Thread 95: Stories 46-60

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OOCO
>Pinkie
"Celestia"
'Chrysalis'
[Spitfire]
~~~

>We gonna make this a thing? Like, the gunclub thing?... OH! Instead of being the gun club, we'll be the FUN club! Everyone gets a T shirt!

"...If you just came up with this now, how did you make T shirts already?"

>NEVERMIND!

[RADICAL DUUUUUUDDDDEE!]

'Wow, she is really good at snowboarding.'

"She was one of my most active captains back in the day, after all. It's not surprising that she's into extreme sports."

[TUBULAR!]

'What's with all the slang, though?'

>Pffft, isn't it obvious? If you shout that stuff, you board better! COWABUNGA!... WHEEEE!

'Huh...'

"...Spectacular!-"

CRUNCH!

"OW FUCK THAT DIDN'T WORK AT ALL!"

'... Radical!'

CRACK

'OH FUCK THIS WAS ALL A LIE!'

>Pffft, you're too old to be doing stuff like this! It only works if you're young!

[RADILICIOUS!]

>See?

"...O-old?"

'...Mnotold...'

>[EXTREEEEME!]

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NC
>Wonderbolts
"Dash"
'Tape'
~~~

>...Boss? Are you... what are you doing?

"..."

>She's just like, curled into a ball. What's up with that?

>I dunno, looks like she's sleeping or something-

'The first rule of training is, knowing when to strike.'

>...The hell was-

'STRIKE!'

WHAM!

>MAH MOUWF!

>OHHHH DAMN SON! You just got-

'Know when to SWEEP THE LEG!'

CRACK!

>OH FAUST NOOOO! I'LL NEVER WALK AGAIN!

>Damn it, I'll go get the gun.

>WAIT WHAT!?

>For her!

>...That's not better! Or is it... I'm not sure...

"zzzzz"

'Make sure to stay in the proper defensive position...'

>Let's just turn that damn thing off-

'AND STRIKE!'

WHUMP!

WHUMP!

WHUMPWHUMPWHUMP!

>OH FUUUUUUCK!

CRACK!

>Guys!? GUYS!?... Anyone else still conscious!?... Or alive, I'll take alive, just somebody be alive!... You're probably alive, but you're not gonna be waking up for a loooong time... thank goodness for free health care. Now, I'll just sneak over and-

'Now we move on to finishing techniques.'

>Fuck it fuck it fuck it DIVING!

'The proper way to break a neck is-VRVRVRVRRVRVRRRVRVRVRVRVRRRVVVVRVRVRRR'

>.........

'...How to please your stallion in ten amazing ways!'

>...

*Sexy music starts playing*

'First up, one thing every stallion loves, a little foreplay. Moisten those tongues, ladies, and reach for the good stuff...'

"Zzz..mmmmm... mmmhmmm...'

*ZIIPPPP!'

>...this is fine.

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>Zephyrious
"Hilda"
'??'
[??]
~~~

"How do you always manage to ruffle your blasted robes on a train? I'd swear you did this just so I'd notice."

The heir to the throne of the gryphons could merely sigh, for her knew that she knew quite well that first off, his robes were quite straight, for he had straightened them not a minute ago. Second, he had only had to straighten them because of her. And third, it was her idea to be out in the open on the train in order to 'show their arrival', even though clearly they were going so fast very few would be able to see them. He knew all of this, but said nothing. For it was his dear Hilda, and he knew better than to ever argue her.

The city they arrived in was, of course, as garish as ever. Built for durability, solidity, with metal and specially made bricks to hold it up. It looked as if it were a fortress in the middle of a siege, and perhaps in the mind of the one who sat on the throne, it was. While they could not deny their father was rather war hungry on occasion, this particular branch of the Gryphon lands put even his wildest fantasies to shame. When you became of age, you were a soldier. If you were too small to be a soldier, you became a smith. If you couldn't do either of those, then perhaps you could fill one of the less important positions... like farming, selling food, literally anything not war related...

As they put it, 'the jobs that nobody else wanted.'

But there was something to the efficiency, the regalia of their soldiers. Shined armor and polished weapons abound, for if they were going to focus on this they were going to do it right. Their fighting prowess was no joke either. For while the Crowned Prince had initially trained himself by defeating five of their strongest forces at the same time and come out quite in tact, he remembered quite vividly a much more intense, harder battle to come when Hilda had arranged for him to fight the same number of these warriors.

He had still won, of course.

Again, he found himself questioning the choice to send himself and Hilda here, to this land of steel and brick, for it seemed those scars remained. Even now, the many, many, many guards prowling every corner of the land gave him a side eyed look, a bit of offense that one such as he had taken on their five best and been victorious. While before, they had used this as a reason to remain loyal to the future king, after his choices with the Titan...

"We are here to see the King."

Shuffled away with nothing said, as expected. They were lead through the streets by what they might consider a battalion, but to this land was merely a slightly above average gathering. When they reached the mountainside upon which a towering behemoth of stone and steel clung to, defensible without compare. A line of soldiers moved perfectly in lock, from the a line on the ground to a perfect line hovering in the air forming a path towards their destination. They followed without complaint, entering into the fortress beneath a heavy gate of spike and blade, and into a much more well kept and lavish castle. They made their way through sturdy halls of chiseled stone without comment. At least, until they noticed that they were not being lead to the throne room.

"I said, we are here to see the King."

They did not answer. Though, to their credit, they also gave off no impression this was in any way a trap. Not that they worried if such were true, they could handle these brutes together, they were certain. Still, it was reason enough for Zephyrious to keep his claw on his massive broadsword, and for the knives in Hilda's robes to feel heavier in their grips.

It was nothing short of a relief when they were ushered into a dining hall so empty they could hear the echo of every step, and not a single soldier joined them in entering. The doors were closed, but of course not locked, and the prince and princess were alone.

Alone, save the two gryphons at the end of the table, bereft of any guard or defense. Yet, even without any such aide, there was no thought on either mind that the dual beings of bird and beast would ever be in the realm of 'defenseless'.

For what good was being the two offspring of one of the most warhungry and battle ready griffons to ever live, if there was not some guarantee that you would at the very least grow up knowing how to defend yourself.

Two griffons, a female who sat at the head of the table, and her brother, standing off to her side. Heirs to the kingdom they now inhabited. One of them, the female, quite broad and white as snow save for speckles of black all along her coat. The other, far more thin and lithe, quite stark in his black coating, with only his claws and paws to break the coloring with grey.

With only the barest of bows of respect, the standing of the two moved forwards and regarded them.

[Princess Hilda, Crown Prince Zephryious. Welcome to the abode of Niall Mirthwing Steeltalon Ironclaw Bladebeak Dragonslayer Thunderstriker the Fifth... oh, I apologize, is it just 'prince' now? I'm not sure how to address you anymore.]

At the males ever so subtle smirk, Hilda hissed ever so lowly, below what any cold hear. Still, she regained her composure long enough, and regarded the gryphon right back with far steadier a response.

"Ciaran, how pleasant to speak to you again. However, we were hoping an audience with your father."

[And you shall have it... in time. But father is away, and he would like us to entertain our guests until he returns. So we do ask that you behave until then, we wouldn't wish you... sent away, after all.]

"He knew we were coming."

[Oh?... I wouldn't know, father tells us so little of this, after all.]

"Quite rude to leave guests alone, especially ones such as ourselves."

[Oh, you know father, such a brute. Though, from what I've heard... that last line may not matter for much longer, no?]

The air between Hilda and the dark fowl became charged, Ciaran gripping his cloaked wrists ever so subtly, tense and ready.

"That is what we are here about, coincidentally, and the reason for a bit of... urgency."

[Yes, well... you know father, he does as he wants. Always has, and always will. Such a problem with respect for him to his superiors... though, again, perhaps that might not be an issue for much longer... no?]

"...We are not worried."

Electricity nearly danced between them. Each one, tense and ready to move, to strike if the other made so much as the slightest wrong twitch. In this deadly game of politics, one wrong thing could set off a blaze that would consume the world in fire.

So it came as no shock, when Zephyrious made the first move, and broke it all.

>...Wonderful! So nice to see you again, Ceridwen!

'Zephyrious! Welcome back, I wondered when you would finally make an appearance.'

Forgoing all rituals to the matter, Zephyrious walked alongside the table, opposite to the sitting one's brother, preventing him from doing little more than glare as he reached out to her when he arrived.

Two claws locked together, thick, powerful muscles rippling beneath barely containing cloaks. Nerves twitches and skin spasmed as they held it in place, pressing against the other to see who would bend first in this sudden and impromptu arm wrestling competition.

For no less than ten solid minutes, they remained locked, unmoving, twitching ever so imperceptibly, all the while the two younger siblings merely glared across the table at one another, occasionally sticking their claws in the wrists of their robes and making rude gestures within.

Finally, the white coat and feathers of the sitting gryphon could stand no more, and her arm gave way, bending ever so slightly before being released. The matter had been settled, there was no need to continue.

'Blast, still can't overpower you.'

"HA-KKKhuurkkk... Sorry, something in my throat."

Insulted that she thought even a child would fall for that one, a grey talon closed around a black throat, none too subtly rubbing in distinctly not-cutting gestures on it.

[Oh, I know, such a pain sometimes isn't it? Perhaps one day I'll help you out with that, I know so many ways to open a throat.]

"Oh, how thoughtful. Perhaps I will show you my own homebrewed medicine sometimes, it's quite amazing. Really gets under your skin."

The elder siblings rolled their eyes, and after a slight gesture from a pearly white claw, Zephyrious took the offered seat. In seconds, Hilda took her place next to him, still standing, never once losing eye contact with the male across the table.

Or ceasing her glare for that matter.

>To think, Mother was offered to marry Hilda off to him.

'We were spared a very bloody honeymoon.'

>Theirs or ours?

The two chuckled, lightly tapping two glasses of wine together before sharing a drink.

'Oh, if we had been wed there would have been blood alright, and likely a small number of broken bones.'

>Small number? As always, you underestimate me!

Another, slightly smaller chuckle filled the room, not shared by the two still making the occasional signal to the other implying quite dark things. For while the prince of Gryphonia and the Princess of this land had decided quite mutually it was not in their people's best interest being so different, that the lands between them being separated by other nobles and royals prevented it from being a politically sound move, and that there was simply no strong connection whatsoever to make this a matter of the heart, the reaction of Hilda and the second prince Ciaran was quite... more violent.

Most notably, Queen Gwen would still tell of the tale of when Hilda had attacked her in the kitchen with a knife, and made it very clear she would prefer death.

Likewise, Ciaran was quite, to put is simply, broken for the next few weeks, for despite being only a teen and already being of a very short stature, he took on his father quite brazenly in claw to claw combat on the matter. Though he spoke of it rarely, the king Niall spoke of the time with pride when mentioned.

They did not get along, as it were.

[Hrmph, it's a good thing I turned down such an offer... I don't know what I would think when I saw my brother again so soon.]

The room grew quiet after that, with even Hilda's own hot glare smoldering into dull ashes as she looked upon the slightly deflated gryphon pair.

>...He was a brave warrior, and I wish I could debate with him again.

His platitudes, sadly, did not have the effect he wished on the younger of the two.

[Big talk from one who would turn to the one who ruthlessly killed that very gryphon, and offer her freedom.]

Normally, this was when his sibling would chide him, to calm him before he got too excited. Sadly, for Zephrious at least, no such move was made, and he thought the better of requesting such.

Normally, this would be when Hilda would chime in, to point out that Chitania did no such thing, his scouting party engaged her and was crushed when the beast brushed against a mountainside and collapsed it outside of Af Gryphonia, which was a location he was certainly not supposed to be. She had given no sign she ever even knew he was upon her. A heroic sneak attack to cement his status and his name... and a failure to claim his life. Still, she thought the better of mentioning such.

For both had loved their eldest brother dearly, and they felt it would have been quite cruel. The weight of the impending crown was heavy enough upon Cerdiwen's head as it was, he need not add to it.

'Do you have anything to say on the matter?'

Politics, the eldest prince mused, the bane of all who had lived it.

>I'm afraid my reasons were as straightforwards as I claimed. The beast made an offer that I felt I could use to save my people. In a time of such... horror, I was desperate enough that I was willing to throw away my name and crown if it meant saving them. For she is a monster... but monsters are only things to fear when they face you. If a hound could be set upon your enemy, well... you do not fear the hound, but they very much would.

It was practiced, smooth and easily delivered. And completely unsatisfactory to the prince.

At the very least, the crowned Princess gave him a modicum of understanding.

'To be faced with a choice like that... I suppose it wouldn't be fair to claim it a signature of your character.'

[But it would be all too fair to use it as an example of how he handles the darker times.]

'...I suppose you have a point.'

Both of the Gryphonians winced. Normally, she would love to debate her younger brother. Oh, the chatterings they had done together, Zephyrious used to muse.

But thus far, it seemed she was unwilling to argue him, for anything.

>Will your father return soon?

[As I said, he will return when he returns.]

Again, nothing. No comment from the Queen to be.

"Ciaran, would you like to step outside with me and let them talk? I'm sure they'd like to catch up, they've not had a chance since your bother Niall the sixth passed. I'd be happy to continue our discussion out there while the future crowned ones speak."

[No, I think I'll stay.]

His eyes cut to the side, and with an affirmative nod from his sibling it sealed the deal.

[But perhaps you would like to step out for some fresh air? We can speak openly to him regarding... sensitive materials, that way.]

"No, I would l rather prefer I stay."

She didn't even need to look to her brother to confirm that.

'...Very well. Well, I suppose we can drop the charade, this was supposed to be a test before father arrived, he wished to see if any weakness could be found in the leadup to be exploited. But it seemed this is not to be, no?'

Her eyes ever so briefly met Ciaran's, and a telling glint in his eyes seemed to say everything she was looking to see.

'I thought not. Despite your actions, you are still Zephyrious, after all. I've not been able to best you in combat yet... though I have learned much since my brother's... time, I should warn you. I doubt you'll see what I have coming next time.'

>I look forwards to it. So... how shall we pass the time until he arrives?

A look, quite subtle between the two...

And their arms once more laid upon the table, and claws intertwined. In seconds, they were once more straining against impossible might.

What little regalia the younger pair had broke.

[Break his arm, Sister!]

"Brother, I did not spend hours burning into you the importance of weight lifting for you to fail now!"

[SHATTER HIS ARM SOCKET!]

"BRING HER ARM HOME FOR A TROPHY!"

>...Do you suppose this is how most normal conversations are carried out?

'If it's not, they're doing it wrong.'

["TEAR THEM... APARRRT!"]

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>42
"Spike"
'DT'
[SS]
{PJ}
(Rarity)
~~~

>... uh-

"She wanted to come see what it was like in here, sooooo...."

'Seriously!? You can't just bring your marefriend in here whenever you want! This is a private thing!'

{Really? Then what's the grey one doing in here?}

'FUCK YOU BUGGO!'

(Oh my! Such language, missy! What would your father think?)

FWOOSH!

{Now, I do believe you were saying something about-}

[PJ, either you stop looking like me RIGHT NOW, or I will shoot you in the head.]

{...}

CLICK

FWOOSH!

{Spoilsport.}

(How garish!)

>Why is she here?

"S-she, uh.... she just asked to sit in, it's not like I'm inviting her to join us or anything."

(Oh, but if I asked you vouch for me, right Spikey-Wikey?)

"U-uhhhhhh..."

'And thus, his brain is fried. Goodnight everyone!'

{Whoooa, mare's got some power. Wish I could get the guy hot and ready by fluttering my eyebrows.}

(It's a gift, darling.)

FWOOSH!

{Oh but I do declare, it's not so absurd, is it? Spikey-Wikey?}

"...Sorry, nothing."

{DAMN!}

'Seriously, Spike? No. No no no. You cannot bring her in here. This is for us! US!'

"She uh... uhhhh..."

(You'd never kick me out, right Spikey?)

"Uhhhhhh..."

[This isn't going to end well.]

'TELL HER TO LEAVE!'

"UHHHHHHHH...."

'This is the GUN CLUB! SO UNLESS I SEE A-'

BLAM!

"..."

'...damn...'

(Oh, you like my little number? I've been working on it since I modified Charity, just a little tinkering in my spare time.)

'...She can't join... but she can watch.'

(There we are.)

"...I am so turned on right now."

[Wha-]

"NOTHING!"

{He said he was horny, FUCK, pay attention.}

>"'[(...)]'"

{What?}

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>Applejack
"Twilight"
'Celestia'
~~~~

>Soooo... that's what she wants.

The room went quiet, far too quiet. Far too quiet for this bombshell of an explosion.

Quiet, perhaps, because of the contemplation they were all going through, the severity of what was being asked, from either choice. Or perhaps out of disbelief, of the gall of either request made considering who asked it, and the circumstances.

'Did she give any hints as to what this 'medical procedure' may entail?'

Remorsefully, the Apple princess had to shake her head in the negative, having not a single idea herself.

>All she said was, Twilight has ta' perform an as yet unspecified medical procedure, in a place o' her choosing, in a time o' her choosing, without any guard, or other medical personnel, or anyone else cept her present, and...

"And I have to wear... what did she put it, a blast collar?"

They all winced, again looking over the first scroll the Titan had given, detailing exactly what was entailed with said armament.

>You, me, Celestia, and Luna. We all have ta' wear it till the procedure is complete ta' her satisfaction, and iffin' her heartbeat even comes close ta' slowin' down enough that death looks likely...

'Boom.'

>Any chance she'd underestimate us and... ya' know, we make it out?

Tellingly, the former unicorn in the room winced.

"If these specs are right..."

'That would kill me, to put it bluntly, and I wouldn't come back.'

All that needed to be said, right there.

>She made... one more stipulation...

This one was the one that made her sigh in sadness, to put her head in her hooves and feel like the whole world came down on her.

>We gotta bring Fluttershy, and let her pick some o' her hair, so that...

"So that even Discord couldn't get them off, is what you're saying."

'Or transform or transport us away in time.'

>And ya' just know iffin' she's goin' ta' all the trouble, it ain't... gonna be just us, she's puttin' in the line of fire.

There were many, many, many other stipulations, of course. Plans for any sort of angle they could come at her, plans for what to do, should they try to pull another rabbit out of the hat. Ways to combat illusions, submitting to being tested to ensure they weren't changelings, she had planned this, she had thought it out, and she had made sure they weren't going to be stopped.

They would play ball, strap in, or...

>Or we just pay her and this all goes away.

Both responded with little more than pain to that. This, to put it bluntly, was a rather high thing to ask. In order to actually go through with it...

"We'd have to raise taxes to... unfortunate levels just to function, in addition to wiping out all our emergency funds. Ponies would struggle, a lot. There would be high consequences. It would be endlessly easier and cheaper if we just gave in to her demands."

'But we all know what the real problem with that is.'

They had seen it, all of them. They'd all been keeping tabs on her in one way or another, so of course they knew.

They knew full well that she had been spending less, and less, and less time at the library where she had previously practically lived in. This meant one of two things. Either A, she was spending more time with her daughter and had less for reading, or B...

"She's gotten what she wants out of the library, and is ready to make her move, and move on."

>And iffin' that's true, she ain't gonna let us stand in her way. And this would be the perfect time ta' wipe us all out and clear the field.

'Freeing her up to do whatever it is she pleases, and none of us around to stop her. This is on top of not knowing what she's even asking for, or if it will give her even more unstoppable power.'

"In short... we're essentially either banking on her word being true, that the collars come off the instant she's satisfied with my performance, and we all walk away with what we want, or..."

>...Or she gets what she wants, blows our heads off, and we all wish we had just dealt with the dang taxes. If she's goin' ta' these lengths ta' get it done, it ain't gonna be possible ta' happen iffin' it ain't Twi that does it. She's backed into a corner too.

'...but a cornered rat is the most dangerous kind, isn't it? That this seems too good to be true to us, in our situation...'

>...Or we could just shoot her, hope she dies, and hope she don't get a chance ta' stomp the damn city ta' the ground this time.

They all winced, knowing full well that Applejack was merely grumbling bitterly to herself, and didn't mean a word of it, but still...

'That would be inexcusable if we cannot prove ill intent. There is still, remote as it is, the possibility she will keep her word, and to act so violently on suspicion alone makes us worse than her.'

>Ah' know, just point'n it out. She's thought about it for us, too.

'That... is sadly, very likely.'

"So... what do you want me to do? Applejack, she went to you, so... if you think there's a chance she's telling the truth, I'll go through with it."

'TWILIGHT!'

"I will! I can't speak for you, or Applejack, or Luna of course, but I'm willing to... do whatever it is she asks. Maybe she's sick, or hurting, and needs help, and this is the only way to get it."

>Or maybe she's askin' ya' ta' unlock the limiter that keeps her from reachin' planet sized, and then we gotta fight someone the size of the moon.

That, to put it bluntly, was a scary thought indeed.

'...Applejack? I know you blame yourself for this-'

>Mah' fault we're in this mess.

'-but... whatever you choose, you have my support as well. My ponies may be unhappy, if you choose one, but my friends will be safe. Or... I'm more than willing to risk my life, if it means they can sleep and live easier. There is no risk free choice here... but we'll be with you wherever the path goes.'

"What will it be Applejack?"

What will it be...

That was the question.

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>Guard
"Changeling"
~~~

>Annnnnnd COMING AT YOU LIVE! IT'S FUZZY AND THE BUZZ!

~Fuzzy and Buzz in the morning, 97.1~
~WE GOT IT!~

"Top story today! Former senior Wonderbolts Soarin' and Fleetfoot are GOOOOONE!"

~STRIKE THREE, YER' OUTTA HERE!~

>That's right, after the telling scandal that rocked Equestria today, the last two OG Wonderbolts have been sent on their way!

"Questions abound if they will do as the previous WB senior did, and head to shinier pastures."

>Further questions, does Shining Armor take in stallions too, or will Soarin' have to put on the dress and cross his hooves he won't notice?

"OHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

~I feel pretty, oh so pretty, I feel pretty and witty and gayyyyyyyy!~

"But with this expulsion, what's next for the Bolts in Blue?"

>Besides finding someone else to fire this time?

~Toss it, anything not bolted down!~

"Sadly, Rainbow Dash could not be reached for comment, claiming no knowledge of the incident."

~I KNOW NOSHING!~

>But with that done, the future of the tenuous Bolts is up in the air. What's coming next? Well, when it happens, you'll hear it first here, on Fuzzy and the Buzz live!

~YOU WANT IT! WE GOT IT!~

"GOODNIGHT!"

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>???

All was quiet but for the whistle of the wind on the great tundra that surrounded the Crystal Empire. The white expanse of snow and ice stretching out as far as the eye could see.

Then a very large flaming arm slammed into the ground.

Things...changed. For an almost imperceptible amount of time, the world became...incorrect. Snow became blackened and charred, the ice took on a reddish hue, and it was as if gravity had thrown up its arms and stormed off, leaving ice crystals to float in the arm.

>Wait, no no no, this is wrong. I can fix it, just need to...

And then it all returned to normal, gravity came rushing back, the snow and ice melted away to steaming water, and the volcanic arm began to crack open.

>Ok, first impressions are everything, right? Right! First impressions. Don't scare, impress! It's right there in the name! Impress them first, so they won't be scared and get rid of you. Ready? Of course I'm ready. I'm very ready. I'm the definition of ready. Okay, here we go...one...two...THREE!

From within the arm erupted forth the glorious form of the beast, Lavan...

A floating mouth that appeared to be quite aflame.

>...the rest will come back. Probably. In the meantime, hello ponies!

Silence.

>...hello Gryphons!

Silence.

>...Minotaurs? Diamond dogs? Goats? Anyone?

No one.

>...ohhhh right, I'm dumb, things can't live out here, too cold. Let's see...where oh where can things live around here?

The flaming maw of the bane of reality floated up and up, gazing without eyes towards some beacon of life.

And then he saw it, encased within a bubble, far to the north.

>There we go! Okay, so let me see here, is it still technically first impressions if I already tried to impress myself once with no one around? I mean I was thoroughly impressed with my impressions but I don't want to press the issue...

Still jabbering to himself, the floating anathema to creation began making his way to the bubble.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 >Lavan
"Crystal Pony"

>Hello.

"...meep..."

>I'm Lavan.

"Meep..."

>I used to live here but then I lived in a rock for a while, a rock in space. Not a lot of fun.

"...meep..."

>...are you okay?

"...meep."

>I knee a bird that talked like that once. Well not knew, I saw one. And only for a little bit before I passed the planet. Space jail is the worst.

"P...p-p-p-p-p-"

>Oh now you're speaking like the little pig too! Terrific!

"PRINCEEEEESSSSSS!"

>...no, I'm Lavan. Oh, they're gone. Rats. Oh well, guess I'll try knocking again.

Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.

>This is working, I think.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>29
"???"
~~~~~

When the bubble appeared before him, he thought very little of it. For of course, a silver star looking bubble would be here, they're quite indigenous to the area.

When the bubble mashed beneath his hooves, yet would not pop, he thought nothing at all. Why would it pop, he thought? It is a very large bubble indeed, it would be quite hard to pop it.

When the bubble stretched, stayed in place as tall as a lamp post, twisting at the tip to look down upon him as if it searched, he did not mind. For if the bubble wished to look to him, who was he to judge? He was very nice to look at indeed.

Boing boing boing, came the sounds from the thing. Boing boing boing, it seemed to say to him. Boing boing boing, oh what words it did speak.

>Are you mine?

He knew not why he asked, and it seemed rude indeed. But he must know, for it was an important question that needed to be asked, and they would agree with him.

They who, he wasn't sure, but surely they agreed, they seemed the sort.

>Can I be with you?

Oh how rude he was being today, he must have forgotten his manners somewhere, he would have to find those later.

But the bubble didn't mind, oh no, it merely twisted ever so slightly at the tip, curved down till it touched his nose and booped him with a chittering little oh so familiar giggle.

>So I can?

It came to him, wrapped all around him, caressed him in all sorts of ways as it lifted him from the land he didn't know he had been standing on.

>How wonderful.

Into the ever shifting mass of that thing so thin and clear, he reached. With a spin subtle as the tilting of the stars, he wrapped it in his hooves.

And pulled.

>... I wonder what we will create...

The thing beneath him tore away, but he did not feel sadness. He had not lost his friend, oh no, not at all.

He had freed it.

The silver that had been contained rushed free, liquid of brilliant shine rushing out in a flow of color that seemed to sing, rather than roar as the running rapids should. It spread out, it touched it all, from the dimmest corner to the brightest star, it touched it all.

But it covered not a single thing. No... this was not some paint upon the ground, it was not some color that splashed without purpose.

This chased it all away, every shadow that threatened to conceal, every crumbling thing that held on in shame. It made it bright, whole, beautiful, where nothing was hidden and all was majestic to see.

Towers so grand that lead them to stars bubbled up for all to step upon, rivers so simple in their elegance dotted the landscape, things beyond sight rose up to form but silhouettes he could barely grasp.

It made it all, a painting of life, forged from the light he had plucked from the sky...

No, rather, that the sky had come to him, and granted.

It was his world. His world of stars...

But he was still of chitin, and black.

But what did that matter? He was as he always should be, he needed not change. The world could become beautiful... but he would always be as he should be.

"Is this what thou sees?"

The caress of the stars returned again, this time not of a sphere that granted him the light of the sky, but a mist of blue and lavender that held so much within it.

He reached out, to caress it again to create wonders more with it's embrace. Oh, what would he make today? A home for comfort? A statue to sing the praises of the majesty all around? Or perhaps he would merely mix it with what has been. Oh, what wonders he would create....

It pulled away.

"Not even in this realm... mine student."

Oh.

...Oh...

>...Tis but a dream...

Her visage emerged like a specter summoned, naught but eyes of dark in his world of light. Beautiful, haunting eyes.

But eyes he knew.

"Indeed... nothing more than the workings of thine mind."

>I see...

It tarnished it, a bit, to know that the world he had so hard created was but a figment of mind to be forgotten upon his awakening, to know that this land, in all it's beauty, was nothing.

"Indeed, tis nothing. Tis nothing but thine own expressions, and desires..."

A room. He had gone to a room, lavish and opulent in design, the thing fit for the grandest of royalty.

As he supposed was proven, by the one upon the grandiose and silken bed. Her flowing, transcendent coverings a stark contrast to her unamused frown.

"T'was really but a word that caused you to bring me here? We thought we made our stance clear."

A huff, a wave of his ebony hoof to cast away it all, and it was all away, back to the land of beauty he had created, back to the shimmering world of light and joy.

She too had come with his journey back, now in her proud, regal attire, gone away with the enticing look she had been concealed in, and gone away any downward twist of her dark lips. Instead, ever so slightly, they rose.

"Interesting, mine student. Control of thine baser instincts in this realm is rather difficult. We give thee praise, though do not let it go to thine head."

>What brings you here?... No, never mind. I shall cast you out, and return.

A placating hoof, an understanding look, these were all it took to end him before his beginning.

"Nay, mine student, we know that thee could easily be rid of us, if thou so chose. No, we are here not to be as tricksters to your dreams, but the teacher we swore to be."

>...oh?

Majestic colors filled the land before, no more mere silver of the stars. Bright, glorious things that made his eyes long to hurt gazing to them the more he watched. She changed not a thing, merely granted more.

So much more.

"Thine skills are quite advanced, for thine training at least. We believe this to be of connection to thine nature of species. Such as thee are masters of others minds, you must master thine own. Yet, very little times have we seen ones such as thee create... tis mostly of giving into desires, of joyous fun, of thrilling battles... of colored lust. This, however... this is new."

>Mine hooves cannot form the world beyond... only this one.

She smiled in mirth, bemused as he created a road. Quite the convenience for any to walk upon, and the statues alongside it would be a sight for any to see.

If any could see it.

"Thou knows very little of what thine hooves can do..."

It had not escaped her sight that the land was grand and lovingly crafted, but void of something.

Living bodies.

>Why does thou seek me, in here of all places?

"...There is a task you have been granted, no?"

He looked to her, curious, waves of uncertainty rippling down through his very being, and dulling the world beyond.

>...I do not understand.

"For now, I do not expect you to. But mine promise was to teach you, was it not? To learn to help those, who wish peace and joy."

Laughter like a light, ringing bell sang through the world, rippling it as though it was a pond.

"To this task so great, we have decided to aid thee, in the greatest way we can... thou shalt learn this, mine most cherished power."

The world became duller, and duller, and duller, until it was as if the very sun had been snuffed from the sky. The world, all of it, lifeless and dead.

"This will not be simple, and it will not be easy. This lesson, should you choose to deny, I will accept without question, and resume teaching thee as I always have. For the land of dreams is something to be treasured, and held dearly to thine heart... for this, thou will have to share it with me. Can thou do this, or shall we take our leave, and lessons begin again on the morrow?"

There was darkness.

There was cold.

There was a wind that covered around him, buffered him, protected him against her.

"...very well, if that is what thou chooses..."

She prepared to take her leave, to be off to the land above and the light it contained. She thought no less of him for his actions. She, of all beings, understood.

>Wait...

A hoof, raised.

A dark wind, chilled.

A head... raised high.

Two hooves, black, twisted, hole ridden things. Two things, ugly and broken.

Two hooves that raised, and with it... the light returned.

Colors so vivid and bright erupted and flowed, beauty of sight shimmering out as all that had been returned, and so much more with it.

But it did not return alone.

They sang, they danced, they lived in this world he had created, they loved in this place he had forged. All for them, he created endless streams of prisms to ride. All for them, he created stepping stones to take them to any place their hearts desired, and then to so much more. All for them...

All for them.

"...Thine studies have begun."

In this land of merriment, of fun and of laughter and joy so vivid and proud, she looked upon them all. To not what is... but what he hoped to create with those hooves. To what could be.

To what would become.

"...and thou have passed your very first test..."

>...I wonder what we will create...

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Non-Canon
>Pinkie
"Twilight"
~~~~
>Welcome to Late Night /pa/ with your host Pinkie Pie! It's during this time that content doesn't matter and I invade your personal space! Now for our main guest...TWILIGHT SPARKLE!!!
Applause

"Hello everypony."

>If you became so angry that you were enveloped in fire...could I stop you with a shotgun?

"...what? Stop me?"

>IT'S IMPORTANT TWI! ANSWER IT!

"I-I guess. I'd prefer it if you used water I think."

>That's all the time we have. Have a good night!

Twilight wakes up.
"...Pinkie, why are you here...with a shotgun?"

>Oh this? It's...it's for phantoms.

"...o...kay"

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 >SA
"Crystal Ponies"
'Lavan
~~~~

>Now, I know what you're all thinking. You're thinking, there's a giant flaming face outside the shield, and it's scary. I know what is in your minds right now... Sombra. Sombra, that scared you so back when he too was but a face in a cloud of evil and darkness. This must be bringing back such sights, such memories to this. But I want you to know, we're here for you. Me and Cadence both, we're here for you, will will protect you with everything we have. We are here, the Armor to shield you, and the Heart to beat so you may stay strong.... that said... will you PLEASE STOP POINTING THE DAMN ROCKET LAUNCHERS AT IT!?

"But sire-"

>But nothing! WHO GAVE CIVILIANS ROCKET LAUNCHERS?!

"We haven't shot it yet-"

>Good! That's good! That's what you're supposed to do! It's not impressive you didn't fire upon it, but technically that's what you're supposed to do! Good job for not shooting it!

"But sire, it's just... really scary."

>It's just kind of standing there-

THOOM THOOM THOOM

>-and knocking. Okay, I'll give you the knocking, that's loud.

'Hello? Can I have one of those? They look fun.'

>But that's no reason to shoot it!

"...Can't he only not enter because the shield of love rejects evil?"

>Technically it just rejects whatever it is we want it to reject... freaking still have it set to 29 somehow... but no, this is not bomb worthy.

'I think I could hold it in one of the clouds, just stick it in there. Those look interesting.'

>So we're going to stay calm, and my very capable wife... wow that sounds weird... is going to go and do what she does better than annnyyyone else, and talk to it. Okay?

"...then can we-"

>PUT THE ROCKET LAUNCHERS BACK, NOW!

"But-"

>NOOOOWWWWWW!

"..."

'Is back over here, in my hand? I'd like that, that seems fun-'

>NO!

'But I want one.'

>...

THOOM THOOM THOOM.

'I said I want one.'

>..

THOOM THOOM THOOM

'Is this thing on?'

>...I should've been a turnip farmer.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>SA
"Cadence"
'Chrysalis'
[Celestia]
{Twilight}
~AJ~
(Lavan)
~~~~

>...Huh.

"Huh."

'Huuuhhhh.'

[Hmmm.]

{Hrmmm...}

~Hrm.~

(...I'm Lavan. I used to live here but then I lived in a rock for a while, a rock in space. Not a lot of fun.)

>...I got nothing. Honey? You're good with ponies, what's the next move.

"Well... uh... What is it you want, Mister Lavan?"

(To make an impression.)

"Oh... well, you did!"

(I am bored.)

"So sorry to hear that, it can happen sometimes. We'd offer you to come in and play a game, but occasionally there is a lot of fire coming up everywhere, and we're worried."

(I turned it off.)

"...It just happened again."

(I've turned it off many times.)

"Ah. Well, see, that's the problem."

(I am bored.)

"Again, my deepest apologies, that's not fun for anyone, but-"

(To clarify, I have been in stone for so long, all I see when I still is the coldness and emptiness. I have traveled by many, many a planet, and yet never been allowed to go in, and join. Now, any still moment when nothing happens brings me back to that empty moment in time when nothing is happening, and I am merely waiting for something interesting to happen.)

"Uh-"

(The average distance between planets that have inhabitants on them is over six Quintilian kilometers. I was not traveling the speed of light. As such, I was forced to gradually wait in times of pure nothingness, no life around me for endless time that seemed to never end, nothing to be seen or done. It was a time of nothing.)

"...That sounds awful."

(Her father is a cruel thing.)

"...wait, what?"

[Wait, what!?]

(...I cannot come inside this place.)

"Well, no, like I said, you'd set fire to it. Accidentally, of course! And we understand it's probably not your fault, but-"

(It is boring to watch. I want to be inside.)

"Well, you can't?"

(...the Heart... a piece of it beats, over there... that is why I cannot go inside. It keeps me back, and will repel me. It is a piece of the heart...)

"Oh, yes! That's the Crystal Heart, the prize jewel of-"

(There is only one?)

"Well... yes! There is only one! And it's right here with-"

(But there are many cities.)

"Oh yes, many many cities all over the planet! So many sights to see-"

(They do not have the Heart.)

"...Again, no, and clearly we couldn't give it to them, we'd freeze to death. I know, I was just on about the burning, but this is also an issue-"

(Okay. Thank you, you are very interesting, and you are fun. Watching you was fun.)

"...Thanks?"

(I'm going to touch something instead now, see if that's interesting.)

"...There are a lot of ways I can take that, and none of them are pleas-HEY! Where are you going!?"

He ignored her, shuffling away into the snow, seeking out as he said, something interesting.

Something he could touch, and be a part of.

(I watched so much when I was in the rock. I want to touch this time.)

They, for once, had to be the ones who could only watch as he shuffled away, bursts of flames and the occasional distorting of gravity in his wake.

"...So, yay! I handled that one pretty well. No damages, no anger, he seems kind of unstable but he never really snapped or anything, all looks hunkey dorey!... I mean, he's walking away now, but he's stopped straining my shield, so we don't have to worry about him accidentally breaking it. Yep... this was a success!"

'...'
[...]
{...}
~...~

"What?

~The sad part is, ya' ain't wrong, this was probably best case scenario... Twilight? Trajectorfy which way he's goin' fer' me.~

{....uh...}

~Figured... so, how do we deal with him? We can't shoot 'em, he's just... putzin' around.~

[This is... a puzzler.]

>...WHAT THE FUCK WAS HE!?

"Oh, yeah, right, should probably have asked that. Whoopseedoodles!"

FACEHOOF!

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

OMAKE!
>SA
"Cadence"
'Chrysalis'
~~~

>...So where do you think he's going?

"Meh, not our problem anymore!"

>HONEY!

'HAH! ATTA GIRL!'

"What!? I'm not having my city wrecked twice in a row!"

>That's a terrible thing to say!

'HAH!'

>Oh, what're you laughing about? He's probably going to Canterlot.

'Pffft, why would I give a fuck about that shithole, when I've got...'

>...
"..."

'...MY CHANGELINGS!'

>Rulers of the Non-Equestrian peoples, everyone.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 OMAKE!
>2
"EVERYONE'
~~~

>Awwww, but I wanted to go play with him-

"NO!"

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

OMAKE!
>AJ
"Twilight"
'???'
[???]
{???}
~~~

>Twilight, ya' ain't never gonna believe what Chitania said we had ta' do...

"W-what..."

>She's still... sore at ya'll fer' the train thing, so... so....

"W-WHAT!?"

~~~~

The hours had turned to days.

"NO MORE!"

The days, into weeks.

"P-PLEASE, NO MORE!"

The weeks... something longer.

"I BEG OF YOU!"

Her brother had been stricken since it had begun, unable to watch what happened to his poor, poor sister. Her friends, unable to bear the sight any longer, had long since gone away.

"N-no more p-please..."

None could watch any longer, but the one before her.

'Take it.'

"N-noooo."

'Take it!'

"N-n-no moooorrreee!"

'Open your mouth, Twilight!'

"NO MORE PLEASE DEAR FAUST NO MORE! I'LL GIVE YOU ANYTHING YOU WANT, ANYTHING!"

'Anything?'

"ANNNYYYTHHIIIIHIHINNGG!... J-just please... please..."

'...I want... you to OPEN YOUR MOUTH!'

"NOOOOOO-UFM!"

'Take it all!'

"RMMMHMHM! MMMM! NMMMNNMMMM!"

'ALL OF IT, TWILIGHT!'

"UGHUH! UGHUH! HRRKKKRRK!"

'Don't you dare throw it up, don't you DARE THROW IT UP!... Thaaaat's it.'

"..."

'Swallow it, every bit.'

"...Remmmme..."

'...It's done. Ohhh, so done... Did you enjoy it?'

"...N-noooo..."

'No? Oh, dear... what was wrong?'

"S-so thick... it.. it hurts... so thick..."

'Oh dear, that's a shame... Chitania! She said you went too thick on the cake!'

[FUCKING DAMN IT, I knew it! I fucking knew it!]

{Calm down, mom, we'll get it right in time.}

[The mother-daughter bake off is next week! We've got to kick it into high gear! Okay, this one is a devil-cream cake-]

'Ooooo~!'

[None for you!]

'STOP BEING SO CRUEL AND MAKING ME WATCH SOMEONE ELSE EAT CAKE!'

[This is my terms, Celestia! THIS IS MY TERMS!...Now, be critical with this! We've got a week left and we're going to use every single day, Twilight!]

"...I want to die."

'Say ahhhhhh~!'

"NOOOOOOO-UMF!"

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________