Elements of Last Resort

by PredictableOffender

Rating: teen
Tags: Adventure, Princess Celestia, Alternate Universe, Princess Luna, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 6382

Dusk Shine, the misequine who is seen as nothing as a disappointment is tasked saving Equestria by gathering a group of eccentric characters.

The Tree of Harmony is feeling a grave evil coming to the land of Equestria it and it needs bearers for the Elements of Harmony. The old bearers were cases purely out of convenience, they were close and they were what was needed to bring about the Princess of Friendship. Dusk Shine is chosen by the Tree of Harmony to weld the Elements of Harmony and go recruit those who most truly represent the elements, no matter how eccentric they may be.

It's unfortunate that Dusk hates everypony and everything.

CAUTION!
Very strong language ahead.

Published 2016-07-29 12:30:01 UTC
Last updated 2017-10-28 05:21:57 UTC

Loyalty

Dusk Shine paced around the room several times, his hoofsteps were the only thing that can be heard in the room along with his occasional grunt of frustration. Dusk could feel the rage growing stronger every time he looked at the clock.

Just before Dusk was going to buck a hole in the wall, he heard the doorbell ring. He launched himself into a sprint and began running his way down the crystal hallways of Ponyville Castle. Powered by rage and excitement he galloped down the hallways until he found himself at the massive double doors of the entrance.

He took a deep breath to try to keep his anger under control. With a steady hoof he opened the door, only not to be surprised by who he saw. It was Ditzy Doo, the retarded mail mare who is carrying a large package. This senile old pegasus had already cost him weeks when she mixed up this package, now she was three days late. Dusk's temper was now just barely out of control, but he managed to keep his mouth shut.

“I'm sorry Duskie the post is just so overrun I could barely keep up.” Dusk chuckles and puts on his best smile.

“I'm sorry you are a little slow but also long it got here I am relieved.” Dusk took the package from Ditzy and slide it behind him. Before he can shut the door and escape this plebe Ditzy opened her stupid mouth.

“Thanks Duskie have a good night!” Dusk sighed as Ditzy took to the sky and flew away.

Dusk wasted no time in getting his package back to his room. He giddily cleared out his desk and grabs his multi-tool and began unwrapping his package. Inside the box was a series of boxes of plastic unpainted scale models he uses to play Rage of War. He bought everything he needed to make a gryphon army. He has a century of infantry, fifty cavalry, a squad of hussars and a Dragonslayer for his hero unit. His infantry were all equipped with the Gryphon Rifle, so his army was smaller but incredibly mobile with all the cavalry he had and the Dragonslayer was the only gryphon hero that can catch up.

He excitedly opens his box of infantry and begins to inspect them. He is already getting ideas on how to paint them. He opens his drawers and starts to prepare his work station for painting. As he starts to pick out what he needs from his hundreds of paints he hears a knock on the door.

“Yeah!” Dusk yells while he gets his paints in order.

“Dusk! Dinners finished!” Spikes loud Dragon voice bellowed from behind his door.

Dusk always hated how his mom would go on and on about him missing dinner so he got out of his chair and headed to the dining room.

Dusk's mom and dad were sitting at the table with Spike bringing a meal of spaghetti and tofu balls. Dusk sighed and took a seat opposite his dad, Winter Roller. His mother Twilight Sparkle was leaning against her husband.

“Spike make sure to get extra for Twi.” Winter says while placing his foreleg around his wife. Twilight slowly relaxes into her husband's embrace.

“It was a really hard day today. So many friendship problems, I don't know what's going on but ponies just can't get along lately.” Twilight groans and leans even more into Winter.

“So how's it going Dusk.” Spike says while handing him a plate of spaghetti. Dusk tries to formulate a response. “I sent a letter to Ember today, it has been too long since we've seen each other.” Spike smiles and continues to serve the family their meals. Dusk tries to speak up again.

“Twilight is there anyway. I can get my vacation earlier?” Spike asks.

“Not until we can tackle the mountain of requests we got, even Starlight is working overtime.” Twilight responds.

“Guess I'll be working even harder than!” Spike then begins to devour his own plate.

Dusk has now forgotten what he wanted to say. He decided to eat in silence.

“Come on, Spike the last thing I want is you to end up like Twilight.” Winter laughed a bit. “It will almost be as hard as the time I took over for Twi when she was pregnant with Dusk.” Winter and Spike erupted with laughter causing Dusk to blush.

“I remember that you, got the idea from me.” Spike replies.

“I still think I made a better princess of friendship.”

“You look better in a dress anyway.”

Spike and Winter laugh again while Twilight sleepy eats with a smile on her face. Dusk watched his family enjoy their meal, but his thoughts were still with his models. His mind was buzzing with the various strategies he could employ against different opposing armies.

“Spike, this is really good.” Twilight absently mindedly said.

“Thanks, Twilight. I bought some spices from Appleloosa and I used them in the sauce.” Spike replies.

“Really getting a use out of your wings hung Spike. Me and Dusk are jealous.” Winter says, he looks to Dusk for a reply but Dusk just nods his head.

Dusk managed to make the rest of the meal without saying a word. He was soon free to spend the night painting.

~~~

Dusk awoke the next morning sleep deprived, his alarm clock screamed at him. He uses his magic to toss his sheets aside and silence his alarm clock. The morning birds sang their annoying songs, he rolls out of bed and onto his floor.

He was a born Prince so he does not have to work, but he has something important to do today. He looks to his suitcase that is peeking out from his closet door. Through sheer force of will he rose to his hoofs and began his way to his suitcase. He picked it up and make his way outside.

Dusk tried his best to ignore the citizens of Ponyville as he makes his way to the train station. Dusk was in a great mood and nothing can bring him down. He happily trotted down the street until he reached the station.

Ponyville Station had recently been upgraded with a new line of track and a new station, the area was packed with commuting please ponies. Walked into the station and began to wait, it was not too long until the unthinkable happened. He saw a pink mare about his age on the station opposite him, it was Cotton Candy.

Cotton could not recognize him or his day would be ruined. Dusk quickly casts an attention void around him, this would make him blend into a crowd. Dusk knows Cotton can still notice him so he retreated back into the crowd. Dusk hid out for a quarter of an hour than his train comes. Dusk hurries his way on, and gets his ticket punched.

It was a short train ride to Canterlot for Dusk, he was still a little annoyed because of his package coming late. Dusk knew today he was going to have a great day because he had already evaded Cotton. The train begins the climb to Canterlot.

The train ride ends and Dusk are in Canterlot, he rushed his way out of the station and into the city. He had memorized the way by heart and deftly navigated the medieval building of Canterlot. Dusk breathed in the thin mountain air and forged his way to his destination.

Dusk found himself in an old family house, the house where his old friend Shatter Shell lives. He trotted up to the door and gave it a good knock, Shatter Shell immediately answered and Dusk almost whacked him in the head.

Shatter Shell was a beige unicorn stallion with hay colored hair and golden eyes. Shell and Dusk jump and hug each other. The pair excitedly moves into the living room. Shatter Shell had prepared a small mock battlefield on a collapsible table. The battlefield was the castle of the two sisters in its current ruinous state. Dusk takes his Lunar Rebel Army out and Shell takes his Changeling Army out. The two of them set up their models in formation and they were ready to play Rage of War.

Dusk knew Shell can hide his drones whenever he so he planned to rush his Earth Pony groups into the ruins as fast as he can. He got his Pegasi Cavalry move towards above them on the roof of the castle. He had some rare heavy Unicorn Infantry, Dusk decided to keep them in reserve behind his Earth ponies. He had other units which he had formed up around the courtyard in a defensive line. Dusk writes down all the movements in his game notebook and Shell did the same. When they take their simultaneous turns Shell moved into his entire swarm upon the roof, Dusk was outmatched and they were not in range so he wasn’t worried. The next turn has Dusk move his Pegasi back while his Infantry take the center of the castle, he has his archers prepare to shoot through the holes in the ceiling at the enemy swarm.

The next turn rolls over and two rushers charge ahead and catch Dusk’s Pegasi easily, the dice are rolled and Dusk takes some losses. The rest of the Swarm rush into the holes in the roof, Dusk’s men have successfully held them back. The next turn has Dusk’s Pegasi block the holes in the roof and trap the swarm in the building with the assistance of his mages. The game dissolves into micromanaging their units and Dusk is slowly gaining a lead until they both realize they have been playing for four hours straight. They decided to stop for a break and Dusk ordered Pizza, Shell calls and Dusk pays.

“Magic school was honestly such horseshit.” Dusk says out of the blue as the duo lazily sit in the living room.

“Come on now Dusk it wasn’t that bad”

“No no no it was shit, terrible and horrible. When I was done highschool I just wanted to stop.”

“Dusk why are you talking about this, that was a year ago.”

“It’s just being back in Canterlot, maybe it made me remember things, that and I nearly dodged having to deal with Cotton Candy.”

“What does that do with Canterlot?”

“Just seeing her puts me in a bad mood, I can't get the sight of me kicking her off a cliff out my my head.”

“Dusk am I your only friend?” Shell earnestly asks.

“Plenty of ponies consider me a friend.”

“What do you consider them.”

“Shut the buck up Shell.”

“No answer me Dusk I’m worried for you.”

“For me or about me?”

“Dusk.”

“Fine, I don’t care whatever. I have like two other friends, Spike and maybe Brilliant Cut but that’s it.”

“Okay I was worried about for a while, you never get along with anyone.”

“You sound like Mom.”

“She’s the Princess of Friendship, I’m surprised she does not bother you more.”

“She says I take after my Dad.” Dusk shifts around. “She also says I am like her when she was younger.”

“I’m having trouble imagining like her like you.”

“Shut the buck up Shell.”

The doorbell rings and Dusk opened the door to see a pink mare in front of him, she has green eyes and pink coat, she had Cotton Candy for a cutie mark. Her mane was straight and mid length and ends in a fuzzy, curly and cute little tufts. Dusk feels rage at the pit of his stomach, he tries his best to keep himself under control, but he failed and slamed the door in her face.

“Owie!”

“Why are you here! Why in the overloving pile of all that is horrid are you here!” Before dusk could think of another thing to scream he heard a squeaking sound from inside the house. The mare jumps through a window and skips up to him.

“Well, I felt my tail shake like a fwuapa flop and I knew that meant I had to find Dusk because he needs my help!”

“I never need your help.” Shell decides to leave the room.

“Anyway, anyway, so the Princess told me to go find you because something bad is about to happen and then she told me she can’t find you because the tree and only summon those that touched the Elements of Harmony or something serious like that and she was like FIND DUSK NOW! So I remembered when I went to the train station to see you and then I remembered when you said not to talk to you when you look like you don’t to be talked to anyway you were already smiling so I said to myself I have nothing to do if you are already happy!” Dusk did not understand a work of what she said.

“Okay Cotton slowly, why are you here.” Dusk says “I know you're an idiot but slowly this time.” Dusk adds.

“Okay Dusk..” Cotton says, almost oblivious to Dusk’s jab at her. “Your Mom needs to see you, she says it’s something important.”

“Well, she can go buck herself, then I’m staying here.”

“Dusk this Important!”

“No.”

“Please.”

“No.”

“Duuuuusskkk please this is like Elements of Harmony Important.” Dusk is shocked by her words.

“So you are not lying this time.”

“Yes. Duskie I would never lie to you.”

“What about that time you...”

“WAIT! Dusk okay I Pinkie swear I am not lying.”

“Okay than do it.”

“Cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye.” Cotton Mimes out the action, putting a lot of drama into the needle part.

“That’s Dark Cotton.”

“I promise you Dusk I’m not lying.”

“Alright let’s go home then.”

Author's Note

So it begins.

I honestly thought I would have something to say here other than it's 5am and I should be going to bed.

Canterlot Part 0

Cotton Candy felt herself sleeping in what felt like a marshmallow, she was surrounded in softness and she felt like a baby in a crib. Cotton tried to open her eyes, but all she says was purple, she smelled lavender. She moved around in the blankets and soon finds a purple hoof, she tosses off the sheets and opens her mouth.

“Dusk! I totallyyyyy.” Cotton cut herself off when she saw that the hoof belonged to Twilight. “Sorry Mrs. Sparkle.” Twilight groans and moves slightly.

“Good morning Cotton Candy, you probably want to talk to Dusk.” Twilight suddenly jerks herself awake. “I am so proud of you too!” Twilight groggily exclaims.

“What did I do?”

“I think it would be best if Dusk tells you.” Twilight yawns and rests herself by on the foot of the bed. “I am tired.”

Cotton lifts herself out of the bed, she looks around to find see the wall was plastered with posters and there are two desks filled with small figurines. The room is very clean and very neat and Cotton quickly realized she was in Dusk’s room, she now feels a little sad that the sheets were freshly cleaned. Cotton looked to her side and saw that Twilight had fallen asleep. Cotton got up and looked under Twilight, there was a roll of gauze, with a pair of scissors and a bottle under her, under Twilight there was a tray of with pills on the ground.

Cotton looks walked over to one of Dusk’s desks. This desk was covered in a number of different soldier looking figures, there was a box of what she thought was more figures. Two more boxes were on the ground under the desk, Cotton looked at the boxes to see images of Gryphon soldiers preparing for battle. This was exactly the kind of thing she imagined Dusk would be in. She looks to a clock to find that the time was ten-fifteen in the morning, deciding to take her time she sits herself down at Dusk's desk. She looks at the array of paint that had hastily put down, a half painted figure of a gryphon is in the center of the desk caught Cotton's attention.

Cotton walks her way out of Dusk's room and into the halls of the Crystal castle, she realized this is the first time she had been inside for a very long time. Cotton had been in here once before, but she tried not to think about it. She had hurt Dusk before, but that was before she fell in love with him and she was a child, foals can be way too cruel.

She wandered the crystal halls until she ran into the intimidating dragon named Spike. He was at least twice the size of a grown stallion but ultimately harmless. The giant purple dragon looked at him and spoke in an excitable voice.

“Hi, you must be Cotton Candy. Dusk told me everything that happened, I would love to stay and chat, but we are very busy and I need Twi. Dusk in the map room! Bye!” The massive lizard then rushed his way down the hall.

Cotton assumed that she was on the first floor only to get lost again and discover that she was on the third floor. After opening every door Cotton Candy soon gave up and sat on the ground. Only then she noticed a dull headache and a slight dizziness in her head.

“Dusk help me, I'm lost!” Cotton felt light headed.

A door opens right beside her and Dusk walks out, he looks at her with his deep oceanic eyes and offers her a hoof.

“You need some more painkillers, and try not to touch mysterious glowing things please. The last thing I want is to drag a corpse for an entire day.” Cotton could feel the scolding he was giving her and she felt a little more guilty.

~~~

Glamor Style was trotting down the streets back from the schoolhouse with her friends Cotton Candy and Golden Grain. The three young foals were making their way into the town, they had a little problem with a prince to deal with. Glamor had always thought of herself as a princess, but she was shattered when her obvious choice of colt rejected her. Glamor was furious and she needed to make Dusk Shine hers no matter what and if she rejects him, he would have to understand that he was beneath her.

She had devised a trap and she was going to lure him in with Cotton Candy. Cotton was dumb but well meaning and she was the perfect mare for the job. Glamor sent Cotton off to the Crystal Castle to go get Dusk to come to Sugarcube Corner with whatever stupid promise she could make. Glamor had a goal and she had to make it happen.

Once she was at Sugarcube Corner she knew she had everything ready, Glamour sent Golden off with to ready her backup plan. Golden was easy to play because all she wanted was popularity and attention. She took a seat at a table for two that you could see easily see from the entrance.

Meanwhile, outside Sugarcube Corner Cotton was being berated by Dusk yet again. Cotton could not remember what she had gotten wrong, but Dusk was in a rant anyway. The pair walked into Sugarcube corner Dusk froze and turned to leave.

“Glamor!”

~~~

Dusk sighed heavily as he tended to the bandages around Cotton’s head. A few more moments of fitting and Dusk was finished.

“How did you not notice you were wearing a bandage on your damned head?” Dusk questions while he leaves to go get more medicine.

“Although this is more evidence to my theory that the elements mess with your brain.” Dusk grabs a pill bottle from a cabinet and returns to the kitchen table.

“You drank all your water.” Without saying anything Dush refills her water.

“So Duskie are you feeling okay? “ Cotton says after she downs her pill.

“Not really, I spent most of the time hauling you back here. Only thing wrong with me are the sore muscles from hauling you all the way back here. That and the glowing ball things from the box keeps zapping me ”

“ Glowing things?”

“I was just being a dick.”

“Okay Duskie time to cook us some breakfast!” Cotton says with a sudden burst of energy.

“Alright, I’ll help out.”

“No! I want to do this on my own.”

“You're hurt dumbass.”

“And I owe you.”

Dusk didn't say anything he only sat down at the table and started reading the news. Dusk read some stupid opinion piece about a stupid subject. Dusk then read about an argument in town hall, it was a dumb issue that no one should care about. Dusk read a few more stories before Cotton emerged from the kitchen wearing a frilly purple apron that used to be Dad’s.

“This one is yours. This one is mine.” Places down plates of delicious smelling lemon pancakes, Dusk quickly digs into the plate. His mind started blocking out all other senses just to focus on what he was shoved into his mouth.

When Dusk was lost in the sensation of his breakfast, he felt something warm and soft pressured against his cheek, his face flushed when he realized what had happened. His expression quickly changed to a mischievous grin and he turns in his chair Cotton Candy had kissed his cheek and answered so many questions.

Dusk looks over to Cotton, her face is very flushed and she was shaking, she looked like she was about to explode. Dusk takes a deep breath and prepares opens his mouth to speak, he knows what he is about to say is a mistake but he has planned.

“Want to go on a date with me in Canterlot?”

Canterlot Part 2: Revalations, Reloaded, ReImagined

Author's Note

I kind of rushed this in order to get back into the swing of things here.

I may or may not be back

Canterlot Part 2: Revalations, Reloaded, ReImagined

Cotton stares intently at the bizarre multi sided box, one purple side is open and a pink side glowing. Dusk looks over and sighs to himself and looks over. The rest of the train does not seem to have noticed the two ponies messing with the small crystalline magic box, that they found in a cave.

“Why don’t you try touching it again?” Dusk questions.

“It’s really hurt last time.”

“Please.” Dusk said half-heartedly said.

“Okay! But only because you said please.” Cotton lunged her hoof forwards and a flash of pink light consumed the entire train car. The box flies out of Dusk’s hooves and out of sight.

When the light died down Dusk saw that Cotton was knocked unconscious so he sighed again and reached for a bottle of water. He absently mindedly opened the bottle, after he heard the familiar gust of air Dusk then took a chug from the bottle. Dusk barely downs the water before a horrible taste overcomes his mouth, he barely kept himself from spitting the stuff out there. Spring Water. It was spring water, no matter where Dusk goes, he cannot escape the horrible elixir of pain and suffering. Dusk looked into the little fridge beside their pair of chairs only to find that it was filled with spring water, only Spring water.

“Loyalty.” Cotton moans barely awake.

Dusk wonders if that means he had just found his second Element of Harmony, unconscious and muttering an element name is similar to what happened to him. In in fact the mare beside him is an anomaly in her own right, it is most likely genetic or some proximity factor.

Dusk suddenly remembered the box and in a mad panic the stallion quickly searched the bench for the box. He found it with another side open.

Cotton shifts around in her seat, she opens her eyes and looks up at Dusk she faintly smiles. Dusk exhales, starts to plan out what is going to have to explain to her than Cotton flops over and shuffled over to his side of the bench. Cotton leans completely into him and wraps her hooves around him, Dusk looks back to see that the other ponies on the train car are staring at him.

Duck accepts his fate while the train dutifully ascends to Canterlot.

Once the train Stops Cotton had woken up, but she was quieter than usual, Dusk wonders whether or not she remembered what element she had been assigned. Either way there was much to be done in Canterlot and Dusk had to find a place to get started. He left for Canterlot because the last thing he wanted to do is both burden his mother with more work and endure more of her lectures. As intelligent as she is, she has to be the most boring pony on the earth when it comes to teaching, it is like if a textbook came to life,

The train finally arrived at its destination and Cotton was in the same foggy haze Dusk was on the way back from the Tree. Cotton Candy refused to take her own suitcase so Dusk had to take hers and he almost had to frag her out of the car. Every other pony on the train car, stared at Dusk and quite a few kept their distance, Dusk had long ago gotten used to things like this so he easily kept his mind off them.

Dusk lead Cotton to a familiar area near the Canterlot Castle, it was his old dorm. This dorm building had been his mother's a generation earlier and apparently that is where her adventure started and this is where Dusk has planned to run his operation. He should be able to put Cotton to sleep safely and be able get to his work. Dusk quickly fished his old keys from his bag, this property is technically Princess Celestia’s but his family are the only users. He

Dusk tossed Cotton Candy on his old couch and quickly left the building.

~~~

Cotton found herself waking up again in a new building, she looked around to find a clue as to where she was. The last thing she remembered was agreeing to go somewhere with Dusk but she can’t remember why, of course the only thing she remembered was Dusk. Cotten let out an exasperated breath and got up to look for Dusk.

She looked around the room to see tall bookshelves on either side of her and a giant window with a view overlooking what she assumed was Canterlot. There is a coffee table in the middle of the room that is completely covered in messy placed papers. Out of curiosity Cotton rolled out of the couch and towards the table, once she arrived at the table, she wondered if she could have some more time than last time to snoop around Dusk’s things. She cursed herself for having jumped to that conclusion, she wondered if this house even belonged to Dusk.

She picked up a large untitled book in the middle of the table, she opened the book and looked inside to discover that it is a schedule inside. The first day was seven years ago on September 3rd, she wasn't ready for all the text he has written. Each weekday had an incredibly detailed plan of events for that week, it was planned down to the quarter hour but the weekend was completely blank. Cotton quickly flipped through the pages, but found nothing on any of the weekends and all the weekdays where twelve hours of school work, the book ends on May eleventh of the next year. The book for the next school year was the exact same as the first.

Cotton Candy looking though the books until she found something written in the Third of December on Dusk’s last year of high school. It was a note written “See Shatter Shell about the game if I have the time.”. A game called Rage of War is mentioned the next weekend, then he scheduled a trip to a game store and the week after that he scheduled a game with Shatter Shell the next weekend. Before Cotton could read anymore, she heard a knock on the door so in a blind panic, she stuffed all the agenda’s into her bottomless bag, she could read all of those later.

Cotton trotted over to the and peeked out the peephole to see a group of three refined looking stallions waiting on the other side. They looked harmless enough so she decided to open the door.

~~~

Dusk should have expected this, but it didn't hurt to try, but Strategic Games had run out of the new terrain models. Although Dusk was pretty sad to have to leave his favorite game store so soon although he was already thinking of new excuses to come back. Dusk sighed to himself because he knew he had to get back to work soon enough or the world will get blown up or something dramatic like that. He turns himself around and prepares to go back home and the purple stallion quickly trots back to his home in Canterlot. Dusk had never spent much time at home in Ponyville because his mother had shipped him off to Canterlot at a young age. Canterlot was his home not that hectic little town.

After an uneventful stroll home Dusk opened his home door to be met by a hoof to the face. Dusk tried to launch his secret move, but he felt another pony grab his horn in order to stop him from using his magic. Dusk tried to struggle but all he achieved was falling to the ground and bringing his assailants with him. A quick scan of the room reveals three stallions and a mare.

Canterlot Part 3: Recollection, Revamped, Relocated, Recreated.

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Honesty

Dusk ears are hurting, the normally loud sound of the train passing along the rails was being bleated over by Cotton Candy’s babbling. Dusk had long since learned to ignore her rambling, she rarely stayed on the same topic for long and all he could make of it is that she loved sweets. He honestly wonders how she is not three hundred pounds overweight. Her rambling slowed down until he felt a silence in the air followed by a yawn.

Cotton Candy stretched herself out and and wrapped her forelegs around Dusk, he turns around to see that she had fallen asleep. She is now completely leaning into him the way mom was yesterday Dusk tried to push her back into her own seat but she was holding on to him too tightly. Dusk put more strength into pushing her away, he managed to push her back to her normal seating position. Dusk let out and extended groan and leaned into the window.

After a peaceful train ride later Dusk was more relaxed but he has a mental list of things to do, finding out what mom even wants was in the top. The train stops and Dusk found himself stuck between Cotton and the hallway, he manages to sneak over her. Dusk is annoyed he had to leave his suitcase at Shatter Shell’s place but is Cotton is not lying he had more important things to do. Dusk paused for a moment wondering if he should wake up Cotton Candy, he decided to shake her with his hoof. The other ponies trying to get off the train walk past Dusk and almost knock him away a few times before Cotton moves.

“Hurry up Cotton or the train leaves with you.” Dusk says before walking away.

Dusk exits the train with nothing on him and no pony with him. He always forgets how much this town smells like farm, the smell of shit is nothing all round him. Dusk wonders why he even agreed to come back home anyway, he hates this place the ponies are way too friendly and are always prying on his business. The place also smelled like an outhouse for animals.

Dusk walks alone down the streets, Cotton Candy must have fallen asleep again and the train left with her. Dusk knows they probably kicked her off and she is looking for him somewhere, despite she was the one that told him where he is going. If cotton Candy lied he is going to kill her.

Dusk finds himself back home around noon, he uses his magic to push the door open and immediately smells company.

“Dusk! Thank goodness come we have sooo much to discuss.” Twilight says.

“What is it mom, what can be this important?”

“I don’t know, it's just that the Tree of Harmony was trying to summon you.”

“What I thought it could only summon bearers of the elements.”

“It was showing your cutie mark on the map, all I knew was that you in Canterlot.”

“But what do I have to do?” Twilight smirk when Dusk said that.

“You can try asking it, but to do that we might have to go to the Everfree. I’ll get some supplies and the girls.” Twilight says then wanders off into the castle.

Dusk walked over to the map in the middle of the main hallway. Dusk has always wondered why mom started taking orders from this map. He saw a glowing hologram of his cutie mark floating over ponyville. Dusk wonders how this thing even knows where he is, unless Cotton really knew where he was. In curiosity Duck decides to touch the map.

Dusk starts to feel a weird sense of euphoria, he felt like he was attached to the source of all wisdom in the world. Dusk feels himself lost balance and he wanders aimlessly around the area with little to nothing in his brain.

“Yeah mom we have to go to the Everfree right now, do you remember where you put the elements?”

~~~

Dusk groaned and fried the seventy seventh mosquito he has had to kill during this annoying trip, the fact that Mom made him do it is the only reason he even agreed. Cotton Candy was the only other pony the came along with them, mom thought there was a sense of urgency to everything.

“Mom you do know the tree summons to do completely pointless things too.” Dusk groans.

“I’m with Duskie we could have at least spent more time preparing.”

“It was because you got lost dumbass.”

“Duskie.....”

“Oh shut up.”

Twilight giggles while the group moved onwards into the Everfree, Dusk added significantly to his mosquito kill count along the way. The group arrived at the abandoned castle in the Everfree, Dusk quickens his pace and runs his way into the castle alone. Before Dusk could take the scenery in Twilight pushes him forward through the castle. Cotton Candy happily trot behind the two, Dusk has seen this place before but it never ceases to catch his attention. Dusk always wondered why Celestia would abandon a perfectly good castle, besides fixing this place does should be easy to restore. On that topic the Castle map was pretty similar to the map he was playing earlier, although much more of the roof has fallen in.

Dusk gallops ahead and out a door, he finds himself on the ridge of the ravine. Dusk looks around the ravine, roots and vines are hanging down into the depths of pale stone. Dusk looks around and sees a staircase cut from the stone, he looks where the stairs lead and he decides to jump. One fallbreaker spell later and Dusk finds himself in front of a strange wooden door, it looks like something out of a fairy tale.

“You have to be kidding.”

Dusk pushes the door open with his hoof and enters the room beyond. The first thing he saw what he assumed to be the tree of harmony, its crystal body and the white lights growing off it like leaves. There were gems at the end of the 6 branches but two had colored lights radiating from them one purple and the other pink. More importantly there was a structure in the middle that resembled Twilight Sparkle’s cutie mark.

“Is there any reason why you could not get mom to do whatever you need to do?” Dusk soon realized he was yelling at a tree.

He turned around to see that the others had caught up with him, the two mares run up to embrace him. The two thought he has fell off the cliff and neither one know he has the ability to use his fallbreaker, despite he invented it and told Twilight about it. Twilight hasn’t really studied magic and Starlight makes her look like a child in magical ability alone. Dusk then felt a slight surge of magic appear behind him he turns around to see a vine that had grown near his foot, there is a large unbloomed flower at the end of the vine. It looked wilted than Dusk realized he was standing in it, after he moved the vine moved the flower to his face. The pedals opened up to reveal a hexagonal box with six locks on it.

Dusk reached out a good to touch it, when he made contact his mind went blank. Dusk felt like he was one with nature and all life, he understood all their emotions and their thoughts. When the brief moment of enlightenment ended Dusk muttered to himself.

“Honesty.”

“OMGDuskieyouweresosososooocool! Your eyes were glowy and there were magicalribbomstwirlingaroundyou!” Cotton Candy leapt on him and hugged him as tight as she could.

~~~

Cotton Candy held onto Dusk as long as she could, she could smell the pomegranate scent of his mane. Dusk used his strength to peel her off of him, Cotton looked back at him and can't help her face from getting a little redder.

“Hold this for me Cotton.” Dusk says before passing her the box.

When Cotton takes it her mind goes blank, and she loses her balance. She felt like she was one with everything in the moment before she hit the ground.

Author's Note

Whep accidently left the title as Loyalty.