Few things to mention. It seems like I'm going out of order now, and not fully going along with the Canon storyline. This is intentional.
The Grand Galloping Gala is MUCH later than in Canon, thanks to Celestia postponing it, sending the invites three months in advance. It's being held in November, after Nightmare Night. There are many reasons for this.
Also, the song in this one is Red Like Roses Complete. The afterlink for the music is a YT link:
com/watch?v=1iSTJYIXYao
It's on YouTube, so when it starts, play it on another tab if you'd like to hear it. As for the singing:
This is Octavia Melody.
This is Vinyl Scratch.
This is Shadow Blaze
Hope you enjoy!
Okay, here goes.
Chapter 10
It's been a few weeks since Vinyl revealed that she knew Sky Dancer. It's also been surprisingly quiet. Zecora comes into town, no muss, no fuss. The town knows that she's not that much of a threat unless we make her one.
We also managed to avoid the whole Pinkie Sense episode, thankfully. It was closing in on Nightmare Night, and Luna was getting ready.
Honestly? So was I.
No one had seen the two of us all day, especially since we had been in the Everfree Forest since about Midnight Last night.
Everyone was getting into the Nightmare Night Spirit, dressing up, preparing candy, and then some. Even Zecora was in town, helping out.
Twilight was the only one worried about me. Rarity and Fluttershy were only half worried about Luna, thinking she was with me. "Are you ready Luna?"
"Indeed, Shadow Blaze. Are you?" She asked.
"We spent the last week practicing. I'm more than ready." What were we practicing, you may ask? The Dark Separation Spell. It works, just like I intended it to. What does it do?
The name implies the first point: it separates the Darkness in your Heart, and gives it form. They're an Astral Sub-type being, since they're physical, but they have several qualities of Ethereal creatures. The Intangibility, for one.
We can use them as Scouts, and to thin out the ranks of a legion. In warfare, this spell will come in handy. Want to take a Fort? Send in the Darkness, and have it charge through the wall, and take out anything in its path. It has all the same abilities you do when it's made, but has no compulsions to spare anyone, or anything.
Thing is, if you want them alive, not in your mind, but in your heart, then they will strike to protect that being. They are just your Dark thoughts and abilities personified. They're still you, just... Darker. Less merciful, too.
Beyond that, this is actually the first test run in an actual scenario. We've both managed to use it when we're alone. Luna has fully recovered magically, and so she tested it. We both closed our eyes and focused.
I had a pretty good idea as to what she focused on for hers to work. What did I focus on?
My past. Growing up, pulling away from my family.
Rejecting any hint of friendship in Middle School, while outwardly showing nothing.
Anger at myself, for not being good enough.
Helpless to help those that I wanted to, simply because I was scared.
Fear, because I couldn't consciously trust anyone, even though there were others.
The taunts. Why couldn't I be normal?
The names. Crazy retard.
The insults. He's just special.
With each thought, each memory, a dark haze surrounded me, and flew off, forming a humanoid shape.
As I opened my eyes, I looked at it. It definitely looked human, from a distance. Up close it was the shape, and nothing else.
It was made of a Dark Purple, almost black, mist that looked mostly solid. The eyes were a Blood red, and had no pupil. Then it grinned.
I could see all sorts of things in that grin. Most of them worried me. Some of them didn't. It looked at Luna, raised a non-existent eyebrow, before turning his gaze to the newly formed Nightmare Moon. "So, you have brought me to the surface once again." Luna's eyes shot open and stared at her. "What possible reason could you-" She was cut off by a left cross from my Dark Clone.
Luna stared at them, before looking at me in shock. "Why?"
"I... don't think that he's happy about what she did to Fluttershy all those months ago."
"I thought you had forgiven me."
"You? Yes. Her? Not so much." Luna was slightly confused, and it was obvious. "Luna, I consider you and Nimmy over there two separate beings, even though the two of you come from the same heart. She is a part of you, but she is her own being. This is a concept that I understand, very easily, in fact." Nightmare just got sent through a few trees. That's got to hurt.
"Ouch." Luna winced as Nightmare hit a cliffside. No kidding.
"Like I said, I forgave you. I couldn't say I forgave Nimmy, though. This... more or less proves that I haven't." I sighed. "Sadly, where I'm from, I'm pretty well known to hold grudges. One in particular, was held for over a decade."
"And you're a therapist, why?" Luna asked, as my Darkness beat the shit out of Nimmy.
"Probably because I understand things easier than most. I've been in the same mindset as those I work with, sometimes farther, others nowhere near. Even in the situations that I haven't been in myself, I know enough to make the connections to something I have been in, and can put myself in the right scenario in my mind. I put myself in that situation, emotions and all, and figure out what is the option. Watching those scenarios from a third person point of view helps a lot, but it doesn't always get the amount of emotions right." I winced. "Okay, I may not be an Alicorn, or a Unicorn, but I really don't think the horn is meant to bend like that."
Nightmare Moon's horn is currently bent at a 90 degree angle, about halfway down, pointing towards the nose. "It's not." Luna's voice told me she was remembering that happening. "And take it from me, that hurts."
"Sounds like a story you didn't put in your diaries."
"For good reason." Luna winced. "Let's just say Sombra wasn't exactly... gentle."
I glanced at her. "Sombra did that to you?" She didn't respond. "Sorry. Do I even want to know how?"
"Even if I knew, I wouldn't tell you." Luna replied. "Tia was... not entirely lucid at that point, and I managed to fix it. Nightmare Moon, apparently, doesn't remember what I did."
"Or Darkie over there isn't giving her the chance." I glanced at the two fighters, who seemed to be flying off. "Come on, let's follow them."
"We'll need to be able to recall them." Luna agreed, as we took off into the air after them. Wait, they're heading for Ponyville.
Well, this should be interesting. "Luna, Cloak! Watch and wait!" I shouted.
I felt a mental link form. "Why? They're heading for Ponyville!"
"Because we're going to give a Nightmare Night show, starring Nightmare Moon and my Darkness. Then the two of us taking them out." I felt the smirk, more than saw, since Luna was slightly behind me.
"Are you certain things will be fine?"
"My Darkness will keep Fluttershy out of the way, at the very least, and that's if she doesn't realize what's going on." I answered.
Now cloaked, Luna and I took a spot over the town, as Darkie slammed Nightmare Moon into the center of town square. It's echoed voice sent chills down the spine of everypony there as they watched. "Did you think you could return to wreck havoc once more?"
"You are nothing!" Nightmare retorted, now standing up, and glaring at Darkie. "I shall kill you, and then plunge this world into Eternal Night!"
"You've tried every year, and still you fail! Why do you keep trying this pointless endeavor?!" Darkie retorted. Huh. That's a good question. Why did she do that?
"I will not stop until my Night is loved more than the Day!" Nimmy returned.
I looked at where Luna was. I could still sense her. "Luna, time to improvise."
I sent her a plan over the link, to which she agreed. Luna went up high, and then came back down on top of Nightmare Moon.
The crunch of bone was unexpected, but then I detected the illusion. Subtle. Very good, Luna. "I prevented your return for so long until you managed to get past me. No matter how many times you come back, I will always stop you. Nightmare Moon, you will never bring Eternal Night so long as I will it." Luna commanded, her right front hoof on Nimmy's neck.
"Have you forgotten what they've done?" Nightmare Moon croaked out.
"No, and I never will forget." Luna answered. "However, what you have been trying all these thousand years, and even before then, is worse than what they did. You have become the very thing you despise."
"This isn't over, Luna. I will return. And you will not stop me again." Nightmare Moon dissolved into a Black mist, before dissolving. Luna turned to Darkie. "Thank you, friend, for holding her back until I arrived."
"Think nothing of it, My Lady." Darkie bowed slightly. Huh. I guess my Darkness worships her. "She is little more than a menace, though stronger than the last few years. This is the first time she has ever truly managed to get out of the forest on this night."
"I am glad that you have protected the ponies of Equestria from the Shade of Nightmare Moon, while I kept the body at bay. If you wish something, let me know. I will do everything in my power to grant it." Luna offered.
"What I wish, you cannot give. For no one can do so." Darkie replied. "I will return to my duties as Protector of the Night." Darkie looked up. "I only wish I had a name to give you."
"Tantabus." I spoke, landing in front of him. "I believe you should be called Tantabus. You have protected these very ponies from that shade every year for so long, I find it somewhat fitting."
"Tantabus." Darkie rolled it over his tongue. "I like it. Call my name, if you wish for my assistance."
Darkie, now named Tantabus, gave a Military Salute, before fading into the same mist as Nightmare Moon. The major difference? His mist flew off, back into the Everfree Forest. Everypony watched as this happened. "So... That was a thing." was all I said. Twilight deadpanned at me, in her Starswirl the bearded costume.
"Are you serious?"
"No, Sirius is a Grim." I replied with a grin.
"Do you not mean Sirius is grim?" Rarity asked in her costume. Looking at her, grin still on my face, I answered her question.
"No, Sirius is a Grim. It's a species I have heard of in legends. Not an Equestrian Species, though. He's definitely no pony, that's for sure. His nickname is Padfoot, if you must know." Okay, maybe I'm pushing the joke too far, but everyone is so confused, it's worth it.
"Why is it called a grim?" Fluttershy asked. "I mean, wouldn't it be better if it were called something, I don't know, nicer?"
"Given what usually happens after one is seen, the name fits." I answered, as my face morphed into the stereotypical Draconian Horror Movie face, light, shading and all. "For every being that sees the Grim," Pause for effect. "Dies." Cue the ominous chuckle. Luna stared at me like I grew another head.
"How do you know this Sirius is a Grim, Shadow Blaze?" Bon Bon questioned, somewhat curious, but her fear was still there.
"Isn't it obvious?" I asked, a sadistic grin showing on my face, canine and all. All ponies backed away, aside from Rarity, Twilight, and Fluttershy. Two have seen me do it before, and the last one has seen worse. "I've seen one myself."
"Then they don't kill you." Twilight stated, confident in her assumption. "You're not dead." Her voice wavered a bit.
"Aren't I?" I then used an illusion. My body disassembled itself by limbs. My head went up, my legs started floating around my torso, and my wings separated and started fluttering on their own. My torso didn't move, causing everypony barring Luna, Trixie and Twilight to scream out in terror, as the body parts floated off into the night sky, before finally disappearing. After they calmed down a bit, my head appeared just above Scootaloo's back.
"Is it truly that scary to die, my sacred daughter?" The floating head asked. Scootaloo stiffened, and turned her head slowly. She screamed and ran off, before jumping, making four wings and flying at high speed. Rainbow Dash flew after her. The floating head chuckled, before it flew into the sky once more and vanished.
I flew off myself, cloaked, ending up in front of Scootaloo, laying down in a tree branch. Hearing Dashie and Scootaloo flying my way, I opened my eyes, and looked at them. "Hey Scoots, you look like you've seen a ghost." I said, my voice tinged with concern. Did I go too far?
Rainbow Dash got in front of Scootaloo, causing me to frown. "You're not getting her ghost!" She shouted, trembling herself.
"Why am I a ghost? I'm not dead." I feigned confusion, tilting my head a bit, before I gave a look of realization. "Oh! You must have been caught up in the Undead Puzzle Pony prank I had set up for tonight."
Rainbow Dash landed, gobsmacked. Scootaloo got out from behind Rainbow Dash, and walked up to me. "Really? It was just a prank?" The filly asked, her voice shaky.
I looked her in the eye, before hugging her. I put her ear on my chest, letting her hear my heartbeat. "You hear my heartbeat. I'm still alive, Scoots. And as long as I have something to come back to, I will be." I stated softly. "Also, the prank had my body show up in Town Square, split itself up, laughing like a Maniac, before flying into the air after each limb did a few aerial tricks. It's an Illusion that would affect everypony in the effect range."
Scoots nodded. "That wasn't real?"
"No, Scoots, it wasn't." I paused. "Was it too much?" Scoots shook her head. She was lying. "Why don't I believe that?"
I heard the mumbled words. "Like I said, Scootaloo. So long as I have someone to come back to, I will always live. You are one of the ones I'd come back for. Nothing will stop me from coming back to you. Not even death." I cut myself off before I delved into the Pinkie Promise.
That would only mean trouble. She pulled back and looked into my eyes. "I swear to you, Scootaloo. No living being will stop me from coming back to you."
Scoots then repeated what the head said. My eyes widened slightly. I didn't actually catch that bit, and the Illusion had a mind of its own sometimes. "Is it true? Do you really think of me like that?"
"There are two things stopping me from adopting you, Scoots. One is your mother. She's still alive, just unconscious. The other... Let's just say it's a personal thing regarding my past and leave it at that." I winced. If I adopted her now, would it be because she reminds me of how I picture Caroline, or would it be because of her?
With the whole, "Stabilize or leave Equestria" bit I'm under, though, that reason is added to it. No one is going to learn of that bit from me though. "You don't really think that she won't want you, do you?" Dashie asked.
"After everything that's happened, the reason she said the prank really scared her included, I have no doubt in my mind that she wants it. The problem is on my end." I snapped my mouth shut at that point. Dammit, I was about to blab. "Look, Dash. This isn't the time. Ask Fluttershy about Caroline. Caroline is directly related to the personal reason, and Fluttershy knows why."
"Okay, okay, I'll back off." Dashie waved her hooves. "But seriously, she sees you as a father already. I'm the older sister, not her mother. And you know me."
"And yet you don't know me." I countered.
"If you could... would you?" Scoots whispered.
"Adopt you?" Scoots just nodded into my chest. "If not for the legal tape involved regarding your mother, and the emotional problem I have, I would've done so last year. You're basically my daughter in all but name. At this point, if you call me Uncle, I won't mind." My voice was soft, and held more kindness than most ever hear out of me.
Fluttershy is one of the few that ever hear that kindness anymore, especially when it isn't faked. "Come on, we'll go to my place Scootaloo. I think you need a cup of tea. Trust me, it'll help." I offered, before looking at Rainbow Dash. "You're welcome to come with, if you want. Just know that the tea will calm you both down. I don't need to be a mind reader to know that you're still somewhat scared of the illusion I used earlier."
"Yeah, I'll come by." She answered. "Someone's gotta watch over her."
"Rainbow Dash." I spoke, in a clearly fake affronted voice. "Are you implying that I can't watch over a single filly?"
Scoots just looked at me, and then at Dashie. "H-hey, I didn't mean it like that..."
I grinned. "I know."
Dash just gaped. "Did you just..."
My grin widened. "Yes. Yes I did." Dashie just grumbled at that. "You really shouldn't make it so easy, Dash. Teasing you gets boring every now and then. It's just too easy." More grumbles, though Scoots just giggled. "Of course, getting this young one to giggle, or even better, to laugh, is worth every bit of boredom involved."
"Hey! I'm not little." Scoots whined.
"Of course not." My smile was kind towards her. "I'm just saying, you're young. You have more time than us fossils. Right Dash?"
"I am not old!" Dash practically shouted. "I'm 16!"
"Some may argue that you're six." I countered with a grin. "Others think you're so old school, that my grandmother is younger than you. And she died at 82."
"Who said that I was that old? I'll teach them a lesson." Dash frowned.
"Who knows?"
"You do."
"Do I?"
"Yes, you do."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I am." Dash growled.
"Are you positive?" I hid my smirk at this. Oldest trick in the book.
"Of course I am!" She shouted.
Scoots looked between us as we walked. "Why, Rainbow Dash! Who's the lucky stallion?" That caused her to stop, and think for a moment, before her mouth dropped.
"I am not pregnant!"
"But you said you were positive." I replied. This is just too fun.
"Wait, am I going to be an aunt?" Scootaloo asked, causing us both to look at her, Dash in shock, me in amusement.
"Dash is your sister, isn't she?"
"Well... Yeah, but..."
"Then you will be."
"Hey! I am not pregnant, and won't be for a long time!" Dash shouted.
"I know." I replied calmly.
"And another thing, I- Wait, what?" She looked at my grin. "Horseapples."
"Like I said, you make it too easy." was all I said. Scoots and I just laughed outright at this. I ended up hearing Dash join in with a chuckle, too.
About an hour later, Scoots, Dash and I were in the den on the first floor of my cottage, just trading jokes, sipping tea, and overall having fun. Seeing the happiness in Scootaloo's face is always heart warming, and tonight is no different. What I wouldn't give for that smile to be there every day, and to protect that smile... I twitched a bit, and turned to the fireplace.
Yes, I have a fireplace. It's a Stone Fireplace that wouldn't look out of place in a rich man's countryside house, the type you'd see in the movies, in fact.
Still, what drew my attention wasn't the fire burning, but rather, the circlet on the Mantle. There used to be two colors on the die.
Now, there's three colors: Red, Lavender, and now a light blue. Loyalty, Kindness and Laughter. Scoots looked at me in confusion. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, Scoots." I looked at her and smiled. "Just Trixie casting a spell I'm surprised she knew." My smile was real, though that wasn't the reason.
The pulse of magic I felt was from the Circlet, without a doubt. Why did it gain the color of the Element of Laughter?
And for that matter, why is it that Darej has an Amulet with Generosity and Laughter? Laughter, I get. Generosity? Not so much.
I really need to bring it up to someone, but the only ones I can think of that might have an answer, I've been avoiding.
I need to talk with Fluttershy.
"So, Dash, did you ask Rarity to make your Gala outfit?"
"Yeah, I went in last week and asked her to get it done early. I told her that she could get mine out of the way early, that way she has less to deal with beforehand. You know I don't like dresses, Blaze." She answered. That's an understatement. She loathes them. "She said it was ready earlier, and I'm going to try it on tomorrow. She was actually surprised when I asked. She did say she got a bit of help making it, though. Are you coming?"
I shook my head. "Sorry, Dash. Luna and I have an invite to another party. We already accepted. Being an Unofficial Royal Guard, I got the invite, and am allowed to bring one guest. I also talked to Luna about the two, as I know them. Luna said she'd rather not go to the Gala. Said she spoke with a few guards about it, and they didn't actually paint a good picture."
"Oh." Dash seemed disappointed. "Well, I guess it can't be all bad. I mean, the Wonderbolts are gonna be there."
I chuckled. Same old Dashie. "Yeah, well, it's not the best place to talk to them. They spend more time around the Guards that attend the Gala than the actual guests, which is mostly the stuck up nobles, at least three of which hate my guts. I gave my tickets to the Gala to Filthy Rich, and Luna gave hers to Golden Coins."
"Wow... scared?" Dash grinned.
I grinned at her. "Not really. I'm just not a masochist. I enjoy dealing it out, and taking it in equal amounts, but only in a fight."
"Seriously? What, is it really that harsh?" She asked.
"Not really. Just boring." Of course, the song list was changed, though only slightly. Luna and Celestia spoke about it, and apparently, approved the request. "Although, that may not be a problem about halfway through."
Equestria is going to get a MAJOR dose of Earthen Culture.
"What's gonna happen?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Classified." I replied. And really, it was. The full plan is known only by me, Vinyl Scratch and Octavia. "Just remember one thing, and don't tell anyone, pony or not. If you hear any lines in the Music that goes 'Red like Roses', you'll know when things are going to be shaken up, stirred, and tossed off of Cloudsdale Tower onto the ground." Even Luna isn't aware of the full plan. Celestia and Luna are placing a lot of faith in me with this. Luna, I understand. She knows me, and how I work. She trusts me.
Celestia, however, has me more than a little suspicious. She didn't even put up a fuss, according to Luna. She had five reasons and didn't even have to use one.
I know I'm paranoid, but still, something's wrong. I can feel it. On top of that, I haven't seen the Changelings, yet. In all of my travels I haven't seen them, or sensed anything new.
"I'll keep an ear out." Rainbow Dash replied. "I can tell my friends, right?"
"No Rainbow Dash, you can't." I looked her in the eye. "When it happens, it'll be blatantly obvious to all six of you that I was the one to plan it. Fluttershy, especially, will know the moment it kicks in. Pinkie, however, might get a kick out of it."
"So, it's going to be subtle and awesome at the same time?" Scootaloo asked. She really does look cute.
I chuckled. "To those that have no idea, it's subtle. To those that know I was involved, awesome if not obvious. To those that helped me plan it, which is only Vinyl Scratch and Octavia Melody... Well, I think I said it clear enough already. The Grand Galloping Gala is going to be shaken, stirred, and tossed out of Cloudsdale Tower."
"Can I come?" Scootaloo asked.
"Sorry, Scoots. The one I'm going to is for adults only. The drinks there are like the High Apple Cider." I looked at Dash. "They're actually stronger, according to some of the guards." I was never big on drinking, but here, it's all nonalcoholic. No such thing as Alcohol here. Thank Soa for that.
"Aww..." Scoots pouted, and I chuckled. "No fair."
"If they're stronger, then I'm staying clear." Dash stated. "And you, squirt, are staying behind as well."
"But why?"
"Because Sweetie Bell, Applebloom, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon are having a Sleepover that night. Diamond Tiara handed me an invite." I levitated an envelope in front of her. "Said it was for you."
Seriously, the fact that all five of them are friends makes me wonder what the hell happened. The punishment helped out a lot, sure, but outright friendship between all five of them?
"Can I stay here tonight, Shadow Blaze?" Scootaloo asked. I made the mistake of looking in her eyes.
I've seen Applebloom give her 'Kicked Puppy Look', and I was almost unaffected. Angel Bunny's siblings come and go, and they're cute. Their innocent looks don't affect me much.
Fluttershy's tears either send me into a rage, or mentally into a corner. But this?
Will Save: Critical Failure.
"Alright, you can stay." Her joy practically lights up the room. I gave a small smile. If it wasn't official before, it is now. I go soft around her. "Head up to the third floor, Scoots. Your room is still the same as last time."
"Thanks Uncle Blaze!" She nuzzled my leg a bit, before flying up the stairs, while Dash and I watched.
"How often does this happen?"
"Before Luna came to stay for a bit? Once a month, at least. Last time was just before the Young Flier's Competition."
"That was 5 weeks ago."
"I know. She was overdue for a sleepover anyway." I admitted. It was true.
I'll admit I was missing her. She's literally too innocent, and that's something I want to protect immensely.
"Dash, why don't you head home? She'll be safe here, and you know me. I don't let anything threaten what I consider close to me." I told her.
"Yeah, I know." Dash sighed. "Don't hurt her, Blaze. She's a tough filly, but you know what that usually means."
Do I ever. "Yeah, I know. As long as her smiles are true, I think she'll be fine." I told her. Fillies, colts, or just kids that have that kind of strength, or even that much willpower sometimes have bad lives. She's observant, headstrong, a little reckless, though she used to be worse, and overall can stare a lot of things in the face that makes most stallions cringe.
While I worry a bit about what happened to her father, I'm not entirely sure if I should. He's dead, and her mother went comatose about the same time. They're probably related, but no one knows if the same pony did the deed, or if he put her in that state, and she took him out. No one in the guard is sure.
"Good. She's a good filly, but... well, you know."
"Yeah. I know." Rainbow Dash and I are a lot alike, in terms of loyalty. My morals fall behind my loyalty in importance. She's loyal to a fault, but when her loyalty and morals conflict with each other, she freezes up, unsure of what to do. "Listen, Rainbow Dash, there's something I want to talk to you about after the Gala. Can you wait that long?"
"Wait, if you have to tell me something, why not now?"
"Because I want to bring it up to Fluttershy, first. If she can't help me figure it out, then the only other one is Twilight, Princess Celestia, or, possibly, Princess Luna. It's also outright confusing me. The ones that might be directly involved are you, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie, but I'm not so sure whether or not Pinkie Pie can help me figure it out."
"Why us?"
"The Elements of Harmony are directly involved, but I'm not sure if it's the elements themselves, or the ones connected to the Elements." I explained. "I've been trying to figure it out, but I've pretty much hit a dead end."
"With everything you've been doing the last few months, you seem to be going through too many things at once. New spells, Luna's recovery, Scootaloo, and even your trips into the Everfree. Not to mention tonight's prank."
"I don't think on Twilight's level. Well, I do, but that's only the knowledge base. The speed I think is about half of Pinkie Pie's thought speed." I admitted. "Pinkie thinks about 20 times as fast as Twilight. It's one of the reasons her Pinkie Sense works so well. Her thought speed is what allows her body to interpret her Pinkie Sense when it activates, because it allows her to feel every movement her body goes through in a fraction of the time that anyone else would. I'd have to take two to three times the amount of time to see that outside of a fight. In a fight, it's about the same, but that's because I'm Hyper aware at that point, so it's necessary."
"I... wow, how does she hide it so well?" Dash asked, gobsmacked.
I smiled a bit. Pinkie Pie is simply Pinkie pie. Using logic to decipher Chaos is almost impossible. If you're going for details, it is. Thing is, if you're going for a general idea, it's not only possible, but easy if you know what to look for.
"She doesn't. Why do you think she's so hyper? Her mind moves anywhere from 50 to 200 times as fast as yours. For every thought you have, she has anywhere from 70 to 180 thoughts. In that same amount of time, Twilight has about 20 to 50. I'm somewhere around 15 to 63, but for the average pony, you get about 30 thoughts for every one an average pony has."
"I... Whoa..."
I chuckled. "Yeah. Pinkie Pie shows it physically, not mentally. She thinks so fast, even her own brain can't handle it all at once. Her speed is practically a part of it. Her ability to break the laws of physics? Same thing. Her Pinkie Sense is powered by Chaos Magic, but her thought speed is fast enough to pick out each muscle twitch as they happen. If Pinkie Pie ever had as much knowledge as Twilight and me, she'd be a force to be reckoned with."
Dash shivered. "Yeah, that's a scary thought." I grinned a bit.
"Pinkie Pie is Pinkie Pie. There's no arguing that. And this knowledge only brings that point home. Very few Ponies think on her speed. There's a reason I don't connect to her mind. Ever. Even I would be overwhelmed. I tried once. Remember the one time I went to the hospital without any noticeable cause?"
Dash took a thoughtful look. It was about a year ago, now. I got curious, and decided to try it out. My brain froze up, and I tipped over, out cold.
"Yeah, no one could figure it out."
"That's when it happened." I pointed out. "But seriously, it's getting late."
"Yeah, I know." She looked at the stairs, and sighed. "Good night, Shadow Blaze."
"Night, Dash." She walked out the door, and took off. Luna came in about 20 seconds later. "Blaze?"
"Evening Luna." I returned. "Did you enjoy the festivities?"
"That Illusion was pure genius." She admitted. "After that show between Tantabus and Nightmare Moon, they truly did appreciate my presence. I had no idea ponies truly enjoyed the night this much." She smiled.
"The common folk enjoy it, because it's about this time that everypony can do things they wouldn't normally. Night clubs, Star gazing, Night Hiking, Nightmare Night, the night is loved more than it used to be. Plus, that scene with Tantabus and Nimmy also coincided with a Myth in Ponyville." I grinned a bit. "She played her part well, that's for sure."
"Indeed." Luna admitted. "I think I shall turn in for the night."
"Wait a moment, Luna. I want to bring something up before you do." Luna looked at me in slight confusion. "I think you're ready." Her eyes were asking me what I meant, before they widened. "I'm not entirely sure, but I think you'll be fine after the Gala. I believe it best if you came down every two or three weeks, but otherwise, I think you'll be fine."
"Are you sure?"
I shrugged. "Not entirely, but about as sure as I can be in your situation. I won't be completely sure until it's proven through action. Until then, I can't say you're completely healed, but both me and Twilight have cleared you. If you try, you should be fine."
"If you think I'll be fine, then I'll do my best."
"Wait until after the Gala. Trust me, the plan involved will make it worth the wait."
"I thought we were not going to the Gala?" Luna was confused. I grinned.
"I've run a few things by the planners of the party we're going to. If you must know, I believe the term is... Extreme style gate crashing."
"'Extreme'? What kind of variant is that?"
"The kind no one would see coming." And that is a given.
-Time skip, Day of the Gala-
Luna and I were walking up to a cave near the back end of Canterlot Castle. As we walked into the cave, we came to a wooden door. "Are you certain this is the place?" Luna whispered.
"Positive. I actually came to this party last year. It's the Guard's Version of the Grand Galloping Gala. Only Royal Guards know about it, and, like the Gala, it's invitation only." I answered. A slide opened in the door.
"Password?" The voice said.
"Twin Suns kill each other."
"Black hole Moon?" Luna tensed at that one.
"Snake brings the Dragon home." The slide closed, and the door opened. Luna and I walked in, to see the ultimate night club.
Luna had a poleaxed look as she stared. "What... What is this?"
"The Ultimate Nightclub, only known to the Royal Guards." I grinned. "Ringing Treasure has said that she prefers a Pub with the atmosphere and language that comes with it. This? This is the highest form of it."
Luna looked around, as they started playing some songs I recognized. Huh. "Looks like they're playing some songs from my old home."
"How can you tell?" Luna asked, as we sat down. The song currently playing was Uptown Funk. Don't remember who it was by, though.
"The tone isn't common in Equestria. Besides, I recognize the lyrics. The song is called Uptown Funk." I looked over at the DJ table. I saw the flicker of Silver behind those shades. Guess her time in the Everfree got her to master it. "Vinyl is getting better with the Lunar Spells. I barely felt that."
"Same here." Luna admitted. "She nearly hid that burst completely. Were it not for my attunement to the Moon, I would not have sensed it."
"Same here." I smiled, before looking at the clock. Huh. Four hours. "We've got about four hours to kill. What say we dance a bit?"
"With you? It would be my pleasure." Luna replied, as we got to the Dance floor, and started dancing along with the music, as it shifted songs. The next couple of hours was filled with fun, high paced music, and a bit of drinking. The Paladin Bomb was damn good drink. The salt was a big point. Most ponies can't handle excessive amounts of salt. Me? I'm still part human.
Salt doesn't stop me. I don't know why it practically intoxicates them, but not me. I flicked my wings to make them sober. They nodded and thanked me afterwards, since the way I do it also skips the hangover.
However, then one song started to play, and it wasn't from Vinyl Scratch, who had just turned off the music, drawing everyone's attention. "Alright, Everypony! It's almost time!" She shouted over the mic. Everypony looked her way, most in confusion, but some with grins. Me?
I smirked. She looked at me, and I nodded. We'd been planning this for a month now. She flipped a switch, and a smoother song started to play.
"Red like roses,
fills my dreams and
brings me to the
place you rest
White is cold and
always yearning
burdened by
the loyal test
Black the beast
descends from
shadows
Yellow Beauty burns
Gold."
That was Octavia's voice. And cue the Orchestra.
Everypony was sober, and dancing along to the tune.
As the music started to pick up speed, everyone looked up, as the entire dance floor started rising. When the symbols crashed, an entire view changed.
Everypony around the dance floor now was dressed as high class as possible. I looked around and saw Sunbutt staring. She was surprised, but also more than a bit curious. Rainbow Dash just stared, mouth dropped.
Is it just me, or did Fluttershy just roll her eyes at me? Well, she's smiling, so she knows I'm the cause of this.
Octavia walked up to the DJ Booth next to Vinyl, and nodded at her. She hit a button, and the two jumped over the console, and landed in the center of the Dance Floor, staring at me.
"I couldn't take it
couldn't stand another minute.
Couldn't bear another day without you in it
All of the joy that I had known throughout my life
was stripped away from me the minute that you died."
"To have you in my life is all I ever wanted
but without you I'm a soul forever haunted.
Can't help but feel I've taken you for granted
No way in hell I'll ever comprehend this!"
I dissolved into Silver light, and turned into a mist. Octavia turned to Vinyl Scratch with the look.
"I wasn't sleeping when they told me you were gone
I was wide awake and feeling that they had to be wrong!
How could you leave me when you swore that you would stay,
now I'm trapped inside a nightmare every single freaking day!
It's like a movie but there's not a happy ending."
"Every scene fades black and there's no pretending.
This little fairy tale doesn't seem to end well
There's no knight in shining armor
who'll awake me from the spell.
They both stared at the mist I had become, while Shining Armor himself twitched at the reference to his name.
"I know you didn't plan this!
You tried to do what's right!
But in the middle of this madness
I'm the one,
You left to win this fight!
Red like Roses
Fills my head with dreams
and binds me
Always closer
To the emptiness and sadness
that takes the place of you
The silver mist formed a head. My human head.
"I know you're broken down
by anger and by sadness
You feel I left you in a world that's filled with madness"
The misty head started floating around, multiplying from the mist itself, switching heads every line.
"Wish I could talk to you
if only for a minute
Make you understand the reason why I did it"
One head stopped in front of Vinyl, and another in front of Fluttershy.
"I wanna tell you that you're all that ever mattered
want you to know that for eternity I'm shattered
I tried so hard just to protect you
but I failed to!"
All heads joined in here.
"And in a prison of abandonment I jailed you!"
Tears fell from some of the heads.
"I never thought that I would leave you there alone
I was thinking that I'd see you when I made it back home
and all the times that I had sworn it'd be okay
now I'm nothing but a liar
and you're thrown into the fray!"
That was shouted in Fluttershy's direction.
"This bedtime story ends with Misery ever after
the pages are torn, and there's no final chapter
I didn't have a choice, I knew what I had to do
I made a sacrifice and forced to make sacrifice of you!
I know you've lived a nightmare!
I caused you so much pain!
But baby please don't do what I did!
I don't want
I don't want
I don't want
You to live your life in vain!"
All of the mist converged into one point, hit the ground between Octavia and Vinyl Scratch, who's eyes were now glowing silver, my own sharing the glow as my body formed.
"Red like Roses
Fills my head with dreams
and binds me.
Always closer
to the emptiness and sadness
That has come to take the place of you
You're not the only one that needed me
I thought you understood
You were the one I needed
and you left me like I always knew you would
Would I change it if I could,
It doesn't matter how
the petals scatter now
Every nightmare that discloses
it's your blood that's Red Like Roses
And no matter what I do
Nothing ever takes the place of you
Cue the Guitar solo, and all three of us dissolving into mist. Mine is purple, Octavia is beige, and Vinyl is Green. We float around the sky, mixing and matching, during the solo, before we all came down on the stage Octavia played at earlier, our eyes closed, fully formed.
Our eyes snapped open, their usual colors, with a silver outline emanating from the outer rims of our eyes.
"Red like Roses
Fills my head with dreams
and binds me.
Always closer
to the emptiness and sadness
That has come to take the place
Of
You."
We all looked into the crowd. Many cheering, mostly from the Guard's Party, but I saw some higher ups that clapped a bit. Did I just hear a whistle?
I raised an eyebrow at Vinyl. Did she hear that? She nodded, and looked at Fluttershy. Damn, she actually got a little flirty. "Alright, everypony, it's time for the surprise entertainment." I called out. The Gala guests looked somewhat confused, but I saw the glint in Celestia's eyes.
She's enjoying this. "And now, here's a taste of Out lander culture." I glanced at Vinyl, who teleported to the DJ Station. "Just remember one thing," There was two barks coming from the stereo. "Buck what you heard. It's what you're hearing." I stepped down with a grin.
And here's X Gon' give it to ya, by Xzibit.
And there's no way in hell I'm singing along.
I did my song, and I sat down next to Luna, who had sat down at a table with Sunbutt, and another Alicorn. "Yo, Shiny. Like the entrance?"
"That was so far out of regulation, I don't even know what to say." The only other male at the table replied.
"It's a bit... loud." His date said, the only Alicorn I haven't seen in person.
Honestly, I was hoping to put this off a bit longer. This meeting is actually something I feared for some time. "It was kind of meant to be, I think." Shining replied, looking at me. "I'm actually surprised you pulled this off."
"Most of the Guards just considered this Gate Crashing. It's how I justified it." I admitted.
"That was most impressive, Shadow Blaze." Celestia admitted. "I must say, that display between you three was probably the most impressive I've seen in a while, barring Rainbow Dash's Sonic Rainboom a few weeks ago."
"I'm just surprised that you didn't even argue once, even without knowing the plan." I replied.
"It was a change, but a welcome one." She looked around a bit. "Very few ponies seemed to not have liked it, Blueblood included."
"They're the ones I really don't like, so I'm not that worried." I admitted. "Luna, what did you think?"
"It was most impressive," she replied, formal voice intact. "However, knowing you were behind it, I am only surprised that it had that little flair."
"Little?" I replied. Seriously? "Too little flair?"
"Your comment before the next song ruined most of the gathered flair." Luna replied with a smirk.
"Oh, really?" I smirked back at her. There was a cough, and we turned to the third Alicorn at the table.
"Shiny, care to introduce us?"
"Shadow Blaze, this is my fiancee, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, or Cadance, if you prefer." Shining replied.
I held out a hoof, she reached to shake, but the contact shocked us both. Those images flew by too fast for me to see.
'What was that?' I stared at her, she then looked at me, staring. Her eyes... Dammit, I was not expecting this. Though, I probably should have. "I'm sorry."
"Look, the past is the past." I pointed out. "As I'm sure I saw flashes of your past, I'm pretty sure you saw some of mine. It bothers me, but I push on for a reason."
"That's not why." She stated, before looking at Shining Armor. "I apologize, Shining. I have to take care of something."
"Are you sure?" Cadence looked at me, and nodded.
"Yes, I'm sure. This... is not something I was expecting." She walked off calmly. All four of us watched as she walked off.
"Okay..." I started. "That went better than expected."
"How can that be better?" Shining was half glaring at me. "You drove her off."
I glanced at him. "I was half expecting a fight to break out." I nodded at Vinyl. "I know the DJ up there was, too."
Shining blinked at that. "You expected her, the Princess of Love, to start a fight? Have you lost it?"
"Shining, what she obviously saw let her know that I have practically sworn off Romance for the rest of my life. She doesn't know how to take that, because to her, love is only ever good. She hasn't felt the loss that comes when a relationship goes FUBAR." I looked back to where Cadence disappeared to. "She's probably trying to reconcile it with what she's known, and, more likely than not, trying to figure out how to get me to change my mind on that front."
"From what I've seen, and what my sister tells me, Fluttershy is more likely than any other pony to figure it out." Shining Armor stated.
"Shining Armor, it's going to be either Fluttershy, Vinyl Scratch or myself that manages. No one else will be able to pull it off." Luna commented. "Believe me when I say, there are few as stubborn as he is."
I'm pretty sure I have a tick mark on my forehead. "Seriously?" I looked at her.
"Oh?" Celestia looked intrigued. "Something I should know about?"
"I seem to recall your little event regarding a certain noble, dear sister." Luna pointed out. "He is about that level."
Celestia winced. "I had hoped you had forgotten that one."
"Forgiven, but not forgotten." Luna admitted.
"Truly?" Luna nodded with a grin, as I am being double teamed by the Alicorn sisters. This figures.
"Well, I can see when I'm not wanted, so I'll just-" I'm being held by Magic. Luna's Magic, to be exact.
"You are staying right here, Shadow Blaze." Luna stated, her voice firm.
I gulped a bit. Luna can be pretty scary sometimes. "Okay. Celestia, your sister is fine, for the most part." As much as I don't want to talk business, it's probably the only thing keeping me mostly calm.
Right now, I'm feeling more fear than anger. Many will be asking me "Why are you scared of her?" and my answer will be simple: She's a Strong willed Mare that I am close to, and I'm a Stallion. It doesn't matter what your species is. Any male that is close to a strong willed female emotionally scares the male. It's a natural reaction.
Whether the fear is from action, inaction, or getting sent to the doghouse, they fear the woman in their life.
This is just as true for ponies as it is for humans. Probably more so for ponies. Especially Unicorns. If the thought crossed their minds, they could crush you under your own weight.
"You believe she is alright to return to the castle?"
"With bimonthly visits, of course." I admitted. "She'll need to readjust to the Noble life. Ponyville and all of its Citizens actually appreciate her, and the word has spread that she, at the very least, is looked on as benevolent, if not outright nice."
"Our little stunt on Nightmare Night only helped matters, it seems." Luna added. "Although that prank of yours was a little much."
"Yeah, but if you recall, the foals were still talking about it in excited whispers. I heard Big Mac got a grin out of it." I pointed out. "That means it was good, because, while scary, it was memorable. Little Scoots has been getting questions, since it's well known that I'm more or less soft on her. They want to know how I pulled it off."
"And since you haven't told her yourself..." Luna grinned a bit.
"They're going to keep wondering." I finished for her. "Anyway, both Twilight and myself have cleared her. She's fine for the most part, and only needs to be brought up to speed with Canterlot Castle. She's only been here twice, and neither was enough to be able to learn the layout of the place."
"I will make sure she is perfectly fine, Shadow Blaze."
"Just... Keep an eye on her, Princess Celestia." I was a little hesitant at this point. "We don't want another mess like all those years ago. You need to look for the signs that she's upset. They're not easy to spot, unless you know what to look for." I sighed, and ran a hoof through my hair. "It's troubling, but thankfully, she has, in fact, made a full recovery. All that's left is to see if she can handle the court herself. And Luna?" Said mare perked up. "Please try to make things work here. Twilight and I both believe you can handle it. And if you have any problems, let me know." I noticed Celestia frown slightly. "Better yet, let your sister know. The two of you have decades upon centuries to work with each other."
"I won't let you down, Shadow Blaze." Luna replied. I glanced off to the side, and saw Cadance returning.
Although, the one she was bringing with her, made my heart twist into a knot, which confused me. Why?
Because I don't recognize that Unicorn. Mare, about 32 years old. Pale blue coat, slightly darker than Rainbow Dash's, in fact. Her mane and tail were the same shade of black as my own, minus the Silver streak. She was a few inches shorter than me, and her cutie Mark resembled a book combined with a gavel. The two walked up to us, and the unknown Unicorn, while dressed as if she were a True Noble, she wasn't a Noble. I could tell by the way she walked.
High class, maybe. Middle Class is more likely, to be honest. However, something else is wrong. It's her Magical Signature.
"Luna, you know how accurate my Magical Senses are, correct?" I asked. She nodded, though didn't speak. "And you also know how deep that sensory ability can go if I focus hard enough?"
Luna was about to nod again, before she looked between the new arrival and me. Shining Armor also picked up on what I wasn't saying. "Alright, Blaze. What are you sensing in her that none of us can?" Shining Armor looked between us, before settling on me. "Because I can't sense anything abnormal about her Magic."
"Nor can I." Luna added.
"I concur." Celestia nodded, before turning inquisitive. "However, you also took me through your Sensory Range once. The amount of detail you sense surpasses my own, even with all of my experience. So, if there is something you sense that is wrong, then either I do not sense it myself, or I can, and just don't realize that it's a problem."
"Not a problem." I assured them. And really it wasn't. "It's not what's in the signature that I sense. It's more likely the similarity to mine that seems to be the problem."
"I am... confused." The unicorn admitted, though hesitant. "I am honored by your presence, Your majesty, but I'm afraid I do not know why I am here."
I turned my face to Cadance. "You saw something in my past that I can't consciously remember, didn't you? It wasn't about my rejection of Romance that you left, was it? You saw something I don't know about."
"I did." Cadance looked unsure about this. "I saw memories from before you became Shadow Blaze. The name I heard, however, wasn't Shadow Blaze, nor were the two others I heard. The other two I heard were... strange, but the last one I heard struck an odd memory."
"What did you see?" I whispered. This can't be true. Something is wrong.
"I heard someone call you Rolling Wind." Cadance admitted. "The voice sounded familiar, but, I couldn't place it. However, that is where she comes in."
"Rolling wind was my son." was all she said.
Shit.
00000x00000
Well! How about THAT curve ball?
Did ANYONE see that coming?
I will say that I didn't.
Alright, I sung one song, Red Like Roses Complete, and brought up two others: X gon' give it to ya by Xzhibit, and Uptown Funk.
I had to look it up to see who actually wrote it. Mark Ronson apparently sings it. It's a good song.
Anyway, the Gala isn't actually over with yet. And that meeting came COMPLETELY out of Left Field for me.
I was knocked out by that one, to be honest. Kind of helped me out, really.
I haven't been sleeping right lately, and I don't know why. Oh, and yes, the meeting with Fluttershy already happened.
Also, about the thought speed bit:
It's not entirely inaccurate. Thought speed isn't actually part of an IQ test. In fact, it has almost nothing to do with your IQ. From what I understand of thought speed, it isn't the speed of the thoughts going through your head. It's the amount of actual, conscious thoughts that you can think in a certain timeframe.
Many who follow their instincts and learn best practically, can actually think on the same speed as an Egghead, like Twilight Sparkle, or Albert Einstein.
They simply chose to apply those thoughts to the body itself, reading it, figuring it out, and feeling how everything moves in their own body.
Eggheads don't do that, to be honest. Their minds focus on their studies, and experiments. Athletes focus on what they can actually do, not what is possible for them to do. Thought speed isn't something that can be measured in one area, or on a General basis.
It's strictly case by case, because one's True Thought Speed only shows when the being in question is passionate about the subject.
From what I can tell, an IQ test actually tests your Common Sense and basic Knowledge. Thought Speed has nothing to do with either.
A perfect example would be ADHD.
A kid with ADHD would have anywhere from 30 to 500 times the amount of thoughts in a second compared to someone who has no mental diagnosis. Like I explained in regards to Pinkie Pie, their minds move so fast, that their body actually shows it. I believe that's why they can't sit still.
In Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Rick Riordan said that Demigod's have it. In The Lightning Thief (the Movie, not the book), Grover told Percy that he's Impulsive. He can't sit still. He calls them his Natural Battlefield Reflexes. They'd keep him alive in a fight.
When you think about it, it actually makes sense in our reality. How many kids with ADHD actually get into Martial Arts, or some form of combat, or even sports? Far too many. And out of them, how many are actually really damn good at what they chose to play?
From my estimates: about 80% of them.
The number isn't actually exact, but it's just what I've noticed. In sports, those without patience at first are normally the ones with ADHD. But someone like that, when focused on a single thing, is actually pretty damn scary.
But yeah, look into it yourself, and open your mind to the possibilities. Odds are, you'll find something that most wouldn't bother to look for. I did. So can you.
Anyway, wrapping this up.
See you next time!
ALL HAIL INSANITY! ALL HAIL THE LOG! HAIL SOA!