Z42, or How It Continued?by ZephyrChaptersThe BeginningThe First Steps......And First FallsAfter-Introductions And Other Stupid ThingsWork? Again?Back To The Battlefield, KindaThe BeginningChapter 1: The Beginning Ponies say if you have a family, then you have to take care about them, do anything to make their lives free of hardship. I started my plan with this in my mind, ever since I get known that Tavi is pregnant... I knew I have to change a LOT of things. And here I am now, sitting on a train, waiting for the arrival. My lovely wife, Octavia is next to me, asleep, the traveling is long and after she was done with the magazine she brought with herself, she felt like sleeping. Good for her, she can sleep whenever she want... I wish I could do that as well- *screeeeech!* - aaand my thoughts are stopped. And the train too. The city of Trottingham is right outside, waiting for us to put our hooves on its ground, to take a big breath, and probably cough, the steam the train made is thick. Darn. “Tavi... hey... Tavi wake up, we are here!” I say and nudge her, Tavi’s eyes slowly flutter open. “Already? I was sleeping for.. for.. *yawn* like ten minutes!” She says and rubs her eyes. “Yeah, ten minutes and one hundred more, actually one hundred and thirty. Welp, time to get our stuff and go.” I tell her with a smirk on my face and get up from the half-bed, stretching my limbs - satisfying pops could be heard as I expect them. The suitcases we brought with us are not that big, we only packed the things we really needed. Nevertheless, they are heavy. In some way only moms and wives can do it, Tavi packed in so much thing, I thought the suitcase is bigger inside! What a ridiculous thought... “Oh, watch for my cello, I don’t want it to fall!” Tavi says as she pulls the smallest of suitcases behind her. “Yeah, it would be a shame if something happened to it...” I growl: a suitcase on my left wing, another on my right, one tied to my left hind leg and the case of the cello on my back. How comfortable! For a moment I stop, remembering the day when I got the first chance to tell the others that we move out. /Flashback, a month earlier.../ It started as a regular day, the Weather Office was as crowded as ever: nearly empty. “Heya Blue! Sup?” I greet my friend, Blue Breeze, he arrived a few minutes after me. “Hey. Not much, the usual. You heard what’s Vine planning?” He asks me, and of course it’s always me the one who knows it for the last time. “Uhm, no. What is it? Another prank?” I ask back, my mind is a bit dull today, especially because of the thing I have to tell him, and everypony else. “Nah, not this time, she organized a whole-gang picnic!” Blue exclaimed, strange for him to be this excited. "It have something special to it, though she didn't tell us anything yet." “Uhhuh... so everyone will be there?” Looks like I can announce it with ease now. “Yep, why?” He asks and looks at me, maybe he sensed something, I don't know. Yet. “Oh nothing nothing, I just... uh, you will know when it happens.” Almost slipped there! “Well. Alright. Anyway, what’s today’s schedule?..” /Flashback ends..../ The streets of Trottingham are so familiar, so similar to Ponyville, I half expect the Sugarcube Corner to appear after we turn in a corner... but it’s a whole other town. No familiar faces, no familiar places. “Are you coming?” Tavi asks, looking back at me, she gained a few meters long advantage. She stops and waits up. “Yeah yeah, it’s.. it’s just the town, all new and stuff.” I reply, not telling her what’s in my mind. “Uhhuh. Let’s go, our new home is close.” With that she is on the move again, but this time I’m right next to her. As we walk, my eyes gaze down on her belly, a small bulge, the first sign of a foal on the way reminds me of the past events again... /Flashback, two and a half weeks earlier.../ Today, is a good day. The sky is blue, the grass is green, the Everfree is as menacing as ever, and last but not least, Pinkie only ruined the picnic once! Half the food is still edible. The whole gang is here, and the quiet chatter is only stopped time to time when Winona, Applejack’s dog runs around and chases that ugly cat, Opalesc....Opalsce... Opal. This is the time, everypony is here. I stand up, getting the attention on myself, then cough. Everypony is looking at me. “What is it Zeph? You wanna tell us something?” Ice asks as he leans forward from Vinyl’s embrace, which ends with him dragged back. “Yes... and it’s quite big, so brace yourselves. Me and Tavi...” I put a hoof on her shoulder, she looks up at me, smiling. “...decided to move. We leave Ponyville.” A choir of gasps welcomes my words. “Please... don’t try to make us stay. It’s already done.” I add, seeing their faces. “But... why?” Drax asks, his face mirrors his confusion. "Yeah, why so sudden? What happened?" Rhino asks as well, arching a confused eyebrow. “There are many reasons, which I don’t wish to list, so let’s say that destiny made this. I’m sorry guys.” I sit back down and close my eyes, I can’t bear to look at their faces. In the next minutes I can onl hear the whispers of my friends as they try to understand the thing that just happened. I feel my heart ripping outside of my body and couldn't hold my tears back. But.... it has to be done. And after this all, the picnic was ruined. /Flashback ends.../ “We are here! Aren’t you excited? A whole, big house just for us! And for the little one of course.” Tavi says and gently rubs her belly. “Yeah, excited... *sigh* excited as ever.” I look up and see a good looking wooden house. Its number is 42, though I can’t remember reading the name of the street it’s in. The house itself is pretty impressive to say the least, freshly built by the newest standards, including the works of the Unicorn Magic Engineering League, that means it have air conditioning, a water-cleaning system and such! Almost high-tech! And wasn’t cheap either... We enter the house. /Flashback, one and a half week ago.../ “Dude, you can’t go, who will be the target of my pranking then?!?” Dark say to me desperately, I see him like this the first time. “I told you a million times already, we are moving and nothing can change it. Dark, look. I will have a family, I want to make our lives as good as possible. I am really sorry about the whole misery of leaving... but it can’t be changed.” Even if it hurts so much, even if I feel my heart breaking. A few seconds after Dark stops everything he does, looking at me, frozen, then he leaves without a word. I know what just happened in his mind, I know what is he doing and I try to stop him. "Dark! Wait, don't go! Dark!" But it's too late, he is gone. I could swear I heard thundering on that night. And I never saw Dark again. The things went similar with the others... "Do you have any idea... any idea what are you doing?" Atom asks me after 'catching' me while I'm on my way to finish the documentationing about leaving my job as a weather pony. "Yes Atom, I do. I'm going away. Starting a new life. I thought we are over this." I reply, I had a lot of time to think, and I did think a lot. "No.. you don't understand. This is... this is not just leaving your friends!" He says, louder than before. "You all can visit me in Trottingham anytime you want! Calm down dude." He remains upset. He follows me around for a while. Then finally, he calms down... But I know this isn't over yet, for him, it's definitely not. "So, no way back, huh?" Ice asks me as I sip my last cinnamon-chocolate in the Caffee. "Yep. Thanks for acting normal." I response. The meetingss with the otehrs were... not as good as expected and Ice somehow knew it. "Well.... good luck Zeph. Stay safe buddy." He says and friendly pats my back and leaves me, serving a customer. Shortly after I leave, trying to decide that if I should remember everything, or forget them all. /Flashback ends.../ I put down the heavy suitcases, finally. “Oh my back... and wings and legs and neck, OH MY EVERYTHING!” I say, trying to get rid of the pain. “You will be fine sweetie, I will massage you, deal?” Tavi asks me, planting a kiss on my cheek. “Well.... okay. But make it a good one!” I response. Damn that girl, she knows how to make me go soft. With the packs down, I can go and explore the house. Yes, I know how it looks like, I saw pictures, but seeing it with my own eyes is different. /5 minutes later..../ “Well, I think I will not get lost here anytime soon. Or I will, dunno.” I say, looking in Tavi’s eyes, then crack a smile. “Oh, you. We will be fine here, you know.” She says then pulls me in a hug which I happily respond to. "I wish this whole thing was happening... less... emotionally... I... I.." My words run out, memories flash my mind. "Oh it's okay, it's okay. They miss us and they will visit soon, don't worry." Tavi comforts me and it works. she can always do this, another reason to love her. I sigh then and recollect my power, clearing my mind of bad thoughts. We arrived. We are here. Continuing the dream-life, but a bit changed, improved. Or not. I have a good feeling about this. The First Steps...Let’s see, the house is claimed, we took our stuff in and Tavi started to pack the things out... oh, did I tell you that the house was bought with furnitures included? Yepp, the sofa is so comfy I just can’t leave it. Or I thought I can’t. “Get out of the sofa you lazy pegasi!” My wife’s voice interrupted my silent thinking about the meaning of life (or in other words, napping). “Oh... uh, do I have to?...” I ask her, I got really comfy, the one that will be ruined if you move the slightest. “Yes!” She replies shortly, the tone she says that yes tells me that I should move or it will have consequences. “Okay-okay, I’m...” Using my skill to do a jump-start, I literally jump off of the sofa, spin mid-air and fly to her. “...here! What is the thing I need to do?” She points to an open suitcase. “Help me packing out.” She says simply. I’m not moving, I just stare the suitcase with the expression of ‘are you bucking serious?’. She walks in front of me and looks deep in my eyes. “Please?” her voice is so adorable, I can’t stand it. “Okay...” And I start the packing out. /30 minutes of boring and tiring packing out later..../ “Whooh, we are done!” Tavi exclaims, wiping her forehead, though I did most of the work. “Only two more suitcases left!” She says cheerfully. “Oh come ooon!” She must be kidding. “I didn’t even have a chance to wash my hooves or anything, take a break Tavi!” I tell her. Yes, I admit, doing something like packing stuff out and placing it on the fitting places isn’t too hard, but dang it, I’m lazy! “The sooner we finish the sooner you can nap.” She says and... she is right. “Ugh... ffffiiiine!” When I did this to my mom, she always got upset. The stubborn earth-pony she is, she wouldn’t let things like a groan slip, no way she would be reasonable or anything. But Tavi... she is different. She is like, the perfect match, she knows what to say, what to do, and she don’t minds my usual responses either! And so like this, we continued to pack the stuff out. /Later that day.../ Finally free, I sit back on the sofa. the only thing that is still in my mind about the whole packing stuff, is that I will NOT cleaning these things, there is no way Tavi can make me do it. Uh, she will anyway. “Hey.. Tavi, wanna sit here?” I ask her, she is placing the really last things, the photos on their places. “Yes... I was thinking about our friends. What are they doing? How do they feel?” She sits next to me, holding a photo of the whole gang: everypony is smiling, except Dark, who is evilly grinning, and Ice, who is seconds far from face-planting on the ground. Oh Dark. “Well.. I’m sure they are all fine... I mean, what could happen without us there? An evil ninja alien overlord takes over Ponyville? Blah, humbug.” I say, shaking my head. “I know. But I miss them.” Tavi whispers and hugs me. “Me too, me too...” I respond, then memories flood my mind. /Flashback, two days ago.../ We just finished the packing in, the suitcases are heavy, but my thoughts are heavier. I said my goodbye to the most of my friends, except one. Blue. It’s getting late and the train departs at 6 in the morning. This is the last time I can see him calmly. I figured out that the easiest way is to send him a letter, an invitation. He can be here in any minute. About five minutes pass and he arrives. “Blue.” I ‘greet’ him. “Zeph.” He responses. “I don’t want to leave with a bitter taste in my mouth. I wish things would be different. I hope you can understand this.” I really do, I really do... Blue just looks at me, I can see that he is thinking, searching for the right words to use. Then he sighs and opens his mouth. “Yes. I understand. I wish for a happy and long life for you. Take care my friend.” He only says this, but I know there is a lot more he wants to tell. “Thank you... oh come on Blue, I’m not going to die! Yet.” I say, trying to lighten the mood. “Yet.” He repeats, then slowly facehoofs. “You. Are. An. Idiot.” He says then, unable to hide his smile. “Thank you very much pal, I accept your condolences, you will be notified when your care care package will arrive! Have a nice day!” I say, grinning, the random stupidness is my speciality. “What.” Blue asks, perfectly confused. “Exactly!” I tell him, then pull him in a hug. “I will miss you, you magnificent bastard!” Shaking his head and the previous random things out of his mind, he replies. “Yeah, I will miss you too. Be safe.” “Yeah-yeah, whatevs!” He then shakes his head again and leaves me. I know I will see him, sooner than expected. /Flashback ends.../ “Uhhhhh.... Tavi... what do you think, when will they come to visit us?” I ask her, the memories of leaving Blue are still vivid in my mind. “Well... I think in a week? Maybe two? I have an uncle who only visited us after four months though.” She says, thinking about her uncle. Okay. “Rrrright... I hope they will be alright back in Ponyville.. without me. Oh sweet Luna, what will they do without me???” Overreacting, YES! “Hush, you are not as funny as you think you are!” Tavi says, poking my side. “Yes I am!” I reply, defending my pride! “No you aren’t!” Oh Tavi. “No I’m not!” Heheh, lil’ trick time! “See? I told you!” Darn. “Darn!” Now seriously. Clever girl... /About... uhm... five.. hours later?.../ I woke up to the feeling of hunger. This took me by surprise, last time I checked I was thinking about... oh. Yeah, this sofa is definitely too comfy. Tavi fall asleep as well, I make a great mattress for her, she found out this already. Well, if you have the feathers of a pegasus under yourself, you would be comfy as well! *Grumble!* My stomach acts up again. “Quiet down you dum-dum!” I whisper to my stomach, old habit... uhm... “Mhhhmm?..” Aaaand Tavi woke up. “Uh, nothing Tavi, I just got hungry.. do we have anything to eat?” I ask her, this is actually a valid idea. “No, I don’t think so. In fact, we should go and buy the items to stock up our pantry!” She explains,rubbing her right eye in the process. I always adored how cute she looks like when she do that. “So we go and buy stuff?” I ask again, thinking about the last time we went on a shopping-tour. “Yes, we go and buy stuff. Do not even think about doing backflips when you think I can’t see you!” Heheh, yeah.... boredom and.... yeeeeaaaahh..... “O-okay. Stuff. I like stuff. Stuff is good.” I’m being my random (tired) self now, with the nonsensical behaviour. “Yes sweetie, stuff is good. Let’s go and buy them, alright?” Tavi is patient like a mother, she will be a terrific mother. “Eeee-yupp!” and with this, I get up from the sofa, stretch the limbs and get ready to move, while Tavi yawns a big and lies across my former place. “So warm... oh, what am I doing, we need to buy the necessary things now. It’s getting late. Let’s go.” Ah yes, she can’t be distracted this easily. We get ourselves ready and five minutes later we are on the way to a shop, hopefully finding everything we need... /On the way.../ “Hmmm...” I start my high-quality conversation initial, wearing a ‘deep in thoughts’ expression. “I see strange ponies here... did you see that mare with the milk bottles? She walked so weird, I wonder what was with her legs...” Tavi is right next to me, on my right, she is concentrating on finding an actual shop. “I don’t know, she wore clothes, I can’t tell.” Well of course Tavi, you weren’t even watching. “Anyway. I’m just wondering, what will be the next thing to see, a batpony from princess Luna’s guards?” I ask the rhetorical question. “Oh, don’t be silly, they have inborn heliophobia, they won’t take a step outside while it's daytime. And just look up, It's shining." Tave replies, pointing at the sky with a hoof. “Well yes, but still... I just... just...” My thoughts will never reach her, my attention is picked up. “Hey... you see that pony?” I ask and point at a white stallion who have charcoal black short mane and tail, sideburns and a strange, pupil-less pair of eyes. “Is he blind?” “I don’t know... but asking would be rude, let’s just go on and find a shop.” Tavi and her politeness. Not this time! “I will ask him about the closest shop.” I declare and head to the probably blind pony. The pony, who was just walking on the street, notices me, even though I was watching my hooves to not make noise. “Uhm, good afternoon, sir, can you help me for a moment?” I ask him, an awkward grin is on my face, though I don’t know if it’s matters for him at all. “Good afternoon to you too. What can I help exactly?” He asks back, his voice have something in it... something... Well, looks like this will be an interesting conversation. Not speaking about the reason we got out of home... darn. ...And First FallsWhat did I want ask from that pony? ‘Are you blind, ugh?’ Yeah, I shouldn’t start with this... Alright, alright, let just my mind come up with something! … Okay, this isn’t working. Darn. “Uhm, me and my wife just arrived here, we moved here actually, and we don’t know the city yet. I was wondering if you could give me some advice about some basic places, like now we are in a search for a shop to buy food..” Okay, this could’ve go better. The pony stares (or is he?..) me for a few seconds, then the edges of his mouth curl up, forming a first small, then normal sized smile. “Welcome to Trottingham! I will be your guide then, my name is Blind Justice.” He takes a deep breath. “Yes, I am blind, and my name is a pun, thanks to my father. Nevertheless, I can see just fine.” He explains. “Uhm, o-o-okay... h-how exactly?” I ask back, my curious self activating. As an answer, he snorts once, chuckling a little. “Magic. No seriously, I can see you expression, colors and such, all I need is to use a special spell on myself, but it’s very complex to explain and I’m sure you wouldn’t understand it, no offense.” Well at least he is honest. “None taken, though I know somepony who would be jumping around in glee just to ask about this magic you have...” Yes, I meant Twilight there. “Quite... to answer your first question, I can and will lead you around now, what is your name again? “ Oh I forgot to introduce myself... I turn to Tavi and sign to her to come here. She arches an eyebrow then trots to us. After turning back to Blind Justice, I start my intro. “My name is Zephyr Verve, retired Royal Guard, this is my wife, Octavia Philharmonica, master cellist and the most beautiful mare you can lay your eyes on, even if you can’t see the normal ways, heh. Oh I’m terrible.” No seriously, I suck. “Oh sweetie..” Tavi says and nuzzles my neck, I wasn’t so bad then?.. “Pleasure to meet you Zephyr and Octavia. My name is Blind Justice, as you may know,” (he turns to look at me when he says the last part) “and now as we are through the formalities, we can be more friendly I hope.” He looks up at the sky. This is the moment when I noticed that he actually have a short, well trimmed beard, it looks nice on him. “I don’t know if my husband already asked it or not, but can you show us around? We are new here.” Tavi says looking around, wearing a clueless expression. “Of course, of course. Follow me!” Justice says and starts to walk in a random direction. “Say, Zephyr, what was your last job?” He asks, looking up at the sky again. “Uhm, I was the part of the local Weather Patrol in Ponyville, why?” “Because you might find a new job as a weather pony. Take a look.” He points upwards. And indeed, the sky is spotted with tiny, roaming clouds, only a single pegasus chases them and have little to no success catching them. “Poor thing... they need your help sweetie.” Tavi exclaims, making her adorable worried expression. “I will check in the office, don’t worry.” I reply, shaking my head. That up there is too easy for me. Continuing our way, Justice leads us to the marketplace of the city. “You can find almost everything here, and fortunately for you, most of the shops are placed here, in this shopping street.” He points at a street and he was right: shops, shops everywhere! “Whoah, never going to get lost. Nah, I’ll get lost anyway.” I say, smirking. This reminds me the time not that long ago when I got lost in Canterlot. /Flashback, 5 weeks ago.../ “Dark, I’m telling you, the shop isn’t here!” I say, annoyed, Dark just don’t want to listen to me. We were here for at least an hour, searching for that damned place he wanted to visit, it was some kind of hidden shop. And so we got lost. And I just wanted to go home. But nooo, Dark wants to find it, no matter what... “It HAVE to be here... just.... just gimme a few more minutes!” He says and frantically looks around for the umpteenth time. Did I tell you about how we got friends? Well yeah, after I raced him, we got lost and long story short: we grew on each other as good friends, I enjoyed his company so did he mine. “It’s not. Now come on, let’s go home.” I tell him. Then look around for the usual landmarks I use. I can’t see any. “Uhm.... Dark, we might have a problem!..” “Yes, I can’t find that shop!” He replies a bit angry. “No, I don’t know where are we now!” I tell him, actually worried. “What do you mean you don’t know where are we?” He asks back, frowning. “You heard it, I... I don’t know this place! This city is huge, WE GOT LOST!” I say, and shake him at the last part, like a crazed madman. “Sweet Celestia help us..” He replies. “She is near, maybe she hears us...” Well she didn’t. We only got out of the city after 4 hours. /Flashback ends.../ “Oh Dark..” I whisper, it picks up Justice’s attention. “Hm, did you say something?” He asks, not the suspicious way, but I think I will just tell him. “Yeah, I just remembered to something happened to me and my friend Dark Lightning, it’s not important, but it was.. ‘fun’.” I tell him. “Ah, I see. Well, there are the...” I stop hearing him, my attention is dragged out by something else. And it is nothing else than a small filly, wearing a bit strange looking metal bowl, it actually fits her head, but it’s still blocking her sight by hanging before her eyes. Nevertheless, she is running quite securely. The other thing I notice about her is the red colored jacket she wears, it have a yellowish patch on its shoulders, with a stylized, orange colored cupcake sewed on it. And last but not least, she have a weird tube strapped on her back, I have no idea what could it do. Other small details are the little saddle-bag like packs on her flank, covering her cutie mark, if she have any of course. And... two big, orange and black colored gumballs strapped on her chest with a belt of some kinds. She is getting away. I have to ask her, dunno why though. “Hey uhm, I will be back in a few minutes, I saw something, I gotta investigate..” I tell Tavi and Justice, and in the next second I’m flying towards the filly... I catch up with her soon, though she got away quite nicely. “Hey, uhm, can I disturb you?” I ask her, I don’t know what to say to children... “Huh? Are you a Spy?” She asks suspiciously, then- *clonk* “OW! My head! Why did you do this?!?” She hit me with a SHOVEL! Where did she get it anyway? “You are not a Spy!” She exclaims, now with a bit of cheer in her voice. “I am Private Cupcake!” She introduces herself, then opens one of those little bags on her flanks and grabs a blue, gingerbread pony figure. “I will eat you!” She then eats it... “It was a Spy!” She tells me with a grin plastered on her face. I can't help but notice how soldier-ishly she speaks, similar to my former Drill Sergeant... “Ooookaaaay? Is this some kind of game you play?” I ask her. Private, spy, the uniform she wears, the pieces are falling in place. “Yes! Uhm, I mean NO, this is WAR, and I LOVE it!” She replies, grinning even wider: she looks up in my eyes, it’s a bit difficult to her thanks to my height and the helmet on her head, but she does it anyway. As I look at her, arching an eyebrow, thinking about what did she just say, her further appearance sinks in. She is a pegasus filly with (a bit dull) orange coat, sky blue eyes, bright red, neatly cut straight mane, she is like the mix of Scootaloo and Apple Bloom... She seems to wear a never ending smile/grin, but she is not creepy, she is just... adorable. “So you are a soldier, huh?” I ask her, playing along as much as I can. “No! I am THE Soldier!” She exclaims. “This is my rocket launcher!” She pats the metal tube on her back. “This is my shovel!” She hits her head twice with it. “And these are my Gunboats!” She points on her hind legs, on her hooves, and indeed, they are covered in small shoe-like metal protectors. How didn’t I notice it before? “Rocket launcher you say... what does it do?” I ask, I have seen rockets before of course, but those were fireworks rockets. “Launches rockets!” She tells me simply, wearing an impatient expression. “Of course, silly me. I wish I had a game like this to play when I was a little colt...” I sigh, the old memories of being alone, or hanging out with only a few friends are still hurting to remember. “You can join us! Team RED needs the mercenaries, or Team BLU will overpower us!” She says, making a worried expression. “Oh, so there are two teams, now this have some organization, I like it. How can I join?” I ask her, a little fun is all I need in the dull everydays. “What’s your name, son?” She ask. I would be surprised if she weren’t speaking in a way my old Drill Sergeant spoke to us back in the RG Academy. But instead of surprise, I play along again. “Zephyr Verve, Ma’am!” Heh, she is cute. “Follow me soldier, we need to defend the Intelligence!” With that, she runs away, good for me that I can easily follow her. /5 minutes later, in front of a red building.../ “This is our base!” She points on the front of the building, it have a big emblem on it, with a single word written on: RED. “See? RED!” “A HeadQuarter of Operations, yes, a bit striking for an HQ, but whatever. “Yes!... Wait, what?” She is confused. “Nothing, lead me forward.” She trots in, revealing me a bunch of lockers, an office and lots of other places, mostly behind half-closed doors. As she leads me through the ‘base’, I see other foals as well, everypony have some kind of red uniforms, though they are all different. Not paying too much attention, I just follow Private Cupcake... /In a basement of some kind.../ “This is the room of the Administrator! She will administer you!” She explains, pointing to a door. The door have a sign on it, (not so) surprisingly: Administrator. “Dis-missed!” She says and salutes, then trots away... Okay, so I got myself into a war fought by foals, and I’m about to join them, alright. Tavi will kill me. Oh, did you think that it’s over yet? Nu-uh, ya got fooled! After a few knocks I enter the room and see a desk on the opposite side. Behind it there is a map of the city, with red and blue sticky-notes on it. and most importantly, there is a big chair. It slowly spins around, revealing an unicorn: an adult mare, with a frightening expression. “Good day, mister?...” She says, probably asking my name? “Zephyr Verve. My name is Zephyr Verve.” I reply with a gulp. “Mr. Verve. I assume our tiny friend, Private Cupcake recruited you.” Her voice.. it’s.. it’s menacing.. “Uhm... yes? I-I just moved here with my wife and we were looking around for-” “Irrelevant.” Huh, how rude..” The thing that is important, is the question. Are you willing to join the ranks of Team RED, or no. Choose now. If yes, then you are welcome here. If no, then leave and never come back again.” She explains. “Uhm-uhm, I... *whine* “ You figure.. The Administrator’s face twitches, then she erupts in laughter, hitting her desk while laughing. “Oh, oh, the look on your face, priceless, priceless I say!” What now? ”Calm down Zephyr, don’t worry about anything. I’m Mrs. Victory Goal, and the filly you met, along with the other foals you saw the way here, are my students, I am their teacher.” What. “What.” “Oh, don’t make an expression like this, my sides hurt!” She says, suppressing another fit of laughter. “So... this is a school? Of some sorts?” I ask, still confused as heck, I don’t even know what’s going on! “Yes it is. Me and my husband decided to change the usual, boring way of teaching and set up a brand new way! It makes our students cheery, healthy, their senses are better than you would expect, and their grades are fantastic! They can learn a lot about almost everything this way.” She explains. Okay, what the heck. “So you want to tell me.... that this is an actual school... oookay. Aren’t they get aggressive? I mean, war is a violent thing to say the least.” “No, I’m recording everything they do and all of their ‘violence’ is deducing while they are fighting each other. I can assure you, they are not hurting anypony.” She seems to be sure about the things she say. Time to tell her the cold truth. “Mrs. Victory. War is not a game. I am a retired Royal Guard, I know the real face of the war.” “So you know what they feel when they are fighting, good!” “No, you don’t understand. I was a Squad Leader. and my whole squad got KILLED. I almost died there too. You have NO IDEA what war is.” I feel a tear leaving my right eye, I remember their faces, I remember them... and it hurts... “I.. I didn’t know, I’m sorry.” She apologizes. “No. It’s okay. Just... don’t try to create a war. They have to enjoy their childhood, not fight.” I sigh, wiping that tear off. “They actually enjoy it. Trust me.” She explains. “Show me. I believe you if you show me.” I say and walk right in front of her. /Back at Tavi and Blind Justice.../ “We were standing here for at least a quarter an hour, where is he?!?” Tavi half-shouts, she can get impatient more easily since the little one is on the way. “I-I don’t know, maybe he found something. I think we should just continue this tour. I can find him later.” Justice responds, though he actually knows where I am. “How?” Comes the simple question from Tavi. “I am an unicorn, remember? I have a few searching spells. Besides, it’s a full moon tonight, my magical power is enhanced.” “Enhanced? Because of the moon? How does it works?” Tavi asks. Not because she can (or more likely, she can’t) do magic, but because she is curious and have unicorn friends. “Well, you see the...” /Back at me.../ “Fascinating... I’m genuinely surprised. Especially because of the magical engineering your husband made. Stupendous!” I say, grinning. I have never seen such an organized and well created way to educate and train foals. “See, I told you this works. And just to clear everything you might fear of: my students get jobs completely irrelevant from any kind of war. Pastry chef, carpenter, ski instructor, hay, one of them became the mayor of the city!” Mrs. Victory explains. “Hm. Well, I’m convinced. You won. How can I join?” “Oh, now this is the thing I like to hear...” /20 minutes later.../ Finally, I find my way back to Tavi and Blind Justice. By the looks they had and have an interesting conversation. “Hey, I’m back! Sorry for being... very late, you won’t believe what did I find!” I say excited, somehow this whole thing gives back the good memories from my childhood. “Oh, you are back sweetie! Did you know that the moon gives extra power to the unicorns? Justice told me a lot of things!” Tavi responds to me, looks like she was having fun afterall (and not mad, trololo). “Huh? Never heard of it. Anyway, this can wait, you have to hear what did I find!” I say, this time slightly distracted. “I believe you found the school, correct?” Justice asks. “Y-yeah... how did you?..” “I saw it. I can see a lot of things.” He explains, smirking smugly. “Ooooo-kay, I’m not going to ask how.” I respond, facehoofing. Well, looks like things just got interesting, and we just arrived... oh sweet Luna, what will happen later? After-Introductions And Other Stupid ThingsWell if this day wasn’t interesting yet, then now it became the example of it. And why? Because not much after my arrival back to Tavi and Justice, (and Justice led me around), Tavi of course invited him in our home. “Tavi, can I have a few words with you?” I ask her, Justice is sitting on MY SOFA in the living room, sipping a cup of freshly brewed tea: she told him to sit there and she gave him the tea. “Hm? Yes, sure.” I drag her in the pantry and close the door. “Look, I believe that you found a fantastic conversationalist, but even I don’t know this house yet, why did you have to invite him?...” The reason for this reaction from me: I don’t like ponies in my home, only the close friends whom I know for a good while. “Oh Zephy, he means no harm, and he will be away before you notice!” She tells me, caressing my cheek, it only makes me frown and furrow my eyebrows. “You call me Zephy, and try to convince me with your charm. Fine, you won, but don’t count on this every time. You heard it Tavi?” I ask, only my mom and her can call me that... “Yes sweetie. Now come, Justice must be waiting.” From this point forward I will call him Blindy. Heh. We leave the pantry and go back to Justice. he is still sitting on MY SPOT, his eyes are closed. I have no idea if he really needs his eyes to be opened at all. “So Justice, what was... the thing you spoke about, this moon and stuff?” I ask him as I take a seat on a less comfy couch. “Well, it’s actually quite simple. We unicorns have the most evident kind of magic as you know, and as it was proven through history, my subspecies have the most knowledge about the general and exact kinds of science. Furthermore, we took the most observations about the world around us, and we discovered a certain thing.” He takes a big breath, my thoughts are about how he uses the plural form in his speech, ‘we’, pfh, unicorns... “The moon have a direct effect on an unicorn’s magical capabilities. And I can even prove it to you, tonight is a full moon.” “Uhm... sooo... the moon is acting like an enormous conductor, channeling the planet’s magical field, am I right?” I ask, if anyone is surprised, I can create these theories quite easily. “Yes, exactly!” See? “The moon is the biggest source of magical energy except the sun, but the sun is too far away for us to harness its powers. Now I must warn you, I will introduce a theory which might be against your views.” What now? “Okay? I’m very tolerant to almost everything, just go on.” I reply, looking at tavi, she is sitting on the other couch and smiling, she nods when I look at her. “Alright, in this case. I am a member of a religious community, which is based on the facts I presented to you.” What. “And this is not else, than Church of Luna, our deity of the night.” “You mean... princess Luna?” I ask him, quite surprised. “Yes. I assume you already guessed that she is our mental leader because of her connection with the moon.” Justice answers. “Yeah... is she really in this business, or you all just hold some meetings and praise her?..” Like those little cults I was unfortunate to meet.... don’t ask. “Actually, she joins us regularly.” And this is the point when it become serious. “Okay, this is very nice and all, but... how am I coming in the picture? You see, I’m not an unicorn, nor Tavi is one. So?...” Well buck, I had a religious friend once, but he was different. “Oh, nothing, actually it wasn’t me starting this explanation.” He chuckles, shaking his head “Don’t worry, I am not trying to convert you or anything.” “Yeah-yeah, I realized. Aaaaal-rriiiiiight.... so, you showed us the city, which we really appreciate, so you are welcome here anytime you want to visit a friend. And I have some questions to you, but that’s for later.” I say, then look at Tavi, she is staring into empty space, probably thinking about something. “Hm, yes, I think I will leave now thank you for the tea Octavia.” Justice says and stands up, snapping Tavi out of her ‘trance’. “Oh, uhm, it’s nothing, really. You are welcome.” She responds, standing up as well. “I will see off our friend now, I will be back in a few minutes.” I tell her and walk in the exit’s direction, Justice follows me. When we are outside the house, he takes a few steps forward, then turns around. “Zephyr, I know I had some not wanted pressures on you, I apologize about it.” He says, making an apologetic expression. “Uhm, actually, I wanted to say sorry... I.. I don’t know how to explain, you know we just arrived and I’m not completely settled in...” I tell him, not really able to find the good words. “I understand. Friends?” He asks, and holds up his right foreleg for a friendly hoof-bump. “Friends.” I respond and bomp his hoof. “Hey, I wanted to ask.. what’s your cutie mark about?” He have a scale of some sorts as a cutie mark. “Oh, it’s the Scale of Justice, I am the local judge.” He explains. “Huh, this explains a lot of things...alright, have a nice evening... Scales...” Hm, I found a better pet-name for him! “Uhm, excuse me?” He asks back, he probably didn’t hear me perfectly. Yeah, sure. “Scales. Your cutie mark is a scales. Therefore, I will call you Scales. Sorry if this offends you, but it’s final.” I tell him, my trollish self is in the works again. “Actually, I am quite okay with it. See you soon, friend.” He says with a smirk on his face, then turns away and leaves me. “Yeah-whatever, seeya!” I say half-loud and head back inside my home. /Back in my home.../ Tiredly, I drop myself on MY SOFA and sigh. “Is everything alright sweetie?” Tavi asks motherly (or as a wife? I cannot decide, but whatever.). “Justice is a nice stallion, you really have nothing to be angry about.” She says and caresses my cheek, like she does every time when I’m tired of something. “Oh, no-no, we are friends, it’s just... this day was long. And I’m hungry. Can you?...” I didn’t finish my sentence intentionally. “Make a vegetable soup, your mom’s recipe? Yes, I will make it.” Tavi continues my words. There are no words that can express my thankfulness and love to her. “You are the best.” Well, I have to say something, no? Before she go to make the dinner, I stop her. “Hey uhm, I should take a look around town before the sun sets,I don’t want to be in a disadvantage when tomorrow I sign up for the Weather Patrol.” “A little flying around? Hmmm.... alright, but don’t get lost.” She answers. I know I’m near to the border when she will just not let me go, I play with fire.. “Thank you. I’ll be back soon.” And so, I get up, walk to the nearest window, open it, look at Tavi and wink at her, then fast as lightning, I’m away. /5 minutes later, above Trottingham.../ “Will ya look at that...” I say to myself, looking down on the city below. The whole town is still full of ponies doing their everyday business, though it’s going to be night soon. Some streetlights are already lit. After the moment is over, I land on a small cloud nearby and try to memorize the city’s map. After only a few minutes I already have the basics in: my home, the marketplace, the Major’s office, the train station, the Weather HQ (Weather HQs are very striking in appearance) and the RED base that filly, Private Cupcake showed me. Though it’s a school or what. Whatever. I should pay them a visit tomorrow, but of course, only after I was in the WHQ. For now I continue the setting up of the map in my mind, I should remember this. Actually, I will remember it, not like the other things I’m used to NOT remember. My memorizing is disturbed when I hear the flapping of a pair of wings. The next second I see a pink and blue streak flying up /right in front of me/, startling me to say the least. “Whoah-whoah-whoah, what the heck?” I half shout in an annoyed tone. “Ever heard of manners?” I ask the unknown pony, if it’s a pony at all. “Heh, sorry, didn’t want to frighten you~!” I hear a very familiar, tomboyish female voice from behind me, it have a good amount of mockery in it. I turn to face her. The mare hovering in front of me is indeed a tomboyish pegasus, and she reminds me to somepony so much, my jaw drops. She have light pink coat, blue mane and violet eyes. And most important. She is the exact copy of Rainbow Dash. Well, except for her colors and her cutie mark, which is two blue lightning bolts. “He-he-he-helllooo!” I say, barely able to hold myself back from grinning like a creep. “Hi.” She replies simply, then tilts her head. “You aren’t from around, are you?” “I just moved here today... with my pregnant wife.... “ I reply. ‘Holy Mackerel, this is impossible!’ My mind shouts to me. “Uhhuh, and what are you doing up here?” She asks. Darn, even her voice matches Rainbow’s. “Uhm, you see, I was a weather pony back in Ponyville, so I plan to join the local Weather Patrol, so I thought to memorize the city so I won’t get lost...” I explain while trying to fight off the fact, that there is the ‘twin’ of Rainbow Dash hovering right in front of me. “Weather Patrol? You wanna join?” She asks and her slightly suspicious expression turns into a grin. “Awesome, finally I won’t be alone with all this job!” She exclaims and does a double-backflip, combined with constant spinning clockwise. “So I saw you earlier, huh? It must be tiring to be out all day.” I tell her, finally, my logical min d won above my hormone driven parts. “Yeah... and almost no job is done, frustrating as hay.” She responds, frowning. “Then cheer up, tomorrow morning the first thing I do will be visiting you! Oh sweet Luna, this sounded better in my head.” I facehoof, this was a REALLY big mistake. “ *snort* Bwaa-hahah, this was funny, heheheh!” Even her laughter is the same. Whaaaaaaa? “Eheh-heh-heh, yeah... anyway... my name is Zephyr Verve, yours?” Manners, never forget the manners!.... Nah, screw manners, I gotta know her name. “Firefly, the one and only.” She replies, she calmed down while I was asking her. “Pleasure to meet you Firefly. Well, it’s getting late, I would return to my home if you don’t mind.” I tell her, flapping my wings. “Yeah, sure you would, big boy!” She mocks me, and she earns an expression from me which says ‘ha-ha-ha, very funny’. “Off ya go~!” She exclaims, then KICKS MY CLOUD IN PIECES, making me fall. “What the buuuuuuuuuuuUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU-” And I crash in a biggger cloud. Looking up I can see her laughing her flanks off, then she flies down to me and pulls me out of the cloud. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I couldn’t leave this out, sorry..” She apologizes, wiping a tear out of her right eye. “Oh Celestia, I didn’t laugh this hard in AGES!” “Mrmph...” Is the only thing I ‘say’, she got a bad mark from me. “Oh come oooon, don’t be grumpy!” She says and pokes my side with an elbow. In response, I flap my wings once, then turn to face her completely. “Don’t tell me you can’t take a joke!” She says, arching her eyebrows. I only raise my left foreleg, then slam it down on the cloud HARD - the cloud evaporates under her and she falls down. “HA-HA!” I shout after her, then smirk evilly. “Let this be a lesson for you!” I shout again, then take off, flying home. Huh... if she will be my colleague, then I will have hard times working.... Work? Again?The rest of the day was spent *khm* quite nicely, I always adored Tavi’s intuition about the things I want to do, or I wish to do. The next day arrived like a freight train: I was tired, dizzy, and too lazy to get out of the bed. My bed was comfy. Too comfy... “Sweetie...” I hear Tavi’s voice from my right. “you will be late...” She tells me, her voice is as tired as I feel myself. “Yeah... okay, I get up now..” Then I force myself out of the bed. “no, come back!” I say in a higher pitched voice. “You hear Tavi, the bed calls me back!” I tell her. “Yes it does... don’t you dare to lay back here!” Her voice is frightening, she knows how to end my foalish plays! “Uh, sheesh, okay-okay..” /20 minutes later.../ With the morning routine done, I finish the preparing and head out to the Weather HQ. When I take my first step, a roll of newspaper hits my face so precisely, I’m sent back stumbling, sitting on my rump. “Sonova! Who threw this?!?” I shout, jumping up and looking around for the pony who did this crime against me! And I see a pegasus colt, with an evil smile on his face, he threw the paper at me, other rolls of newspaper are still laying in his backpack. “Oh you little, you won’t get away with this!” I shout after him and start a chase.... only to lose his trail after 5 seconds. “How in Equestria...”I ask from no one, rub my head, then head to the HQ again. Upon arriving I notice that the front door of the HQ is wide open. “Huh, Firefly must be there then..” I whisper under my breath and step inside. “Hello?” No answer. I decide to investigate, so with a deep breath I enter the building. It’s... messy. I mean, dust everywhere, except a trail which is in daily use, I guess. But otherwise the place seems abandoned. Going deeper in the building, following the path, I arrive to a door. “Well, she must be here then.” I say to myself and open the door: I’m welcomed by a simple office, a desk, a single rose in a vase, towers of paper on the desk, and nopony else than Firefly, sleeping on a smaller stack of paper at the moment. “Uhm.. hello? Firefly?” I say a bit louder than usual, maybe I can wake her up. “Hmmmnn... just five more minutes...” Yep, she is definitely like Rainbow Dash, there is no doubt. “Firefly wake up, it’s working time!” I say and poke her side. She finally wakes, leaning back. “Huh? *yawn* You are... you are Zephyr, aren’t you? You came for the job, huh?” She asks, rubbing her eyes in the process. “Yepp, you definitely need my help.” I state, looking around at the mess. “Heheh, yeeeaaaah... I hate cleaning up. I really hate it.” She says and rubs the back of her head. “Aaaanyway, you just gotta sign this paper and you are in!” A paper got in my face, I push it away only to see Firefly grinning. She lost her mind or something. “Yeah-yeah, thanks....” I grab a pen and sign the paper, then unfold my wings. “Well, I’m ready!” “Good! I guess you have more than enough experience in cleaning the sky, so this is what you’ll do today: I want the sky to be cloudless till noon!” She says and grins again. “I figured out that you are my... boss now...” I take a deep breath, trying to force back my negative feelings. “...but if you go bossy and order me around, I will kick your flank. Seriously.” And of course, the desired effect cannot be achieved. “Oh really? We will see about that flyer boy!” She taunted me, then leaned back in her chair. A window is right behind her, slightly open... and evil plan forms in my mind. “I want to see that!” I exclaim, grinning evilly, then push her, sending her falling out of the window while screaming. “HAAAAA!! Priceless!!” I shout after her, then laugh my flank off, I even have to sit down on the floor. About half a minute later he climbs back through the window. “You just signed your death sentence!” She says, her voice is dripping with anger. “I thought that was my apply to this job, but oh well!” I respond and start laughing again. This time she only makes a very angry face/ but leaves it be. ‘She mad!’ I think, then shake my head. ‘Better clear the skies, I don’t wanna insult her AND be a jack-flank.’ With these thoughts I flap my wings and head outside. “Now where are you going?” Firefly asks me, still angry. She sat back on her chair while I was thinking. “Clearin’ the sky as it was ordered. I will be back in about half an hour.” I tell her and leave the room. I can hear her grunt of disbelief, but for me it’s only the sign of my victory. /Above Trottingham, 2 minutes later.../ “Alright... I think I will use the Shepherd Technique.” Which’s name is speaking for itself. The current state of clouds let me do it, so I start it right away: a second later only a brown-blue streak is visible from me, or at least I think that. /30 minutes later.../ Done. The sky is clear. It wasn’t that difficult, but tiring because of the number of the clouds. I decide to return to the HQ to see Firefly’s face, but looks like the faith have other plans with me. I see her flying up to me, it takes her a few seconds to reach me. “Sup boss?” I ask her, wiping the sweat away from my forehead. “You. you really did this! In half an hour! These clouds were giving me work for a week now and you just collected them and evaporated them like if it was nothing!” She says, making an expression of true surprise. “Well, it was actually water, but whatever. Yes I did.” I raised an eyebrow. “Did you think that I will fail, I will not be able to fulfil my word?” I ask her, she is in my hoof! “I-uh-no-I...” She says stuttering, looking away and rubbing the back of her head. “Just as I thought, Firefly.” I reply simply. For a few moments, she just stares me, then shakes her head and descends. “Work is over, you are free to go home or wherever, just go.” She says and glides down. “Sure, boss!” i half-shout after her and head home. It’s still the morning and my day is off, Tavi will be surprised! /At home.../ “You are here this early? You didn’t get the job?” Tavi asks me, surprised and worried in the same time. “The opposite!” I exclaim, grinning. “I not just got the job, but finished it so fast i got my day off!” I tell her with pride. “You are not joking, right?” Tavi asks back. “Of course not!” I shake my head. “Why would I lie to my love?” I ask her lovingly and kiss her the moment after, but only to hug her a few seconds later. “O-okay... *sigh* Zeph, you have to do something with Archie.” She tells me, leaning back a bit to look in my eyes. “Why, did he got out of his terrarium?” I ask back, that terrarium isn’t that big and sometimes I forget to lock its small door when I feed Archie. “No. He made those nasty webs again, doesn’t he supposed to jump on his pray? making webs are other spider’s job!” Tavi tells me, closing her eyes and shaking her head slightly. Ever since we ‘found’ Archibald, she hated him, but at least she learned to accept his presence and actually did a little research on arachnids. “Oh great, I have to clean his terrarium then.” I say, rolling my eyes. “Why is he doing that by the way?” Tavi asks me, arching an eyebrow. “Archie is smarter than you think. He /forces me/ to clean his home, it’s probably filled with the bug husks he left after ‘dinner’, heh.” I tell her and indeed, what can small jumping spider do with those chitinous husks? “Then do it, I’m not going to touch it with a single hoof!” Oh Tavi.. I’m not going into details about how I cleaned the terrarium, but let’s say it, it took me more than an hour, so you can guess. /That hour later.../. I tiredly enter the living room and plop myself on my sofa. Tavi notices it and approaches me. “Is it clean, everything is fine?” She asks caressing my cheek the way she always does. “Yeah... I hate cleaning anythiiiiing...” I tell her in a whiny tone, then draw her in a hug. “Naah, it’s not that bad. anyway, while you were cleaning, the teacher of the local school was here, he left you a letter.” She hands me a letter with the sign of Victory on it. “Huh a letter...” I take it and open it. “Hmmm. I might be needed in the school later today.” I tell Tavi after I’m done reading. “Hmm, why?” She asks back simply. “It’s... classified!” I tell her with a mischievous smile spreading on my face. “You will tell me anyway, why tire myself?” She asks... and actually have a point. “Later!” I say and kiss her on the cheek, making her do a surprised expression. “Heheh, Tavi, you are so adorable!” In response she pokes me. “Hey, what was that for?” I ask, rubbign the point she poked me. “Because!” She responds. Well... yeah, things are happening. Wanna know what was in the letter? Too bad, ya gotta wait for that! Back To The Battlefield, KindaAs it was predictable, I told Tavi what was in the letter. And the letter read: Mr. Zephyr Verve! I have the pleasure to inform you about your successful enrollment in Team RED of the Trottingham’s First Elementary. Your briefing will be at 0700, tomorrow. We expect you to arrive 5 minutes before, don’t bring anything! Mrs. Victory Goal, Administrator “I remember Justice saying something about a school, is that it? Why did you join a school?” Tavi asks me after I read her the letter. “It’s not exactly a school, it’s more like... a training, they play war.” Tavi arches an eyebrow, I can hear her voice in my head, saying: ‘Are you serious?’ “Yes I know, this is dangerous and stupid, but it’s actually working and they have fun.” I tell her, I don’t want to listen a half an hour speech about dangers and other... stuff... like that. But instead, she lowers her eyebrow and sighs. “Tell me one reason of why should I let you do this.” She says, and I know that I already won. “Because of potatoes, of course.” I respond dead seriously. Two seconds pass as I stare into her beautiful purple eyes and Tavi erupts in laughter, hugging me in the process. I hold her till she calms down. “I should tell Firefly that I will get in work later tomorrow.” I say and let Tavi go, she is still smiling. “Alright, go. Heheh, I don’t even know why did I laugh! Oh sweetie.” She says, planting a quick kiss on my cheek then leaves me, probably to go and set up her cello and other tools to play. “I’ll be back soon!” I say half shouting and leave my home. “How can I make her laugh, even I don’t know...” I whisper under my breath, then take off and fly straight to the Weather HQ. /2,5 minutes later, in front of Firefly’s office.../ Since I only left a few hours ago, I expect Firefly to be in her office. As I stand in front of the closed door of the room, I think for a moment, what if she took the day off as well?... One way to find it out. *knock-knock* “Come in!” I hear her voice, open the door and see something I never expected to see. Firefly doing paperwork. Why didn’t I expect it? Because if she was anything like Rainbow Dash, then she would be making me do it. Well, hay happens. “Uhm, heya again, boss.” I greet her, still making that surprised and confused expression. “Hello Zephyr. Why did you come back? You have your day off!” She says, arching an eyebrow and tilting her head in the most adorable way I can imagine, I can feel my heart stop for a second. ‘HNNNNNNNG!’ “I uh, I got a letter, tomorrow I have to attend to something important so I will be late from work.” I tell her, trying to not show what I feel inside. “Late? Well, because you showed how easily you can handle your job, you are free to go.” She tells me and returns to the paperwork. “Firefly... can I ask a question?” This mystery of she working must be solved now. “You already did!” Oh of course I did, smart-flank... “Uh, How’s that you do paperwork?” I ask finally. “I mean, no offense, but there is like a month’s papers towering here.” “You have to start it once, no? but you can do it if you are so interested, I like to have my own day off!” She says, wearing a dull expression. “Hah, yeah, right, no.” I say and turn around to leave. “Have a nice day, don’t choke on the paper!” I say then, snickering. “Oh you little...” I hear from behind, but I’m already out of the office, trotting ouside. /2.5 minutes later, back at home.../ With a graceful spin, I land in front of my home, elegant as ever. In other words, I nearly crash in the bush that decors the frontage. After entering the house I hear the sound of the cello, my tip was actually right. I should play lottery. Trotting in the room that was selected as Tavi’s ‘training’ room, I can easily enter, and because she is practicing, she doesn’t hear me. Sneaking, I get behind her, then lean close to her left ear, an... “Haaaaaaaiiiiii!...” I whisper in it. She jumps, dropping her cello. “Hh-haaaa, oh my gosh Zeph, don’t do this ever again!” She says and grips her chest above her heart, she really got frightened. “Whoops, I overdid it a bit... I’m sorry love, I didn’t want to scare you... this much.” I tell her, then pull her in a loving hug. I can feel how fast her heart beats. ‘Wow, I swear to Luna, I will never scare her again... this is serious.’ I think and hug her tighter. “S-sweetie... you can let me go.. sweetie?” Tavi says, trying to get back a bit but being unable to do it because I’m not letting her go. “I’m sorry Tavi. I really didn’t want to scare you this much. I swear i won’t do it again!” I tell her, I don’t know what would I do if something happened to her. “It’s... it’s okay. Calm down sweetie, nothing happened.” She responds. “But what if I did something? I can’t bear the consequences.” I reply, holding her tighter. “Maybe you should let me go now, I’m choking!” Tavi says, so i let her go. “I will be fine, *deep breath* and the little one too.” She says and caresses her belly. “Just don’t panic, alright?” “Yeah... okay, I think I will go now and... and... uh, check on the RED Headquarters?... Yeah, that.” I tell her, plant a quick kiss on her lips, then leave her, still cursing myself for being stupid. /20 minutes later, in front of the RED HQ.../ “Hmm... well, I’m a member of this whole thing, so why the hay not?” I tell myself after pondering on the ‘should I do this’ dilemma. And so, I enter the building. The first thing that I lay my eyes on is a taller filly, wearing a cowboy-like-hat, sunglasses and a vest. She is an unicorn, she levitates a wooden and metal contraption on her right side, that thing also have a strange telescope attached to it. I decide to ask her. “Uhm, excuse me, can you help me?” The tone of my voice tells her how unsure I am. “Sure mate, what do ya want?” She asks in a strange accent and walks in front of me. Now as she is close I can finally see how she look like. Let’s see, dark grey coat, rose red mane and tail, golden eyes, her cutie mark is a... crosshairs? what? It’s a circular crosshairs.... alright... Her vest is a different shade of grey and she wears a red shirt under it, her hat have about the same color as Applejack’s and her sunglasses is a gold, similar to her eyes. Well, I can’t remember seeing a filly like her before. “I joined this team yesterday and I have to be here tomorrow at seven, but I want to get acquainted with the, uh, team.” I tell her, then remember an important part. “Oh, my name is Zephyr Verve.” She looks at me for a few seconds, observing every trait of me, then looks in my eyes. “Name’s Perfect Point. Welcome to the team, I will show ya ‘round.” She says then holsters her... weapon? In a quiver like holster which is strapped to her right flank. Right after she trots away, so I follow her. She leads me to a room filled with lockers. I instantly notice that every locker have a name written on it, and after reading a few names I notice a familiar one. “Peach Cupcake? Is.. is it Private Cupcake?” I ask Perfect Point, stopping in front of the locker. “Yeah, she’s not the smartest of us, but have a battle-moral like nopony else! Now seriously, would ya blow up a rocket under yerself only to jump higher? Would ya?” She asks me, her strange accent makes me think about her origins, where did she born? “Uhm, dunno... doesn’t she gets hurt?” I ask, my train of thoughts about her origins is too deep to let it go. “Naah, she have those ‘gunboats’ of her, Ya’d never guess that huh?” She asks me, raising an eyebrow. “I already met her, so I know about those. But interesting to know their use...” I say, and my thoughts are all around those metal shoe-like things, the ‘gunboats’. “Thought so mate. Now, see that empty locker?” She asks and points on said locker. “Yeah, what about it?” I ask and open it. Empty. Not big surprise. “That will be yer’s get acquainted!” She says and trots to another locker, I notice that it have her name on it. Opening it she pulls out a second hat, it’s a red and brown camo boonie hat. She places it on her head after taking off the one that was on her head until right now. “Ya see, we get hats and other stuff if we do good in battle.” She explains. “Ya haven’t choose class yet, have ya?” She asks then. “Class?” This sounded stupid. “Hnarrgh... Yeah, we have nine class. Private Cupcake is the Soldier, with rocket launcher, I’m the Sniper, with this....” She levitates her weapon in front of her. “...niiice weapon. A rifle.” She smirks then holsters the rifle again. “And the other classes have other weapons as well!” Seeing the confusion on my face, she facehoofs and explains. “Alright mate, listen. There are three roles of the classes. Offense, defense and support, 3 class each. The first class is the Scout. Ya gotta be fast and dodgy if ya want to be that. The Scout’s weapon is a scattergun. The second class is the Soldier, you already met Peach, so you know what it’s like to be a Soldier. The third class is the Pyro. It uses a flamethrower, but don’t worry, it’s magically enchanted to do no damage, it only hurts your counter. The fourth class is the Demolition pony, or Demo for shorts! Ya can use pipe-bomb launchers and sticky-bomb launchers, but I don’t recommend, ya can hurt yerself easily. The fifth is the Heavy weapons pony. No offense mate, but yer body type is not for that, the Heavy uses a minigun, which isn’t mini at all. The sixth is the Engineer, ya can have a shotgun, and build sentries and dispensers, if ya want to defend an area, it’s yers! The seventh is the Medic, ya can heal back yer teammates’ health counter with the medigun, useful in an attack, though ya can get in the crossfire easily. The Eighth might be me, the Sniper with my beaut’, this sniper rifle. I can pick off the enemies from a looong distance. They never see it coming. And the ninth class... the Spy. Sneaky bastards, always hiding. Ya’ll find out about the Spies everything ya need later.” For about ten seconds I just stare into empty space as the things sink in. “Oooookay... so I should choose.... uh... I.. think... I will choose tomorrow, okay Point?” I ask her, feeling awkward. “Sure mate. Ya wanna go home already?” She ask, smirking. “Y-yeah, kinda.” I answer, looking at the door we came in earlier. “Then go, ya practice dummy.” She tells me and rummages through her locker... ‘This was interesting alright.’ I think and Leave the lockers’ room, then the HQ itself, luckily I found nopony else. That filly... she had like no respect towards an adult, I feel like if I was in a school... oh wait. /Back at home.../ After I finally arrived, I decided to just simply plop myself on my sofa and wait until something happens. And it happened, about 20 minutes later Tavi finished the practicing and went in the kitchen to get herself something to drink. She noticed me. “Oh you are back! How it was going?” She asks me, walking next to me. “Meh, good. I have to decide, what should I be? Nine class, three roles,and it was a mouthful just to listen!” I tell her. “So it was interesting, huh?” She asks playfully. “Oh, stop it Tavi. It’s serious.” I say, furrowing my eyebrows “Yes, serious, like you are serious about every time.” She responds, putting a hoof on my shoulder in the process. “Hardy-har-har...” I say sarcastically, then close my eyes. Tomorrow will be long.
The BeginningChapter 1: The Beginning Ponies say if you have a family, then you have to take care about them, do anything to make their lives free of hardship. I started my plan with this in my mind, ever since I get known that Tavi is pregnant... I knew I have to change a LOT of things. And here I am now, sitting on a train, waiting for the arrival. My lovely wife, Octavia is next to me, asleep, the traveling is long and after she was done with the magazine she brought with herself, she felt like sleeping. Good for her, she can sleep whenever she want... I wish I could do that as well- *screeeeech!* - aaand my thoughts are stopped. And the train too. The city of Trottingham is right outside, waiting for us to put our hooves on its ground, to take a big breath, and probably cough, the steam the train made is thick. Darn. “Tavi... hey... Tavi wake up, we are here!” I say and nudge her, Tavi’s eyes slowly flutter open. “Already? I was sleeping for.. for.. *yawn* like ten minutes!” She says and rubs her eyes. “Yeah, ten minutes and one hundred more, actually one hundred and thirty. Welp, time to get our stuff and go.” I tell her with a smirk on my face and get up from the half-bed, stretching my limbs - satisfying pops could be heard as I expect them. The suitcases we brought with us are not that big, we only packed the things we really needed. Nevertheless, they are heavy. In some way only moms and wives can do it, Tavi packed in so much thing, I thought the suitcase is bigger inside! What a ridiculous thought... “Oh, watch for my cello, I don’t want it to fall!” Tavi says as she pulls the smallest of suitcases behind her. “Yeah, it would be a shame if something happened to it...” I growl: a suitcase on my left wing, another on my right, one tied to my left hind leg and the case of the cello on my back. How comfortable! For a moment I stop, remembering the day when I got the first chance to tell the others that we move out. /Flashback, a month earlier.../ It started as a regular day, the Weather Office was as crowded as ever: nearly empty. “Heya Blue! Sup?” I greet my friend, Blue Breeze, he arrived a few minutes after me. “Hey. Not much, the usual. You heard what’s Vine planning?” He asks me, and of course it’s always me the one who knows it for the last time. “Uhm, no. What is it? Another prank?” I ask back, my mind is a bit dull today, especially because of the thing I have to tell him, and everypony else. “Nah, not this time, she organized a whole-gang picnic!” Blue exclaimed, strange for him to be this excited. "It have something special to it, though she didn't tell us anything yet." “Uhhuh... so everyone will be there?” Looks like I can announce it with ease now. “Yep, why?” He asks and looks at me, maybe he sensed something, I don't know. Yet. “Oh nothing nothing, I just... uh, you will know when it happens.” Almost slipped there! “Well. Alright. Anyway, what’s today’s schedule?..” /Flashback ends..../ The streets of Trottingham are so familiar, so similar to Ponyville, I half expect the Sugarcube Corner to appear after we turn in a corner... but it’s a whole other town. No familiar faces, no familiar places. “Are you coming?” Tavi asks, looking back at me, she gained a few meters long advantage. She stops and waits up. “Yeah yeah, it’s.. it’s just the town, all new and stuff.” I reply, not telling her what’s in my mind. “Uhhuh. Let’s go, our new home is close.” With that she is on the move again, but this time I’m right next to her. As we walk, my eyes gaze down on her belly, a small bulge, the first sign of a foal on the way reminds me of the past events again... /Flashback, two and a half weeks earlier.../ Today, is a good day. The sky is blue, the grass is green, the Everfree is as menacing as ever, and last but not least, Pinkie only ruined the picnic once! Half the food is still edible. The whole gang is here, and the quiet chatter is only stopped time to time when Winona, Applejack’s dog runs around and chases that ugly cat, Opalesc....Opalsce... Opal. This is the time, everypony is here. I stand up, getting the attention on myself, then cough. Everypony is looking at me. “What is it Zeph? You wanna tell us something?” Ice asks as he leans forward from Vinyl’s embrace, which ends with him dragged back. “Yes... and it’s quite big, so brace yourselves. Me and Tavi...” I put a hoof on her shoulder, she looks up at me, smiling. “...decided to move. We leave Ponyville.” A choir of gasps welcomes my words. “Please... don’t try to make us stay. It’s already done.” I add, seeing their faces. “But... why?” Drax asks, his face mirrors his confusion. "Yeah, why so sudden? What happened?" Rhino asks as well, arching a confused eyebrow. “There are many reasons, which I don’t wish to list, so let’s say that destiny made this. I’m sorry guys.” I sit back down and close my eyes, I can’t bear to look at their faces. In the next minutes I can onl hear the whispers of my friends as they try to understand the thing that just happened. I feel my heart ripping outside of my body and couldn't hold my tears back. But.... it has to be done. And after this all, the picnic was ruined. /Flashback ends.../ “We are here! Aren’t you excited? A whole, big house just for us! And for the little one of course.” Tavi says and gently rubs her belly. “Yeah, excited... *sigh* excited as ever.” I look up and see a good looking wooden house. Its number is 42, though I can’t remember reading the name of the street it’s in. The house itself is pretty impressive to say the least, freshly built by the newest standards, including the works of the Unicorn Magic Engineering League, that means it have air conditioning, a water-cleaning system and such! Almost high-tech! And wasn’t cheap either... We enter the house. /Flashback, one and a half week ago.../ “Dude, you can’t go, who will be the target of my pranking then?!?” Dark say to me desperately, I see him like this the first time. “I told you a million times already, we are moving and nothing can change it. Dark, look. I will have a family, I want to make our lives as good as possible. I am really sorry about the whole misery of leaving... but it can’t be changed.” Even if it hurts so much, even if I feel my heart breaking. A few seconds after Dark stops everything he does, looking at me, frozen, then he leaves without a word. I know what just happened in his mind, I know what is he doing and I try to stop him. "Dark! Wait, don't go! Dark!" But it's too late, he is gone. I could swear I heard thundering on that night. And I never saw Dark again. The things went similar with the others... "Do you have any idea... any idea what are you doing?" Atom asks me after 'catching' me while I'm on my way to finish the documentationing about leaving my job as a weather pony. "Yes Atom, I do. I'm going away. Starting a new life. I thought we are over this." I reply, I had a lot of time to think, and I did think a lot. "No.. you don't understand. This is... this is not just leaving your friends!" He says, louder than before. "You all can visit me in Trottingham anytime you want! Calm down dude." He remains upset. He follows me around for a while. Then finally, he calms down... But I know this isn't over yet, for him, it's definitely not. "So, no way back, huh?" Ice asks me as I sip my last cinnamon-chocolate in the Caffee. "Yep. Thanks for acting normal." I response. The meetingss with the otehrs were... not as good as expected and Ice somehow knew it. "Well.... good luck Zeph. Stay safe buddy." He says and friendly pats my back and leaves me, serving a customer. Shortly after I leave, trying to decide that if I should remember everything, or forget them all. /Flashback ends.../ I put down the heavy suitcases, finally. “Oh my back... and wings and legs and neck, OH MY EVERYTHING!” I say, trying to get rid of the pain. “You will be fine sweetie, I will massage you, deal?” Tavi asks me, planting a kiss on my cheek. “Well.... okay. But make it a good one!” I response. Damn that girl, she knows how to make me go soft. With the packs down, I can go and explore the house. Yes, I know how it looks like, I saw pictures, but seeing it with my own eyes is different. /5 minutes later..../ “Well, I think I will not get lost here anytime soon. Or I will, dunno.” I say, looking in Tavi’s eyes, then crack a smile. “Oh, you. We will be fine here, you know.” She says then pulls me in a hug which I happily respond to. "I wish this whole thing was happening... less... emotionally... I... I.." My words run out, memories flash my mind. "Oh it's okay, it's okay. They miss us and they will visit soon, don't worry." Tavi comforts me and it works. she can always do this, another reason to love her. I sigh then and recollect my power, clearing my mind of bad thoughts. We arrived. We are here. Continuing the dream-life, but a bit changed, improved. Or not. I have a good feeling about this.
The First Steps...Let’s see, the house is claimed, we took our stuff in and Tavi started to pack the things out... oh, did I tell you that the house was bought with furnitures included? Yepp, the sofa is so comfy I just can’t leave it. Or I thought I can’t. “Get out of the sofa you lazy pegasi!” My wife’s voice interrupted my silent thinking about the meaning of life (or in other words, napping). “Oh... uh, do I have to?...” I ask her, I got really comfy, the one that will be ruined if you move the slightest. “Yes!” She replies shortly, the tone she says that yes tells me that I should move or it will have consequences. “Okay-okay, I’m...” Using my skill to do a jump-start, I literally jump off of the sofa, spin mid-air and fly to her. “...here! What is the thing I need to do?” She points to an open suitcase. “Help me packing out.” She says simply. I’m not moving, I just stare the suitcase with the expression of ‘are you bucking serious?’. She walks in front of me and looks deep in my eyes. “Please?” her voice is so adorable, I can’t stand it. “Okay...” And I start the packing out. /30 minutes of boring and tiring packing out later..../ “Whooh, we are done!” Tavi exclaims, wiping her forehead, though I did most of the work. “Only two more suitcases left!” She says cheerfully. “Oh come ooon!” She must be kidding. “I didn’t even have a chance to wash my hooves or anything, take a break Tavi!” I tell her. Yes, I admit, doing something like packing stuff out and placing it on the fitting places isn’t too hard, but dang it, I’m lazy! “The sooner we finish the sooner you can nap.” She says and... she is right. “Ugh... ffffiiiine!” When I did this to my mom, she always got upset. The stubborn earth-pony she is, she wouldn’t let things like a groan slip, no way she would be reasonable or anything. But Tavi... she is different. She is like, the perfect match, she knows what to say, what to do, and she don’t minds my usual responses either! And so like this, we continued to pack the stuff out. /Later that day.../ Finally free, I sit back on the sofa. the only thing that is still in my mind about the whole packing stuff, is that I will NOT cleaning these things, there is no way Tavi can make me do it. Uh, she will anyway. “Hey.. Tavi, wanna sit here?” I ask her, she is placing the really last things, the photos on their places. “Yes... I was thinking about our friends. What are they doing? How do they feel?” She sits next to me, holding a photo of the whole gang: everypony is smiling, except Dark, who is evilly grinning, and Ice, who is seconds far from face-planting on the ground. Oh Dark. “Well.. I’m sure they are all fine... I mean, what could happen without us there? An evil ninja alien overlord takes over Ponyville? Blah, humbug.” I say, shaking my head. “I know. But I miss them.” Tavi whispers and hugs me. “Me too, me too...” I respond, then memories flood my mind. /Flashback, two days ago.../ We just finished the packing in, the suitcases are heavy, but my thoughts are heavier. I said my goodbye to the most of my friends, except one. Blue. It’s getting late and the train departs at 6 in the morning. This is the last time I can see him calmly. I figured out that the easiest way is to send him a letter, an invitation. He can be here in any minute. About five minutes pass and he arrives. “Blue.” I ‘greet’ him. “Zeph.” He responses. “I don’t want to leave with a bitter taste in my mouth. I wish things would be different. I hope you can understand this.” I really do, I really do... Blue just looks at me, I can see that he is thinking, searching for the right words to use. Then he sighs and opens his mouth. “Yes. I understand. I wish for a happy and long life for you. Take care my friend.” He only says this, but I know there is a lot more he wants to tell. “Thank you... oh come on Blue, I’m not going to die! Yet.” I say, trying to lighten the mood. “Yet.” He repeats, then slowly facehoofs. “You. Are. An. Idiot.” He says then, unable to hide his smile. “Thank you very much pal, I accept your condolences, you will be notified when your care care package will arrive! Have a nice day!” I say, grinning, the random stupidness is my speciality. “What.” Blue asks, perfectly confused. “Exactly!” I tell him, then pull him in a hug. “I will miss you, you magnificent bastard!” Shaking his head and the previous random things out of his mind, he replies. “Yeah, I will miss you too. Be safe.” “Yeah-yeah, whatevs!” He then shakes his head again and leaves me. I know I will see him, sooner than expected. /Flashback ends.../ “Uhhhhh.... Tavi... what do you think, when will they come to visit us?” I ask her, the memories of leaving Blue are still vivid in my mind. “Well... I think in a week? Maybe two? I have an uncle who only visited us after four months though.” She says, thinking about her uncle. Okay. “Rrrright... I hope they will be alright back in Ponyville.. without me. Oh sweet Luna, what will they do without me???” Overreacting, YES! “Hush, you are not as funny as you think you are!” Tavi says, poking my side. “Yes I am!” I reply, defending my pride! “No you aren’t!” Oh Tavi. “No I’m not!” Heheh, lil’ trick time! “See? I told you!” Darn. “Darn!” Now seriously. Clever girl... /About... uhm... five.. hours later?.../ I woke up to the feeling of hunger. This took me by surprise, last time I checked I was thinking about... oh. Yeah, this sofa is definitely too comfy. Tavi fall asleep as well, I make a great mattress for her, she found out this already. Well, if you have the feathers of a pegasus under yourself, you would be comfy as well! *Grumble!* My stomach acts up again. “Quiet down you dum-dum!” I whisper to my stomach, old habit... uhm... “Mhhhmm?..” Aaaand Tavi woke up. “Uh, nothing Tavi, I just got hungry.. do we have anything to eat?” I ask her, this is actually a valid idea. “No, I don’t think so. In fact, we should go and buy the items to stock up our pantry!” She explains,rubbing her right eye in the process. I always adored how cute she looks like when she do that. “So we go and buy stuff?” I ask again, thinking about the last time we went on a shopping-tour. “Yes, we go and buy stuff. Do not even think about doing backflips when you think I can’t see you!” Heheh, yeah.... boredom and.... yeeeeaaaahh..... “O-okay. Stuff. I like stuff. Stuff is good.” I’m being my random (tired) self now, with the nonsensical behaviour. “Yes sweetie, stuff is good. Let’s go and buy them, alright?” Tavi is patient like a mother, she will be a terrific mother. “Eeee-yupp!” and with this, I get up from the sofa, stretch the limbs and get ready to move, while Tavi yawns a big and lies across my former place. “So warm... oh, what am I doing, we need to buy the necessary things now. It’s getting late. Let’s go.” Ah yes, she can’t be distracted this easily. We get ourselves ready and five minutes later we are on the way to a shop, hopefully finding everything we need... /On the way.../ “Hmmm...” I start my high-quality conversation initial, wearing a ‘deep in thoughts’ expression. “I see strange ponies here... did you see that mare with the milk bottles? She walked so weird, I wonder what was with her legs...” Tavi is right next to me, on my right, she is concentrating on finding an actual shop. “I don’t know, she wore clothes, I can’t tell.” Well of course Tavi, you weren’t even watching. “Anyway. I’m just wondering, what will be the next thing to see, a batpony from princess Luna’s guards?” I ask the rhetorical question. “Oh, don’t be silly, they have inborn heliophobia, they won’t take a step outside while it's daytime. And just look up, It's shining." Tave replies, pointing at the sky with a hoof. “Well yes, but still... I just... just...” My thoughts will never reach her, my attention is picked up. “Hey... you see that pony?” I ask and point at a white stallion who have charcoal black short mane and tail, sideburns and a strange, pupil-less pair of eyes. “Is he blind?” “I don’t know... but asking would be rude, let’s just go on and find a shop.” Tavi and her politeness. Not this time! “I will ask him about the closest shop.” I declare and head to the probably blind pony. The pony, who was just walking on the street, notices me, even though I was watching my hooves to not make noise. “Uhm, good afternoon, sir, can you help me for a moment?” I ask him, an awkward grin is on my face, though I don’t know if it’s matters for him at all. “Good afternoon to you too. What can I help exactly?” He asks back, his voice have something in it... something... Well, looks like this will be an interesting conversation. Not speaking about the reason we got out of home... darn.
...And First FallsWhat did I want ask from that pony? ‘Are you blind, ugh?’ Yeah, I shouldn’t start with this... Alright, alright, let just my mind come up with something! … Okay, this isn’t working. Darn. “Uhm, me and my wife just arrived here, we moved here actually, and we don’t know the city yet. I was wondering if you could give me some advice about some basic places, like now we are in a search for a shop to buy food..” Okay, this could’ve go better. The pony stares (or is he?..) me for a few seconds, then the edges of his mouth curl up, forming a first small, then normal sized smile. “Welcome to Trottingham! I will be your guide then, my name is Blind Justice.” He takes a deep breath. “Yes, I am blind, and my name is a pun, thanks to my father. Nevertheless, I can see just fine.” He explains. “Uhm, o-o-okay... h-how exactly?” I ask back, my curious self activating. As an answer, he snorts once, chuckling a little. “Magic. No seriously, I can see you expression, colors and such, all I need is to use a special spell on myself, but it’s very complex to explain and I’m sure you wouldn’t understand it, no offense.” Well at least he is honest. “None taken, though I know somepony who would be jumping around in glee just to ask about this magic you have...” Yes, I meant Twilight there. “Quite... to answer your first question, I can and will lead you around now, what is your name again? “ Oh I forgot to introduce myself... I turn to Tavi and sign to her to come here. She arches an eyebrow then trots to us. After turning back to Blind Justice, I start my intro. “My name is Zephyr Verve, retired Royal Guard, this is my wife, Octavia Philharmonica, master cellist and the most beautiful mare you can lay your eyes on, even if you can’t see the normal ways, heh. Oh I’m terrible.” No seriously, I suck. “Oh sweetie..” Tavi says and nuzzles my neck, I wasn’t so bad then?.. “Pleasure to meet you Zephyr and Octavia. My name is Blind Justice, as you may know,” (he turns to look at me when he says the last part) “and now as we are through the formalities, we can be more friendly I hope.” He looks up at the sky. This is the moment when I noticed that he actually have a short, well trimmed beard, it looks nice on him. “I don’t know if my husband already asked it or not, but can you show us around? We are new here.” Tavi says looking around, wearing a clueless expression. “Of course, of course. Follow me!” Justice says and starts to walk in a random direction. “Say, Zephyr, what was your last job?” He asks, looking up at the sky again. “Uhm, I was the part of the local Weather Patrol in Ponyville, why?” “Because you might find a new job as a weather pony. Take a look.” He points upwards. And indeed, the sky is spotted with tiny, roaming clouds, only a single pegasus chases them and have little to no success catching them. “Poor thing... they need your help sweetie.” Tavi exclaims, making her adorable worried expression. “I will check in the office, don’t worry.” I reply, shaking my head. That up there is too easy for me. Continuing our way, Justice leads us to the marketplace of the city. “You can find almost everything here, and fortunately for you, most of the shops are placed here, in this shopping street.” He points at a street and he was right: shops, shops everywhere! “Whoah, never going to get lost. Nah, I’ll get lost anyway.” I say, smirking. This reminds me the time not that long ago when I got lost in Canterlot. /Flashback, 5 weeks ago.../ “Dark, I’m telling you, the shop isn’t here!” I say, annoyed, Dark just don’t want to listen to me. We were here for at least an hour, searching for that damned place he wanted to visit, it was some kind of hidden shop. And so we got lost. And I just wanted to go home. But nooo, Dark wants to find it, no matter what... “It HAVE to be here... just.... just gimme a few more minutes!” He says and frantically looks around for the umpteenth time. Did I tell you about how we got friends? Well yeah, after I raced him, we got lost and long story short: we grew on each other as good friends, I enjoyed his company so did he mine. “It’s not. Now come on, let’s go home.” I tell him. Then look around for the usual landmarks I use. I can’t see any. “Uhm.... Dark, we might have a problem!..” “Yes, I can’t find that shop!” He replies a bit angry. “No, I don’t know where are we now!” I tell him, actually worried. “What do you mean you don’t know where are we?” He asks back, frowning. “You heard it, I... I don’t know this place! This city is huge, WE GOT LOST!” I say, and shake him at the last part, like a crazed madman. “Sweet Celestia help us..” He replies. “She is near, maybe she hears us...” Well she didn’t. We only got out of the city after 4 hours. /Flashback ends.../ “Oh Dark..” I whisper, it picks up Justice’s attention. “Hm, did you say something?” He asks, not the suspicious way, but I think I will just tell him. “Yeah, I just remembered to something happened to me and my friend Dark Lightning, it’s not important, but it was.. ‘fun’.” I tell him. “Ah, I see. Well, there are the...” I stop hearing him, my attention is dragged out by something else. And it is nothing else than a small filly, wearing a bit strange looking metal bowl, it actually fits her head, but it’s still blocking her sight by hanging before her eyes. Nevertheless, she is running quite securely. The other thing I notice about her is the red colored jacket she wears, it have a yellowish patch on its shoulders, with a stylized, orange colored cupcake sewed on it. And last but not least, she have a weird tube strapped on her back, I have no idea what could it do. Other small details are the little saddle-bag like packs on her flank, covering her cutie mark, if she have any of course. And... two big, orange and black colored gumballs strapped on her chest with a belt of some kinds. She is getting away. I have to ask her, dunno why though. “Hey uhm, I will be back in a few minutes, I saw something, I gotta investigate..” I tell Tavi and Justice, and in the next second I’m flying towards the filly... I catch up with her soon, though she got away quite nicely. “Hey, uhm, can I disturb you?” I ask her, I don’t know what to say to children... “Huh? Are you a Spy?” She asks suspiciously, then- *clonk* “OW! My head! Why did you do this?!?” She hit me with a SHOVEL! Where did she get it anyway? “You are not a Spy!” She exclaims, now with a bit of cheer in her voice. “I am Private Cupcake!” She introduces herself, then opens one of those little bags on her flanks and grabs a blue, gingerbread pony figure. “I will eat you!” She then eats it... “It was a Spy!” She tells me with a grin plastered on her face. I can't help but notice how soldier-ishly she speaks, similar to my former Drill Sergeant... “Ooookaaaay? Is this some kind of game you play?” I ask her. Private, spy, the uniform she wears, the pieces are falling in place. “Yes! Uhm, I mean NO, this is WAR, and I LOVE it!” She replies, grinning even wider: she looks up in my eyes, it’s a bit difficult to her thanks to my height and the helmet on her head, but she does it anyway. As I look at her, arching an eyebrow, thinking about what did she just say, her further appearance sinks in. She is a pegasus filly with (a bit dull) orange coat, sky blue eyes, bright red, neatly cut straight mane, she is like the mix of Scootaloo and Apple Bloom... She seems to wear a never ending smile/grin, but she is not creepy, she is just... adorable. “So you are a soldier, huh?” I ask her, playing along as much as I can. “No! I am THE Soldier!” She exclaims. “This is my rocket launcher!” She pats the metal tube on her back. “This is my shovel!” She hits her head twice with it. “And these are my Gunboats!” She points on her hind legs, on her hooves, and indeed, they are covered in small shoe-like metal protectors. How didn’t I notice it before? “Rocket launcher you say... what does it do?” I ask, I have seen rockets before of course, but those were fireworks rockets. “Launches rockets!” She tells me simply, wearing an impatient expression. “Of course, silly me. I wish I had a game like this to play when I was a little colt...” I sigh, the old memories of being alone, or hanging out with only a few friends are still hurting to remember. “You can join us! Team RED needs the mercenaries, or Team BLU will overpower us!” She says, making a worried expression. “Oh, so there are two teams, now this have some organization, I like it. How can I join?” I ask her, a little fun is all I need in the dull everydays. “What’s your name, son?” She ask. I would be surprised if she weren’t speaking in a way my old Drill Sergeant spoke to us back in the RG Academy. But instead of surprise, I play along again. “Zephyr Verve, Ma’am!” Heh, she is cute. “Follow me soldier, we need to defend the Intelligence!” With that, she runs away, good for me that I can easily follow her. /5 minutes later, in front of a red building.../ “This is our base!” She points on the front of the building, it have a big emblem on it, with a single word written on: RED. “See? RED!” “A HeadQuarter of Operations, yes, a bit striking for an HQ, but whatever. “Yes!... Wait, what?” She is confused. “Nothing, lead me forward.” She trots in, revealing me a bunch of lockers, an office and lots of other places, mostly behind half-closed doors. As she leads me through the ‘base’, I see other foals as well, everypony have some kind of red uniforms, though they are all different. Not paying too much attention, I just follow Private Cupcake... /In a basement of some kind.../ “This is the room of the Administrator! She will administer you!” She explains, pointing to a door. The door have a sign on it, (not so) surprisingly: Administrator. “Dis-missed!” She says and salutes, then trots away... Okay, so I got myself into a war fought by foals, and I’m about to join them, alright. Tavi will kill me. Oh, did you think that it’s over yet? Nu-uh, ya got fooled! After a few knocks I enter the room and see a desk on the opposite side. Behind it there is a map of the city, with red and blue sticky-notes on it. and most importantly, there is a big chair. It slowly spins around, revealing an unicorn: an adult mare, with a frightening expression. “Good day, mister?...” She says, probably asking my name? “Zephyr Verve. My name is Zephyr Verve.” I reply with a gulp. “Mr. Verve. I assume our tiny friend, Private Cupcake recruited you.” Her voice.. it’s.. it’s menacing.. “Uhm... yes? I-I just moved here with my wife and we were looking around for-” “Irrelevant.” Huh, how rude..” The thing that is important, is the question. Are you willing to join the ranks of Team RED, or no. Choose now. If yes, then you are welcome here. If no, then leave and never come back again.” She explains. “Uhm-uhm, I... *whine* “ You figure.. The Administrator’s face twitches, then she erupts in laughter, hitting her desk while laughing. “Oh, oh, the look on your face, priceless, priceless I say!” What now? ”Calm down Zephyr, don’t worry about anything. I’m Mrs. Victory Goal, and the filly you met, along with the other foals you saw the way here, are my students, I am their teacher.” What. “What.” “Oh, don’t make an expression like this, my sides hurt!” She says, suppressing another fit of laughter. “So... this is a school? Of some sorts?” I ask, still confused as heck, I don’t even know what’s going on! “Yes it is. Me and my husband decided to change the usual, boring way of teaching and set up a brand new way! It makes our students cheery, healthy, their senses are better than you would expect, and their grades are fantastic! They can learn a lot about almost everything this way.” She explains. Okay, what the heck. “So you want to tell me.... that this is an actual school... oookay. Aren’t they get aggressive? I mean, war is a violent thing to say the least.” “No, I’m recording everything they do and all of their ‘violence’ is deducing while they are fighting each other. I can assure you, they are not hurting anypony.” She seems to be sure about the things she say. Time to tell her the cold truth. “Mrs. Victory. War is not a game. I am a retired Royal Guard, I know the real face of the war.” “So you know what they feel when they are fighting, good!” “No, you don’t understand. I was a Squad Leader. and my whole squad got KILLED. I almost died there too. You have NO IDEA what war is.” I feel a tear leaving my right eye, I remember their faces, I remember them... and it hurts... “I.. I didn’t know, I’m sorry.” She apologizes. “No. It’s okay. Just... don’t try to create a war. They have to enjoy their childhood, not fight.” I sigh, wiping that tear off. “They actually enjoy it. Trust me.” She explains. “Show me. I believe you if you show me.” I say and walk right in front of her. /Back at Tavi and Blind Justice.../ “We were standing here for at least a quarter an hour, where is he?!?” Tavi half-shouts, she can get impatient more easily since the little one is on the way. “I-I don’t know, maybe he found something. I think we should just continue this tour. I can find him later.” Justice responds, though he actually knows where I am. “How?” Comes the simple question from Tavi. “I am an unicorn, remember? I have a few searching spells. Besides, it’s a full moon tonight, my magical power is enhanced.” “Enhanced? Because of the moon? How does it works?” Tavi asks. Not because she can (or more likely, she can’t) do magic, but because she is curious and have unicorn friends. “Well, you see the...” /Back at me.../ “Fascinating... I’m genuinely surprised. Especially because of the magical engineering your husband made. Stupendous!” I say, grinning. I have never seen such an organized and well created way to educate and train foals. “See, I told you this works. And just to clear everything you might fear of: my students get jobs completely irrelevant from any kind of war. Pastry chef, carpenter, ski instructor, hay, one of them became the mayor of the city!” Mrs. Victory explains. “Hm. Well, I’m convinced. You won. How can I join?” “Oh, now this is the thing I like to hear...” /20 minutes later.../ Finally, I find my way back to Tavi and Blind Justice. By the looks they had and have an interesting conversation. “Hey, I’m back! Sorry for being... very late, you won’t believe what did I find!” I say excited, somehow this whole thing gives back the good memories from my childhood. “Oh, you are back sweetie! Did you know that the moon gives extra power to the unicorns? Justice told me a lot of things!” Tavi responds to me, looks like she was having fun afterall (and not mad, trololo). “Huh? Never heard of it. Anyway, this can wait, you have to hear what did I find!” I say, this time slightly distracted. “I believe you found the school, correct?” Justice asks. “Y-yeah... how did you?..” “I saw it. I can see a lot of things.” He explains, smirking smugly. “Ooooo-kay, I’m not going to ask how.” I respond, facehoofing. Well, looks like things just got interesting, and we just arrived... oh sweet Luna, what will happen later?
After-Introductions And Other Stupid ThingsWell if this day wasn’t interesting yet, then now it became the example of it. And why? Because not much after my arrival back to Tavi and Justice, (and Justice led me around), Tavi of course invited him in our home. “Tavi, can I have a few words with you?” I ask her, Justice is sitting on MY SOFA in the living room, sipping a cup of freshly brewed tea: she told him to sit there and she gave him the tea. “Hm? Yes, sure.” I drag her in the pantry and close the door. “Look, I believe that you found a fantastic conversationalist, but even I don’t know this house yet, why did you have to invite him?...” The reason for this reaction from me: I don’t like ponies in my home, only the close friends whom I know for a good while. “Oh Zephy, he means no harm, and he will be away before you notice!” She tells me, caressing my cheek, it only makes me frown and furrow my eyebrows. “You call me Zephy, and try to convince me with your charm. Fine, you won, but don’t count on this every time. You heard it Tavi?” I ask, only my mom and her can call me that... “Yes sweetie. Now come, Justice must be waiting.” From this point forward I will call him Blindy. Heh. We leave the pantry and go back to Justice. he is still sitting on MY SPOT, his eyes are closed. I have no idea if he really needs his eyes to be opened at all. “So Justice, what was... the thing you spoke about, this moon and stuff?” I ask him as I take a seat on a less comfy couch. “Well, it’s actually quite simple. We unicorns have the most evident kind of magic as you know, and as it was proven through history, my subspecies have the most knowledge about the general and exact kinds of science. Furthermore, we took the most observations about the world around us, and we discovered a certain thing.” He takes a big breath, my thoughts are about how he uses the plural form in his speech, ‘we’, pfh, unicorns... “The moon have a direct effect on an unicorn’s magical capabilities. And I can even prove it to you, tonight is a full moon.” “Uhm... sooo... the moon is acting like an enormous conductor, channeling the planet’s magical field, am I right?” I ask, if anyone is surprised, I can create these theories quite easily. “Yes, exactly!” See? “The moon is the biggest source of magical energy except the sun, but the sun is too far away for us to harness its powers. Now I must warn you, I will introduce a theory which might be against your views.” What now? “Okay? I’m very tolerant to almost everything, just go on.” I reply, looking at tavi, she is sitting on the other couch and smiling, she nods when I look at her. “Alright, in this case. I am a member of a religious community, which is based on the facts I presented to you.” What. “And this is not else, than Church of Luna, our deity of the night.” “You mean... princess Luna?” I ask him, quite surprised. “Yes. I assume you already guessed that she is our mental leader because of her connection with the moon.” Justice answers. “Yeah... is she really in this business, or you all just hold some meetings and praise her?..” Like those little cults I was unfortunate to meet.... don’t ask. “Actually, she joins us regularly.” And this is the point when it become serious. “Okay, this is very nice and all, but... how am I coming in the picture? You see, I’m not an unicorn, nor Tavi is one. So?...” Well buck, I had a religious friend once, but he was different. “Oh, nothing, actually it wasn’t me starting this explanation.” He chuckles, shaking his head “Don’t worry, I am not trying to convert you or anything.” “Yeah-yeah, I realized. Aaaaal-rriiiiiight.... so, you showed us the city, which we really appreciate, so you are welcome here anytime you want to visit a friend. And I have some questions to you, but that’s for later.” I say, then look at Tavi, she is staring into empty space, probably thinking about something. “Hm, yes, I think I will leave now thank you for the tea Octavia.” Justice says and stands up, snapping Tavi out of her ‘trance’. “Oh, uhm, it’s nothing, really. You are welcome.” She responds, standing up as well. “I will see off our friend now, I will be back in a few minutes.” I tell her and walk in the exit’s direction, Justice follows me. When we are outside the house, he takes a few steps forward, then turns around. “Zephyr, I know I had some not wanted pressures on you, I apologize about it.” He says, making an apologetic expression. “Uhm, actually, I wanted to say sorry... I.. I don’t know how to explain, you know we just arrived and I’m not completely settled in...” I tell him, not really able to find the good words. “I understand. Friends?” He asks, and holds up his right foreleg for a friendly hoof-bump. “Friends.” I respond and bomp his hoof. “Hey, I wanted to ask.. what’s your cutie mark about?” He have a scale of some sorts as a cutie mark. “Oh, it’s the Scale of Justice, I am the local judge.” He explains. “Huh, this explains a lot of things...alright, have a nice evening... Scales...” Hm, I found a better pet-name for him! “Uhm, excuse me?” He asks back, he probably didn’t hear me perfectly. Yeah, sure. “Scales. Your cutie mark is a scales. Therefore, I will call you Scales. Sorry if this offends you, but it’s final.” I tell him, my trollish self is in the works again. “Actually, I am quite okay with it. See you soon, friend.” He says with a smirk on his face, then turns away and leaves me. “Yeah-whatever, seeya!” I say half-loud and head back inside my home. /Back in my home.../ Tiredly, I drop myself on MY SOFA and sigh. “Is everything alright sweetie?” Tavi asks motherly (or as a wife? I cannot decide, but whatever.). “Justice is a nice stallion, you really have nothing to be angry about.” She says and caresses my cheek, like she does every time when I’m tired of something. “Oh, no-no, we are friends, it’s just... this day was long. And I’m hungry. Can you?...” I didn’t finish my sentence intentionally. “Make a vegetable soup, your mom’s recipe? Yes, I will make it.” Tavi continues my words. There are no words that can express my thankfulness and love to her. “You are the best.” Well, I have to say something, no? Before she go to make the dinner, I stop her. “Hey uhm, I should take a look around town before the sun sets,I don’t want to be in a disadvantage when tomorrow I sign up for the Weather Patrol.” “A little flying around? Hmmm.... alright, but don’t get lost.” She answers. I know I’m near to the border when she will just not let me go, I play with fire.. “Thank you. I’ll be back soon.” And so, I get up, walk to the nearest window, open it, look at Tavi and wink at her, then fast as lightning, I’m away. /5 minutes later, above Trottingham.../ “Will ya look at that...” I say to myself, looking down on the city below. The whole town is still full of ponies doing their everyday business, though it’s going to be night soon. Some streetlights are already lit. After the moment is over, I land on a small cloud nearby and try to memorize the city’s map. After only a few minutes I already have the basics in: my home, the marketplace, the Major’s office, the train station, the Weather HQ (Weather HQs are very striking in appearance) and the RED base that filly, Private Cupcake showed me. Though it’s a school or what. Whatever. I should pay them a visit tomorrow, but of course, only after I was in the WHQ. For now I continue the setting up of the map in my mind, I should remember this. Actually, I will remember it, not like the other things I’m used to NOT remember. My memorizing is disturbed when I hear the flapping of a pair of wings. The next second I see a pink and blue streak flying up /right in front of me/, startling me to say the least. “Whoah-whoah-whoah, what the heck?” I half shout in an annoyed tone. “Ever heard of manners?” I ask the unknown pony, if it’s a pony at all. “Heh, sorry, didn’t want to frighten you~!” I hear a very familiar, tomboyish female voice from behind me, it have a good amount of mockery in it. I turn to face her. The mare hovering in front of me is indeed a tomboyish pegasus, and she reminds me to somepony so much, my jaw drops. She have light pink coat, blue mane and violet eyes. And most important. She is the exact copy of Rainbow Dash. Well, except for her colors and her cutie mark, which is two blue lightning bolts. “He-he-he-helllooo!” I say, barely able to hold myself back from grinning like a creep. “Hi.” She replies simply, then tilts her head. “You aren’t from around, are you?” “I just moved here today... with my pregnant wife.... “ I reply. ‘Holy Mackerel, this is impossible!’ My mind shouts to me. “Uhhuh, and what are you doing up here?” She asks. Darn, even her voice matches Rainbow’s. “Uhm, you see, I was a weather pony back in Ponyville, so I plan to join the local Weather Patrol, so I thought to memorize the city so I won’t get lost...” I explain while trying to fight off the fact, that there is the ‘twin’ of Rainbow Dash hovering right in front of me. “Weather Patrol? You wanna join?” She asks and her slightly suspicious expression turns into a grin. “Awesome, finally I won’t be alone with all this job!” She exclaims and does a double-backflip, combined with constant spinning clockwise. “So I saw you earlier, huh? It must be tiring to be out all day.” I tell her, finally, my logical min d won above my hormone driven parts. “Yeah... and almost no job is done, frustrating as hay.” She responds, frowning. “Then cheer up, tomorrow morning the first thing I do will be visiting you! Oh sweet Luna, this sounded better in my head.” I facehoof, this was a REALLY big mistake. “ *snort* Bwaa-hahah, this was funny, heheheh!” Even her laughter is the same. Whaaaaaaa? “Eheh-heh-heh, yeah... anyway... my name is Zephyr Verve, yours?” Manners, never forget the manners!.... Nah, screw manners, I gotta know her name. “Firefly, the one and only.” She replies, she calmed down while I was asking her. “Pleasure to meet you Firefly. Well, it’s getting late, I would return to my home if you don’t mind.” I tell her, flapping my wings. “Yeah, sure you would, big boy!” She mocks me, and she earns an expression from me which says ‘ha-ha-ha, very funny’. “Off ya go~!” She exclaims, then KICKS MY CLOUD IN PIECES, making me fall. “What the buuuuuuuuuuuUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU-” And I crash in a biggger cloud. Looking up I can see her laughing her flanks off, then she flies down to me and pulls me out of the cloud. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I couldn’t leave this out, sorry..” She apologizes, wiping a tear out of her right eye. “Oh Celestia, I didn’t laugh this hard in AGES!” “Mrmph...” Is the only thing I ‘say’, she got a bad mark from me. “Oh come oooon, don’t be grumpy!” She says and pokes my side with an elbow. In response, I flap my wings once, then turn to face her completely. “Don’t tell me you can’t take a joke!” She says, arching her eyebrows. I only raise my left foreleg, then slam it down on the cloud HARD - the cloud evaporates under her and she falls down. “HA-HA!” I shout after her, then smirk evilly. “Let this be a lesson for you!” I shout again, then take off, flying home. Huh... if she will be my colleague, then I will have hard times working....
Work? Again?The rest of the day was spent *khm* quite nicely, I always adored Tavi’s intuition about the things I want to do, or I wish to do. The next day arrived like a freight train: I was tired, dizzy, and too lazy to get out of the bed. My bed was comfy. Too comfy... “Sweetie...” I hear Tavi’s voice from my right. “you will be late...” She tells me, her voice is as tired as I feel myself. “Yeah... okay, I get up now..” Then I force myself out of the bed. “no, come back!” I say in a higher pitched voice. “You hear Tavi, the bed calls me back!” I tell her. “Yes it does... don’t you dare to lay back here!” Her voice is frightening, she knows how to end my foalish plays! “Uh, sheesh, okay-okay..” /20 minutes later.../ With the morning routine done, I finish the preparing and head out to the Weather HQ. When I take my first step, a roll of newspaper hits my face so precisely, I’m sent back stumbling, sitting on my rump. “Sonova! Who threw this?!?” I shout, jumping up and looking around for the pony who did this crime against me! And I see a pegasus colt, with an evil smile on his face, he threw the paper at me, other rolls of newspaper are still laying in his backpack. “Oh you little, you won’t get away with this!” I shout after him and start a chase.... only to lose his trail after 5 seconds. “How in Equestria...”I ask from no one, rub my head, then head to the HQ again. Upon arriving I notice that the front door of the HQ is wide open. “Huh, Firefly must be there then..” I whisper under my breath and step inside. “Hello?” No answer. I decide to investigate, so with a deep breath I enter the building. It’s... messy. I mean, dust everywhere, except a trail which is in daily use, I guess. But otherwise the place seems abandoned. Going deeper in the building, following the path, I arrive to a door. “Well, she must be here then.” I say to myself and open the door: I’m welcomed by a simple office, a desk, a single rose in a vase, towers of paper on the desk, and nopony else than Firefly, sleeping on a smaller stack of paper at the moment. “Uhm.. hello? Firefly?” I say a bit louder than usual, maybe I can wake her up. “Hmmmnn... just five more minutes...” Yep, she is definitely like Rainbow Dash, there is no doubt. “Firefly wake up, it’s working time!” I say and poke her side. She finally wakes, leaning back. “Huh? *yawn* You are... you are Zephyr, aren’t you? You came for the job, huh?” She asks, rubbing her eyes in the process. “Yepp, you definitely need my help.” I state, looking around at the mess. “Heheh, yeeeaaaah... I hate cleaning up. I really hate it.” She says and rubs the back of her head. “Aaaanyway, you just gotta sign this paper and you are in!” A paper got in my face, I push it away only to see Firefly grinning. She lost her mind or something. “Yeah-yeah, thanks....” I grab a pen and sign the paper, then unfold my wings. “Well, I’m ready!” “Good! I guess you have more than enough experience in cleaning the sky, so this is what you’ll do today: I want the sky to be cloudless till noon!” She says and grins again. “I figured out that you are my... boss now...” I take a deep breath, trying to force back my negative feelings. “...but if you go bossy and order me around, I will kick your flank. Seriously.” And of course, the desired effect cannot be achieved. “Oh really? We will see about that flyer boy!” She taunted me, then leaned back in her chair. A window is right behind her, slightly open... and evil plan forms in my mind. “I want to see that!” I exclaim, grinning evilly, then push her, sending her falling out of the window while screaming. “HAAAAA!! Priceless!!” I shout after her, then laugh my flank off, I even have to sit down on the floor. About half a minute later he climbs back through the window. “You just signed your death sentence!” She says, her voice is dripping with anger. “I thought that was my apply to this job, but oh well!” I respond and start laughing again. This time she only makes a very angry face/ but leaves it be. ‘She mad!’ I think, then shake my head. ‘Better clear the skies, I don’t wanna insult her AND be a jack-flank.’ With these thoughts I flap my wings and head outside. “Now where are you going?” Firefly asks me, still angry. She sat back on her chair while I was thinking. “Clearin’ the sky as it was ordered. I will be back in about half an hour.” I tell her and leave the room. I can hear her grunt of disbelief, but for me it’s only the sign of my victory. /Above Trottingham, 2 minutes later.../ “Alright... I think I will use the Shepherd Technique.” Which’s name is speaking for itself. The current state of clouds let me do it, so I start it right away: a second later only a brown-blue streak is visible from me, or at least I think that. /30 minutes later.../ Done. The sky is clear. It wasn’t that difficult, but tiring because of the number of the clouds. I decide to return to the HQ to see Firefly’s face, but looks like the faith have other plans with me. I see her flying up to me, it takes her a few seconds to reach me. “Sup boss?” I ask her, wiping the sweat away from my forehead. “You. you really did this! In half an hour! These clouds were giving me work for a week now and you just collected them and evaporated them like if it was nothing!” She says, making an expression of true surprise. “Well, it was actually water, but whatever. Yes I did.” I raised an eyebrow. “Did you think that I will fail, I will not be able to fulfil my word?” I ask her, she is in my hoof! “I-uh-no-I...” She says stuttering, looking away and rubbing the back of her head. “Just as I thought, Firefly.” I reply simply. For a few moments, she just stares me, then shakes her head and descends. “Work is over, you are free to go home or wherever, just go.” She says and glides down. “Sure, boss!” i half-shout after her and head home. It’s still the morning and my day is off, Tavi will be surprised! /At home.../ “You are here this early? You didn’t get the job?” Tavi asks me, surprised and worried in the same time. “The opposite!” I exclaim, grinning. “I not just got the job, but finished it so fast i got my day off!” I tell her with pride. “You are not joking, right?” Tavi asks back. “Of course not!” I shake my head. “Why would I lie to my love?” I ask her lovingly and kiss her the moment after, but only to hug her a few seconds later. “O-okay... *sigh* Zeph, you have to do something with Archie.” She tells me, leaning back a bit to look in my eyes. “Why, did he got out of his terrarium?” I ask back, that terrarium isn’t that big and sometimes I forget to lock its small door when I feed Archie. “No. He made those nasty webs again, doesn’t he supposed to jump on his pray? making webs are other spider’s job!” Tavi tells me, closing her eyes and shaking her head slightly. Ever since we ‘found’ Archibald, she hated him, but at least she learned to accept his presence and actually did a little research on arachnids. “Oh great, I have to clean his terrarium then.” I say, rolling my eyes. “Why is he doing that by the way?” Tavi asks me, arching an eyebrow. “Archie is smarter than you think. He /forces me/ to clean his home, it’s probably filled with the bug husks he left after ‘dinner’, heh.” I tell her and indeed, what can small jumping spider do with those chitinous husks? “Then do it, I’m not going to touch it with a single hoof!” Oh Tavi.. I’m not going into details about how I cleaned the terrarium, but let’s say it, it took me more than an hour, so you can guess. /That hour later.../. I tiredly enter the living room and plop myself on my sofa. Tavi notices it and approaches me. “Is it clean, everything is fine?” She asks caressing my cheek the way she always does. “Yeah... I hate cleaning anythiiiiing...” I tell her in a whiny tone, then draw her in a hug. “Naah, it’s not that bad. anyway, while you were cleaning, the teacher of the local school was here, he left you a letter.” She hands me a letter with the sign of Victory on it. “Huh a letter...” I take it and open it. “Hmmm. I might be needed in the school later today.” I tell Tavi after I’m done reading. “Hmm, why?” She asks back simply. “It’s... classified!” I tell her with a mischievous smile spreading on my face. “You will tell me anyway, why tire myself?” She asks... and actually have a point. “Later!” I say and kiss her on the cheek, making her do a surprised expression. “Heheh, Tavi, you are so adorable!” In response she pokes me. “Hey, what was that for?” I ask, rubbign the point she poked me. “Because!” She responds. Well... yeah, things are happening. Wanna know what was in the letter? Too bad, ya gotta wait for that!
Back To The Battlefield, KindaAs it was predictable, I told Tavi what was in the letter. And the letter read: Mr. Zephyr Verve! I have the pleasure to inform you about your successful enrollment in Team RED of the Trottingham’s First Elementary. Your briefing will be at 0700, tomorrow. We expect you to arrive 5 minutes before, don’t bring anything! Mrs. Victory Goal, Administrator “I remember Justice saying something about a school, is that it? Why did you join a school?” Tavi asks me after I read her the letter. “It’s not exactly a school, it’s more like... a training, they play war.” Tavi arches an eyebrow, I can hear her voice in my head, saying: ‘Are you serious?’ “Yes I know, this is dangerous and stupid, but it’s actually working and they have fun.” I tell her, I don’t want to listen a half an hour speech about dangers and other... stuff... like that. But instead, she lowers her eyebrow and sighs. “Tell me one reason of why should I let you do this.” She says, and I know that I already won. “Because of potatoes, of course.” I respond dead seriously. Two seconds pass as I stare into her beautiful purple eyes and Tavi erupts in laughter, hugging me in the process. I hold her till she calms down. “I should tell Firefly that I will get in work later tomorrow.” I say and let Tavi go, she is still smiling. “Alright, go. Heheh, I don’t even know why did I laugh! Oh sweetie.” She says, planting a quick kiss on my cheek then leaves me, probably to go and set up her cello and other tools to play. “I’ll be back soon!” I say half shouting and leave my home. “How can I make her laugh, even I don’t know...” I whisper under my breath, then take off and fly straight to the Weather HQ. /2,5 minutes later, in front of Firefly’s office.../ Since I only left a few hours ago, I expect Firefly to be in her office. As I stand in front of the closed door of the room, I think for a moment, what if she took the day off as well?... One way to find it out. *knock-knock* “Come in!” I hear her voice, open the door and see something I never expected to see. Firefly doing paperwork. Why didn’t I expect it? Because if she was anything like Rainbow Dash, then she would be making me do it. Well, hay happens. “Uhm, heya again, boss.” I greet her, still making that surprised and confused expression. “Hello Zephyr. Why did you come back? You have your day off!” She says, arching an eyebrow and tilting her head in the most adorable way I can imagine, I can feel my heart stop for a second. ‘HNNNNNNNG!’ “I uh, I got a letter, tomorrow I have to attend to something important so I will be late from work.” I tell her, trying to not show what I feel inside. “Late? Well, because you showed how easily you can handle your job, you are free to go.” She tells me and returns to the paperwork. “Firefly... can I ask a question?” This mystery of she working must be solved now. “You already did!” Oh of course I did, smart-flank... “Uh, How’s that you do paperwork?” I ask finally. “I mean, no offense, but there is like a month’s papers towering here.” “You have to start it once, no? but you can do it if you are so interested, I like to have my own day off!” She says, wearing a dull expression. “Hah, yeah, right, no.” I say and turn around to leave. “Have a nice day, don’t choke on the paper!” I say then, snickering. “Oh you little...” I hear from behind, but I’m already out of the office, trotting ouside. /2.5 minutes later, back at home.../ With a graceful spin, I land in front of my home, elegant as ever. In other words, I nearly crash in the bush that decors the frontage. After entering the house I hear the sound of the cello, my tip was actually right. I should play lottery. Trotting in the room that was selected as Tavi’s ‘training’ room, I can easily enter, and because she is practicing, she doesn’t hear me. Sneaking, I get behind her, then lean close to her left ear, an... “Haaaaaaaiiiiii!...” I whisper in it. She jumps, dropping her cello. “Hh-haaaa, oh my gosh Zeph, don’t do this ever again!” She says and grips her chest above her heart, she really got frightened. “Whoops, I overdid it a bit... I’m sorry love, I didn’t want to scare you... this much.” I tell her, then pull her in a loving hug. I can feel how fast her heart beats. ‘Wow, I swear to Luna, I will never scare her again... this is serious.’ I think and hug her tighter. “S-sweetie... you can let me go.. sweetie?” Tavi says, trying to get back a bit but being unable to do it because I’m not letting her go. “I’m sorry Tavi. I really didn’t want to scare you this much. I swear i won’t do it again!” I tell her, I don’t know what would I do if something happened to her. “It’s... it’s okay. Calm down sweetie, nothing happened.” She responds. “But what if I did something? I can’t bear the consequences.” I reply, holding her tighter. “Maybe you should let me go now, I’m choking!” Tavi says, so i let her go. “I will be fine, *deep breath* and the little one too.” She says and caresses her belly. “Just don’t panic, alright?” “Yeah... okay, I think I will go now and... and... uh, check on the RED Headquarters?... Yeah, that.” I tell her, plant a quick kiss on her lips, then leave her, still cursing myself for being stupid. /20 minutes later, in front of the RED HQ.../ “Hmm... well, I’m a member of this whole thing, so why the hay not?” I tell myself after pondering on the ‘should I do this’ dilemma. And so, I enter the building. The first thing that I lay my eyes on is a taller filly, wearing a cowboy-like-hat, sunglasses and a vest. She is an unicorn, she levitates a wooden and metal contraption on her right side, that thing also have a strange telescope attached to it. I decide to ask her. “Uhm, excuse me, can you help me?” The tone of my voice tells her how unsure I am. “Sure mate, what do ya want?” She asks in a strange accent and walks in front of me. Now as she is close I can finally see how she look like. Let’s see, dark grey coat, rose red mane and tail, golden eyes, her cutie mark is a... crosshairs? what? It’s a circular crosshairs.... alright... Her vest is a different shade of grey and she wears a red shirt under it, her hat have about the same color as Applejack’s and her sunglasses is a gold, similar to her eyes. Well, I can’t remember seeing a filly like her before. “I joined this team yesterday and I have to be here tomorrow at seven, but I want to get acquainted with the, uh, team.” I tell her, then remember an important part. “Oh, my name is Zephyr Verve.” She looks at me for a few seconds, observing every trait of me, then looks in my eyes. “Name’s Perfect Point. Welcome to the team, I will show ya ‘round.” She says then holsters her... weapon? In a quiver like holster which is strapped to her right flank. Right after she trots away, so I follow her. She leads me to a room filled with lockers. I instantly notice that every locker have a name written on it, and after reading a few names I notice a familiar one. “Peach Cupcake? Is.. is it Private Cupcake?” I ask Perfect Point, stopping in front of the locker. “Yeah, she’s not the smartest of us, but have a battle-moral like nopony else! Now seriously, would ya blow up a rocket under yerself only to jump higher? Would ya?” She asks me, her strange accent makes me think about her origins, where did she born? “Uhm, dunno... doesn’t she gets hurt?” I ask, my train of thoughts about her origins is too deep to let it go. “Naah, she have those ‘gunboats’ of her, Ya’d never guess that huh?” She asks me, raising an eyebrow. “I already met her, so I know about those. But interesting to know their use...” I say, and my thoughts are all around those metal shoe-like things, the ‘gunboats’. “Thought so mate. Now, see that empty locker?” She asks and points on said locker. “Yeah, what about it?” I ask and open it. Empty. Not big surprise. “That will be yer’s get acquainted!” She says and trots to another locker, I notice that it have her name on it. Opening it she pulls out a second hat, it’s a red and brown camo boonie hat. She places it on her head after taking off the one that was on her head until right now. “Ya see, we get hats and other stuff if we do good in battle.” She explains. “Ya haven’t choose class yet, have ya?” She asks then. “Class?” This sounded stupid. “Hnarrgh... Yeah, we have nine class. Private Cupcake is the Soldier, with rocket launcher, I’m the Sniper, with this....” She levitates her weapon in front of her. “...niiice weapon. A rifle.” She smirks then holsters the rifle again. “And the other classes have other weapons as well!” Seeing the confusion on my face, she facehoofs and explains. “Alright mate, listen. There are three roles of the classes. Offense, defense and support, 3 class each. The first class is the Scout. Ya gotta be fast and dodgy if ya want to be that. The Scout’s weapon is a scattergun. The second class is the Soldier, you already met Peach, so you know what it’s like to be a Soldier. The third class is the Pyro. It uses a flamethrower, but don’t worry, it’s magically enchanted to do no damage, it only hurts your counter. The fourth class is the Demolition pony, or Demo for shorts! Ya can use pipe-bomb launchers and sticky-bomb launchers, but I don’t recommend, ya can hurt yerself easily. The fifth is the Heavy weapons pony. No offense mate, but yer body type is not for that, the Heavy uses a minigun, which isn’t mini at all. The sixth is the Engineer, ya can have a shotgun, and build sentries and dispensers, if ya want to defend an area, it’s yers! The seventh is the Medic, ya can heal back yer teammates’ health counter with the medigun, useful in an attack, though ya can get in the crossfire easily. The Eighth might be me, the Sniper with my beaut’, this sniper rifle. I can pick off the enemies from a looong distance. They never see it coming. And the ninth class... the Spy. Sneaky bastards, always hiding. Ya’ll find out about the Spies everything ya need later.” For about ten seconds I just stare into empty space as the things sink in. “Oooookay... so I should choose.... uh... I.. think... I will choose tomorrow, okay Point?” I ask her, feeling awkward. “Sure mate. Ya wanna go home already?” She ask, smirking. “Y-yeah, kinda.” I answer, looking at the door we came in earlier. “Then go, ya practice dummy.” She tells me and rummages through her locker... ‘This was interesting alright.’ I think and Leave the lockers’ room, then the HQ itself, luckily I found nopony else. That filly... she had like no respect towards an adult, I feel like if I was in a school... oh wait. /Back at home.../ After I finally arrived, I decided to just simply plop myself on my sofa and wait until something happens. And it happened, about 20 minutes later Tavi finished the practicing and went in the kitchen to get herself something to drink. She noticed me. “Oh you are back! How it was going?” She asks me, walking next to me. “Meh, good. I have to decide, what should I be? Nine class, three roles,and it was a mouthful just to listen!” I tell her. “So it was interesting, huh?” She asks playfully. “Oh, stop it Tavi. It’s serious.” I say, furrowing my eyebrows “Yes, serious, like you are serious about every time.” She responds, putting a hoof on my shoulder in the process. “Hardy-har-har...” I say sarcastically, then close my eyes. Tomorrow will be long.
