Seeds of Chaos are Planted; Claim the Blade of Courage!
Rainbow Dash was winging her way over to Cloudsdale, at speed. She'd heard of some trouble going on there. A lot of that was haooening recently.
"Seriously." she thought aloud, "Is there ANYWHERE that ISN'T in trouble?"
Suddenly, she saw the swiftly closing aerial city. Nearby, goin fairly fast as well, was a swarm of what -at a distance- looked like gigantic birds. Focusing her vision revealed that they weren't birds at all. Twilight had told her about these things once.
"Pterodactyls?!" Rainbow exclaimed, losing her focus. "This is getting ridiculous." she growled
She and her friends had been quick to ask Discord about the goings on. As it turned out, he was relaxing at home and had nothing to do with what was going on. But even he seemed concerned about some of the events occuring. She remembered well what happened next.
[he]
"There are far worse spirits than I'm, I fear. And I recognize the style of this one all too well."
Suddenly, a new voice rang out. A smooth Australian(1) accent. "Worse? Surely you don't mean that, chief? We're merely... different. It's our nature, after all. And that's fair dinkum, it is."
Everyone turned around to see what looked to be a medium-large blue-green cat. With wings.
Discord immediately bowed. "Lord Chaos(2). I had a feeling that it was you." Quickly, he warned the rest of the gathered friends. "Ladies, this is Chaos. Don't let his appearance fool you; he's got more magic than a room full of Celestias. And a smaller one filled with Lunas, to boot. He also has a darker sense of humour than I've. Be respectful."
Fluttershy sidled up to him, whispering, "H-how dark?"
Discord replied at a volume that only she could hear. "Let's put it this way: If I'm Poinson Joke... He's Killing Joke."
"Oh, d-d-dear." Fluttershy said, backing up again.
"Dark? I'm merely bringin' some, shall we say... excitement to this place. Since someone seems to be lyin' down on the job." At that last, he hiked an eyebrow in Discord's direction.
Discord looked mildly offended, but said, "Are you accusing me of being lazy? I've merely... mellowed out, you might say. Instead of making trouble for others, I make their lives more amusing. Most of the time, anyway. For example." he launched into an explanation. "I could, oh, turn the clouds into cotton candy that rain chocolate milk, but I already did that, for one thing. For another, what would it be like tomorrow? Would it be a different colour? A different texture? A different atomic mass? It's still a cloud."
"What I do is more minor things, like... making gravity optional. Something others can enjoy, or not, as they desire. I join two very good chums of mine every now and again for a most rousing adventure game, and there I can make a story that constantly evolves. Small things."
At this the newcomer briefly raised both eyebrows. "Hmm. Well, I'm mostly here to see what I'm dealiin' with, and to deliver a warnin'."
Applejack didn't like this character at all. "Do ya mean like an ulty.... altim... atlum..."
"Ultimatum?" Twilight corrected.
"That. One'a those."
Chaos tilted his head slightly, scrutinizing the orange mare. "Hmm... you're the... Element o' Honesty, ain'tcha? That would make the lot of you the shielas I've been 'earin' about? The... Elements o' Harmony. How interestin'." he clucked his tongue and took a short breath before continuing. "Well, in answer to your question, I suppose you could put it that way. I'll warn you right now. The Seeds have been planted, and once they sprout, then things will start to become REALLY interestin'." He gave a wicked smile at that. "Y'see, the thing is: Each of them has a different effect. Even I don't know what might happen! See, watch."
With a mere flick of his tail, he brought into being what looked to be a large globe. "I've scattered the Seeds across your world. Some might be good for the land." A small window opened that revealed a swiftly growing plant that revitalized the forest around it.
He frowned and stuck his tongue out in mild discust. "Blech. Others, well..."
A new window opened elsewhere, revealing what looked to be a polluted wasteland, at which everypony present gasped. In the middle was a large black tree, branches dripping with what looked to be crude oil
"Let's just say that it's fortunate for you that you still 'ave some time." Flicking his tail in the other direction dismissed the globe in a burst of flame.
"Which are good? Which are bad? Which to stop, which to let go? Only time will tell. The cat shan't. See if you can." He began to fade away from the paws up.
Twilight called out, her wings partially spreading in alarm, "Wait! Don't go yet!"
Chaos made as if she hadn't just spoken. "I look forward to what results occur. I',m sure it will be.... entertaining, at least. Hooroo, all!" His face was last to disappear, sinister laughter being all that was left behind.
Discord sucked a breath through his teeth, then released a sigh of relief. Turning to the rest of those assembled, he hestured to where the vanished guest was a moment ago. "See what I mean?"
Celestia nodded sullenly. "Well, we're glad that you're able to help us-"
Discord interrupted her. "'Fraid not. That wouldn't be a great idea."
Luna looked startled. "And whyever not?"
"A few reasons: Adding chaos magic to Chaos' magic will only make the perils more perilous. Even faster. Also, Chaos is exponentially more powerful than I am. I can't help in stopping this. My power would only make thingsa worse, if anything at all."
The gathered ponies all looked downcast.
"HOWEVER!" Discord continued, "I can offer advice, directions, resources that will help. Just because I can't actively stop it doesn't mean that I'm wholly helpless."
Shaking her head to clear it of those thoughts, Rainbow resumed her flight toward the place of her birth.
From that point, they'd each taken a separate path,each to a different city that was in peril.
Rarity was on her way to Manehattan with her sister, Sweetie Belle. There were reports of a skeletal horde that came and went seemingly at random.
Applejack was heading to Appleoosa, Apple Bloom in tow. There were reports of Changelings in the area. But they were described as looking a lot... different from the ones that they knew of.
Pinkie Pie was going to Las Pegasus, bringing the Cakes with her, because they wantd to open a new branch of Sugarcube Corner there.
Fluttershy decided to follow her roots and was going to Roamania, to meet up with the other side of the family. The Thestrali. With her were a select few of her animals. She was carrying a license (several copies thereof) that empowered her to bring them wherever she pleased, all signed by Celestia and Luna. Their word was law, after all. This made the forms literally almost indestructable by conventional means. Buut it was better toi be safe than sorry.
Twilight was going to her hometown, Canterlot. There was said to be a demonic prsence that came nightly. It would chase ponies -especially Unicorns!- through the streets, covering up any evidence that said pony had passed that way. Many had gone missing already. Nopony had goten a clear view of the thing, nut those who saw it at all said that it looked like a sentient fiery ball. She thought that Spike being there would come in handy.
As much as it pained her, Rainbow couldn't bring Scootaloo or Tank with her. Scootaloo had recently found out what she was doing wrong and coulkd finally get into the air, but she was still far too slow to follow along. She'd be a sitting duck for anything that they might encounter. Tank couldn't come for much the same reason.
No, she had to do this herself. Other than Ponyville (and kind of with her house?) Cloudsdale held everything else that she had. Her first friends; her parents, her high school. The Wonderbolts...
She'd had some tough times there, but she still regarded the place highly.
Back to the present!
As she winged her way toward the city of the clouds, intent on stopping the flying lizards, she leveraged her race's native agility, bouncing from one to another's wing, dislocating it ad causing the Pterodactyl to fall toward the ground. She bounced rfrom there to several more of them, but there were still so many; too many to count! There had to be several wing-worth.
As she alighted on the end of the city, she didn't stop as she ran forth, trying to keep up her momentum. "I have to find Spitfire; She'll know whhat needs to be done." she thought aloud.
Sure enough, Spitfire was aiding in the defense of the fleeing ponies. Soarin' was directing them toward disaster shelters; hardened clouds, made to be almost as hard as steel, if not more so. Until the all-clear was sounded, they would be safe there.
When Dash asked Spitfire what needed doing, Spitfirre replied, "Crash, if I have to tell you where to place youur hooves in a situation like this, you haven't been paying attention! Take a set of wing blades and get out there!"
Grinning widely, Rainbow Dash went to do just that. The pair that she got were a silvery-blue in colour, and they gleamed in the sunlight. Spreading her wings once more, she took off, dpeedily cutting through the ranks of the enemy. *Slash!* another flying lizard fell toward the ground, even poofing a cloud out of existence.
With a start, Dash realized something: The dinos couldn't land on clouds without destroying them.
"I've got to warn Spitfire!"
When she turned around, she was almost immediatelt slapped with a large wing and a blast of icy cold wind. This sent her careening toward the clouds below. She landed on the clouds and rolled for a time before stopping.
"Of course. They'd have to have elemental magic too." she said droly shaking her head.
When she opened her eyes and stood up, her wing-blades fell off. The fall and subsequent rolling had broken them.
"You've gotta be buckin' kidding me!" she growled in friustration.
Looking behind her, however, she saw a convenently placed sword embedded into one cloud. It looked to be white on most of it; around rhe same colour as her fashionista friend.(3)
"I can work with this." she said aloud. Getting to a bipedal stance, she grabbed the hilt. Tuggung, she felt that the cloud wasn't as soft as it appeared. It was harder than rocck, somehow.
{"Once you claim me, what will you do?"}
"Huh?!" she exclaimed, looking around in shock. "Who said that?""
{"I am known by many titles. Fearbreaker; Stormcutter, Eye of the Storm; to each their own. The name I favour most is: Nymbus. Sky blade of Courage. So I ask again: Once you claim me, what would you do? Who do you fight for? Why should I let you take me?"}
With every bit of determination she could muster, Rainbow Dash glared at the sword before saying, "I would rally the ponies that would help me. Together we would save the Ponies of this town, and then the world! I am Rainbow Dash! I fight for my home, my princesses, my family, my friends and myself. I can't say why else I would be worthy of you, but I knw it would be made easier with you at hand. But know this: With or without you, I intend to fight to my last breath!
She got the distinct impression of a smile in her mind. {"A lofty goal indeed. Very well, Rainbow Dash.Pull as hard as ever you can, and use my power to achieve your goal!}"
Grabbing the hilt with her other hand, she pulled withall her strength. She felt the cloud loosen its grip on the sword a little. Redoubling her effort, the blade began to slide out with painstaking slownes..
{"Is this the best you can do? Is this all one can expect from Rainbow Dash?"}
ritting her teeth, she growled, "No way! Not. Even! CLOSE!"
Instinctively, her magic flared to life, glowing sigils beginning to spread up her hooves, shining with all ther colours of her mane, a gale force wind kicking up around her..
"RrrrAGH!" With one more massive yank, the blade was freed, the remainder of the gathered wind energy shot straight upward, scattering some of the gathered swarm of enemies. When the wind cleared, a beam of cold blue light could be seen rising still toward the heavens.
{Well doe, my wielder. You are indeed worthy.}
Looking back at the sword, she found that it had changed in appearance(4). She could feel the power flowing through it, attuning to her own.
She shook off the sensation. "Standing around here will get me nowhere." With a mighty flap of her wings, whe went skyward fater than ever before. Rising high into the air, she could feel another power of the sword she now carried. Looking across the city, she could feel the numbers of Ponies that needed to be saved, protected. Looking in another direction, she saw the Wonderbolts, still bravely defending the rest of Cloudsdale's citizens. Among them were her parents, as well.
Choosing there as her destination, she sped back downward, taking out four more targets on the way.
She slammed into the cloud, skidding to a stop. "Careful! Those things can't land on clouds without destroying them."
Some of the other Wonderbolts were in a panic. Misty Fly, Cloud Kicker, Cloud Chaser...
The latter said, "We might just lose this fight!"
Thunderlane returned,, panting hare "That.... Isn't an option."
Rainbow Dash had had enough of what was going on, and decided to step things up. "Wonderbolys! Heed me!"
She began glowing bright blue as she said, ""I know you're afraid, and rightly so. Cloudsdale has never seen an invasion like this. But we can't give up now!! We fight for these ponies. We fight for Cloudsdale. We fight for princesses Celestia, Twilight and Luna"
The 'Bolts began to feel bolstered by her determination, gathering their courage.
Let us fight FOR EQUESTRIAAAA! she finished, receiving a chorus of "YEAH!"s from those assembled.
Strengthened by her presencxe on the battlefield, they began fighting more determinedly, and with greater power and speed. Whenever one was sent back to the clouds, they would be up and in the fray again shortly thereafter.
For her part, Rainbow Dash was slicing swiftly through the enemy ranks. She was actually able to avoid each and every strike that came her way. It was as if each swipe of a clau or wing, every shard of ice, every blast of lightning was as slow as molasses until she avoided each.
Soon enough, the remaining flying lizards were winging away from the city, most among their numnber thorouhjly trounced.
Rainbow Dash raised Nymbus skyward. "Victory is ours!" she exclaimed, met by cheers all around.
Spitfire looked at her curiously. "Uh.... Dash, you look... Different."
Taking a look at herself, Rainbow Dash discovered that Spitfire was indeed correct. Somewere in the interim, she'd taken on her Rainbow Powered form."Oh, this?" she said, closing her eyes and concentrating on ending the effect.
Reassuming her more or less normal appearance, she made to sling the sword along hwe back.... only to realize that she didn't have anything to sheathe it in. But that wasn't long to appear, the sword also ganining a scabbard.
"I'd better report back to Twilight and the pother princesses. Do you need me for anything else?"
Spitfire smiled and shook her head. "Nah, we're good, I think. But thanks for your assistance, Dash. You really saved the day. You go report to the princesses. We'll take it from here."
Windy Whistles trotted up to her, giving a tight hug. "There's my daughter, saving the day again!" much to the amusement of the gathered Wonderbolts,
Rainbow Dassh rolled her eyes. "Moooom. It was a team effort. You were part of it too."
She hugged for a moment longer before letting go. "I know, I know. But still! You really came in clutch, there. Maybe we shoukd take a-"
Bow Hothoof interrupted, "Uh... I think it would be best if we started on reparations and helping the injured. You go and tell the princesses what happened. We got this."
Rainbow Dash chuckled. "Ready to go, Nymbus?" she asked her sword.
{"Where you go, I shall go, chosen wielder mine."}
She wasn't actually expecting a response... but she shook that off. She then saluted and leaptinto the air, turning back toward Ponyville. She looked back and waved before speeding off.
Author's Note
1: If you have a ponified equivalent for that, let me know.
2: A touch different from Aladdin's version.
3: Sort of like this sword.
4: Now closer to this one
Rarity and Sweetie Belle were walking through the streets of Manehattan. They'd just gotten off of the train, which had departed in a hurry. It seemed that many wanted simply to be as FAR away from there as possible.
It was approaching sunset, and presumably at that point the undead horde they's heard about would attack then, as they consistently had. Needless to say, they were going at a brisk canter, Rarity's typical paraphernalia in tow.
Fortunately, Proncess Celestia had been trying to get sunset to take a bit longer than usual. It cost her some extra energy and was a much longer process, but it gave her little ponies extra time to find shelter, and that was enough for her, she'd said.
Sweetie Belle was toting one of the bags in her grass-green magic. This was some effort for her, to be sure, her horn occasionally shooting off a spark or two. "I'm not sure how you do this with so many bags, sis." she said, feeling like she was trying to walk, talk, read and have a snack at the same time.
'Though, come to think of it, an apple would totally smack right- no, no, no. Focus, Sweetie. You got this.'
If it were her decision, she'd just add it to her Pocket, which would hold the weight fairly easily... but Rarity insisted that she hold onto it thus.
Rarity smiled at her sister. "It just takes some practice, darling. Worry not; I'm sure that once your carbuncle develops a bit, you'll be doing things like... this with ease."
With a flick of her horn, the bags she was carrying lifted above her head and began a slow circular dance around her.
'Showoff.' Sweetie thought, rolling her eyes.
"Besides, this is good practice, and you'll thank me for it someday soon." Rarity finished. "Also, concentrate, dear; You're beginning to spark more."
Sweetie looked up to find that, indeed, the strain of the heavy bag was causing her to shoot of four or five sparks in a second. Stopping, for a moment, she closed her eyes and concentrated more magic into her pk field. The glow steadied again, and she picked up her pace a bit to keep up with her sister.
They proceeded through the streets, hoping to be quick enough to get to their destination. Rarity, being the practical and forward-thinking mare that she was, had called ahead to Coco Pommel, asking if she had a space for two more. Which, as it turns out, she did. She wholeheartedly agreed that it would be a bad idea for anypony to go alone, considering the.... circumstances. Numbers would be a strength.
Being the community-driven mare that she was, it wasn't too much of a stretch to presume that she would also know about what was going on in town. So, they could catch up with a friend, learn valuable information and had free lodging! It was feeding three birds with one scone.
As they were almost to their destination, as if on cue, the sun had fully set and almost immediately after came the rattle of bone and ghoulish moaning.
Rarity looked back to her little sister, She was sparking again, but now wasn't the time! "That's enough of that, Sweetie! I'll take it from here. Hop on; HurryI"
Needing no further prompting, Sweetie released her PK spell and leapt onto Rarity's back. Her sister was surprisingly strong, and took the sudden weight without even flinching. She took the extra bag in her magic and increased their speed.
Coco Pommel was at the door of a nearby hotel, gesticulating wildly for them to hurry.
Suddenly, a large skeletal figure loomed over Rarity. She shrieked with understandable fright, but Sweetie Belle hit it with a burst of energy from her horn, with concussive force.
Taking the opportunity presented, Rarity resumed her sprinting, dodging new attackers left, right and center. Soon enough, they managed to just barely get through the doorway. Coco slammed the door shut and applied the Amazing Lock that she'd installed, effectively sealing the building. They were safe. For the moment, anyway.
Just to be sure, Coco grabbed a conveniently placed contaioner of salt and spread a line of it across the line of the doorway.
Rarity wiped sweat from her forehead. Looking back at Sweeie, she said, slightly off-hoofedly, "See? What'd I say about all that practice?"
Sweetie Belle didn't give a verbal response, simply electing to hug her sister.
Coco As Coco trotted over to ensure that her friend was okay. "Rarity! Thank Celestia you're alright." she said, with a sigh of relief.
"Thanks for the save, dear. This cutie is my little sister, Sweetie Belle. Say hello, darling."
"Hi miss Pommel! Nice to meet you." Sweetie greeted.
"We're a touch shaken up, perhaps. But nothing some relaxing tea wouldn't cure."
Sweetie Belle rummaged around in her Pocket briefly before retrieving a sack of tea bags.
"I expected this to come up sooner or later. Let's see... We have Ginseng, Berry blends (Straw, Blue, Wild and Field), Earl Grey, Vanilla-Rosemary-Rooibos (my personal blend), Lemongrass, Sleepytime, Ginger-Lemon, Chammomile, Peach, Yorkieshire, Chai, Oolong aaaand.... Honey-Lemon!"
Coco blinked a couple of times. "Did you make some of those up?"
"Just the one." Sweetiee replied, not missing a beat.
"I'll take the Chammomile. Just don't get Sweetie to make it." Rarity cautioned, to Sweetier's embarassment.
Coco tilted her head slightly. "Why is that?"
Sweetie looked at the floor. "My cooking skilll is... optimistically awful. Always has been."
Coco looked taken aback for a moment. "Oh, my. Just how awful?"
Sweetie replied, "Three words: Burnt orange juice. I think it's something to do with my personal magic. It's like mixing oil and water. And then it catches flame."
"I see." Coco said, before bringing the selected tea bags tp the kitchen.
Within a few minutes, they were all sitting in Coco's living room, enjoting some excellent... uh...
Sweetie requested, "What are these, Miss Pommel? They're very tasty."
"They're miniature calzones. Filled them with fresh fruit, some Ricottza cheese..."
Rarity smiled. "Calzones? We'll have toi try that at home sometime. It sounds like it would make for an exquisite meal. Very nice pick, darling."
Coco blushed slightly, but accepted the compliment with a "Thank you."
Rarity looked around the area. "I love what you've done with this place. It looks quite exotic."
The area was festooned with herbs of various kinds, had silver lining, on the wall there was a large cross. just looking at it, Rarity could tell that iot was carved from a piece of a sanctified tree. It had a core of solid silver that hjad been quenched with sanctified Unicorn Water, likely was enchanted by Celestia and Luna themselves. It had to be the ultimate repellant for the undead. (1)
"That's a VERY unique cross. and those herbs smell lovely."
Coco nodded. "That cross was passed down in my family for generations, but we never really haad a reason to use it before. I figured it would come in handy now. And those herbs aren't just for the smell. Those are Sage (protects and drives out negative energy), Chammomile (repels evil spirits and brings good fortune), Artemisia (prevents accidents and wards off evil spirits), Neem (which brings protection and prosperity, in this life and the next), Hawthorne, Vervain, Garlic flower (all three are vampire repellant)... a few others. there's a bouquet of that at each and every window here. In each corner of the room, if you hadn't noticed, are quarters of an onion (absorbs negative energy). Basically, this hotel is officially THE safest place to be in the town, right now. Full stop."
"Good to know. Now." Rarity said, suddenly all business, "Down to brass tacks. Clearly this is a serious issue that we face. This place might be safe, but the same can't be said for the ret of Manehattan."
Coco sighed deeply. "Unfortunately. I'm not sure what can be done about this at all."
Rarity tapped at her chin a few times with one hoof. "Hmm... Maybe some research is in order? Where's the nearest library? Mayhaps the'll have something on how to deal with those.... those... horrid things."
Coco nodded. Perhaps that would be a good idea.
For the time being, however, it would be a bad idea to go outdoors as of yet, so they decided to call it a night for the nonce. Fortunately, Coco had the beds prepared and they were able to sleep relatively peacefully. Research would wait for the morning.
Author's Note
1: Taske a guess at what this is a reference to. Cookie for those who do!
