A Few Good Ponies

Twilight's Castle

1600hrs

“What do you remember?”

Firefly sat at the table, now wrapped in a soft towel, though his red mane was still disheveled and slightly damp. A steaming cup of tea was held in his hooves as he spoke.

His voice was shaky and unsure at first. “I.... was in the Badlands. We had just closed a gate to Tartarus itself.”

He looked over at Sunrise and Lightning.

“I remember you two being there. We were attacked by something...I....I remember our comrades turning on us. I tried to fight back, but I was hit with something. The next thing I remember is waking up here.”

Sunrise spoke up. “It was a unicorn named Multis who attacked us. He controls ponies with some kind of spell. Myself and Private Lightning were the only ones to escape.”

“Still doesn't explain why I was soaking wet.” Replied Firefly.

“That would be our friend Screech over there.” Sunrise gestured. Screech nodded his head humbly in response.

“We left that Badlands and commandeered a train hoping to get back to Canterlot. On our way we were attacked by you along with several other ponies controlled by Multis. Screech was able to incapacitate you and bring you here. You see, he's a tatzlpony. They have a strange way of....protecting ponies by...um....swallowing them.”

“Wait...What? I was inside him?” Replied Firefly, running a hoof through his damp mane with a look of disgust.

“Yes. If it wasn't for his actions we probably would have been forced to kill you.”

“Well then, in that case I suppose I owe you my thanks.” Firefly stated, looking in Screech's direction.

Once again, the tatzlpony nodded his head politely.

“So, how did you remove the curse?” Asked Firefly.

“I can answer that one.” Replied Twilight. “We found out that tatzlponies' magic is unique. They aren't affected by Multis's spell. I was able to isolate that quality and apply it to your magic, like a vaccine of sorts.”

“So we have a cure?” Asked Firefly.

“Yes.....and no.” Replied Twilight. “Though it did work, the spell is far too taxing to use more than once a day, even for an allicorn like me. I doubt any but the most powerful of unicorns would even be capable of attempting it, and without help it would take me months to cure all of the afflicted.”

“Our next course of action should be to get word to the princesses.” Interjected Sunrise.

“I was thinking the same thing.” Replied Twilight. “I'll send a letter to Celestia letting her know of your mission and our progress here.”

“Spike!” She yelled, calling over her assistant. A small purple and green drake. “Take a letter.”

Spike quickly rushed over holding a piece of parchment and a quill. After several minutes of dictating the message to him, he wrapped rolled it up and stamped it with wax seal before sending it on its way with a puff of green flame.

Several minutes later Spike let out a belch and a scroll appeared, falling into his outstretched hand in a gout of green fire. Breaking the seal with a claw, he quickly handed it over to Twilight.

Holding the letter in her magic, Twilight read it aloud.

“My Dear Twilight,

Here at Canterlot we are well aware of the threat Multis poses. Your progress in countering his magic may very well be of great help, and should not be understated. I am also relieved to hear of the return of my guards. Tell them I will be sending over members of the night guard so that they might return to Canterlot as soon as possible. Considering your involvement in all of this, I would like you to join them. Your escort should arrive within the hour.

Take care,

Celestia.”

The next several minutes were spent preparing as the orange glow of the fading sun streamed in through the windows, casting the crystal chamber in an orange glow. Sunrise rechecked his saddlebags as Twilight went about packing her own set, filling them mostly with an assortment of parchment, quills, and bottles of ink.

Spike had showed Firefly to the bathroom as he grumbled something about taking a shower. In the corner Screech sat juggling several apples in his tentacles. Deftly catching each one before tossing it back into the air.

As Sunrise finished packing, Lightning walked over, giving him an affectionate nuzzle before planting a quick kiss on the side of his muzzle.

“Almost home lightning bug.” He nickered, before looking over to see a now clean Firefly glaring at them.

“Heh...maybe not the best choice of bet names.” Sunrise said, awkwardly rubbing his head with a hoof.

“Not to mention fraternization in the ranks. Sergeant.” Firefly said in a serious tone before a smile lit up his face. “I have to admit I never saw you two together.”

A short time later they heard a flutter of wings and the sound of multiple heavy objects landing outside. Hearing the arrival of their ride, the ponies quickly got their gear together and finished their preparations. Screech stopped his juggling, throwing the apples into the air and swallowing them all down at once. Twilight walked over to him, a large wool cloak held in her magic.

“Here, this should keep you warm on the ride over. Plus it should keep away any unwanted attention. Ponies here don't always react well to unfamiliar creatures showing up in town as you probably saw.” She said, draping the thick green cloth over his shoulders.

Screech offered a thankful smile before drawing the hood over his head, obscuring the top half of his face in shadow.

It was now completely dark as they left the castle, noticing a pair of chariots awaiting them on the moonlit grass outside. Each one was pulled by a pair of pegasus guards, though they were no ordinary pegasi. They were dark gray with cat-like amber eyes, leathery bat wings protruding from their dark purple armor.

“We're here on orders to take you to Canterlot Castle, hop aboard!” One of them yelled.

The group quickly hopped aboard the waiting chariots, Lightning, Sunrise, and Firefly getting in one, while Twilight and Screech boarded the other. Once they were all settled the chariots took off. In moments Ponyville turned into a sea of glittering lights as it faded into the distance. As they gained altitude Lightning wrapped a wing around a shivering Sunrise. As a pegasus the icy winds of the night sky didn't bother her as they soared thousands of feet off the ground, and his shivering quickly faded as her soft feathers shielded him from the worst of it.

Meanwhile on the other chariot Twilight attempted to strike up a conversation with Screech, a quill and notepad held eagerly in front of her.

“It's always so exciting to meet a new species!” She squealed. “You don't mind if I ask you a few questions do you?”

Screech shook his head.

She had noticed his cutie mark earlier. A wicker cornucopia overflowing with fruit. “So what do you do? What's your special talent?”

Screech thought for a few seconds before making a pawing motion with his hoof. “Farmer.” He said softly.

Twilight scribbled on her notepad before continuing. “Is that a common thing for tatzlponies to do?”

Screech nodded. “Most.....farm or gather. My species....close to nature.” He replied, almost struggling with each word.

“Are tatzlponies typically this quiet?” She asked.

Again Screech nodded. “Some.....cannot talk at all. We use body language mostly. Our language is also different in some ways. We share words, but many you would not be able to understand. My father was our best speaker. He...traveled when he was younger. Told us many stories.”

“Do the lightning bolts beside your eyes mean anything?”

“No. But they are different for every tatzl.” Screech replied, seemingly growing more confident now that he was being pressed to talk more.

The ride continued like this for a while longer before eventually giving way to silence. The ponies on both vehicles immersed in their own thoughts, only the flapping of wings, the howling of the wind, and the occasional scribble of quill on paper or the creaking of a harness could be heard. Eventually they began to descend, and soon a city came into view. Sticking off the side of a steep mountain, its elegant gold and white spires reflected the moonlight with a gleaming brilliance. Colorful banners waved in the night breeze. The three royal guard ponies took in the sights, motivation stirring in their hearts. Canterlot. They were home.