A Strange But Familiar Place

Scanning over the crowd in the market, no noticeable magical auras stand out. Just the usual uses of magic by Unicorns and slightly magical items. No fur color matches the description of the foal who was brutally used in that ritual. I sigh in disappointment and frustration, expecting to see that pathetic being here to get supplies.

I can't believe that this world holds such evil.. Then again, I only saw what kids should see, not what lies in the background. I suppose I should walk around some more before spending some time with Pinkie Pie. It's been a while since I've done that, I'm sure she either misses me or is worried. Most likely both.

I begin to head towards Sugarcube Corner, when I notice a familiar trio of small ponies heading towards me from the opposite direction. I cant help but smile at their innocence for a split second before having a horrid image of the foals body lying in the room. I find myself building up anger again and sigh before doing a few breathes to calm down.

If something like that were to happen to these three... I don't think I'd be able to control myself. I'd have to be put away before I did something that would make everyone hate me.

"Hey! Devan!" exclaims Sweetie Belle, jumping into my arms that I opened once she ran towards me.

"Hello there Sweetie. I see you've made some friends?" I say with a knowing smile.

"Oh, it's you!" Scootaloo says before giving a smile. "Thanks for telling me that I looked cool, though obviously I know that I am!"

"Did your Auntie tell you to say that?" I reply with sarcasm.

"No! I'm a big filly now, I do what I want." says Scootaloo in an embarrassed huff.

Applebloom walks up to me and stands on two legs leaning up towards my ear. "Yah she did, but don't say nuthin', alright?" whispers Applebloom.

I nod and smile widely in response before putting Sweetie Belle down.

"Alrighty, I'm glad to see you all. How'd you meet though?" I say before sitting on a nearby bench.

Applebloom spoke up first, starting the story. "Well, there's this annoying filly in our class named Diamond Tiara. An she'd always bully us—"

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"And that's how we became... The Cutie Mark Crusaders!" they exclaim, striking a cliche pose.

"Well, well. I'm sure you all will find your cutie marks soon enough now that you're working together!" I say with a laugh, getting up and stretching after such a long story.

Don't remember any insulting of Diamond Tiara and her crying though. Kids do over exaggerate I suppose.

"Did you want to come with us to our headquarters? Sweetie says you don't have a cutie mark." Scootaloo says suddenly in a sly tone while giving Sweetie Belle a smirk.

Sweetie Belle blushes immediately, shaking her head and running off towards what I assume is the tree house.

She saw my butt? Huh.. Pretty sure I've tried my best to wear clothes..

"No thanks, I have other ponies I gotta meet with. Maybe sometime in the future though." I say while ruffling Scootaloo's mane.

"Alrighty, see ya on the farm sometime soon Devan." Applebloom says before running off with Scootaloo in the same direction that Sweetie Belle went.

On to Pinkie Pie.. Good thing I'm not too far away.

I arrive at Sugarcube Corner and before I could even open the door the whole way and say 'Hello' a large pink ball of pony slams into me and knocks me to the ground. Afterwards I could only feel the softest yet most aggressive nuzzling since I've arrived in this world. I hesitate for a moment and begin to run my hand through her mane until she decides to get up, with some tears in her eyes.

"I've been worried about you, dummy." Pinkie Pie says before reaching her hoof out.

I grab it and she helps pull me up and proceeds to pull a cupcake out of no where and push it into my face. It's a simple one with a smile on it. I smile at her and take it from her gently.

I give her a short hug and reply, "Thank you Pinkie Pie. I'll be sure to enjoy it before we talk inside. I'm sure you want to ask me about a lot of things.".

We go inside and sit at a booth in the corner of the small sweets shop. Pinkie Pie looks at me anxiously, then at the cupcake. I chuckle at her obvious want to know my opinion about her baking. I take a small bite after peeling the wrapper back a bit, feeling the complex and sweet flavors rush over my tongue.

The flavor is just amazing... I've never had something this sweet and yet not make my sickened by the taste!

"I could eat something like this everyday..." I say without thinking.

Pinkie Pie looks at me in surprise and gets an immense blush. "You.. You mean it?" she says in a high pitched, almost Fluttershy-esque voice.

I am now in a corner both literally and figuratively. But.. It's true. I would love to eat something like this each day. Just not marry her...

"Yes, I mean it." I say honestly, somewhat hesitating.

Pinkie Pie gives me a look that is a cross between joy and determination before shooting across the room at high speeds, seemingly bouncing off of every unbreakable object she can before landing back in the booth across of me and saluting.

"I'll do it!" she says with a confident face and tone.

"Alright, alright.. Now, anything you wanted to talk about Pinkamena?" I respond with a grin.

"Please, call me Pinkie! Anywayyyyy, yeah! Where were you!?!? I haven't seen any sign of you since the last time I threw a welcoming party! Like... three days ago!" Pinkie says in a huff.

"Well, I met a new friend in the Everfree Forest. Helped an older friend with a problem she had. Visited Princess Celestia and talked with her about a problem I had and took a nice trip underneath Canterlot in the woods." I say, making sure I at least tell some truths.

Knowing her personality and innate trait to detect fake smiles, I had to at least try to be genuine or else she'd just find out. Pinkie is Pinkie after all.

"OOoooohh.. That sounds mostly boring honestly. I much prefer baking and parties and laughing with my friends. But making new friends is GREAT! What're they like? Can I meet your friend? Huh!? HUH!?!?" Pinkie Pie says excitedly, pushing her face close to mine.

I look at her in the eyes and feel my body heat up slightly. She seems to notice this and back away before looking around quickly before getting up.

"I'm gonna get a drink! Be right back!" Pinkie says strangely before disappearing in the back of Sugarcube Corner.

Cute... Wait what?... Jeez, am I getting feelings for... I can't, need to focus on my mission. Especially with the reward they offered me.

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"We do not ask you to protect these lands for nothing of course. We both realize that you may feel some obligation to help us, but I am not the kind of being to deny a reward. If you protect these lands in time of need, from any major threat, we will offer you one thing." Celestia says while looking at her sister, nodding and turning back to the three of us.

Luna walks forward and lifts her chin before speaking. "My sister and I have decided that if you were to protect the inhabitants of this land successfully, you will be granted anything you want within reason."

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I wait for a small moment after reminiscing and Pinkie returns with some drinks, assuredly cider. She smiles at me sweetly and hands me my mug while putting hers on the table in front of her. I take a sip of mine and drown in the amazing taste yet again.

Never gets old huh. Always amazing every time.

Pinkie is just looking in her mug, pushing it back and forth between her hooves slowly.

"Is everything okay Pinkie? You seem distracted." I say with a worried tone.

"No, no I'm fine. Just thinking is all. I've spent only a little time with you, but my silly brain and heart seems to be attached to you. I never got that worried ever! I don't understand it. Is there something wrong with me?" replies Pinkie with a somber tone.

Her hair is getting less... full again.. She must really think that something is wrong with her.

"Well, I'll always be here if you want to talk." I say while placing my hand on her hoof. "Don't forget that."

She smiles at me and begins to open her mouth before the ringing at the door distracts her. Pinkie goes into salespony mode and flies to the register with a giant smile on her face.

Almost got her to talk about it... Damn customers. Oh well, maybe selling some sweets will do—

The pony standing at the register is a mare, one with a white coat and peach spots. her legs all seem fine, but a small, almost black, aura is around one of them. I feel my stomach drop and slow my breathing in order to stop myself from freaking out.

That's her! That's the bitch that hurt Obsidian and killed that innocent family! I want nothing more than to just tear her apart and present her barely alive body to Celestia for further punishment.... But I can't. It was agreed upon to talk to the others if anything is found... I wasn't given any reason to not to capture her though. But how? I have to assume she has the same dark barrier. No knife so perhaps she will use dark magic instead?

The mare just smiles at Pinkie Pie and asks for a couple muffins. I get up and fake a smile as I walk towards her. I notice the muffin she got was blueberry and point at it without breaking my smile.

"Nice choice, I really like that flavor as well. It's been a while since I've gotten one of those though." I say with a fake happiness in my voice.

The mare looks at me and I swear I see an eye twitch for a split second before she smiles back. "Yes, it's my favorite! It has been a while for me too, with my travels." she replies, turning back to Pinkie Pie to pay her.

I wave at Pinkie Pie who waves back before I walk out and head towards the Everfree Forest. I completely feel the mare staring at me from behind while following me.

Please, so predictable. You plan to make sure I die or get a good fight like the crazy mare you are. I won't be as easy this time as before.

I stop after getting to the edge of the forest, making sure I am away from any innocents. I turn around and see her stop and grin at me with the same grin she gave before.

"Well! You found me! Quite quickly as well. I didn't think you had any sort of experience with detection magic but apparently you do! Congratulations, you found the one pony that you shouldn't of. The one who wasn't finishing tossing your lifeless body in a ditch after stabbing it oh SO many times! Too bad I don't have my knife... But this should do." she says reaching her stolen leg out to the side and channeling a spell.

I'm not so stupid as to not do anything. Not this time.

I flick my finger upwards, activating a simple but useful spell that launches a pillar of earth into her chin which sends her flying into the air. She obviously is protected by some barrier due to the lack of a broken jaw, but I suspected that. A she starts to fall, she finishes channeling the magic in her hoof which appears to make a sort of blade out of darkness. I shrug and raise my other hand, forming a dome of rocks around me with a small hole pointed towards her diving towards me. Her eyes seem to get wider but then her grin comes back and she continues to attack me. Waiting until the last moment I make the dome expand outwards in an almost explosive manner, slamming the rocks into her. Her body falls to the ground and I run to it before she can get up, channeling a barrier spell I thought of earlier today and cast it on her. She looks at me with a surprised face and smiles.

"Really? You put a barrier on me? Awh, you shouldn't ha—" she manages to get out before struggling to breathe.

Confusion crosses her face for a split second before she blacks out and I release my spell before channeling another one which wraps her body in a different barrier.

Glad to see that worked or else I would've had to try a lot harder. A barrier that allows carbon dioxide through but not oxygen. I had to place it somewhat outside of her body in case the other barrier would have absorbed it. Good thing too, considering it played out like I thought. Dangerous, and most likely illegal if Celestia were to find out. My second barrier should allow anything to enter but doesn't allow magic to be sent outwards at all. I don't know if it'll work so I should be safe.

I cast another spell, wrapping her body in a thin but sturdy membrane of rock, making sure to keep her head uncovered.

There, almost completely sealed in rock. I feel a bit drained but it's nothing compared to what training with Zecora and Obsidian did to me.

Surprisingly, Giselle arrives in a hurry, creating a small dent in the earth as she lands.

"I've been following very subtle tracks that led back to Ponyville. I came to warn you but saw the outpouring of magic from this area. Where is she!?" Giselle growls before looking at the ground and realizing what had already been done. "You captured her?" Giselle asks with a bit of confusion. "I thought she was supposed to be super powerful?"

"I did too, but it seems that all she did was try to scare me. It seems she underestimated me, though I didn't know if some of my magic would work. I'm glad to see that it did. She should definitely be alive." I say before sitting down next to the murderer. "Time to take her to the guards and tell Celestia, correct?"

Giselle simply nods and grabs onto me as I put my hand on the unconscious, murdering, psychopathic bitch. I think of Celestia, hoping that teleportation will work this way as well. A moment later we are transported to the throne room that is thankfully empty. Celestia is sitting on her throne with a bored look on her face at first, then surprise and concern.

"Who is this?" Celestia says calmly.

"Our prey." I say bitterly.