Feared Love United: Chapter 01/Northfire
A red Unicorn with a white mane with orange tips, and heavily burdened winter supplies stepped off the train in Ponyville. He looked around a moment to gain his bearings and then dashed off.
He galloped into Twilight Castle's ante-chambre and moved straight to the nearest Royal Guardspony. He shook his hood off of his head and pulled a scroll from his saddlebag. He showed the scroll to the guard, he clearly saw the clawsmark in the wax, and then looked back into his face. "I have!" the Unicorn gasped, and paused for breath. "I have an urgent message for Friendship and her supporters."
"If it is urgent, then shouldn't the Princess be sufficient?" Eventide asked.
"Baron Spike gave strict instructions to only tell all six." the Unicorn replied. "Please summon them, post-haste."
Eventide looked at him, and then over to the Earth Pony on the other side of the entrance. He then looked back to the Unicorn. He nodded, and ran out of the castle. The Unicorn then strolled over beside the Earth Pony, in heavy mail barding. "I did not know they allowed Earth Ponies into the Royal Guard."
"They do not." the Earth Pony replied, "Does my armour look like Royal Guard plate?"
"No, it doesn't." the Unicorn stated. "I have been out of touch for some time, but I thought all guards at Twilight Castle were royal Guard."
"Until me, they were." the Earth Pony answered. "I guess Tournesol saw something in me he liked."
"Well, congratulations. I am Halfire, Equipologist at Canterlot University."
"Woodlight." the Earth Pony replied.
"If it were not so urgent, I would love to hear your story, Woodlight." Halfire said to him.
"I would rather you wait until I had one." Woodlight replied.
"Fair enough." Halfire stated, and politely turned half away. He then turned to the entrance. After a moment he turned back to Woodlight. "Um, how long do you think they will be?"
"I'd say an hour, unless they are all in the same location." Woodlight answered. "I believe Rarity and Fluttershy are having their weekly day at the spa, so that will hopefully shave some time off of it. Tournesol will take you to the hall, as soon as he arrives."
Princess Twilight walked into the hall and up to the table, Badb a moment behind her. "Let's get down to it."
"Your Highness." Halfire replied. "We can probably fill in the details of my journey on the way, but the short vesion is that I am Halfire, Equipologist at..."
"Enough already!" Rainbow Dash shouted with an excited Sprite beside her.
"Ah, yes, Loyalty." Halfire stated, "Very well. North, 'tween - Crystal Empire - Yakyakistan. Snow Wraiths. Spike fighting. Can defend - not attack. Help - request - urgent."
"There's no need to be insulting..." Applejack tried to say.
"We've got to save Spike!" Rainbow Dash screamed.
"It seems to have worked." Twilight added.
"But why did he need everyone?" Pinkie Pie asked, "Was he planning a party?"
"Put the cannon away..." Applejack said to her.
"But..." Pinkie Pie tried to say.
"Pinkie!" Rarity exclaimed, "This is Spikey-Wikey we are talking about!"
"I think you can put the party cannon away." Twilight added.
"He wanted you all here..." Halfire stated, "because felt that if you were not, the first to learn of it would..." He paused and looked at Rainbow Dash, who was trying her best to fly away, only to be held in place by Twilight's violet magic. Halfire coughed, and Rainbow Dash gave up her struggle, turning to everyone present.
"But, Spike!" Rainbow Dash tried to say.
"I think what he's saying, sugar," Applejack interjected, "that if he told just one of us, they might be inclined to dash off on their own tryin' to cause all kinds of problems."
"I wasn't..." Rainbow Dash tried to say. "Oh, yeah, wait, I was."
"You could make it there in time," Halfire said, and Rainbow Dash once against tried to make a break for it, only to be held in place once again, "BUT!" Halfire shouted, "not with the survival equipment Spike has prepared for you in the Crystal Empire. The Nothern wastes are vast and unyielding."
"I don't know what the meaning of the word is." Rainbow Dash excited said to him, but paused, as he simply looked at her in reply.
"He's wondering..." Twilight quietly stated, "if you're actually being serious..."
"I... wasn't!.." Rainbow Dash tried to say.
"I..." Fluttershy voiced, and the group quickly silenced, "I... think... he's just... he's trying to say... make sure... we leave together..."
"Well, what are we waiting for?!" Rainbow Dash shouted.
"Good question." Halfire replied. He used his magics to pull the scroll out of his saddlebag and hand it to Twilight, who quickly unfurled it.
"That's what the message says." Twilight replied. "Is everyone ready?" Twilight asked.
"Anything for Spikey-Wikey!" Rarity exclaimed.
"Twilight?" Rainbow Dash quietly asked, "Can you... let me go now?.."
"Are you going anywhere other than the train station?" Twilight asked.
"I've gotta say goodbye to Scootaloo." Rainbow Dash replied, "And... Tank would be upset... if I didn't... say goodbye to him..."
"Everypony meet at the train station in an hour." Twilight said to them.
Halfire adjusted his neck kerchief as he waited at the train station. Unsurprisingly it was Rainbow Dash who arrived first, and made it seem a loathesome chore to simply land and wait.
"Can't I just fly ahead?" Rainbow Dash nervously asked.
"And where would you go?" Halfire dryly asked.
"Uh... well... you could just tell me... couldn't you?.." she asked.
Halfire sighed as he paused for thought.
"Do I look like a Pegasus?" he asked.
"Well, no..." Rainbow Dash replied.
"Do I look like a Wonderbolt?" he continued.
"No..." Rainbow Dash quietly added.
"I'm not even soldier." Halfire replied. "I found the village by taking a number of folk legends, both Equestrian and Yakyakistani, and rubbing them together as you would to start a fire."
"Oh." Rainbow Dash stated, "So, you couldn't just direct me?" she asked.
"No." Halfire quietly stated.
"So, how did Spike find it?" she asked.
"From what I've found, Dragons seem to have a... well... it cannot be described in any other way... but a sense of the exciting."
"You're saying Dragons have an exciting sense?" Rainbow Dash asked. "That's actually pretty awesome. More like totally awesome. Super fantastically amazingly awesome. What?.." Rainbow Dash asked.
"I am just marveling at your unique dialect." Halfire replied.
"What does that mean?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Your unique way of speaking." Halfire said to her. "Tell me. Loyalty, where is it that you were foaled. Where did you grow up?"
"Uh, well, I was born in Cloudsdale, but I guess I grew up right here in Ponyville."
"Facinating." Halfire replied, "I have not seen others in Ponyville share in your unique dialect. It means it must come from Cloudsdale, or maybe a product of the transition."
"What did you say you were again?" Rainbow Dash asked, "Equipony, or something?"
"Equipologist." Halfire replied, "I study Ponies."
"Like a doctor, or something?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"While I do have a doctorate," Halfire replied, "I study Pony societies."
"Like what?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Like you." Halfire replied.
"Why me?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Why do you live in Ponyville and not Cloudsdale?" Halfire asked, "Why do you stay in Ponyville? Why is your dialect so unique? How did you meet Princess Twilight?.."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Rainbow Dash replied, "You don't expect me to answer all of these, do you?" she asked.
"Expect, no." Halfire replied. "I would be delighted if you would. Every Pony has a unique story. Your story is as interesting as any other."
"And what do I get from telling you my story?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Well, it will likely make the trip pass far more quickly."
"No way." Rainbow Dash replied.
"Way. Mental activity makes time seem to fly as fast as you do." Halfire replied.
"Rainbow Dash." Applejack shouted as she approached the pair. "I hope you aren't harassing the Equipolo-somethin'."
"We are simply having delightful conversation." Halfire replied.
"Then why is she actin' so uppity and all?" Applejack asked.
"Supposition." Halfire said to her, "She is always, to quote you, Uppity. She is always engaged, and ready at a moment's notice. It is admirable."
"It is?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Of course it is." Halfire replied.
"I just kind of figured, what with the neck kerchief and all, that you would me more at home among Twilight's dusty old books."
"Both tell Ponyish stories." Halfire replied. "It is easy to become enthralled with them."
"En-whated?" Applejack asked.
"In this context, engaged." Halfire said to the pair.
"You're saying we're engaged?" Rainbow Dash asked him.
"I..." Halfire made to say, but then paused, "I honestly have no way to reply to that. I am honestly at a loss. You are so charming."
"I am?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"She is?" Applejack added.
"I do enjoy a good flummoxing."
"Flummo-what?" Applejack asked.
"Okay." Rainbow Dash replied, "You made that word up."
Halfire smiled at her and used his orangish magics to pull a book from his saddlebag. He clearly showed them the title, "Dictionary." He then turned the book back around, flittering through the pages until he got where he wanted. He then turned the open page to Rainbow Dash. "F-L-U-M." he stated.
"Flum... flummox." Rainbow Dash read, "Perplex somepony. Greatly bewilder. I bewildered you?" Rainbow Dash asked him.
"Oh, quite." Halfire smiled. "It is almost as if a felonious feline hast stolen my tongue."
"Felaciacious whatus?" Rainbow Dash asked.
Applejack sighed. "Felonious comes from felon, I think. And feline means cat. Right?"
"Indeed." Halfire said with a smile. "Now, before I become too enraptured to think properly, will your shadow counterparts be joining us?"
"The?.." Rainbow Dash asked, "The Changelings?" and Halfire nodded.
"They're probably helping Rarity with her luggage." Applejack added.
"Ah, yes, that was expected." Halfire said to them.
"You don't think it's a bit much to carry on such a peri-whatsit journey?" Applejack asked.
"I believe that the train would be the best place to talk about it." Halfire added. "We will be able to fully converse..."
Rainbow Dash looked at Applejack.
"Speak." Applejack stated.
"On the train." Halfire added.
"How can you be so calm about this?" Rainbow Dash asked him.
"Because of how charming you are." Halfire said to her.
"I've got to be honest here." Applejack stated.
"Honesty always is." Halfire said with a smirk.
"He does really seem to like you." Applejack said to Rainbow Dash.
"But, why?" Rainbow Dash added. "Eggheads always think I'm going to attack them, or something."
"Those who misunderstand your exhuberance would." Halfire replied.
"Am I going to have to learn a lot of new words on this trip?" Rainbow Dash asked, and sat down on the platform.
"Have-to, no." Halfire said to her, "But I wouldn't be surprised if you did."
Applejack followed his gaze past them and turned to the remainder arriving, all Ponies, Changelings, and Rarity's expectedly exhuberant luggage.
"It can't have been an hour already, can it?" Rainbow Dash asked. She looked at Halfire, who simply smiled back at her.
Halfire stood to address all of the Ponies and Changelings in the royal train car. "Now that we have settled in, Lady Rarity?"
"Yes?" she asked him.
"Hey!" Rainbow Dash shouted, "How come I only got Loyalty. You didn't even call me by my name?!"
"Because," Halfire quietly said to her, "you consider formalities are a form of lying. No?"
"Well, I guess." Rainbow Dash replied.
"How long did you know Spike?" Princess Twilight asked. "You..."
"He seems to know us better than we know ourselves." Applejack interjected.
"Twilight." Rarity accosted. "Applejack!"
"To answer the questions," Halfire said to them, "only a few days, but I would not be an equipologist if i did not take the opportunity to ask about the most famous and fabulous mares in all of Equestria."
"Ooh! Ooh!" Pinkie Pie shouted.
"Ms. Pinkamena." Halfire said to her.
"Yes?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"You... had a question?.." Halfire said to her.
"You're the one who called me, silly."
"Uh. Um. Yes..." Halfire said to her, and then looked back at Rarity. "Lady Rarity, Baron Spike certainly loves you when you're beautiful, and so has prepared a list of appropriate accoutrement for the journey."
"Does Spike really think he can..." Twilight yammered, interupted by Rarity's scream of delight.
"This - is - perfect!"
"I stand corrected." Twilight added.
"The Baron has prepared a suite at the Crystal Palace to store the remainder of your gear. Porters have already been prepared for when we arrive. After this, there is the matter of the Changelings, but Baron Spike would rather leave this in Her Royal Highness' hooves."
"Just remember, everypony, that the Crystal Empire is not Ponyville." Twilight said to the group.
"They are going to be afraid of us." Badb added.
"The Baron's own companion has... somewhat... paved the way..." Halfire stated, "but..."
"Everyone, please," Twilight said to them, "try not to spook anypony."
Pinkie Pie reached behind her and slowly pulled out her cannon.
"No!" Twilight said to her, "Bad Pinkie Pie. No cannons."
"But..." Pinkie tried to say.
"At least until we leave the Crystal Empire." Halfire stated.
"Okie-Dokie-Lokie!" Pinkie shouted.
"And, please try to stay visible." Twilight added. "If you hide, they will only be more afraid."
"Very well said." Badb added, moving up behind her mistress.
"And," Halfire added, "the Changelings should probably stay with their mistresses."
"Of course." Badb added.
"Pinkie's hugs could find me anywhere." Aderyn said to the group.
"Why would I go anywhere without Mistress Rarity?" Áine added.
"Someone has to watch over Fluttershy." Carys stated.
"I... will be..." Fluttershy tried to say, "I... won't..." She then looked at Carys who moved over to embrace her.
"The train," Halfire stated, "will arrive first thing in the morning. We will all need our strength so please try to go to bed early."
"Why?.." Rainbow Dash asked, "is he... looking at me?"
"Probably your exhuberance." Applejack chided.