Something Different

Chapter 6

(I again suggest you read the whole story all over again before proceeding. Potatoes.)

      Twilight, Link, and I explored Ponyville. Most of the ponies have already gotten use to us, but a few stayed on the other side of the street. We continued our exploration until we arrived at 'Sugarcube Corner' where we found the rest of our group, Spike, and the 'girls'. Big Mac, Joy Stick, High Score, Storming Shadow, and Ditzy Doo were all at work, and Discord was nowhere to be seen (No, sadly not foreshadowing). So the team was at one table with Spike and the five mares, Twilight, Link, and I were at another. We had a good conversation going and then it took an interesting turn...

"Wait. You have a daughter?" I asked.

"Yes. Her name is Nyx." Twilight replied immediately with no hesitance.

"How come I've never seen her around your library?" Link inquires.

"She currently goes to Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns."

I raise an eyebrow. "Wait. That sounds like a college. How old is Nyx?

"Its not a college. More like a private school. And she's 9."

My eyebrow raised a few more millimeters. "9? Aren't you like, 21, give or take?"

"Yeah, 21 and a few months."

"Where's the father?" I say without thinking.

Frick! I probably just walking into something too personal!

"There is no father. Nyx is adopted."

WHEW!

"Oh, OK." I say, relieved.

" 'Certainly explains a few things." Link says next in his smart@$$ way.

A few seconds of awkward silence later...

"Out of curiousity: How old are you guys?"

I give Twilight a quizzical look. "Why does it matter?"

"It doesn't. I'm just curious."

Its an odd question. I am about to answer when I get a rather trollish idea. "Miss Sparkle, are you flirting with me?"

She blushes. Alot. "N-no! I'm just curious as all!"

Link and I laugh hystercially. "I'm just kiddin' with you."

She glares daggers straight into my soul. *Shudders*

"Right. *Ahem* Uhm. Tyran and I are both 16."

"I'm 17 going on 18." Link comes in. I continue. "Anthia is 15 1/2. Cid is 37. Xavier is 103. And I have no idea how old 24-89 is, but then again we know none of his physical traits besides the fact he is almost as strong as the King."

"3 of you are only teenagers and you are trying to save the world?! And did I hear 103 in that sentence?!"

"Yep."

Twilight wrinkles her nose. "Well, I've figured out this much: Ponies, Humans, Dwarves, and Elves age the same. Can't say anything about Draconians, though."

"You asked us for our ages just to figure that out?"

"Pretty much."

I give Twilight my best 'Seriously?' face I can muster up. "Anyway, you said something about ponies and Xetronuvians aging the same? I call bull shizam on that claim."

"Why do you say that?"

Before I could respond Link comes in again. "Its because ponies in Xetronuvia reach sexual maturity before the age of 4; and they can't speak or reason for that matter."

"Thanks Link. Twilight absolutely needed to hear that." I say to him, sarcastically.

"You're welcome." Link replies, enthusiastically.

Twilight had the most confused look I've ever seen. Then she speaks. "You know? I don't wanna know."

Awkward Silence

"Lets go to the rest of the group, shall we?" Twilight asks.

"Oh, yes. Lets." Link agrees.

The 3 of us move over to the other table; right in the middle of an interesting conversation...

"...It just keeps me safe! I didn't know we'd end up in land of ponies!" Xavier tries to explain.

"You have a coat made of leather! I simply cannot let this go!" Rarity pressed on.

"Its made of rhino leather. You don't even know what a rhino is!"

Rainbow Dash comes in. "You did tell us that they were creatures with a single horn. As in UNICORN!"

"Hey guys! Guys!" Everyone and everypony turnd their attention to Link. He puts his hands together. "Good now that I have all of your attention: Shut up." he says coldy.

     The icyness in his voice forced the Draconian and the Unicorn to oblige. Cid speaks up. "Has anyone seen pink pon-" as if on cue, Pinkie Pie pops out of nowhere with a tray of brownies. "I have treats~!" she says in a sing-song voice. Cid looks shocked for a few seconds before grabbing 2 brownies. "I found her. Elijah, where is dog and dragon?"

"I have no idea. 'Probably should find them before anypony gets killed." I reply.

"You know a dragon?" Fluttershy and Spike ask in unison.

If I respond truthfully, Fluttershy will cower in fear for the whole time we stay. And Spike will be offended that I have a dragon as pet. I can't lie. I'm terrible at it. And I hate lying regardless. Frick. This is gonna take awhile.

"Uhm-"

"HHEEEELLLPP!" Before I could explain. A small, crying, grey uncorn filly with a blonde mane comes rushing through the door.

"Dinky!" Rainbow exclaims, hovering over to the filly, whom I assume is 'Dinky'.

"Auntie Rainbow! Scootaloo, Applebloom, and Sweetie Belle are in trouble!"

Rarity let out a bored sigh. "What did you 4 crusaders do this time?"

"W-we didn't do anything!" Dinky sobbed. "We were in the Everfee For-"

"Nah what in tarnation were you 4 doin' in the Evefree Forest?" Applejack asked in a stern tone.

"We were trying to get our outdoor survivalist cutie marks." Dinky fidgeted with her hooves.

"Never mind that. What happened?" Rarity inquired.

"DIAMOND DOGS! They were ponynapped by Diamond Dogs!"

"WHAT?!" Rainbow exclaimed.

"Y-yeah! They were ens... enzl... um..." She struggled to find the right words.

"Enslaved?" Twilight offered.

"Yeah! The Diamond Dogs enslaved them!"

ME: THEY.

Link: DID.

Xavier: WHAT?!?

I slam my hands on the table and lift myself up. "OK. Sh!t just got real."

Xavier says nothing as he loads spare bullets into his revolver.

I see Link slowly tense up. He's going bad@$$ again...

"Do you know where they are?" he asks Dinky.

"Uh... Yeah! They are in a cave, on a mountain, in the Everfree Forest!"

I nod and turn to the group and 'The Mane Six', as I've taken to calling them. "You all stay here. Xavier, Link, and I are going to... have agressive negotiations with these 'Diamond Dogs'."

"I have no objection." Cid takes a bite of his brownie. "God, these are good! Anyway, I have objection. I stay and drink." he finishes as he brings out a bottle of cheap whiskey from his jacket pocket.

"Dude, why can't I come?" Tyran asks me.

" 'Cause this mission just became personal."

"How so?"

I ignore his question.

"If this is personal, Elijah, I won't stand in your way." Anthia reassures me.

"So will I." 24 agrees.

Tyran pouts immaturely as he brings out his guitar and begins playing "Legends".

"We're coming too!" I turn my head to the voice. I see Rarity, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash trotting towards us.

"No." I say "Its gonna be too dangerous."

"Well, ah don't care! Applebloom is mah sister, and ya'll can't keep me from helpin' tah save her!" Applejack tells me.

"The same applies to me. Sweetie Belle is my younger sibling and I have the right to aid in this mission. And I have a personal bone to pick with the Diamond Dogs." Rarity gains a vengeful grin.

"She may not be my sister, but I love Scootaloo like a sister. I would DIE to save her!" Rainbow gives her speech.

I raise my eyebrow a 3rd time. "I have no choice in this, do I?"

"Unless yah wann git bucked in yer stallionhood, Ah reckon you don't."

It only takes me a second and a half to figure out what Applejack meant by 'stallionhood'.

     I sigh. "OK. The 6 of us will go to the cave and find your sisters." I turn to Xavier and Link. "Guys, remember: We need to use diplomatic ta-" Link cuts me off. "@#$% that! These guys enslaved little girls! I'm going to take each one of their heads off and take pictures of the heads doing embarrassing things to each other!"

Whoa, he's not kidding.

I look back to Dinky. "You're going to have to come with us, as well."

"W-why?"

"Well, we don't know the way."

"B-b-b-but its scary there!"

"You were in there earlier..."

"Its still scary!"

"Dinky, we need to save your friends. You are going to have to trust me. I promise you won't get hurt. I'll keep you safe."

She's still crying a bit, so I kneel down and hug her. "Its alright. But we need you for this mission. I promise, if anything tries to hurt you, I will set it on fire." Subtle, I know.

"OK." Dinky agrees in a Fluttershy level voice.

"I don't think Ditzy will approve of her daughter going on this trip." Rainbow comes in.

"Probably not. I will take full blame if Dinky's hurt, and if so, then Ditzy can buck me in the face."

"Shall we depart now?" Rarity pipes in.

"Lets collect supplies first. We leave in half an hour." Xavier says.

We all nod. "I'm gonna go find Thunder Rush. We're gonna fly."

Author's Notes:

________________

Past Sins reference! GASP!

Sh!t just got real. Those Diamond Dogs are screwed.

Chapter 7 is already a quarter written so it should be out soon.

Joy Stick;s story is still at a writer's block. -__-

That's all folks!