Luke's POV
Sprinting down the streets following Shadow many ponies were looking at us like we were crazy until I skidded to a halt in front of a building… it was covered in vines that I noticed continued to thicken and continued to grow longer… every vine was covered in thorns… "Get that brat out of my orphanage already!" I could hear a mare yell to the day guards next to the building.
I'm taking a wild guess that she's another noble… approaching the building the day guards attempted to halt me until they realized who I was and stood aside. "Give me a sit rep."
"The foal that you had saved had woken up and when she noticed her surroundings…" he looked at a notepad in his hoof. "She… purposely used her magic and attacked the occupants who were forced out because of the thorns on the vines…"
I looked at the vines as the day guard attempted to get into the building. "tell the guard to get back… I'm going to attempt to counter her magic with my own." He nodded before giving the order as they all got back. Holding my sword I concentrated greatly onto the blade as it begun to glow with a black aura… raising the weapon over my head in a stance before swinging my weapon downward as an arc of black left the blade and went straight into the doorway… colliding with the vines preventing everyone from getting in…
The vines then proceeded to wither before they fell to the ground… but I could see new ones quickly making their way out and growing… "You two with me!" I yelled at the two guards nearest as I charged in with the two of them. As soon as we got in I brought my shirt up and covered my mouth and nose… "What the fuck is that smell?"
"Smells like Private Grant after he has too much cider…" one of the guards stated… I feel bad for whoever that is.
"Let's get moving… that was the first time I ever forced my magic out so I don't know if I can do it again." They nodded as we began to slowly traverse the building… vines, plants, flowers… they were everywhere.
"I suggest we go upstairs sir…" one of the guards says behind me.
"Why?" I asked confused.
"Cause look where the vines are coming from…" I looked at the vines that had covered the door trailed towards up and farther down the hall… I nodded to the other two as we begun to walk along the vines… going up the stairs the vines were coming from one of the doors…
"You two stay here… don't need her to be too afraid…" they nodded in understanding as I sheathed my sword and took the sheath off and handed it to one of the guard. As they took it I gave a sigh of relief as I cautiously walked towards the door before knocking on it… immediately the vines spewed out a gas as I quickly got back and waved my hand in front of my face. Immediately the guards heads started to spin before they fell to the floor… sleeping gas! I could hear their snores as I could feel myself getting dizzier and dizzier…
I braced my shoulder before I charged the door. My light armor making a small dent into it as I got back and charged again and again. After the fifth hit I had fallen to my hands and knees… the gas was starting to get to me… just one… more… time… I charged towards the wall with all my force as it exploded into shards… I tumbled on the floor as I felt the pain of wood shards enter my body. Getting to my hands and knees I looked around until I eventually spotted the filly… she was hiding in the shadows of an unused fireplace and she looked very afraid.
Shrugging off the pain a little I stumbled to my feet before I crouched down about 3 feet in front of the fireplace. I could see the fear in her eyes. "Hey there little one…" she took a few steps back. "Don't worry… I'm not going to hurt you…"
"P-p-please… j-j-just stay away…" she said… she sounded so afraid… I gave her a sympathetic look.
"It's not your fault all of this is happening… your just afraid… why don't you come out…"
"No!" the vines proceeded to shoot out as the gas filled the room… it didn't seem to affect her as I stood up and stumbled around…
"Listen… everyone has fears… everyone is afraid at least once in their life…" I tumbled around as I crashed into a desk… causing a vase with flowers in it to fall over. "What… are you afraid of…"
"I-i-i…" I fell to the floor onto my side facing the fireplace… slowly losing my vision.
"There is nothing to be afraid of here… I won't let… anything… hurt… you…" and that was when I fell asleep…
"Luke… Luke… get up ya lazy bum!" I opened my eyes to find shadow standing over me. I attempted to bring up my right arm but found that I couldn't move it. Looking at why I smiled when I saw the filly laying down on my arm… snoozing soundly… "The vines just disappeared… is there a reason why two of the day guards are sleeping outside of this room?"
"Sleeping gas… the vines produced the gas when I first knocked on the door… I was able to break the door down to escape the gas… then this room filled with gas a few minutes later." I stared at the sleeping filly as Shadow slowly picked her up with her magic allowing me to get up. After I got up I took her from her magical grasp as I held her in my arms. "You have any idea what's going to happen to her?"
"It's all up to her guardian… meaning the caretaker of the orphanage…"
"Just look at what she had done!" me and Shadow both cringed as I used my one free hand to cover her ears to allow her to sleep. The mare from before had stomped in with an angry look on her face. "Where is that little brat?!"
"Calm down miss. She's right there." Bad idea Shadow… the mare glared at me.
"I'll have you know that's she's going to need to pay for the damages and injuries caused." She then stated.
"I doubt she has the bits to do so miss. Plus she is in your jurisdiction." I stated. "Meaning something happened that caused her to go like this."
"She woke up… screamed… then vines went everywhere. Several foals injured and many items broken. She isn't in my jurisdiction until I send in the paperwork which she needed to sign. So either she pays and gets sent to a troubled foal's orphanage or she pays and her horn is removed." Shadow gasped.
"Why would you say get her horn removed?!" Shadow yelled. At this rate they are going to wake her up.
"Because she is a threat to our society!" she then yelled as I begun to walk towards the door. "Where are you going?!"
"I'm going to bring this filly with me until things are settled… until then have a good day ma'am…" I quickly walked out the door before any more could be said. Leaving the building I encountered Armor talking to a few guards. When he spotted me he trotted over.
"I'm guessing this is the cause of the vine problem?" he asked with a small smirk as I nodded. "Mare kind of deserved it… she doesn't care for those that she doesn't deem worthy…"
"Sir you know the rules correct." One of the guards stated as armor sighed and nodded at him.
"Unfortunately we need to take her to have her horn taken away. With that kind of magic at a young age it's the only way for her to be adopted."
"You come and touch her and I will show you how mad I can get." I said with scorn in my voice as I walked straight past him and towards the castle. On the way I heard a little yawn as I turned my attention towards the little one in my arms. "How did you sleep little one?"
"I… slept well…" she was still afraid of me that was quite easy to tell.
"No need to worry. I'm not going to hurt you… I'm bringing you to the castle to meet with a few friends of mine alright?" she gave a small and slow nod. "What's your name?"
"Rose…" she said shyly as I smiled.
"Now isn't that cute for a cute little flower like you." I tickled her tummy a little as she laughed. When I stopped she was still giggling. Reaching the castle doors I walked in and immediately encountered several of the guard.
"Sir… it is protocol to do this." They surrounded me. So they really have to do it huh? Well… guess what they just did… they… pissed… me… off! Activating my magic large tentacles came from the shadows on the ceiling and wrapped around the bodies of the guards. Bringing them into the air I walked straight past them and reached my room. Walking in me set Rose onto the floor as she looked at me confused until I crouched down. "Stay here… do not let anyone in unless you hear my voice alright?" she nodded as I walked out the door and locked it with my key.
I have to learn to place protection spells… that would make things so much easier. Walking through the halls I reached the meeting room to only find cadence in there. Doing some paperwork with quill in her magic and a stack of scrolls on the floor. "Hey cadence." She jumped at the sound of my voice but turned her head to me and smiled.
"Hello Luke." I approached her as she looked back to her papers.
"What are these?" I asked picking up a scroll and opening it.
"My aunts tend to leave minor problems to me… although that pile right there are all petitions to get you out of Canterlot." She said as I read the scroll I had and just as she said.
"Whelp… if I ever get married Canterlot is a no for a wedding." She giggled a little.
"True… but Canterlot weddings are some of the most beautiful." I groaned as she giggled a little more.
"Why am I even talking about weddings now… I don't even know the dating system of this place yet…"
"It's actually quite easy. If there is a mare you love a lot… all you have to do is ask and they might become your Marefriend. There is Herding as well."
"Herding?" uh oh… this can't be good…
"Yes. The population of Stallions against Mares is… quite low. So Herding is quite rare though but it is accepted for more offspring." She said.
"Why do I feel like that that's going to be a problem for me in the future…" she giggled some more. "But anyways… do you know where Celestia or Luna are?"
"To be honest… no. they might be busying themselves with small talk with the King and Lord. Why do you ask?" she asked setting the quill in her magic down.
"I brought the filly here that had caused the issue. Figured she might not be so afraid if she knew she was safe here so I figured maybe Celestia or Luna could meet her. Forgot about you though…" she was giving me a pout until I said that but it turned into a smile as she nodded. "Would you be?"
"It will be my pleasure." I smiled as I lead her through the halls and when I reached my door I unlocked it and attempted to open it only to find it barricaded.
"Rose… it's me…" whatever was blocking the door was moved as I walked in with Cadence. She was hiding under the bed and went back a little when she saw Cadence. I crouched down next to the bed. "Rose… this is Cadence. She is one of my friends. Why don't you come out and say hi." She looked reluctant but she slowly came out as Cadence squealed a little.
"Oh she is so… cute!" she said lowering her head to get a better look at her.
"Apparently it's in day guard protocol to remove her horn after an incident like that. Armor said it was the only way she would most likely get adopted." Cadence looked shocked before frowning shortly before going back to a smile as she laid down on the floor next to Rose.
"I'll have to talk with Aunt Celestia about that as well as Shining… but why did you do it sweetie?" she looked too afraid to tell.
"I'm taking a guess it was because you thought you were still being Foalnapped?" she gave a slow nod. "well that's understandable… so what are we going to do with her Cadence? We can't bring her back and the Mare in charge of the orphanage is suing her."
"there's not much that we can do…" she said as she nuzzled Rose in the side causing her to giggle a little before looking at me with a sad look. "what did her parents do for a living?"
"don't know. This is the same filly that was almost Foalnapped." I said. "what did they do little one?" I then asked her crouching down.
"all I know is whenever they came home… I smelled sweets." She said with a cock of her head.
"ah… a sweet shop. They don't really get much business except for on holidays where they have special kinds of sweets… do you remember where you live?" she nodded before she turned to me. "maybe you can go with her to her house. Find anything that might help her… all we have to hope is that the bill isn't too high…" I nodded.
"you ready to go Rose?" Rosa nodded as I picked her up in my arms and Cadence got back up.
"I'll tell my Aunts of what is occurring if I see them. I'll also try to find armor and notify him to stay away from you two for a while until things are sorted." I nodded.
"if you see Shadow have her put several guards on us to make sure we stay alright." She nodded with a smile. After saying a last goodbye as soon as we exited the castle I set Rose down I followed her through the town until we reached a house. On the front door though was a notice saying the property was bought by a noble named Turncoat… where have I heard that name before?
I could hear some sniffling and looked to see that Rose's head was down with tears going down her face. picking her up she looked at me with wonder. "even if the house is bought your belongings are your own alright?" she nodded. Trying the door with her in my arms the door opened as I walked in with her. Setting her back down once more she ran around with a smile on her face as I smiled at her happy attitude. I walked around until I reached a table which had pictures on it. Picking one up I smiled…
So that must be her mom and dad… they were holding her in their arms when she was born I assumed since she looking a lot younger. "that was when I was born mommy said…" I looked at Rose who was at my feet looking at the picture in my hands. "I miss them…" I picked her up just before she started crying.
"I'm sure you do… they are always with you though in your heart alright?" she nodded. "should we grab a bag to start collecting some of your stuff?" she nodded with a smile on her face as I set her down… yet again… and searched for a couple bags. After finding some bags I let her take one to her room to grab some stuff while I stayed down here to grab books and pictures for her. Collecting all the small pictures and putting them into one bag I then grabbed another bag and begun to put books into it.
While I was filling that I pulled a book off of a shelf and saw combo lock. Surprise filled my face as I pulled off whole sections of books to reveal a safe. I put a hand to my chin as I thought that whatever was in the safe must have been important if it was hidden behind adult books… don't ask why I was grabbing them…
Putting my hand to the lock I begun to force my magic into the safes innards… until I heard a loud creak as the safe door forced open. I'm getting better at using my magic every time I use it. Like it does what I want faster and faster. Opening the safe my eyes widened as I looked at what was inside. Several large bit pouches along with some scrolls. Taking one of the scrolls it had I realized it had an official seal on the ribbon keeping it closed. Opening it I realized just how important it was to keep locked up the other two were the same except one was protected by magic…
Figuring Rose might want these I hid them into my back pants pocket before grabbing all of the large bit bags and bringing them out. Closing the safe and making sure it still worked… thankfully it did… I begun to fill the bags once more.
After an hour of me filling bags Rose came down with two bags or she struggled to. One had stuffed animals in it so that would be light to carry while the other had toys. I smiled at her innocent mind when the door opened up to reveal a stallion wearing a getup you would most likely find in the civil war for a noble… that was a big explanation. "who are you two and what are you doing on my property?" he asked with annoyance and anger.
Herd member riddle continued (I think I already spoiled it with the last part but screw it!)
Twinkle twinkle little star… just who knows who you truly are…
Next Chapters riddle:
Darkness may be bad… but sometimes it is used for good… but to meet the one that created the darkness… is one that should be wary of…