Chapter 21
Aiden now waited outside the throne room, desperately awaiting for results. The news that Twilight herself was held in a life or death struggle with another new demon haunted him. He knew what they were capable of, and he knew that these monsters struck fear into the princess's heart. As much as he had faith in Twilight, he knew she would not be able to fight this creature. She needed help from some pony who knew these demons inside and out, and how they worked.
Saphira sat on the other side of the hall way wall, watching Aiden as he stood there worries. After seeing his reaction to the troubling news, a new found interest sparked for his sudden compassion. In the light of a pony in danger, his true feelings for these ponies were now in the open. Haze and Faze stood at both sides of the door, standing guard while holding in their worries for Aiden. They could not hear much of what was being said, but they could pick up on the intensity of the conversation.
One thing that stood out was Shining Armor bringing in the urgency by mentioning that Twilight was his sister. Surely that proved that their needed to be plenty of ways that this could be handled. Flurry Heart had then finally returned, and stopped to see Aiden and the others at the door. Still desperate to eves drop and figure out what the adults were saying, it as starting to look worrisome. This left Flurry to try and lift their hearts a bit as she finally entered the concerned group.
"So hows it all going so far? What are the adults saying?"Flurry asked as Haze decided to be the one to answer while the others kept listening.
"Haven't heard much, other than maybe some plan juggling and the fact that Twilight's a sister to your dad."Haze responded as Aiden gulped before trying to push his ear closer to the doors to listen.
"I'll warn you all right now, nothing good comes from plan juggling. It just means a lot of thought and no action,"Saphira decided to give them her cold opinion on how the discussion could possibly go,"I'm sorry, but this is more than likely going to be a waste of time…!"
"Shut up! You don't know that! You can't just immediately assume all is lost,"Aiden argued with the woman and turned back to listen for any piece of conversation,"There has to be a way! We can't just give up on Twilight, and waste time! Something has to happen….!"
"I never said all was lost, boy…! I simply mean to say that all this chatting will get us nowhere,"Saphira retorted and corrected her words to fit a more sensible meaning,"All this talking about a situation like this is only wasting time, and sealing this princess of friendship's fate…!"
"Well, what else is there to do?! I'd love to hear what YOU think we should do!"Saphira fell silent to the boy's invitation to do something about the situation.
"Who is this princess of friendship? And what has you so concerned for her if she's an Alicorn,"Saphira offered a new question to forget about his challenge to her logic,"Do you not have faith in this mare's ability to fight and survive against evil?"
"Not against your uncles demons…!"Aiden retorted and made the woman scoff before the doors had suddenly opened up.
They all held their breaths in silence as Celestia, Luna, Cadence, and Shining Armor exited the room. They were a bit surprised by the sudden group that was waiting in suspense. The royal sisters looked to each other with worry and concern, they had no idea what to say. As did Cadence and Shining Armor, after an hour of talking, they had nothing to say about this situation. So they all swallowed, and decided to tell them the only thing they could say to them on the matter.
"We… Are working on a strategy to raid the castle and vanquish this creature…!"Luna answered as confusion instantly washed over every pony that tried to listen so closely.
"But…we're going to go there and try and rescue Twilight, right?"Aiden asked the more frontal and specific question on the matter.
"Surely you all value the life of your fellow princess and family member enough that a rescue is in order at least."Saphira incited and almost made the members of royalty choke on their words.
"We… Can't… For all we know, this is a potential trap to draw some of us out,"Aiden's face slowly dropped and his hope felt like it had taken a sharp knife through the heart from his mother's words,"We need to find a way to depart in secret without the demons being made aware that we're coming to Twilight's aid…!"
"If they were to learn that we have separated, The dark one would certainly attack us in this vulnerable state,"Cadence explained their reason for deciding not to act right away,"We just need a little more time to decide on how we can get to Twilight undetected."
"So basically… We're just gonna… Do nothing? Just…wait?!"Aiden questioned while walking away from them just a bit, before turning to the adults and trying to process what was happening here.
"Of course not! We'd never abandon Twilight! We just need to find a fool proof plan of discretion,"Shining Armor exclaimed while Aiden clutched his right hand that quivered with anger,"Look, these demons are deceptive, and tricky. They'll do whatever it takes to get us, or get you. We can't take that chance…!"
"So just do nothing! Just wait around for some complex plan while Twilight fends for herself?"Aiden questioned before pounding his fist against the wall before it started to glow.
"Aiden, we're going to do everything in our power-"Celestia got interrupted by Aiden's magic suddenly scorched a hole in the wall.
"Why don't you hang a sign around her neck that reads, abandoned demon chow?!"Aiden remarked in outrage as his damage and anger became more apparent.
"Aiden! We're not abandoning, Twilight! We're just trying to think for every pony!"Cadence insisted that this was not the case.
"Now that's enough, Aiden! You need to calm down and think about this in-"Celestia tried to get Aiden thinking in their perspective, but he immediately shut down the idea.
'No! I have no intention of calming down! Twilight and her friends are fighting for each moment of their lives while we're all just standing here doing nothing,"Aiden cracked the wall with another fist and shut out their words,"By the time we figure something out at this rate! Twilight is going to be butchered and in a box on our door step! AND I CAN'T SIT BACK AND LET THAT HAPPEN!"
"Aiden! That won't be the case! Aiden!"Celestia called to their child, but he was done listening to excuses.
Aiden simply stormed off in a hurry, running away from this harsh reality. They were going to do nothing, and Twilight was going to be left to defend herself and her friends from evil. He shook his head, not wanting to believe that this was happening, not to a pony like Twilight. This was not a thing that any pony should have been exposed to or forced to suffer through. He panted and ran as fast as he could, until he could no longer hear such things, or anything for that matter.
The running only came to a stop once he had finally tripped the moment he made it to the main hall way. He managed to stop short of the steps before he simply just sat there in silence. His head lowered as his mind went into a fury of confusion and denial, this all seemed too impossible. They were basically leaving a treasured friend and piece of family to die to the dark demons he barely survived. He tried to catch his breath from the run, only to quietly grip at the floor and break into tears.
Quietly he kept his eyes down and wept for the terror that Twilight was experiencing. And with no immediate help, his fear of her meeting a grisly fate appeared more certain. His tears dripped to the marble floor, feeling as if he was going to lose an important piece to his beloved family. His fist pounded at the floor before he lowered his head till the front of it was touching the cold surface. He choked and sobbed as he thought of Twilight's smiling face when he first met her.
That day when he was carried into the throne room as a toddler, and Twilight tried to peek at him every chance she had. She held him and gave him all the comforts of a mother when the royal sisters could not. Her honest confession to the fear she had for these demons showed pure humility. It also gave more reason to why Twilight needed immediate help, the kind of help that was not coming now. It only defeated him even more, turning him pitiful and pathetic to some of the strong.
While from a pillar connected to the railing on the upstairs hall way, Saphira watched him. Her arms crossed as she watched the teen weeping and showing a strange bond he shared with the ponies. For the longest time, ponies were held in high regard, but the Equines never before grew this attached to them. To weep for one that was in great danger, it was a rare sight to see. As was this kind of sorrow,whether it was sickening her or simply making her feel bad, it needed to stop.
So she slowly sighed and decided to walk to the grieving boy as his sobs fell silent. For he sensed her approaching him, and last thing he needed was for her to question his strength even further. But rather than question his manhood and masculinity, she had a deeper question in mind.
"Is this friend of yours special or something?"Saphira asked from behind the boy as he gripped a hold of the railing and squeezed it.
"I swear, if you start saying, I told you so…! I swear, I will-"Aiden's warning was interrupted with a more pushy Saphira.
"I asked you a question…! Is she some pony special to you?"The women asked the question again while Aiden stood up and wiped his nose on his sleeve.
"She's been that some pony that gave me the courage to make friends, and push for freedoms,"Aiden explained and remembered her laughter from the times she would babysit him,"She had a way of keeping me full of hope, and making me want to help others…"
"So she paved the way for what you wanted to do with your life, is that all?"Saphira reached for Aiden before he then smacked her hand away, forcing her to back away a bit.
"You don't get it at all…! You were not there to see what she did for me, or all the fun things we did together,"Aiden argued while wiping his eyes of any remaining tears that turned his cheeks red,"She's a loving princess that spread friendship and happiness to others. She helped ponies learn how to make friends and find meaning in their lives…!"
"That's… Admirable…"Saphira admitted but kept a straight face as Aiden's hands finally started to shake.
"So for whatever reason you seem to not care about ponies any more… There are a lot of good ponies out there,"Aiden panted before he was able to stop crying and defend the ponies,"And I'm not going to let this one die because no pony or one cares about taking quick action…!"
Saphira tilted her head and dropped her tough expression for a solemn one. While Aiden slowly began to walk away and down the main stairs, what was going through his head was a mystery. But with another sigh, Saphira nodded and leaped over the railing and down to the floor. Where she then waited for Aiden to get down the steps, where she would then stop him once more. For she had a little something to say about what he said, and it needed to be said above all else.
"First off, I never said I didn't care about taking quick action, I said that all the chatting will give us nowhere,"Saphira put her hands on her hips and flashed a cocky smile of interest,"I actually happen to be a fan of quick action, and I can tell you are as well…! I know what you're thinking of doing."
"Do you now, Saphira…?"Aiden challenged that brave assumption as they stared each other down.
"I do indeed… You're going to sneak your way to your friend's home, and rescue them,"Aiden twitched his neck and sighed that he was in fact made out,"That's awfully reckless of you, and I'd be in a lot of trouble if I let you just run off on your own…!"
"Right… Which is why you're coming with me…! Surely a lady like you will be plenty of protection in case this is…"a trap"…!"Aiden retorted and made Saphira chuckled and nodded at his equally impressive words.
"Well played…! All though I was planning to do that any ways, and prove to you that I do care about the ponies,"Saphira admitted while her cocky smile reformed into a respectful one,"Since you have shown me just how much you care for them…"
Aiden slowly smiled from the women's next choice of words about the ponies. At last they had found some equal ground about what was important to them, they could finally feel a bit like kindred spirits. Two humans among a world of ponies that they trusted with their old home. And now they could finally make a difference in it, and maybe even start to see friendship between them. It was then that their moment was ruined by the sound of hooves stampeding down the hall.
"Wait!"Came the calls of Aiden's friends racing to the upper hall way to the main room.
They looked up the stairs to see Flurry Heart, Haze, and Faze coming to the stairs. Flurry Heart and Faze manage to start their way down the steps, while Haze slipped on the freshly waxed floor. Before he was then screaming and gliding across the hallway and crashing into a statue. The humans looked to the embarrassing failure of running across a hall way. Before Faze and Flurry got down the stairs and needed a moment to catch their breath from trying to chase them down.
"Wait…! We know your upset… And we wanna help…!"Flurry panted while Haze was groaning in the background and trying to hide the statue he broke under the rug.
"Aiden…! We know what you can be like when you're set on something…! So I know you weren't blowing off steam back there,"Faze panted and caught his breath while Haze slowly walked down the stairs discretely,"You're actually going to go to Ponyville to help the princess of friendship."
"Yeah, Twilight is an important pony to me, and I'm not going to leave her to die,"Aiden made himself clear while Haze quietly joined the group, hoping to forget about what happened,"Saphira is coming with me just in case, but I won't need much help with just another one of the dark one's monsters…!"
"We'll come too! Together this monster won't stand a chance…!"Flurry wanted to be at Aiden's side for this adventure to Ponyville.
"No… Better it be just me and Saphira. That way we don't need to worry about any of you getting hurt."Aiden decided against it while Flurry gasped lightly and felt a bit scared from the sudden deny.
"He's right, the more that come with us. The more bodies this demon can tear into,"Saphira agreed while the twins sighed together and nodded with understanding,"And frankly, I'd rather not risk the thought of carrying the body of a fallen filly princess back to her grieving parents…!"
"And I don't want to either… I love you too much to let you die for me…"Aiden approached and put his hand to her cheek as she shook her head and lowered it.
"I don't want you to die either…"Flurry grit her teeth and panted a little bit for having to stay behind.
Aiden froze for a moment and closed his eyes, completely understanding her fear. Before he then nodded and leaned forward, locking his lips with hers for a momentary kiss. It was light and quick, but no less loving and compassionate for the princess as he then let out a chuckle.
"It's not my first rodeo with a demon…! I killed three of them before I was deemed fully potty trained,"Aiden joked as she looked to him sadly, but nodded with faith in his abilities,"I'll be ok, and right now. I need to make sure your aunt is going to be ok."
"Ok… Promise me you'll be safe… And you'll save aunt Twilight… Please."Flurry at least wanted to feel like Aiden would return, and Twilight would be with him.
"I promise…! Twilight will be safe, and the only thing that's going down, is that demon…!"Aiden promised and rubbed Flurry's cheek before she was able to give him a trusting smile.
"In that case, you'll both want to take the first train you can snatch up for a ride to Ponyville,"Faze pulled out a small bag of bits while Haze pulled out a tiny ball of white magic,"This should be enough to get on that train, give that wretched demon all kinds of Tartarus."
"Also, break this little ball in case of an emergency, and get ready to go wild,"Saphira got the bit bag while Aiden got the magic ball that went straight in his pocket,"Now I would hurry up and get going before the family tries to stop the two of you…!"
"Good point, then we must leave immediately…!"Saphira decided and gestured to the doors that they needed to depart through.
"Right…! You guys got us covered,"Aiden got nods all around from the others before Saphira took the lead and opened the doors,"Then we'll see each other soon enough. Give us an hour or so before letting the adults know where we're going…!"
"You got it, bro!"The twins both saluted the boy before he ran off to catch up with Saphira.
Aiden remained at the women's side as they walked out the door, as the ponies waved them off. For there was now hope to save the princess of friendship, and save harmony from an untimely demise. Flurry kept her smile, and the promise that Aiden made to her. She put a hoof to her heart and kept her smile going, having faith in Aiden's bravery and kindred spirit. Before her and the twins walked off to buy the humans time, and have wishful thinking for princess Twilight's rescue from evil.
So I hope this Aiden story is still appealing to you the lovely readers, It is going to start picking up. And I'm already working on Sweet and Elite for Equestria's Warrior Returns, my gosh the plans I have. Also, try to review when you all can, I like to hear from all of you and see how the stories are going for you. Stay pony every one.