#53
"NOOOOOO!"
I opened my eyes slowly, not really in a rush after that scream. It was in my head, although I couldn't tell if it was mine or someone else's, a paradox from my dreams. I hate those dreams where you wake up thinking you can recall scene by scene, only to realize it's all in jigsaw pieces, this dream was like that. I'm sure there was some imagery to this dream, but as of right now, all I can see in my figment of memory is a white canvas with an audio of desperate scream in the background. And I can't really classify this dream as a nightmare when I don't know how to feel, terrified or confused.
"Morning…? Already…?"
I picked my head up off the bed and looked around, trying to see if I could catch of glimpse of anyone, but no one was around. Huh? Where's my morning surprise? I guess no surprise for me today, although the absence of Strike was strange, she'd disappeared off to somewhere, she wasn't around me.
"Strike?" I asked to see if she'd just moved to somewhere else in the room, but the lack of response forced my hand to scratch the back of head. "I guess you're not here…"
I stepped out of my room, guiding my shirt down my body as I walked around with just socks on, I was too lazy to follow through with my morning steps.
"Hello?" I asked stepping into the kitchen, but again, I was greeted by the absence of all. I cleared my throat as I scratched my head again, not really understanding what was up with the empty house. "Some surprise I woke up too." I sighed, trying to lighten myself up with some sarcasm, an obvious fail sadly.
I traveled back to my room before pausing at Flutter's door and studying the slightly open gap of the door. Oh? I reached my hand for the door and gave it a small push which resulted in it widely opening. I was slightly confused at the sight, but nonetheless, I appreciated the fact I wasn't alone in the house. K and Chrysalis made themselves comfortable on Flutter's bed, which sadly had no sign of Flutters or Strike.
I sighed before smirking and closing the door softly, no use waking them up.
"Good morning!"
Every single hair on my body stood on end as I slowly turned to Strike, her smile showing clearly how happily she had awoken. I let out my trembling breath as I gulped, never have I felt such a friendly scare, but boy did it cause some goosebumps.
"You may have scared the living shit out of me-I smirked as I let go of Flutter's door-but good morning."
She smiled with a giggle. "Uh…sorry,"
"Nice surprise, trying to give me a heart attack, now tell me where you were hiding!" I demanded as I moved into the living room and threw myself on the couch, kicking my feet up. She blushed out randomly and hopped onto the couch I was on, my head trying to explain the sudden reaction.
"That wasn't the surprise…" She answered, ashamed of something.
I dodged an eyebrow as I agreed with her on that. When she said surprise last night, I wasn't expecting her to scare me with a "good morning!" greeting, I was expecting something like a good breakfast or a good morning kiss, or something along those lines. "No kidding, what did you have in mind?"
She flustered a bit which made my head begin drawing its own conclusions.
"Uh…well…it's kind of embarrassing to say…"
I played dumb on her, I had to, to get the answer I needed. "Embarrassing?" I asked and she looked away as she nodded.
"Y-yeah…you know…bedroom stuff…"
"Bedroom stuff?" I smugly returned with a smirk, trying to get her to go into detail. She was bright red again and flustering as she refused to look me in the eye. "You know…" She responded before opening her mouth and using her hoof to show an in-and-out motion. I laughed before nodding.
"Geez, that would've made this morning so much more better! Why did you faulter!?" I asked, accepting the loss of a valuable opportunity, before I closed my eyes and sighed. "Was it because I was still asleep?" I asked, ready to feel ashamed if that was it.
She looked up and shook her head, before scooting in closer and sighing. "I was nervous about K and his partner he's with coming in…maybe some other time…when they aren't around?"
As much as I would say she could've just locked the door, that wouldn't change anything, even so, she did place an offer on the table. "Alright, but still, thanks, I'm sure you put some thought into it." I made myself comfortable on the couch before adjusting at hearing the sound of some demon rummaging around in Flutter's room.
"You're welcome!" Strike happily responded before looking over to Flutter's door at Chrysalis appearing and rubbing out the morning glare in her eyes. Oh? My demon isn't awake? Now that I think about it, if Flutters wasn't in her room all night, and these two were, then where's Flutters? I straightened my posture on the couch as I turned to face Chrysalis come over.
"Morning," She greeted, looking like she'd been rudely awoken, yet her smile begged to differ. We both greeted back before she yawned and squinted her eyes, having not yet gotten rid of that morning glare. "You two are up early, what's the occasion?"
"No occasion, just an early guy," I responded before Strike smirked. "Likewise."
Chrysalis nodded before yawning once more, not really getting use to the early morning vibes. "Alright."
Before I could lose track of my focus, I called her attention, to which she just hummed out in response.
"Hmm?"
"Have you seen Flutters? I haven't see her since yesterday, I was hoping to find her in her room, but I found some other two." I asked. She picked her head up before smirking. "Nice sub-name, Flutters," She giggled getting a feel for the nickname, before I cleared my throat to get her back on track. She smiled as she nodded.
"Oh, yes, Fluttershy…hmm…she was here last night when we got here, she said something about-
"I'm home!" Flutters voice randomly appeared off my left, sounding as if she was struggling with something. I turned to face the door, which now had a huge shadow created by something on the other side. I stared at the door as I wondered about the shadow and got up to get the door for her. "Flutters?"
"Oh! Ben! Uh…can you get the door?" She asked from the other side. I placed my hand on the knob and pulled back only to be greeted by a sea of random items; food, toys, plastic spheres, candy, combs, pots and pans, etc. I felt the items bury me in them and finally stop once they reached my neck, when I finally decided to let the door knob go, but even like that I was immobile. I blinked a few times aimlessly at the randomness of the situation before looking down at a shuffling of items. As if surprises ended with Strike, Flutters erupted out of the sea of items and popped up right in front of me.
"Good morning!" She happily greeted before I lifted my hand up having grabbed a random item and brought it up to view. It was pack of batteries, of all things now, batteries exist here too, and double A pack as well.
"Did the thrift shop have a ninety-nine percent off!? Cause if that's if that's so, then do tell where, although, it seems you sold out the store," I mocked as I looked at the battery pack before exploring the surrounding items. "Ha! Would you know it!? A bobble head Rainbow Dash!" I smiled widely as I tapped the head and made it bob around. Flutters laughed with me as I placed that aside and picked up a TV remote.
'What the? A TV remote? What does this go to?" I asked as I clicked the 'ON' button, only to see the red led light on the remote react, it was working. "You kinda answered that on your own, it goes to a television!" Flutters cheerfully responded. I smirked, I did answer that on my own, I just didn't believe there were TV's in this world, the more you know.
"You don't say."
"Uh…Fluttershy, what's with the abnormal amount of junk?" Chrysalis asked, saving me the time of asking. Strike agreed with a chuckle. "Yeah, you got Ben swimming in that stuff, literally."
"Oh…" Flutters responded looking around before smiling. "I'm just getting things to prepare for future holidays!"
"Holidays?" Both Chrysalis and Strike asked. She replied with a simple nod. "Yeah, you know; Hearth's Warming, Hearts n' Hooves day…" She didn't responses from them leading her to just stare and ponder.
"You don't know?"
Chrysalis and Strike looked at each other before shrugging.
"Never cared." Chrysalis replied before Strike smirked. "Never heard of it."
Considering Chrysalis was a sort of Ex-villain, and Strike was a new-born creation, it suited them well. As for me, I could only guess what these holidays where about, I was, too, dragged out into a new world.
"How about you Ben?" Flutters asked, turning to me next.
"I'm new here as well," I chuckled making her sigh in defeat before smiling.
"Well! It's a good thing to experience holidays!"
"I'll say!" I responded making her slightly frown. "I thought you said-
I smiled with a nod. "We had holidays in our old world."
She stared for moment and smiled before agreeing with terms and looking ahead to the pony and changeling. Now that she knew some of that she could just focus on them.
"Well, Ben knows, it's a good time to gather around and have enjoy a carefree day!"
"Sounds good to me!" Strike agreed while Chrysalis nodded slowly, trying to accept the description. "I guess…it's alright."
"That's the spirit!" Flutters rejoiced before looking around herself, she was lost in the same sea I was in. I looked around as well as I teleported my way out and joined Strike and Chrysalis before coming for Flutters.
"How did you even move all this!?" I asked as I reached for her, before plucking her out of the dense collection of items. I placed her down before looking at the over exaggerated number of items, obstructing our way out the house. Flutters turned and giggled nervously. "Uh…with my hooves?"
"With your hooves!?" I asked turning over to her. She smiled nervously as she clapped her hooves together. "Yeah…I feel oddly energized."
"NO KIDDING!" Strike exclaimed coming up and studying the items herself. "You're insane for pushing this all the way here! And with no magic!"
"Really?" She asked before blushing a bit. "I guess I'm a bit stronger than I look."
I reached down for what looked like a cinder block and lifted it, damn thing weighed about twenty pounds. I looked over to Flutter before shaking my head and chuckling, accepting this surprise from her. "Where are you going to put all this!?"
She looked up at me with a smile, assuring me she had something in mind.
"Oh, don't worry, I've got a place!"
"Really?" Chrysalis asked, amused by Flutter's confidence.
"Yup," Flutters answered back with the same confidence before looking over at me and over to the kitchen. "Uh…would any of you mind helping me with this stuff?"
I smirked with a nod as I placed the cinder block down. "Sure." I turned over to Chrysalis and Strike, with my hand aimed at their horns. "I'm pretty sure that magic of yours can do wonders for our backs if you two helped out."
Chrysalis and Strike replied with smirks as well and shrugged. "Alright."
After what seemed like years, I still couldn't believe Flutters has basement, which she had apparently asked to be built in a few months ago and thanks to her nagging, obtained it. And now, lastly, the cinder block. I felt like gravity was acting normally on it when I carried it, but it seemed like gravity did a flip as Flutters lifted it without a grunt and dropped it gently, almost like she would if it were a ceramic plate. Despite that, I shrugged it off as I moved out the underground area and waited in the kitchen, along with Strike and Chrysalis.
"Flutters, seems a bit stronger than usual, doesn't she?" I asked around and got instant nods from everyone. Chrysalis remained silent, pondering the odd ability before Strike cleared her throat, getting our attention.
"Don't you think K might have something to do with this?" She asked, making me glare at Chrysalis and Chrysalis at me. "He did place his crazy demonized soul in her, meaning she would act like him at times, this strength is probably something like that."
Chrysalis thought about it before shrugging in acceptance. "I wouldn't really know, but it does sound like a reasonable explanation."
They both turned to me, to which I fully agreed with her statement. "Yeah, that's about as explained as it gets, Flutters was strange versus Yuson; cocky attitude change, violent, able to levitate, fire magic like K and I, and was physically stronger." I sighed as I agreed with those terms. "So yeah, that solves that, although for her sake, we shouldn't mention it."
They agreed and we went silent as Flutters came out, a few beads of sweat going down her face as she shut the huge trapdoor.
"Well, that's that!"
"Yup!" I agreed, getting a smile from her.
"Thank you for the help!"
"No problem."
We all took in some air from the lifting, getting our breathing sorted out. We discussed a small breakfast in a while, but never got to finish our conversation as the front door gently creaked open. I turned around, finding a familiar face.
"Morning Celestia." I greeted before Luna came up from behind and forcing a smile on my face. "Hello to you too."
"Good morning, slept well I'm guessing?" Celestia asked not really wanting to force a smile. I shrugged in response. "Like normal."
She smiled this time before closing the door behind themselves.
"Good to hear, anything of interest lately?" Luna asked me, trying to hint at something I clearly missed when I decided to answer straight up.
"Well, probably Flutters stocking up on holiday items."
Luna lifted an eyebrow before quickly shaking her head, denouncing that answer. I straighten up a bit now seeing she actually has business here. "Judging by the objection, I take it there's something urgent?" I hinted, and I was right to hint since they nodded with shame.
"You've judged correctly, I take it K didn't tell you?" Celestia asked. I picked my head up a bit and reminded myself about today. She was right about business, K did tell me, but I hadn't given it much thought since I was around the ponies.
"Oh yeah! He did mention that thing with Sting." I revealed making them rise with agreement, encouraging Chrysalis, Strike, and Flutters to scoot up to my sides.
"Sting?" Flutters asked before Celestia explained. She explained it as if it were as simple as a chore, but with Chrysalis giving off an unnerving glare at them, and their serious tone, I was quickly taken off track, and focused on a better explanation.
"What's the catch?" I asked stopping her mid-explanation and forcing eyes on me. They stared at me before Chrysalis stepped up.
"Yes, catch, it's isn't right to send out an unprepared pawn into a warzone now is it?"
I froze for a moment as I let those words pierce my mind. This was an easy clue Chrysalis was giving me, and on purpose. Chrysalis knew something I didn't and now that I know that, the princesses were hiding something as well. I crossed my arms and took in some air. "So, this isn't a catch, more like missing intel, alright then, I'm hoping I was meant to hear this."
The princesses looked at each other before nodding and explaining. I remained straight-faced throughout their explanation, not once taking anything negative too deeply. At last, she ended with a voice that sounded semi-warning, if not trying to encourage me to take precaution, and I fully respected her words and took them with high meaning. Even with that, it was puzzling as to why Sting has a random hatred towards me, I never wronged him in any way, in fact, I've been all but kind towards him.
"A hatred…towards me…this is interesting." I stated with a smirk. The thought of fighting someone with a hatred towards me is most intriguing, and I certainly wouldn't mind if it was to find the hatred source and help out Sting. I felt some magic tug on my shoulder and reverted over to Chrysalis, who demanded me be more serious.
"If K doesn't show it, then I'll do it for him," She randomly brought up, forcing me to fully give her my attention. "What?"
She glared up at me as if expecting more, before looking off to the side. "K isn't comfortable with this spar, he's worried about you."
"K!?" I asked with a smirk, not really taking that from her. She frowned with one firm nod. "He stayed up almost all night thinking about it, that's why you still see him asleep in the room!"
I took a moment to take in her reasoning and seriousness, forcing my own serious response. "Fine, he's cried for me before…I guess I can hear him out this time too."
Everyone stared at me as I nodded and sighed, closing my eyes to clear my throat.
"K's worried…" Luna asked before Chrysalis surely nodded.
Luna took a step forward. "There shouldn't be reason of worry…Sting's not really much of threat is he now?"
I opened my eyes and shook my head, defending K's judgment. "K's always had my back, so I have his as well, and if he feels in danger, then I am."
"Ben…" Celestia called out making me raise my hand to stop her there.
"Nonetheless, our problem won't be fixed without truly finding out Sting's problem, if we never do, I'm guessing he'll grow a grudge, and if hatred fuels a monster, then I'd hate to see what becomes of Sting, considering he's been through so much, and has a mare who actually cares about him. I don't want to see that ruined."
"In other words, you has no choice then." Flutters responded, crestfallen by my words. Everyone nodded, and to cheer the mood, I stretched a grin across my face.
"Well, if a fight he desires, it shall be that way, Sting is almost the equivalent of me, and Jade the counter of K, I have a feeling this will be something to experience."
Celestia gave off a peculiar look as she questioned my words. "I agree, Sting and Jade are realistically your past counters, but would it really be as difficult as you say?"
I thought about it before picking my head up and affirming it. "Sting is still in his teens, or youth, and has knowledge from your mother, and ancient types, I can only guess he could hold something hidden from me."
Celestia and Luna looked at each other before gulping. "That's very possible…"
I took a small pause to get my thoughts back in order before remembering they were here for a reason and inquiring, as to which they signaled what we spoke about.
"We actually came to check on you, before this event, we'll go to Sting after this and decide a time."
"Judging by the way Sting was so distraught, don't be surprised when he asks you to have it right on the spot." Chrysalis warned and I listened. Sting being distraught was something new, I thought he was more laid back than me, but it doesn't seem that way. I turned to the princesses to find them thinking about it. Celestia sighed as she took in the seriousness of the matter.
"I don't care about his opinion, in all fairness, it's up to him and Ben to decide together on a time."
It's odd, when you get that feeling something is starting to slowly become inevitable, I've got that now. I listened to them chatter in the background as I tried to think clearly. Something was starting to feel funny about this dilemma, and now I was beginning to become suspect. If there was any judgment I could trust in this room, it was mine and Chrysalis's, it seemed Chrysalis was stating more correctly driven ideas than the princesses.
"Celestia," I called and she turned. She remained silent before I stepped up to her and gulped. "When you're ready to leave, I'm coming with you."
She was taken back slightly and stared at me for a few before questioning. "Are you sure?"
I nodded without hesitation. "Yes, if what you say is true, I have a feeling Sting won't have the patience, and from what we just discussed…Sting honestly doesn't sound like the one I met."
There was silence, only for a moment before someone cleared their voice.
"Damn straight."
"K!" Everyone greeted in exclamation before I smiled at his sight and greeted him. He responded positively with a smile and took a heavy breath, it seems he had woken at the nick of time. He didn't have his vest on, just a tank and some jeans, probably too earily to worry about clothes. "Morning." He smirked as he rubbed his eyes and stretched.
"Good morning K," Luna greeted followed by Celestia.
"Hey." K greeted back, not really putting much effort into his smile, instead he put it into his question as he joined Celestia's side and looked down at her. "So, we're going to see Sting?"
"Yes, is there a problem?" Celestia asked back, trying to see if he would object, but he didn't. K looked up at me and shook his head.
"Considering this is inevitable, it probably best we hold back the negativity, and it seems you already discussed enough, so no, no problem."
We all looked at each other before K brought his hand up, to which we all gave attention. "Okay, maybe one…"
"What is it?" Celestia asked. K simply turned to the floor with a hand out.
"I…uh…I told Vinyl about this, and that actually created a crowd of familiar ponies…"
Celestia dodged an eyebrow. "Of what likes?"
"Lyra, Bonbon, Octavia, Scootaloo, Belle, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Derpy, Starlight, Trixie…and if Scootaloo got that information…there's no doubt in my mind that Dash got some of that, and if Dash got some of that…well…let's just say we might be in for it." K looked back at Celestia, hoping for a positive response, yet it seemed like Celestia was remaining more neutral at the moment. She shrugged it off leaving behind her answer.
"Well…I guess there's no problem…"
K smiled and closed a fist. "I'll take responsibility and take care of them."
"So, Body Guard duty for you then?" I asked and he gave a simple nod with a simple answer.
"Yup."
We all let there be a moment of silence, not really knowing how to start a conversation that was stress free. We all glanced around before I finally decided to smirk and accept the silence, getting instant attention.
"I appreciate you finally taking my advice and taking a break." I began, hoping for some words to come back my way. Celestia and Luna both smiled with an assuring nod. "Yes! We believe it's best enjoyed when there is peace…well, sort of."
"Yeah, so the sooner, the better! When are we off?" I asked quickly directing the question to the main focus of today. There was a silence again, ominous and strange. Celestia looked away and cleared her throat. "I suppose…when you feel like it."
I picked my head up and smiled. "Well, I already answered that then, the sooner, the better!"
Everyone exchanged looks between each other before Luna stepped up. "You sure?"
"If it means helping Sting out, you two finally getting a break, and getting to know both Sting and Jade a bit more, then there is no argument from me." I gave back, and she took it with a smile. "Fine."
"Alright," K agreed before looking around and turning to me. "Let's get your things ready."
I ran a fist into my palm and grinned. "Let's go!"
"What's wrong with you?" Jade asked across the table, trying to see if she could unlock something with in him that'll let her see what his hatred was made up of, but Sting's about as hard as stone. Sting had been staring at a bowl of cereal this whole time, just watching the wheat pieces mold into chucks of moist sogginess. He looked up and shook his head. "Nothing."
This rentable room wasn't enough for Sting. Jade searched until she had found the perfect place, hoping to get a reaction out of him, but all she got was disappointment. The room was dim lit and was furnished with what seemed the best of furniture and appliances, and it even seemed like it could be used for long term, what Jade actually intended, but with Sting acting like he is, that wasn't in mind anymore.
Jade sighed with frown towards her own bowl of cereal, she never really enjoyed it out of worry for Sting.
"I thought we made a right decision…stepping out of that dark, cold, and dingy, time warp…"
Sting wasn't moved, as expected by her, but she didn't plan to deal with how much it would hurt to have him ignore it.
"What happened to you?" She asked once more and like before he responded, simple. "Nothing."
She glared at him, almost wanting to regret so many things, but she shivered as she took back those words and almost let out a whimper.
"Will fighting this Ben…really be the answer?" She asked not wanting to whimper, but it seemed at this rate that it might prefer to try to not sob. Now, that got a reaction unlike before. Sting looked up at her, for the first time of the day and nodded. "Yes."
By now it was eerie, Sting was acting like never before, and it was clear he held something back, but that something was unreadable. Jade huffed out a slow choppy breath and tried to control herself as she looked him in the eye, and that was difficult enough with his death stare going on.
"So, fighting him…" Jade gushed out trying to avoid eyesight.
"No…"
Jade hicced as she froze for a moment, slowly turning to him. There was a new vibe in the air, something so sharp is was making her suffocate just trying to understand. "W-what?" She asked.
Sting picked his head up and let her suffer in such an evil stare, with meaning behind his eyes.
"Killing him."
Jade retracted her back onto her seat gulping heavily as her mouth trembled with objection. Sting stared back down at his bowl and pushed it away. At last, it wasn't able to be held back, and Jade let her conscious take over.
"WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU!? YOU'VE LOST YOUR MIND EVER SINCE YESTERDAY! AND HOW CAN YOU BE SO CRUEL AS TO SAY SUCH A THING, AND TO THOSE WHO HAVEN'T WRONGED YOU IN ANY-!"
She knew now this wasn't who she knew as Sting. Sting would never lunge at her and pin her to the ground, almost strangling her in the processes. She stared up at him, her eyes trembling as she tried to hold back whatever was forcing out her tears with a frown, letting her breath pass through her clenched teeth.
"Keep your mouth shut before I stitch it shut for you."
If Jade had never feared for herself, then here she did. Everything she had ever dedicated herself too, now turns on her, and in the most painful way. Jade wasn't going to just shut up because of a threat that came from someone she never knew, she tried to push back but unfortunately that only made him apply more pressure to her.
"G-get…off…me! Y-you…monster!"
Sting cocked his head over to one side and chuckled, something straight out of horror scene.
"You don't mean that."
Both Sting and Jade's ears twitched as the sound of something unsheathing arose and a silver dragon appeared besides Sting's neck. Sting looked over before the dragon suddenly turned lopsided and he had a rabidly fine razor towards his neck.
"But I do. Get off." I ordered, not once batting an eye as I gripped the handle between the glove's skin.
Sting lifted his hooves off her and straightened his posture as he turned around, the silver dragon slitting of some of the fur on his neck. In rapid succession, K disappeared from behind and reappeared with Jade by his side, her tears encouraging me to slightly push the blade up further his neck. He glared at me, a serious one, and I gave him my own glare as I slapped the side of his face gently with the face of the blade. "Explain."
He looked at the blade once more before looking up at me again. "Are you ready?"
I gritted my teeth as he held that look on him, no emotion or regret. I looked back at Jade before turning to Celestia and Luna, both too stunned to speak, and to K and Flutters who both were just staring at Sting, wondering equally as I was. I turned to him before lowering my blade and holstering it, not once giving him a chance to see positivity from me.
"What the hell was that!? I come here to see how you two were doing and this is what I see!?" I asked, tightening my anger around him. I was greeted to some fucking surprise that's for sure, I can't stop getting enough of them. He didn't react, he just remained dead locked on me, to which I was just returned with what I could. "Answer me, dammit!"
"I don't care about her, she's just in my way, it's you I need to focus on."
If that hurt me deeply, I couldn't imagine what was happening with Jade behind me. This whole scene was wrong, Flutters helped Jade calm down but Jade was already dead mentally from those words. Jade was frozen in place, her tears now falling as she trembled and whimpered like no other pony I've ever heard.
I dropped my shoulders and looked back at Jade, feeling like shit for being the reason of this situation. I took a deep breath before turning back to him.
"Some guy you turned out to be. " Chrysalis remarked before K held her back with his hand. He remained calm for the simple reason, he knew what was happening. I looked over to her and gritted my teeth once more.
"I don't know what the fuck is wrong with you, but I'll be damned if I let you go on like this!" I assured him and he aimed his look at me.
"Let's go."
"I guess I have no choice but to beat some sense into you, come on Celestia." I ordered as I let my hands drop to my sides and stare him down.
I heard Celestia shiver as she nodded and enveloped us all with her magic.
I stared at Sting as he faded slowly and he stared up at me.
"I hope you've said goodbye to everypony…"
I clenched my fists, not wanting to hear any more of his shit. It seemed K and Chrysalis were right about this guy, he was trouble. And now I'm gonna die according to him, to hell with him.
"If it's gonna be like that…then I'll make sure to tell everyone you said bye."
His expression changed slightly, more malevolent to be precise. I won't be fazed by it, instead I'll let it pain me for now, at how much I actually put faith into this guy.
Everything was calm over by Fluttershy's home, which puzzled Twilight slightly. She looked all around for a clue but found nothing. Ben wasn't around anymore.
"He should be here…" She said stepping out the house and closing the door.
"Who ya lookin' for?"
Twilight quickly picked her head up and to see AJ standing in front of her. "Huh? Oh, Applejack…uh, I was looking for Ben." She admitted moving up and meeting her a foot away. AJ smiled with a nod, of course, that was her reason for being there too.
"Oh yeah…Rainbow Dash came by and told me about what happened." She revealed and Twilight gulped.
"She did?"
"Sure did, she's actually searchin' for him as we speak." AJ explained, getting at least that positive to Twilight. Twilight picked her head up and smiled.
"Oh…okay then, I guess-
"HE'S NO WHERE!" The colorful blur zoomed by before stopping at AJ in a panic frenzy.
"Say what now?" AJ asked back and Dash quick waved her hooves maniacally.
"I checked everywhere but he's gone!" Dash screeched before AJ giggled.
"Don't worry, I'm guessin' he must be doing his thing."
"B-but without us!?"
Twilight gulped as she agreed with Dash on this one and sighed.
"Dash is right! I've been thinking about it too, and I've made up my mind, I need to check on him."
AJ and Dash both turned, but only one was excited while the other was left to wonder if she should worry about Twilight's serious tone. Dash dashed up to Twilight and aimed a hoof towards town.
"OH! And can we pick up the rest!?"
"Rest!? What rest!?" Twilight asked, confused about such a question. Dash smiled as she jumped into the air.
"Just come with me!"
I felt something appear under my feet, solid ground, and I let my body take in the new atmosphere. Looking around, I was in some open, grassy, plain area with a rare population of trees. Worst of all, I turned to see him there too, and it seemed like rain was even rolling over in our direction. He was all eyes on me as I turned and sighed.
"Alright…Sting…" I whispered out before placing one hand on my weapon and turning to him fully. "Let's see what you got."
