A Thousand Son in Equestria, part 39 (Dawn of the Final Day)

>Your eyes snap awake as the morning comes.
>You hadn't even remembered falling asleep.
>You begin to shift, ready to get up, when you notice a warm weight on your chest.
>You glance down, and you see Ditzy, curled up around you, resting her head on you while she snores quietly.
>You smile, and lie back, letting her rest just a little bit more.
>You know you have to take Dinky to school, but you're willing to let Ditzy sleep in today.
>After all, today is a special day.
>It's Ditzy's day off.
>No mail for her.
>Which makes today the perfect day.
>You're going to propose to her.
>You're going to ask Ditzy Doo the mail mare to marry you.


>The only problem with that is...
>You have no idea how pony marriage rituals work.
>But that doesn't matter to you.
>You'll do it the human way, if it comes down to it.
>A ring, a swearing of vows, an oath of moment, like the humans of Prospero did.
>You wince, and that short movement is enough to wake Ditzy up.
>She yawns, before kissing you on the forehead.
>"Morning honey muffin!"
>You smile and kiss her back before sliding out of bed.
"Good morning Ditzy. Say, do you have any plans on your day off?"
>She yawns, before stretching and throwing the covers over her head.
>The comforter-lump that is Ditzy giggles at you as you stare at her.
>"Nope! I'm staying home! That gives us plenty of time to...have fun...once you get Dinky to school."
>You smile at her as she peeks out from under the covers.
"Unfortunately, Ditzy, I've got a few things I need to do around town. But when I get back, I have something I need to tell you."
>She frowns.
>"Is it serious?"
"As a heart attack."
>She gasps, and you chuckle.
"In a good way. Now let me go wake up Dinky."
>She pouts at you as you leave the room.


>You trot out into the hallway, smiling to yourself, as you knock on Dinky's door with a hoof.
>Silence greets you.
"Dinky, it's time to get up!"
>Still silence.
>You're starting to worry.
>Your horn glows, and you cast Twilight's spell, turning back into yourself, before barging into Dinky's room.
>"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"
"....Good morning Dinky."
>"DAD! IT'S LIKE SIX IN THE MORNING!"
"....I didn't want you to be late for school."
>"SCHOOL DOESN'T START UNTIL EIGHT!"
".......I really, really didn't want you to be late."
>Dinky gives you a death glare full of such vehemence that for a half-second, you think you're having a stare down with a space marine captain.
"How about I cook you breakfast, to make up for it?"
>"....."
"...And give you a ponyback ride all the way to school."
>"...You win this time, father. You win this time."
>With that, you lead the still grumpy filly out of her room and into the kitchen.
>She doesn't need to know that you have no idea how to cook pony food.


>And hour later, the two of you leave the house, you in your natural form, Dinky with her legs wrapped around your neck.
>Ponyback rides.
>If only Magnus could see you now.
>"So what exactly was that?"
"A nutrient slurry, a quickly-made casserole containing all the nutrients a growing Mar-I mean, filly needs."
>"....So what was it exactly?"
"Ancient human secret."
>"You just grabbed a bunch of the fruit and scrambled it together, didn't you?"
"Maybe."
>The pair of you laugh as you make your way toward's Dinky's school.
>You're a little wary of showing your face there again.
>The last time you showed up, you almost traumatized the students.
>Not to mention the fact that you had inadvertently converted three students to Chaos worship and daemon princedom.
>Oh well, can't change the past.
>"Well, whatever it was, it was okay. You should get Mommy to give you cooking lessons!"
>You glance up at your daughter, and she smiles at your expression as you lower her to the ground.
"Funny. Now have a good day at school. I'll pick you up this evening."
>"Alright Dad! Seeya!"
>She makes her way off towards the schoolhouse, rushing past two familiar fillies, who whisper and laugh as she passes.
>A second later, you spot the pink one slip and fall flat on her face.
>You are the only one that sees Dinky's horn glowing as she runs inside.
>You smile.
"That's my girl."
>It is only when you are halfway to your next stop that you realize that Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo were not present at the school.


>You put the missing CMC from your thoughts as you make your way towards the center of town, towards your old house.
>Trixie must still be asleep, and you don't bother to wake her up as you walk through the square.
>Trixie's not the mare you're looking for.
>For this, for knowledge about marriage, about the pomp and the ceremony, you need a mare of class.
>Of sophistication.
>You need Rarity.
>Tzeentch preserve your soul.
>You carefully make your way to the Carousel Boutique, steeling yourself as you raise your hand and knock on the door.
>You hear a quiet sniffle.
>"Who is it?"
"Anonymous. I'm-"
>The door blasts open, and Rarity peeks her head out.
>"Have you seen Sweetie Belle!?"
>You think back to the schoolhouse, and you shudder.
>Sweetie Belle, missing. On this, your perfect day.
>Distractions, that's all. Someone upstairs was scheming.
>As if waiting for the thought to strike you, you hear the faint laughter of your God in your ears.
>"Anon?"
>Her voice shakes you out of your thoughts.
"Sorry, Rarity. No, I have not seen Sweetie Belle. Do you have an idea of her whereabouts?"
>"Well...no, but...here, come in. How rude of me, to leave you standing outside. Let's talk over tea."


>The white unicorn sweeps you inside, where you see she already has her tea set up.
>She pours you a cup as you make yourself comfortable on the floor.
>"Well, Anon, to answer your earlier question, the last I saw her, she was going to have a sleepover with the other CMC's. And she's been gone now for two days!"
>Your hand, to your credit, doesn't shake.
>Two days ago.
>That matches up to when the Doctor took you on a little trip.
>Your God laughs in your ear.
>"Excuse me, Anonymous, I'm just a bit upset. I'm sure they'll be alright. Sweetie's resourceful, and with their....condition, I don't think they'll be hurt. What did you want to talk about?"
"That's...that can wait, Rarity. If the Crusaders are in danger..."
>"Anon, please! You can't go out of your way to try and solve all our problems. You have your own life now."
>She gets a coy look in her eyes.
>"And if the sounds coming from our beloved mailmare's house are any indication, it's a happy life indeed. Now, talk."
>You sigh, a bit on edge.
>The Crusaders missing?
>The Doctor?
>You remember what he'd said. You are running out of time. Whatever it is you're destined to do, it's close now. Very close.
>"Anon?"
"I'm...I'm going to propose to Ditzy Doo."
>You're so wrapped up in your own thoughts you don't bother to dodge Rarity's spittake.


>One squee'ing, white-coated, purple-maned tornado later, you find yourself draped in tuxedos, bolts of cloth, and gems as Rarity runs around you in a frantic circle.
>"Oh dear oh dear oh dear a you're PROPOSING! Oh Anonymous you came to the right mare! I have so much work to do! I've got the perfect idea for a dr-"
"Rarity."
>She pauses, looking at you.
"Sweetie Belle?"
>"Anon, anon, darling. Sweetie Belle will be fine. She's resourceful, and thanks to you she can turn into a ball of fire if she wants to. You're getting MARRIED. This is far more important."
"I disagree."
>"Your opinion is noted and discarded. Now at LEAST let me make you a ring before you propose. I have the PERFECT silver setting and just the right gems. Be right baaaaack."
>Rarity darts off, lifting a swarm of gems, silver settings, and other objects as she runs off into her workshop.
>You sigh and start slowly peeling the scraps of cloth off you.
>As you finally peel off the last bit of clothing, you hear Rarity's doorbell go off.
>"RARITY! I NEED TO TALK TO YOU!"
>That, of course, would be Twilight Sparkle.


>You casually open the door and let Twilight make her way in as Rarity stays lost in her storm of gemcrafting.
>"Rarity, this is serious! I need your help! We need to get the elements! Canterlot's-oh, Anon! Hi. I, errr, didn't see you there."
>Twilight's face is a bright, embarrassed red.
>Understandable, considering the last time you met her, she was trying to rape you.
"Good morning, Twilight. What's all this about Canterlot?"
>"Oh..ummm, Princess Luna sent me a message. There are changelings attacking Canterlot again! And Princess Luna can't find Celestia anywhere! It's a disaster! The Princess wants me to bring the Elements Bearers so we can stop the changelings once and for all!"
>You hear your God in your ear a third time.
>Something's not right about all of this.
"Twilight, allow me to come with you. I can-"
>"TWILIGHT ANON'S GETTING MARRIED!"
>Rarity shouts from inside her little workroom, and then you sigh as for the second time that morning, a little pony sweeps you up in a purple blur of squeeing and happiness.
"TWILIGHT! Calm down! There's more pressing business, like Canterlot-"
>"Are you KIDDING!? Anon, we get in messes like these changelings on a weekly basis! You're getting married! This is HUGE! It's a once in a lifetime thing!"
>"I know!"
>That would be Rarity.
>"And I've got the perfect thing for Anon to give the lucky bride!"


>It was...beautiful.
>A necklace formed of silver and diamond, with a glorious sapphire in the middle.
"Rarity, this is..."
>"Beautiful, is it not? I am a genius!"
"It's...it's perfect. But..you said you were making a ring...."
>She giggles.
>"Oh, Anonymous, you're silly. Derpy isn't a unicorn, is she? She doesn't have a horn for a ring to go on! It's traditional to give earth pony and pegasi brides a necklace instead."
>That made sense.
>You shake your head.
>What are you thinking, it's not important!
"Rarity, this gift is wonderful, but we're forgetting what's important. Canterlot's in dang-"
>Both mares scowl at you.
>"Anon, we handle threats like this ALL the TIME! You're going to PROPOSE! That's bigger than some silly changeling threat!"
"But I have to-"
>Twilight speaks up.
>"Anon, if you skip proposing to your mare so you can go fight Changelings, I swear to Celestia I'm going to invite the Autarch over to your house and tell him it's not customary for houseguests to wear pants."
>That's not fair.
"That's...Twilight, think of Dinky!"
>Her expression doesn't change.
"Fine. Fine, I'll propose. But the minute things go wrong, contact me. Send a Spike mail, send Rainbow Dash, whatever it takes."
>"Sure, fine, WHATEVER. NOW GO!"
>She gives you a telekinetic push out the door, and you smile to yourself as you go.
>What are you so worried about?
>You're done worrying.
>You're done fighting.
>You can finally be happy. You can finally love. You're finally free.
>It's time.


>You practically run home.
>Elation fills your hearts as you clutch Rarity's necklace in your hand.
>Ditzy would love it, you were sure.
>She'd love it, wouldn't she?
>If she didn't love it, what would you do?
>Was rejection of a necklace some sort of taboo in pony culture?
>What if you were going about this all wrong?
>Were you taking this too fast?
>Maybe you should just go back to Rarity and...
>You start as you realize you're in front of Ditzy's door.
>While your brain did the doubting, your legs did the walking.
>Damn your doubts.
>You were a Thousand Son.
>And you loved Ditzy Doo. There was no time for doubt, no time for fear.
>You fill your lungs and open the front door.
"Ditzy, I'm back. I wanted to..."
>Your voice trails off.
>The necklace slips from nerveless fingers as the smell hits you.
>The smell of blood.

Music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vq0BUe8Hgi8
"No. No, no, no, no, no, NO!"
>You run through the house, gasping and shouting to yourself as you follow the traces.
>A drip here.
>A drop there.
>A splash there.
>A trail, leading through her house, YOUR house, towards the bedroom.
>Your bedroom.
>You don't bother using your hands.
>You rip the door off it's hinges with your Will, tossing it over your shoulder.
>Your eyes scan the scene inside, and you fall to your knees.
>Grey Feathers cover the bed, torn out in a struggle.
>More blood, in the sheets.
>Blood, on the walls, spelling a message.
>Her blood.
>"Did you miss me, Anonymous? I missed you. So much so, I threw you a party in the park. Your old friends are invited, and you're the guest of honor! You better hurry, Anon. Dear old Derpy came early, and she's just DYING for you to get here!"
>"Love, Discord."

Music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXkbB6e-ptw
>That day, a storm came to Ponyville.
>Clouds, born of fury and magic, sprang up that day, and lightning clawed through the sky.
>And a certain draconequus watched the storm come from his place in the park, and smiled.
>Lightning struck the park thrice.
>And you rose from the crater.
"Where is she?"
>"Whoever do you mean, Anonymous?"
"Do you have any idea what you've done?"
>Discord smirks.
"I'm going to flay you alive, Discord. Your screaming will be the music they play at my wedding. If you touched a single hair on her head-"
>Discord laughs, before rising above you, a smile on his face.
>"You'll do what? Throw more of your lightning around? You couldn't stop me on your own before. What makes you think you can do anything now?"
>You look up at the renegade Chaos beast.
"I have something to fight for."
>Discord smiles.
>And that's when you hear them.
>Metallic clanking heralds the Necron Lord. He has her, limp in his hands.
>You pivot on him, when you hear laughter from behind you.
>The smaller Discord-thing, Eris, flies over your shoulder, still laughing.
>As you whirl to follow it, you spot the Justicar.
>Your foes circle you, but you have eyes only for her.
>Your Ditzy Doo, bleeding and limp in the hands of the Necron.
>You raise your blade, and the lightning answers your silent call.
>Your storm releases the rain, and it begins.