Equestria's Thaumaturgist

Chapter 8: Things Escalate Quickly

“Will~” came a soft voice. “Will. WILL!” so much for it being soft.

“Hrm? Wha-?” Said the sleepy human, finally responding. He opened his eyes, and was met with the sight of a two large magenta ones staring back.

“You’re finally awake.” Said Celestia, backing away.

“Yes, I suppose I am. How long was I out?” asked Will. Celestia looked at the ground, shamefaced.

“We, ah, don’t actually know. We found you the day after Twilight’s coronation, today actually, thrashing in your sleep.” She looked guiltier with each word. Will raised an eyebrow and smiled good-naturedly.

“And why is the floor suddenly so interesting?” He asked, lifting her face to look at him. “It’s not like it’s your fault. I’ve gone days without being noticed on far less important occasions.” He grinned at her. “Once I was left in my room for a week because of a national dance off.”

“Yes, you told me about that.” The alicorn answered, starting to smile back at the memory of Will’s story.

“And you needn’t worry about the thrashing, that happens to me once every year or so.” He said, quickly getting up and walking past her.

“Wait, you should-“ She began.

“Stay in bed?” He smiled at her. “I’m fine. This old meat sack that is me finally finished fixing itself.” Will joked at her. Celestia gave a genuine smile at that. It was quickly replaced by a frown as she remembered what she wanted to talk to him about.

“Will, I… I saw your dream.” She said. He instantly stiffened, having been in the act of putting on his coat.

“What dream?” He said, still stiff-backed, and continued putting on his coat.

“Once we found you, Luna tried to see what was wrong by entering your dreams, then she found that barrier and we guessed that the dream was the problem.” She said. Will just stood there.

“There, there were bodies… e-everywhere.” Celestia said, holding a hoof to her mouth in an attempt to quell the bile rising in her throat. “Some of them were burned, others weren’t, and-and you were there and you were burned, then y-your eyes.” She was crying and stuttering at that point. She felt something warm wrap around her. She saw will hugging her through her tears.

“W-what was that Will?” she asked.

“Part memory, part nightmare.” He answered. “Something that I can’t face yet, for many reasons. It is something it would be better for you to forget.” He said, still hugging her. She nodded against his chest.

“I-I’ll try.”

“That’s all I can ask.”

They finally ended the hug once Celestia had calmed down. “Come now!” Said Will. “You have a new member of the Equestrian Royalty to welcome!” He said, grinning at her. She smiled back.

“Then let’s go. We can introduce you to Shining Armor and Cadence!” Said Celestia, brightening again. She hadn’t forgotten, obviously, but in her long life she had learned how to ignore things.

“Oh, yes you told me about them. The newlywed couple that now runs an entire empire. Though, I’ve been wondering how it’s an empire without any outside territory.” Will held a hand to his chin in thought.

“I honestly don’t know. There are no records of it ever having outside territory.” Celestia answered.

“Meh.” They said at the same time. They looked at each other in surprise and then laughed, and that was how they entered the room where everypony else was already partying (This being the real party, and the formal event having been the day before). “Will!” Almost everypony, and dragon, in the room shouted upon seeing the previously bedridden human just walk right into the room like it was any other day.

“Everyone I know!” Will yelled back, spreading his arms and for a hug. The six mares, Luna, and Spike complied. Even Rainbow Dash wrapped an arm around his neck. Cadence and Shining Armor just shared a confused look.

“You still have to tell me about the different kinds of dragons you’ve met, like you promised.” Said Spike after the hug, referring to the first time the two had met two months ago.

“Of course.” Will said with a grin.

“Oh, Will.” Said Luna. “Ever since Shining Armor here,” She pulled the stallion and his wife forward. “Had to leave his position as Captain of the Guard we’ve been looking for a replacement. The guards have chosen you and we would like to know if you’ll accept!” She ended with a grin. It wasn’t that much of a surprise, considering his first day, and the fact that many of the guard had come to talk to him during his three months hospitalized.

“Hmm… I suppose it couldn’t hurt… me.” He answered with a slightly more wicked grin than usual.

“EXCELLENT!” Luna slipped into the Royal Canterlot Voice. She covered her mouth and blushed once she realized what she had done. Everypony, dragon, and human just smiled. “Ehem. When can you start?” She asked.

“Where are the recruits right now?” Will asked her.

“In the yard, training.” The lunar diarch answered.

“Then I can start right now!” He said. Before they could protest he was out the door.

“Wait, do you know where the yard is!?” Shining Armor called, finally getting a word in.

“Nope!” Will called back cheerfully.

“Then how are you going to get there?” He said, everypony trotting to keep up with the strides of the human.

“Because I need to!” He answered. Before any of them could say more, they were at the yard.

“Sister.” Luna said.

“Yes Luna?” asked Celestia.

“Did we move the training yard closer?”

“No we didn’t.”

“Then I suspect Will of having reality warping powers.” The younger sister said. “Do you believe so or not?”

“…Yes.” Celestia said.

“Yes to which?”

“...Yes.” she repeated.

Before either could say more, they were interrupted by the sound of Will speaking loudly.

“All ponies!” He called. The recruits stopped what they were doing and looked at him. “So, I heard that you wanted me to be the new Captain, is that right?” He yelled, walking along the line of recruits.

“Yes Sir!” They chorused at him.

“Okay! Then let’s get to the training! One rule for this: Do not question the song!” he yelled. Before anypony could do just that a song began to play.

Youtube Video

By the end they all looked like they could take on a group of pissed off griffins and come out on top. Everypony that had been watching just stood with slack jaws.

“D-did you just…?” Twilight tried to ask.

“Train fifty guard recruits completely using one song? Yes, yes I did.” He nodded as he spoke.

“Well, that was rather quick to escalate.” Luna said.