Rise of Ruinous

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic: RISE OF RUINOUS

Chapter 36: Ponies, Pets and Pals

The time: Two weeks after beating DarkSparkle.

Virtuna hums as she tends to her arcade when a ball bounced into the open door.

Virtuna: Huh?

As the little earth pony goes to investigate, Winona bursts in and swipes it in her mouth!

Virtuna: *falls on her rear end!* WHOA!

With a short bark, Winona dashes outside as Virtuna struggles to her hooves.

Virtuna: One of Fluttershy's?

The little earth pony charges out of the arcade after Winona, Pixel flying after her with a buzz.  The border collie soon comes across a park in which the Mane 6 and their pets were playing.

Applejack: Sorry 'bout that, girl.  Must've put a bit too much spice on that throw.

Winona barks and licks Applejack's cheek, making the farm pony laugh.  Virtuna watches from a nearby bush and grins widely.

*INTRO SEQUENCE*

Virtuna trots over as she watches the Mane 6 play with their pets.

Virtuna: Heya girls!  *Everyone stops and looks*  What's goin' on?

R.Dash: Heya, Virtuna.  We're just having our weekly Pony Pet Playdate.

Virtuna: Which would explain the ball in my arcade.

Applejack: Whoa, Nelly!

Applejack and Virtuna giggle as Pixel floats over the pets.  Opalescence growls at the parasprite, even going as far as to swipe a claw at it!

Rarity: Opal!  Don't attack Pixel like that!

Opalescence meows sharply and walks off as if she owned the park.  Rarity frowns as she checks on Pixel.

Rarity: I'm SO sorry about that, Pixel.

Pixel buzzes and smiles at Rarity, the unicorn putting on a relieved face.

Virtuna: Aw, he's a toughie, Rarity.  He DID come from the Everfree Forest, remember?

Rarity: *nod* Of course, Virtuna, but Opal's no mere tabby cat, she's a bit.....

Applejack: Ornery?

Rarity frowns a bit, then shakes her head, knowing the farm pony was right.  Applejack chuckled as Virtuna walked up.

Virtuna: So what exactly happens here?

Fluttershy: Well, exactly as you see.  We take our pets out to run around, have fun, get some fresh air, etc.

Trixie: Sounds like a blast, but.....

The Mane 6 and Virtuna and their pets look at the approaching unicorn.

R.Dash: *nod* I see.

Trixie: Sorry.

T.Sparkle: No problem, Trixie.

Trixie: Well, you all appear to be having so much fun and Rayzor doesn't like being cooped up in my cart, so.....

Applejack: Are ya'll sayin' ya'll're wantin' a pet, Trix?

Trixie's nodding set Fluttershy off into an over-excited frenzy, like she was when Rainbow Dash said she may want a pet in "May The Best Pet Win"!  She picks up Trixie and flies back to her cottage, barely keeping the showpony's back hooves dangling over the ground, the whole while squealing like an excited child.  The rest of the Mane 6 chuckle a bit at the departing pair.

R.Dash: So, what'll happen first, Trixie finds a pet or Fluttershy makes her lose her mind?

Twilight Sparkle laughs.  Later that day, Rainbow Dash was in the Wonderbolts locker room getting into costume for her practice when in comes a pegasus wearing a Wonderbolts costume. She takes it off to reveal a star with a three-yellows rainbow surrounding it - and an artificial back-right leg similar to Virtuna's!

R.Dash: *blink* Whoa.  *approaches the pegasus*  Do you know of a Virtuna?

Pegasus F: *POINK! at the mention of Virtuna*  *looks at Rainbow Dash* Yes?

R.Dash: *smiles*  She's a pal of mine.

Pegasus F: *smiles* I heard of that.  I saw her at the air show we put on recently.

R.Dash: *nod*  She waved at you.

Pegasus F: Too busy focusing.

R.Dash: *nod*  Understood.  Why don't'cha come to Ponyville and visit between performances?  I'm sure Virtuna would like to catch up with you.

Pegasus F: *nod* OK.  Can I bring my brother?

R.Dash: Certainly.  The more friends, the better.

Pegasus F: *nod* OK, I'll see when and tell ya, K?  By the way, name's Star Chaser.

R.Dash: Rainbow Dash.

The two hoofbump and Rainbow Dash heads out to practice.  Star Chaser gets out of her costume, puts it in her locker and shuts it, sighing.

S.Chaser: -One last show.....-

With a sigh, she walks out of the locker room with her head down.  The next day, Star Chaser and her brother, Storm Striker - a light-blue male pegasus with a white double-thunderbolt for a cutie mark - flew over Ponyville towards the main square.  Pinkie Pie looks up and gasps, smiling widely as the two pegasi land.

P.Pie: Oh, my gosh! Hello, BOTH of you!

As Pinkie Pie hits the duo with a wall of greetings, they exchange silly grins.  As the party pony talks about how happy she is to see them, an excited shriek bursts out of the arcade!  Both pegasi smile as they see Virtuna bolt outside wearing a big grin!

S.Striker: Heya, pip-squeak!

Virtuna: HAHA!  Wassup!?

The two exchange a high-hoof, smiling widely.  Star Chaser smiles at her brother and her best friend getting along well.  Twilight Sparkle walks by with a saddlebag.

T.Sparkle: Whoa!  Friends of yours?

Virtuna: Uh-HUH!  These are the two I told Princess Celestia about. This is Star Chaser and Storm Striker.

T.Sparkle: Aw, cool.  My name is Twilight Sparkle.

S.Chaser: *smile* Pleased to meet you, Twilight.

S.Striker: *nod* Indeed.

All ponies heard a WHOOSH! split the air as a rainbow-colored trail followed!  The trail arched around and flew downward to the main square.  With a four-point landing kicking up a cloud of smoke, Rainbow Dash arrived and gasped loudly.

R.Dash: Star Chaser!  I told you to tell me, silly!

The two pegasi laugh.  Trixie comes back from Fluttershy's cottage wearing a few bruises.

Fluttershy: Really, I don't know WHAT got into that falcon.

Trixie: It acted as if it didn't like Trixie too much.

The two shrug, oblivious to a pair of sad-looking eyes looking at Trixie.  That night, a party was thrown welcoming Storm Striker and Star Chaser to Ponyville.  Spitfire was also there, having a good time with the other Wonderbolts.

Spitfire: I don't suppose Star Chaser's told ya.

R.Dash: Told me what?

S.Chaser: The next performance is going to be my last.

Pitstop: Why, luv?

S.Chaser: They just told me to retire because of new talent coming in.

???: I think that's the stupidest thing I ever heard.

All the Wonderbolts blink, turning around as they see Prince Shiftshape fly in.  Everyone bows at the Changeling Prince and he bows back.

P.Shiftshape: I saw you in that Wonderbolts-ChangeWings air show, you were as spectacular as Rainbow Dash.  I didn't see a missing leg at all, I saw a remarkable showpony.

S.Chaser: *sniff* I know, I.....  I wanted so much to be a Wonderbolt.  It was my life's dream and Virtuna gave me the courage to try out for the team.

S.Striker: You should've seen the look on her face when *Nightmare Moon lands nearby* they let her in.  It was the best day in her life.

N.Moon: You should let them know, then.

S.Chaser: Oh?

N.Moon: If your dream is to be a Wonderbolt, you should fight like heck to keep that costume on.

S.Chaser: .................*eyes narrow* You're right!  *turns to Spitfire*  Spitfire, *Spitfire looks up* we need to talk.

Spitfire nods, then the two mares head into Sugar Cube Corner.  The Mane 6 swung their heads slowly to a blushing Nightmare Moon.

N.Moon: Where'd that come from?

Everypony laughs, Discord keeping an eye on the former harbinger of endless night.  The next day, Trixie was back at Fluttershy's cottage, trying to pick a pet.

Trixie: This is the hardest thing Trixie has had to do.

Fluttershy: I know, but you just have to be patient with them.

Trixie: There's a need for patience and then there's just striking out.  Seems as if none of your animals know Trixie well enough.

Fluttershy: Well, yes, that COULD be a factor.

Trixie: *sigh* It's Trixie's fault.  Trixie should've been out-and-about more.

Fluttershy: You've been reading on Ruinous and your element.  It's not ALL your fault.

Trixie: *nod*  I know.....  Let's give this one more try, OK?  *Fluttershy nods*  Trixie needs a small pet, tough enough to live in any kind of conditions and be nice.

Fluttershy: Small, tough and nice, got it!

The two mares look around for a pet for Trixie.  A rustling in the Everfree Forest goes unnoticed by both ponies, but Angel Bunny's ears perk up.  By the time the rabbit looks, the source of the sound is nowhere in sight, prompting the rabbit to shrug and rejoin the search.  Nearby, Star Chaser was going through her routine.

S.Chaser: Won't give up..... No matter what!

The pegasus flies gracefully through the air, giving no indication of her missing leg.  She dives, loops, twists, zooms, soars and glides across the sky, cutting clouds with laser-like precision and making one into her cutie mark.  After doing the stunts, the Wonderbolt landed and sighed.

S.Chaser: Why do I have to.....

The mare gets up and heads to her room, crying the whole way.  Nightmare Moon was nearby, feeling sorry for her.  Later that day, at the air show stadium, Star Chaser fidgets in the back as she waits for her teammate.  As pair after pair of Wonderbolts flies off, the pegasus gets a sinking feeling in her gut: She's going to have no one to fly with.  Finally, when two of the last three fly off, Spitfire sighs and turns towards Star Chaser.

Spitfire: I guess you don't have a partner, Star Chaser, so.....

???: Who said she DIDN'T?

Spitfire turns and gasps in shock.  Outside, the ponies were watching as Rainbow Dash and Pitstop sat in the Wonderbolts box near Soarin.

Soarin: I know you don't think it's fair, but we had a record graduation at the academy.

Pitstop: But don't'cha just feel like crud, luv?  That pegasus has been through a lot already.

R.Dash: I know.  I made it my life's ambition to be a Wonderbolt, and yet, Star Chaser's much tougher than me.  Going through life like that..... I can't imagine.

Soarin: I know, but.....!! What the?

Everypony looks down in shock to see Star Chaser flying around doing tricks.  But it wasn't just the Wonderbolt everypony was amazed to see, it was her partner: Nightmare Moon!

P.Celestia: Oh.....

P.Luna: .....my.....

Everypony watched in silent awe as Star Chaser and Nightmare Moon performed like a veteran pair, doing a perfect routine to everypony's amazement.  Even Soarin and Spitfire were awestruck at how fluid the unlikely pair was.  Star Chaser nodded at Nightmare Moon, the alicorn nodding back.  Then, the pair flew straight up in the air!

Spitfire: Are they gonna.....?!

R.Dash/Pitstop: Whoa!

The two ponies dive down in a dual spiral, a wall building up in front.  They gather speed as they continue falling through the air.  Just over the stadium, BOOM!!!!!  It appeared as if an aurora blazed its way across the sky!  Everypony was amazed as the two sent a "Sonic Rainboom" across the sky that combined the night sky with a golden rainbow!  Rainbow Dash and Pitstop were awestruck.

R.Dash: I KNEW when..... when Nightmare knocked around the Changeling Queen at the anniversary..... that she was fast, but..... Next-tornado-I'm-getting-a-meter-on-that-pony, FOR REAL!  *everypony in earshot laughs*  I mean it! That took some SPEED!

Fluttershy: You think she can get to 30?

R.Dash: 30?  I think she can get to 40!

Both pegasi laugh as Star Chaser and Nightmare Moon land after their finale to the admiration of the whole stadium.  Both ponies bow at the cheering crowd as the Wonderbolts huddle up.  After the show, a party is held at Sweet Apple Acres.  Star Chaser sits right next to Nightmare Moon.

S.Chaser: THAT was amazing, I have to say.  I've almost done this as long as Spitfire and that was by far the most incredible display I've ever seen.

N.Moon: Daw, shucks.  Thanks, Star Chaser.

Spitfire: *sigh*  That showed a lot of guts, Star Chaser.  Look, I'm sorry about all the retirement talk.  I should've guessed you'd've had the heart of a giant knowing about what happened to you since foalhood.  You can bet your three remaining legs I will vouch for you to stay a Wonderbolt.

S.Chaser: Aw, thanks, Spitfire!

The two pegasi nuzzle up as everypony claps.  As Applejack applauds, a wolf cub jumps up, takes a strudel and jumps back!

Virtuna: !!!!!

Applejack: Huh? *looks at the plate of strudels and notices one missing*  Hey!  Who swiped a treat?

As the farm pony looked around her table, the wolf cub popped up a few more places, next to several ponies and between some pairs, only stopping once it popped up by Trixie.

Fluttershy: It's-a-wolf!

Trixie: A what? *looks* Whoa!

The wolf cub gives a small bark before grabbing an apple and tossing it up, eating it in one bite!

Applejack: That thing eats APPLES!?

Trixie: Makes it easy to feed.

Trixie gasps, then laughs as the wolf cub licks her cheek.

T.Sparkle: Whoa!

Trixie: My grandfather said a wolf is a symbol of wisdom.  In fact, why don't I call you Wysheid, (< Afrikaans for "wisdom") little guy?

With a bark, the wolf cub nuzzles Trixie.  That night, Princess Celestia was in her bedroom after lowering the sun for the night.  She takes out a picture depicting an adorable scene.  It was of a group of four alicorns, a draconequus and a changeling having a picnic, all of them Cutie-Mark-Crusaders young and all ponies having no cutie marks.  She smiled at a white alicorn looking like her with a black alicorn looking like Princess Luna near her.  Nearby was a pink alicorn that looked like Princess Cadence.  Her eyes scan to the left side of the picture, a laugh coming from her as she sees a changeling that looks like Queen Chrysalis being drenched by a chocolate-milk raincloud of cotton candy.  She was looking upward at a draconequus that looked a lot like Discord with a cute smirk.  On the right was a gray alicorn floating in a tree.  She looked a lot like Nightmare Moon, her body and main hair color being silver and having none of Nightmare Moon's armor being her only difference.

P.Celestia: Old friend, we may have found her..... The one to carry the flame you held so well.....  Accept her, love her, appreciate her as we have grown to.....

The princess put the picture in a frame by her bed, behind a picture of the two princesses and the Mane 6 laughing it up on her birthday.  She murrs as she settles off to sleep.  Discord, however, was about to have a really bad night.....  He grunts and moans in his sleep as if in pain for a while, then he's whisked from his bed by a wave of darkness, the only clue to his abductor being a sinister laugh.  He wouldn't be the only one.....  One by one, the Mane 6 was swiped from their beds by the wave of darkness, an evil laugh the lone calling-card.  When the wave of darkness was done rounding up Discord and the Mane 6, it returned to the sky over Canterlot and Shiftopolis, where a massive floating castle materialized.  Featuring hewn stone walls and wrought-iron around everything, it wasn't a place to spend a day sightseeing.  The main feature was the labyrinth around the whole castle, spikes preventing air escape while darkness and shadows inhabited every corner.  In her cavern, Queen Chrysalis shivers, sensing the sinister arrival.

Q.Chrysalis: No....... *shakes her head* No!  *She growls as she is soon wracked with nightmarish visions of ponies laying motionless and homes destroyed, much like South Transforma*  This can't..... This can't..... *She goes up on her front legs, almost in a sitting position*  THIS CAN'T HAPPEN AGAIN!!!  *She breaks down and cries*  This can't..... happen again..... *With a growl, she gets back up, her crown and powers restored!*  This WON'T happen again!

TO BE CONTINUED