Chapter 36: Color Confusion

(Art by Panda)

"Feels a lot different this time," Mia observed, sitting next to me in the back seat.

"You can say that again," James replied. He steered our SUV through the streets, carefully avoiding the seemingly suicidal pedestrians who simply jumped off the curbs without paying any attention whatsoever. Many pointed and stared at our unusual vehicle after we drove past.

"I must apologize again for your unfortunate treatment," Captain Rango said uncomfortably, sitting in the front seat by James. He looked quite nervous, but Cadance had insisted he sit up there because he was bigger than any of us, and it would have been a bit of a squash to have him back here. I ended up in the middle between the two pink-haired troublemakers, and as a result I'd been casually fondled and stroked for most of the trip. Which wasn't nearly as bad as it sounds, truth be told.

"Please stop apologizing," Cadance insisted. "It's starting to get awkward. I wouldn't have accepted you as our guide if I felt ill will towards you. As it is, you kept me from getting slapped earlier, and I sincerely thank you for that."

"Y-yes ma'am." Rango still looked intensely uncomfortable. "The rape talk, though. It was uncalled for-"

"And you dealt with that as well," Mia said. "No hard feelings, man. It takes more than a few nasty threats from some goon to make me lose my cool."

"You are admirably resilient young ladies," Rango observed, seeming to relax a bit.

"Maybe you could answer a few questions?" I asked, slapping at Cadance's naughty hoof when it tried to sneak between my legs again.

"Uh, certainly, ma'am. Ask away."

"Can you tell us what happened to the Storm King?"

Rango visibly shuddered. "I would rather not, if you don't mind. It's kind of, well, I think Commander Tempest would prefer to tell you herself."

I shared a quick glance with Cadance, who shrugged slightly. "Okay, I'll let it wait. Maybe you could tell me a little bit about the security situation here? Like in general?"

Rango tapped his jaw. "Well. I guess that would be okay, to an extent. I mean, Commander Tempest did say to treat you as friends." He stared straight ahead for a bit, then continued. "I wasn't so high ranking when the Storm King was in charge, and I wasn't privy to all the gossip. I do know something happened a few weeks ago, and almost overnight the fringes of our domain were besieged by all manner of strange and terrifying beasts."

That roughly correlated with the opening of the Oblivion Gates, which was pretty much as I'd expected all along.

"They terrorized the countryside, completely destroying the smaller towns and killing hundreds. The survivors moved inwards to the bigger cities where the military defenses were stronger. Even so, we are having difficulty keeping the creatures at bay. Some nights it's relatively quiet, other nights they rampage and kill, coming out of the darkness before anyone know what's going on, and wreaking havoc."

"They attack your perimeter?" Cadance asked.

"Perimeter?" Rango chuckled mirthlessly. "What perimeter? Oh, I mean there is security around the city, but lately it's as if they don't even care. They just appear places. Sometimes right in the middle of the city. It's becoming harder and harder to protect our citizens. In fact, we've been encouraging the populace to arm themselves. Guns, swords, even a club if it's the best you can do. Anything is better than nothing."

"A wise policy," James told him. "Armed citizens are already on the scene when something happens."

"Indeed. It's been quiet for a few days," Rango continued. "Which means we're probably overdue for a big attack. And it's not just us, but the surrounding countries as well."

"They only attack at night?" I asked.

"Yes. They don't seem to like the sun very much, although I'd be careful in any shadowy places, like the woods, or basements. And here we are again," he finished, waving an arm at the castle.

James pulled into the courtyard, and Rango indicated a place to park. We disembarked and went to the rear to unload our cargo while Rango called over some guards, who eventually brought us a cart.

I loaded the crates onto it with my telekinesis. Both James and Mia are fit and strong, but naturally my magic and sturdy frame make me the best choice to perform forklift operations.

"That's the last one," I said, gently disengaging my magic on the final box. "What's in this thing, anyway?"

"Some weapons and a few presents for Tempest Shadow," James replied. "Hey, wait a moment." He popped a box and shuffled around inside. "Captain Rango, something for you." He held out an older model phone. The thing had limited range, but I knew it would interoperate with our ARHUDs. "That way we can communicate if we need to."

Rango held the phone up curiously. "Ah. This is a very advanced technology," he muttered, poking at the holographic touch screen. "Very interesting."

"Keep it so we can get ahold of each other," James said. "I'll set up a few wireless chargers in the castle."

"Thank you." Rango was still fascinated by the phone, swiping and sliding at the icons. "Ah. How about this?"

My message indicator beeped.

• HELLO! - Rango

• Hi there! I replied quickly.

He grinned. "This is great. How far can it work?"

"As long as the ad-hoc network has reception. Just keep an eye on these bars here. And this is your battery meter, it's pretty important too."

"Wonderful machine!"

"Just wait till you get Internet out here," I said.

"What?"

"Ohhh, long explanation, I'll tell you later."

"Very well. Let's get your things situated."

The four of us followed Rango and the guards while they pushed the cart inside the castle. Captain Starchaser and the crew of the Pride of Equestria had elected to remain in their small but comfortable cabins while she was at berth. They were free to roam the city if they should so desire, but Captain Starchaser had made sure they would use the buddy system and check in with him first, in case of trouble or emergencies.

"I don't want to be searching for one pony who wandered off and got mugged," he'd announced. "You'll go everywhere in pairs, and don't go too far."

Meanwhile, we were being boarded at Tempest's castle.

"Kind of a dreary place," Cadance said softly as we walked through many empty stone halls.

"It does feel a bit empty," James agreed.

Rango overheard them. "Yes, well, not too long ago, it was full of all manner of tapestry, statue, and rare treasure, all stolen by the Storm King. Commander Shadow has since been returning these heirlooms and curiosities to their rightful owners."

"The Commander seems somehow different from what I would have expected," Cadance observed. "I wonder how she came to place herself in charge. She doesn't seem the type to desire political power."

"Don't misjudge her," Rango said. "She was a military leader only. She never asked to be in charge of the citizens. But, without the Storm King, several countries were left rudderless and confused, including our own. We were not ready to defend ourselves without his guidance. There was a summit of multiple nations, and it was agreed that Commander Shadow would be given ultimate control over our militaries, and indeed, in Silenia, she is basically our queen as well, although she will be very angry if anyone addresses her as such. She doesn't want power. I wholeheartedly believe she just wants to protect us all from the looming creatures of darkness. That's why we have an Equestrian mare leading the people of Silenia. Because she truly cares, and she has the experience to be effective. She has already been a fairer and better person than the last."

"May the name of the Storm King be forgotten in history, and Commander Tempest remembered in his stead," one of the other guards said. "He brought naught but war and sorrow to our nation. Maybe it would seem Commander Tempest, as a foreigner and his former right hand assistant, is an odd choice to replace him, but she watches over us, and she has our full support." The other nodded in agreement, as did Captain Rango.

"I tend to believe you," Cadance replied. "She seems straightforward."

"And here are your rooms," Captain Rango announced, halting before a large door. "The finest in the castle, I might add. They were the Storm King's, although a few changes have been made since. There are connected servant's quarters, as requested, so that your bodyguards can be nearby."

"I thank you kindly," Princess Cadance said sweetly.

"Where is Commander Shadow's room, then?" Mia asked curiously.

"She appreciates a less frivolous and more practical lifestyle."

"I see," Mia nodded.

"The Commander has extended her invitation to a private dinner for you and your companions," one of the other guards added in the ensuing pause.

"That is most kind of her. We will attend," Cadance smiled.

"If you require my services, I shall be nearby," Captain Rango said in parting. "You can message me on this most amusing device, I suppose?" He held up the cellphone.

"Yes, and thank you again for your time and trouble."

With a quick but respectful bow, the Silenians left, closing the door behind them.

"Well, this certainly beats spending the trip in chains," James chuckled, looking around the fancy room.

"I'm taking a look at these 'servant's quarters,' Mia muttered, pulling her boots and socks off. She padded across the thick carpet in her bare feet, going past the enormous bed and heading for one of the closed doors. I tagged along behind, curious. She opened the door and turned on the electric lights. "Hmm. Nice bathroom," she observed, stepping in and standing next to the large stone in-floor pond that apparently served as a tub. Steam gently drifted up from it.

"Servant's quarters," she mumbled again, closing that door and heading to another. Beyond was a smaller room, much like an upscale hotel. The weapon rack, service bell, and equipment shelves made it obvious this was what she had been searching for. "Hmm, rather nice, actually," she said.

Cadance reached near the head of the large bed and yanked a rope. The bell tinkled in the room Mia was in. "Ho, Service!" she called. "I require a hoof massage. With a happy ending."

"Right away, ma'am!" Mia called, returning. "Just as soon as I change into something more suitable."

She unceremoniously shoved her weapons onto a shelf and stripped to her underwear, then crawled up on the bed beside Cadance.

"I was in jest," the Alicorn princess protested weakly as Mia tugged her boots off and began squeezing her hooves. "I mean, it feels good, but you don't have to, ahhhh- oh my goodness! Ah, you don't have to do this, uhhh, I mean..."

"Be careful what you ask for, Goldilocks," Mia purred, leaning down and giving Cadance a teasing lick on her thigh.

"Oh! Uhhh. So good."

"Relax when we can, I guess," I said with a shrug, crawling up to lay on the bed without even bothering to take my clothes off. "Goldilocks, you said? For some reason I always think of Cadance's hair as pink. With gold and purple highlights."

"What about gold with deep pink and purple highlights?" Mia asked innocently.

"Or purple with maroon and yellow highlights?" Cadance asked, even more innocently. "Look at this." She fluffed her mane with a forehoof. "Deep colors, see? That's not exactly pink. Really, my sexy body is the only part that's standard, regular pink." She patted her chest and wiggled on the bed.

Mia leaned over and compared some of her own vibrantly colored hair to Cadance's mane, stretching them both out in her hands. "I don't know, this part of yours is really close to my hot pink."

"I guess," Cadance semi-agreed with a degree of reluctance. "How about yellow-gold with hot pink-slash-purple highlights?"

I groaned and put my hooves over my face. "You two are killing me. I wish I never said anything."

James flopped down beside me in his boxers. "Yeah, it's whatever. Let's chill for a minute." He sprawled out, and I snuggled up against his chest.

"So, what do you think?" I asked after a moment.

"I think you're adorable," he said softly, giving me a kiss on top of my head.

"Aww," I sighed. "I didn't mean about that, though. I meant about being here, and especially about Tempest Shadow."

"Oh. Well, I don't know yet, I haven't seen much of this place. And Tempest? Well, she seems nice enough to me. A bit rough, perhaps, but definitely likeable."

"And cute," Mia added, taking a momentary break from fooling around with Cadance. "And cool. I guess this is what happens when she's on her own without anyone directing her to be an ass, like in the movie."

"Interesting," I mused. "I'm still so confused about how all that works. Like, I've read Dr. Hardy's theory of a reality barrier breach, but living it is so much weirder than it even sounds, and it sounds pretty weird. I mean, I'm a cartoon pony in your world, right?"

"Well you never appear in the show anywhere," Mia said thoughtfully, tickling Cadance. "So I think you're different. Makes me wonder if, like, I don't know, other shows like Star Trek or something, maybe in some other reality there really is a Federation with trillions of species and characters that nobody ever heard of on the TV shows."

"Okay let's not go too far into possibility land," James said. "Reel it back in, babe. There's too much to speculate on right now. We got enough to deal with already."

"Also entire universes crammed with horrible monsters," I added, before instantly regretting it. Sure enough, it instantly put a damper on the conversation.

"Yeah. Shit," Mia frowned, letting Cadance's hoof go. "Such an unpleasant thought."

"And some of them leaked here, and into your world," Cadance added, rolling over. "I read Dr. Hardy's papers on the subject too. I mean, usually if something has a bright side, there's a dark side exactly opposite, right?

"True enough," I said, my comfortable snuggle against James starting to feel a little more like a desperate need for security. As if sensing the sudden gnawing fear in my heart, James gave me a little squeeze.

"At least we're together, against all odds," he said. "It's worth the monsters and the danger, just for that."

"Yes, that's true," I agreed. "I'm lucky to have you guys."

"Well, I suppose we should get ready for dinner with Tempest," Cadance suggested, dragging herself to her hooves with evident reluctance. "It's almost time. I wonder what the food is like here. Oh, and do we have the gifts for Tempest?"

"Sure thing." James sat up and pointed at one of the crates we'd brought in, which was currently resting on the wheeled cart. "I'll just move these other..." he stopped as my horn glowed and I used my magic to move the additional items to the floor without either of us having to leave the bed. "Thanks, Boss."

"It's why you keep me around, right?"

"Well I wouldn't say it's the ONLY reason." He scratched behind my ears and I sighed with pleasure.

"You're good at a few things, Fuzzpoof," Mia added with a smile. "I wouldn't trade you for anything." Then her face grew serious. "But I'm wondering about your mane color now. Is it hot pink with-"

"Don't you dare start that again," I growled, trying not to laugh.