Friends on The other side

“SERIOUSLY?!? HE JUST LEFT!” Light was busy yelling at his brother as he was closing his shop. “Why do you keep coming up with stuff without thinking about what the other ponies involved would have to put up with?”

Book felt a little silly being chewed out for once. “Just so you know, this was Twilight’s idea. I thought you’d be able to just mail him again.”

Light groaned. “I know how to get the mail to his bedroom. He’d have to get home first, then he’s got the kids and help them get cleaned up, and then there’s a good chance that he’d just crash when he gets to bed. Then he’d have to accept the fact that I’m asking him to come again…”

Book could tell that Light was beginning to stress out over this. “Easy Light! Okay, I’m sorry for having to drag you into this again, but I think if we can get to Kirouac then not only will we have peace, but we’ll know more about Dr Mephist.”

Light glared at him. “You’re not letting this go, are you?”

“Please? I can feel that something’s going to happen, and Flash might be the pony that could save us from a war.” Book pleaded.

Light took a deep breath. “Fine, but you owe me big!”

Book shrugged in defeat. “Whatever you want.”

“When this whole Dr Mephist thing is over, you’ll take those vacation days that you’ve been saving up.” Light said with a little grin.

Book’s heart dropped when Light said that. He had never taken any time off unless it was a family or medical emergency, and those were a different category of time off. If he added his vacation time up then he’d have five months of time to kill. He nervously grinned as he knew that Light was getting serious. “Uh… that’s nearly half a year. Can we just do a week?”

“Two weeks, and you finally need to ask Twilight out on a date. You’re both beyond good friends, and everybody can feel the chemistry between you two. Why are you waiting so long to have a semi-normal life?” Light asked with an even more devilish grin.

Book wanted to object to his claims, but considering how many times his mom asked him if they were going to the next phase of their relationship, it’d be a losing battle. “I’d be lying if I said that I feel like we could grow in our relationship, but I’m just more focused on my work. What’d happen if my enemies tried to get to me though her.”

Light stared at him blankly. “You have one dude who’s still at large, and she’s taken on enemies ten times as dangerous as yours. I think she can handle herself. You need to start thinking about more than your career. One day you’ll with that you’ve had a little more fun. Either way, that’s what you owe me now. Don’t forget to ask her father for permission first.”

Book shrugged as he knew where Light’s argument was ending. “Fine, but only after this whole mess is cleared, and I get an exemption if something big happens during my vacation that I’d need to deal with.”

“Deal.” Light said as he grabbed a blue jacket.

Book looked a little confused as he brother put it on. “Where are you going?”

Light rolled his eyes. “I figure the best way for Flash to understand and get the message would be to tell him in person.”

Book cringed as he said that. “You do know that the storm’s going to be starting soon, right?”

Light looked a little ticked as he started walking towards the Everfree forest. “Your poor time management skills are not my fault!”

Book sighed as Light walked away. He knew that he was putting a lot of effort into this case, but this was a part of his family he was dealing with. As difficult as Fuze might be, he was still family. His father always stressed the value of protecting his family, and that’s what Book had to do, even if he had to protect Fuze from himself.

Fuze has returned home from another date with Trixie, and his head was in the clouds.

As he was learning more about her she seemed less and less like an arrogant magician and more like a misunderstood wonder. He had never felt like this in his life. A part of him even forgot his mission and focused more on his new friend.

As Fuze sat down on his couch and started listening to the rainfall he heard a knock on the door. He walked up to it, expecting Book to ask him a dozen questions. As he opened the door, he was shocked to see Trixie standing there, soaking wet.

“Oh! Trixie! W-What are you doing here?” He asked, a little flustered.

“My cart burned. I would ask Starlight for a room at the castle, but I always get lost when I get up to use the restroom. Can I spend the night here?” Trixie asked, looking a little embarrassed.

Fuze was a little shocked and worried to have the girl he was courting stay at his house, but he knew that the storm was only getting worse. He’d also find it very awkward to say no to her. “Uh… Okay.”

Trixie took off her soaked hat to reveal her wet hair, making Fuze blush a bit. “Tell me, is there a shower that I can use?”

That didn’t help with Fuze’s blush. “Um… yeah. It’s upstairs.”

Trixie nodded as she made her way upstairs.

Fuze spent the next several minutes trying to ignore the sound of his shower and the idea that Trixie was in it. His heart was in a whirlwind as he tried to keep calm. It was a big relief to him when the noise stopped.

A few minutes later Trixie came down with her hair wrapped in a towel. “Sorry for using both of your towels.”

“Um… it’s okay.” Fuze said as she sat down on the other side of the couch.

After a minute they started talking about Book’s family. He told her several stories about them and how he’d often get into trouble with them. He told her that he knew that his temper was a problem, but it was so hard to keep from blowing up.

Even through all of this she didn’t judge him. She actually lowered her head a bit. “F-Fuze? Can you keep a secret?”

Fuze was a little confused, but he didn’t want to lose her respect. “Okay.”

A few tears ran down Trixie’s face. “I’ve… never had a family. My dad left when I was young, and my mom didn’t care about me at all. I’ve always had the feeling that I’ve had to prove something… that I’m… worth loving… but… I always feel… like I’m not.”

Fuze watched in pain as she was now crying in her hooves. He had never seen her this vulnerable before. Fuze slowly scooted to her and gave her a gentle hug. “You are to me.”

Fuze realized that those words escaped his mouth, but they felt so right. He didn’t want to see her cast aside like some tool, she was so much more.

Trixie sniffled as she hugged Fuze back. Fuze couldn’t care if that doctor ordered him to lose Trixie. He was never going to let go.

The two of them hugged as Fuze started remembering the stories about Starlight. He decided to wait until she was calmer before he tried talking to her.

“Princess, I’m telling you, we must check about this Dr. Mephist!” Book begged Twilight, “He’s up to something.”

Twilight groaned at this. “We’ve been over this several times. I’m starting to think that you’re obsessed.”

“He knew about stuff that happened years ago, and he only knows the dark version of it. How would a pony who’s never been here before know that unless somebody was feeding him information and twisting it?” Book asked.

Twilight sighed in frustration. “You sound paranoid. So the doctor talked to Surprise, that doesn’t mean anything. You’re making theories without evidence.”

Book was still frustrated at this. “Fine. I’ll leave Kirouac alone, but I will continue watching Surprise and looking for the doctor. I’ll try to keep you updated once I find out what really is going on.”

Book stormed out before Twilight could speak. Book knew that she was a nice pony and saw the best in others. A part of him wondered if he could have had a chance to court her, but he knew that his job trumped everything, even his own life.

Book walked across the castle, trying to find the exit as Starlight ran after him. Book could tell that Starlight was nervous as she stopped him.

“Book, I am sorry to bother you,” Starlight apologized, “But I heard you saying Dr. Mephist.”

“Yes,” Book answered, intrigued that she of all ponies would be interested. “Do you know who he is?”

She looked around the hall before grabbing him and dragging him into a room. Book was confused as they were now in one of the bathrooms that the palace had. Starlight quickly locked the door. “We can’t let anypony see us talking.”

“Um… alright, but how…” Before Book could ask his question she dragged him into the shower and turned it on.

Book could tell that this was out of fear and not heat. “This way they won’t be able to hear us.”

Book was still confused at her actions. “Can’t we just tell Twilight about this?”

“No! First of all, I can’t let her know what I did! She also might not believe you. She thinks that having a pony to fight criminals is against everything she stands for about friendship.” She explained as the shower water was soaking both of them.

“So… she hates me?” Book asked.

“I’d call it more of a serious dislike.” Starlight explained.

Book sighed a bit at this news. “Well, I guess that bridge is burned. So, how do you know this doctor?”

Starlight lowered her head is shame. “When Twilight had beaten me the first time… he made me an offer. He’d give me the knowledge to travel in time, and then after I had beaten Twilight he’d have my soul.”

Book started to see where she was going with this. “And since you didn’t beat her he couldn’t cash in.”

She nodded. “Now he’s back. I saw him myself, and he wants my soul!” She said with tears going down her face.

Book started adding the pieces together. “That’s why he was getting those ponies together. He knows that he can’t do it in person, so he’s getting a team to do it for him. Fuze, Surprise, and possibly Kirouac.”

Here eyes widened when he mentioned Fuze. “Your brother? But he’s dating Trixie!”

Book nodded with a somber look on his face. “He might be trying to get to you through her. I think Kirouac’s allegiance is shifting, but now Surprise is a bigger threat. He’s the closest to Mephist right now, meaning he’s the main tool in his plans.”

Starlight looked terrified as she looked pleadingly at Book. “What can we do?”

“I’ll investigate my brother’s house and see if I can find something there. The peace with MoonRacer is extremely important, so we need to make sure that he stays on my side. FlashTruth will be the ace in the hole there. As for Surprise, I can’t do anything against him, but the Shadow Knight can.” Book said, planning every move. “Through Surprise I’ll find the doctor and see what I can do to get him to walk… or crawl away.”

Starlight wiped the water from her eyes as she shuddered a bit. “I… I’m just afraid of what’s going to happen.”

Book gave her a hug as the water ran down the two of them. “It’s going to be alright. They’ll have to get through me in order to get a shot at you.”

Starlight hugged him back. “You know, I always did love how persistent you are. You always do whatever you can to protect us.”

Book smiled a bit. “To bad the princess of friendship doesn’t understand why I do my job. Not everybody can be taken down with friendship. Just ask Tirek or Chrysalis.”

Starlight nodded. “Well, I’m hoping that this isn’t stress or fear talking.”

Book shrugged. “Maybe after this is all over we can see if we can be friends, but right now, I can’t afford to let my emotions get in the way.”

Starlight nodded as she turned to the door. “I just don’t want to lose my friends, let alone my soul. I can’t even tell which one would be worse to…” She turned around, and she noticed that Book was now gone. At first, she would have panicked, but she remembered Twilight complaining about him doing it all of the time.

While she stood in the shower by herself, Book was now back in his house. He was soaking wet, but he knew that the rain would crush any idea of remaining dry. Book made his way into the basement and opened up a locked chest to reveal his equipment. “Alright, now I know the game, time to make my move.”

Loyal Dark was surrounded by monsters, hydras, manticores, and more, ready to fight them all. “A changeling must find the best way to deceive his enemy, or find a creature that could defeat all of them. Now my apprentice, you must find the best creature to be, and destroy those who oppose you!” Loyal Dark thought hard, he focused on the creature, and he started to transform into a giant dragon, lashing his rage upon the beasts, and burning them all. Loyal returned to his form as Mephist teleported to his side. “Well done, my apprentice, well done.”

“When do we attack them my master?” Loyal asked Mephist as the Doctor’s horn lighted up and the dead monsters disappeared into the shadows.

“Soon enough, but for now, you will just fool them, prepare the skin to the knife before you strike.” Loyal Dark nodded as Mephist looked behind him, and he felt a new spirit among them. “Please come out, Shadow Knight.” Out of the trees, a black figure came out, “Leave us,” Mephist told his apprentice, and Loyal Dark did as he was told.

“So, this is what you two have been doing with your free time, training your little puppet for a war against a peaceful nation. Is your deception on him done, or does he still cling to his soul.” Book said while levitating several throwing stars.

Mephist disappeared into the shadows, and he reappeared behind the Shadow Knight, making him jump back, “Puppets, I am not the one who manipulate them,” Mephist said, pretend to be hurt by the unicorn’s words, “Who do you think I am, Starlight Glimmer?”

“Right now you’ve shown me everything that I needed to see. You’re starting a revolution to destroy our country. Now I’m giving you one chance, leave town, or I’ll be the one who punches your ticket!”

“At least listen to my offer,” Mephist tried to calm the angry warrior as walked to a tree to take some bugs to eat. “I believe you’re in love, aren’t you?” Book didn’t say anything, he just looked at the lizard pony with rage. “Not much of a talker, anyway, your brother is in love, and you care about him, don’t you?”

“Is this love?” Book asked, holding up the vial that Fuze had. “A love potion, kinda explains who those two can stand each other. As for me, my job always comes first. I’m barely at the friend faze with the mare I’m planning on seeing. Now, you can either call off your dogs and go back to whatever pit you came from, or you can deal with me.”

“I was living enough time in the pit my father sent to, and the potion is nothing but a small poison I wanted to kill Starlight’s friend with.”

“I’ll take your confession as my reason to take you down. You’re under arrest for attempted murder and conspiracy against the crown.” Book said.

“What?” Mephist asked surprised, “No speeches about friendship, no talk me out of the dark path that I am walking in?”

“Friendship has always been the greatest tool for Twilight and her friends, but I’m not her. I’ve seen eyes like yours, and they show me that you’re not interested.” Book replied coldly.

“But I had a great villain monologue about how I am the right, about how I will control the land, and how you fell for my trap.”

“First of all, save it more your diary. Second, not the first time somebody tried to trap me, and not the last.” Book said coldly as he threw several stars it him.

“Loyal Dark, kill when ready, let’s see if the training were leading you to be the next king at my side.”

Book grinned under his mask as Loyal came out. “Changelings, I never got used to you guys.”

“You have a problem of trust in others, why didn’t you came with back up?” Mephist asked as Loyal Dark started to transform, “Is it some kind of distrust in society, or is it a way to prove the princess that you are on her league.”

“I’ve just found that it’s easier to do it yourself. I don’t play well with others.”

“A loner that work for the leader of friendship. Ironic isn’t it?”

“Oh, I don’t work for Twilight, I work for Luna. As for any relationship with Twilight, that’s over it this point.” Book said.

“Really?” Mephist asked as he teleported to the warrior’s back, kicking him and disappearing into a dark environment, “So why did you ran to her help like a small dog, any time I was here? Why didn’t you just took me yourself?”

“There’s a thing known as law and evidence. Now, both are on my side. Princess Luna will have received my evidence by now, including your poison. You’ll soon find yourself on the most wanted board by the time the sun goes up.” Book said with a grin.

“There is no law upon gods,” Mephist grinned as he disappeared, leaving Loyal Dark to deal with his enemy. Book felt that the bottle disappeared as well, turn into a black cloud of smoke.

“So this is what you are, a thug working for an assassin! You never wanted peace, you just wanted to see the ponies all die so you could become a king!” Book barked at the monster.

“And will bring peace,” Loyal dark proclaimed, “Your kind has destroyed enough, claiming others for your power, pretending to be gods!”

“You’re not the bringer of peace! You’re the bringer of death. Tell me, where will you stop? Will you murder the kids? Will this reign of tyranny spread to the other nations?” Book asked while subtly pulling some pellets from his belt.

Loyal turned into a manticore, roaring and running to attack the pony, but Book leaped from there before any harm could come to him.

“You’re the evil that you seek to destroy! You, not your nation, but you are the disease that plagues our nation, and I’m the cure!” Book barked as he threw the pellets to the ground, making a thick cloud of smoke.

“No, you are a disease, a parasite that feeds on others, the doctor showed me your true self, and showed me what I could become.”

“You’re a tool, you’ve heard what he’s doing to your teammates! He’s trying to trick Fuze into killing the pony he loves! He’s using you, just as he’s using him!”

“No, he is using ponies, I am his apprentice, why would he show me my true powers if he doesn’t care?”

“So you can kill his enemies for him, and once he’s in power, you’ll be nothing but a threat to that power! You’re expandable to him!”

As the two fought for some time, the elements of harmony came to see Book fighting a small filly.

“Book!” Twilight shouted, “What are you doing?”

“It’s a changeling! He’s being used by Mephist!” Book barked.

“There is not Mephist!” Rainbow Dash shouted as she flew to the take the filly, “Are you okay?” The filly nodded.

Book soon saw what the plan was. He was trying to remove the only pony who knew the truth. “See the ponies that you want to destroy? Get to know them, before you stab them in the back!” Book kept his distance as the main six were surrounding him.

“The big monster pony took me, he told me that he was going to feed me to Tirek!” The filly cried.

“Don’t listen to him. You know how much blood I gave from my body to protect this nation. I’ve had bones broken and had my own family threatened. Do you think that I’d lie to you.”

“I am sorry,” Twilight sighed, “But the evidence are pointing against you, until we can tell what happened here, Book Knight, you are under arrest.”

Book looked shocked as she said that. “Well, I already knew that this would never work between us, not while I wore the mask. When the nation starts burning, the Shadow Knight will return.” As Dash tried to tackle him Book slammed several pellets to the ground, enveloping him in smoke and allowing him to teleport off.

Zecora was at her hut, making potion for the illusion for the party Princess Twilight will have in 2 days, as she felt cold and darkness surrounding her. “I know to amulet you could not resist, reveal yourself now, Dr. Mephist,” from the shadows the lizard pony showed up smiling at the zebra.

“Zecora, so good to see you again,” Mephist smiled as he looked at the pot, “It seems you are busy, I would just take my belongings and leave you to your rhymes.” Mephist looked at the alicorn amulet, and he teleported to take it, bu Zecora stopped him before he could.

“You will not take this amulet, Mephist!” Zecora stood before the reptile that started to get annoyed by her.

“You make it more difficult than it should, my love,” Mephist’s shadow grew bigger as he took Zecora’s shadow by the tail, and he held her as Mephist took the amulet, and he put it on his green neck, “You could live as my queen, now you are just as a slave.”

“What has become of you Green scale,” Zecora asked, “This is not the pony that for whom I have fell.”

“That name means nothing to me!” Mephist shouted in rage, “It was nothing but a name I took, I am and I will always be Mephist, god of the shadows!”

“You can fool yourself as long as you like, but to me you are always been the lizard I like.” Mephist rolled his eyes, and he disappeared from the place, and Zecora fell on the floor, and an old picture of her with a lizard pony was broken.