The Equestrian Monomyth - Book 1 - Be a Good Brony or Die Trying

" All is loooost! Celestia is gooooooone! All is looooooost! " Twilight mourned, tightly hugging me.

This was plain awful. Watching Twilight suffering like that really got me: I can't let her like that, her heart wasn't
going to take it. Wait. What I'm thinking? That's suicide...! What the hell, from something we have to die...

" No, my love, no. All is not lost. We can fight back. We must! "

" What? " Twilight broke the hug and stared straight to me.

" We have to fight back! " I stated with determination. " We can't leave Seymour and Luna at their will! I don't know
what they're planning to do, but it can't be good! We must fight back! "

" But, how? Celestia is gone... What can we do? "

" We must retrieve the Elements of Magic, and take them down! "

Twilight's face enlightened:

" Of course! That's right! I have completely forgotten about them...! But how we're going to retrieve them? The castle
is full of that horrible monsters! "

" Don't worry, Twi. I'll figure it out. But, for the time being... " I turned to the rest of the mares. " All of you
have to learn to fight. "

" What? We? " Fluttershy and Rarity panicked.

" Yes, you. "

" But ha wa're goin' ta do that? Ah don't hav' any horn or wings, ya know? " AJ protested.

" You don't need any horns. " I smiled.

" What?! " They all surprised.

" That's right. You only need your hooves. You can use them to cast magic like they were horns. "

" But, but, how's that possible? " Dashie inquired.

" I came out with that conclusion, after I saw you casting a lightning from a cloud just by hitting it. "

" Wowwwwww. " Dashie amazed.

" That's right. Damn, I learned to use magic too, and I haven't horn or hooves. So, why you not? " I stood up before
them. " You only have to learn how to focus... and I will teach you how... "

First, I approached Rarity. Being an unicorn, it will be easier for her, right?

" Rarity, I have here a list of combat spells that you have to learn. "

" What? Me and a fight? Oh, no dear! That's like water and vinegar! I'll never put a beautiful and clean pony like me in
such disgusting situation! Fighting only means dirtiness, sweat and blood! " Rarity startled, horrified. " Blood?! Not
blood! Anything but bloooood! Ahhhhhhhhh! " She put her forelegs in her head and started to scream histerically.

" Alright, alright! " I tapped her muzzle, annoyed. " No fighting for you, then... "

" Thank you, thank you, dear! " She hugged me.

" Ok, Rarity. Go to do... something pretty around... " I made an annoyed gesture.

" You bet I will! " She smiled and left.

Then, I turned to the pegasi. Maybe I'll have better luck with them.

" Alright, Dashie, Flutters. You already knew the basics of focusing, you only have to change the way it's done. Now,
imagine you're going to cast a lightning, but instead, clap your forehooves together, and start to rub each other, until
you feel they're vibrating. Then, start to move them away and close to each other, until you feel they're repelling
themselves. Come on. Give it a try. "

They did as I said.

" It's working, it's working! " Happily bumped Dashie. " Now what? "

" Well, now, keep moving the hooves, but also imagine that there's an energy ball growing between them. Go ahead. "

Dashie managed to do it quickly.

" Bravo, Dashie! You're a natural! " I happily cheered her.

" You bet I am! "

" Great, Dashie. Listen, what you have there is what is called a "Hadou" "

" A "Hadou"? "

" Exactly, and the attack you're going to perform is called "Hadou"ken". "

" Well, it's a funny name, but I got it. " Dashie giggled.

" Well, Dashie, now pitch the ball against that boulder. "

" There I go! Say goodbye, boulder! " Happily exclaimed Dashie and pitched the ball, but it dissintegrated not even
close to it's target.

" Ohhhh. " Dashie regretted, dissapointed.

" Don't worry, Dashie. That's normal. You'll have to practice it several times until you can do it right. Come on! You
already did the tougher part! " I encouraged her. " Also, calling the name of the attack, Hadou"ken, does improve it's
strenght. "

" Then I'll practice until I can do it better that even you! " Happily claimed the pegasi, resuming the drill. " Hadou"
ken! "

Then, I turned to Fluttershy, who was still moving her hooves, with no success.

" How you're doing, Flutters? "

" Can you explain me that "Voodoo" thing again? " She shiyly asked.

" Ok, ok. Maybe that's not for you. Let's focus on healing spells better. "

" But you're already too good at it. " She looks like she's giving up.

" Yes, I am, Flutters, but if I get wounded, who's gonna heal me, huh? "

" Twilight can. "

" Twilight is not coming. "

" What?! " They all startled.

I knelt to Twilight:

" Sorry, Twi, but you're still too weak for... what happened. I need you to stay here and rest, so you'll be ready to
use the Elements of Harmony. "

" But I can still train. I can get stronger. I must! " She insisted.

" Sorry, my love, but I can't risk to stress you too much. Besides, you're already a good fighter by yourself. Go to
rest, please? " I gave her a peck.

She closed the eyes, lowered the head and the ears, and reluctantly nodded.

After giving Fluttershy a healing know"how, I left her practicing with a little sprout and approached Pinkie and AJ.
Those ones will be the hardest to teach, I presume.

" Alright, Pinkie, AJ, as you've never even focused, I'll explain how it's done. First, imagine you're gathering energy
right to your solar plexus... "

" What's a solar plexus? " Asked Pinkie.

" It's... the intersection between the chest and the abdomen. " I pointed to the place on myself.

" An intersection? But if I don't see any... " She looked at her torso, without understand.

I looked upside, and then I came out with something:

" It's where your cupcakes go when you eat them. "

Pinkie stared at me, surprised, and then, she smiled:

" Now you're talking, hooman! "

" Alright, once you do that, imagine that all that energy goes from there through your chest, shoulders and forelegs,
right to your hooves. Go ahead. "

Pinkie and AJ kept a while looking to their hooves. I looked down. Damn, this is gonna take a while! Maybe I should
left it here, and just rely on Dashie and Fluttershy...

" I think I got it! I think I got it! " Happily exclaimed Pinkie.

" You did? Well, do you remember what I explained to Dashie about creating an energy ball...? "

" Yes! The "Hadou"! "

" Did you remembered that? "

" Of course I do! I remember everything! I even remember everypony's name in Ponyville! My memory is flawless! "

" Alllright... see that boulder over there? Cast the "Hadou"ken" to it. " I pointed a big stone.

" What? No! I was raised in a rock farm. I'll never ever attack a rock. Period. " She turned the head and closed the
eyes, refusing to do what I told her.

I twisted the eyes, upset, but then I came out with an idea. I took a small black crayon, went to the boulder and
painted a rough sketch of an evily smiling Seymour's face on it. Then I came back to Pinkie:

" What about now? I bet it'll be easier now, doesn't? "

Pinkie stared for a moment to my "Masterpiece", and then frowned and clenched the teeth:

" Youuuuuuuuu bet... Hadou"ken! "

A second later, the boulder wasn't more but a dust cloud with falling debris:

" Bravo Pinkie! But I think you overdo it a bit there... "

" I don't! "

" Whatever... "

I officially named Pinkie as AJ's monitor, so she could taught the cowboy mare how it's done, and returned to
Fluttershy.

" Any progress, Flutters? "

" No... I'm so stupid and useless. " She sobbed.

" Huh"huhhh. Not at all. " I denied with my finger, and picked up Rarity, who was making figures with the trees branches.
" Eh, Rar. Can you taught Fluttershy how do you stick broken branches together? "

Then, I returned to AJ:

" Buckin's, pardner. No matter ha many times ah try this, ah can't make a buckin' ball. Maybe this's nat fer me. " She
rued.

I thought for a moment, and then I picked a rock and put it over a stump:

" Alright, AJ. Now, focus and buck the rock. "

AJ looked at me with distrust, but she turned to the rock and bucked it.

The rock dissapeared in the sky.

" Well done AJ! I know you have it on you! " I cheered her, who can't still believe it.

" No, Spike. I'm not leaving you, Spike. " Was saying Twilight while sleeping. " Spike! " She woke up with a startle,
looking everywhere, after sleeping almost 2 days straight.

Then, she galloped to me:

" Gus, Gus, my love! I've completely forgotten about Spike! We have to return to Ponyville! I need to take him out of
danger! " She pointed with a hoof.

" Sorry, my love, but you can't go back there. Those things could be still there and you'll get killed! " I warned her.

" But I can't leave him there, alone! And I'll go there with or without you! "

" Ah, no, you little crazy, I can't allow that! " I put my fists on my waist, upset.

" Try me! " She shouts and teleported away.

But I had her locked on. So, I quickly passed and ambushed her, and when she was going to pass for my position, I, with
a lightning speed telekinetic move, put the magic dampening ring on her horn...

" Release me! Release me! Let me go! " I brought her back protesting, and tied her to a tree:

" There you're gonna stay until we retrieve the Elements, Twi! " I told her.

" Gus! You can't tie me like I was an animal! Let me go! "

" You're an animal! " I roared, enraged.

She stopped rambling, and kept staring at me, with tearful eyes:

" Then... That's how you see me...? As an... animaaal...? " She cried.

I quickly understood my mistake:

" No, my love, no. That's not what I meant. " I hugged her.

" Then... why you don't let me goooooo...? " She sobbed.

" You know why, Twi. Don't make this worse than already is. "

" Gus, if you don't let me go, we're done. You hear me?! Done!! " She pushed me away, angry.

I stood up furious, with fists in my waist. So, she's trying to blackmail me now?

" Well, fine then! " I shouted, upset.

" Fine! " She shouted back, upset too.

" Hmph! " We both turned our backs to each other, crossing arms and forelegs, respectively.

Then, I could see the rest of the mares, watching the scene. I twisted my eyes.

" Well, that's it. Training is over. Take a rest and we'll continue later. " I stated with an angry gesture and walked
away.

Dashie came at my side:

" Hey, Gus, I'm not tired. I want to continue training! "

I twisted my eyes again. Well, what the hell...

" Alright, Dashie, I think you're gonna like this spells, they're called Lightfeet and Muscle Toner, and they allow you
to move even faster and do better acrobatics... "

When I had moved far enough, Twilight called Rarity:

" Psssst, Rar. Come over here, please. " She whispered.

" What's it, dear? "

" Rarity, please, let me go. I need to look for Spike. "

" But, Twilight, Gus is right. If you return there, you'll get killed! "

" Shhhh! Rar, lower the voice. Look, I'm going to be careful, they won't see me. Rarity, help me, please. " She put a
stray cat face, with quivering pleading eyes.

" Twilight, please, don't do that, you're going to make me cry. " Rarity sobbed.

Twilight only enhanced the expression.

" Pretty please? "

" Wahhhah! " Rarity made a short cry. " Oh, dear, you got me! Just promise me you'll be safe, alright? "

Dashie and me were practicing our shielding endurance, bumping to each other at max speed. But I couldn't stop thinking
about Twilight's argument: Has she really meant it?

Suddenly, I looked upside, and Dashie was the last thing I could see, before all blacked out.

" Gus, Gus! Please, answer me! I don't know what I'll do if you die! Answer me, please! " I could hear Dashie cry, as
well as her hooves pushing my chest.

" Wow, Dashie, I didn't know you had those feelings for me. " I smirked, teasing her so she could see I was fine.

Dashie startled, then she stood up on her hinderlegs and looked around, worried about something, and later she put her
muzzle near my left ear:

" If you tell anypony what I've just said, I'll rip your ear off! " She whispered with clenched teeth, and later made a
loud bite near my ear.

" Whoa, whoa! Easy, girl! I got the point! " I chuckled, tilting the head, just in case.

Then, she helped me to stand up.

" What happened, Gus? Why did you take out the shield? "

" I didn't. I just... lost the focus. "

" And that happens very often? "

" No. Only when you're thinking in something else. "

" You're still worried for your argument with Twilight, are you? " Dashie figured out.

" Yeah. " I sadly nodded.

" Well, I'm just wondering, that she and you finally break up, there might be somepony... Not me, of course...! " She
put a hoof on her chest and shook the head. " That could... you know... be your best pony instead... and... "

" That's enough, Dashie. Cut it out. " I put my open palm before her and made a negative gesture with my arms.

" Ow... Don't tell anypony about that either... " She frowned.