then placed the bag of sand under the counter thinking of Inaros.
Author's Note
This chapter is dedicated to Wazzlo
Trixie watched the crowd roll in from behind the curtain, She readjusted the white hat on her head felling a hand on her shoulder she knew if she looked she wouldn't see. She saw the filly with the Chroma on her back and smiled. The stage was set, time to start the show.
Bloom stood in the crowd of excited ponies. Wondering what Trixie knew about Chroma and the other Tenno. She knew the Tenno here weren't being subtle. But Trixie must have just come to town today how did she already knew about them. Her silent worries were interrupted by a flash of smoke and the blue mare to appear on stage. The Showmare took in the crowd with a superior grin. She stood on her back legs and threw her front hooves to the sky.
"Welcome ponies of all ages to the GREAT and POWERFUL TRIX-" She was cut off by her hat falling over her head and swallowing the mare till it hit the ground with a soft pat! Everyone was stunned a murmur went through the crowd when nothing else happened for a moment. When music filled the area, a drumroll started, and excitement grew until a white-gloved hand reached out from underneath the top hat and lifted it. Reveling a white and blue biped dressed as a stage magician.
"LIMBO?" Chroma cried out in shock.
"Another Warframe?" Bloom asked, and Chroma nodded.
"Welcome Ladies and Gentlemen! To the greatest show in the sector." The Limbo's voice carried through the crowd. He spoke like a ringleader of a circus and commanded everyone's attention. He struck a pose and waved a hand over his hat. When it floated off his head to show nothing underneath but the metallic blue top of his head. "Look on fair ponies there's no horn under this magicians hat. No everything you are about to see is not magic of any kind you've ever seen or may possible see again!"
He gave the hat a flick and set it rolling down one arm then shifted his shoulders to move it back down behind his head to the other arm where he threw it in the air. Gliding smoothly to the right he caught it on his head where it spun till it locked back in place.
"So tell me little ponies ARE YOU READY FOR A SHOW!" He shouted clapping his hands sending a blue wave over the crowd causing Bloom and Chroma to tense up. The wave passed, and Bloom opened her eyes to see nothing happened and the crowd went nuts with excitement.
"Then let us begin. Now you've all seen card tricks." He pulled a deck of cards and fanned them out, then flicked his wrist and they all turned around to be Aces. "And we're all so tired of simple slight of hand." He flicked his wrist, and the cards turned into a rose. He crumbled the flower in his hands to roll a throwing star between his knuckles. "And we've all yawned at daring knife throwers."
He mimed yawning as he casually spun the star on his finger. To drop the hand to his side only for the star to stay spinning in midair. A couple ponies gasped, and he nodded, "But this show will mess with your senses and your very REALIT-"
Suddenly the Limbo fell flat on the floor. It was a cardboard cut out, and Bloom rubbed her eyes in disbelief. Where, When, How? She asked, and even Chroma was thrown for a loop. When Angry stomps directed everyone to Limbo storming on stage from the left.
"Someone started my show without me!" He shouted and looked at the crowd with his hands on his hips like he was disappointed in them. He reached down and propped the cutout next to him. "And whats this to think someone would fall for such a cheap imitation." He scoffed even though it was a perfect image. The cut-out turned it's head and Bloom, and most the audience jumped.
"Who are you calling an imitation, you imposter!" The very real Limbo scoffed and shoved the other away. Then dusted off his suit with a hmph. Bloom's jaw dropped they were exact copies down to the voice and the way they stood. The First Limbo turned to them.
"It would seem I'm literally beside myself in confusion!"
Bloom giggled at the silly joke alongside a couple others. The first Limbo reached to his side and pulled out a metallic blue rapier.
"There's only one way to solve this! Egos as big as ours were never meant to occupy the same time and space. This should be mathematically impossible!" He declared, and the other Limbo merely crossed his arms
"No, I think this bit has gone on long enough, and the fake Limbo should just explode."
"Hmm, I see well played." The first Limbo who Bloom was sure was the real one said before exploding into glitter and confetti. Blowing Blooms and the crowds mind. The stallion next to Bloom looked like he wanted to go home and rethink his life at this revelation. The now lone Limbo whipped his face and dusted his person of confetti then turned to the crowd.
"For this next part, I'm going to need a volunteer." He shielded his eyes with his hand and started sweeping the crowd. Bloom felt something in her gut as his gaze got closer.
"I get the feeling we're being-" Bloom was interrupted by Limbo pointing at her.
"YOU! their filly with the fearsome coat."
"Set up, ya I'm getting the same feeling." Chroma finished. When Bloom didn't come rushing upstage Limbo worked the crowd.
"Looks like she's got a bit of stage fright folks, come on let's give her enough encouragement to sweep her onto the stage!" He rallied everyone into deafening cheers, and Bloom felt something tingle around her, and her whole world suddenly shifted. She blinked, and she was on stage right next to Limbo. No clue how'd he'd done it, the Frame bend down to her level.
"Whats your name filly?" He asked, and Bloom swallowed the lump in her throat.
"Applebloom."
"Ah wonderful Applebloom and Chroma!" he shouted for all to hear and Bloom's gut twisted. "Even if it's a little weird to name your hoodie kid." Limbo fake whispered to the crowd getting another laugh. "Well, Chroma Bloom lets start with something familiar."
He fanned a hand of playing cards in front of her and Bloom raised an eyebrow.
"I thought you didn't do card tricks?" She asked, and he nodded.
"I don't, but every great trick starts small kid." He said quietly, and Bloom reached out to point at the middle card, and Limbo recoiled like he'd been shot with overdramatic horror.
"By the void kid your brave!" He pushed his hand towards her, and something washed over her freezing her to the spot. He put the other on his forehead like he would faint at whatever card she had picked. "I would never throw knives at a filly!" he lamented and flung his arm out. A shuriken flew out of his hands to stop mere inches from Bloom's face. The crowd gasped in horror and Limbo looked at them like he didn't know what was going on.
Limbo looked at Bloom and did a double take then put his hands on his face with a cartoonish gasp of horror. He pointed with an aggressive motion flinging another star at her. Limbo peeked through his fingers then dropped the act.
"Don't worry she's a professional." Then clamped both hands over where his mouth should have been like he'd said too much. "I mean NO! The horror this poor filly is in genuine danger, and you all should be at the edge of your seats in suspense of whether or not this stagehand, I mean innocent bystander will come to harm." He purposely stumbled over his words and the audience calmed. Believing Limbos words.
With each extravagant motion, Limbo threw another star at Bloom which froze in place.
"Chroma?" Bloom asked scared but unable to move.
"Ya Bloom?" Chroma responded sounding worried.
"What do we do I can't move."
"He's got us in stasis, not much we can do until the ability times out." Chroma explained
"But when that happens-"
"We get several throwing stars directly to the face...." Chroma finished.
Limbo strolled over to the two and examined them. He moved his hands above, and below the stars. Showing the audience, there weren't any strings holding them in place. He grabbed one of the stars and pulled with what looked like all his might. But the projectile did not budge. He got a foothold on a different star and pulled so hard he lifted himself off the ground. Till he wiped the imaginary sweat from his brow and leaned on the floating stars.
"Sorry, folks it seems I may have broken a bit of physics." Everyone laughed at his slapstick, and he hopped off the stars to look at Bloom again. Bloom felt the status ending. "Bloom, can I get you to move to the left?"
Which the filly did the second she could and Limbo smacked his forehead. "Ah yes, next times lets lead with that. It'll be a snap them." He snapped as he said it and the throwing stars whizzed past Bloom to land with a "Thunk."
Limbo turned to the crowd and bowed as the crowd went wild stomping there hooves in thunderous applause. In a puff of smoke, Limbo vanished replaced with a very confused Trixie. Limbo's hat fell back on her head neatly as the curtain closed.
Author's Note
This was posted in a bit of a rush so if you see anything wrong tell me please.
"So what do you think of the show?" The limbo asked doing a twirl to face her. But Bloom didn't response merely stood there with her head hung low. "Um, Chroma? Bloom?" he asked, and Bloom lifted her head to show dim eyes.
"Ya Bloom fainted from terror about two minutes ago, and If you'll excuse me, I'd like to join her." Chroma said politely on Limbo's H.U.D before falling over like a goat, legs straight out. Limbo put his hand on his chin and nodded.
"That's fair. We may have overplayed it a teeny bit." He made a tiny bit of space between his fingers then scratched the top of his head under his hat. He checked his wrist like he had a watch and tapped his foot waiting for them to revive or whatever they were doing. Nothing happened, so he shrugged and picked the Pony and Frame off the floor and carried her backstage.
When Bloom came later, She woke up screaming about sharp things until she noticed she wasn't onstage anymore or stuck in stasis. She took in the room around her. Which was filled with warframes and Trixie?
"I think it's awake." The all red and Silver frame in a hood and what looked like a gas mask for a face said in a disapproving tone. Limbo smacked him with a rolled-up newspaper.
"She is not an "it," and She is a guest Harrow. He scolded, and Harrow growled irritated.
"And she's a cute guest!" The Female Frame sitting on the edge of the card table with a harlequin-like mask with curved horns said with a bubbly voice rivaling pinkie. She was a dark pink with deep purple tones mixed in. The Inaros from Sugarcube corner was sitting in a chair next to her munching on what looked like chips he waved.
"Octy! The Chroma's awake." Limbo called, and a bright blue hat with plume made of long feather-like strips pocked her head from out behind a curtain, and she joined the others, excitedly dancing to a tune no one but her could hear. The Limbo looked around "Who we missing?"
A green and grey frame poofed into view sitting on a barrel his helmet looked like a hammerhead shark. "Titania is off fluttering about, and Banshee said something about a concert." He responded in a very Manhatten accent, and Limbo nodded.
"Thanks, Loki, Well most the gangs here. So most the introductions are due. I am Limbo master of the void. The lovely ball of mischief is Mirage. I do believe you've met Inaros are ravenous royal. The man dressed as a preacher in a gas mask is are local edge load Harrow." Harrow glared at Limbo.
"The lively one in blue is our girl with the tunes Octavia."
"Hows it going?" Octavia asked, and Bloom smiled.
"Been teleported, put in stasis, had sharp things thrown at me then was kidnapped by a group of strange Warframe." Bloom recapped, and Octy nodded
"Right, right that's kind of how I met these guys too." She laughed
Limbo pointed to Loki "You can play the teleporting on this trickster, they all helped me put together the show you saw. So I have just one question. Did you like the show?" He asked palms out, and everyone minus Harrow and Inaros seemed genuinely invested in her answer.
"It was really cool and well done. Until the sharp things in my face part." Bloom admitted, and Everyone cheered minus Edgelord of course who seemed content on glaring at Bloom. Limbo folded his arms.
"I had everything planned down to the last decimal there was no reason to worry." He explained, and Bloom's eye twitched.
"I didn't know that I've never encountered any of you Frames before." Bloom defended, and Limbo nodded understanding. Bloom caught Harrow's glared and raised an eyebrow. "Something wrong?" she tried to ask politely. He didn't answer merely looked at Limbo,
"I'm not going to bother with pleasantries, Especially with this thing." Everyone turned to look at the Harrow with shock and Bloom liked like someone had kicked her.
"Dude, what the fuck is your problem?" Loki asked, and Harrow looked ready to give a sermon.
"My problem is this thing is an abomin-" Harrow disappeared with a snap of Limbo's fingers. He looked at Bloom.
"I am so sorry. He's always been dramatic but never, NEVER like this before." He declared sounding furious at his fellow Tenno's actions. Bloom tried to blink away the sheer hatred that had just been thrown her way out of nowhere. Suddenly Bloom was swept up in Mirage's arms in a hug. The ornate frame nuzzled Bloom like she was some sort of plush toy. With a flash of colorful lights, three more Mirage appeared surrounding Bloom in nuzzles.
"Don't listen to that meany!" She cooed baby talk, and Bloom felt sick. They saw her as nothing but a cute pony. Bloom's lights flared, and Mirage and her clones yelped dropping the pony. The air steamed around the angry pony frame as she stormed off without a word. Mirage rubbed the burn on her cheek, and Limbo shook his head thoughtfully.
"Was it something I said?" She asked, and Limbo sighed.
"Calm down Bloom." Chroma urged at the burning filly. But she ignored him with a snort. "I don't think she meant to look down on us."
"Well, she did!" Bloom snapped with a flick of fire. "Ch! Abomination..." Bloom clicked her tongue angrily.
"Bloom." Chroma tried to soothe her anger.
"No just let me be mad for a bit! I'm tired of everyone judging me as some cutesy worthless pony. Hybrid, Abomination, Blank Flank!" She spat the names and Chroma didn't really understand the last one, but it upset Bloom all the same. The pony sat on her haunches "Mud-Pony." She said the last one with actual pain in her heart.
Chroma remembered that one from their talk with the lotus. It felt like a slur of some kind. Bloom picked up on his confusion and sighed. "Its a term for earth ponies used by the other tribes because we don't have horns or wings. Sis told me it's really offensive."
"And Blank Flank?" Chroma asked, and Bloom lifted his pelt off her haunches to show the blank side.
"It's an annoying term for ponies who don't have a cutie mark. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon call me and my friends that all the time to make fun of us. I guess we've spent so much learning about the Tenno and your world we never covered my side. A Cutie Mark shows up when a pony discovers there unique talent. It's pretty much like destiny showing you what your gonna do for the rest of your life." She explained.
"Sounds constricting, being stuck to one talent forever." The more Chroma thought about it, the bleaker it sounded.
"Well you don't have to do it forever, but you're super good at it, and usually It's something you enjoy. Like Rarity her talent is gem finding, but she makes dresses for a living. She uses that talent to make her dresses the best." Bloom tried to explain better, and Chroma nodded.
"I think I understand now." He said, but Bloom hung her head.
"But now I don't even know if I'll ever get my mark. It's a scary thought really." She admitted.
"Mark or no mark you have all your friends pony and Tenno, And you have me," He reassured, and Bloom smiled.
"Thank you, I think I better go back and Apologize for storming off." She turned around to see red mist had surrounded her blocking her view of the area around her ominously. "Um, Chroma what's going on?"
"Keep your guard up, I'm not sure." They scanned the area together.
The sound of a chain rattling as it was swung back and forth filled the air, Along with a metallic tapping, three slow raps repeated over and over. The smell of firey incense washed over her and the Red Viel of mist parted reveling Harrow. He smacked the end of his staff on the floor creating the hunting raps. His swinging thurible spewed the red smoke and smell.
"FEAR NOT THE VOID ABOMINATION." He preached loudly, and Bloom turned to narrow her eyes at him.
"What are you doing?" she asked and he threw out his hands. Twisted and rusty chains sprouted from the ground ensnaring Bloom as she tried to jump away. Now stuck in Mid-air struggling to escape as Harrow approached her slowly.
"FOR I WILL SEND YOU TO IT'S OPEN ARMS!" His thurible disappeared, and he pulled a pistol from behind his back. Bloom's eyes filled with dread as he leveled it with her head.
"Why are you doing all this? I'm a Warframe to!" She shouted, and he sneered at her.
"Because you are a twisted corruption of the Tenno! A thing that should never have been allowed to draw breath!" He shot her dropping half her shields "Corruption the Red Veil have the dedication to burn away, and cleanse the system of!" He shot her again, and her shields dropped. His chains started to loosen as the ability timed out and Bloom let lose a spectral scream in his sadistic face. Giving her the chance to sprint away.
The staff hit the earth mere inches from her snout. It flashed, and her brain felt fuzzy. He shot her in the head again sending her tumbling with a cry. She was bleeding badly as the Slash proc hit her. "Bloom move!" Chroma warned, and she jumped right as he shot again. But the Bullet changed path and struck her under the jaw sending her on her back.
She couldn't stop the panicked tears as her health ticked down to twenty before the Proc ended. Harrows chained wrapped around her again. She couldn't even struggle anymore as the sadistic frame approached her.
"Ashes to Ashes." He sang out merely pulling a dagger. He raised it high. "Dust to DUST!"
Bloom cried out one last time before the dagger plunged through Chroma into her Skull. Her eyes dimmed as blood spilled down her forehead.
Author's Note
Rap, Tap , Tap...
Bloom felt the dagger plunge through Chroma into her skull. She was forced screaming from her body. Looking somewhere above at the sadistic priest, and her own body that hung there bleeding. She felt an overwhelming rush of emotions. Anger, sadness, confusion, all ran through her until she felt like she'd puke from it all.
"I'm dead?" Her voice echoed like she was in a well. She saw two options floating before her. Revive or Extract, She didn't understand she put her hands on her head. Until the Extract options glowed and she felt like her whole being was sucked through a straw. When suddenly she was back in the orbiter. Chroma was on her back like nothing had happened. But she knew something had happened she could still feel the dagger in her head.
Bloom curled into a tight ball and screamed as she sobbed. Taking raged panicked breaths in between her painful screams as she fought through hiccups. Ordis appeared trying to calm the sobbing filly.
"You are safe now Operator."
"Ordis! What happened *Hic* I was, *Hic* I was dead!" She howled, and Wolfy came up with a whine giving the back of Chroma's hood a worried lick. Chroma lifted off of her and wrapped her in a real hug. One she clung to for a long time before anyone spoke.
"Yes, Bloom we just died." He started, and Bloom stiffened in his arms. "But death in the field is different for Tenno." He spoke softly picking his words carefully. "Those options were to keep fighting or to escape back here."
Bloom didn't speak as her brain processed everything. She looked up at the pelt. "Are we immortal?" She finally asked,
"In a way, yes. But we can only revive four times per mission before being returned to the ship." He explained and she curled a little tighter in his arms.
"I don't like dying." She said small and scared.
"No one does Bloom, no one." He rubbed her back, Chroma could feel her think about the Harrow, he felt something rising in her.
"He called us an abomination," Bloom growled pushing her fear aside. "He killed us in cold blood." Bloom stopped shaking.
"Yes, he did." Chroma confirmed feeling the gears start to pick up speed in her mind. She stood up and wiped her own tears as she walked towards the arsenal node.
"You once told me Mods would make me stronger." Chroma felt the fire grow in her and felt a wave of giddiness at where this was going.
"Yes." He floated over to her as she stepped onto the plate and opened her upgrade tab.
"Show me."
***
"Have you seen Chroma Bloom?" Limbo asked Applejack. He and the rest of "Drama Squad" were looking to apologize.
"No, I can't say I have. Bloom took off once her chores were done. Wasn't expecting her till dinner time. Did something happen?" The farm mare asked, and Limbo scratched his head.
"We may have had a misunderstanding. One of us may have accidentally hurt Bloom's feelings, and we're looking to apologize." Limbo explained and Mirage rubbed her arms guiltily. Harrow, however, smile in his Warframe off to the side. Relieving the snipping of a corrupted Bloom.
Search all you want Limbo. He thought when a sudden horde of silver butterflies surrounded and swarmed him. The dark priest swatted at them to no avail.
"Murderer!" A tiny but strong voice shouted at him. When a little warframe flew up to Limbo's face. She looked like a red and teal fairy,
"Titania?" Limbo asked shocked
"Harrow attacked the Chroma in cold blood!" She started to explain when Harrow's chains lashed out chaining the fairy and her butterflies in mid-air. Applejack turned to Harrow with pure fury on her face.
"YOU HURT MAH LIL SISTER?" She howled, and Harrow laughed.
"I did more than that! I struck down that corrupted abomination." He gloated, and Mirage gasped covering her mouth.
"Why would you do that Harrow?" She asked horrified.
Aj's stomach dropped, and she took an unsteady step back. When she noticed a familiar shape and had to let out a relieved laugh. "Partner you might want to get your eyes checked." She chuckled, and Harrow snapped to look at her. "Blooms right there, See she's even heading this...way." She trailed off when she noticed something was different about Bloom. The shape of her head was different like Chroma's hood had been pulled over giving her a more arrow-shaped head. Chroma's pelt looked bulkier too. Not to mention she was on FIRE ! She wasn't just heading this way. She was savagely tearing her way towards them with leaps and bounds.
"HARROW!" Bloom roared in a combination of her fury and Chroma's terrifying roar that made Aj's ears drop. She looked at Harrow and chuckled nervously.
"I'd find somewhere to hide if I was you, partner." Aj took a step to the side for good measure. Harrow tried to cast his chains, but Bloom was already on top of him. She speared him just under the chest with a smack that moved Aj's hair. Bloom held onto the frame as they fell and hopped on his chest as they slid through the grass leaving a deep trench. She sat up and wailed on him with both arms. Each swing took large chunks out of his shields as she swiped and punched him in the face. Harrow tried to form a block, but her endless fury ripped him wide open for more beatings.
They finally came to a stop, and Harrow tried to keep his arms up blocking his face from her attacks when she grabbed both of his arms and pulled them apart with a reptilian snarl. Holding them apart she took a deep inhale showing her row of long curved teeth that had no right being in a ponies mouth, and Bloom unleashed a Spectral Scream. The flesh on the sides of her jaw stretched as her mouth opened unnaturally wide to bath Harrow in hellfire. Her Elemental Ward burned Harrow wherever they touched till his whole frame caught fire. Bloom's eyes were covered by Chroma's first set of eyes like a giant pair of orange goggles. His second set of diamond shaped eyes sat behind the first both looked furious.
Harrow managed to aim his pistol shooting her in the head merely making her flinch. But this gave him a chance to pull his leg between them and try and push her off. The flames ended as Bloom's grip on her prey was loosened. She snapped at him like a vicious animal till he flung her a few feet back. She skitted through the grass leaving burning claw marks, she roared renewing her Vex Armor. She started the motion to lung at him again, but he chained her mid-air. Harrow got to his feet with several bleeding claw marks on his mask and hood. He whipped his face and shot Bloom watching the shot ping off her armor. He let out a growl of frustration and fired again and again as he moved forward his other hand reaching for his Dark Dagger.
Mirage started to run forward when a sheathed Nikanna blocked her, and she looked at Teshin.
"You would interfere with another Tenno's fight?" He asked, and Mirage looked between him and Bloom.
"But!" She motioned at Bloom then huffed crossing her arms.
Bloom snarled and hissed like a pissed off crocodile as she struggled with all of her and Chroma's might. She wasn't giving up this time! Harrow kept shooting her only pausing to reload. When Bloom's shields finally dropped, he rushed forward risking the Elemental ward just to get close enough to finish her. He drove the dagger home again, and Bloom went limp. Applejack went pale and covered her hoof with her mouth at the sight of her lil sis bleeding so much. Mirage turned into Limbo's shoulder where he rubbed her shoulder. Teshin's hand gripped his Nikanna till it shook. Octavia, however, threw out a Metronome and twirled dancing to the heavy beat that sounded a bit like Rob Zombies- Never Gonna Stop Me
"Octavia what are you-" Teshin started, but Octavia interrupted
"Every good fight needs a backtrack." You could tell she was smiling as the rough and heavy vocals started.
"What do you mean Octavia? This fight is OVER!" he shouted throwing his arms out, but Bloom lifted her head behind him with a grin. Her blood trickled down her forehead and over her lips, but she grinned showing off her fangs.
"That tickled Mister."
Author's Note
NEVER GONNA STOP ME!
Decided to split this fight into two chapters so everyone didn't have to wait another day until a update.
Harrow jumped to look behind him in shock. He swung around and fired into the writhing mass of flames that got bigger and hotter with each shot. When Wolfy howled her shields recharged to the full amount instantly. Chroma roared stunning Harrow. The dragon pelt strained against the red glowing chains lifting off of Bloom. Giving her enough room to dart forward Dex Dakra in hand as she launched a furious attack.
Striking and slashing at the dark priest. The Swirling Tiger stance let her slash in endless fury. Sticking Harrow in a stumbling loop of pain as his shields dropped rapidly. He tried a desperate slash with his dagger. Bloom dodged by jumping over the small blade, reconnecting with Chroma mid-air. She curled into a saw blade Dakra out and spun cutting into Harrow's shoulder with a crimson spray. She finished the roll by stabbing her front sword through his shoulder and using it as a springboard to launch herself back into the air. Aim gliding she shot him twice once from each Vasto and dropped to the ground.
Harrow dropped to his side dead, but Bloom figured he wasn't going to give up that- Harrow sprung to the air and let out an energy burst, flinging her Dakra out of his shoulder. He snarled with rage at being beaten.
"Easy" she finished out loud feeling eager to keep going. She ran to the right recasting her Vex Armor as she ran a circle around him. After several, not even close misses she had to laugh. "Whats a matter can't hit a target that isn't chained down?" She taunted, and he hit a tree. "Hey what did that tree do to you? It didn't deserve that!"
"Then stop moving!" He growled through what sounded like gritted teeth. "So I can pop you like the infested pimple you are!"
Bloom hopped over another miss with a laugh then stopped moving. He shot her, but it bounced off her hide she couldn't keep the smug look off her face. "And how's that working for ya partner?" She whistled, and Harrow reloaded not noticing the Kubrow stalking up behind him. So when the giant dog threw him to the ground and wrapped his throat in teeth, Harrow screamed. Wolfy didn't stop mauling him till well after the point he went limp, Bloom had to call him off.
"Good Boy!" She praised rubbing the top of his head. He barked out of a crimson muzzle. Harrow revived again, Bloom barely batted an eye at the wind he kicked up from reviving. His fists were clenched at his sides his entire his body shook with rage.
"YOU LITTLE INFESTED WH-" He stopped mid-sentence like a statue. A black static covered him, Bloom raised an eyebrow.
"Um?" she looked at Chroma who shrugged.
"Poor Connection?" He joked when Limbo walked out of his void casually carrying a bloody rapier. He waved as he walked back to the sidelines.
"Don't mind me just wanted to get a "stab" in." He chuckled, Teshin stood with his arms crossed with an even deeper scowl.
"Limbo."
"I do not like being used." The whimsical magician growled warningly. "Keep that in mind Dax." He snapped, and dozens of throwing stars rained into Harrow during a seemingly endless barrage of cuts and slashes that had Harrow dance and grunt a samba of misery. Till he was left barely standing, bleeding from hundreds of cuts.
"Hmm seems I miscalculated."
"Limbo what the Fuc-" Harrow managed before Limbo threw one last star straight into his forehead dropping him with a "Hrk!"
Reviving again looking ready to pop a blood vessel he turned to snarl at the dapper void user. "Limbo you cowardly sack of shit!"
"Piss off you righteous space nazi!" Limbo fired back without hesitation.
Bloom pointed her Dakra regain Harrow's attention. "Give up! you're oh for three here."
He straightened up and pointed a finger righteously at her. "Never! Not till I've purged you! Like the filthy little abomination that you ARE!" He shouted with a thousand furies and Bloom readied to go again crossing her Dakra in front of her. Harrow took a step forward to run at her Dark Dagger held backhand style ready to slash and stab at her.
When a Rubico sniper round entered the side of his hat head effectively one-shoting him to the floor. Bloom looked up the hill where the shot had come from but didn't see anything. Harrow revived almost instantly to look around throwing his hands out.
"OK! WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT!"
Meanwhile on a hill overlooking Sweet apple acres
Fluttershy pulled herself out of Nyx's Rubico rifle with a satisfied grin. "Um, Fluttershy? you missed the cans."
Nyx's voice pulled her back to reality, and she rescoped on her proper targets. Three tin cans on a rock, "Oops let me try again." She squeaked then hit all three in rapid succession. Nyx whistled impressed then looked off to where Fluttershy had "missed." Then blew it off, It's not like Fluttershy would ever kill something. She thought with a mental scoff. The shy pegasus, however, couldn't keep the grin off her face at the image of the dark red frame dropping to the floor.
Harrow chained Bloom again who rolled her eyes. "Again with this? you really are a one trick pony aren't you?" She mocked, and Harrow stomped his foot.
"I know how Vex Armor works you, cretin!" He pulled his Scourge back and hit Wolfy pinning him to the spot with its prongs. "But you know who doesn't have it?" He shot the dog with the bullet auto tracking to his head. Wolfy growled as it hit his shields, Harrow emptied a clip, and the growls became yips, and Bloom struggled. Flinching with each sound the dog made.
Harrow cackled at the ponies agony. "With your dog gone and no one to refill your shields, I'll chip away at that infuriating hide of yours till I hit the maggot filled center!" Wolfy's bleed out counter started, and Bloom cried helplessly.
"Wolfy will reset like we do Bloom. He's a fucking monster! But he can't do anything permanent." Chroma tried to explain when a smaller series of barks and yips made both there bloods run icy.
"Wionna get back here!" Aj cried desperately at the border collie. But the smaller dog stood protectively over the Kubrow growling at Harrow. The dark priest moved his pistol, and Bloom lost it.
"DON'T YOU FUCKING DARE!" ChromaBloom roared flames. Harrow turned his head, and you could feel the sadistic grin under that helmet as he pulled the trigger. Wolfy shoved Wionna aside taking the last bullet before he faded out back to the linset. Wionna whined sadly at the spot where Wolfy faded, and Loki switched ported the dog into Aj's arms. Harrow managed a scoff before Bloom jumped and punched him in the face.
"Is that all you got?" He mistakenly asked right before Bloom shoved her Dex Dakra through his shins nailing him to the ground. She pulled out her Vasto and shot him repeatedly. The revolvers caused slash damage as they tore holes through him. She walked forward with each shot. Until both clicked empty, She tossed them aside, and Harrow tried to aim his pistol, but Bloom silently knocked it away with a claw swipe. She tackled him to the ground and started to glow. Before his shields could recharge, he watched the fire form in her mouth until there was nothing but flames as she screamed, and screamed, and screamed till all that was left was beyond recognition Harrow faded away.
Yet she kept screaming hell fire till her energy ran out coughing up the last bit of molten spittle as she sat back breathing heavy. Applejack approached as close as the scorching heat would allow. The ground where Bloom lay had melted till it was lava yet. Bloom sat there like she didn't even notice.
"Bloom, you won! And Wionna is ok... Bloom?" She asked the unrecognizable pony frame. Gaint orange orbs, and fangs the only thing she could recognize of her little sister was the pink Bow tucked behind her ears. Teshin dumped a bucket of water on Bloom suddenly causing her to scream in shock as the water instantly vaporized into steam. The Master of the Conclave waited then dropped another. When the second bucket hit, she sighed in relief as it cooled her.
Bloom moved out of the hissing and steaming molten dip she'd burned into the ground shaking off bits of newly formed rock as she rubbed her sore throat. Teshin nodded and set down the third bucket. No one spoke as Bloom dunked her head into it with a slight sizzle as she took deep gulps. After picking it up and tilting it back to get every last drop of sweet cold water Bloom set it down and looked at Teshin. Chroma was still pulled over her eyes, and the big orange eyes were closed when she finally spoke.
"Thank you." She with a raw throat that was fading fast. She hung her head expecting to be scolded. "Is this where you lecture me for losing my temper?" She sounded worried like she'd somehow disappointed the Dax. Teshin took a new before her putting a hand on her shoulder.
"No, This is where I tell you, you fought beyond any of my expectations. Tenno Bloom." You'd think he's just given her the moon they way she lit up at such simple praise.
"However this is where I ask you to put out the flames before they spread." Teshin and Bloom looked over the area, and Bloom grimaced at several small fires and numerous smoking spots in the grass.
"Maybe we overdid it with the fire..." Bloom admitted.
Author's Note
Thus ends Harrow, He died as he lived a virgin
This was tons of fun to visualize and write out.
Applejack watched Bloom run off to put out the fire with concern, and Teshin approached.
"Does Chroma Bloom's true nature bother you?" He asked, and Applejack couldn't help but grimace at the question.
"That frame needed his hide tanned, and I honestly wish I'd gotten a kick in. But Bloom doesn't even look like Bloom now and am I suppose to believe she... My little sister died?" She looked up at Teshin for answers
"Dying sucks, Like ass sis," Bloom said with her back to turned, and Chroma's hood pushed back till it rested on her neck. "But it's still me." She turned her head with a smile to show bright orange eyes with the galaxies swimming in them, the crimson stain running down her forehead was faded. When she hopped up and did an excited dance. "Oh, Oh Chroma lift off !"
The pelt unwrapped, and Bloom checked her flank, only to grumble.
"That was a pretty smart way for you to reassure your sister." Chroma praised, and Bloom smiled with a happy nod. But Chroma could still feel something was bothering Bloom.
"You're actually bummed you didn't get your cutie mark, aren't you?"
"Come on! Just think what that mark would have looked like!" she shouted out loud. "Like us breathing fire or something the possibilities are endless and awesome!" Bloom continued, and Chroma shook his head.
Teshin walked away with a grin.
"Where you going partner?" Aj asked
"To file a suspension report on that Harrow. He will not bother you anymore. I must also talk with the Lotus about our next step." He stated without stopping. "I will return do no worry." He added as he looked at her with a smile. Applejack watched him go with a raised eyebrow in suspicion.
The Drama squad jumped in to help. Titania's Razor wings carried buckets of water. Mirage tried using Hall of Mirrors to increase the effect of the water she poured. Limbo used cataclysm but the fire was unaffected, Mirage patted his shoulder when he looked disappointed. Loki poured water like the only sane person. Octavia found her tracks only added fire to the scene and was promptly told to wait in the corner with a pout.
Inaros proved the most effective by turning into a sandstorm which smothered the flames. Octavia played a song which Bloom didn't understand, but everyone else yelled at the music frame for "memeing." Once done and most the sand was swept away Mirage and Limbo stood near Bloom.
Mirage bowed to Bloom. "I'm sorry for upsetting you. I never meant to belittle you as a Tenno."
Bloom bowed back. "And I'm sorry for storming off it was rude on my part. Plus, unfortunately, I am a cute pony." Bloom admitted, and Limbo stepped in with a cough.
"Actually that only had a small part to do with it. My fair Mirage Is just like that, she once hugged a Nidus because and I quote "He looked lonely."
Mirage put her fists on her chest "But he did!" She whined as she wiggled her hips.
"I know my dear, but it took you days to get that infested pimple off your neck." He chastised lightly, and she fell into Limbo's arms that wrapped her lovingly.
"Yet you still loved me." She fawned. Bloom watched the two with a happy smile.
"It would take more than a simple blemish to kill my affection, Mi Amor." Limbo took her hand, and their helmets nuzzled softly.
"Awww." Bloom cooed, and Loki crossed his arms and leaned down to Applejack.
"You got a hose we might need it for these two." He said sickened, and Applejack shook her head.
Octavia felt a pang of longing at the two and pulled up her other half's chat.
Tavi- "Hows the Concert Babe?"
Babeshee- "Simply beautiful. Who knew beings without fingers could produce such incredible sound. Funny enough a Cellist caught my attention the most, and not just for her beautiful playing either. But her name."
Tavi- "Yay?"
Babeshee- "Octavia"
Tavi- "What?"
Babeshee- "No lol the cellist's name is Octavia."
Tavi- "Whoa that freaky!"
Babeshee- "I know right."
Tavi- "Wait what if this some alt dimension and there's a pony version of all of us!"
Babeshee- "What did I tell you about smoking those sludge flowers Tavi! Lol, I'm going to focus back on the concert talk to you later."
Tavi- "Babe wait!"
Babeshee- "What?"
Tavi- "Is she prettier than me?"
Babeshee- "Goodbye Tavi."
Author's Note
This is a short little chapter to tie up the ending of the Harrow arc.
I saw a Warframe fic that was much more popular and it kind of made me sad. So if you have ways for me to improve tell me I want to get better.
"What do we got?" The grey and light Relay operative asked his partner as he walked into the dark room with a two-way mirror. The female agent had her hands on her hips as she looked at the detained frame sitting on the other side. A Nidus frame drummed its grey fingers on the dull brown table.
"oh void dammit another Nidus?" He complained, and his partner nodded with an emphatic
"Yep." She crossed her arms
"What is it this time contraband, Trolling?" He asked, and she laughed
"He wants to go to the pony planet." She said finding the whole situation amusing.
The male facepalmed then hit the intercom button. "Tenno do you know why you we detained you?" The infected frame looked down at his hands then at the glass.
"Because we wanted to see the ponies?" He asked unsurely.
"No, sir. Your Frame is on the banned list. You pose a biological threat to that planet." He tried to explain. The Nidus unfurled all its fleshy bits.
"BUT ALL FRAMES ARE OF SAME FLESH." IT spoke in multiple voices at once like a recording echoing, and It never failed to unnerve the agents.
"But your frame is made of the active infested material, change Frames, and we can grant you access to Equus." He explained, but the Nidus hugged itself protectively.
"We are one! We ARE NIDUS!" It changed into that infected voice midway, and the whole frame wiggled. The agent's partner shuddered.
"God I hate when they go all symbiotic on us." You could hear the grimace from under her mask.
"WE JUST WANT TO SEE THE CUTE LITTLE PONIES" IT cooed.
"Tenno whats your name?" He asked getting more nervous by the second; This was beyond the usual Venom Cosplay. It banged it's fist on the table smashing it in two. IT grabbed his head and trashed about howling like an animal.
"Call for back up!" The man shouted when a pink tendril smashed through the glass spearing his partner through the chest. "By the Void!" The Nidus pulled her through the broken glass into himself. He watched in horror as she disappeared with the sound of snapping and grinding. The agent ran towards the door when a path of infection flung out ensnaring his legs tripping him into the pink biomatter. He struggled as Maggots crawled over him. Then he heard a thump as IT jumped over into the room standing over him.
"WHAT ARE YOU?" He shouted reaching for his sidearm. The Nidus's opened face plate dripped as IT walked up crouching over him.
"WE TOLD YOU, WE ARE NIDUS!" IT grabbed the agent by the face ripping him from the infected floor. "AND WE ARE HUNGRY!" The agent screamed as IT opened Nidus's face. The screaming didn't stop for a long time.
Several Relay agents storm down a hallway towards the detainment block armed with Latrons rifles and Corinth shotguns. They hear the screaming stop as they position themselves outside the silver auto door. The two in front look at each other giving the signal to breach. When the door opened a horror show was waiting. Infested material covered the once clean room. Blood covered the floor leading to a Nidus Frame feasting on an agent. IT looked up from the half-eaten agent's ribcage and squealed happily.
"Open Fire!" The breaching agent commanded. IT threw out his hand coating an agent on the left with a grey infection that boiled out in pink boils. The others fire striking Nidus in the head. They watched as the infected agent died from a bullet wound in the head.
"We need a Tenno!" One shouted before a Tendril latched onto him dragging him screaming into the room. The remaining three agents tried to run, only for IT to rear back a two head infected scythe. A wave of green acid washed over the unlucky one who didn't run faster. He dissolved trying to scramble for his life. The remaining Female agent ran to the panic button on the wall, as the male fired a Corinth shotgun down the hall. She slammed the blue button and Alarms blared throughout the relay. The lights turned red the shotgun blasts stopped, and she heard the door close.
"Is he contained?" She asked breathing heavy leaning on the wall. A cold chill went down her spine when she didn't get a response. Something dripped on her shoulder and she let out a whimper. She looked up to see IT standing over her quivering still hungry. Blood and pink infected mucus dripped from IT's face.
"Tenno?" She whimpered
"No." IT whispered back.
Her screams echoed through the Relay. Blood splashed a window showing Equus in the distant void of space. IT looked up at the green and blue planet obscured by crimson.
"PONIES..." IT whispered reaching out to wipe the blood showing the planet more clearly. It put a leg into it's infested maw ripping off a fat chunk as IT admired its next destination.
Author's Note
You wanted Nidus
Volt soared through the ponyville skies on his arch-wing. Following the cloud hoop course, Rainbow had set up. The urge to go faster crept into his mind but he fought it with every fiber of his being.
"Careless speed leads to mistakes." How many times had Frost tried to beat that lesson into him? All it took was an actual goal to make it finally sink in. A ninety-degree turn straight up was coming fast. He turned his back into the turn slowing down to aim his Itzel's blink ability. He blinked through three hoops straight above him to save some time from the deceleration. Right into the final straight away. He fired his booster giving it all he had. Timing the boosts fuel so he wouldn't break the cloud layer at the end of it. The end came up faster then he planned, and he threw the jets into reverse holding out his hands even if he knew they wouldn't stop him from going right through the cloud. He came to a stop just as his hands touched the water vapors.
Rainbow stopped the clock and flew over to give him a high hoof. "Not bad sparky one-minute thirty." Volt groaned. At the new personal record still short of his goal. "Cheer up that's only thirty seconds from qualifying."
Volt hovered shaking his head with his hands on his hips. "Ya for the young flyers competitions." He lamented
Rainbow gave him a look. "Dude don't stress I barely qualify for the Wonderbolts." She tried to encourage him but only gained palms up look of confusion.
"YOU can go Mach ten and make a ninety-degree turn! What kind of messed up standards are these ponies running?" Volt shouted distressed.
Rainbow ran a hoof through her mane giving it a spike. "Look as awesome as I am and we know I am." She boasted putting a hoof on her chest. "You're a space ninja that can fly in space and underwater. Also, those butt-wings can teleport and go invisible. I Rainbow Dash the transient authority on awesome declare all that pretty awesome." She pointed, and Volt nodded holding his fist out for a bump. Which Rainbow met happily, the sound of several Jet Streams came closer as Zephyr came flying through the whole course effortlessly to float near them.
"Hey, whatcha doing?" She asked. Happily, Volt looked at her then crossed his arms casually.
"Not much being awesome," Volt replied effortlessly, and Rainbow nodded in approval.
"Cool hey did you build this awesome cloud course its fun." She did a little excited dance.
"How fast you make it through?" Rainbow asked the new frame and Zephyr tilted her head in her version of a smile.
"A Minute." She declared happily. "Is that slow or fast?" She asked unsure looking at both of them. Volt deflated like a balloon hanging there. She guessed better than his time at least. She hopped in the air to float a little higher than him to pat him on the head. "Don't be sad you maybe speed but I'm air. Plus you're using an arch-wing we all know those controls are floaty not exactly fine tuned for racing ya know?" She held a finger out and floated down to the cloud under her standing on it to Rainbow's surprise.
"Um, bird frame?"
"Zephyr." She corrected
"Ya Zephyr how are you doing that? That's a cloud only Pegasus can cloud walk." Rainbow explained, and Zephyr lifted a claw to look at the fluffy white cloud.
"Ninety-percent of my frame is made out of Oxium a lighter than air metal. Plus gravity doesn't affect me like everyone else. So lounging on these super dense clouds is easy." She bends over to pet the cloud as Volt and Rainbow both went "Huh" When Zephyr stood straight up remembering something important. She flapped her hands almost lifting off again.
"Oh, oh have any of you seen Little Bird around?" She asked, and Rainbow cocked an eyebrow.
"Um, what little bird?" She looked towards Fluttershy's cottage plenty of little birds there.
But Zephyr shook her head focusing. "I mean Scootaloo have you seen her?" She corrected
Rainbow brightened up "Oh squirt! Ya haven't seen her today which is weird because usually, she watches me fly and do tricks. Try the clubhouse it's on Sweet apple acres that way." Rainbow pointed, and Zephyr hovered in the air charging her Jet Stream.
"Thanks! I'll check there after the library. I need to learn everything about Adopt-" The sonic-boom of her take off, cut off the rest of the word.
Rainbow looked at Volt "What did she say?"
Volt who knew Zephyr and got what she meant facepalmed. "Oh, this can only end badly."
***
Nekros sat in a darkened library lit by four candles that were placed strategically around him as he read a book whose cover was obscured by the dim light. Twilight and Spike had left him in charge of the library while they ran some errands. When a rapid knocking drug a putout sigh from the Tenno Shaman. He closed the book setting it down to reveal the tan Daring Do swinging over a pit of crocodiles and went to the door. He opened it a crack to see who it was, forgetting the public part of a public library. Zephyr shoved her whole head through the cracked door.
"HI NEKROS!" She greeted loudly. Nekros pondered how many door slams it would take to decapitate the irritating frame. Then realized he'd do more harm to the door than anything.
Nekros took a deep breath. "Hello, Zephyr how may I-"
"YA! Hi, do you have any book on adoption?" She cut him off looking around the dark library. "Wow it's really dark you should really turn on a light." Nekros threw open the door and grabbed the bird-frame by the collar and carried her inside without a word. "You seem mad should I come back later?" She asked genuinely as Nekros deposited her onto a chair. Then got in her face. His sickly green eye was blazing, and Zephyr eeped pulling all her limbs close.
"I'm going to ask this once Zephyr!" He growled pointing at her threatening. "Adopting what?"
Zephyr uncurled "Her names Scootaloo shes a little orange pegasus who lives in an orphanage, She's my Little Bird. I want to help her so bad it hurts. Nekros, please help me." She pleaded. Nekros sighed letting his hands fall to the armrest of the chair she sat in, he shook his head.
"Zephyr step out of your frame." He said hoping to help clear her head of this Momma Bird mentality.
"What like go change frames?" She asked confused, and Nekros realized something.
"Zephyr do you not know what we are?" He asked slowly lifting his head to look at her with concern.
"Warframes?" Nekros shook his head. "Tenno?, Ninja?" She got more flustered the more Nekros shook his head at each wrong answer. "Nekros I don't understand."
"Have you completed the Second Dream yet?" He asked standing up to pace a few steps. She leaned forward putting her hands neatly on her lap.
"Is that a quest?"
Nekros took another breath, but this one felt sad. "Yes it is, go back to your ship and do it, and the War Within." He told her sounding remorseful.
"What does this have to do with Little Bird?" She asked scared, and Nekros knelt down.
"I am helping you just in a different way R-Zephyr..." He corrected himself, and Zephyr looked down she called up her menu and fizzled out. Nekros stood and turned his back to the chair. His frame glowed, and Zander stepped out of his warframe to lean on the wall. The candlelight revealed his dark skin and his ash grey and black suit. His black mohawk shuffled as he moved. The green earrings swayed slightly matching the green eyes that burned in the dark. He looked up not to the ceiling but the stars and folded his hands.
"Dream not of what you are but of what you want to be Robin." He sent the pray out for her. When the lotus popped up with an alarm bell,
"Tenno something is coming towards Equus." Zander's eyes went wide, and he jumped back into his frame.
"I have called on you time and time again, to protect the balance of the Origin system."
Frost stood on a mountain peak as the snow blew past him he watched the Lotus's message. His red fist tightened summoning a swirl of ice. He turned to the sisters bundled up in coats behind him. "Rarity, Sweetie! Back to the ship now!" He ordered, and the sisters exchanged worried looks.
"To face old and new foes as they arise to threaten us."
Vauban sat in the Apple family barn checking and cleaning his Hek shotgun. As the Lotus's words were ringing in his mind, he pointed the four-barreled shotgun at a spec on the wall. He checked the sights and grunted before running a cloth over the barrels.
"This planet old yet young. One you've seen as a retreat from the horrors of the Origin system is in grave danger."
Dash watched as Volt armed himself. The excitement of the spaceship overshadowed by the grim atmosphere of danger. He took a moment to swing his Guanduo a thick blade on a pole around testing the weight and speed.
"I fear another dark stain on the Tenno has appeared."
Nyx knelt in front of the little bonsai tree Pinkie had gifted her. Her Kunai and dual kamas laid in front of her as Fluttershy worked to wrangle her animals frantically. She stopped to eye the Rubico sniper leaned near the Tenno.
"You all have encountered and proven yourselves against the shadow that Stalks the Tenno. Seen what the Tenno could turn into."
Cal stood in darkness only his blue lights could pierce. Thinking of the battle to come he clenched his fist in anger, to loosen it with a laugh. Pinkie trotted up and put a hoof on his thigh. He looked at her and nodded when she smiled at him.
"Those we have come to call allies, and even friends are in danger. This world their home is in danger."
Celestia watched the green burning comet enter the atmosphere and streak across her beautiful evening sky. The Lotus's words made her glare coldly at the infestation that dared to come to her kingdom. Oberon oversaw her as he leaned on a marble pillar.
"We are the only ones close enough, and the only ones able to stand against this foe."
Kaylee hugged Luna tightly allowing herself to be weak at this moment to steel herself for the battle to come. Valkyr knelt in the corner watching over both of them.
"I once asked you, Tenno, to dream do you remember?"
Zephyr's hands shook as she approached the Orokin chamber.
"To dream not of what you are."
The gold pods rose from the water like a gorgeous flower. Something twisted in the Frame's gut. Her vision filled with static, she held her head as the pods hissed to a stop. She cried out scared right before the pod opened and her frame fell limp.
"But of what you want to be Tenno. Be what Equestria needs this day Tenno. Let us dream again for peace."
Teshin looked at the farmhouse ignoring what came this way. He had one thing on his mind. He walked to the screen door and politely gave a knock. The Eldest Apple answered it with a smile.
"Evening Teshin was wondering when you'd bring your big hat back. You nearly missed supper." She wagged a hoof at him, and he smiled nodding his head. But his mission brought him back to the grim reality.
"Thank you, Ma'am, but I'm here to-" Granny cut him off with a raised hoof.
"I know why you're here, and it ain't fixing that hole." She gave him a knowing wink. "Been feeling something coming in my bones. Something wicked that's for darn sure." She looked towards the barn, and Teshin followed her gaze. "Vauban's been prepping for a fight all evening. Whatever's about to happen you're worried enough to take Bloom away from it." Granny nodded, "Come on and eat then take Bloom as far away as you can till it's safe. So long as you bring her back." Granny had to laugh, and Teshin tilted his head. "Hell even if you tried to keep her I have a feeling she'd float her way back eventually." Teshin couldn't help the smile from the Families hospitality. The image of Bloom kicking her feet in the void of space determined to make it home was an amusing one.
When Teshin turned back to the door to see Granny gone but the door propped open. The symbol of an open invitation whenever he needed it was not lost to him. He walked into the chorus of greetings.
***
Scootaloo sat on at a table in the park, bored. Bloom went home for supper, and Sweetie was still on her trip to wherever, and she hadn't seen Zephyr all day. Which was unusual for the Frame Scoots wouldn't admit it to anyone, but she liked the Bird frames attention. When someone sat down next to her, Scoots turned to see another warframe. From top to bottom she had orange claws on her feet. Grey and orange bodysuit and an orange mohawk on her slick helmet. To be honest, she looked like a giant chicken is what Scootaloo thought.
"Zephyr?" Scoots asked, and the frame looked at her.
"Sorry kid haven't seen her today which sucks," Ember responded then looked over the Pegasus filly. "Oh wait, orange fur, purple hair, tiny wings." Ember pointed out, and Scootaloo fluffed up defensively.
"Hey, at least I don't look like a giant chicken!"
Embers reaction was instant. She raised a fist, and you could almost see the vein pop out of her helmet. "What'd you say you little brat!" Fire spouted as she fumed.
Scoots got fired up to standing on the bench to get closer to the frame. "You have little chicken claws! A rooster crow on your head and at least I know what people mean when they say giant chicken breasts!" Scoots pointed at Ember's chest, and the Frame froze with her hands out like she was going to strangle the filly.
When the frame shuttered and started shaking violently, Scootaloo began to worry she'd gone too far. Ember put her head between her thighs. Made a squeak as she shook some more before throwing her head back in a fit of laughter. "Oh, my stars CHICKEN BREASTS!" She kicked her feet as she laughed. "That's freakin great kid!" She put an arm around Scootaloo and pulled her into a fake headlock to ruffle her hair. The Filly giggled happily at the sisterly behavior that reminded her of Rainbow Dash.
"No wonder Zephyr likes you kid. Names Ember me and Zephyr go way back." Ember explained, and Scoots looked at her with wide eyes
"Cool, how fair?" She asked, and Ember took a breath like she was ready to tell a long story when Zephyr landed a few feet in front of them. Ember stood up still carrying Scootaloo like a stuffed toy to wave at Zephyr.
"Hey, girl! Where you been, you keep leaving me on this dirtball." The enthusiasm drained out of Ember when she noticed something was wrong with the bird frame. Zephyr rubbed her arm looking down then she looked at Scootaloo.
"Hey, Ember can me and Scootaloo talk for a bit?" She asked, and Ember looked uncertain between the two but nodded setting Scoots back on the bench. "stick around please I just need to say something."
Scootaloo shuffled nervously looking between the two. "Whats wrong?"
"No, NO!." She took a breath "I had a plan to adopt you..." Zephyr winced at the gasp from Scootaloo it tour her up inside.
"Wait had?" Scootaloo asked sounding heartbroken, and Zephyr shook her head yes.
"I was told to learn more about myself first and..." Zephyr stood up, and her Frame glowed. As a light skinned girl with red hair stepped out of the warframe, she wore a dark purple operator suit, and she folded her hands as she looked to the side unable to meet Scootaloo's eyes.
"What I don't understand." Scootaloo started.
"This is what who I am. My real name is Robin, and I'd forgotten who I was after so long." Robin walked over and sat next to Scoots again. "Turns out I'm just a kid." Scootaloo moved, so she sat right against Robin and the Tenno burst into tears. "I can't adopt you... I'm so sorry Little Bird I wanted to help you so bad it hurts but I can't." Scootaloo wrapped her hooves around the skinny Tenno as she cried.
Another set of arms wrapped around Robin and she looked over to see another girl with a short green mohawk and a long braid down her back. She had freckles like Robin her operator suit was green and purple. She hugged Robin tightly.
"Ember?" Robin asked not seeing any other answers.
"Actually it's Amber, but yes It's me." The green and purple Tenno smiled with her eyes closed. Robin felt a soft smile grow on her face.
"Zeph- I mean Robin... Thank you for trying." Scootaloo shook her head "No thank you for helping me. Just promise me you'll stay around a bit longer and maybe come back when you can ok." Scootaloo smiled burying her own hurt over something that couldn't happen.
"Just because she can't adopt you. Doesn't mean we won't be there for you!" Amber said determinedly. "Your our Little Bird now!"
Amber's words registered on Robin's face "Our?" She asked looking into her equally pale friends face.
Amber grinned "Oh ya I almost forgot." She leaned over and pecked Robin on the cheek. "I'm happy you finally found yourself." Robin almost turned as red as her hair. Scootaloo tried to jump off the bench to escape the mushy stuff, but Robin and Amber grabbed her and hugged her on either side. Amber held up something in her hands and got a picture of her smiling, Scoots stuck between them and Robin still blushing. She would later label it as "Three birds make a family."
Author's Note
This was a big emotional one for me, Hope you enjoy tell me if you spot any mistakes.
Carrot Top was working in her field humming a working tune as she finished things up for the night. The evening sky was a fiery orange she idly wondered about that meteor that hit near the Everfree Forest. Probably some wacky adventure the Elements were up to she dismissed with a giggle. Swaying her tail back and forth as she weeded her carrot patch. When she felt like something was watching her, her ears flicked trying to hear anything when the sound of footsteps came creeping up behind. She whipped around to a brown a bunny.
She sighed in relief then realized the problem the vermin presented. "Oh NO, you don't you little nusi-" Her threat died in her throat when a gurgling screech came. Barely a warning before a pony-sized quadruped with a large blue shell for a head with too many pink eyes pounced on the bunny. The rabbit barely got a scared squeak before being ripped to bloody chunks as the creature squealed sickly in a twisted form of happiness. She turned to scream and run only to see a taller creature on two legs standing over her. Sickly thin grey as a corpse with pink tendons exposed it. The thing salivated more pink fluid as it looked down at her.
She could feel IT's hunger, and she took a shaky step back.
"Yes, I'm a pony heh, heh welcome to ponyville." She greeted hoping to Celestia that this was just a cultural misunderstanding. The sound of ripping and tearing behind her brought tears to her eyes. That was going to be me she thought. Feeling her fear rise to hysterical she screamed closing her eyes to the horror as the last-ditch effort. "Please don't eat me! I don't want to die!"
A terrifying hiss she turned and ran opening her eyes to see a clear path back to town. The pounding in her ears only outdone by the vile pounding of the quadruped chasing her, gaining on her. She heard a growl like a curse thrown as sand bowled her over. She rolled on her back, feeling as if her entire fur was crawling looking at her soft yellow fur seeing hundreds of blue-shelled beetles. They squirmed and skittered over every inch of her body; She screamed again trying to shove them off to no effect. When the Quadruped slammed into her picking her up in its impossibly wide jaws just under the blue chitinous growth she choked on the smell of blood and rotting flesh; This is it it's over Oh Gods! She thought, squeezing her eyes shut hoping to block out some part of her gruesome death.
She felt It bite down. Then only a slight pressure like it had no teeth, and it was gumming her to death. She hazards a look to see too many teeth but the Beetles! They had formed sheets of armor stopping the teeth and the pain. She stared wide-eyed and confused but grateful at the insects. The thing readjusted its bite, and one of the beetles popped Carrot Top had to shield her eyes from the spray. That's when the bugs swarmed attacking the creature biting into its grey flesh until it released her. Something brown and skinny that smelled like the desert picked her up and leaped away.
She clung to her savior hoping against all the odds he was just that. "Are you ok?" An Egyptian accent deep and commanding, yet gentle like an oasis. She opened her eyes to see her rescuer had an Anubis dog for a head and wrapped like a mummy. She was too scared to speak, but she nodded wide-eyed. "The Scarabs will protect you trust them and run now."
He set her down, and she bolted to the right for her house. Inaros pulled his Lesion from his back and spun it cutting the Nidus tendril that reached for the pony. He gave it an extra spin trading hands as he did to end it with a flourish as he strode towards the infected frame. "The Ancestor of this Frame once gave his life to protect against your scourge." He planted it at his side "I will gladly do so again!" He shouted standing proudly before the Nidus who hunched over like an animal sizing the other frame up.
The Nidus unfurled mutating entirely before speaking. " WE ARE SAME FLESH?" It screeched the question.
Inaros shook his head. "But not of same mind brother. For you have lost it to this infested madness." He declared sadly; the infested Kubrow moved to flank Inaros "Mekal!" Inaros barked the command, and Mekal the black and gold Kavat leaped from it's cloaked spot to rip into the infected mutt with golden claws. Nidus using the distraction tried to throw out it's infested path but was met by blinding sand.
Inaros grabbed his Lesion and lunged at the squirming frame. Burying the infected weapon's hungry jaws into Nidus's chest hoping to rip the Frame's heart from its chest and end this quickly. Nidus screamed in agony, backhanding Inaros away. IT tore the Lesion staff from IT's chest and roared with both Lesion and Caustacyst in hand. Inaros rolled to his feet and crossed his arms letting his scarabs become armor for him.
Throwing his arm out Inaros cast his curse upon Nidus commanding his Scarabs to swarm and devour. Skittering, flying waves of blue beetles obeyed utterly covering the Infected frame. He howled as he was set upon, swatting and smashing at the insects. Infected maggots crawled from his crevices in his armor to combat the beetles. But Inaros was not idle sprinting towards Nidus ducking under a clumsy one-handed swing of the dual-headed scythe. He grabbed his Lesion firmly as he delivered a brutal knee to Nidus's infected guts. When the other Frame did not fall he leaned back and head-butted Nidus hard enough, it cracked his helm and sent the frame to the floor freeing Inaros's Lesion.
Nidus touched the bleeding crack in his forehead and snarled as it healed. He gathered all his stacks and threw out his Parasitic Link covering Inaros. The sand Frame merely looked down then nodded.
"I agree. It is time to stop playing with my food." He said calmly as the Nidus laughed like breaking bones. Inaros crossed his arms once again calling upon his beetles. He let them devour him as Nidus fell to the floor feeling every bite as his health drained from him through the link. The beetles ravenously ate there master with no remorse till he fell returning to his Sarcophagus. Leaving Nidus on his knee's as his vitality slowly returned. When a red beam of energy connected with his chest. Dragging the Frame closer to Inaros tomb. What little health he had regained was forced from him as Inaros replenished himself using the infected frame.
When Nidus was drug kneeling before the Sarcophagus Inaros reemerged grabbing him by the shoulders, the Mummy Frame rose again. The snarling dog head opened its jaws and unleashed an unearthly howl. Nidus struggled weakly as his body turned to sand and hungrily swallowed by Inaros. Till the Nidus went limp and Inaros devoured all that remained of him. Inaros sat back kneeling where nothing but trace particles of sand remained of his enemy. The beast could still revive yet it did not. Mekal growled in disappointment as his prey fizzled out.
"So the beast retreats to its lair." He pondered, hoping Red's team could handle things from here. The skittering of many legs and the soft trot of hooves alerted him to Carrot Top's return.
"Is it gone?" She asked scared but alive. Inaros nodded, and she surveyed the field. She saw something that brought tears to her eyes. Her once prized carrot patch, now tainted by the infection Nidus had brought. Inaros followed her gaze and stood slowly. Approaching the pony as Mekal padded beside him,
"I will clean this plague from your field." He told her, and she looked at him. She closed her eyes and nodded trying to hold her tears for what she had lost when a beetle crawled out of her mane and seemed to pat her forehead in a comforting manner.
"Thank you. You saved my life if there is anything I can do for you, please do not hesitate." She offered back. Inaros had nothing to say till Mekal darted into the carrot patch. Inaros lost sight of his Kavat in the infected growth only the slight rustle of plants alerted him to where the Kavat had gone. The happy growl of a predator who found prey told him whatever he was hunting he'd found. Inaros heard the Kavat return dragging something substantial.
"Step back please." He warned the pony, in case his Kavat dragged something still wiggling. Carrot Top took a frightened step back expecting more nightmares. The Kavat did, in fact, pull a nightmare out of her field but only to the earth pony herself. A giant grey infected carrot readily the size of the black and gold cat. With an eager lick of its chops, the Kavat dug into the carrot purring happily. Inaros put his hand on his head and laughed.
"It would appear Mekal is more than happy to help as well." He laughed, and Carrot Top looked at them both feeling all her adrenaline and fear fading from her body. The laughter bubbled out of her like it was that or cry, so she laughed with the frame. Laughed till she cried and Inaros bent down to rub her back softly.
***
Nidus appeared on his ship, slamming his fist into the infected walls of his liset. "WHY DO THEY REJECT US! WHY DO THEY REJECT OUR GIFTS!" the multiple voices screamed in IT's mind. "THE PONIES DONT UNDERSTAND YET! BUT THEY WILL! THEY WILL BATHE IN OUR GLORIOUS FLESH AND BE US!" IT nodded convinced of IT's logic as it rushed down the boarding ramp eager to try again. To run into seven warframe all formed in a battle line waiting for IT.
"Welcome to Ponyville, NOW LEAVE!" The red Frost Prime shouted pointing a Nikanna at IT. The orange Vauban pressed a button, and everything exploded in a giant fireball.
Author's Note
Sorry this part isn't longer but I felt Inaros and Nidus's fight warrented a chapter of its own.
Introductions are Important
Vauban fired his Hek shotgun over a large rock that provided him cover.
"Why don't we recap the fearless leaders plan hm. Volts down," The Blue and Red frame laid on the ground bleeding out near Nidus's feet.
He stated then threw out a concussion mine. The mine went off with a bang stunning Nidus as Vauban and Nekros popped from there cover to fire in unison. Phagy's corrosive beams ate through Nidus's armor, and Vauban's Hek dropped him in four shots. The infected Frame fell to the floor then fizzled out. Only for an Infected scream to come from the crippled Liset. "Not to mention this thing is immortal!" Vauban shouted in frustration. Cal freed from the Larva revived Volt. "So I gotta ask you Red was your intro worth it?" He looked at the Red Frost through his snow globe.
"My Intro worked like a charm! Asshole we disabled the Liset!" Frost shouted back indignant. "How's the shoot it till it dies plans going oh brilliant strategist." Frost sassed back.
"Well it's died hasn't! Just need to figure out the staying dead part.." Vauban grumbled throwing out a Bastion field right as Nidus jumped out of his ship. Leaving the snarling, and hissing infected frame floating there. Every Tenno lined up to shoot the now easy target. Nidus fell fast, then revived using the invulnerability to lung at them. Striking Red's Snowglobe with his scythe, then jumping away when Red's Boltor bolts started flying.
"Void Dammit leave that alone I just fixed it!" Frost shouted Nidus threw out his Virulence erupting an infected path right in Volts way tripping up the speedy frame. Nidus did a spin swinging his full scythe into Volts chest the Wave of acid washed over his frame eating into his shields. Nekros soul-punched Nidus knocking him to the floor. Nekros jumped from cover and focused all six beams on the infected monstrosity devouring away his armor again. Nidus flinched and looked at the bony frame throwing out a Parasitic link covering the Nekros in grey and pink goo. Vauban popped up unaware and shot Nidus head-on with his Hek. Nekros dropped dead, and Vauban winced.
"Oh shit sorry Nekros" Vauban apologized before Nidus laid into him with the Soma. Dropping his shields rapidly. A slash on his arm started bleeding his health as he ran for cover. Trinity(Nyx) cast Well Of Life making Nidus glow green and Vauban shot him repeatedly regaining life but running out of Ammo.
"Dammit!" He cursed reloading as Volt whizzed past him.
"You got anything that doesn't run out of ammo in a frikken second?" He taunted spinning his Guandao cutting into Nidus stealing back life. Nidus swung his scythe making Volt retreat with a backflip recasting Speed he zipped away. Nidus turned to follow Volt to turn into Cal's Radial Blind. With a bright blue flash Nidus stubbled holding his head. Cal set to revive Nekros while the opportunity was there. Nidus started swinging blindly, managing to clip Cal, but the Excalibur powered through the pain to revive the Nekros. But the time Nekros was revived, Cal was half dead but still running. They sprinted away from the Nidus as it regained its vision. Nidus howled searching for its targets seeing them all in front of him he unfurled fully glowed as energy surged through his body.
"You fight and struggle against us!" IT's voice almost sounded normal like a Tenno. "WHY DO YOU REJECT US!" IT threw its anger and confusion at them like a physical attack.
Red stepped forward to the edge of his Snow Globe. "Because there are things we must protect!"
"WHY DO YOU PROTECT THE PONIES FROM OUR GIFT?" The multitude of voices shouted. Some of them recognized the sounds of the Relay agents mixed in there. Red gripped his sword hilt tighter in anger.
"Your party doesn't sound that fun." Cal chuckled the sound of Vauban's shotgun going off and Nidus dropped again.
"Honestly you give me the creeps, and any gifts are going to be politely returned." Vauban taunted,
Red looked at him "Guess plan shoot it till it dies is still in effect."
Vauban reloaded "Its always in effect partner."
"Wait didn't he have three revives left till he returned to the ship?" Volt asked watching Nidus fizzle out.
"Yes... yes he did Volt," Red commented dryly watching the ship wondering what the crazy frame was up to when a blue charger ran out of the ship right at them.
"Of course he'd have a Helmith charger! Duh fits his theme at least." Trinity commented when four more came rushing towards them.
"This guy is changing his loadout on us!" Vauban realized using his hammer to swat one of the infected dogs out of the way. "He's using these mutts to keep us busy."
"Wait to change strategies I didn't think the infected could do that!" Volt wondered sounding unnerved.
"It would seem this one is smart enough to do so," Nekros commented dryly spinning and twirling his Either Reaper focusing on one of the mutts to widdle down. Another approached from the side, and he used Terrify to drive it into the waiting flames of Ember. Something fell out of the Liset like a rock shaking the ground drawing everyone's attention.
"By the void!" Volt shouted at seeing it
"It's the biggest I've ever seen before," Frost commented in awe.
Nekros buried his Either Reaper into the charger then looked to see "That is the fattest Kavat I've ever seen in my life."
Trinity squealed so high one of the chargers fell to the ground trying to cover its ears from the sonic attack. "OH MY GOD THAT IS THE CUTEST KAVAT EVER!"
The Kavat in question was a bowling ball with legs his whiskers were crooked, and his fan-like tail was lifted proudly in the air. Pink with a grey underbelly. The cat lets out a lazy MRRR then flopped on his side deciding it wasn't worth the effort. Everyone looked at Trinity like she was crazy. But she was to far gone for anyone to save her. "OH MY GOD I'M GONNA STEAL IT, AND IT'S NAME WILL BE MR. TUBBY!" She swayed her hips back and forth with her hands together on her chest as she giggled.
A Larva Tendril snapped to her chest, and her dancing promptly stopped as she got flung towards Nidus freshly emerged from his ship.
"Dammit, Trin!" Red yelled pulling up his Bolter to see Nidus had already linked himself to her. He hesitated knowing Trinity was on her last revive.
"Operator Infected are moving away from the battle into the forest!" Ordis flashed red, and the Frost cursed.
"Ember!" He called out, and she nodded.
"Already on it Frosty!" She sped the opposite direction circling the battlefield to chase down the infected.
Trinity perked up in her infected chains. "Guys I have an Idea! Trust me." Then she left the mission fizzling out of the bond. Nidus hissed at the empty link and threw out a wave of acid making Frost jump back. Nidus closed the distance with a feral jump on all fours Red held him at bay with his gun between them.
"Nyx I hope you know what you're doing!" he grumbled punching the infected frame with an ice-covered fist.
***
On Nyx's orbiter.
Trinity appeared near the Nav console, and Fluttershy ran up worried. "Are you hurt? Did you win? Is it over?" she asked rapidly, and Trinity shook her head.
"No the battles still going on I ran out of revives and returned here." She admitted, and Fluttershy hung her head "But I have a plan." Trin said hopefully. "I need your help." She looked at Fluttershy who whimpered at what that might entail. "Ordis take us to the nearest Orokin derelict please! Were going kitty farming." Fluttershy's ears perked up at the word kitty, and Ordis took off.
***
Frost was all that remained in the primary fight everyone else was downed or dead on there way back to the battle from there orbiters. Nidus shot at his last layer of Snow Globe, and Frost was almost out of energy. His Boltor was out of rounds, and he gripped his Dragon Nikanna and jumped through his Snow Globe to meet the infested terror head-on. With fluid reverse grip swings, he knocked the Soma away and slashed into Nidus. The Nikanna's blade was cutting cleanly through Nidus's armor leaving a deep gash. The infected Frame responded in kind dragging the ragged scythe across Red's leg.
The battle turned into a battle of Life-Strike builds as they cut and slashed at each other in an endless frenzy of lost and regained health. Each was getting energy back from there Rage mods only to use it to channel energy into their weapons for more damage and health back. A battle of giving and taking, when they crossed weapons trying to overpower the over. Hundreds of small cuts bled freely on Nidus while the corroded and burning green patches on Frost's coat gave an ugly contrast to the royal red and gold. Nidus pulled back to unleash a tide of acid Red knew his armor could not take.
Swinging his Nikanna, he performed the Guiding Light move. Using the momentum letting his Nikanna part the sea of acid with its blade. There he spun into Destined Path in a fury of blood stumbling Nidus over and over as the Nikanna blade cut through him smoothly letting Red finish as he rushed past with all his channeled might he sheathed then drew the sword for a finishing slash. Both Frames stood perfectly still. Red fell to a knee feeling the corrosive proc eating away at him. Nidus fell in half at the waistline with a final spray of pink.
Red the Frost gripped his Nikanan putting the bloodied edge into the ground to support him measly hundred health was all that remained as his Rejuvenation mod kicked in making the numbers climb slowly. Red barely had time to react when Nidus Revived. The infected Frame kicked his Nikanna out from under him and buried both heads of the scythe through the Frost's chest. Nidus gripped the long grizzled handle firmly in both hands picking it and Red up and flung him off the end. To roll onto the floor bleeding out Red pulled out his Vastos and laid into Nidus for all it was worth. The twin revolvers barked again, and again Nidus did not attempt to dodge or block as he strode towards the downed Frame.
Knocking the guns out of his hands with a swipe of his scythe. He kneeled on top of the Frost and opened fully revealing the infested pink innards. Like a giant pair of teeth in his chest, "YOU WILL BE US!"
Red raised his arms bent to catch the jaws stopping them from getting any closer with his elbows. Even if the effort made him bleed faster. Just a little more time he begged to resist the demon. To let his Squad mates arrive again. When the sound of a Liset flying over answered his pleads, he was ready to kiss whoever dropped down at that moment. When the ship landed and the hatch opened Nidus's attention was caught rising off the Frame to see.
At first, there were one glowing set of eyes. Then ten, then a hundred! Fluttershy flew out of the Liset, and Nidus hissed.
Fluttershy took a deep breath. "Can you kindly leave our planet and never ever come back Mr.?" She begged with the sweetest voice and a flutter of her eyes. Nidus drooled hungrily at the butter colored pegasus standing up off of Red to approach her. She dropped the sweet act "Guess not. Get this meany!" She pointed, and hundreds of feral Kavats poured from the Liset to swarm Nidus. The Infested Frame let out a screech as they drowned in a sea of scales and claws all at the command of a yellow pegasus.
Nyx now back in her main Frame ran over to Revive Frost.
"Kavats eat infected material; they'll clean up anything that we might miss, And they love Fluttershy." She pointed to the yellow Pegasus who seemed to be grinning at the destruction her army was causing at the moment.
Nidus Revived and threw a tendril at the Pegasus who eeped and dropped to avoid it. "Get back on the ship Shy!" Nyx shouted, and the pony nodded and flew towards the Liset only stopping when the Infested Frame kicked several Kavats out of the way trying to reach her. She growled feeling her anger rise at the abuse. Flying back inside the Liset.
The Kavats dispersed once Nidus started focusing on them. Leaving Red and Nyx to face the monster. When more Lisets came flying in, and the rest of the squad dropped down. Red thought about something cool to say someway to reason with this beast. When Vauban ran in threw down a bastion and shot Nidus till he died again. Red looked at the trapper Frame with annoyance.
"What do you have a better plan?" Vauban threw back with his arms outstretched. The Frost shook his head when another roar came from inside the ship, and they all knew what was happening again.
"Spread out don't make yourself an easy target." Red started to plan when Nidus bullet jumped right at them throwing out a Parasitic Link at Red. On instinct, he threw up a Snow Globe. The grey and pink tendril touched the sphere and froze shattering.
"HA!" Red laughed which quickly turned into an "OH SHIT!" when Nidus flung himself through the frozen barrier to land in the middle of them. Casting his ultimate Nidus threw out a large patch of infected material that covered well around the edges of the Snow Globe causing everyone to leap out of range when the maggots started swarming them. Volt rolled on the ground to get the maggots off of him in a comedic manner as he squealed.
"Ah there everywhere!"
Vauban fired at Nidus only to hit the Snow Globe. "That's a design flaw!" He shouted at Red
"Ya, I know! Don't have to point it out!" The Frost shouted back shaking a fist at him. Everyone focused there fire knocking the Snow Globe's health down.
"The little apples on my shoulder tell me to be honest, and honestly this is getting old," Vauban complained when a Helmuth Charger knocked him out of the way dragging something. "What the is that a..." In the infected mutts jaws was a Hydroid warframe and it was running towards the Nidus.
"Was that a Hydroid?" Volt asked, and Reds blood went colder than usual.
"Focus on that Charger don't let it reach Nidus!" He shouted. Everyone changed focus firing at the Infected dog. The thing didn't even pause as it bled. Red jumped in front arms out to stop it only to get bowled out of the way. "Dammit!" He slammed his fist into the ground causing an Ice Wave to erupt putting a cold Proc on it. Slowing it down slightly, Nyx reached out with her mind and stopped the dog.
"That's a good boy bring the Warframe to me." She mentally coerced the dog who complied slowly turning around to run to her. When Nidus's Tendril snatched the lifeless frame from the dog's jaws pulling it into the globe.
"Whats it doing?" Volt asked
"That thing tried to, full on eat me! IT said that I would become IT," Red explained when the horrific sounds of tearing meat and metal come through the Snow Globe. Nidus had opened up tore the Hydroid to pieces and was eating them absorbing them.
"When I said this was getting old. THAT WASN"T AN INVITATION TO DO THIS!" Vauban shouted angrily reloading. The globe fell but too late, and Nidus looked different. Aspects of Hydroid had mixed into his monstrous form. Nidus's head now had the three points of Hydroids alt helmet. Tentacles hung off his body squirming then worse of all Nidus glowed blue as shields started to fill,
"Oh, that's not even FAIR!" Volt shouted stomping his foot. Then raised a Tenno sub-machine gun and unloaded pinging off the new shields. Pink infected water started pouring off of Nidus, and he formed a Tidal Wave of infection that crashed towards them. Sweeping the dog and Nyx into its path slamming them onto the ground and covering them in Infected mucus holding them there. Nyx struggled to feel some of it break and loosen when the sound of her Liset came roaring overhead. A yellow and pink shape was riding the front of it.
"Fluttershy what are you..." Her answer came with the sound of a Rubico being fired and Nidus taking a shot through the shoulder. The Liset flew in a tight circle giving Fluttershy ample chance to rain bullets. "So that's what happened to my sniper..." Nyx stated plainly.
When Shy's six shots were gone the Liset retreated leaving Nidus missing a good chunk of his health with the Frame's attention on the sky, the other Tenno stepped in to finish the rest of it. Vauban shot it earning a hiss from the Frame. He rolled and got down on one knee to stabilize the shotgun when a tendril came out and ripped it right of his hands.
"Son of a-" He was cut off by being blasted in the face with his gun dropping him to bleed out unloading his Twin Wraith Vipers every three seconds in a bullet storm of cursing and ammunition. The ground rumbled and grew damp until a flood of pinkish water rose from the field. Rising pink tentacles burst from the water grabbing any Frame close enough. Red felt the infected water curl around his midsection before being flung into the air and rattled like a child's toy. Nyx, Nekros, and Cal faired no better in the Tentacle Storms flailing grip. Volt and Ember ran around the edges of the ability trying to fire at Nidus, but swirling tendrils blocked every opening.
The tentacle holding Red started lowering him towards Nidus who opened fully. Chest like a gaping mouth full of long bony teeth. Firing his boltor and getting a lucky shot inside Nidus chest rewarded him with slamming into the ground hard enough to knock the golden spined weapon from his grip. Disoriented from the blow Red watched the world spin for a moment before Nidus was almost upon him. A feral female scream sounded like an angel to the Frost. A pissed off angel with a rough voice but an angel no less to the Frame. As Valkyr slammed into Nidus full hysteria mode beating him relentlessly with her firey claws.
The Tentacle Storm timed out, and Frost fell to the floor on his hands and knees. A warm hand found his shoulder, and he looked up to the horned deer Oberon.
"You're not alone my friend." He encouraged, and Red chuckled
"Never thought that for a moment."
Oberon nodded and pulled his Gram taking a definite step forward as he pulsed with green light sending out pulses of restorative energy. Oberon's Renewal surged through them all Seeing Valkyr start to lose her grip on the infected Frame he threw out Hollowed Ground in a blanket of warm grass. Nidus squirmed as the Radiation bled into him. Valkyr in a brutal move put both claws on either side of Nidus's head and gave a bone-splitting twist killing the frame once again.
The sound of mighty hooves drew every Frames attention as Celestia herself approached the fight wings out with a stern face.
"Princess what are you doing here it's not safe," Red warned and was met with a scolding look.
"Equestria is in real danger, and you expect its Princesses to stand back?" She looked at the deranged and distorted Frame under Valkyr. "Kaylee step back and prepare." She ordered, and the Valkyr nodded and jumped away. Red's Squad looked at the Princess in confusion and worry.
"What are you planning?" Red asked, and Celestia opened a magic portal with golden runes flowing around it a sword handle bathed in gold and white presented itself and she accepted its steel once again. Each Frame watched in awe as she drew a War sized blade from the portals shimmering depths. Once her magic touched the edge, its whole length combusted in golden fire radiating heat as if the sun's heart had transferred into its blade. Nidus revived, and Celestia marched forward.
"Equestria must stand strong!" She declared before charging forward.
Author's Note
Cue epic music!
Celestia's snarl ripped through the heated air as she lunged at the abomination. The great sword's fire left sizzling heat trails as it swung through the air. Nidus tried to block only be sent flying for the effort in a splash of embers, rolling several times before getting his footing back. He got up slowly as Its minds swarmed for an answer.
"Pony?" he asked the voices higher pitched in curiosity. Celestia gave her sword a twirl throwing off charred material her sword had scraped from his scythe.
"Alicorn, Abomination." She declared never taking her glare off of It.
"Food." It corrected lunging at her like a feral animal. With a pure hop back she smacked It down to the ground with her blade and tried to drive her sword through Its back. Missing as It rolled the ground sizzled and cracked under the heat of the massive edge. Boiling away to lava at its mere touch, forgoing drawing the sword from the field she dragged her blade through the earth spraying fiery chunks at Nidus as he stood. The bare miss set the Frame over the ignition point as he howled in pain at the fire proc that washed over him.
"Feel the wraith of Equestria monster." She taunted, taking calm steps towards It, her face a mask of rage that never wavered.
"Burn with us!" It howled throwing out a Link towards her. The fleshy tendril snapped to her chest, and she grimaced in disgust. Frost grabbed his Nikana and urged forward only a wing from Luna stopped him he turned to glare, but Luna smirked.
"YOU DARE TO TRY AND CORRUPT ME WITH YOUR FILTH?" Celestia roared eyes like burning coals as her mane and tail combusted into hellish solar flames. The tendril caught fire spreading back to Nidus before burning away like a fuse between Celestia and the Frame. Celestia trotted forward wing spread full, head high. A trail of burning hoofsteps in her wake. "They call you Warframes..." She started, "Yet you! You act no more than a parasite feeding off the life of others." Nidus backed away from her as the flames began to die. "Recognise your end and face it with dignity." Nidus drew It's Soma and faster them most could blink Celestia cleaved the Frames head from Its shoulders. Celestia didn't turn away to address them before calling to her sister.
"How many lives remaining?" She asked
"Two before the creature respawns," Luna informed.
Nidus jumped into the air now whole once again and let out a burst of energy. Celestia covered herself with her wings, only moving a mere inch. On instinct, she pulled up a magic shield before Soma rounds started pinging off it in a seemingly endless spray. He strafed around her, trying to find a weak spot, Celestia calmly sat on her haunches and watched him fire at her. He stopped to reload, and she pulled a cup of tea out of a magic circle and preceded to drink it. Nidus ran out of ammo and started wailing on the shield with his scythe, like a child having a tantrum.
Frost stared in a mix of horror, amusement, and a bit of embarrassment. He almost started rooting for Nidus because at this point he was making the Tenno look bad in front of the princesses. After finishing her cup of tea, Celestia put the empty teacup and stood. Nidus began to glow in golden sparkles, and she ripped him in half. Frost jumped at the sudden brutality.
Every frame there collectively let out a startled "Son of a bitch!"
"Language!" Celestia scolded motherly as Nidus's blood slid off her shield like rain on a roof.
"How'd you do that so easily?" Vauban asked bewildered.
"Please Tenno we have the magical strength to move Celestial objects through space, You know how much restraint it takes to hold a simple cup of tea." Luna looked at the ground remembering the thousands of innocent tea cups lost.
"Luna still has problems." Celestia added to her sisters dismay.
"CELLY! Please, not in front of the Tenno." Luna whined, hiding her blush under a wing. Valkyr patted her shoulder, understanding the pain.
Nidus revived, and Celestia stood dissolved her shield and took up her sword again, swatting the Soma out of his hands with a quick swipe. He swung his Scythe, and Celestia took a step forward and blocked. Soon they were in a sort of waltz. Celestia started counting as they moved.
"I think we were just roasted" Volt looked at the ground unsure how to feel about that.
Nidus planted the Scythe head in the ground and kicked it at her sending it in a buzzsaw motion. He went to grab it and pulled back Celestia's sword instead. His pause of confusion gave Celestia a perfect chance to slash him with his scythe. He stumbled, touching the acidic burn across his chest. Celestia didn't let him enjoy the pause as she twirled, giving the weapon a reaping spiral. The frame blocked her swipe barely. But the Alicorn charged it up and unleashed a wave of acid. He rolled through it, taking the acid bath to spin into a massive arc with her blade.
Celestia hopped into the air and glided over him. He turned and swung only to swing his scythe once again after a golden puff of magic. The size difference between the weapons meant he swiped the empty air in front of Celestia. "Your certainly adaptable Monster."
Nidus quivered in fury as infected water poured out of him and he surged forward in a Tidal wave. Celestia stood like a mountain as her shield parted the foul sea as he passed her. He dropped into a deep puddle under her, and Celestia disappeared below. Every Tenno watched the pink pool with bated breath. Steam began to rise from it. Then pour from it as the water started to shrink. Nidus reformed steaming on all fours crouched like an animal dying of thirst. Celestia's flaming form stood over him, eyes full of pity as she turned and retrieved her sword. He grabbed her hoof, and she cut it off like pruning a dead tree. Only a congealed pink oozed from the wound from where the blood had boiled away to plasma.
His shields flared as they recharged, but he didn't move merely panted there. Suddenly throwing out an infected lump, Celestia dodged the savage attack by moving her head. The Larva spawned behind her and instantly lashed out. Celestia jumped and turned to swipe with her sword at a Tendril that wasn't there. Instead, a Kavat got entangled, and Celestia realized the distraction to late. Nidus lashed out again only a well-timed magic shield saved her wing from being cut from her.
She was out of practice; she chastised herself but could feel the bloom of excitement swell in her chest. It had been eons since anyone challenged her. "Ah Sombra," she remembered almost fondly. She blocked a Scythe swing on autopilot. As her mind wandered to the past, "If only he hadn't turned evil, such a nice flank..." She lamented only to be interrupted by a fist to her cheek. "Oh right, you silly old mare." She giggled verbally freezing Nidus in her magic "Where were we before I spaced out?" Celestia asked with a grin
"SHE SPACED OUT MID-FIGHT!" Every Frame thought in horror — Luna face-hoofed.
"The plan dear sister this is his last revive." She stretched the Dear part in annoyance.
"Oh right silly me,"
Screams and cries of pain. Hundreds of them, thousands of them. So many she felt her head might explode. Kaylee pushed them away and floated through Nidus's mind.
"Luna?" She called into the dreamscape looking around for support in that tainted headspace.
"Fear not you don't dream walk alone." Luna's calm voice reached her as the Alicorn floated to be at her side. The raven hair tenno nodded.
"Nidus's Tenno has to be in here." She looked around at all the distorted and twisted memories. "Somewhere in all this twistedness." Kaylee tried to sound optimistic, but not sure where to start.
"Perhaps we can follow the memories to there source," Luna suggested, and Kaylee nodded. They fought against the tide of derangement memories of blood and feasting it made Kaylee's stomach churn. She'd recognized some of the poor relay workers.
"Only true monsters mark such massacres as pleasant thoughts." Luna worked to keep her breathing focused. The crimson stained dreamscape shuttered violently, Kaylee let out a startled cry as a wave of pressure sent her tumbling back.
"Nidus is fighting back..." Kaylee huffed, shaking her head from the tumble.
"Then we must work fast, Time may work differently here, but it is still passing." Luna urged and pulled the Tenno back to where they were.
They followed the memories towards a sickly infested light. Kaylee shielded her eyes as it grew more intense as the closer they got. They passed through, finding themselves in a sizeable dome-like area. It reminded the Tenno of an Orokin assembly hall. Except for it was left to decay. Infested matter clung in fleshy spiderwebs all over. The whole place felt feverish and sweaty. Kaylee's breathing came with effort in the unhealthy air. Luna coughed and gagged at the smell of rotten festering flesh. Kaylee looked around covering her nose, and mouth trying to filter the smell. She found what they needed, and pointed at the Orokin pod in the middle of the room. The pod looked like a closed flower waiting to bloom.
The two floated over pushing against the current to reach it. Kaylee grimaced at the overgrowth that sealed it tight. Removing a hand from her face, she focused her void beam into a cutting laser and begun to work her way through. The dreamscape shuttered violently with a Nidus howl. The roof shattered as a giant Nidus head smashed through. Kaylee almost lost her footing holding onto the infected pod for dear life. Luna pulled her straight silver sword from her side. The Nidus head mutated opening its mouth in a feral screech so loud Kaylee had to cover her ears not to lose her mind to the infected beast as it tried to crawl into her brain with its words. Tossing her head, she Void blasted the head, leaving a smoking burn on it. The screeching stopped, and Kaylee focused on the pod once again.
"YOU WILL SUBMIT TO US! YOU WILL BECOME US!" IT screeched at them as the infected webbing began to boil, and bugle out, as hundreds of Nidus sprang from the walls to fly at them.
"Kaylee?" Luna looked at the Tenno for instruction, as she cut through the first to reach them.
"Keep them off me I need to open this." Kaylee's beam worked slowly through the months if not years of built up infected gunk. Luna nodded and put a magic bubble around Kaylee and herself. The Niduses swarmed and pounded on the bubble. The strain of the assault made Luna grimace. The mental weight of the sickness was immense. More, and more kept piling on as Kaylee worked as fast as she could. "Halfway!" She shouted, seeing the Princess strain was scarier than anything the Grineer had thrown at her over the years. The Grineer she could rip apart with her bare hands... Not her hands she realized it was never her hands.
"GRRRAW!" The familiar female warcry hit Kaylee's ears like a victory bell as the Niduses were, thrown off the shield in large clumps, as Valkry's claws ripped through them. Luna fired beams of pure magic, cutting a Nidus in half before it could pounce on the mental Frame. Kaylee worked with confidence now. Her Warframe was strong, and she was never alone. Cutting through the last bit, the Pod opened with a hiss of pressurized air.
Nidus screeched in pain at the noise, and all the antibody Niduses screeched holding their heads as the pod opened up like the flower it resembled. The world shattered away, leaving behind darkness, and isolation. Kaylee had to keep herself at the sudden coldness of it all. She looked around the abyssal darkness that surrounded her.
"Hello?" Her voice echoed emptily. Nothing answered her as she floated in the cold space. Until she felt something in the dark, something that called to her with no voice like he had forgotten his voice after so long. She let it pull her in. She floated for what felt like hours endlessly through the abyss. She blinked, and she arrived seeing the young tenno still in the Nariman suit with its hood up. He knelt on the floor as if waiting for something. Waiting for her, Kaylee realized as she knelt in front of him. He bowed his head, and she returned the gesture.
"Do you remember your name?" She asked, and he shook his head no. Kaylee sighed. She was trying to figure out what to ask from here. The Tenno pulled something out from behind his back. It was a miniature version of the Tenno's pod. She looked into it only to herself forced into another memory, one that was all too familiar to her. A Nidus approached the Tenno pod cautiously. She could feel his fear and curiosity as he neared the Orokin relic. All that came to a fever pitch of emotions when the Frame dropped to the floor as Transferrence was interrupted. The scene changed, and she was seeing through the tenno's eye now. She didn't want to because the Nidus frame was standing over the pod dripping hungry goo at them.
The memory ended when the infected frame lunged forward. Kaylee was back kneeling in front of the masked Tenno. Her heart was pounding in her ears, and her breath was ragged as cold sweat dripped off her forehead.
"Your frame..." Kaylee had to swallow the bile in her throat. "Your warframe ate you." She said the words with the abstract horror it deserved.
The Tenno nodded grimly and leaned forward to place something between them. It was a dagger, and Kaylee realized what they were asking of her. Kaylee picked up the ceremonial knife and stood walking behind the other tenno. A golden thread trailed from the back of their neck into the wall. A naga drum sounded mournful as she touched it. She took a breath and positioned the knife. Kaylee looked away as she cut the cord, unable to look at the kid like herself as they fell limp, the nightmare ended.
A Spectral Scream of a time(Re-edited)
After a light day at school and a very short chore day. Applebloom was feeling rather good about her life. Everything was, quiet and seemed to be winding down as she looked out her window over the apple orchard. She laid her head down on the window sill, to listen to the sounds of the night settling in. Except something didn’t sound right, she could hear the birds and the bugs, but there was something else it seemed like one of those balloons that whizzed around the sky in Canterlot but quieter. She reopened her eyes and tried to scan the orchard for anything out of the ordinary. But the slight sway of the tree looked like the breeze but. She stuck the end of her hoof into her mouth and tested the air. Nothing the air was still. So what was causing the trees to move? She looked around again but couldn’t see anything yet the tree’s kept moving. She ran away from the window and raced down the stairs only to be stopped by her older sister.
“Whoa, their sugar cube… where’s the fire?” she asked. And Applebloom started to prance on the floor. Trying to formulate her response,
“The trees are moving, and I, don’t know why sis?” she said hoping to convince her sister to let her go check. Her sister just chuckled and shook her head at the little filly.
“Sis, it’s the wind?” she closed her eyes and walked off Applebloom watched her go and shook off her sister’s comment. She had tested the air already, and she didn’t want to waste time arguing with her stubborn sister. So she raced out of the farmhouse and into the woods. She ran out until she could hear the slight buzzing a little clearer. It was any bug she had heard of, but yet strange things have been known to come out of the woods from time to time. But that didn’t stop her in her pursuit of what was causing the trees to move. She started to imagine all kinds of things that could be making the trees wave any number of creatures could be big enough to do it.
Her mind made up several scenarios. But her mind started to think of less cute things, and it made her a little wary of what she was going to find. When she stumbled across what was causing the tree’s move, and it took her breath away. It looked like a giant beetle hanging in the air. But she couldn’t see any wings or what kept it afloat as it hovered a couple of feet off the ground. Its shell was a metallic red with blue lines are drawn across it that swooped and blended into each other. It looked fancy like something that belongs in Canterlot. She almost walked out of the bushes to look at it further when it suddenly dropped the last few feet into the ground with a thud.
Then it got back up just a little and let out legs so it could stand properly. But why didn’t it do that when it first landed, Bloom thought to herself? Maybe it was a baby and didn’t know yet. She thought and looked at its size again and was suddenly afraid of the thought if this was a baby then what did the mama look like and how big was it. Then she heard a slight whoosh, and something not as big as the ship but taller than her for sure jumped out. It had a leathery hide and stood on two legs, it held out its hand and made what she could guess as an angry gesture.
She crawled trying her best not to make a noise as she crept closer to the creature. It had spikes and what looked like wings on its arms, and it seemed to be motioning towards something. Once she got close enough, she could see that the red parts cover white parts like some kind of jacket or clothing. But her mind was taken elsewhere as her eyes caught on the blue light in its hand that moved and flashed. She got closer and could hear a strange noise coming from the lights but yet it looked like they were talking to each other. She didn’t understand but it really did appear to be speaking to the light through looks and hand motions. She wanted to get closer it didn’t seem to be aggressive as it communicated with the light as she scooted a little closer and forgot to check her hooves before stepping and she snapped a twig. She froze in place and hoped that they wouldn’t hear her. They stopped talking and scanned the area. She held her breath. It was a while before they continued to talk and she finally released the breath she was holding and peered back over the bush to see the little light start to shine a long blue light over some bushes in front of it. She didn’t know what it was doing till it suddenly moved to her bush and shined brightly. She squeaked at the sudden light and fell backward in the bush making a bunch of noise.
She turned to run away when she heard a swooping sound and the big red things jumped in front of her making a threatening noise as it bends down with its hands out. Before she could do anything, she was scooped up and held very close to its scary face. She cried out and flailed her hooves in fear, but it just stared at her. It turned her over and looked at her then at the bright light thing that was getting closer, her mind filled with thoughts of aliens and abduction and experiments. She struggled even harder till it moved and flashed closer to her. It started to make noises strange beeps, then something close to equestrian.
It said “hold” this got her attention, and she stopped flailing so much, and the light seemed pleased as it said more words in strange orders. “You….. Take, stop,” it seemed to be saying random things, so she spoke back
“What?” she asked, and it chirps happily then started to speak in full equestrian.
“Hello I am Ordis?” it said and she looked at it and held out a hoof
“I’m Applebloom.” She said nervously, and Ordis seemed pleased
“Oh, how fascinating a tiny colorful talking horse how. He seemed to switch voices for a second “odd?” the other voice said then it went back to normal “cute” it finished and Bloom stood in awe at the talking lights. “Are you part of the native species? I hope you are because that means your natural and not part of the infestation which would make Ordis so very happy.” She looked at Ordis for a second with her mouth hanging open in shock as her mind tried to make sense of everything the light had said. Then the red thing shook her slightly causing her to yelp a bit and Ordis to get annoyed “Operator, please be gentle my scan shows her to be a youngling.” He said, and the red thing looked down at her.
“Ya ponies are natural here,” She said
“Splendid!” he said and looked at the Red thing again “she not an infected beast she’s a native,” he said, and it growled slightly and held her at eye level again looked her over and then sat her down. It walked back to the shiny beetle, and Ordis got closer “Ordis is happy to meet you Applebloom, That is the operator he’s a little grumpy but not bad. Ordis apologizes for his behavior.” She looked at the Red thing again and then back at Ordis
“Nothing to it Mister Ordis But are you all Aliens are you gonna invade us or something like that?” she asked, and Ordis stopped moving like he was thinking
“No nothing like that Ordis is a stealth ship, and the Operator is a Tenno, so invasion by us is unlikely.” It said, and Applebloom sighed with relief
“If you’re not here to suck our brains out or nothing why are you here?” she asked and Ordis Chuckled mechanically.
“Well, you all are on my family’s apple farm in Ponyville.” Ordis looked around and bobbed slightly
“Yes, I do detect a lot of Fruit tree’s with a large quantity of fruit I count 1000 apples just in the immediate area alone.” He spoke, and Applebloom nodded in pride
“Yep and I help grow them alongside my family. “
“Ordis sees a family business fascinating. Ordis asks may I scan one of these apples?” he asked and Bloom seemed wary.
“I don’t know my family depends on the sales and I can’t go out and give away apples for free.” She said, and Ordis bobbed in midair before speaking again.
“Ah Ordis sees” he turned to the red thing “Operator Please pay Bloom here for 1 Apple, please……. Uh, Right Price, Ordis Sees.” He turned back to bloom “how much is an Apple?” she told him one bit and then explained what a bit was, and Ordis then turned back to the red guy.
"One Plat should do it.” He said, and the red thing looked at her and put out his hand, and another light spouted from his hand, and he pointed with his claws till he dropped it down and handed her a shiny silver round bit that glowed slightly. She took it in hoof then got closer to a tree and kicked it as hard as she could but nothing fell. She looked sad then tried again and again. She looked embarrassed. She heard a huff when she saw the red thing jump up the tree and grabbed an apple easily then fell back to the ground effortlessly she stared in awe at the move, and it handed the apple over to the light who scanned it gleefully.
“High in vitamins and excellent condition. Operator this object would provide great frame benefits.” It said and it picked back up the apple and turned away all bloom could hear was a crunching sound, and the red thing flashed blue, and when it turned around again, the apple was gone core and all. She wanted to say something about not eating that part, but she didn’t want to argue with the thing that could handle her like a toy. And had a blue outline for a second then gave Ordis a thumbs up.
“Splendid Operator my thoughts were right." Ordis started to fly around the small area admiring everything.
“Infection has been detected, Operator!" Ordis blared an alarm, and the red frame surveyed the area again but couldn’t find anything. He shots the cephalon a look, and Ordis got angry “No Ordis is not malfunctioning!” he gave Ordis a look, and Ordis got madder. Applebloom looked on in confusion as the two arguing. She back up and heard a gurgling screech.
She spun around to see what looked like a green moving tree with tentacles the new monster gave a gurgled roar in her face, and she screamed. She turned to run, but the tree monster stretched an arm to reach her. The horrid limb went through the filly’s leg causing her to scream louder than ever. The pain was searing and instant. It started to drag her through the dirt with her crying out. Until the red frame cleaved the squirming appendage. He picked her up causing her to cry out again.
He set her next to Ordis who scanned the filly and flashed a warning, but the frame had already returned to wipe the ancient creature and all traces of it from this world. It shrieked and moaned at him, but he swiftly swung the red blades. He took a deep breath in and spewed forth cleansing fire. His scream was spectral and haunting, but with it, he razed the area till every trace of the virus was wiped clean. He returned to Ordis who looked at an unconscious Bloom sadly. He kneeled as his spirits fell as his eyes met the filly’s leg. It had already turned hard and silver with traces of yellowish green. It had been so long since the infection could be spread through touch he had forgotten that it could. The filly jumped to her hooves suddenly. When she put weight on the hoof yellow gases escaped with a rancid smell.
“Pony bloom?” she looked at him slowly
“Mister Ordis?” her eyes tried to focus on the bright lights she tried to rub at it, but the silver hoof offered no help. “I’m having troubles seeing you...” her body spammed again as the infection created into her snout. Ordis dimmed sadly,
“I’m sorry miss bloom… I hope the void is kind to you...” he said solely, and she looked at him with a confused face.
“What...” the red frame drew a single sword and gripped it tightly as he held it overhead ready to put the filly down. The only thought he had was wishing he had an Ether sword. It would be cleaner and less painful. He heard a voice call from in the distance female with a southern accent he felt his hands loosen momentarily.
“Applebloom where are you?” it called out, and Bloom turned to it slowly.
“Sis?”
Author's Note
I'm going back through and editing these chapters better.
Bloom crouched not taking her eyes off the master in front of her. Neither made a move as the tension in the air grew thicker with every passing second. Bloom desperately racked her brain for a plan of attack. Chroma fed her attack angles but warned some of the openings were their to bait her into attacking. Teshin readjusted the grip on his sword and leaned further into the stance his stern grimace revealed nothing of what could be going through his mind. Sweetie watched them both from the tree line. Then her eyes caught the clock tower near the school, and a new dread filled her mind.
"We're going to be late for class!" She shouted suddenly making Bloom jump. She hopped on her back legs, and Teshin moved his sword in a defensive position only for Bloom to bow suddenly.
"Sorry got to go!" Bloom spoke fast and turned tail and ran bolting down the dirt path. Sweetie ran after her.
"Hey wait for me!" She shouted when a galloping Wolfy ran beside her, lowering his head he scooped her onto his head and slid her down his long neck onto his back not missing a beat catching up to Bloom. "Your such a good boy Wolfy!" Bloom praised, and the Kubrow barked. Teshin watched them go with surprise, but a small smile graced his face as he sheathed his sword.
"Thanks for the diversion Sweetie." Bloom thanked as they left the farm grounds.
"No problem. but do you think it was a good idea to run like that?" Sweetie asked.
"No, but it was the best option. If I learned anything yesterday, besides the fact Pinkie has accesses to a real cannon." She grinned, and Chroma facepalmed mentally. " Is that some problems need to be handled in other ways... I'll have to face him, but this should buy me time to plan at least."
They ran into Scootaloo as they ran past and the filly buzzed up with her scooter. "Hey, girls what are we running from today?"
"Old Tenno combat teacher." Bloom let out calmly focusing on the path ahead.
"Hmm cool," Scootaloo said back just as calmly. Then looked at the Kubrow running with Sweetie on his back. "That's a big dog."
Sweetie wrapped her hooves around the massive dog's neck "His name is Wolfy and he a good boy." Sweetie cooed, and the kubrow barked.
They arrived at School with a couple of minutes to spare. Bloom ran to the teacher. When Miss Cheerilee saw them, she smiled
"Morning miss Cheerilee, So today's gonna be another weird day." Bloom started, and the teacher's eyes slowly drifted to the pony-sized dog panting lightly behind her. "That's Wolfy he's only part of it. So a tall man in a huge hat is probably going to show up. He's waiting for me. He's a teacher, who wants to test me but with swords and stuff." Bloom used her front hooves to mime out Teshins general appearance. "He'll probably wait outside he has a whole patience thing."
Worry passed over Miss C's face "Is he dangerous?" Bloom had to think of how to answer that one.
"He won't hurt anypony."
"Thank you for the warning Bloom, just don't let too many distractions I can only allow so much." The teacher warned, and Bloom nodded trotting to her seat. Wolfy looked at the teacher with an adorable absentmindedness. She reached out a hoof hesitantly, the Kubrow tilted his head down, and she scratched the top of his head. The wolf-like dog gave her snout a lick which made the teacher giggle with surprise. The space dog went to Bloom who told him to watch out for Teshin. Wolfy nodded intelligently, took a second to scratch himself behind the ear and leaped out the open window gracefully.
The day passed slowly close to recess Wolfy barked, and Bloom's ear twitched. Cheerilee stopped mid-sentence and looked at Bloom.
"Do you need to handle that?" She asked trying to sound like the teacher whose lesson was interrupted but under that was concern that Bloom appreciated.
"No Miss Cheerilee I'm ok." Bloom never thought she'd be ok with math but right now she focused on her school work. Seeing how it was only trying to confuse her. Unlike her "Other" problem which was now sitting somewhere out there. She sly called Frost.
"Aren't you suppose to be at School," The frame asked as the box appeared on her vision.
"I am. But Teshins here!" She whispered still looking at her desk like as she wrote.
"On Planet?"
"At my School!" She hissed then covered it with a cough."
"Oh...." The frame trailed off.
"Ya any tips?" She asked, and Frost was silent for a moment. The call ended, and Bloom couldn't believe it till messages started coming in from all the frames on Planet.
"Stay mobile."-Volt
"Watch your shields"-Frost.
"Don't get hit"- Vauban,
Bloom nearly facepalmed at that one.
"He's real old-fashioned mix things up, be unpredictable."- Nyx
"Wake the Dead."- Nekros
Bloom glared at that unhelpful message.
"He's a swordsman; He'll stick to solid and fast strikes. Don't be to eager wait for the right time to strike." - Excalibur.
"Use the air to your advantage a Tenno's agility is one of our best weapons." - Zephyr
"Be respectful, and Pay attention"- Teshin.
Bloom did a double take before she realized that Teshin had sent the last one. Chroma sent everyone a thank you and closed the chat. Bloom thought about what the other Tenno had told them trying to get an idea for a game plan.
The next hour passed calmly enough, and Miss Cheerilee dismissed them for recess. Everypony rushed out except Bloom who was taking several breaths. Cheerilee looked at her asking if she was ok and Bloom nodded. She got up and stepped out the door out onto the playground. Cheerilee watched her go wondering if she could even intervene in whatever was going on. Bloom scanned the playground until a bark signaled Bloom.
There under a tree sat Teshin his hand idly petting the Kubrow. Bloom steeled herself and approached stopping a respectable distance from the Conclave master. She expected a scolding for running earlier or him to call her a coward all thoughts started forming a negative cloud in her brain.
"Approach young Bloom," Teshin called calmly, and she nodded and stepped forward into the shade of the tree. "Would you sit with me and enjoy this nice weather." He offered, motioning with his hand to the empty spot on his left. She did what he asked and knelt next to him prim and proper. They sat in silence till Bloom couldn't take it anymore.
"Ya, the weather ponies did a really nice job on the weather today." She offered to try and start a conversation. Teshin looked at the sky with the perfect amount of clouds in it, then to Bloom.
"What do you mean?" He asked, and Bloom realized the Master of the Conclave didn't know about pony magic. Luckily a pegasus flew to a cloud to adjust it.
Bloom pointed a hoof "See there."
Teshin followed her hoof to see the purple pegasus known as Cloud Kicker. Kicker noticed her pointing and flew down.
"Hey, Bloom! Heard you were back. and a lot of strange things have been going on since." She looked at the new Bloom then to Teshin "Good to see the rumor mill was right for once."
"This is Master Teshin of the Conclave, and I was trying to explain Pegasus to him." Bloom introduced, and Kicker reached a hoof out to Teshin.
"Welcome to Ponyville Mister Teshin." He reached out and shook the hoof.
"Thank you miss this is the most peaceful place I've ever known. What were you doing with the clouds?" Teshin asked, face and tone neutral.
"Oh it had drifted a bit off course, and I was fixing it." She explained, but the way Teshin looked at her expressed confusion.
"You say Ponies control the weather here?" he asked, and Kicker nodded, but his face turned into a skeptical scowl.
"We do watch." Never to be deterred Kicker flew back up and brought the cloud to ground level. Teshin leaned forward studying the cloud. He reached out and touched the fluffy white cloud only to pass right through and pull out a wet hand.
He shook his head, "There is still much to learn in this world." He grinned his horizon expanded.
"Thanks, Miss Kicker have a good day," Bloom called as she replaced the cloud and flew off. Teshin looked at the lively playground than to the very nervous Bloom.
"You may go and spend your break how you wish. I will not test you till your lessons are done for the day." Bloom looked at him with awe and got up and bowed once more.
"Thank you. See you after class." She said as she ran off. Teshin watched her go with a smile. So young, and so eager would she withstand the fires of the origin system and be tempered by them? Or will they consume her? He thought grimly; Their test will show the answer. The old master saw two groups of children heading towards the large field. He spied a ball, and the thoughts of Lunaro sprung into his mind he decided to follow them.
Author's Note
NEXT TIME ON CHROMABLOOM! We play Hoofball?
As always if you see a glaring issue tell me I'll fix it right away
Vinyl and Octy in: A Cephalon's Request
Author's Note
Trying a diffrent style for this little bonus chapter full of fanservice.
The * means a transition effect.
Vinyl and Octy in: A Cephalon's Request
Grineer filed into the small room storming towards a grey mare with charcoal black hair.
"Tavi on your right!" a white mare with neon blue streaks in her hair warned. What those bulbous cloned soldiers failed to realize was that "Tavi" was wielding a jet-powered hammer. Which she used to crumble a lancer into a wall, with a crazed grin she pulled it close for another swing.
*EERRRRRRRRRRRRRR! The scene froze with a record scratch.*
"Hi I'm Vinyl Scratch, you probably know me better as DJ pon-3 master of the wubs. The smokin hot mare who looks like she has way too much playing alien wack a mole. That's Octavia Philharmonic. Ya that Octavia, the famous cellist."
The scene continued as Vinyl leveled two yellow Grakatas at more Grineer and opened rapid fire like the crescendo of an epic dubstep piece.
"You probably wonder how all this started, Well about three days ago."
*The scene rapidly rewinds.*
"You're a lazy good for nothing slob!" Octavia shouted at Vinyl who snarled
"Your an uptight Snu-"
*The scene froze both mid-shout. Near the front door of their shared home.*
"Not our best moment."
*The scene jumps to Octavia leaving out the front door with a slam, Vinyl's tears hid behind her ever-present shades.*
"That's when the love of my life walked out." Past Vinyl stormed around the room "So ya I was upset, and I needed to clear my head, so I called my agent." Past Vinyl dialed a number on her cell. "Hey ya Neon! ya, whats up I need a gig tonight!" She looked at her phone disgusted "NO OCTY DID NOT KICK ME OUT! Do you have a gig or not ass!"
Lucky for me he did, and a couple hours later I was setting up in a dinky club. While I swore at Neon who probably set it up as a joke. Soon enough the magic hour struck, and It was time to work my Wubs. My rep drew the crowds, My music enslaved em. I'm used to all shapes and sizes but something on two legs in neon blues and pinks with bright peacock feathers on her head. That was a new one for me but whatever it was time to PARTY!
So I set my volume, something to work into before I blow everyone's minds. I started the show, and everyone cheered. But I was angry, and my beat showed it fast and heavy as the sound amped up. I prepped for a killer drop like a man prepping for the apocalypse. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw that thing throw something. Whatever I have a Beat to drop. When my wave of sound hit the crowd my jaw dropped.
The floor glowed in neon pink spots with blue outlines. As solid pillars of pink rose and fell to my beat! Ponies were bopped into the are by my bass as they whooped and hollered. All the while that thing danced and shook every inch of her slender frame. I started experimenting, testing how my music toyed with the crowd. A short hype piece played on loop leading to a hell of a drop. Anticipation filled the air as the group readied for it.
I put a voice sample in on the fly right before the drop, "EVERYBODY FUCKIN JUMP!" The drop tossed the whole dance floor in the air. That person leaped into the air almost into the rafters with a twirl that left pink stripes in the air. She landed not missing a beat of her dance. I swept the floor with waves of rhythm that moved the crowd like the sea.
I let that track fade as I figured out the next. My hooves subconsciously hit play on the sound Octavia, and I was collabing on before she before I let her walk out. It wasn't finished only half a song. I should have switched tracks but I couldn't I played and added to it like a slave to my own thoughts and emotions. I looked over the crowd seeing everyone lost to the beat, Everyone except that person. She had her fists over her chest as if out of everyone she could feel the emotions I was throwing into this song. When the song ended, I had to wipe my eyes and set up a filler song so I could take a break.
She approached me, "Your music is just beautiful. It grabs the soul and moves the body." Her harmonic voice praised
"That light show was fricken sick!" I threw back, and she bowed. She asked for an album, and I got out my marker. "Whats your name?"
"Octavia." I nearly dropped my marker, but like the professional I was, I kept my cool.
"To my new fan Octavia, keep spinning." I nearly broke into tears when I almost wrote Octy. She squealed at the autograph and did another twirl. I had so many questions. What are you? How'd you do that thing with the crowd? But hearing that name shut me down. I went through the rest of the night on autopilot until I hit my bed. My empty, lonely Octy less bed.
The only thing that got me up was this really annoying persistent knocking. I may have answered the door a teeny bit irritable.
Past Vinyl threw open the door with a snarl. "Fuckin Celestia! What do you want!" Past Vinyl's words died when a female covered head to toe in a skin-tight outfit colored black and white with purple neon lines running through it. She stood with a silver briefcase.
"Miss Scratch?" She asked, and I dumbly nodded yes. She nodded back pleased.
"Good my boss Cephalon Suda had sent me with a request for you." She put the briefcase on her arms and opened it to show solid gold bars. Past Vinyl's jaw nearly unhinged and her pupils expanded. "We're told you trade gold for goods and services on this planet. Suda hopes this enough to cover a private concert." She closed the case, and Vinyl wiped the drool from her mouth and gave her head a shake.
"Um, when does your Boss want this show?"
"As soon as possible my ship is ready to take you there." Ya, that's where my brain broke.
"Ship you say, ya let me just go back and get ready." I lied and shut the door. But I'm totally great under pressure and totally didn't lose my Sh-
"What the fuck is going on!" Past Vinyl shouted as she lost her shit. She laid on the floor. The Suda operative opened the door with her hand raised respectively.
"Sorry for the intrusion but is everything all..." She trailed off seeing Vinyl halfway out a window that had fallen on her back trapping her as she flailed.
After the Operative politely helped me out of the window, we sat down to actually talk.
"Um sorry about the total freak out there I was a little overwhelmed." I rubbed my neck, and the Operative shook her head.
"Is the payment an Issue?" She asked, and I shook my hooves frantically
"Celestia No! That's more money than I've ever seen for one gig in my life!" I had to take a breath. "Your an Alien right, and your ship is a spaceship right?" I asked trying to wrap my head around things.
"Yes, and Yes" She responded, and I could only nod.
"And this Suda sounds like a big mob boss that wants me to play for them."
"Cephalon Suda is interested in all knowledge and lately has developed a fascination with music. Nothing shady she just would like to experience your music live." She explained with a smile.
"So how long will the trip take?" I asked running out of reasons to say no.
"The nearest relay is Venus so three hours since we're not using Tenno warp." The gears started turning in my head.
Good money, Check
"Alright, I'm in." I finally agreed, and the Suda Op brightened.
"Fantastic I'll help where ever you need me to, to get ready."
With that, I ran a comb through my hair gave it a nice spike. Put on a fresh pair of shades and wheeled my equipment outside.
"Everything ready?" the Op asked, and I flipped down my shades.
"Lets party!" I said dramatically
"Good the ships a couple blocks east." She pointed, and Past Vinyl looked a little disappointed.
"Whats wrong?"
"Nothing just figured you had a teleporter or something cool. But no I'm cool let's go." I saved face as we strolled to the outskirts of town. To a blocky blue ship. The Suda Op loaded my gear onto the lift, and we boarded. A filly like excitement grabbed me by the ass seeing all the alien tech. All the lights, all the sounds, all the Octy... OCTY! Sure as shit the grey mare stood staring at me in as much shock.
"Vinyl? What in the heavens are you doing here?" She asked, and I could feel the tears starting again.
"I didn't know you'd be here ok. I know you don't want to see me anymore." It bubbled out of my mouth before I could stop it. Octavia slow blinked processing what I'd just said. I turned and ran before I started to cry.
"Vinyl your an idiot," Octy said no wait present Octy is saying that.
*Suddenly were sucked back to the current alien filled room where I'm wielding twin alien machine guns, and Octys wielding a jet-powered hammer.*
"Vinyl your an Idiot." She repeated with a soft chuckle while smiling at me. She pulled the hammer back like a batter and home runned a Grineer's head off its shoulders down a hall.
"I know I am Octy, and I know you're mad at me. But you're starting to scare me." She looked at me in bewilderment then laughed a laugh that put butterflies in my stomach.
"I thought you were mad at me for exploding Vinyl." She said, and my Brain screeched to a halt. She swept a lancers legs and crushed his head with a downward swing. " No, I'm actually working through my pent-up aggression at my concert group." She said resetting the hammer on her shoulder.
"Wait really?" I asked not sure if I'd really heard that or was making shit up.
"Yes, they've been driving me up a wall" She swatted a smaller grineer into a bigger one. "Haha take that Symphony you out of tune hack! To the point, I exploded on you Vinyl" She confessed I saw one with cleavers pull back to swing at Octy and I staggered him into a hammer swing that removed his whole upper half leaving his legs to fall over.
"That's what you deserve Flute you backstabbing cowered!" She gloated then returned to apologizing in the same breath. "I walked away because I knew it wasn't your fault I'm sorry for that Vinyl." She finished, and my heart swelled in my chest. I mulched another Grineer without looking as I wiped a tear from my eye. When a thought hit me.
"Hey Octy, you think were committing some sort of war crime by fighting these things?" I asked warily seeing Octy gleefully batting a row of Grineer out of the way. One she had just barely missed turned to run, but she gave chase.
"OH get back here Brass beauty you Tuba blasting bastard!" She leaped into the air and dropped the yellow hammerhead right in his back collapsing its chest with a spray of crimson. She looked at Vinyl with a tsk.
"I'm not a BUZZKILL!" I defended a little hurt. "I'm just saying these are living things you know," I grumbled as I reloaded. Octy laughed which sent tingles to all the right places.
"Please, these things are genocidal clones bent of galactic domination. Plus it's somewhat therapeutic doing this. You know how many times I've fantasized about bashing my cello into a bandmates skull!" She paused and looked off into the distance a bit crazed then shook her head and pointed back at me. "More times then is probably healthy!" She declared. A grineer who leaned against the wall tossed a grenade which Octy batted back. Her grin did things to me. "Ha to delicate for Baseball Father! Am I too delicate for this!" She shouted moving from band issues to parental ones.
"Celestia on a fucking stick your hot!" She looked back at me brushing a loose strained of hair behind her ear, and I died on the spot. A bullet whizzed past me interrupting the moment, and without breaking eye contact with the angel in front of me, I blew him away with a rattle.
"Vinyl we simply must find a way to do this again. Maybe our next date perhaps." She suggested with an excited smile and the fact the words "next," and "date" was in the same sentence put me on the moon. The room was silent, no more gunfire, or shouting, or screaming just Octy and me. She started towards me, and I met her halfway in a nuzzle that turned into a sweet kiss that tasted like victory. A Grineer survivor tried to crawl away on broken legs totally killing the mood. But a quick rat-ta-tat-tat gave us the room again.
Until the Alien Octavia and someone, I didn't know dropped from a vent on the ceiling with guns of there own at the ready.
"Don't worry little ponies were here to..." Alien Octy trailed off looking around at all the dead Grineer and two kissing ponies. My Octy pulled away to wave at the neon blue and white alien.
"Hello Banshee, nice to see you again." She greeted Banshee who looked like she was wearing a simple short dress with thigh high socks and a massive pair of headphones on her head.
"Hello, Octavia." Banshee greeted back in a mature voice.
"Wait Babe is this the pony Octavia you were telling me about?" The alien who will be called Tavi from here on said. Banshee nodded
"I'm assuming this is the Dj you gushed about?" Banshee asked.
"Ya, this is so weird! Why would Suda want..." She trailed off letting her excited hands fall slightly. "I gave Suda the video of Vinyl's show." She realized.
"And I sent Suda the recording of Octavia's solo." Banshee stated simply.
Tavi facepalmed. "This is our fault, isn't it."
Banshee nodded. "It would appear that way Octy."
I bumped my Octy's shoulder "Hey, they have the same nicknames for each other." I pointed out, and Alien Tavi squee'd
"Oh my god, I told you this was some freaky alt dimension stuff." She said excited, and Banshee shook her head.
"We're sorry for putting both of you in danger." Banshee apologized and bowed, Then put her hand on her Octy's back and made her bow too. My Octy smiled.
"I'll tell you, Miss, we'll forgive this little detour on two stipulations."
****
"I can't believe you convinced them to let us keep them!" I gushed to my amazing marefriend as we walked through a space station they called a Tenno relay. Octy's Jet kittag, and my Twin Grakata's as they were actually called were being stored on the ship because weapons weren't allowed. I was admiring the airport like relay when I realized something.
"Aww, babe you interrupted my flashback!" I whined, and Octavia stopped to give me that you're silly look.
"Was that what you were doing? I thought you were just telling me how you ended up here."
"I was I mean I was doing that thing where everything freezes with a record scratch, and the main character goes yep that's me your probably wondering how I got here," I explained holding my front hooves out like I was still holding my Grakata.
Octy giggled "You always liked that trope."
"Ya, and you interrupted before I could explain everything in the middle." I continued to fake pout, as I got back to all fours.
"I was there for those parts Vinyl why would you explain that?" She raised an eyebrow at me.
"I don't know. What if someone was reading it?" I asked, and Octy smiled.
"Then I hope they can use context clues to figure out we got boarded and valiantly fought our way to safety."
I think the word you're looking for is brutally Babe." I joked playfully bumping into her. She couldn't hide her smirk as she rolled her eyes.
"Pick whatever word you want I have a feeling our little adventure qualifies as a filler chapter a bit of fanservice perhaps." She offered with a sly look.
"Oh, we definitely filled a chapter. Probably more than most of the other chapters probably. We filled it with murder." I pointed out again, and Octy merely flicked her mane.
"Everypony must unwind from time to time." She said casually, and I had to stop my jaw from unhinging.
"Babe that's, that's just dark, like Luna's plot dark." I stopped to say wide-eyed.
Octy snorted at my concerned tone. "Oh please I'll buy a therapist will part of the bloody briefcase full of gold were getting paid." Octavia did a hop and a skip. I've never seen Octy this happy.
"Briefcases." I corrected, and Octy spun around on one hoof grinning like a filly. I could get used to happy Tavi. They lead us a door into a pure silver room with a glowing rhombus surrounded by smaller ones. Two more steps and the walls fell away to show endless blue and white. The rhombuses were now huge in front of us. At this point, I thought nothing could faze me until they spoke like a kind old lady.
"Hello, I am Cephalon Suda welcome."
"HOLY SHI-" Thankfully this is the part where Octy shoved her hoof in my mouth.
"What my dear Friend means is thank you we are honored to meet you, Ms. Suda." Octy saved us both and Suda rippled and somehow seemed pleased.
"Have you to sorted your relationship issue?" Suda asked so casually Octavia's jaw dropped, and she tried to sputter a response.
"Um wow I don't mean to be disrespectful but-"
"How the Hell do you know that!" I shoved my own hoof in my mouth, and Tavi gave me a glare.
"Simple really two of my Tenno sent me such beautiful videos of your music," Suda said happy as ever and indeed didn't seem ready to vaporize us on the spot. Both videos popped up in little floating squares. "But I noticed something." The second song I'd played at the club started playing.
"Octy you played our song at your concert?" I felt a tear in my eye.
"when I stormed out I thought I had finally pushed you away." Octavia looked at her hooves.
"One regretful, but together." Suda merged the two together, and it changed into something harmonious. It brought tears to both of our eyes. "Your hearts beat in rhythm together it made me sad to think such a song would end," Suda admitted, and I wiped my eyes.
"Wait what would have happened if this was an issue we couldn't have solved so easily?" Octy asked the hard question, and Suda chuckled
"Then I would have locked you both in this closet till my OTP was canon." Suda looked to her right were a closet door swung open. I grabbed Octavia tightly.
"Nope! were good madly, madly in love right Octy? No need for that." I smiled widely, but Octavia tapped her chin.
"I don't know Vinyl I'm pretty sure there's something we could do in the closet," Octy commented with a sly grin that turned me red, and popped my brain like popcorn. Suda looked between us and the closet then into the distance for a moment then back to us.
"That's lewd... Continue." Suda said with conviction. But Octy shook her head with a smirk.
"I'm merely teasing. I remember being paid for a concert." Octy brought us back to business, and Suda nodded.
"Of course." The giant hologram seemed to be smiling as Suda operatives brought out our equipment. Like the professional she was Octy wasted no time in getting her beloved cello out of its case, and a smile crossed my face as she rosined up her bow. My hooves touched my tables, and I knew this was going to be epic.
)