Once more both boys stood before the glowing ring. There was a strange feeling standing before it, leading to their hairs to stand on end. The garage was normally lit by a single faded light bulb, but the energy being created in the middle of the room was an odd green color that had seemed to swallow everything else up.
JD stared in awe, but also in fear as he bean to feel a slight pull at his body. What he didn’t realize was his brown hair was beginning to move as if caught in a slight breeze. His light freckled skin seemed almost translucent under the green light.
“Damien… I think you should turn it off now.” The fear almost made him unable to speak.
Turning, he could see Damien standing nearby, still dressed in his usual clothing, the apparent stains permanent. The light of the garage seemed to give his friend an eerie, almost malevolent appearance.
“Damien?” JD asked tentatively, the fear in him taking hold, making his voice higher pitched than he intended. He could feel pin pricks all over his body now as well as a cold sweat.
Damien approached, slowly, as if in a trance. From the poorly cobbled machine there came a high pitched whine.
“There’s no stopping it now.” He spoke in awe and reverence, his voice nearly a whisper.
“It won’t work.” JD turned to see his older self, head lowered, fists clenched. The scars and bits of metal on the right side of his upper body. He began to remember now, and yes it didn’t work, he could remember the pain as the machine had exploded on the two.
He had felt so weak and helpless, it was no wonder he felt like a child again.
JD opened his eyes to see his view now changed to his older body, the child version of himself vanishing, and his friend Damien turn to stare at him in rage.
“It will work. It has to work. You don’t know what it can do, I spent my life trying to get away from this hell.” Damien was furious.
JD merely shook his head in sorrow as he turned back to the machine and watched the metal begin to crack from being overheated. The light became blinding as it past its limit and exploded.
JD could feel the heat singe and burn at his body before he awoke to something suddenly hitting him in the face.
“Ow,” with a grunt JD tried to move, only for the rest of his body to fall on the floor. “Again, ow.”
JD sighed as he closed his eyes and tried to clear his mind. Over the course of what felt like minutes, he could feel the familiar heat in his arm and leg, stinging, the muscles tensing as if about to cramp. He quickly grabbed at his right arm with his left hand and scrunched up his face as he silently begged for the pain to dissipate.
“JD?” Came a soft feminine voice from somewhere in the darkness.
“Yeah?” He answered back, trying his hardest to not sound like he was in pain.
“Whats wrong? Did you have another bad dream?
JD raised himself to a sitting position and quickly grabbed his blanket and pulled it down to cover himself.
The yawn, JD could hear behind him said that she was already near him but was giving him a chance to be modest. Something he was grateful for.
He head appeared as she moved around him, “Do you need any help?” she asked as she tilted her head to the side.
In the dim light from the moon outside, it looked like she was giving him a small comforting smile.
“Um, no, I think I will be just fine. I just have to make sure I don’t get up too fast.” JD responded with a small laugh.
When he looked back up to her, he thought she had a smirk on her face.
“What?” JD asked suddenly defensively.
With a giggle she rolled her large blue eyes before turning away. “Nothing. Go ahead and get some more sleep as soon as you can. Remember we need to get the inventory checked and done today.” She said as she bean to walk away.
“Today? Wait, is it-”
“Nope. Well, nopety nope nope nope for you, that is. I wanted to get an early start this morning anyways.”
JD let out a sigh as he hung his head, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you, again.”
He could hear her giggle again as she moved about the room. “JD you funny human, don’t worry about it. I’m glad to have a room mate. Also, coincidentally, I have about seven hundred orders to prepare. Well, Seven hundred fourty-six, of which I’ve already finished about three hundred seventeen so far.”
JD looked to the last place he heard her voice, a look of surprise on his face. “It’s only Tuesday. How do you already have so many cake orders done?” He watched her figure appear near a window where the light was brighter, as she was about to go out the door to the downstairs bakery. The light of the moon seemed to silhouette her figure, showing her pink fur, and the three balloons on her flank.
She stopped before reaching a hoof to the door, “Well, its magic I guess.” She said with a wink.
“Yeah, without a horn, or wings? You’re an Earth pony, Pinkie, Twilight.. uh, more or less explained how y’all work. You have more strength than Unicorns, and Pegusi, including more stamina, and are closer to the magic of the earth itself than sky magic and ley line magic.”
JD felt a sudden kiss on his head followed by another chuckle, “All of which everypony knows does not explain me.”
“Except maybe Discord, and even he can’t explain you before confusing himself, or going into a fit.”
“Did somepony say my name?” Came a lighthearted sounding voice.
“NO!” Pinkie and JD said simultaneously.
“Party poopers,” the voice said morosely before they heard a party favor squee sadly followed by a pop.
“Need to remember not to mention him anymore.” JD said to himself.
“Ah, you’ll get used to him soon enough so that when you mention his name he will know you aren’t trying to call or summon him. Now lay on back and try to get some more sleep.” Pinkie explained as she pulled the covers over JD.
“Yeah, I suppose- Wait, how’d you get me back in bed-”
“Don’t try to think about it, just get some more sleep if you can.” Pinkie said giving him a very light pat on the shoulder before turning and heading to the door once again.
Pinkie stopped as she left the door open a crack. Listening she could hear JD grumble before moving so he could lay on his side. She waited there for several minutes as he worked to try and fall back to sleep.
It was several minutes before she could hear his breathing calm and pace out some. With a nod to herself, Pinkie quietly closed the door, not even making a sound before turning and feeling something on her tail.
“Oh, Gummie, you want to join me as I work on some orders?” She quietly asked the baby alligator. His response was simply to blink his large purple eyes, first one then the other. “Okay, we are really going to have some fun this morning.” She said with a huge smile that seemed too large for her head.
The sounds from the kitchen drew the attention of a blue pony with a pink mane and tail both of which were swirled like an ice cream topping. On each side of her flank were three cupcakes, and worn about her body almost daily was a yellow apron with accented pink wings that were spread out just a few inches at the sides that looked as if it framed her body and head.
Cupcake bit her bottom lip, concerned with what she would find Pinkie doing in the kitchen. With a smile, and gritting her teeth with determination, she opened the door to see a blurred pink mass zipping around the kitchen talking to nopony else.
Pinkie zipped around putting ingredients together on the counter top, then pulling fresh cupcakes from the oven, only to replace the empty oven with cake, to finally set out the cupcakes to cool and return to mixing ingredients.
Uh, Pinkie dear, are you okay?” Mrs. Cake asked as she tried to follow the pink blur around the kitchen with her eyes.
The blur of pink seemed to alter so now Pinkie appeared in front of Mrs. Cake, while somehow also continuing to work.
Trying not to focus on the impossible that is Pinkie Pie, Mrs. Cake focused on the Pinkie in front of her.
“MorningMrs.Cake!I’mdoigngreat.Didyousleepwell?IhopeyoudidbecuaseIwouldsimplyfeelawfulifyoudidn’tsleepwellorIwokeyouup.”
“Pinkie, please slow down a little. I can’t understand you.”
The sounds of bowls spinning as they were set down quickly on the countertop, the oven door shutting, and the sounds of a panting pink pony as she slowly approached Mrs. Cake before seemingly to laugh and lose her footing just slightly as he eyes seemed to cross.
As Pinkie settled down for a few seconds in front of Mrs. Cake, she could easily see the bags under Pinkies eyes from the interruption of sleep.
“Pinkie, did JD wake you again? How much sleep have you gotten?” Mrs. Cake placed a hoof on Pinkies cheek as she looked at the pony before her in concern.
“Oh, it’s no big deal. We have several large orders this week anyways. Although I should be done by tomorrow at this rate.” Pinkie said, trying her best to alleviate Mrs. Cakes worries.
“Even if you say it’s no big deal, you know we worry about you. Why don’t you take a break. I’ll wake up JD, and get us all a delicious warm breakfast. I’m thinking maybe some cinnaswirlies.” Mrs Cake offered before a ding at the oven caught Pinkie’s attention.
Pinkie looked back to the oven before turning back to Mrs. Cake with an apologetic smile as she started to vibrate in place wanting to tend to what she had already started.
“Alright, fine. Go ahead and finish these batches real quick, but no more until you settle down for a break and something to eat.”
“Okay, thank you Mrs. Cake.” Pinkie exclaimed as she moved fast enough to leave a pink smoke figure in her place. Surprisingly it also had a large smile before it faded as Pinkie began to remove the cake out of the oven.
Mrs. Cake could see that Pinkie Pie was making an effort to slow down a little and simply finish what she had started.
With a weary sigh, Mrs. Cake left the kitchen only to bump into something.
“Oh, sorry about that Mrs. Cake.” Came a familiar voice.
“JD, you’re up early too?” She asked looking up to the young man.
“Um, I didn’t think it was too early. Pinkie got me to fall back to sleep this morning. Seems I could only get just another two hours of sleep. By the way, how is Pinkie holding up?” JD asked, showing concern for the pink mare.
“Well, she seems to be fine, but I can tell she is tired.” Mrs. Cake admitted.
“I have no idea how she keep up the way she does.”
Mrs. Cake smiled as she looked over her shoulder to the kitchen, “Yes, that’s our Pinkie Pie. Always working hard and with a smile. Oh, before I forget, I’m going to be making cinnaswirlies. Have a seat and I’ll get some whipped up for breakfast before you get started on the inventory.”
“Oh, thank you Mrs. Cake.” JD said with a nervous smile. He made his way over to a booth and took a seat with a yawn.
It was then Mrs. Cake realized, it wasn’t just Pinkie Pie losing sleep, JD was also losing sleep and still doing his best to keep up with their work. Turning, Mrs. Cake started up the stairs, she had a few things to talk to Carrot about. She had an idea for both Pinkie and JD, but she had to work out the details first.
After breakfast, JD walked to the counter and knelt down and opened the sliding glass door where a cabinet space was held. Inside was a stack of papers, quills, and other assorted supplies. JD grabbed a card and stood up where there was already an available quill next to the register.
JD always felt a little awkward as a majority of ponies came up to about his chest, so the counter came up very short in comparison to his body. Leaning down over the counter, and began to fill in his time. Once done, he placed it in the small wooden holder where they normally keep an extra order pad or two for those who came in to dine.
Fortunately, to JD’s understanding, due to Pinkie Pies memory they didn’t have to order very many too often. Once that was done, JD turned and made his way to another door near the kitchen, this led to a short hallway where a Mare and Stallion’s bathroom were kept, before ending to another door. This one was thicker than all the other doors as it was their backroom where they kept most of their additional stock.
On the door was a metal bracket where they kept a list of inventory items along with forms for what they received during certain days of the week. JD grabbed the forms and looked over them, they weren’t due for another delivery until the next morning, and Pinkie had already checked off the previous mornings delivery, complete with pink green and blue checks with a mixed message at the bottom.
“All accounted for, Love, Pinkie.”
JD couldn’t help but smile at the three colored message complete with a picture of Pinkie herself winking from the bottom corner.
He put the order forms back and peered over the inventory paper work and noticed the bottom stack was separate. Looking over it he nodded as he understood the first stack was what they should have, and the second stack was the verification.
JD grabbed a quill from beside the bracket and entered the room, ducking his head to keep from smacking it on the doorway.
Despite their sizes, most doorways weren’t necessarily pony sized. Many were built with taller species in mind, except for minotaurs, they weren’t seen around Ponyville all too often.
Eyeing the paper, JD looked down seeing it alphabetical order based on dry goods, such as flour, and other mixes, shelved goods which were either jars of preserves, flavoring, chocolates, and finally the refrigerated goods kept in the kitchen.
Looking up from the papers, JD turned and tapped the glass beside the door, where a slight buzzing sound started before a chunk of crystal inside the glass began to glow.
“What I wouldn’t give for a bit of electricity and a light bulb.” Turning back, JD looked around the room before shrugging and starting with the shelves of good on his left side.
JD didn’t mind this kind of work, as it helped him in some cases to just sit back and let his mind wander a little while he remained on task in an almost auto pilot mode.
He worked his way slowly around the room checking the quantity of goods from the floor up. He didn’t think about how hungry he was, or even recognize he was beginning to get tired as once he was done with checking a section of stuff, he would look to move things around and see if he could organize things a little better. It wasn’t much, stacks of flour were moved to one whole floor section instead of spread out, which once he was done he then worked to separate the bags to the different kinds of flour and set them up in line leaning against the lowest shelf that held thick heavy buckets of chocolate.
Her hooves moved deftly from the jars decorating each cake and cupcake as needed. One covered in orange slices, another with blueberries with yellow and green lines making them look like balloons and sprinkles at the edges of the white frosting. The cupcakes had nearly perfect spirals, almost enough to impress Twilight herself, each also with it’s own decorations except for the bakers dozen, and the bakers dozen dozen.
It wasn’t until Pinkie got to the next cake, one special birthday cake set up to look like a castle, which also included cupcakes in it for the towers and such. She had special gumdrops set up to make windows, caramel squares for the blocks along the walls as parapets, a stretched red taffy for a carpet bridge which covered a thin blue sugar crystal moat with green marshmallow alligators, and so many other decorations for specific details. Right next to it was a partially completed dragon made of cherries, all she needed was just to finish the upper part of the dragon, which was the neck, part of the mouth, and the back where the body connected to a wing.
Pinkie reached into the next cherry jar only for her hoof to not grab a cherry. She stopped and looked into the jar, her eye seeming to pop out and into the jar to look around. With a curious, “Hmm,” she pulled her head back, her eye making a loud pop as it went back to normal, albeit a little red around the edges.
She turned to the collection of jars and eyed them critically, “Oh, there’s more cherries,” She said happily as she grabbed a red jar and popped it open. “Drat, just red crystals for dragon cakes. Oh, wait here’s some… nope, these are red sprinkles.”
She sat back on her haunches, her tail wrapped around her as she put a hoof under her chin and began to think. “Well, I guess there’s no more cherries out here, I’ll have to go into the back room.”
With a determined look she stood and began to bounce her way around the kitchen now with a care free smile.
“La, la, la la la.” She sang to herself as she made her way to the door and opened it. Opening the door she paused and her pink face turned bright red.
JD had made it to the middle shelves and had been working but had spotted a large box on the top of the shelf. “What are you?” He asked himself as he grabbed a nearby step stool and climbed up. It took him a few minutes of looking to find the box wasn’t on the list. With an aggravated look he moved so that he could stand on the tips of his toes, using the shelf to keep himself stable as he felt the step stool wobble slightly. Once the stool was stable he worked to move the box to look for any kind of marking or writing on it.
In the far corner of the box he could see markings that looked like writing, he reached for it to get a better look, only to hear a sharp crack.
“Oh no-” He held on as the step stool cracked and broke under his weight. Looking beneath him, JD could see just a few inches he needed to drop to the ground. Unfortunately the shelf suddenly snapped and dropped him and the box.
“Ow. That’s the second time I’ve hit the ground today.” JD groaned out before turning to the box and the mess it left since the top broke when it hit the floor.
“Maud Pie’s heating rocks. Ugh.” JD laid there suddenly feeling tired, before he felt and heard his stomach growl. “Wonder what time it is.”
JD remained on the floor for a few minutes, resting. Once he felt a little better he got up and worked to get the rocks back into the box before checking to see if he could even lift it. Surprisingly, the rocks had been a little lighter than he expected, and he was able to lift the box.
“Okay then, here it goes.” JD said to himself as he knelt down and wrapped his arms around the box. As soon as he went to lift he heard both a loud rip and the door open. His eyes shot open as he recognized that sound.
“Oh sweet Celestia.” He heard behind him.
JD quickly released the box and jumped to his feet while turning around.
There he saw Pinkie Pie, her face no longer pink, but a bright scarlet, and her mouth agape.
Hands behind his back, he did his best to stealthily move his fingers down and felt the tattered cloth of his pants. JD inwardly screamed in horror before his mind went into a storming rage due to the embarrassment.
“P-Pinkie, would you mind n-not s-staring please.” JD felt himself begin to break out in a sweat, his mouth already dried, as his tongue felt swollen and keeping him from talking normally.
Pinkie stood there for a second before her eyes slowly raised and seeing JD staring at her she physically jumped slightly. “I’msorryJDIdidn’tseeanythingi’llbegoingnow, BYE!!!” she spoke quickly before screaming and seeming to vanish in a pink cloud.
JD stood there frozen for a split second before he let out a small groan which ended in a squeak.
His mind began to race from one thing to another as if it was out of control. JD raised a hand to his head and worked to calm himself down. Once his mind was settled he worked out what to do next.
JD planned to finish his job, then try and make his way over to Rarities to try and get a replacement outfit. Of course he wanted to make sure he had permission first. Now that he was calmed and had a working plan, JD went back to finish what he started.
Across Equestria many parts of the land was old, but with the expansion of the world of the ponies, many things were new, some of which the ponies called their own. However, despite the ponies spreading out across Equestria, they still had a tendency of keeping close, and did not know every part of their own home.
At the foot of snow capped mountains, surrounded by forests there comes a low deep rumbling surging forth, not from the mountains or the ground, but from the air. Trees and grass begin to sway and bend from an unseen force. The sky overhead begins to darken quicker than naturally possible, even faster than those of Cloudsdale could form a storm.
The clouds seem to grow and darken more and more, as something unnatural begins to happen. Lightning forming seems to jump from cloud to cloud as a different rumbling is added. The draw of power begins to force lightning to strike at a small clearing in the center of this, but instead of dispersing in the ground, it’s caught in the air and drawn in to a dark glowing green swirl of energy. As more lightning strikes this spot, the swirl grows larger, becoming more and more violent.
A vortex of energy seems to tear at the air, now drawing in everything not deeply rooted into the ground. Minutes pass as the storm grows larger and more violent, before suddenly the force from the vortex releases its hold, as everything seems to calm. The tear in the vortex smooths out and the whole ordeal seems to stabilize.
A handful of minutes pass before the center has a blue white light that shines as a figure begins to emerge. Once fully emerged, the figure looks down to the ground then up at the trees surrounding it. The light of the sun reflecting off of a strange looking shell of black creating hexagonal shapes with a light gray glow from the parts of the carapace, from the arms, legs, chest, and back.
Once it seemed to take in everything, a sound of air being drawn in through a mask, as the chest rose in a large breath. Once it slowly released its breath it turned partially back to the circular green and blue portal, raised a hand and clicked something which began to glow red and a slight high pitched scream began to emit.
Once done, the figure knelt and drove a small black spike into the dirt, where the flashing red light could still easily be seen before taking several steps back.
After several seconds of waiting, the blue white light appeared once more as more figures began to emerge from the portal in pairs. Once through they each nodded to the lone figure before racing out quickly taking up a circular position, large black metal blocks in their hands, their own carapace black with occasional color of red lining their forms, their heads covered in smooth reflective black glass, hands covered in black padded gloves.
The new group that began to form a circular waited until there was two rows before they began to simultaneously move forward, their metal boxes held in front of them like a ward or weapon against this world. Carefully, slowly, but as if well rehearsed the circle grew outward, occasional stops where heads turned taking in everything before proceeding forward. Hands were thrown into the air for silent messages. Once they reached the surrounding tree line, they seemed to stop, now each figure spaced a fair distance from one another.
Before doing anything the circle seemed to freeze. Each one raised an arm and tapped it, where a soft glow of white light lit up. Once the signal was copied, one figure moved a hand down to its waist where a large bulky belt with pouches were held. Opening one on its right side, it reached in and drew out a small metal globe. Setting the metal box to its side, hanging from a cloth strap, the figure took the globe in both hands and seemed to press and twist until there was a click. Once done it held the metal globe in an open gloved palm as a sound could be heard.
After a few seconds of the sound growing in pitch the metal globe lifted and seemed to grow slightly as its center opened and a flashing red light from within the orb could be seen as it began to lift into the air seemingly of its own accord.
The lone figure by the portal had been idly looking up at the dark clouds, distant flashed of lightning could be seen, as well as the sounds of thunder followed.
The repetitive flashing of red could be seen clearer as it rose into the air. Once the figure noticed the signal, it raised its other hand and clicked another spike where another faster light began to emit before being driven into the ground next to the first.
The figure moved back again, this time further than it did before. As what now came through the portal was a small motorized vehicle, driven by another carapaced figure with green edges. It was slow going as the figure carefully moved through the portal and across the grass, immediately followed by a connected wagon piled with various objects covered by a plastic sheet held down with thick ropes along the sides.
Once through, the first figure signaled the driver to the right side and held up three fingers. The vehicle moved to the right of the figure and drove a short distance away, no more than thirty yards, before coming to a halt.
Following this first vehicle, a line of similar small single driver vehicles with wagons, each being directed by the one that was in the gray and black armor emerged. Until the whole clearing was now filled with a little over a dozen of these.
Next came others from the portal, though they were dressed differently. Each person had their own form of garb or uniform, some in small groups, others in pairs, and even a few individuals here and there.
They all stood on two legs, no fur, no tails, but all had hair. Their complexions varied from light to dark, and many seemed to move with a purpose, but also a bit of fear of the figure in the gray armor.
They worked diligently even when the rain started to fall over them. It wasn’t long before they had tents of various sizes set up all around, moving equipment into different ones, tables, chairs, desks, and more.
Through all of this as more things were passed through the portal, the figure in gray armor didn’t move, except to occasionally turn to take in the progress.
The rain that fell, collected over his helmet before gliding down to his suit and then further down. He didn’t seek cover, shelter, or anything, as if he didn’t even care that it was raining.
Some others though did take advantage of the shelter once it was set up and began piecing things together and beginning to work. Sounds of tools and more began to rise up throughout the clearing as now, more people came through the portal.
Miles away, a pegasus pony was working diligently through the streets of Cloudsdale turning out the cloud lamp crystals now that the sun had risen. He was on his last street, the light of Celestia’s sun warming him up as he covered his mouth with a hoof. He shook his head, his dark brown mane with natural yellow streaks fell about his face. With a huff, he blew most of the strands away from his eyes as he approached the end of the street.
Because of how the city was set up from various forms of clouds, many of the streets had drop off points to give the pegasi options of where they could easily fly off to other areas of Equestria as needed, non more so than those who worked the factory delivering the well made clouds where they were needed and scheduled.
Spreading his cocoa brown wings out, he lifted himself easily into the air and began moving from one cloud lamp to the next until he reached the end.
He wanted to look out over the view he could see of Equestria with the sun behind his home as he felt more than free and loved the view. That is, until he looked off to the South West of his location and saw the sudden storm spring up out of nothing.
Many of the workers, he knew, had a rare night off as no clouds were needed because Princess Luna had put in a request months ago to get a clear night sky for a series of meteor showers she had set for her night sky. They had taken half the day before to clear what few clouds had been left behind.
He also knew there were no storms scheduled for the Western side of Equestria, that was next week as there was a large storm that was supposed to be pushed from the East side to the West side this month.
“Rogue clouds.” He said in a horrified whispered voice, before turning and flying through the streets to the nearest intersection and hit a button on a large post.
“ROGUE CLOUDS! ATTENTION ALL FACTORY WORKERS, WE HAVE ROGUE CLOUDS!” Blared a female pony voice over speakers set up throughout Cloudsdale.
In response there were a few screams of ponies getting startled to the emergency broadcast so early in the morning.
It was only a few minutes before ponies began to poke their heads out of their windows screaming.
“Bucking Tartarus, Light Dust! What are you doing waking up everypony?” One yellow pegasus screamed.
Down bellow, The cocoa brown pagasus, Light Dust, was pacing in the air, his wings moving him in a panicked rush as he waited.
Several ponies began to appear over the buildings, several factory workers, known as cloud buckers, and even a couple of Wonderbolts. Who were followed quickly by a rainbow blur that came up from Ponyville.
“What, what is it? Whats going on?” Rainbow Dash called out as she took a defensive stance and looked around.
“That’s what I’d like to know, Dash.” Spitfire said as the orange and yellow pegasus approached Light Dust.
“We have Rogue Clouds-”
“Yes, we all know there are rogue clouds that pop up over the Everfree forest-” Spitfire started with a hint of annoyance.
“No, NOT the Everfree. The rogue clouds I just saw are over on the West side of Equestria, past the Smoky Mountains, and White Tail woods.” Light Dust hurriedly explained.
With a sound of disbelief, Spitfire began to flap her wings harder as she rose into the air. “There’s no way there are rogue clouds over there, unless someone was messing around in the factory again. Which of course, I highly doubt.” Spitfire quickly added as Rainbow Dash quickly tossed out a “What?!”
“Look, Light Dust, I’m sure you were just tired and thought you saw some…” Spitfire stopped as she looked out to the West since she was finally high enough to get a view, her mouth agape.
“What’s wrong? Who- Holy Mother of Celestia!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed as she flew up to get a look herself.
“I’m going to ignore that slip, and we should really get everypony we can to take care of that.” Spitfire said to Dash, before she turned and quickly composed herself. “Alright all, we do have an emergency. We have rogue clouds that have created a storm over to the West. We have strong winds, lightning strikes, and thunder. Get eveypony you can together and meet up with factory workers to help in any way you can. We need to calm that storm before we buck those clouds.” Spitfire hollered out to the gathering group of pegasus bellow. “Dash you’re the fastest, gather up the rest of the Wonderbolts, and just in case, the back ups as well. I can’t tell how big that storm is from here, but it looks intense, and doesn’t have signs of letting up. I don’t think we need anything stronger than us all working together, but let Princess Twilight know in case that was from a spell gone wrong as well.”
“Right!” Dash said before zipping off into the city of Cloudsdale.
“Well, that’s odd,” Rarity looked over the large split in the pants. “I followed the pattern of your old pants. I just made a few adjustments to make it a little more fitting. Stallions usually like things better fitting and mares prefer a little more room.”
“Well, humans like fitting clothing, but the same clothing has to be capable of moving with our bodies so as not to be uncomfortable, or create problems. So usually they are made with a little more space in certain areas, like around our... Uh, between our legs and along the inside of our thighs and such. It’s obvious, I’m not someone who knows much about how to make clothing, but I do prefer comfort.”
“I think I understand, thank you. With that in mind, I will need exact measurements, even though I still have your old pants to go by.”
“Um, exact measurements? From my pants?” JD asked his face turning a bright red.
Rarity chuckled, “No dearie, I need to measure you. Don’t worry, this is the back changing room where I make final adjustments and measurements. No pony comes back here without at least knocking first. Privilege, confidentiality, and whatnot. Now come from behind that curtain please.”
JD did what he was told, his face somehow turning even redder. He turned his head and Rarity approached, tape measure floating with her magic. He was silent as she worked, listening to her hum to herself.
‘Oh please don’t, please don’t do anything.’ JD screamed and begged in his mind. He tried to breathe but it was hard to keep it steady. JD began to feel a little more light headed.
“Hmm, JD, would you mind opening your legs a little, I feel like I can’t get a clear measurement.”
Rarity noticed his shaking and was trying her best to keep from embarrassing him. She started to think about what she could do to help him relax.
JD visibly jumped, and the shaking seemed to intensify slightly. As he moved, his thoughts were jumbled, but one thing came to the forefront. ‘So weird how this is starting to sound like the opening of a porn. OH GOD WHY DID I JUST THINK THAT? Stop. Settle down, if you go down that route of thought it- Ack.’
“Sorry about that, dearie.” Rarity said.
JD suddenly realized that Rarity had gotten closer, and sitting on her flank as she stared at the measuring tape.
After a few seconds she sighed and stepped back and began searching for something.
“Don’t worry dear I’ve dealt with all sorts of things, no need to be nervous. You wouldn’t be the first foal to,” She cleared her throat as she turned her head one way then another, “Accidentally expose himself due to nerves and hormones.” Perhaps it was a bit tactless.
‘This conversation does not help!’ JD screamed in his mind as he closed his eyes.
“I am only explaining this to try and help you calm yourself, and I also need to find my notebook to write down the measurements and some brief sketches. Go ahead and take a few slow deep breathes. Also, if it helps, try to think of something else more pleasant, something relaxing.”
JD silently thanked Rarity for her professionalism as he glanced down and breathed a sigh of relief to see that he hadn’t, as Rarity said, ‘exposed himself’ by accident.
‘What do I find relaxing? Oh, you know the park I walked through felt nice with all the flowers.’ JD closed his eyes and worked to calm himself with a few deep breathes. He began to feel a little better, his body seemed to cease shaking, he was able to focus his mind as he worked to bring up more things relaxing.
With that, JD took one final deep breath and felt his body settle in a relaxed state as he brought up a visual of the park, the stone cobbled path, the lush green grass, and all the flowers that were planted around in various places.
“All done now dearie.” Rarity suddenly sung out.
“What? Oh, uh okay then.” JD said.
“Got lost in a little daydream did you? Don’t worry I’m not insulted. I’m rather glad you took my advice. Very few do.” Rarity explained as she looked over the sketches on her paper. “I think I can see where I went wrong before, well in addition to what you said, and I think I can come up with some more ideas for a wardrobe. Luckily for you, I haven’t started on the previous wardrobe. I was laying it out so I can easily make the changes and get you a more proper wardrobe.”
“Oh, well, I uh-”
“JD, darling, I know you don’t have the bits as of yet. Also you really have no other clothes. I have no problems with lending some help to somepony, or someone, who needs it.”
“Uh, well thank you, but just an outfit here or there as long as I can pay for it is fine.”
Rarity chuckled to herself, “Very well, but you still need at least a few outfits so you aren’t wearing out just the one. I can have these pants done in probably about half an hour or so. Also, I wont be charging you for this replacement since it was my own fault. Not something I really want to admit, but,” Rarity left off the sentence as she began grabbing fabric, needles, and thread.
JD sighed as he shook his head, and walked over to a nearby chair and sat down. Unfortunately, the chair was lower than most he was accustomed to, so his knees were almost level with his chest. He settled his head on his arms and settled on his knees and waited.
After what he could only guess to be a few minutes JD looked up to see a slightly fat white cat walk by. It stopped and looked at him before seeming to have an air as if not remotely interested before leaving.
JD sighed and went back to staring off, it wasn’t long before he felt himself drifting off.
It was the voice of Rarity that brought him back, “Sorry, that took longer than it should have as. Opal ended up getting into something she shouldn’t have and uh, well shredded the fabric. Quite the mishap, but here you are.” She explained quickly as she passed JD his pants. As she opened her mouth to say more there came a voice from the front of her boutique.
“Hello, Rarity? I didn’t see you at the Spa. If it’s too much trouble we can always reschedule for another day, if you want, that is.” Came the demure voice of a mare.
“Oh, Fluttershy, I had to help a customer. I’m on my way, Darling.” Rarity called back before turning to JD again. “I’ll go ahead and leave you to dress, if you could meet me at the front so I can lock up my shop, if you please.”
“Sure thing, Rarity, and thank you.” JD said as he looked over the new pair of pants.
“Oh, don’t mention it, dearie. It’s been my pleasure.” With that Rarity smiled once again and left JD. As he stood, he realized something was a little different. Noting what it was with a red flush, he worked to get his new pants on and readied himself to be presentable. After looking at himself in a nearby full length mirror he took a breath and walked to the front of Rarities shop.
“Oh, then Opal just completely lost control,” Rarity was explaining to a yellow pegasus with long smooth flowing pink mane and tail.
“Oh, my. I wonder what she got into.” Fluttershy was asking herself.
“I don’t know but I’ve never seen her act this way, so, I was hoping maybe you could figure out what happened.” Rarity spoke with deep concern.
“Oh, well I could, EEP!” Fluttershy seemed to spot JD behind Rarity and jumped to put Rarity between her and the stranger to hide.
“Oh, JD, its just you. Fluttershy, its okay, this is the new Human that joined our community, His name is Jake, but he prefers to be called JD. JD, this is my good friend Fluttershy. I think she is the only pony you haven’t met among Twilights many friends. She had a issue with a bear the day you came to live here.”
“Well, sorry to startle you, Ms. Fluttershy, and it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” JD said as he offered a kind smile and a hand to shake.
Fluttershy peeked from behind her and Rarities hair, “I’m sorry, I’m just Fluttershy, but you can call me Ms. Fluttershy, if you want. It’s nice to meet someone as polite as you.” She said as she eyed JD’s hand.
JD in turn looked his hand as well, “Sorry, um, this is a form of greeting where I’m from. Uh, Humans usually offer a hand to shake, and I guess I did it out of habit.” JD explained.
“Oh, it’s true, he did the same to Pinkie, Applejack, and I. He offered Rainbow Dash a, what did you call it?”
“A high five? I guess in your terms it would be a high hoof?” JD said as he scratched his head feeling as though he failed at his attempt to a joke.
Fluttershy raised her hoof and looked at it, before extending it to JD’s hand.
JD took her hand and paused for a split second, before smiling and lowered his head to kiss just above her hoof.
“Oh… my” Fluttershy said as her face blushed and she started to shake slightly.
“Oh, and such manners. I have to say, I’m a little jealous.” Rarity said with a giggle.
“Oh, wait, I didn’t just violate her or agree to marry her or something, did I?” JD asked in a slight panic as he looked at Rarity.
Rarity couldn’t help but laugh out loud, “No, no, darling. I was merely teasing a little. No, something old fashioned as kissing a hoof is nothing that brazen. You see I’m a bit of a romantic and didn’t realize Humans did something like that.”
Once again, for what felt like the umteenth time to JD, his face blushed.
“Um, may I ask for my hoof back please?” Fluttershy stammered out, her long pink mane hiding most of her blushing face as well.
“Oh, right, sorry.” JD said as he gently let her hoof go.
Fluttershy drew her leg and hoof close to her chest before setting it down on the ground.
“Anyways, uh, thank you again, Rarity. I should get back to work”
“Ah, yes of course JD, stop by anytime my shop is open for business. As well, I have no problems if you wish to stop by for a chat or anything. Um, do you go to Spa’s by chance? I know Stallions around Equestria don’t normally take trips to Spa’s except to relax once in a great while.”
“Oh, um, I don’t know. I’ve never been to a Spa before, not even on my world.” JD admitted.
“Oh, well, Fluttershy if you have no qualms, would you mind JD joining us sometime?” Rarity asked as she turned a sly smile on her face.
“Oh, uh, I-if he doesn’t mind, then I d-don’t mind.” Fluttershy seemed just as nervous, but also a bit more relaxed with JD.
“Oh Tre Magnifique,” Rarity sung out, before leaning close to Fluttershy and whispering, “and he’s single.”
Fluttershy’s face turned crimson before she screamed and ran out the door.
“Oh, dear, I guess there is a time and place for everything.” Rarity said with a knowing smile.
“Right, well, Ms. Romantic, please don’t ship us.” JD said after watching Fluttershy run out the door.
“Oh no, I would never, darling. I just merely, mm, shared a private joke with Fluttershy. It will take a little bit to get her out of her cottage.” Rarity explained with a guilty sounding laugh before she stepped out the swinging door.
JD followed and started to make his way back to Sugarcube Corner as Rarity locked up her store.
“Have a good day, Dearie!” Rarity called out.
JD laughed before turning his upper body to wave to Rarity.
“He had to make a quick run, I’m sure he will be back shortly.” Mrs. Cake explained.
With a smile, the large brown pony levitated some bits from a nearby pair of packs, “Thank you Mrs. Cake, and here you go.”
Once the bits were passed over, the pony lifted a large box of pastries and placed them in the bag.
As he closed his bag, the bell to the front door right behind him chimed. Turning he could see JD entering.
“Good morning,” JD offered cheerily. “I’m all set now, Mrs. Cake. Thank you.”
“It’s no problem, JD. Oh, since you’re here, this is Max. He was looking for you.” Mrs. Cake said as she introduced the stallion.
“Oh, hello. Anything I can help you with?” JD asked as he walked around the counter and began to fill out his return time on his slip.
“Well, I can’t say for certain. I just wanted to see if you had some time to talk. I mean, obviously you are busy right now with your job. If you have nothing planned later today, would you mind if we just talked?” Max asked.
JD looked over the pony in front of him. He was tall, almost as tall as Big Macintosh, and certainly well built as well. Despite his appearance, with a careful look, JD could see strange marks along his body mixed in with a few light brown spots.
It wasn’t often JD saw ponies with very any spots, but Max certainly had a few, including one white spot just over the bridge of his nose, or muzzle. JD wasn’t exactly knowledgeable about horse anatomy.
The other thing JD noted was Max was a unicorn, which to him was a bit strange as unicorns were not normally well built at all.
“Well, I don’t know. I don’t normally have anything planned after work except to walk around town.” JD felt uncertain about this pony, but he couldn’t say as to why.
“Well, that’s fine. I will be out with my wives later today. Maybe I’ll catch you. I don’t want you to think I’m pushing you to do something you don’t want to do. But, I will say this. In a world of ponies, I can understand how it is to be different. I used to be from a world of humans.” Max said before he turned to leave, grabbing his bags with his magic and lifting them up onto his back.
“Wait, you used to live with humans? Like a real pony that didn’t talk?” JD asked, curious now.
“No, I used to be human. Again, I’ll leave it to you if you want to talk later.” Max turned and left Surgarcube corner, leaving JD staring after him, mouth agape.
“Uh, Mrs. Cake, how many ponies used to be human?” JD turned, his brow furrowed as if trying to wrap his head around the concept.
“Well, none from Equestria, to my knowledge. You would have a better idea if you talked to Princess Twilight about that. She has had experience.”
Mrs. Cake grabbed a cloth and a small water filled butcket with a few bubbles and walked around the counter where she started to wipe down the table tops, and picking up a few napkins left behind by early patrons.
“Oh, speaking of which, after my shift I do need to go by to see Twilight anyways.” JD said, ore to himself.
“That’s fine. Oh, but before I forget. We are going to have a slight alteration to your schedule.”
“Alteration?” JD asked, curiously.
“Yes, we got a large request for a few parties for this weekend. Carrot and I were thinking of letting you and Pinkie have some time off before this weekend so you can be well rested.”
“Oh, now I see. Okay then, I was a little worried I did something wrong.” JD breathed a small sigh a relief.
“Oh, no. You're fine, JD. We just need the help for this weekend and we usually give you the weekend off. We were going to have you help us with our morning deliveries tomorrow, then once you are done with that you will have the rest of the week off till Saturday morning.” JD nodded as he followed what Mrs. Cake explained.
“Seems simple enough, thank you for letting me know. I’ll go ahead and finish off the inventory.”
Mrs Cake turned and smiled, “Thank you. Oh, and we don’t have much else when you finish that. We’ll have you a lunch prepared when you’re done, and I will also be setting an order to Rarity for an additional apron, hopefully a plain one that will fit you.”
“Alright then, thank you.” JD called back as he started back to the back room.
The rest of the day seemed to go smoothly for JD as he finished up the inventory. Luckily enough as well, Pinkie went on break when he went into the kitchen to take inventory. Due to Pinkie’s exuberant personality the fresh goods were best to leave for last so they can have proper adjustments to their orders and not run low on anything.
Once he finished, JD stepped out of the kitchen and handed the finished list to Mrs. Cake and left his time on the paper once he finished.
Looking up, JD spotted the unicorn stallion from before, seated in a booth with what looked like a milkshake, though he wasn’t alone.
With him were two other ponies, of whom JD couldn’t get a clear view. It was early afternoon right before school let out, and parents were waiting in the lobby and chatting before they picked up their foals.
“Thank you for the work today JD.” Carrot Cake said as he approached JD after helping a white mare with a two tone blue mane that was spiked.
On her was a set of thick shades and a pair of headphones, of which before she left he could just faintly hear a rhythmic beat to which she seemed to bob her head to.
“Sure no problem.”
“Go ahead and let us know what you want to eat and we will get it whipped up for you.”
JD chuckled, “Whipped up.”
Mr. Cake stared at JD quizzically before he started laughing too. “Sorry, pun was not intended.”
“I figured.” JD gave Mr. Cake a wide smile before he told him what he wanted and waked around the counter to take a look.
It was probably still several minutes before the school would let out and the parents hanging around didn’t seem to have any inclination of leaving anytime soon.
All the booths were full, that is until his eyes caught Max waving to him.
With a shrug, JD went ahead and waked over to where Max was sitting.
“Hello again. Sorry, not trying to stalk you, just had a hankering for a milkshake.” Max explained as JD walked up to the table.
“Yeah, chocolate seems to be the best thing to pacify a father.” Said a cream colored pony mare with a large orange mane. It was pulled back with a red band and looked like she had a strange miniature afro glued to the back of her head.
“Oh, JD, this is Adagio,” Max said, introducing the cream colored mare. “And that is Aria. Girls, this is JD.”
The other mare, Aria, was a violet looking pony with purple mane and tail which also had teal streaks in both.
“So, these are your wives? Nice to meet you ladies.”
The mares looked at each other slightly perplexed, before turning to look at Max.
“I haven’t told him much of anything yet. Plus, this isn’t the best time.”
“Maxwell!” Pinkie appeared with a plate of food and set it on the table, strangely seeming to stretch her upper body around JD.
“Hi Pinkie,” Max said before stretching out his forelegs as if asking for a hug.
She indeed gave Max a hug, then offered one to Adagio, and Aria. Adagio laughed nervously and tried to politely decline, while Aria just seemed to try to stare pinkie down.
Pinkie seemed unaffected by the two and shrugged.
“Oooh, Max, can you give Sonata, and the foals some love from me?”
“Sure thing. They will be happy no doubt.”
“Wait, you have another wife?” JD asked, giving Max a strange look.
Just then the bell to the school house began to ring and parents started filing out of Sugarcube corner to walk to couple of blocks to the school house.
Once all the other ponies were gone, Max looked around to make sure there were no curious ears.
“Have a seat, and enjoy your meal, JD. I’ll go ahead and start explaining things, best as I can.”
With a shrug JD sat and started eating.
“Okay, I’m not really all that into polygamy. My actual wife is at home with our children, her name is Sonata. Adagio, and Aria are her,” Max stopped seeming to try and think of the right word. “Pseudo sisters. They have been together for, well who knows how long. We have formed a close knit family since before we even got here to Equestria. Adagio is in fact in a relationship-”
“Long distant relationship. That’s all you need to know.” Adagio interjected.
“As for me, I’m more of a lone wolf.” Aria added as she seemed to eye JDs food.
“Okay…” JD turned his attention back to Max as he continued to eat.
“Anyways,” Max continued, “We used to live in a different world to Equestria. I was originally human, born and bred. I met these three some years ago after they had lost everything they had in my world.”
“Not our best day, I have to admit.” Adagio added with a deep frown.
“Tell me about it.”
“Don’t you start with me again.”
“Ladies, please.” Max interjected.
The two mares seemed to grumble under their breathe before quieting down.
“Well, to cut things short, we ended going through a lot of trouble. People were after us, and we were fortunate that we had some friends who were willing to help. Friends who knew how to give us sanctuary, here in Equestria.”
“So, you’re like representatives from another world and have been put under a sort of witness protection program?”
Max was silent as he thought it through, “yeah pretty much exactly that.”
JD pushed what was left of his plate away from him, and gave Aria an almost imperceptible nod. She gave him a long look before digging in.
Adagio and Max both sighed, but said nothing. In fact, they tried to act like they were oblivious.
“So, you used to be human, and when you came here you turned into a pony?” JD asked for clarification.
“Yep. So, I’m guessing that you either came through some different way than we did, which we used a portal.”
“Well, I came from way of a portal, but one a friend of mine built. It wasn’t stable, but because of it, I found myself here. Still have no idea, and honestly I consider myself lucky to even still be alive.”
“Because of the instability? Wow, wonder how much more advanced your world was than mine.” Max said to himself.
“Well, we had these things called computers and were just starting to develop new vehicles that were supposed to be quieter than the older models. Although I have to admit, I preferred y families station wagon over the look of the shiny cars that were coming.”
“Station wagon? The old Hatch backs? Wait, what year was it before you found yourself here?” Max asked suddenly.
“Uh, Nineteen Ninety Three. Why?”
“Looks like that crack pot theory of yours might be right after all.” Aria said suddenly.
JD looked between the three ponies confused, while max seemed to slump back, eyes wide and distant, his mouth hanging open slightly.
Adagio smiled and turned to JD to explain, “The year when we left was about Two Thousand Fifteen. Max had an idea he thought to offer to Twilight. Basically if there are more than one Universe or Dimension an alternate world could lead you to finding yourself walking among Dinosaurs whereas your home could be already past that age and be advanced. Or you might even find yourself in an opposite world where that place is far more advanced than your own world.”
“Wow, that, uh sounds like a great theory to put into a science fiction story. But I doubt scientists would take it seriously.
“Well, where I lived Scientists were changing.” Max finally added something to the conversation shaking away how stunned he was. “Also, I did submit that thought to Twilight. I haven’t heard anything back from her, so I figured it was tossed aside to one of the many piles of scrolls she gets all the time.”
“Oh, shoot.” JD said suddenly, I need to get over there to see her.” JD stood and started to walk away, “Hey would you all mind going with me? It would be nice to have some company.”
Max looked to Adagio and Aria, who seemed to say with their body language they had nothing better to do.
“Sure, we were in the middle of a walk when we stopped by for something sweet.” Max said as he and the others stood and joined JD as he left.
“So, JD, what’s with the hunks of metal in your arm?” Aria asked.
“Oh, that’s the leftovers from that unstable portal I mentioned.” He added as he led the three ponies towards Twilights castle. “I, uh. I can’t be left around ponies and magic. The metal seems to absorb the energy which hurts me, or becomes unstable and creates a small outward explosion. Twilight and some other ponies created an elixir for me to drink which seems to limit the effects. They are trying to help keep others from getting hurt, while also allowing me to get out and interact with other intelligent and welcoming ponies and not locked away in the dungeons.”
“Wow, sounds like a harsh alternative. How is this not killing you?” Max asked as he looked at the arm with the imbedded metal.
“I’m not sure, Twilight suggested this stuff may have bonded to my body on a cellular level. Which honestly sounds like a way for a comic book character to turn into a villain because he’s misunderstood in a bad situation.”
“Or, the birth of a super hero.” Max suggested with a grin.
“A super hero who explodes? Doesn’t sound right.”
“Maybe, but you are getting Twilight’s help, so. Who knows how things will play out.”
The group came to a silent halt as they now stood at the base of the stairs to Twilights castle. The three ponies moved their heads to look up as far as they could to the crystal tower.
“Think she’s compensatin fer somethin?” Max said suddenly in a strange gravely voice.
Adagio and Aria laughed and shook their heads, “Nope, she would have to abide by the internets rule 34, and you’re not an ogre, Max.” Adagio quipped with a sly grin.
“Aye.”
JD shook is head not quite understanding what they were talking about, before making his way up the stairs and knocking as loudly as he could on the front door.
It took a little bit and at least one more knock before they heard a voice call from inside.
“Just a second.”
Seconds later one of the doors opened to reveal a short purple and green dragon standing, slightly out of breathe looking up at them.
“Oh, it’s you guys, and JD you are just in time. Twilight was waiting for you. Something has come up and she needs to leave.”
Spike backed away from the open door to let everyone in.
Once everyone was in and the door closed, Spike started to make his way through the castle, leading the others to what seemed to where Twilight would be.
“So, what’s going on, Spike?” JD asked.
“Uh, I’m not too sure. Twilight had actually been working on a spell that backfired due to a displacement of magic. She had been trying to track it down when Rainbow Dash showed up saying something about rogue clouds in the West. Twilight was sure that was where the magic displacement was coming from and needs to go check it out before the ponies from Cloudsdale get there and find themselves in trouble.”
“Sounds like trouble, I’m guessing all six are going to take care of it?” Max asked.
“Well, Twilight wants to be on the safe side, but Dash already had orders to get all the girls together. Twilight was getting some stuff together and waiting-”
There came a sound of the front doors slamming open and several voices talking at once.
Spike stopped in front of a door, “Oh, that will be them, go on inside. I’ll be looking after a few other things.”
“Thank you,” JD said, along with the others in unison.
Spike ran off as they entered the room.
Inside, the group found themselves in a concave room. In the middle was a large table with six chairs placed around it, each with a different mark on it. Above it was the largest system of roots of what could have been a tree stump with various colored crystals hanging from it. It gave off a soft light that seemed well spread.
All around the room were dozens of large books, but no sign of Twilight. Until they noticed a book glowing with magic and levitating up to a chair directly in front of them.
“Twilight?”
The head of a purple unicorn popped around the chair and smiled at them. “Hello JD. Lad you made it in time. I’m sorry but I’m a little busy trying to figure some things out.”
“Yeah, Spike mentioned something was going on.”
With a poof, Twilights head vanished from sight before she reappeared out of the chair, wings pulled back to her sides. She grabbed a small box with her magic and brought it over to JD.
“You finished the other vial off I’m guessing right?” She asked as she approached.
JD nodded, and she seemed to visibly calm as she finished approaching the small group.
“Oh, Max, its good to see you. Aria, and Adagio too. How is Sonata and the foals?”
“They’re good. No magic has manifested yet.”
“Oh, I had a thought about that, have you let them try to swim in a pond yet? Or at home? I was thinking, they might have some latent magic since their mother used to be a merpony. Also, have any of you ladies tried going for a swim?”
Twilight looked form one mare to the other, each shaking their heads in response.
“Hmm, I see. Well all things in time. As for you JD, I have to say this batch is a little bit different. I got hep from a zebra named Zecora. She lives in the Everfree forest and has a large knowledge about herbs and natural remedies. We may have come up with a new potion that is stronger than what you had before. Normally one would wait until the first potion wore off, but Id like you to go ahead and take a sip and give it a proper test.” Twilight explained as she opened the box to reveal a small glass bottle with a dark liquid inside of it.
As she removed it and handed it to JD, he saw it was a deep purple color with what looked like something blue and red swirling around in it.
“Are you sure?” He asked giving the potion a critical eye.
“Well, I’ll be honest. We have never dealt with magic or energy build up in this way before. So, no, I can’t say this will work for sure, but we did use the previous potion as a base and increased what it should be able to do.”
JD took another long look, voices outside the room could be heard approaching.
Twilight was doing her best to help him, and sure not everything someone does is going to work one hundred percent the first time everytime. But, he wanted to trust Twilight.
JD went ahead and popped the cork and lifted the potion up and caught a whiff of what seemed to be lavender before he lifted the potion to his lips and took a sip.
As soon as it was in his mouth, his body seemed to convulse, and he accidentally swallowed the contents quickly and started coughing.
Twilight bit her lower lip in concern, afraid something might go wrong.
After his coughing fit, JD was able to get his breath as the door opened and several ponies and a small dragon entered.
“Well?” Twilight asked.
“Takes like really bad cough syrup, but it smells nice?” JD offered.
“Uh, well that is certainly something, I guess.” Twilight said as she mentally took notes.
“Whats goin on?” An orange pony with straw colored mane and tail asked as she approached, a stetson carefully placed on her head.
“Just trying to help JD real quick is all. If you girls could go ahead and have a seat. I’ll be done here shortly.”
“Sure thing Twilight.” Applejack said before turning to the other mares present, each taking a seat around the table.
Twilight, on the other hand, approached JD and looked at his arm before lighting her horn up with magic. “Do you feel anything? Any burning sensations? Chills, shakes, anything at all?”
JD lifted his arm slightly and turned it to look it over, “It almost feels numb and a little cold.” JD noted out loud.
“Hmm, I see. Might be the potion is already mixing. Okay, go ahead and don’t take anymore today. Wait until tomorrow morning. There is another vial in her. It a small leaf. I told Zecora about you having trouble sleeping and the nightmares. She pulled some eaves and added them for you. She said to only take half a leaf and brew it like tea before you go to bed each night. It’s supposed to be a natural sleep aid, as well the added effects of the silkworms and spiders that live in the trees seem to have an effect on ponies to keep them from having nightmares. That’s how some ponies used natural remedies when Luna was gone for so long.”
JD nodded, “Thank you.”
“Its no problem, but would you all mind staying for this? I have a strange feeling about whats going on.”
The ponies and human looked to one another before agreeing to remain.
Twilight smiled and made her way over to the other ponies and started the meeting.
The table seemed to emit a soft glow as she approached.
A gentle warm breeze blew drawing the smell of spring and fresh grass. The breeze continued seeming to swirl in some spots as if looking for someone to wrap itself around like a caressing lover.
A pony sitting at the side of a small stone bridge that spanned a creek turned her head into the breeze, eyes closed, a soft smile on her face as she reveled in the feeling of her fur and mane being moved slightly from the breeze.
She was an Earth pony with dark green fur which sported two particular spots, a white spot that spanned from the base of her neck up under her mane where is rounded out at the top of her nose. The other, a brown spot over her back that reached from her left side to the right. Her mane and tail were a combination of white and purple, though mostly covered with a hoof sewn yellow kerchief. It was something near and dear to her, a gift she received as a foal.
She enjoyed the breeze, as not only did it make her think of the pony special to her heart, it also lifted the scent she had culminated into a very particular perfume, one she knew her friend would absolutely love.
She had been waiting for several minutes, she wasn’t in a rush, as she had been early anyways and simply allowed herself time to daydream. The fantasy she often held was of finally turning to Glistening Mist and telling her how she felt. Indeed, she had been deep within the fantasy, and the warm breeze had left her almost believing Mist had embraced her, finally shedding the dark shadow that seemed to hold her down.
Yet, despite her harboring these feelings, no matter how she felt she knew she couldn’t tell her friend.
Opening her eyes, a single pair of tears streamed down her face, as she brought her mind back to reality.
“Moonflower!” Came a familiar voice, the only voice she would never need to see the face to know who she was.
Cede quickly wiped the streaks away and put on a smile before turning and immediately faltering. Only a few seconds and Cede put on her usual facade of pleasantness as she saw Mist with a stallion she absolutely harbored pure rage against.
The stallion was a charcoal gray with black mane and tail that always looked slicked with thick grease and as always sported one of his many ties. This one looked like a very tacky orange and red plaid.
“Glistening Mist,” Cede said with with joy, “And I see you brought Marl. It’s been so long, a couple weeks?” Cede was able to play her voice as if in surprise as she raged in her mind.
When Mist and Marl had gotten close, Cede quickly noticed a slight puffiness to one of her eyes.
“Yeah, I thought we could use some time out of the house when My baby Glisten said she was going for a walk. Not surprised to see you here,” Marl said snidely.
“Oh you two are always teasing each other.” Mist said with a smile.
“Sorry, Mist, not trying to ,make you feel left out.” Cede quickly abjected.
“Oh, Cede, that is such a lovely smell. Trying a new plant combination again?” Mist asked to change the subject.
“Oh, yes. I was thinking about that suggestion you mentioned before of trying to open my own perfume shop. But whereas it is generally accepted to use scents ponies are accustomed to, I was thinking of also making specialized perfumes as well. What do you think.”
Mist moved closer until she was almost nose to nose with Cede, making the are blush slightly.
“Oh, it’s heavenly, I think Celestia herself would greatly approve of even something like this.”
Cede smiled widely at the compliment, her heart beating faster in her chest. She was simply overjoyed, at least until Marl walked by and made of face of disgust.
“Marl, love, don’t be so rude.” Mist quickly lowered her head and ears when Mar turned and raised an eyebrow, “Sorry.”
‘Psh, bucking cracked egg. No wonder you live alone and have no friends. All you can do is try to go after a stallions mare that doesn’t even want you. I think its almost time for me and my boys to give your out of the way garden home a visit. It would be such a shame if you find those plants of yours destroyed. Well, that’s step one. I think I should think of a way to truly humiliate her so-’
Marl had been turning back when he realized something about Cede he had only suspected before.
‘Hell yeah, the boys can have a fun time with that field of flowers.’
“Marl, is something wrong?” Mist asked hearing him laughing to himself.
“What? Naw babe, just thought of something one of the boys told me. My apologies, it is rather crass to bring something like it up in front of two outstanding ladies such as yourselves.” Marl wanted to move off topic or find a way to distract the mares so he could go back to thinking up a plan. “Say, how about we go ahead and get going on that walk? We were going to White Tail woods, right?”
The two mares smiled and nodded before proceeding with him over the bridge. Mar kept back a little bit, as always, and right by Mists side as they walked letting them talk while he only partially listened in on the conversation.
As they left the bridge behind and started to come up to the edge of the forest, they stopped as they noticed several shadows and a brief gust of wind pass over them. Looking up, they saw dozens, if not close to a hundred pegasus flying overhead. Following the crowd, it appeared the entire town of Cloudsdale was flying over White Tail woods.
“Wonder whats going on?” Mist asked aloud.
The sound of a whistle could be heard from behind them before three streaks of dark clouds with bits of lightning charged by overhead before one split off from the others and made a wide circular turn in the air and few right towards them.
A pegasus pony in a blue jumpsuit with yellow lightning rings around the hooves halted just under the leaves of one of the trees. The mane and tail was orange, and the goggles seemed to slightly blur her eyes, but all three knew Spitfire from the posters and shows.
“Sorry, but as of this time we are looking to cordon off White Tail woods. Something is going on and we are not sure how dangerous it may be. Please return to Ponyville and remain there until we can assess the situation.”
“Why? What’s going on?” Cede asked.
Spitfire looked a them for a few moments silently before sighing, “Please keep this to yourselves. We spotted rogue clouds and what could be a storm on the other side of the woods near one of the Western Mountains. We aren’t sure what is causing it, which is why everypony from Cloudsdale is assisting us to -” Spitfire was cut off as several voices rang out in pain with a faint sound of could only be described as lightning but with buzzing instead of thunder.
Forgetting the three ponies, Spitfire launched herself up into the air as ponies backed away from the woods, a few carrying two of her companions and a few other pegasi.
Their bodies looked to be covered in back marks, where their fur had burned. Even some of their wings looked charred, and a few feathers fell still smoking.
“What in Celestia’s name?!” Spitfire looked up from the ponies, “What happened?”
“The fastest of us that were ahead of the group hit some sort of barrier and were shocked.” Explained one light blue pony with curly white mane and tail.
“Spitfire!” Came a scream, “I can't feel his pulse, we need aide over here.” A pegasus mare was slowly descending to the ground with Soarin in her arms.
His body looked like it had somehow taken an even stronger hit than the others, his body was stiff and smelled awful.
Spitfire did her best to choke back the bile that was rising in her throat as she approached and looked him over.
“Celestia, no, please. Help us.” She begged, as tears began to fill her goggles before leaking out and down along her muzzle. She knelt next to Soarin and did the only thing she could think of. It was something dangerous, but sometimes helped in extreme cases when pegasus were struck by lightning and couldn’t cope with the shock of it.
She clasped her hooves together and began to rub them furiously until bits of electricity started to spark. When she had enough, she placed her hooves on Soarin and watched as his body lifted slightly. His limbs twitched, and she leaned down, and put an ear to his chest. There was a faint thump, but it quickly quieted down.
“No, no, no, no, no.” She repeated silently to herself as she recharged her hooves.
The process wasn’t just dangerous for the recipient, it was also dangerous for the pegasus performing the charge as well as it took some of their own magic and applied it to the heat the create the necessary charge. Depending on the pegasus, the charge could overtake their own life, or if it were Rainbow Dash, a small charge could be an overcharge and definitely kill the pony.
Ponies were gathering, to watch the spectacle unfold, fear evident in their eyes, while others tried to look after the weakened ponies who were still alive, though badly injured.
At the back of the group, a few pegasus were talking before one shot off as fast as they could toward Ponyville Hospital.
Soarins body jumped for a third time, and Spitfire leaned down, eyes closed trying her best to block out all other sounds. She had to listen for a moment to discern whether she could hear his heartbeat, or if she only heard the beating of her own heart since she had no equipment to properly do a check.
She was silent for what felt like forever, and just as she thought it didn’t work, she heard a faint thump, thump.
Her eyes shot open as she heard a moan and felt Soarins body move.
She lifted her head and leaned over to get a better look at him.
His eyes fluttered opened before they closed and he slumped.
Fearing for the worst, she bit back a scream and checked him again. She could hear his heartbeat, slightly stronger.
‘Maybe he just passed out.’ She told herself, hoping she was right.
She turned to see so many ponies standing nearby, “What are you all doing?” She screamed at the crowd, “Go get help, right bucking now!”
She couldn’t see as her eyes were stinging from the tears that had begun to fill her goggles, which upset her even more as she tore them off and threw them to the side.
Spitfire worked furiously to dry her eyes and calm herself, she looked back to see the crowd had pulled back somewhat. Only a single pony approached her.
“We already sent somepony to the hospital for emergency help. They should be able to return sometime soon, with help.”
“Thank you, I’m sorry. It’s just driving me crazy that this happened and I didn’t foresee it, I’ve never had any of my tea this badly injured where they were on the brink of death before.” Spitfire looked back to Soarin who seemed to be breathing lightly and occasionally twitched which led to a pained moan. “I’ve felt fear, but this,” Spitfire said to herself, feeling he body shaking. “I swore nopony would ever be lost under my command and I led so many right into such a dangerous hazard not only could the Wonderbolts been left crippled, but so many civilians as well.”
‘No, they may be injured, but all of them, even Soarin are still alive, though he looks like he might be critical. You haven’t lost anypony yet, and You’ll be damned to make a mistake like this again. Caution is needed her, maybe like how ponies are always talking how careful Princess Twilight is. Shes an intelligent pony, maybe the caution needed here is to think first before rushing in.’
Finished with her thought, Spitfire stood up and looked around, ‘First things first, I need to take account the condition of the others and then figure out the next step.
Spitfire made her way around to check on the other ponies who had been injured.
Apparently, the story went that Soarin was leading them over the woods, and weren’t even halfway over it when he slammed into something they couldn’t see until he made contact. It looked like a wave of energy rippled through the air. Other ponies attempted to halt before making the collision themselves.
Nopony had been able to see the barrier until it was far too late. Fortunately, no other pony was as injured as Soarin, but there were still a few ponies injured.
It was odd, as Spitfire thought things through before lifting herself into the air to look over the treetops.
Normally for the Wonderbolts, their training permitted for heightened sense and instinct to help them in flight. The speed could sometimes allow them to even perceive a potential threat if enough force was in front of them.
So, how was it, they couldn’t even sense a barrier, even if they couldn’t see it, they should have had just enough time to alter their course before collision to avoid it.
It was at slower speeds that they required the assistance of their flight magic to sense where barriers were put up, although foreknowledge usually helped, like making sure to always avoid the airspace around Canterlots School for gifted unicorns.
Twilight and the others arrived sometime later, after the injured ponies had been extracted to the hospital to be properly looked after.
Twilight and Spitfire conversed on what was going on and made a decision to get ponies home and away from the unknown barrier. After which, an area was set up to keep people away from the woods, while Twilight worked to get word to Princess Celestia.
As Luna’s moon rose that evening, Princess Celestia arrived shortly after with two squadrons of guards from both her and Luna’s forces to help keep things under control and keep watch in case something happened.
Twilight, through a few tests, had come to find that while the barrier was energy based, and powerful, it was not connected to any form of magic. She needed time to keep working what to do, and may need some help.
It was going to be a long night for everypony.
“Is this it?” Came a woman’s voice from a computer.
“It would seem so.”
A man stood before a screen watching a video of a town surrounded by woods and streams. The screen was projected from a large command console, one the man barely did anything with unless absolutely necessary.
“So, are you going?”
“No, not yet. I want to see what’s happening. I don’t know how long its been, and I have no idea what the state of things are right now.” The man explained as he turned away from the screen and settled in a chair.
He leaned his head back before closing his eyes and trying to relax, he began to let exhaustion take him.
The night was well lit, but the trees made for good cover. There were small horses wearing armor here and there walking around the woods.
Nothing gave him away as he moved from tree to tree, shadow to shadow. Not a twig snap, not a rustle of bushes, or branches. Nothing but a strange chill wind with a few dead leaves falling to the ground.
Marl and two other stallions were walking through town, they had just gotten done with some drinks and decided now was the time when o man ponies were busy with the distraction on the other side of town.
It didn’t take long to head out of town and find their way over to a home that looked as if it had once been a large wooden wagon. Which, in fact it had once been a wagon. Years ago when it made it to Ponyville, the former owners had decided to remain in there and remove the wheels and allow their family to grow.
Over time, when their kids grew up, they got the mind to travel and left home. Those that returned seeking to set down their roots were allowed to claim the home from their parents who had once more, before their end desired to travel. The home was built upon more and more, the only thing which remained constant was the large field to the side which had a fence built around it and housed herbs and plants not always for consumption in meals.
Many ponies had taken to visiting this home, once upon a time where they traded for potions for ailments, at least until the hospital was built. The home still held those who sought to brew, but now the plants and brew were traded by travelers and the elderly.
Cede, was now the youngest, and as far as she knew, the last of her family. She didn’t mind, she hardly felt a desire to travel at all. When she did, she sometimes just took what she had and traveled to any number of the cities of Equestria to trade, usually finding homemade remedies were not as big as her scented candles, and oil perfumes. It didn’t take long to change what was needed to keep up with the times.
Her heart, as it were, had always been in Ponyville.
She heard the laughter, and shushing of the stallions as they got closer. She heard them making their way through the back garden and growled to herself at the loss of the plants.
She expected them to enter through the door from the garden, but she heard them break a bottle and laugh. They were looking to destroy her main source of income. She had enough preserved she could go at least a season without anything new, but if they ruined the soil, it would be much harder to cultivate it properly once more to grow the plants she needed.
The soil had been set by her ancestors when they took root her, and in their own way used magic to cultivate different types of soil in a small area to grow all the plants they needed at the time.
They had left only one book, an old diary, of the process, but had been used so often it needed to be re-written. The only problem was, it was written in a form of code with the old ponish language; which old ponish was already a difficult language for even those few who could understand it.
She didn’t want to deal with that, not at a time like this. Cede walked over to a counter and grabbed a small green bottle and took a swig of it before setting in back down onto the counter, grabbing a lantern, and a small bag of brown leather with some old twine tied around it. She walked to the door facing her garden and opened it.
Outside in the dark, she could see Marl, and two other stallions. Marl was near the door, while the other two were messing around trying to play games, purposefully tearing up the ground around them as they ran towards one another.
Mar turned as he noticed the light shifting behind him.
“Ah well if it isn’t the stuck up cracked egg. Hey boys, here’s the girl I told you about, wanna come to give her a greeting? I think she’s a little eager to have some fun.”
One of the stallions, yellow fur with a green and blue two tone mane and tail walked up next to Marl. “Don’t mind if I do, especially if she’s as tight as you say.”
The other stallion stumbled over, obviously heavily under the influence of their drinks and not able to properly hold it.
“Say, sheeze pretty. Very easy on the eyes.” The stallion started laughing in a crude way, somehow thinking himself a comic genius, despite not saying anything funny at all.
He stood bit shorter than his friends, and had orange fur with a sandy brown mane and tail.
Cede didn’t care for any of them, she would just give them a fair warning and be done with it.
Lifting up her lantern, as if trying to get a better look at the stallion approaching her, she suddenly moved and blew out onto the flame. Rather than the flame blowing out, it seemed to explode, fire and some sort of liquid spraying all over the green stallion.
“Ah, what the buck!” He screamed as he stumbled back. He desperately worked to get his eyes clear and roll on the ground to put out the fire, while his drunken friend charged at Cede.
With him, she tossed down her lantern the flame already going out, and grabbed the leather pouch in the darkness and threw it at the stallion.
He coughed as the powder inside it broke out and all over his face.
“Ahh! It burns. Why in Celestias name?” He cried out as he stumbled back, before falling over and cried like a foal while rubbing at his face. “Oh, its worse. Why is it getting worse?” After which he started coughing once more, even harder as his body tried to breathe.
“Some light burns, and a hot powder mix in some oil that clogs his pores. Simple enough to treat if you get your friends to the hospital now and leave me and my garden alone. I will even refrain from telling Mist about this, incident. You can just tell her some ponies jumped you guys. Buck, you can even make yourself out to be the big brave hero. Just leave me alone.” Her voice was filled with false enthusiasm, coupled with thick sarcasm as she gave him a look of death.
“Yeah, you’d like that, wouldn’t you? Here’s the thing, my boys and I want some fun with you, and we are not leaving until every whole in you is-”
“Ack!”
The sound of one of his friends choking, and liquid spilling out behind him stopped Marl. He turned to see the green stallion looking a them both in shock before looking down to see his guts spilled out beneath him.
“I- wha?” Was all he was able to say before he fell over.
His other friend was being held up by his head, while something large with glowing limbs stood behind him.
Glowing eyes, and a wide mouth suddenly ripped into his throat.
“What the buck is that thing?”
Marl stumbled back as his friend struggled, blood spilling out before a claed hand reached around and began to tear into his flesh. Once his was ripped open, the thing dropped him and knelt down and began to feed on his corpse.
Cede had seen enough and already run back inside, leaving Marl and his friends to whatever fate had ins tore for them.
She grabbed what she thought might help her after blocking the door, put it all into a pack. Once she was done, she ran to her front door and opened it just slightly to take a look out.
She jumped as there was the sound of something heavy hitting her other door. She didn’t hesitate as she immediately took this moment to run. She was in full panic mode, her eyes wide, but enough of her mind that wasn’t screaming over what she had just seen was trying its best to guide her to someplace safe. The only place she could think of, inside the town of Ponyville.
Whatever beast that was, she had no idea, she needed to find help.
She was almost to the bridge into ponyville when something hit her back and tripped her. She grabbed a small jar and shook it, waking up the fireflies within and saw the head of the green stallion. She looked up to see faint lines glowing, slowly approaching her as if a predator of the night stalked its prey.
Her heart hammered in her chest, and the only thing she could do was to think of Mist, and running.
She picked herself up and started, only to feel something like a claw dig into her flank. She screamed before grabbing her satchel with her mouth and full on swung it back a her attacker.
The contents that were in glass shattered and a small explosion like a bomb going off tore her bag apart and sent small shards of glass into her.
Screaming again she took off, the claw had released her and she ran as fast as she could screaming as loudly as she could.
‘They can talk, wear armor, have their own language and form of civilization. If you can even call it that. But nice mix of things to make a dry powdered bomb. Aside from that, this hunt is boring me.’ Watching the pony running through the pathway between the buildings, lights appearing in the windows. He turned and looked around before moving off at full sprint and gaining distance quickly.
Max paced back and forth in Twilight’s castle. He was getting worried and scared now.
“Maxwell, calm down.” Twilight called to him. She was also getting concerned. She had not heard from Celestia, or any of the guards. They were under orders to bring those on the outskirts of town to her castle
Max either ignored her, or hadn’t heard her. At this point, he seemed even worse off as when he paced he started mumbling to himself, sparks of his horn jumping out around him.
“Girls, please, I need somepony to calm him down.” Twilight asked the two sirens nearby.
“Why?” Jake asked, “He has a wife and two children out there. I think it’s reasonable if the guy blows off a little steam so long as he doesn’t hurt anyone. He looks like he’s passed steaming kettle and settling on volcano.”
“Jake, Max is a lot different to the rest of the ponies of Equestria. He learned a different form of magic altogether than we did. Dangerous magic that could end up hurting ponies if he loses control.”
“Fine, then point him at the dangerous invisible wall. Maybe he can do more than you, and won’t hurt any of you.” Jake was getting agitated with being cooped up, and more.
“Hey, don’t ya’ll be talking to Twilight like that.” Applejack rebutted.
“Why? What did she do out there? What did Celestia do? What did any of you ponies do? From what I heard, a lot of nothing.” Jake looked around at the ponies.
Fluttershy was hiding, quietly whimpering and crying from behind her chair. Applejack was ready to take him down, with Rainbow Dash right behind her. Pinkie immediately made her way to Fluttershy, trying to speak comfortingly to her while making a balloon animal, Rarity was not a pony for confrontations but she looked at Jake as if seeing him for the first time and receiving a good impression.
The doors opened, “Jake, if somepony as powerful as any princess were to use magic on something they did not know of nor understand, then the consequences would be dire, or worse. I would have imagined, from what you told us about, how you came to be you would understand a bit of caution.”
Jake opened his mouth, eyes lit with anger. He wanted to argue with Celestia as she approached him, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it.
“I understand the concept of being at the side, while having to put as much trust as you can into the hooves, or hands of another with no clue as to what the outcome will be.” At this moment, Celestia looked to Twilight, who had tried her hardest to keep herself from being brought down by Jake’s words, while also continuing to pour through books right beside her. Celestia could see the tears appearing at the edge of her eyes, a single page being flipped back and forth. “Our experiences and outcomes may have differed, but we both know when someone is outclassed by a problem until they can figure it out and overcome it. What I’m trying to say, Jake,” Celestia lowered her head, to keep him from thinking she was looking down on him. “There are times when action is necessary, and there are times when intelligence and wisdom can persevere.”
Jake looked down of course she was right, she was referring to the incident. He couldn’t place what was wrong, he just had an uneasy feeling that was leaving him on edge and quick to anger.
“Princess Celestia, what of our sister, and niece and nephew?” Adagio asked as she had finally gotten Max calmed somewhat. Aria had him a little further away and was speaking to him in quiet hushed tones.
Celestia turned and smiled before looking to the door. Her horn glowed and the doors swung open as another pony of light blue with similar mane and tail streaked with a darker shade.
The mare was accompanied by two celestial guards, each carrying a basket.
“I guess I really was expected. HI!!!” She called out before being nearly run over as Max seemed to appear out of nowhere and tackled her in a hung.
“Yes, I missed you too hun. But, I’m having trouble breathing with these newly crushed ribs.” She gasped out.
“Sorry.” He said simply as he released her.
Jake closed his eyes and silently berated himself before turning and announcing to all present, “Well, I have to say right now, I’m sorry. I’m being more than out of line on something I know nothing about. I…” Jake stopped as his whole body shook.
“Jake, what’s wrong?” Twilight had looked up hearing Jake’s apology before seeing him seem to begin to break down.
His eyes seemed to dart about before he stumbled and fell to a knee. He threw his hands out trying to grab onto something, anything to catch himself. He felt soft fur and flesh, and his vision was filled with whiteness.
Celestia looked at Twilight and placed a wing around her, “I hope you can understand Jake. I feel he may be using such harsh words because he has heard so much of how each of you have helped Equestria so frequently, and he himself feels useless.”
Twilight sighed before glancing up at Celestia, trying to offer a small smile. “It reminds me of when the map called Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash to a friendship problem in Griffonstone. I had wanted to go, so badly, but I had to stay behind. I had to put trust and faith in my friends to do something that was more important than just a simple desire to study and collect relics. I already had, and still have trust and faith in them, all of them. Jake, he only had one friend, who put his life in danger, even if it wasn’t intentional.”
Celestia smiled and nodded as she gave Twilight a gentle squeeze with her wing. The closest, at this time she could come to giving a hug.
“I’m startin ta wonder if these humans are all quick to anger. No offense, but I’m beginning to catch a pattern.”
“Well, each of us deal with the things we have been through differently. Each of us grow and learn from life and death experiences that make each of us unique. It also helps when you have those who are close to us to help burden things in friendship. Imagine trying to always face danger and threats to your loved ones, time after time. Or having a situation where it seems a friend who you shared everything with, betrays you. There are so many things that are difficult to deal with. Given what our friends have been through, it will take a long time to ease their burdens, even longer to heal from their deep pain.”
“Well, it is said Time heals all wounds.’ Isn’t that correct Princess?” Rarity offered looking up to the regal white alicorn.
“Exactly, Miss Rarity.”
"Um, Twilight.” Came a timid voice beside her.
Twilight turned with a smile to see Fluttershy, “Have you been able to make any headway in regards to the barrier?
“Well, with the tests I performed, it seems magic would be rather useless against this barrier. At least the magic we know of,” She amended before glancing up to the other side of the room where Max had fallen asleep surrounded by the sirens, and his two foals. “I was able to pick up a trace of what I believe to be the proper energy signature for the barrier. However, to be sure, I will need time. Time to work it out and to test what I have just to be sure. Princess Celestia, have the guards encountered anything from the other side of the barrier?”
Celestia levitated a scroll with the reports of the night so far.
“We have come across nothing so far, but if this proves to be nothing, or even something I know you will want proper documentation for your records. Oh, and sorry no room for pie charts.” Celestia said almost teasingly with a wink.
Twilight blushed and tucked the scroll away, “I’ll, uh take your word on that, Princess. Thank you.”
Not much happened at least until about an hour later, some of the guards helped a young Earth Pony into the room. She explained what had happened with the creature.
Twilight and Celestia got word to the guards, before enacting, for everyponies safety, a curfew.
They didn't want to take a chance of a pony getting caught outside where this thing could easily get to them in the middle of the night.
This, unfortunately would have undesired effects on those few businesses that were open late into the night.
Once everything was settled, and Twilight set things up to give a quick and easy explanation to those who asked, Celestia left to begin getting word to other cities as an additional precaution.
