Chapter 103: Fear Master
"Thanks, Sparky," said Storm as he was handed a jug of milk.
The princess was next to her partner as the pair were wearing some chef aprons. The two Jedi Knights were currently in Storm's new home as Twilight had finally managed to find time during these past few days to visit her partner. While it pained her heart that he was no longer residing at the castle, mostly due to her mother paying for and building a small house for the boy as a reward for all his services, Twilight was still happy for him.
"How did you survive so long without learning to make cookies?" asked Twilight as she saw her partner stirring the mixture aggressively.
"Well, it's not like Luna went out of her way to get me sweets. She was more focused on my training. I wanted to surpass everybody else, and I did. I'm one of the fastest people to acquire the rank of Jedi Knight, and it's all because of Luna. I thank her for that." said Storm as he kept stirring. "Besides, I didn't know how to bake anything until Mr. and Mrs. Cake offered me part-time in helping to run their shop."
"Sounds like torture if you ask me," smiled Twilight as she grabbed a chocolate chip and ate it.
The girl looked at her partner, who was still stirring the mixture, as she couldn't help but sigh. She leaned a bit on the counter as she had her hand under her chin and watched Storm work his muscles to stir the mixture.
"... Sparky, Sparky!" shouted Storm.
"Huh, what?" said Twilight as she was snapped out of her mind.
"I said: The next step of the recipe calls for eggs. Can you pass them to me?" said the boy as he looked at the book the princess brought with her to make the cookies.
"Oh, right," said Twilight as she reached for the eggs' cartoon.
However, Twilight accidentally knocked over the cartoon of eggs as they splat on the floor.
"Nice job, princess," snickered Storm, and Twilight leaned over the counter to see what she did.
Twilight groaned as she walked around and bent down to pick them up. Storm did the same as he bent down and began picking up the broken shells. The boy went to pick up a shell when Twilight put her hand on top of him. She pulled back a bit as the princess looked at her partner and stared into his eyes.
While Storm glanced at the girl, the spark that was once inside his heart was shown. It flickered a bit, yet it remained cold and surrounded by a veil of darkness. Twilight slowly moved her head forward when a blade came in between them.
"Step away from the princess!" shouted a guard.
"Hut! Hut! Hut!" shouted some more guards as they appeared around the teens. Two of them grabbed Storm by his arms as they held him.
"Guards, please let him down," stated Twilight.
The princess didn't just come by herself to her partner's home. Since Storm was no longer in the castle made Night Light a bit happy that the boy was nowhere near his daughter; he was still cautious about her going alone to the boy's home as it was located a fair enough distance that he couldn't keep an eye of them, especially if he tried to take advantage of his daughter. So the King sent some guards to accompany Twilight to keep an eye on his daughter and ensure that the Jedi didn't make any moves. While there were guards inside Storm's house, guards were also standing around his home.
"Sorry, princess, but as per the order of your father, he is not to lay a hand on you," said the guard in charge of the platoon with a salute.
"Just... let him down," said Twilight.
The two guards then released Storm as the boy landed on the floor. Storm merely glared as he didn't like his new home being invaded, not to mention he couldn't have any privacy with so many eyes watching him.
"Anyways, why don't I run out and get some more eggs?" stated Storm.
"No, it's okay. I'm the one that dropped them; why don't I go?" said Twilight.
"It's fine, Sparky. Just stay here and make sure the guards don't touch anything," stated the boy as he took off his apron and began to head toward the door. "Just keep stirring, okay."
"Sure," smiled the princess as she watched her partner leave.
The girl sighed as she made her way over to the couch. She flopped down on it face-first and buried her head into the pillow. The girl then moved her head to the side as she reached into her pocket and pulled out the small blue ribbon that Storm had given her during his birthday. The princess recalled that memory that was so ingrained into her brain. The visual of Storm being speared through his heart in an attempt to protect her. The image of him dying because she was the reason. The thought of losing him haunted her. It scared her.
"I need you in my life, Storm. I can't bear the thought of you being gone," the girl sniffed as she held the ribbon.
Storm strode over to his door, opening it just in time for a familiar weight to land atop his head, accompanied by a screech from his favorite, and only, little fruit bat. The boy chuckled lightly.
"Well, Sonar seems happy," he remarked, glancing down from the little bat to the equally yellow girl in front of him, "I hope he wasn't too much trouble," he added. Fluttershy smiled and shook her head.
"Oh no, not at all!" she insisted, "He was wonderful and such a little helper as well," she said, smiling up at the little bat. Storm smirked, raising an eyebrow as he did so.
"'Helpful,' eh?" he asked, glancing upwards, "You sure you had the right bat? Sonar can be a little troublemaker most of the time," Storm noted.
"Seems he's just like his owner," said Fluttershy.
"What do you mean?" asked Storm as he didn't get what the girl said, which resulted in the girl chuckling.
Storm dropped his gaze back to Fluttershy, but a slight flicker of movement behind her caught his attention.
"Uh, Fluttershy?" he asked, looking past her, "Are you aware the Crusaders are right behind you?"
Indeed they were. Sweetie Belle, Applebloom, and Scootaloo were all standing away from the two, fidgeting in place, each wearing a patchy red cape with a blue and yellow crest on the sides, and...
... Was that gold silk on the underside?
Where in the name of Tartarus did those three get golden silk? Storm knew from experience how difficult that stuff was to make, so how in the...
Rarity. She was, without a doubt, a person who wouldn't mind going through the process of making it, which was a bitch to do. But given those girls' pension for destruction, what could have made her think it was a good idea to give them something so precious?
"Oh?" Fluttershy turned her head to glance at the Crusaders, who gave her a sheepish wave before she looked back at him, "Yes, I know," she said, smiling gently, "Rarity has to make twenty robes to send to Trottingham by tomorrow, but because she'd out of gold silk and has to make more, she can't supervise the girls' sleepover, so I volunteered," she explained, that smiling not leaving her face. Storm blinked.
"... Shy, I know you're good with animals, but are you sure you can handle three girls?... Especially those three girls?" he asked as he recalled his night when he had to babysit. Fluttershy nodded.
"Of course. How different could it be from looking after my animals?" she asked, "I'm sure I'll be fine; they're only kids, after all," she added.
"I'll be praying for you," said Storm when he tugged his open-zipped hoodie and saw Sweetie Belle looking at him.
"Can you come, handsome?" asked Sweetie Belle with a smile as she looked at her childhood crush.
"Yuck," gagged Scootaloo as she didn't like how Sweetie Belle was showing affection for the Jedi Knight.
"I'm good. I have a meeting with Twilight's mother," said the boy.
"Oh, is it... uhm..."
"Me getting my head cut off? Maybe. But, don't want to keep the Queen waiting." said Storm as he shook off Sweetie Belle and approached the nearby stable.
In addition to building the small home for the Jedi Knight, Velvet allowed Storm to keep his horse, Spirit, as she saw just how much of a bond the creature had with the teen. Storm saddled up Spirit as he trotted out of the stable. The girls saw him as Sweetie Belle couldn't help but swoon at the image of the Jedi Knight seated on a horse.
"See you later, Fluttershy. And you three, behave!"
"Yes, Storm!" responded the girls.
"Hi-yah!" said Storm as he clicked his tongue.
Spirit gave a neigh as he took off and sprinted away with the sound of hooves trailing behind. The boy rode down the path and into the town as he made his way to the castle. It didn't take long as the boy arrived at the massive structure. Velvet's handmaiden greeted him as the woman bowed and began to lead the Jedi to where her milady was waiting.
"The Queen is inside," said the handmaiden as she opened the door, and Storm followed.
Velvet was inside as she was seated near an open balcony; some servants were present as they were tending to their majesty's needs. One of the ladies poured a cup of tea while another brought a plate of sandwiches and sweets. Velvet snapped her fingers as one of her servants approached her and fixed her hair while giving her a napkin to wipe some crumbs.
"You Majesty, he's here," said the handmaiden.
"Thank you, Deliah," said Velvet as she saw Storm before her. "That'll be all, ladies."
Velvet snapped her fingers as the maids bowed to show their respect for the Queen. They soon left, as it was just the Jedi Knight and the Queen.
"Sit down, Storm. I mean you no harm," said Velvet as she waved her hand.
A chair was enveloped in her magic as it appeared for Storm to sit across the woman.
"I promise. I won't execute you. I see you like a son to me."
"I don't know if I'm comfortable with that," said the boy as he took a seat.
"Sugar?" said Velvet.
"I'm good. Thanks, though. So... what was the reason you called me here?" asked Storm as he picked up a teacup and brought it to his lips.
"Right," said Velvet as she put her teacup down. "I was just wondering. Do you have your plan for wooing Twilight?"
Storm immediately spat out the tea in his mouth, spraying it toward Velvet, and it got the Queen all wet.
"What?!" coughed Storm as he struggled to breathe. He then looked at Velvet and saw the Queen was covered by the tea he spitted. "Oh, shit. I'm sorry!"
"It's alright," said Velvet as she raised her hand. She then snapped her fingers as she was covered in an aura. With a flash, she was cleaned up, and her clothes looked brand new.
"Now, as I was saying?"
"Your Highness, with all due respect, I'm a Jedi."
"And?" said Velvet.
"I'm a Jedi. And falling in love is a sin. It's the ultimate sin. Twilight and I are merely partners and nothing more." said Storm.
"Partners, I think it's more than that."
"Well, you're wrong," said the Jedi Knight to the Queen with serious eyes.
"Oh, come on. You're just nervous, is all. I get it. My daughter is detail-oriented and punctual; she needs every little detail to be planned and executed perfectly. Now then, I have a plan. So all we need is some candles, soft music..."
"Your Highness!" shouted Storm as his voice echoed around the room. It got Velvet to drop her act and look at the boy who slammed his hands on the table. "I'll repeat this. Twilight is merely my partner. That's all we are. Look in my eyes."
Velvet stared at the boy's eyes as she saw them. Compared to them being warm and full of light, they were cold. Like the fire that was once there had been condensed to one single spark that kept on glowing while all around was darkness and cold. Yet, there was a spark, just flickering in the wind.
"I see," spoke Velvet.
I was right. Something has changed within Storm.
(Quick Memory)
"Mom! No!" said Twilight.
"Sweetie, I know my children. And I know when you've been getting a bit starstruck with a certain boy," smiled Velvet.
"Mom, it's not like that! We're... partners," sighed Twilight.
Velvet looked at her daughter as she snapped her fingers. The nearby servants knew that signal as they bowed and quickly filed out to give the royal family some privacy.
"Twilight... I understand what it's like to have a crush on someone. And I also know what it's like to think about them nonstop. Trust me. Your father can atone for that."
"It's... different," stated Twilight as she flopped onto her bed and buried her head into her pillow.
Velvet approached her daughter, who lay on her bed as she sat on the edge. She put her hand on Twilight's back and rubbed the girl as she turned her head.
"Sweetie..."
"It's just... you and dad never had to worry about anything. You had no obstacles stopping you two. I'm a princess. My whole life has been about status, nobility, and lifestyle. And Storm... he's a Jedi at heart. Always has been and always will be. We live in two different worlds, two worlds that can never exist."
"Twilight..."
"I wish... sometimes I wish I didn't have these powers. If I were a regular girl, maybe I would have a better life," sighed Twilight.
Velvet merely sat there as she listened to her daughter's issues. The Queen soon rubbed her child's hair as Twilight looked at the blue ribbon as she thought about her partner.
"All I can say is, it's better to have loved someone and experience it than not to have," spoke the Queen to her daughter.
(End of Memory)
"I see," the Queen spoke to the Jedi Knight, staring her down.
"Your daughter deserves more. She deserves to have a happy ending. And as a Jedi, I can't give her that. Besides, there are more qualified individuals who can give the same happiness that I give to Twilight and so much more." said Storm as he took another sip.
"That is so not true," muttered Velvet to herself.
At that moment, the doors to her room opened.
"You called for me, Mom?" said Twilight.
The princess then gasped as she stopped in her tracks. The girl was surprised as Moondancer had informed her that her mother wanted to speak with her. However, she didn't expect to see her partner. Storm was also surprised as he looked at Velvet with a raised eyebrow.
Velvet's initial plan was to get the two together in some way. Before Twilight was summoned, she wanted to talk with Storm to determine his feelings for her daughter. But given his reaction and what she detected inside of him, it seemed like her plan failed horribly.
"Storm, what are you doing here?" asked Twilight.
"Leaving!" said Storm as he drank the last of his tea and got up.
The Jedi was about to exit the room when Velvet quickly stood up.
"Wait!" said the Queen as she tried to devise an excuse. The woman was still determined to see her daughter happy, and maybe she could be the key to helping Storm get back those warm feelings he once had about the girl.
"What is it, Mom?" said Twilight. "Why did you ask for me?"
"Simply, sweetie. I need you to run a quick errand for me."
"An errand? What kind?"
"One that will require you to need someone to go with you. And luckily, Storm here has volunteered to go with you."
"He has?!" said Twilight, turning red.
"Bullshit!" yelled the boy as he knew Velvet was lying.
"Yes. I recently ran out of my favorite tea, and I need you to get some more."
"Sure. Which shop is it from?" asked Twilight.
"Oh no, sweetie. See, this special tea comes from someone who only knows how to make it. She lives in the Everfree Forest." said Velvet.
"Everfree Forest?" asked Twilight.
"Exactly. This is why Storm here will accompany you and keep you safe," smiled Velvet smugly as she pushed her daughter and sent her crashing into Storm's arms as the boy caught her.
The princess looked at her partner as she was drawn to his eyes. Storm merely looked at the Queen as she put on a fake innocent smile.
"Now then, you two best hurry off. And don't worry about your father. I'll handle him. You two go get the tea from Zecora and be back before nightfall. Understand?"
"Yes, Mom," said Twilight as Velvet gave her daughter a satchel which Twilight slung across her body.
"You owe me big time!" growled Storm, as he didn't like what the Queen was trying to do.
The two Jedi Knights were shown leaving the castle grounds as Velvet saw them from her balcony.
Maybe Zecora can help. Her voodoo could help both of them see their futures more clearly.
The Everfree Forest had always been a mystery to human society. Unlike the rest of Equis, the Everfree was dark, foreboding, and, as its name stated, completely and utterly free from their control. Plants grew independently, the weather controlled itself, and the animals followed a different lifestyle than the humans expected.
Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of theories these humans created regarding Everfree's existence and its continued refusal to allow them control over it. Some claimed that it was created by the malicious entity Discord to continue his reign of terror, even long after being imprisoned in stone. Others believed that some spirit resided within the forest, one older than Equis society and one that especially didn't take to their penchant for controlling every little thing.
Personally, Storm just thought that it was Mother Nature's way of telling them to fuck off. Then again, the Everfree wasn't unique.
"Well?" Storm asked, glancing at the nervous girl at his side, "Lead the way."
Twilight returned his glance for a moment before sighing and starting forward. He watched for a moment as her purple form disappeared beyond the trees, the light failing to penetrate farther than a few feet into the forest. He nodded to himself and followed after her.
Twilight couldn't help her shaking. Dark brown, nearly black, trunks reached upwards, their expansive branches might have left enough room for some light to filter through, but the hundreds, perhaps thousands, of leaves kept the light out almost completely. Only the rare shaft of light managed to sneak through the canopy, and even then, it only lit up their surroundings enough to see, perhaps, a foot in front of their faces. And even then, it didn't help much, considering just how thick the foliage was. Wildflowers and bushes grew sporadically, their thick weeds spilling out onto the lone trail they walked on.
Even within this seemingly endless forest, it was not silent. She could hear the faint call of birds, chirping merrily as they flew through the trees. The soft thumping of small paws as various rodents scurried through the undergrowth. Even the occasional growling of a predator reached her ears, though it was thankfully too far away for it to be aimed at them.
Yes, the Everfree Forest was terrifying, no matter how many times she had to come through. The only thing that had mitigated her fear so far was her friends. She had Storm with her, so... she knew she'd be okay. She trusted her friends to help keep her safe, just as they trusted her, so...
Why was she shaking this time?
Twilight felt Storm's skin brush against hers. Immediately her face started burning, and she was certain her heart rate had started to pick up, but she did her best to ignore it, instead focusing on the feeling of their skins rubbing against each other.
It... only made it worse.
In hindsight, she probably should've guessed it would, but...
Her foot caught on something, nearly sending her tumbling down if it weren't for Storm's quick reaction. His hand snaked around her waist, catching her just before her face smacked against the forest floor.
"Careful, Sparky. You never know when you'll end up getting pitched off a cliff if you don't pay attention to where you're walking," the boy lightly remarked from right by her ear, his breath gently tickling said appendage, causing it to twitch.
"R-right..." said Twilight as she stopped to look at him for a second. Their faces were so close as the girl could feel his warm breath. The Jedi Knight lifted the princess as he held her tightly. "C-can you put me down, now? I mean, it's your call. I can wait... a few more..." Twilight didn't finish her train of thought as she got lost in Storm's eyes.
The boy chuckled but did as she asked. Twilight fidgeted slightly once she was back on all her feet, steadfastly ignoring her reddening face.
"Come on!" she said, ignoring the way her voice squeaked, "Zecora's isn't too much farther!" she added, before breaking into a mild jog, likely hoping to escape her embarrassment quickly.
She heard Storm laugh again behind her, and it didn't take long for him to catch up to her, even beginning to overtake her. It was likely the knowledge that she was the only one between them who knew where they were going that caused him to slow down slightly, returning the lead to her.
"So, what do you know about this Zecora person?" asked the Jedi Knight.
"From what my parents told me. She's a person of mystery. The kind of magic she does is... supernatural. Not to mention, she speaks rather strangely."
"Great, nothing I like more than someone who talks in riddles," stated Storm sarcastically.
The duo soon arrived in a small clearing, where a small hut sat, dead in the center. Storm smirked at the sight of the tree-turned workshop.
It stood at the same height as the other trees of the forest; however, the signs of woodwork were clear to see. Multicolored vials of unknown liquids were suspended from several branches that stuck out from the trunk. Given their slight glow, it was likely these were used to see the hut from within the darkness of the Everfree.
A set of windows had been carved into the trunk, and a single wooden door between them fit with a set of carved stairs below it. It could've belonged to anyone or anything. Some weird masks hung above the door and on the 'lawn.'
"Okay!" Twilight chirped, her breathing heavier than it should've been, "We're here..." Storm chuckled.
"You need to start doing some more exercise, Sparky," he commented, "If a little run like that tired you out so much, imagine what would happen if you were getting chased by something much faster than you,"
Twilight ignored her partner's remark about eating too many hayburgers as she jogged to the door. Storm followed behind her and knocked. A moment passed, and the sound of footsteps grew louder before the door was opened, revealing the hut's sole occupant.
The person was shown near a cauldron as they waved their hands. Some bits of magic flared as they tipped some stuff into the vat of liquid, as it began to bubble. The person was chanting some words neither Twilight nor Storm could understand as the liquid seemed to respond to her call. While her back was turned to them, the teens could make out some features, such as her salt and pepper hair styled into a fine mohawk and wrapped in a simple black wrapping. Her bright blue eyes shined with suppressed wisdom, framed lightly by several wrinkles, showing that age was beginning to catch up with her. Large golden hoop rings hung from her ears, with similar jewelry wrapped around her neck, signifying her skill in potion-making.
"The brew is nearly done. Simply one drop of the plum bun," rhymed the enchantress as she poured a vial of purple liquid.
The Jedi Knights continued to watch the enchantress as they slowly approached her.
"Rough to the tough, but I'm sharper than the gleam in your eye. To think I wasn't aware of you two entering my home, Jedi," stated Zecora as that got both teens to stop.
The pair stood there as the woman turned around to face the pair. Both Jedi looked at the woman as she gave off a presence.
"Uhm, hello, Ms. Zecora. I'm..."
"Come clear of the nets of wrong and right. Laugh, heart, again in the grey Princess Twilight."
"You know who I am?" said the girl.
"A full moon is waiting in the night. May you soon come here with your fellow knight," said Zecora.
"What?" said Storm as he didn't follow the enchantress's words.
"A presence large, a grave and steadfast-"
"Stop rhyming!" yelled Storm as he couldn't understand Zecora when she did that.
"Very well. Speak your native tongue, I will," said Zecora.
"Finally," sighed Storm, as that was the first normal thing the woman said.
The tree had been divided into several sections, with the front door leading into her brewing room. Bottles of every shape, color, and size rested on dozens of shelves carved into the walls. A large cauldron rested in the center of the room, lying atop a group of logs that had been stuffed down into a hole in the floor, glowing with a soft light. Various candles rested throughout the room, providing the necessary light for any ritual or potion-making.
Within the cauldron was a strange blue liquid, softly bubbling, producing a light glow as it did so. Zecora moved back to the potion, adding some seeds to the mix before turning back to him and Twilight.
"So, what brings you by?" asked Zecora as she mixed her potion.
"W-well, Zecora, my mother ran out of tea recently, and I was hoping to get some more..." Twilight muttered, sounding both guilty and embarrassed. Zecora nodded.
"Very well, I must admit, I was not expecting you to visit. I'll need to make more. Storm! Please, assist me with this chore," she rhymed, turning around and walking off through one of the doors. Storm shook his head.
"Son of a bitch," muttered the Jedi as he started getting annoyed. "I'll be back, Sparky."
Afterward, he followed the enchantress into another room, completely filled to the brim with shelves full of various ingredients and a small table with a mortar and pestle.
"Alright, what do you need me to do?" he asked, only to blink when Zecora shook her head.
"My friend, there is nothing to do, for I have already made the brew," she said, holding up a small jar labeled "Tea." She gave him a mischievous smile, "I merely sought a way to get you alone to talk of your stay," Storm frowned.
"Stop rhyming!" shouted the boy as he got a headache.
"Does it bother you? Then my job is done," smiled Zecora.
"Give me that!" said Storm as he stuck his hand out and nabbed the jar from Zecora as smiled.
Soon the jar disappeared as it reappeared in Zecora's hand. The boy was stunned as he looked at the woman. Storm stuck his hand out as the jar flew toward him but stopped between the Jedi and enchantress. Storm had his hand out as he struggled to free the jar from whatever weird voodoo or magic, Zecora was doing as she stood there.
However, Storm gasped as he saw Zecora hadn't raised her hand. He looked to his side and saw the woman's shadow holding onto the jar's shadow as it held it in place. Zecora smiled as she approached the jar and plucked it from the air as Storm's grip was released.
"What are you?" asked the boy as he started to draw for his lightsaber.
"Some call me a witch doctor. Others call me a voodoo priestess. Others say I'm a fortune teller, an oracle, a potion-maker. I can be a great ally or a great enemy, Jedi." said Zecora.
Storm's lightsaber flew from his side before he could grab it as it flew into Zecora's hand. The boy stepped forward as Zecora turned his lightsaber on and pointed it at the Jedi Knight, who stopped.
"The weapon of your kind. A symbol of peace. Yet, you use it for something else. Other than to keep the peace across the galaxy." stated Zecora as she stared at the teen. "To think you were chosen to be an Element Bearer."
"How?" asked Storm.
Zecora merely smirked as that served as her answer. She turned off the lightsaber and tossed it back at the boy.
"What if I could give you a small glimpse into the future?" asked Zecora.
"You can predict the future?" said Storm.
"No, but I can read what fate has in store for you. I'm a fortune teller, after all. What if you knew what destiny had planned for you? Would it settle your fear and attachment to your friends?" stated the woman.
Storm took in what Zecora said as the thought of seeing his future was tempting.
"Storm?! You okay?!" said Twilight with concern in her voice.
"No matter," she suddenly said, likely having taken his silence as an answer, "Let us return to dear Twilight. I dare say she must be getting suspicious since I've never taken this long to prepare her mother's tea," Zecora suggested, already walking out.
"I apologize for the delay," Zecora said as she walked out into the main room, where Twilight was waiting for them, "But do not worry, for I enjoyed your extended stay," she said warmly. The princess smiled, levitating some money from her bag over to the older female.
"Thanks again, Zecora," Twilight said, but she was waved off.
"Think nothing of it, my dear. I hold very close to having a friend come by here," she remarked, gently holding a hand to her heart. "Now, you must go. The timberwolves grow hungry. I'd rather you run and not be slow," she said, already beginning to push them out the door.
He and Twilight were shoved through the door, landing outside before he could say anything in return. He growled but turned to the princess beside him.
"Think about what I said," whispered Zecora as Storm looked at her.
"Storm?" said Twilight as the boy turned to look at the princess.
"C'mon Sparky, you heard her,"
Twilight nodded, glancing back at the hut, but she followed after the retreating Jedi Knight regardless.
The trek back through the forest was calmer than the first, despite Zecora's warning. So, of course, Storm was on edge. If Zecora's warning was necessary, and not her being paranoid, there was a reason for the timberwolves howling. Be it hunger, like she said, or something else, he didn't know, and he was sure he didn't want to know.
Even so, he couldn't exactly alert Twilight to his growing paranoia without causing her to panic slightly. And even if she didn't panic, which he was sure she would, at the very least, she'd nag him to move faster, and the noise she'd make while running could very well attract some predators to them.
Alone, the Everfree wasn't a threat to him. But with Twilight along for the ride, he'd have to split his attention constantly during a fight, which could result in one of them killed if he wasn't careful. He thought it best to stay safe rather than risk it.
As he finished thinking that, a sudden rustling from the nearby bushes set them both on edge, even as their eyes locked onto the shaking bush. No words were spoken for the seemingly endless instant they waited, cautiously awaiting whatever sort of horror lay before them.
That same tension, which had been building steadily, died a vicious death as the small white head of a chicken popped out of the bush.
"Bawk...?"
Storm and Twilight twitched at the sight of the seemingly harmless fowl.
"Damn bird," Storm snarled, already walking past it, only to pause and turn when he realized Twilight wasn't following. In fact, she was staring at the chicken, "What's the holdup, princess?"
"Sorry," she said, obviously distracted, "it's just... isn't this one of Fluttershy's hens?"
"And why would I know that?" the boy snapped,
"I don't know!" Twilight retorted hotly.
"Why in the name of-!" Storm cut himself off, his ear twitching as it caught the faint sound of movement just beyond the treeline around them.
Small, rapid steps, followed immediately by the sound of something dragging along the ground, likely a tail of some sort.
"Uhh... Storm?"
"Quiet," he answered immediately, then paused, his eyes trailing over to the chicken before they narrowed, "... We need to go. Now," he said. He didn't wait for her response, instead choosing to grab her hand and drag her behind him as he hurried down the path.
"What?" Sparky asked, nearly stumbling over a root, "Why? What's wrong?"
A loud screeching from behind them shut her up, one that Storm recognized from one of the books in the castle that spoke about the Everfree Forest.
"Don't look back, Sparky!" Storm shouted, speeding up, being forced to let go of her in the process, "It's a cockatrice!" he added for her benefit, just in case she decided to look back anyways.
"What?!" she shouted from behind him, even as the sound of her feet against the ground came faster, signaling that she had just sped up.
Storm and Twilight ducked and weaved through the incoming trees and undergrowth, but the cockatrice behind them was just as fast, if not even faster than they were. After all, this was its home. And it would be damned if it let its prey escape it, especially in its territory.
The Hunt was on.
Storm risked a glance back, ensuring his eyes wouldn't catch the damned lizard bird behind him. The damn thing had the head of a chicken, the only thing truly able to discern the difference between the two being its evil red eyes. Its body was a greenish blue covered in scales and extended back into a long tail covered in red spines. Though it lacked arms, it made up for that with a pair of wings as wide as it was long, the joints tipped red. Its feet, like its head, were reminiscent of a chicken's.
Regardless, it looked pissed and determined to catch up with them.
Storm knew he could outrun the thing, if not outright outspeed it, especially with all the trees eating up the cockatrice's stamina. Twilight, he knew, couldn't. Unlike when she was trapped on that hunting island with Ashoka, the Everfree Forest was denser than any other place with its trees. So much so that the Jedi couldn't jump to get away from the creature. Even if she had a free path, she wasn't fast enough. She might be able to outrun it since people could run fairly long distances before they dropped, whereas cockatrices couldn't, but even if she could outrun it, it would easily outspeed her, catch up, and kill her.
She might be able to use a spell to save herself, but he wasn't sure he'd trust her casting ability under this stress. A mob of people after them, sure, but a very real, deadly creature chasing them?
Hehe, no.
He growled slightly, tearing down a tree branch as he passed, hoping it'd stall the lizard thing behind them for an extra second or two so he could think.
He knew he would need a plan. But, even though he was running through everything he knew about cockatrices, he needed more luck.
He didn't have any weasels to kill it, and he didn't have any roosters nearby either. Fluttershy might, but there was no way he would bring this thing anywhere near the girl he considered a little sister unless he was certain.
Well, at least it was a cockatrice and not a full-blooded basilisk. The gaze of a basilisk could kill, whereas the cockatrice's tended to only petrify, which was much easier to cure than death. Not to mention its venom.
... Actually...
Petrification took time for the cockatrice to pull off due to its limited magical capacity. Unlike the basilisk, whose gaze could kill in an instant, it took the cockatrice about ten seconds or more to fully petrify anything.
... Ten seconds that Twilight could use to escape.
... Twilight better find the cure for petrification.
Or kill the cockatrice.
That would work, too, though he doubted she'd ever do that.
"Sparky, I have a plan."
"WHAT?!" Twilight screeched, looking at her partner, internally debating whether he was completely sane.
"You heard me," he snapped, "You'll keep running as fast as you can while I step back and let the cockatrice petrify me," he repeated, seemingly exasperated by her completely natural concern for his mental health.
"No!" she shouted, "No! I'm not leaving you behind! I'm not losing you so soon! And why would I ever agree to something like that?!"
"I wasn't asking for your permission," Twilight winced slightly at his harsh tone, which nearly caused her to trip, but relaxed when he sighed, "Listen, Twilight, I'm going to get petrified so you can get to safety," he said, causing her face to heat up, "You're just not fast enough to outrun the cockatrice like I am, and by letting myself get petrified, you'll have enough time to run. If you don't, you'll get petrified too. It's not abandoning me if you run away and come back with the cure when it's safe, now is it?" he reasoned.
His words caused Twilight to bite her lip.
Could she really go along with this?
Storm suddenly coming to a stop, then bolting backward towards their pursuer, gave her her only option.
Twilight growled at herself, hearing his words echo in her head.
You're just not fast enough.
From this point on, Twilight swore from the very bottom of her heart to be faster, more fit so that if something like this ever happened again, Storm wouldn't have to get hurt so she could be safe.
Twilight screwed her eyes shut as she ran, ignoring the sounds behind her.
In the distance, a victorious cry could be heard as the Hunt ended.
Fluttershy regretted her decision.
She didn't realize just how... difficult these girls could be. She also regretted asking Storm how he handled the trio during his babysitting, especially with how all three had decided to go after her chicken, Elizabeak, who wandered into the Everfree Forest. Now, the animal-loving girl was forcing herself to step into the dangerous place to find her animal and the three girls.
Fluttershy took a deep breath once she reached the treeline, hoping to steel her nerves.
Okay... okay. Alright, Fluttershy! You can do this! All you have to do is go save Elizabeak! Just walk into the forest. There's no need to be afraid! Just walk into the dark, cold... scary... predator-infested... forest. Nothing to be afraid of. Right?
She swallowed a heavy lump in her throat, already beginning to regret her life choices, but she forced herself to take that first step-!
Only for something to come running straight out of the forest, crash heavily into her, and send both herself and whatever it was flying backward.
""AAAAHHHH!""
Fluttershy landed heavily on her stomach but was otherwise unharmed, save for some dizziness. Her head rolled to the side a bit as she tried to stand up. She stumbled a bit but managed to get her feet under her properly before she shook away the dizziness.
Feeling just a little miffed and just the slightest bit grateful towards whoever had stopped her journey into the Everfree, she turned around, preparing herself to either politely scold and/or thank her assailant, only to pause at the familiar face.
After all, she only knew one pony with purple skin.
"Twilight?" she asked, surprised.
Her friend, currently lying on her back, groaning, suddenly perked up. She had to strain her neck to spot Fluttershy, but when she did, she scrambled back onto her feet and practically jumped at her, her eyes wide and panicked. The twigs and leaves stuck in her hair certainly didn't help her friend's case, especially since she was talking too quickly for Fluttershy to understand.
"Fluttershy, you have to-! Storm he-! There was a-! We were getting chased, and-!"
"Shh! Shhh!" she shushed her urgently. She didn't think it would do much, but it did get Twilight to stop talking, "Okay, okay... take a deep breath," she instructed, remembering the instructions her old therapist used to give her, "Okay... hold it... now let it out... good," Twilight's breathing had slowed down, and she looked calmer than before, "Okay. What's wrong?"
Her little exercise might have calmed her down, but the question immediately brought her panic back, and Fluttershy found herself gripped tightly by her friend's Force powers.
"Storm's been petrified by a cockatrice!"
Twilight found that Fluttershy's reaction was about as bad as she had expected.
At first, her only response was to blink owlishly at her. It was a lot to process, especially given how much trouble the Crusaders had to have gotten into by now.
Eventually, however, the information finally processed, and her eyes widened, "What?" she asked, "How?" she added. Although it wasn't her intention, the question caused Twilight to wince, feeling a small pit of guilt build up in her gut.
"He sacrificed himself so I could get away," she admitted, looking away from her friend.
"Then we can't waste any time," she stated, already walking back towards the forest, leaving a stunning Twilight behind.
"W-wait!" she called, jogging to catch up to her suddenly confident friend, disappearing into the Everfree right after her.
Twilight managed to catch up to Fluttershy, who was too busy pushing through the foliage to pay much attention to her companion, further stunning the bookworm. But now, here she was. Twilight was the scared one as they walked through the forest she had been attacked in, while Fluttershy confidently led them forward without the slightest trace of fear on her otherwise delicate features.
"Elizabeak," Fluttershy spoke up, suddenly stopping, which caused Twilight to bump right into her, though it seemed she hadn't noticed.
Twilight peered around the girl, finding that she was staring directly at a set of prints vaguely resembling that of a chicken.
Her mind, fuzzy from stress, recalled the hen she and Storm had encountered earlier before they had been found by the cockatrice.
... Thoughts... slow...
Hard... to... think...
"Come on," Fluttershy said, leaving Twilight to catch up again.
They followed the tracks farther into the forest, with Fluttershy's ears twitching every now and then, reminding Twilight that, once again, Fluttershy was apparently half-thestral.
She could only imagine and shudder at what sounds Fluttershy might be privy to, which lay beyond her own range of hearing. She shook away the thought lest it made her more paranoid.
They continued walking, veering off to the right somewhere along the way before Fluttershy stopped just before a clearing.
An eerily familiar clearing.
Twilight, curious and dreading the cause of the stop, walked out from behind her friend, only to freeze at the sight before her.
How... long...?
Help... coming...?
Colored in a dull shade of gray, a statue stood before them. It was very life-like. Every individual strand of hair stood out amongst the sea of gray. Every chord of powerful muscle lay just behind the skin of the stone. A broad, wide torso, where a beating heart had laid not an hour ago, was still, no sign of breathing as if to deny the fact that it had once been alive. Storm stood, a lone, silent sentry amidst the army of darkness around him.
Even in stone, Twilight could practically feel the fire in his eyes, burning just as bright, despite looking dead. A soft glint of light caught her attention, forcing her to rip her eyes away from the bone-chilling sight. She searched the forest floor for a moment when it caught her eye once more.
Her hand lit up, the sound and light-catching Fluttershy's attention. They watched as a soft lavender glow lit up an object as it floated over them. The glow around the object died once it was close enough, and Twilight gently caught it. Storm's pendant lay clutched in her shaking hand.
Twilight took a shuddering breath, holding the accessory close to her chest. That pit of guilt burned colder for an instant. A soft hand on her shoulder snapped her to attention, and her head nearly tore off her shoulder from how quickly she whipped her head to face Fluttershy, whose face held a soft but sad smile.
"It's okay," she murmured, "We'll help him, I promise."
... Anyone...?
... Spar... ky...?
Fluttershy's ears perked up suddenly, and she stiffened, her eyes wide with fear. The sudden change startled Twilight, and her heart rate increased. Without a single word of warning, Fluttershy darted away from the clearing towards the forest entrance. Twilight, afraid and confused, followed after her immediately, absentmindedly slipping Storm's pendant onto her neck.
"C'mon, girls!" Applebloom shouted, "We gotta chicken ta find!"
"Yeah! Jedi Crusaders: Chicken Finders!" Scootaloo cheered.
"Umm... are you guys sure we should be here?" Sweetie Belle asked, looking around timidly, "I mean... I don't think Fluttershy or our sisters would want us here," she reasoned.
Fluttershy was an adult, albeit a shy and non-confrontational one. What made her think that she, a girl only a few years older than the ones she was tasked to watch, would be any more effective at controlling them than she had?
She had some success, sure, but that had gone completely out the proverbial window when Scootaloo looked out the literal window and spotted the same tracks that she had not ten minutes before.
"So... uh... how're we supposed to catch a chicken?" Scootaloo asked, slowing down as she thought.
"Well, I guess we can just call it," Applebloom suggested, turning to face the two.
"Call it?" Sweetie asked, "How?"
"With a chicken call a'course!"
...
Chicken call? Really?
"Are you kidding?" Scootaloo asked before shaking her head, "Whatever. Let's just find that stinking chicken already and head back," she said, looking around nervously.
"What's the matter, Scootaloo?" Applebloom asked, a mischievous grin on her face, "Are ya... chicken?"
"I'm not chicken!" Scootaloo defended hotly, whirling to face her sudden tormentor.
"Suuuurrrrre yer not!" Applebloom agreed sarcastically before brightening, "Ooh! I know how ta call a chicken!" she said before taking a deep breath and yelling, "SCOOTALOO! SCOOTALOO!"
"Stop that!"
"SCOOTALOO! SCOOTALOO!"
"I am not a chicken!"
Applebloom just grinned at the orange girl's fury and took another breath, ready to yell once again-
"Girls!"
Only for Fluttershy to suddenly come running through the bushes, followed by a tired-looking Twilight not too long after.
"Fluttershy?" Applebloom asked, her teasing forgotten for the moment, "Whatcha doin' here?"
"That doesn't matter," she answered quickly, "We need to get you three out of the forest now!"
"What?" Scootaloo asked, "But we haven't even found the chicken yet!" she argued. Fluttershy shook her head.
"There's no time!" she said, glancing back in the direction she and Twilight had come from, "There's a cockatrice on the loose, and it's already got Storm, so-"
"A cocka-what?" Applebloom asked.
"A cockatrice," Fluttershy corrected her, "It's a creature with the head of a chicken and the body of a snake- we need to go!" she implored, but the Crusaders ignored her and walked off.
"Head of a chicken and the body of a snake?" Applebloom asked, smirking, "That doesn't sound scary!"
"Yeah, it sounds way too silly to be dangerous!" Scootaloo added, "Yeah, if I saw that, I'd been too busy laughing at it ta do anythin' else!"
"Girls!" Twilight suddenly yelled, having caught her breath, startling the three into stopping, "This isn't something to laugh about!" she scolded, "Cockatrices can turn people into stone by looking them in the eye; it's dangerous!" she said.
Her words made the Crusaders pause and even looked around in worry. However, that only led to.
"Look! It's the chicken!" Applebloom shouted, pointing at a nearby bush, where a lone chicken head had popped out from the leaves, looking around curiously. Suddenly, a second head popped out from a nearby bush.
"It's... another chicken?" Scootaloo asked.
"But, I thought only one got out?" Sweetie muttered.
"Well, c'mon, let's just get 'em both!" Applebloom commanded, just as the three of them launched themselves at the first head, startling the chicken into jumping out of the bush and landing near the other.
The cockatrice, who had been watching the proceedings with disinterest, suddenly perked up and all but jumped out of the bush, landing heavily on the ground in front of its semi-look-a-like.
Malevolent red eyes burned into the coal-black ones of its adversary, and, in ten seconds that stretched for much longer than they should have, the chicken was turned to stone.
The Crusaders watched on in horror as the chicken, once full of life, suddenly fell to its side, stiff as stone and completely lifeless.
"""AAHHH!"""
Their shrill cry was enough to stun the cockatrice long enough for them to bolt away, with Fluttershy and Twilight not too far behind them. Unfortunately, they all ended up running in the direction that Fluttershy and Twilight had appeared from, and, in their blind panic, the three fillies ended up running face-first into what felt like a solid rock wall.
The three of them shook away the daze from their skulls and looked up at whatever they had run into, only to come face to face with the stony expression of Storm's statue.
"""AAAAHHHH!"""
... Screaming...?
... Danger... near...?
What's... happening...?
... The... Crusaders...?
"Girls!"
"""AAAHHHH!"""
"Girls!"
"""AAAHHHH!"""
"GIRLS!"
The loud yell caused the three fillies to halt their panicked running. Fluttershy's tone had hardened once more; the sound was so uncharacteristic that the Crusaders couldn't bring themselves to not pay attention.
"Calm down," she ordered, her hardened tone leaving no room for argument, "We need to get out of here, quickly!" she said, glancing back towards the bushes they'd entered from. Sweetie Belle stiffened from her place beside Twilight, staring past the princess' anxious form.
"U-umm... i-it's a little late for that..." she squeaked, pointing towards the area behind them, before quickly averting her eyes, Twilight's warning coming back to mind.
The two older girls whirled around to face the direction that Sweetie Belle had specified before they, too, were forced to look away. The cockatrice gave a low hiss as it stalked towards them, its evil red eyes glaring hungrily at the group of six before it. Twilight backed up frantically, though the older girl tripped over Applebloom since she wasn't paying attention.
Fluttershy looked back between the approaching cockatrice and the others, who had begun huddling around Storm's statue, hoping it could protect them from their inevitable demise.
She could feel it bubbling within her. Anger. Fury.
It was threatening her friends, her family!
Her throat felt warm, but it cooled down once she began marching toward the snake chicken.
"How dare you!" she snapped, all remnants of fear-driven from her mind. She glared straight into the eyes of the cockatrice before her, mentally beginning a countdown, as she could already feel the mildly uncomfortable sensation of stone creeping up her legs, "Who do you think you are?! Turning others into stone, you should be ashamed of yourself!" she scolded, desperately hoping she could convince the monster to let them go, she could feel the stone encroaching upon her wings after all, "I have half a mind to find your mother and tell her about what you've done!" the stone was nearing her neck now. Still, the cockatrice didn't look like it was going to back down, though it was shaking, "And just what would she think young ma-?!"
Too late.
The cockatrice let out a victorious cry at having petrified yet another victim, though Twilight noted this one sounded a lot more triumphant than the other one for some reason.
However, she let out a small squeak once the cockatrice set its sights back on her and the fillies. She swallowed stiffly but pulled the girls directly behind her with a quick application of magic. She glanced over at Storm's stoned form, bit her lip, but nodded.
"Okay... okay. Girls, listen to me," she began, sending them a frightened glance. Their attention immediately focused on her: "When the cockatrice starts petrifying me, run."
... Cockatrice...
... Fluttershy...? ... Stone...
It's... moving... towards... them...
Have to... help...
... Move...?
Can't... move...?
... Stuck...?
.. Trapped...?
Stuck...! Trapped...! Bound...!
STUCK! BOUND! TRAPPED! CAGED!
CAN'TMOVECAN'TMOVELETMEGOIWANTOUTIWANTOUTIWANTOUT! OUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUT!
""""WHAT?!""""
"Ya can't be serious, Twilight!"
"I am," she said, ensuring her voice was firm though it wavered slightly. Thankfully the girls ignored it, "When I say run, you run. I'll buy you, girls, some time," she added, taking a step in front of the statue, her eyes firmly shut. The cockatrice let out a frustrated hiss at her defiance, but she heard it take a step forward.
*...*
"Okay... on three..."
*...ck*
"One..."
*Cr..ck*
"Two..."
*Crack...*
"Thr-!"
*BOOM*
A massive cloud of dust suddenly burst outwards from right next to her, followed instantly by a shower of debris. Twilight coughed a little, having accidentally inhaled some of the dust in surprise.
Her eyes stung slightly, but she pushed through the uncomfortable feeling, and, using a quick wind spell, she swept the dust away, only for her eyes to go wide at the sight in front of her.
A massive cloud of dust suddenly burst outwards from right next to her, followed instantly by a shower of debris. Twilight coughed a little, having accidentally inhaled some of the dust in surprise.
Her eyes stung slightly, but she pushed through the uncomfortable feeling, and, using a quick wind spell, she swept the dust away, only for her eyes to go wide at the sight in front of her.
Storm let a threatening growl escape from his throat, his livid, glowing brown eyes staring straight into the evil but frightening red eyes of the cockatrice that had dared to attack his friends, the stone spell of the creature rendered null from fear.
"Release her," he growled, putting his hand up as cockatrice was lifted into the air as it struggled to breathe.
The animal was having the oxygen sucked from its lungs as it screeched when translated were pleas from the Jedi to show mercy. Its tail was flailing about as it started to slow down, as cockatrice's eyes started rolling into the back of its head.
"NOW!" yelled Storm.
The faint sound of cracking stone from behind and somewhere to the left of him signaled that the cockatrice had a sense of self-preservation. Storm released his grip and backed away from the fearful lizard, who took that opportunity to escape, promptly vanishing into the undergrowth.
Storm stared in the direction the little bastard took off before sighing and straightening himself out. A moment passed before he turned to face his little audience.
He had to suppress a wince at the looks he was receiving from the group. He'd been met with a mixture of awe, wonder, and total shock, most of the two formers from the younger girls, with the latter mainly from Twilight.
Not that he could blame her. Petrification was a notoriously difficult thing to cure/escape from. Curing it, while difficult, was a lot more common than someone escaping from the stony prison. The number of creatures that had been recorded breaking free on their own didn't reach double digits.
Or at least, it hadn't.
He pushed aside whatever awkward feeling he could feel bubbling in his chest and gave them a simple grin instead, "You lot alright?"
After a small reunion between himself and the others, mostly Twilight, the six of them, seven if you included the chicken, returned to Fluttershy's cottage, where she was nice enough to brew them some tea. Thankfully, the trip was nowhere near as exciting as the several before it, and they arrived without issue.
After that, however...
"That was so cool!"
"Yeah, you were like, 'Go away!' and the cockatrice was like, 'Ah!'!"
"You sure are brave, Storm! Mah sister could never'a done that!" said Applebloom as she hugged the boy's lower half.
It would appear that Storm made the girls even more fascinated by him again.
"What were you all doing in the Everfree anyways?" he asked, leaning onto the arm of the couch, watching in mild amusement as all four of the young fillies flinched. Twilight perked up as well from beside him, looking curious herself.
"Well..." Scootaloo began, "Ya see..."
"One of Fluttershy's chickens kinda... got loose," Sweetie Belle finished.
"Yeah, an' we thought maybe we could track it down. Like real Jedi," Storm blinked at the admission before shaking his head.
"I shoulda known," he muttered, resting his head on his hand. "I'm gonna head home."
"I should be heading out too. Tonight's been... an adventure. I'll be glad to put it behind me with a good night's rest," said Twilight, muttering that last part to herself.
Fluttershy nodded, "Oh, alright," she said, smiling meekly, "It was nice having you over, even if it was because of that mean old cockatrice," she said, shuddering at the memory of her stony prison. Storm nodded.
"Night Shy. Night girls,"
""""G'night!""""
Storm and Twilight were quiet as they walked back to the castle, the cool night air chilling them. The moon hung high in the sky, illuminating the world below with a soft light. On the inside, however, Twilight was nearly screaming, as well as crying, with relief. Storm was safe! He was safe, and so was she!
Twilight spared him a sideways glance, watching as his ears twitched around, likely listening to the world around him. Once more, Twilight wondered what sounds he could hear that she was not privy to. She shook her head. It didn't matter, not in the slightest, because he was alright. But even so, Twilight couldn't shake the cold feeling in her chest.
The only reason he might not have been alright was because of her.
Twilight grit her teeth at the thought. If only she had been faster and better, this whole thing could've been avoided entirely. She needed to improve herself. But how?
She was ashamed to admit it, but she had never truly done any hard labor, not the physical variety. Well, that wasn't true. She'd helped Applejack on the farm a few times and done some basic training drills with Celestia as her apprentice, but aside from that, she needed to be more experienced working out.
She didn't need to be an athlete like Rainbow Dash or even a strong person like Applejack or Big Macintosh. She needed to be healthier, have more stamina and endurance, and have extra speed and strength.
Speed training is a good idea to see Rainbow Dash about that, and strength training with Applejack couldn't be ignored, but the rest?
She needed a daily routine to do.
But... who could help with that?
"You alright, Sparky?" Storm's voice broke her from her thoughts. Twilight glanced at him, finding the boy with his attention on her. A glance around, however, revealed that they had stopped in front of the castle door, much to her surprise. She banished the thought and nodded.
"I'm fine, just... thinking about earlier," she admitted, looking away guiltily.
She didn't even find a cure as he suggested! What kind of friend was she?! The cold feeling in her chest grew. She... she abandoned him when he needed her. She left him behind! She was a terrible friend! Awful, just awful!
She was a worthless friend. Pathetic! Completely and utterly-!
An arm wrapping around her side cut her debilitating thoughts off, washing away the coldness that had seeped into her being in one, single motion.
"You're... a good friend, Twilight," he said gently, "I'm... glad to have met you."
She looked back at the Jedi Knight in surprise.
Had he... had he known what she was thinking?
"No, you're just thinking out loud,"
"Oh... do-... do you mean it?"
"You thinking out loud?"
"No!" she snapped, shaking her head rapidly before deflating, even though a small blush spread across her cheeks, "About being glad to have met me?"
Storm didn't answer right away. Instead, he pulled her closer, warmth washing over her admittedly cold body. Had it not been so dark out, she might've mistaken it for day, if only because of how warm he was.
"... Yes, I meant it," he said finally, his words calming down the girl beside him, "You've... grown on me," he admitted, "All six of you have. Even Crash, in her own way. I... may not have a lot of friends, but, I can honestly say I consider you one of the best, if not, the best friend I've ever had, Twilight Sparkle," he said, her name slipping from his lips in an awed tone, as if savoring the way it felt.
Her heart lurched when she heard it.
"You are... a wonderful girl. A little naive, a bit of a dunce when it comes to others' feelings, and, generally, a little obsessive," he remarked, each item causing the princess to blush harder, "but, yes. A wonderful girl indeed," he finished, looking at her fondly.
Twilight was sure her heart would burst.
He bid the self-destructive girl goodnight, watching as she disappeared through the castle door. Storm bit his lip and frowned. He didn't know what had come over him earlier. Telling her, he was glad to have met her... that had slipped out without him realizing it until it was too late.
Her asking him about it hadn't surprised him. The statement had been, admittedly, out of character. But even so, even now, he didn't regret saying it.
His thoughts regarding the princess were... complicated.
Was she naive? Yes. A social dunce? Yes. Obsessed with learning? Again, yes.
But... despite all that...
No, because of all that, he genuinely enjoyed the girl's presence.
She had expressed worry regarding his physical condition. She confided her thoughts to him. She genuinely cared for her friends. Enjoyed learning new things. She... wanted to be around him. She honestly sought to learn more about him as well.
Even when he got dragged along on her little adventures, he honestly couldn't say he regretted being around her.
A strange, but not unpleasant, warmth began to permeate his chest, growing warmer the more his thoughts revolved around the lavender girl he'd spent the day with.
Zecora's hut was shown as approaching from afar were Storm and Twilight.
"You sure about this?" asked Storm.
"No, but... it's a chance I'm willing to take. And I know I can, with you by my side," said Twilight as she inadvertently reached for Storm's hand. The girl was hesitant as she slipped it into hers.
Storm looked at him as the princess half expected him to pull away. But he didn't. While he didn't smile, Storm gripped Twilight's hand tighter as Twilight felt it. The pair began to walk toward the hut's door just as they were about to knock...
"I was wondering when you two would come," said Zecora as the woman was behind the pair.
"Did you know about the cockatrice and what the events would be after Storm and I left your hut?" asked Twilight as she was informed by Storm about the abilities that Zecora claimed to have, other than potion brewing.
"And if I were to say yes?" smiled the woman.
"Look, you said some people call you a fortune teller? So... can you see and predict things that will happen in the future?" asked Storm.
"I don't tell the future, boy. I merely give predictions. Reading signs, one's palm lines, even the look in their eyes. What happens, well, that can never be changed. I can only give you the same result as when you Jedi received visions." said Zecora.
"I want to know! Can you tell me my future?" asked Twilight.
"You want to see what will happen when you become Queen, right, Princess?" snickered Zecora.
"Forget it, Sparky! If she ain't gonna help, I'd say we leave her and her bullshit. Fortune teller, my ass. It seems she's content with letting things happen and not doing anything ab-"
Zecora immediately got in Storm's face as she had her finger pointed at him. At that moment, some music began to play.
(Zecora Singing)
Don't you disrespect me, boy!
Don't you derogate or deride!
You're in my world now
Not your world
And I've got powers that you haven't seen!
[Zecora stared at both Jedi Knights before she snapped her fingers as the masks scattered around her home began to light up. Her hut also glowed as the mask on the front of it came alive. The enchantress snapped her fingers once more as the door to her hut opened, revealing nothing but the darkness inside. If the Jedi wanted to know their future, she'd give it to them.
An echo that repeated the line from Zecora was heard as both Jedi took a stance. The enchantress said to the pair as she appeared between them, had her arms on their shoulders, and guided them inside.]
Pay no attention to that, kids.
It's just an echo.
Something to keep me company while I'm alone.
Now then.
Sit down at my table
Put your minds at ease
If you relax, it will enable me to do anything I please.
[Once inside, Zecora snapped her fingers once more as candles lit up by themselves as they provided a pathway to a table with a cloth on it and chairs next to it. The enchantress began to lead Twilight to the table as her shadow did the same with Storm.]
I can read your future
I can change it 'round some, too
I'll look deep into your heart and soul
And tell you all that you know!
I got voodoo, I got hoodoo
I got things I ain't even tried!
And I've got powers that you haven't seen.
[The Jedi were watching Zecora as she was interacting with her shadow as if it was some dark magic at work. The shadow pushed the chair in for the woman as she snapped her fingers. A deck of cards appeared before the enchantress as she shuffled them with quick hands. Her shadow made the candles float around them, providing light before setting back in Zecora's state.]
"Oh, shit," said Storm, a tad bit afraid of what would happen. He then locked eyes with Zecora as she did some more card tricks, having the cards move all over her body as if they responded to her command.
The cards, the cards, the cards will tell
The past, the present, and the future as well!
The cards, the cards, just take three
Take a little trip into your future with me!
Twilight reached over to the deck of cards Zecora had fanned out in her hands and grabbed three. The enchantress then presented Storm with the rest of the cards as she smiled. The boy lifted his hand up a bit but stopped.
"Come on, Storm. You can do it," said Twilight, as she could sense how hesitant he was about this. It also stemmed from the fact that she was in the same boat.
"Alright," said the Jedi Knight as he took a deep breath. He extended his hand out and selected three cards.
Zecora smiled as she rolled her hand to make the rest of the cards disappear. She then instructed the pair to place each of their stacks in front of them; the enchantress then used her hand to spread them out for all to see each of the three that both teens picked.
"So, what now?" asked Storm.
Zecora smiled before she directed her attention to Twilight.
Now you, young princess, are a child of three
You come from one long line of royalty
Your lifestyle's high
But your happiness is low
It would be best if you married so your heritage can grow.
[Zecora grabbed the first card of Twilight's as it revealed her picture. The image on the card began to scroll up as it showed her entire family tree, dating back to her first ancestor as the three Sparkle kids were at the tree's root. The enchantress then moved to the second card, which depicted Twilight surrounded by lavish people and parties, but she then used her hands to twirl the card. It now showed Twilight locked away in a tower, with no means of escaping, as she had nothing but sadness and despair on her face.]
"Your parents want you to take over the throne and get hitched, huh, princess?" asked Zecora to the girl, despite knowing the answer.
"Y-Yes..." sighed Twilight as she looked down. "It's not that I don't want to, it's just... just..." the girl couldn't speak as her anxiety started to build up. It almost made her start to cry.
"Now the pressure and expectation fall on you to get married but being married ties you down.
You wanna be free
Hop from place to place
But freedom comes at a price!"
"A price?" said Twilight to Zecora, who said her lines in a song-like tone.
It's a price, it's a price, is it a price that you're willing to pay?
Well, when I looked into your future
It's the happiness that I see!
[Zecora shuffled the rest cards from the deck as she moved them easily. She had then spread out in a straight line as she flipped one of them over to cause a chain reaction to make the others flip over. They all showed smiling faces before she gathered them up and made them disappear. Zecora reached over to the last of Twilight's card and flipped it over. It showed an image of the girl sitting on the throne, but she had a genuine smile.]
Twilight picked up the card, and seeing how happy she was, despite having to inherit the throne, she smiled. For the first time in her life, she smiled. Knowing that her future wasn't as bleak as she thought it to be, thinking that she'd be enslaved once married made her happy.
Zecora then turned to look at Storm as the boy had been silent, listening to the enchantress tell Twilight about her future. Now it was his turn, as he feared the worst. For Zecora, she had a tale to tell based on Storm's life.
On you, young Jedi, I don't wanna waste much of your time.
For you've been a strong and brave warrior all your life!
From the day you were born, abandoned at birth, left with no one to call home.
But in came your Master, you see.
And you trained in the way of the arts.
[Zecora flipped over the first card of Storm as she began to recount his past. She made the card turn into a flip book as they had similar stills but showed an animation when moved in quick succession. It showed Storm as a baby as he cried outloud. He was all alone, surrounded by darkness, as he cried. Soon the image of Luna appeared as she picked up the baby and smiled. The next transition showed her bringing Storm to the Jedi Temple as he began his training.]
And now you stand on the frontlines of the war
Hailed as a hero and tasked with bringing peace to the galaxy.
But in your quest, six friends came into your heart.
And with that came new adventures and memories that are sure to be told throughout all the land!
[Zecora flipped over the next card, showing Storm with his lightsaber in hand as he was battling against many droids, Sith lords, and other evil forces. The boy was surrounded by six stones, which could be deciphered as the girls and their elements as he had his element symbol shine on his hand.]
But in your future, for you I see...
At that moment, the music stopped. Zecora's hand was on the card as she was about to flip it over and reveal to Storm what his future held. However, she held for a second, knowing what the card would say.
"Well? Tell me!" said Storm, as he didn't like how the enchantress just stopped with her act. Almost like what she was about to say couldn't be put into song but told face to face.
"Very well," sighed Zecora.
The woman touched the card and looked to flip it when something happened. Zecora's eyes went full white as she looked upward. Soon the card that she flipped over was shown. It was a blank white card that filled the entire thing up. Zecora's eyes were normal as the fortune teller was shocked by what she saw.
"A blank card?" said Twilight.
Zecora was trying to process what was going on. One second, she knew. She knew! She knew what Storm's future was, but... at that moment, it somehow... changed. What was once clear was now vague.
"What does that mean?" asked Storm as he asked calmly to the woman.
"I... don't know. A blank... can mean anything. In short, you're future is uncertain." said Zecora.
The pair looked at each other as they stared back at the card.
Author's Note: It seems Storm's is slowly gaining back what he once had. Not to mention the introduction of Zecora, as well as having to deal with a cocktratice. And Zecora herself using some of her fortune teller skills to reveal some things for our heroes. However, it seems whatever future that was waiting for Storm has somehow changed. Yet, that doesn't mean if it's good or bad. If anything, it's even more dangerous for the boy himself. As always, leave a review expressing your thoughts and comments.