Riki and Liz's Grand Adventure!

What's your name!

Celestia and Luna start to concentrate. They don’t want to teleport half their body or something. Locating Riki’s house is easy since they did it before when the two of them first arrived. In a blink of an eye…POP… Riki, Liz, and Louie are gone. Both of them are silent. After a few minutes, Luna spoke up, “Tia, why did you let Riki go after Taboo?”

The sun princess took her time, trying to find the right words. After a few seconds, Celestia says, “Riki is a strange pony or human. He has only been here for a few days and wants to fight for us. When I was healing him, I went into his mind. I felt…”

“Safe, warm, fearless?”

Celestia gets a confused look, “…How did you know?”

“When I was in Riki’s dream, I felt that when he protected me from that nightmare,” Luna said, remembering back to that night. She’ll never forget that feeling. Luna brought it up to Riki, but he didn’t know what she was talking about. “What about Liz?”

“She’s scared but tries her hardest not to be. I see a lot of hidden potential in Liz. All she needs is a little push, Riki too.” Celestia said, “Those two are very strange… In a good way. I wonder if all humans are like this?”

Luna does a small sigh, “You think they can beat Taboo?”

“I think they can pull it off,”

“I have faith in Riki, Liz, and the girls,” Luna smiled. After a few seconds of silence, “…Did you know Riki has cute freckles?”

“He has what!?”

“Captain Shining!” yelled a blue unicorn guard. Shining Armor and 20 guards are at the abandoned building location. Searching through the hotel rubble and rooms

“Find anything?” Shining asked,

“We remove a good chunk of the rubble to find paper arrows and Diamond Dog fur.”

“Anything else?”

“Yes, claw marks and some blood. But no bodies.”

Shining stomps his hoof, “They couldn't have gotten that far. Half of the guards come with me. The rest stay here and check all the buildings here!”

From a building a few blocks down, La-la and Wrath watch Shining and half the guards leaving. La-la is a little banged up. On the other hand, Wrath is bleeding from his head and holding his shoulder.

“Wrath, some of them leaving,” La-la said, “What are they doing?”

Wrath lays against the wall, “They probably splitting up just to find us.” The stunt that Riki pulled really did a number on him. “Paper brat… You okay?”

La-la looks down with a blush, “Yeah, thank you for protecting me from the falling rubble. But are you okay? If I just had some paper, I could patch you up.” La-la walks over to Wrath, petting his injured paw. “What about the guards? I wish I could make a giant paper eagle so we can escape. And you’re definitely not in a condition to fight.”

“Shut up. I can fight.” Wrath grumbled, pulling away his paw. La-la stops him by putting some pressure on it. “Okay, I can’t fight right now.”

“…What about Taboo?” asked La-la, letting go of Wrath’s paw and tapping the floor playfully.

“What about Taboo,” Wrath huffed, “That shut-in pony told us to free Taboo. We did it. We’re not doing any extra shit for him. Taboo is on his own.”

“She’s going to be so mad,” La-la trembled,

"Let her," Wrath scoffed, slowly gets up, “C’mon, we need to go. If we stay here any longer, we’ll get captured” He makes his way to the door, “We can hop a train to get out Canterlot. Lay low for a bit before heading back to base, got it?”

“Yes,” La-la beamed, skipping towards Wrath. “Wrathy, I’m sooooo hungry. Can we stop by the donut shop?”

“We have no bits,”

“Who said we’re using bits?” La-la said with a cheeky smile.

Wrath burst out laughing, “Let’s take a few baker’s dozen!”

“Yeah!”

“Why did you have to go, you idiot!” I yelled with tears in my eyes. I kick the door open into my workshop and start breaking stuff. Throwing my tools into the wall, kicking over a tool chest. I don't care anymore. I pick up a socket wrench and throw it at flipped over vespa, knocking it over. Going to flip a table, but Louie jumps on top of it. I slump against the wall and hug my legs.

“Why, Riki?” I sobbed, “Why do you have to be so brave. I wish dad were still alive, he could have stopped you.” My stomach burns like the pits of hell. Did I make the right choice? It’s not selfish to think about your own safety…right? “Even if I did go, I’ll just get in the way.” I buried my face deep into my legs. I just want to cry myself to sleep.

I can hear Louie walk to me. His head rubs against my legs. “Louie, go away. I’m not in the mood.” I said, pushing him gently away with my foot. He scurries off, only to come back later dragging something. Louie drops it and starts to rub his head on my legs again. I chose to ignore him this time. Louie stops and then bites my exposed ankle. “Ow, Louie, no biting!” I said, rubbing my ankle. He does a few meows, then bops something on the ground. Looking at what he brought me, I’m surprised to see a wrench. I pick it up and admire the tool. A thick 21mm chrome vanadium steel double open-end wrench. My fingers run over the wrench.

Flashback-Three years ago

“Damn, I can’t believe you got drunk,” I said, opening the front door and guiding my drunk brother inside. “What if the cops saw you like this?”

“I’m 21,” Riki said tiredly as I put him on the couch.

“Your birthday is tomorrow,” I said with a smile,

“Oh shit, your right!” Riki laughed, laying face down on the couch, “Abby came back from deployment, and Nikolai got dumped, so we have to throw a party!”

I sit on the couch arm, “It was just the four of us in Central Park.”

“Did you have fun?”

“…Yeah, especially when you and Nikolai went dumpster diving behind the Dunkin Donuts. I need to text Abby the pictures.”

Riki rolls onto his back, “Oi, they throw away perfectly good donuts. At least I didn’t steal a shopping cart.”

“If Nikolai and Abby didn’t leave, I wouldn’t have done it. I’ll just return the shopping cart tomorrow, good night.”

“Wait,” Riki said, pulling on my hand. “I was saving this for your birthday, but I want you to have it now.”

“You know a birthday present is supposed to be on a birthday?” I said with my hands on my hips.

Riki digs in the couch cushions, and of course, he’ll hide it there. He hands me a wide rectangle box, “If I can celebrate my birthday early, you can too.” I open up the box. Inside is a 21mm double open-end wrench. It looks amazing like it was made by hand. “I remember when you first moved in, you were complaining about losing it or something.”

I nodded, “Yeah, but it was a 22mm.”

“Sorry about that,” Riki sighed, “I should have double-checked with you.”

“No, I want to keep it!” I said, shaking my head as fast as possible. “It feels so amazing, it so perfect. Where did you get this?”

“Sensei knows a guy who makes weapons. I got his number, and we chatted. A few weeks later, your wrench came in the mail.”

“Wow, thank you!” I said with a smile.

“…Liz, sorry for leaving you and Dad. I just couldn’t deal with your mom.” Riki said, staring at the ceiling empty gaze.

“it’s… Understandable.” I said softly, fiddling with the wrench. “But don’t do it again, promise?

Riki smiles, “As long as you promise to have my back!”

“Of course, I promise to have your back.”

“One more thing, I had a message engraved on the back of the wrench. So you can remember that….”

Flashback End

“I’ll always be with you,” I read aloud as tears pour from my eyes. Damn, what am I doing here!? I quickly wipe the tears from my eyes. Getting up from the ground, I pick up the tipped-over tool chest. Rolling the chest to the vespa, I pull back my hair and put on my goggles. Louie starts to purr as his head rubs against my leg, “Louie, we got some work to do. Guys, stay safe. I’m coming!”

“IS THAT ALL YOU GOT!?” Taboo taunted, dodging a flying tackle from Rainbow Dash. He then grabs her tail then spins her around over his head. “LOYALTY, AREN’T YOU HAVING FUN? BECAUSE I AM!” Taboo exclaimed, building up more and more speed.

“Let her go, you varmint!” shouted Applejack, running towards Taboo with Pinkie.

“GLADLY,” said Taboo. Using that built up speed, he hurls Rainbow at Applejack and Pinkie. Rainbow’s body collides with Pinkie and Applejack.

The three ponies roll across the ground into a pile. “You two okay?” asked Applejack, getting off Pinkie and Rainbow Dash.

“O-owwwie,” Pinkie answered,

“D-dizzy, very v-very dizzy,” Rainbow said, trying to make her head stop spinning.

Meanwhile, Twilight freed Fluttershy and Rarity from this weird black goo by blasting away with her magic. “It’s all in my mane,” Rarity complained,

“I can’t open up my wings,” Fluttershy said, removing some of the goo from her wings.

“Rarity, help Fluttershy with her wings,” Twilight said, running towards the other. Twilight sees Taboo lunging at Applejack with his sharp claws.

Taboo is surprised to see Pinkie in his face, pulling a cupcake out of her hair. “This super-duper amazing cupcake was for Riki, but you can have it!” yelled Pinkie, smashing the cupcake into Taboo’s top and bottom right eye.

“MY EYES!” Taboo roared, backing away and wiping the frosting out of his eyes. “I’LL KILL THE PINK ONE F-AGGGHHHH!” A powerful magic beam from Twilight hits Taboo square in the face. His body rolls across the ground. Stopped himself by digging his claws into the ground. “I EXPECTED THE ELEMENT OF MAGIC TO DO SOMETHING TO ME. THE CUPCAKE… I HAVE NO WORDS.”

“Alright ladies, full power!” Twilight shouted,

Taboo sees the glowing eyes of the six mares floating in the air. He can feel the Elements’ power radiating from where he stands. Taboo watches as a huge rainbow beam slams into him with the force of a speeding freight train. Stone slowly consumes his lower body. Taboo claps his hands together to make a faint glow. The rainbow beam stops a few seconds later, and the girls gently land on the ground. In front of them is a stone statue of Taboo. His hands together with three of his eyes are closed. It’s like he’s meditating.

The girls walk up to Taboo, “We did it, but….” Twilight said somberly, “We lost Riki. How are we going to explain this to Liz?” She looks down at the ground with a few tears. Pinkie pulls Twilight into a caring hug.

“What's next?” asked Fluttershy. Before anyone could say anything, the statue started to shake a little.

“Wait, what’s going on?” said Rarity, as they all backup.

“No, he can’t,” Twilight muttered,

The statue thrashed around for a bit. Cracks begin to form as black light shines out. Twilight quickly puts up a shield just as the statue exploded. The force was so much it broke through Twilight’s shield easily, throwing them around the ground.

“YOU CALL THAT SEALING ME AWAY?” Taboo yawned, doing a big stretch. “PROPHETIC, BUT I DO FEEL A LITTLE SLUGGISH....” Taboo stretches his arm, grabbing Pinkie by her hair.

“Help!” Pinkie yelled, being pulled away. They want to get up, but they can’t. Too tired to stand, all they can do is watch Pinkie struggle to break free from Taboo’s grasp.

“LAUGHTER, I ALWAYS HATED THE COLOR PINK,” Taboo said coldly, ready to slash through the pony. Pinkie closes her eyes as she can hear her friends calling for her. “TIME TO DI-AAAAGGGHHHHHH!!!”

Out of nowhere, Taboo takes a flying kick in the stomach. Letting go of Pinkie as he was sent to fly into a tree. Pinkie is caught before touching the ground. Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rarity are shocked at what happened. Doing a double take because they can’t believe what they’re looking at.

“Oi, you can open your eyes, Pinkie.”

“Riki,” Pinkie said in total disbelief.

Riki carries Pinkie to the other and picks them up too. Running to the chariot and kicking it to its side. He places all of them down and drops his backpack. “I have water, granola bars, rice cakes, and a first aid kit,” Riki said casually, pulling out all the stuff. He looks up to see all of them have tears flowing from their eyes. “Oi-” Riki is cut off by all of them hugging him.

“We saw you died!”

“You exploded into tiny, unrecognizable pieces.”

“How are you alive!?”

“Are you even real!?”

“Is this a trick from Taboo?”

“What happened when Taboo captured you?”

“Does Liz and the Princesses know you’re here?”

They all flood Riki with tons of questions, and he waits for them to get them out of their system. “Listen, the Riki that Taboo killed, was fake. I was held hostage. And yes, they know I’m here. The Princesses are letting me handle this.” Riki gets up from the ground and heads back to the battlefield. He stops to look at the ponies, “You guys did a great job! Now sit back and rest. I want to get my licks in!” They give Riki a confused look, “It means I want to punch him.”

Taboo rubs his head as he stands up. He wonders why that human is here. And why did that attack hurt so much? Was it… No, it couldn’t be. That human doesn’t have it! It’s probably the Elements blasted that is messing with his body. Taboo returns to the battlefield, seeing Riki stand tall on a rock. “WHY ARE YOU HERE?”

“Why?” Riki said, doing some stretches.

“DID THE SUN AND MOON PROMISE YOU SOMETHING? IT’S THE ONLY WAY I SEE YOU COMING BACK TO FIGHT, AM I RIGHT?” Riki says nothing, and Taboo continues, “WHAT DID THEY PROMISED YOU? WEALTH, FAME, PLEASURE?” Taboo cracks a smile as he stares down at Riki, “OR, DO YOU THINK THAT BEATING ME, THEY WELL LOOK AT YOU DIFFERENTLY. THEY WON’T SEE YOU AS A MONSTER, BUT A HERO!”

“…”

“HEAR MY WORDS, NO MATTER HOW MANY GOOD DEEDS YOU DO. THEY WILL STILL LOOK AT YOU AS A MONSTER, A OUTSIDER, A THING THAT DOESN’T BELONG HERE.”

“…Shut up…” Riki said, hopping off a rock.

“WHAT’S WRONG? DID I HIT A NERVE?”

“I’m not doing this for wealth, fame, or recognition. I don’t care if they see me as a monster. I don’t care if they see me as a hero.” Riki said seriously, “I'm doing this because I want to. I do care about my friends and their homes. I’m not going to stand around and do nothing.”

Taboo tightens his fist as Riki’s words hit him hard. Reminds him of someone he knew long ago. “WHAT’S YOUR NAME, CHILD?”

“My name is Ricochet Gregory Phillips!” he says with all his might, “And I’m going to kick your ass!”