Sins of Harmony
Volume 2: Enemies Unbound
Chapter 36: Parental affairs, Mental Duality.
Mid Morning
May 28th, 1006 ANM
Canterlot, Stablebury residential area.
Residence of Princess Twilight's parents.
"Uh, I like your clock." Flash Sentry awkwardly tried to strike up conversation. Opposite him, Night Light gave a small smile. If it had been other circumstances, he'd try the tough dad routine, considering it was obvious both Twilight and Flash felt for one another.
But, with Flash's close friend Sleek Slammer, and in turn a newer friend of Twilight's dead, it was not the right thing to do.
"No need to be intimidated son. But, if I may, how are you feeling, about, recent things?"
"I, well, its been tough. Sleek was a real good friend of mine, he didn't really have many other friends besides me, but he was very true to me and the few he had. I just, it was so sudden." Flash hung his head a bit, while Night light offered some comforting words:
"I er, I wasn't a guard, so I can't speak for his experience. But, don't blame yourself."
"I don't sir, I blame whatever dog killed him, the one that killed those others before we got there." Flash said, some anger in his voice.
"That bad?" Night Light asked, a bit white in the face.
"We didn't see it, but it was up there with the worst I've seen." Flash commented, his anger subsiding a bit now.
"Well, I'm just glad Twilight wasn't harmed, or her friends."
"Me too. Well, she's been a big help with me, helping me cope with Sleek's death and all." Flash straightened up a little as he spoke about her.
Under his breath, Night Light muttered: "Alright, enough of this."
"Flash."
"Yes sir?"
"If you and Twilight are going to be closer together by duty, as her father, I'm going to make sure I'm clear. And maybe clear you up to your own feelings." Night Light took a sip of a nearby coffee cup, held by his magic.
Flash now looked a little uncertain: "I don't follow sir."
"My wife and I know you like Twilight, as she does you in turn."
"Wait, how did we get to this conversation? How do you know I like Princess Twilight?" Flash was taken aback now.
"Our daughter in law is the Crystal Empire Princess, who when you're not assigned to Twilight, you closely serve. She has good eyes for budding romance. And Sleek-" Night Light then shut his mouth a bit, as Flash Sentry replied a little softly at the sound of his friend's name:
"What about Sleek?"
"Shining Armour asked him to, while you were with Twilight on the search for the runaways in Oceania, to, watch you and her, and tell him of anything concerning their relationship." Night Light looked down a bit.
"Why?" Flash asked.
"I asked Shining Armour the same question. He said he was, checking you, as a big brother would. He convinced Sleek to do it." Night Light then smiled a little:
"And, what Sleek said when you returned from Oceania convinced him, and me, that you were good for my daughter."
Flash was quiet now, but asked a with some trepidation: "Are you, saying, what?"
"You can go ahead if you wish son, if you want to. If you do, treat her well, you seem like a nice stallion." Night Light said, placing his now empty coffee cup on the table between them.
Flash thought for a moment, a ghost of a smile coming to his face: "Sleek always said I was a bit clueless with girls who liked me."
A thought then crossed his mind, and Flash raised an eyebrow as he said: "Let me guess, Twilight and her mother having a similar conversation?"
"Maybe." Night Light stood up to carry his coffee cup into the nearby kitchen.
Relaxing on the couch, Flash wiped his forehead in relief:
"Whew!"
"Hoo!"
"Argh!" Flash jumped off the couch, as he saw an Owl overhead in the small chandelier. Owlicious had a knack for appearing out of nowhere, with his annoying hooting at certain noises.
"Nearly gave me a heart attack." Flash muttered to himself.
A certain dragon stomped down the stairs, having seen at least that incident. Spike had been told what conversations were taking place, so he kept out of both. He laughed at Flash's expense a little.
"You'll get used to him."
"Will I?" Flash asked, staring up at the owl.
"You'll have to, if you go for her." Spike commented.
"Hoo!"
"Twili-no! I'm not falling for that old trick!" Spike jabbed a claw at the owl, who simply stared back from the living room chandelier, tilting his head slightly.
Meanwhile, Flash had thoughts mostly to Twilight, but some for Sleek Slammer also:
Thanks Sleek. You went behind my back, but at least I don't have to worry about her parents.
Upstairs in Twilight's bedroom, her conversation with her mother hadn't been as long. After all, they'd covered something similar shortly after she returned from the Oceania area.
Needless to say, Twilight followed her mother out, a burning sensation across her face.
2 hours later
From the kitchen window, Twilight Velvet and Night Light saw their daughter walking down the street, with Spike going on ahead with Owlicious. Flash briefly stopped her, speaking to her in what seemed a soft tone of voice.
As Twilight threw her wings around Flash after about a minute of awkward discussion, Twilight Velvet leant into Night Light, commenting:
"Our little girl has grown up hasn't she? Celestia's student, a Princess, and now a good stallion to try with."
"I'm just glad she saved the third for last." Night Light commented dryly. Lightly nudging his flank, Twilight Velvet went elsewhere in the house, leaving her husband to stare fleetingly at his daughter through the window. A last reminder that she'd grown up.
Spike stood ahead of them, tapping a foot with Owlicious on his large shoulder.
Walking beside Flash, Twilight whispered lightly to him: "My dad had a few words with you, didn't he?"
"Yeah, he did." Flash said softly. All of a sudden, a naughty thought crossed his mind. Something he found cute was Twilight when she was annoyed. And frankly, who he had in mind deserved it.
"Hey, uh, you may wanna know, I found out that your brother was having us spied on."
Twilight stopped briefly, saying a bit too softly: "What?"
"Yeah, he had Sleek Slammer 'watching' us when we were in the Oceanic Alliance, chasing Varkan down. Some sort of-"
"Big brother protecting his sister thing, yeah, I get it. I guess Sleek convinced him then?" Twilight said happily.
"Seems so."
"Good. Now I can just send a letter to Cadance explaining what he did, and leave the rest to her." Twilight walked off. Flash's grin dimmed slightly, as he asked her:
"Uhm, I've heard enough about how Princess Candance has ways of putting your brother in his place, what few times he does anything. Won't that be a bit cruel?"
"He'll be fine."
The Next day
May 29th, 1006 ANM
Early morning
Crystal Empire, Royal Palace, bedroom level.
A servant crystal pony trotted down the hallways, a morning newspaper ready for the Princess and consort.
Rounding the last corner, she almost giggled at the sight of Consort Shining Armour, asleep in the hallway, with a single blanket over him.
She gently shook him awake, saying: "Your morning paper sir."
The consort groaned, taking the newspaper from the servant. As she turned to open the bedroom door, to Cadance alone in bed no doubt for just this night, Shining Armour muttered barely audibly:
"I gave my approval of him. Why this?"
May 30th, 1006 ANM
Mid Morning
Canterlot, royal palace
Throne room
"You understand?"
"Yes your majesties." Min-Wei bowed his golden scales head low, more than happy to serve. He exited the throne room, escorted by the usual, cautionary guard pegasi and Unicorns in armour.
As part of his service to Equestria, Min-Wei did tasks on behalf of the country. To the public, he was not guilty of spreading the dragon rabies, not knowingly at least. So this was atonement.
He was really somewhat guilty, knowing it was a virus, just not its spreading speed and potency. So it was a half truth of sorts.
Nearby, while Celestia bid the defected Eastern Dragon farewell, Twilight turned to her:
"Princess Celestia. Is it really wise to send him off to the south on his own?"
"I wouldn't worry about that Twilight. I have my captain of the guard, and his assistant, at his insistence, heading with him, along with another Unicorn. They'll all be fine." Celestia wasn't worried at all.
"Who is the other Unicorn? I know Blacksaddler will be alright, but who else is there?"
Celestia smiled a little, though more ruefully, as she turned to Twilight: "Well, he came out of hiding because it was his vision that first hinted at somebody targeting all 6 of you. He also came here to see the Harmony volcano for himself. I'm sorry to say you couldn't meet him just yet Twilight, but Starswirl insists he be the one to approach you."
"Starswirl the-the." Twilight flushed a little, while Celestia chuckled at her former student's realisation.
"Not so bearded as he once was, if you've seen his statue changes." Celestia commented with a mild laugh.
Skies just outside Canterlot, heading south.
Flying full size, Min-Wei's golden and jade striped form snaked through the clouds, high for now. He'd go low and less detected before they reached the badlands.
As he beat his smaller, but effective wings, boosting his serpentine body aloft and along, he enjoyed the flying. His 3 passengers on his back however, had varying complaints, due to his speed and height of flight.
"Oh Mr. B! I don't feel so good with heights!"
Baldrek swayed a little atop Min-Wei's form, a makeshift seat between some supplies they carried, strapped to the Eastern Dragon's torso.
"Just, hold on Baldrek! It'll be a nightmare to put how you died on your grave if you go over!" Captain Blacksaddler yelled over the wind.
Up front, Min-Wei mentally tuned out the voices, while Starswirl turned around to yell, while his longer mane whipped around him:
"Stop your mewling, and keep a steady stomach until we arrive!"
Blacksaddler muttered, unheard in the winds during Min-Wei's flight:
"I'm walking back."
May 31st, 1006 ANM
Midday
Badlands, bandit disputed region between south Equestria and Mutthico.
Dog encampment lakebed.
Gazing out from the small tent he'd set up on a nearby hill slope, Garnet, still having dyed his fur a dark grey colour, watched as another pack of dogs entered the dried up lake bed below.
Already there were hundreds, each with weapons, tools, and dogs able to fight. Better yet were those that brought vehicles, mostly beat up, converted desert trucks or motorhomes, but some custom made offroad beasts, varying in design and manic aesthetics.
"More are coming still. They'll never know we've set the bounties, hired them. We'll be a 'representative' of ourselves."
"Fodder, useless maggots of dogs to throw at them. We'll kill one of those 6, then, the Entity is next. Its plans won't go through, not if I say so!"
Shaking his head, Garnet pulled himself inside his tent, as Tyree was acting up again:
"No, we need to be smart. Don't just throw them out as-"
"That's all they're good for, witless mutts and bitches the lot of them! No, we'll be ready. And, we know where they are, they think they're so smart to split them up, yes.. One in Canterlot, 2 in Cloudsdale, and 3 in Manehatten."
"All hard targets to get at. None in the south really. Manehatten is a thousand miles north east, and Canterlot 800 directly north. Cloudsdale's worst, 1100 miles north west." Garnet mused over the difficulty of their targets.
"Yes, be we separated them! Us having information on their lives in that town scared them into splitting up, like little fishes in a pond when a stone splashes. And we, we have our, other, means, of drawing them out, or getting at them."
Garnet paused as Tyree settled down, but he was worried. Tyree had been getting more rowdy since he'd held him from trying to kill Twilight in the tunnel, when they killed Sleek Slammer. It seemed Tyree and him wanted the same, at least one Element bearer dead. But Garnet wanted to live to see that the Entity's plans failed because of it.
They had to wait though, as more diamond dog hunting parties gathered in the lake bed below.
The gathering of enemies, or Garnet/Tyree's assets, begins. All the while, Tyree is slowly influencing Garnet's mentality more and more.
Meanwhile, some relations get resolved, and advanced.
As usual, please review/critique as one would.
Note: Updated OC character voices to be found in Volume 1.