Feared Love United: Chapter 07/Sunset

Twilight, Badb in tow, flew out of the great tent. The crisp, cool air of the northern mountains was clearing her head from what had just transpired. It was good to see them finally speaking... not just speaking... they blew passed speaking and went right into instant marriage... Twilight would be the first to admit she does not fully understand pony courtship, but... she was dumbstruck... awestruck over it... She felt an odd surge of... daylight... was the only way to describe it. She flew up into the air and landed where she found it coming from. It was Doctor Halfire and Rainbow Dash seated around a table. "What do we have here?" Twilight asked.

"Tea." Halfire replied. "Would you care to join us?"

"Us?" Twilight asked.

"I wouldn't want to presume." Halfire stated, "Rainbow Dash doesn't have a problem with it?" he asked the Pegasus.

"Oh, nah, Twilight's awesome." Rainbow Dash stated, "Just don't start tryin' to out-egghead each other."

"You have my word." Halfire stated, and with his magic pulled out chairs for Twilight and Badb. As Twilight moved to sit down, she felt warmth as if Halfire were a burning hearth.

"I forgot how warm you are." Twilight voiced.

"Loyalty here refuses to dress appropriate to the weather." Halfire stated.

"Sweaters aren't exactly aerodynamic." Rainbow Dash stated.

"Which I have acknowledged as a valid critism." Halfire stated. "Hence the warmth."

"It is quite nice." Badb added.

"I'm just surprised you managed to get Rainbow Dash to sit still." Twilight stated.

"I know!" Rainbow Dash shouted, to which Halfire coughed. "Sorry." Rainbow Dash said to him.

"No need to apologize." Halfire stated. "I find your enthusiasm exhilarating."

"I'm learnin' all kinds of egghead words." Rainbow Dash said excitedly.

"After all the years I've tried to teach you?!" Twilight asked her.

"Ah, that's the sticky wicket, it would seem." Halfire stated.

"I don't even know what a wicket is!" Rainbow Dash stated, "And I think I understood him!"

"Yes, well," Halfire stated, "Ponies only learn what they are interested in, which your attempts to engender her into the history of the Wonderbolts has proven."

"True." Twilight said. "I take it you two have been talking?" she asked.

"She has some of the most fascinating stories." Halfire stated, drinking his tea. "And gives them the most excited delivery. I have enjoyed the..." he voiced, drawing a watch from under his cloak to check the time. "My - dearest - Celestia!"

"What?!" Rainbow Dash asked.

"We have been here..." Halfire nervously voiced, "for far longer than I had expected... Time flies when you are having fun?" he voiced.

"It was fun!" Rainbow Dash shouted.

"How long have you been talking?" Twilight Sparkle asked.

"I would not be a gentlecolt to tell." Halfire stated.

"You do realize I left Canterlot to get away from that overly formal atmosphere, right?" Twilight asked.

"A gentlepony is a gentlepony, even when he is not forced to be." Halfire stated.

"Translation!" Rainbow Dash shouted, doing a little seated dance, "He ain't doing it for you! He's just that rad!"

"Indeed." Halfire added.

"I have to admit I am suspicious?" Twilight said, glowering at Halfire.

"I would myself, if it did not happen." Halfire said with a smile. "She is a darling little filly."

With this Twilight looked at Rainbow Dash, but she either did not hear, or somehow it did not strike a negative chord with her. Twilight moved her head closer and closer to Halfire, staring him in his eyes. "I swear you're a Changeling."

"Twilight!" Rainbow Dash admonished.

"No, no." Halfire calmly voiced, "It is entirely logical for her to be suspicious of my intentions."

"But Spike vouched for him..." Rainbow Dash added.

"I do not know what you have or have not said to Baron Spike," Halfire stated, "but from what I have observed, his Lordship has done no such thing."

"But he..." Rainbow Dash said, sinking deep in thought.

"But to clear up this misunderstanding." Halfire continued, "Or maybe I should say suspicion, you could always ask his Lordship."

"He's busy." Twilight said with a furled brow.

"That's putting it midly." Badb added, "I am curious." Twilight looked at her as she looked at Halfire but said nothing.

"Ask away." Halfire replied.

"Why is he always so formal with Baron Spike?" Badb asked. "Even if we go by court ranks, Mistress, you certainly out rank him."

"It is quite simple." Halfire stated, "On our introduction, Her Majestic Highness, Twilight Sparkle has always deflected formality."

"True." Twilight stated, looking between the two.

"Second, Baron Spike has not." Halfire added.

"Okay, I'm calling shenanigans on that one." Rainbow Dash added.

"Is shenanigans even a word?" Twilight asked.

"The short version is yes." Halfire said, "though I certainly understand why you would be suspicious."

"Of Twilight or the shenanigans?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Both, of course." Halfire replied, looking back to Princess Twilight and Badb, and then back to Rainbow Dash before continuing. "Spike rejects over formality, but I guess I have rarely offered such formality to him. Curious."

"Who?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Myself, of course." Halfire replied, "Well, and you, and Princess Twilight... and all of her friendship supporters... and Baron Spike... and the Changelings... and..." he said, but stopped himself. "In summary, I have been formal but less formal with him, and he has accepted it. Third, and perhaps most importantly, I feel... a better Pony... around him. He makes me feel as if my contributions to the world matter, as if myself mattered... It is invigorating... almost as invigorating as Rainbow Dash."

With this Twilight's eyes grew wide, and she looked about nervously. "Professor Halfire, can I speak to you alone for a moment?"

"Of course." Halfire stated, and then turned to Rainbow Dash. "I must confess, though, before Loyalty flitters away, that I have had an alterior motive to our talks."

"A what now?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"By spending your time with me, you have not been exerting yourself." Halfire stated, "Now, with a bit of rest, you can guard the night with Baron Spike. He did expect your exhuberance to get the better of you for a few days, yet."

"You what?!" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Are you mad?" Sprite asked her, and Rainbow Dash paused.

"I... honestly don't know..." she stated.

"Do not think for a moment that I did not enjoy our time together." Halfire said to her. "It has honestly been the time of my life."

"You're going to make me blush..." Rainbow Dash shyly said, her head flittering around.

"Good." Halfire said with a smile.

"I'll... I'll... I'll..." Rainbow Dash stated, "I'll go check the walls... make sure everyone's okay... then... then we... we can sleep..." With this the two quickly flew out of their seats and were gone in a split second.

"Darling, isn't she?" Halfire said with a bright smile, so bright he was practically beaming.

"You can't be?.." Twilight asked him.

"I am afraid that I am..." an elated Halfire said, sitting back in his seat. "She is quite unlike any I have known... and that includes other Wonderbolts..."

"Aren't you afraid of her?.." Twilight asked him.

"Afraid?," he asked, "No."

"Intimidated?" Badb asked.

"I do not see why that would stop me." Halfire stated.

"She has a tendancy to scare stallions away..." Twilight quietly voiced.

"I can see why," Halfire said to her, "but do not mistake my meaning. I see why, but do not understand it."

"You are the most interesting Pony I have ever met." Twilight quietly said.

"And that is perhaps the first time anyone has said that to me," Halfire said with a smile, "and from a Princess, no less. Could I quote you on that?"

"What, why?" Twilight asked him.

"I honestly do not know, other than I want to get it signed and engraved..." Halfire voiced. "But perhaps that is too much of an indulgence? Ask any question you would have of me; my time is yours."

Twilight tapped her hoof on the table for a few moments as she though. "She could knock you over!"

"Makes her even more enticing." Halfire stated. "How to explain this?.." Halfire asked himself, "Ah, yes, firearms. Something we have been working on under Baron Spike. We use a metal tube to compress alchemical fire and use the explosion to launch a metal shot."

"That sound dangerous." Twilight replied.

"It is..." Halfire stated, "but once we worked out the mechanical issues, it is only dangerous in the direction it is pointed."

"And the point of this... is?.." Twilight asked him.

"Ah, yes, of course." Halfire said to her, "Rainbow Dash is that explosion. Should I ever give her reason to direct that explosion towards myself, I would mayhap have something to fear... but I have no intention of doing so, and I... know... I guess is the best way to say it. I hate a priori philosophy with a firey passion, but with Rainbow Dash I know, by her demeanour, by every little thing she does, that she would NEVER wish me harm. I will instead have to chock it down to ponywatching in my experience as an equipologist."

"I honestly do not know what to say." Twilight said to him.

"I would love to have your support, but indifference would still suit me." Halfire stated. "There is one thing we could do. Badb, you would never lie to your mistress, correct?"

"Correct." Badb stated.

"Good, good, one of the major rules of the compact." Halfire voiced, "Now, tell your mistress, am I a Changeling?"

"No." Badb simply stated.

Halfire looked to Twilight, who still seemed uncertain. "I do not know how else I could prove it to you.." Halfire stated, "If there is a conclusive test, I will certainly take it."

"The conclusive test is... intense..." Twilight said to him.

"I stand by my words." Halfire stated.

"Perhaps, Mistress," Badb stated, "we should advise Rainbow Dash to ignore the screaming."

With this Halfire's eyes grew wide, but he did not falter. "I am a Pony of my words."

"The long and the short of it, Professor Halfire, is that Changelings cannot maintain their form when... stressed..."


Twilight stepped into the great tent followed by Badb, and the two walked over to Rarity's smaller, but still palatial one.

"Is he all right?" Rainbow Dash asked her.

"Surprisingly, yes." Twilight replied. At this point Halfire's magic grabbed the flap to the great tent and opened it just enough for him to shuffle into it. As soon as he was inside he dropped the flap and it struck him in his rear, momentarily waking him. He continued to shuffle inside as Rainbow Dash flew up to him.

"You are one tough little egghead!" she exclaimed.

"Th... thank you..." he said to her, as cordially as he could manage. The two held up their hooves at the same time to brohoof. "Dude, I never thought I'd like an egghead like this..."

Halfire looked at her for a moment.

"No offence..." she voiced.

"That was not my concern." Halfire stated, "You... already... have one?.."

"Yeah, but what are the odds for two?!" Rainbow Dash asked.

Once again Halfire paused. "You have told me of your adventures with A.K. Yearling, perhaps the most famous contemporary young adult author?"

"What are you sayin'?" Rainbow Dash asked him.

"Emprically," Halfire stated, "you seem highly endearing to egg heads."

"Then why do the hoity-toities always hate me." Rainbow Dash voiced, "Annoying haters."

"Many make that mistake." Halfire stated, "Egg heads, as you term us, are not the hoity-toities. Not all Unicorns are upper class. Most of us have to eek out a living on our own merits."

"Oooh!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, "I get it! So that's why I've always gotten along with Twilight!"

"A decent supposition..." Halfire voiced.

"Mistress?" Sprite asked her.

"Huh?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Maybe he would like to rest." Sprite continued.

"Oh, yeah. hehehe... You are one tough egghead." Raindow Dash said, before she and Sprite disappeared in the blink of an eye.

"Such a charming mare..." Halfire voiced to himself as he shuffled along.

Having deposited his equipment with his colleagues, and undressed, Halfire shuffled his way along. A moment later Rainbow Dash appeared above him, "Need help there, Doc?"

"Doc?" he asked, as he came to a stop.

"You are a Doc, aren't you?" she asked.

"Well, yes... I am..." he voiced.

"You don't like Doc?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Normally, I do not mind it, but with you I will admit I have alterior motives..." Halfire stated.

"You just want to get with me..." Rainbow Dash snickered, but Halfire could say nothing. "Wait, what, no, serious?" Again, Halfire said nothing. "Why me?"

"Because you are charming, energetic, and endearing..." Halfire stated.

"You didn't think we would..." Rainbow Dash quietly said.

"No..." he said and with a quivering silence, bowed his head. "I did not think you would find anything of value in a dottering old fool like me..."

"You are not that old..." Rainbow Dash said to him.

"Hearing that warms my heart..." Halfire half voiced.

"And why are you a fool?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Because I spend my life finding obscure civilizations to investigate?" Halfire asked her.

"That just makes you like Daring Do." Rainbow Dash stated, "And I know Daring Do..."

"You do, don't you?.." Halfire voiced. "I had not considered that..."

"You consider," she said, mimicking his voice, "everything, don't you, egghead?"

"I try..." he quietly voiced. "If the offer is still on the table, I could use aid to get to the hotsprings..."

"Alright." Rainbow Dash said as she landed, putting her right wing underneath him to help support him. "You are one tough egg head."

"Thank you..." Halfire quietly stated.

"Why do egg heads go gaga for me?" Rainbow Dash asked him.

"I can only speak through personal experience..." Halfire quitely replied. "I can only hope you enjoy spending time with me as much as I do with you."

"You are pretty cool for an egghead." Rainbow Dash added, "Most eggheads always want to slow me down..."

"I would not even consider it..." Halfire said to her, "It is perhaps your most endearing quality."

"Alright, we're here." Rainbow Dash said, slowly pulling her wing down as he began to support himself, "You good, Doc?" she asked him.

"After a good soak, I will be wonderful..." Halfire replied.

"Then see ya!" Rainbow Dash shouted, as she flew away.

"Doc?" Fluttershy asked from the hot spring.

Halfire slowly slipped inside before replying, "I am a Doctor of Equipology, though I believe your question is about why she called me Doc. For that, I cannot say. But Miss Fluttershy, would you mind if I pick your brains?"

"I... I suppose..." she stated.

"You grew up in Cloudsdale, correct?" Halfire asked.

"Yes..." she squeaked.

"Hm..." he voiced. He would have to be as careful as he expected. From what he had learned, she did not have a good experience in Cloudsdale. "Did you leave for Ponyville with Rainbow Dash?' he asked.

"No..." she squeaked.

"You left before?," he asked, "while Rainbow Dash was still in flight school?"

With this Fluttershy nodded.

"You fell in love with the animals." Halfire asked.

"Oh, yes!" Fluttershy exclaimed.

"And you currently run an animal rescue, correct?" Halfire asked.

"I get to help all the little animals!" Fluttershy nearly shouted with glee.

"Which apparently includes bears?" Halfire asked.

"They are quite cuddly." Fluttershy said with a bright smile.

"And how about your adventures with Twilight?" Halfire asked.

"I... I just help... the way I can..." Fluttershy voiced.

"Which involves befriending a manticore instead of fighting it?" Halfire asked.

"Oh!" Fluttershy exclaimed, "He was just a little cranky because he had a thorn in his paw!"

"And, I am curious, how did you know he had a thorn in his paw?" Halfire asked her.

"I..." Fluttershy voiced, "I... don't know..."

"You just... sensed?" Halfire asked, and Fluttershy nodded. "You knew something was wrong with him, and worked to find out what it was?" Again Fluttershy nodded. "I am curious, empathy with animals has always been considered an Earth Pony trait. Do you have any Earth Pony in your family tree?"

"I... I don't know..." she peeped.

This might very well be all he could get from Fluttershy about herself. He would have to change tactics. "Tell me about the animals at your rescue."