Antiblue P.O.V. (During her childhood).
I didn't give any credits about this topic, but Cutey Marks are what defines us. Just a little personal mark the pops up once a pony realized his or her own destiny.
Not that is that special since is a common recurrence of our life, but is part of the natural course and our existence as well. Cutie marks are often related to the personality, proclivity, or talent of the pony. So of course this lead them to realize their "destiny" and "potential" if we can call that.
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Cheerilee is a teacher who wished to make her students to bloom and be happy. Not that so special for others, but that is part of her characteristic.
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Twilight Sparkle was fated to be a prodigious spellcaster. A thing that was actually realized due to her magic being amplified by that incident with Rainbow Dash's Sonic Rainboom just right when she was going to give up, so Celestia took her under her wing as her protégé.
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Applejack has a proverbial strenght, a passion for apples and is workaholic, so she continued to keep faith to her family's work. She is also brave, reliable, strong, mature, and, more of all, honest. All that she has done for her family is what define her as such.
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Yeah, i could have avoided to make this example, but point is that any pony has his own true call.
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But, in contrast to the normal ponies including the one i mentioned right now, i'm not like them.
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My real name is actually Azure Strawberry and i have a particular condition.
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My Cutey Mark is a blue strawberry, which in nature doesn't even exist. I don't know if it's color can be explained with some sort of convoluted symbolism or cospiracy, but i won't even bother to waste my time to find out.
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But the real deal is my talent. A unnatural talent. Is multi tasking in it's own way.
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Contrary to the ponies who were best at a least on thing, i discovered this as a filly.
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I can do almost everything. From building inventions and mechanical tools, farming and grow fruit and vegatables of any type, and graft some plants to carpentry, forging and medicine, and so on and so on.
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That talent has also bestowed me a unequine strenght, dexterity, reflexes, flexibility and learning capability.
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Due to this ability, i have no true call since i can almost do anything i want... Except use the magic since i'm not a unicorn but hey, that was enough.
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The only little downsides is there almost no challenge or difficulty to do something, so most of the time i became bored... though not that much.
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Even now i don't know if i could consider this a bless or a curse.
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I was born in a family of unknown origins and i lived in isolation in a land far away from Canterlot.
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My parents were just humble farmers, a little group as they call paragonated to the Fruit Families' ones. They were always on the point to touch the poverty, so i voluntered to help them out despite their claim that they didn't want involve her that much because they didn't want her to be stuck with their daily ordeals with the rest of her life, something that she knews very well.
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As i started to manifest my condition, my parents started to worry about me until they became a little scared.
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They were almost on the point to consider me like somekind of a monster, for a second.
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But then they realized that this equals to hurt me. Infact i started to think that i was some sort of a burden to them.
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They noticed them and became ashamed to have thought some horrible though like that. So they decided to love me despite that, no matter what.
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They wouldn't hurt me, so of course i forgave me. However they forbid me to leave my mansion for valid reasons, even if i don't know why.
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So how did i know about what happening in Equestria?
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Well, my father was the only one who journed across the land since he is a traveler, so he always brought me some books and told me about his journeys.
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I had a huge library full of books regarding various archetypes and topic, including magic, so i wasn't even bored.
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Thank to my absurd learning capability, i learned a lots of things. I was even able to finish three books in one hour. Through this i gained a great knowledge of almost everything regarding Equestria: the magic, the dragons, the history, every kind of basic argument that everypony my knowledge has gone beyond the basic and started with the advanced arguments, including the ones regarding any type of creatures, plants and magic artifact, and the magic in every aspects. Including of to deal with them.
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Is also read some books about how to craft some magic artifacts and the list of ingredients, but these ones are reserved to my father, who never approved that i read them, so i did so in secret.
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Not that i give a damn about that. I was just curious. I didn't even want to craft artifacts.
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But then again, crafting magic artifacts was literally forbidden in Equestria so...
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Why does my father have these books?
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I never discovered his motivations, but sure he must have some reason for doing so.
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I just feigned ingnorance and continued to help my family in their crops, which made our life easier due to my talents.
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Unnatural talent or not, i was living a normal life. A very serene one.
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But that kind of happy life was then deprived by that horrendous moment.
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It happened during the night, excactly nine years before the return of Nightmare Moon. Some demonic bastard entered in my house, attacked my parents and set the whole place on fire, right in front of my eyes. I can still remember the details of that wretched night: a massive mountain of flames engulfing our house, my parents being devoured by it's flaming fangs and the shadowy figure of that murderer observing me being powerless and then running away, fully conscious of his action.
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I literally jumped through the flames and took the burnt bodies of my parents to the outside, but it was too late. They literally died in agony. I couldn't even bear to see their pained expressions impressed in their faces. As anypony can even guess, i literally swored revenge against the demon responsible for the their death.
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In that moment i became a orphan. Without wasting anymore time, i decided to put out the fire by myself. That should be the job of the rescues, but nopony, not even the Royal Guards, was coming to extinguish the fire. I wouldn't blame them. After all, nopony knows the existence of the zone in which i was living since is far away from the radius of Celestia's influence.
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I spent the following seven years to rebuild my home and sustain myself by getting some water from the forest nearby and cultivating the crops. A that point i'm grown into a teenage mare. Sure i can finally leave my house and to the outiside and explore the world, but i didn't had the minimal idea of where to go, and honestly i wasn't in any mood to travel like my father did before me.
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The memory of their death was still burning in my mind, but despite this, i had imposed to myself to continue my apparent normal life and move on. That was the plan.
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This until that other night.
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I was returning from the forest after getting some water when i was met by a horde of shadowy creatures, coming in my house and destroying it along with the crops and every other instrument that allowed me to survive.
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Scared for my life, i immediately run toward the trapdoor leading to the basement and i locked myself inside of it. I was really scared. So scared. But after a couple of second, my fear instantly dissipates and at that point i became really pissed off instead. As the death of my parent wasn't enough, there are also these monsters trying to kill me. Well, that never happened and i will explain why.
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In this years, i wasn't simply cultivating the crops. During my free time i was building something that allowed me to exact my revenge just in case that demon showed up. I couldn't even imagine that i would have to use it as my weapon. Since i can do almost everything, i'm also a expert mechanic and forge master. That is were my long giant chainsaw came from.
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I took this big shredder and come out from the basement. Normally killing a living creature goes against the laws of Harmony, but why does it expect me to follow it's law when a bunch of bastardous creatures where just trying to devour me. Fuck that for once. I butchered these monsters without showing any mercy at all. Only my controlled rage will met their eyes. If i have to unleash it, i couldn't afford it to blind my focus. I needed to see who i'm going to kill and where to strike.
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I have no intention to get killed. Not this time.
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In that moment the night was completely tinted in red, and as Azure finished off these creatures, Antiblue the bloody was born.
But that bloody identity doesn't last very long since she suppressed her killing intent and her wish for revenge to planning her next move to gain a tranquil life once again. If Azure would call that. After all, she doesn't want to be detained and judged for murder. Sure the shadowy creature attacked her, but according to the laws of Harmony, even evil ones count as living beings and must be dealt without kill them.
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Harmony is not flawed and is not perfect either. Is just a neutral force, completely indifferent to the behavior of every creatures as a long as they followed the not killing rule.
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Honestly, Azure doesn't give much credit to the laws of Harmony since she hadn't any choice when the monsters were almost killing her.
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Some days after that night, Azure moved into a small part of the Everfree Forest nearby Ponyville and settled there, in a part of the forest far away from everypony.
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At that point, she was reduced into what anypony can consider belonging to the dross. A delinquent.
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Somepony who doesn't play by the rules, including if somepony pissed her off.
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In some occasions, Azure acted as a occasional vigilante. Not for justice, but because there something or somepony who completely annoyed her or because she doesn't want to comprimise some of her good will to help the others, if she can call that during her controversial actions.
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Azure is somepony that doesn't trust the working system, the justice system and anypony else. Not even the royalties.
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Being able to recognize someplaces and what fruit, water or seed can be good, Azure relied to the nature in order to survive.
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Since she doesn't want attract any attention, she never take fruits from somepony's tree or even steal things. Infact she didn't want to have any problem with big farming industries such as the Apple Family.
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She acted sometimes as non licensed mineral scavenger, so she can sell some worthy mineral to her clients in order to gain some money.
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One morning, Azure walked in the Everfree Forest with a normal bag on her back. She was looking in direction of the northen part of Ponyville.
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Azure's face expressed fatigue since she didn't eat anything because of the lack of food. She wasn't even able to cultivate some fruits because of the lack of seeds.
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"Seriously, one hour passed, and i wasn't able to get some breakfast. The only damn hope is that gala. Maybe i could sell these amber quartz at some cheap noble or at least a somepony interested." Said annoyed Azure.
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"But there's one problem: Canterlot is far far away from there. It will took me one hour to get there, and i am too tired for that. Screw that, i'm not even going to Ponyville either. I don't have money for now."
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Azure turned toward the path leading into some part of the forest in search of food and continued for that path until she got lost. That problem was brief since she can remember were to go.
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"I can't believe that i had to go in that fraction of the Everfree Forest to obtain a freaking breakfast, but let's just pretend that isn't a big deal."
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After some steps, she managed to get out of the forest when she stumbles into a awful scene: A female pegasus being immobilized to the ground by three unicorns, using their magic to vex her.
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"Another pain in the ass." said Azure in her mind.
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Two of three unicorns were watching their victim and grinning at her, with the third one being confused.
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"That serves you right! I'm literally pissed of your whole pegasus supreme race thing! You have no right to look down at us!" said the first unicorn.
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"Yeah! We had magic, you know! ...Even tough that your ability to control weather count also as magic, that doesn't mean that we cannot do the same! Taste our unicorn rage!" said the second one.
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"I don't know. Cannot we just trash her already?" said the third one.
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The first and the second unicorn glanced at their companion in disgust.
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"What is wrong with you? We thought about using magical reprisal, not physical violence!"
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"Look, to be honest, i have nothing against pegasi, but after a endless showcase of their sick sense of superiority, i obviously wanted to teach them a lesson. That doesn't mean that i'm willing to use some barbaric methods."
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The third one was almost speechless, thinking about his sheer equal stupidity.
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"Well... Ok... I supposed that i will follow your instructions". said the third one.
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"Yeah, you better do it." said the first one.
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"Let me show you some stormy clouds, but not very good ones." said the second one to the pegasus.
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The unicorns were so focused to start their beatdown on the female pegasus that they doesn't realize that Azure threw a amulet nearby them that suddenly started to emit black lightnings.
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The unicorns were paralyzed and struck by that magic, but their real trouble begins when the lightnings dissipated along with the magic that they used to immobilize the female pegasus and they discovered a awful surprise.
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"I cannot use magic! What-"
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"ORAAAAAAAA!" roared Antiblue from behind them while interrupting the first unicorn.
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The unicorns couldn't turned their heads to see who was that Antiblue was already brutally beat them up with a steel pipe. They couldn't even tackle her or stab her them with their horn. She was too quick for them. She made sure to kneecapp them really hard.
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Azure managed to completely overpower them, demonstrated by the the three unicorns themselves lying to the ground and moaning in agony, unable to get up.
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As the female pegasus slowly stood up, Azure turned her head toward her.
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"You better get the fuck out of there. Got it?" said roughly Antiblue.
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The pegasus reluctantly nooded while glaring at her for her rough behavior before hovering in the air and flying away from here.
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Antiblue didn't mind that glare and continued her search from were she left off.
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But that wasn't the first time were she picked up a with fight somepony, infact there are some previous episodes of violence were she took part.
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Six months passed by as her episodes of violent delinquency, accidental or not, were becoming more frequent than usual since there are still something who tried to mess with her or just pissed her off.
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One day, she fought a group of renegade dragons who were spit fires in the forest for sport and knock them out before they could do anymore damage. That left the dragons unconscious and bleeding a little from their mouths. It was a miracle that they didn't fall into a coma.
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About the fire that they had lit up, that was resolved by a group of pegasi through their weather control. Azure had already left the scene before their arrival.
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Annoyed by her umpteenth fight, Azure continued to walk until she went out from the forest, hoping to get home already.
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As the violet mare approached the entrance of Ponyville, just to take a moment to orientate herself, two pegasus Royal Guards appeared from behind her.
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Azure can feel that she was going to have a real bad day.
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It wasn't enough for her that she fought some arsonist dragons. Now she has to deal with Royal Guards too.
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Azure decide that wasn't even worth to mess with the authority and tried to run away, but she suddenly find herself unable to move and stumbled.
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The main cause of this paralysis was a unicorn Royal Guard who was standing in front of her.
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"You better surrender now, you criminal scum! Nobody commit acts of violence unpunished!" said the armored unicorn.
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The pegasi Royal Guards approached the spell blocked Azure and took her bag and her steel pipe away from her.
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One of the two winged armored ponies opened the bag and started to examine it's content.
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"Oh, dear Celestia from above! Look at this!" said surprised the pegasus. "Look at these magical artifacts! How did this mare get those things! No wonder unicorns, pegasus, dragons and any other creature were easily beaten by her!"
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"But that's not possible." said the second one. "She couldn't have such strenght. And most of all, we didn't get any report about some artifact being stolen. Not even from the archive in the castle."
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"Really?"
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The second pegasus walked toward his partner.
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"Look at these amulets and crystals. These thing seemed to be created very recently. I don't know how, but she created those thing, somehow. If you recall, is also possible to create object using a magic procedure and some required magic minerals. With this method, even a earth pony can do that."
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The unicorn Royal Guard walked toward Azure and glared at her while she looked at him with a irritated expression.
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"You've earned twenty years of imprisonment! I don't know how did you do that, but the homemade creation of magical artifacts is illegal! Combined with your episodes of violent delinquency, you are now in serious trouble! Not that you understand your position any way, but you know the procedure! You have the right to be silent!" said stern the unicorn.
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After that, Azure was arrested and exorted into a prison in Canterlot, where she was detained for three weeks.
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Azure was sitting in the interrogation room, waiting to be interrogated, much to her own muted frustration. She didn't even tried to look at the earth pony Royal Guard standing in front of the door. Being finally imprisoned was enough, so she doesn't want to add any other trouble on her list.
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After a brief, the door opened, revealing a cyan pegasus Royal Guard entering the room and turning his attention toward his earthen subordinate. The pegasus quietly ordered his subordinate to follow him. They left the room and closed the door.
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"She did something in the meantime?" said the cyan pegasus.
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"No, sir. She continued to avoid me and looked down to the table. This mare looked irritated. I don't know about her eyes, but there's something scary about these." said the earth guard.
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"Spare me those details. I didn't ask about that. I'm fully aware of her nature."
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"Sorry."
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"Do you know anything about her?"
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"Nothing much about her background. She has no parents for what i recall from the data. But there was a particular episode regarding her. Some weeks ago she was attacked by some unknown shadowy creatures. They were attacking her, probably trying to eat her. But then they were, you're not gonna believe it..." the earth pony gestured to Azure. "Killed by her. Those creatures were encountered in the past by a few ponies, before her, that survived to tell the tale. These are so rare and elusive that doesn't even appear in any single bestiary book in the entire Equestria."
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"Are sure of what have you just said? And why are you telling me this detail?"
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"Well, her only distant parent left in her family, her uncle, know what happened to her during her encounter with these being and know that these monster are dangerous. But... there's the strange part. Despite her uncle knowing exactly what happened and despite him knowing what these creatures are, he outright believed her, his nephew, to be a mass murderer, so he had already disown her."
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The cyan pegasus's irises shrunken in order to make evident his disbelieve.
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"Are you sure that was for her recent episode of delinquency and not just for what she had done in that moment? Wasn't this a act of self defense after all?" said the cyan pegasus.
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"With all the respect, you should ask him for that. He is a extreme pacifist. He respect the life of every creatures, inclunding the evil ones. And doesn't accept any type of comprimise."
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"I think that is disappropriate other than stupid."
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"Is everything else that i can do?"
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"No, there's not. You are dismissed."
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"Understood, Liutenant Cobalt Will."
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As the earth pony guard left, Cobalt opened the door and entered the room again. Cobalt gives a stern glance at the violet delinquent sited at the table.
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He closed the door and walked to the table and slowly sited in front of her. Azure was still looking down to the table, not even bothering to look the cyan pegasus in his eyes. And yet Cobalt can clearly feel that Azure already perceived his presence.
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"So you're the one who is causing all this violence." said Cobalt with a calm and stern tone. "And you were carrying all that stuff. I can recognize when some object were created through Mystical Craftequinship. So this is what you are been using to deal with unicorn, pegasus, dragons, ecc.. You were also a no licensed mineral scavenger, so this is how you got the ingredients. The way you had utilized these thing is just despicable. Where exactly did you get those minerals?"
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Azure didn't respond.
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"Your silencw won't help you at all. I also examined your previous foes, or victims in their case. No normal mare can possibly have that absurd strenght. And you were armed with a steel pipe. But on the moral side nothing matters. Most of the ponies, and others, were sent to the hospital or into any other available house of cure because of you."
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Still no response from her. Cobalt was slowly starting to get irritated.
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"I should be prepared you for a eventual trial. We have your steel pipe and your magical gear as our box of evidence against you. You wouldn't even have the time to declare yourself innocent."
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Cobalt paused a little while Azure continued to looking down to the table.
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"Do you understand that!?" concluded Cobalt with a imperative tone while slamming both his hooves on the table.
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Azure raised her head and looked in his eyes with a serious and impassive expression. That will complicate her position she is now. But, instead of feel challenged, Cobalt remained composed. After a momentary silent, he expressed empathy, and for a valid reason.
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"I know what happened to your family. Three year ago, somepony set them on fire along with your house. I know about the ordeal that you had gone through. But living in this way will lead you-"
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"How the hell did you know about that? You weren't there during that night." interrupted Azure with a surprised, irritated tone.
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"I was told about that by a testimony who was passing in front of your home. He didn't wanted to be even involved at all. But that is not what i want to talk about."
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"What do you want from me?"
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"You know that, in this circumstance, you will not get away with your crime."
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"..."
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"However, before coming here, i had received a order to above. I was ordered to send you to forced volunteering, so you can finally contributing to the society."
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"What?"
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"For forced volunteering i mean that i would like to make you a proposal. You had a particular talent and i would like ask your help."
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Azure's expression changed into a confused one as she was listening to his words, but wasn't sure that he was or not screwing around.
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"Look, i know that you don't trust our system, so, i will ask to you to trust me. I will give you a possibility. I don't want ask you to change. Just, just think about what you you are going to do from now."
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"Why your authorities ordered you to give me some special treatment?" said bluntly Azure. "I don't think of myself as a special case. Besides, that would be unjust for your other prisoners. So i don't think so. You can just drop me into the jail for what i care."
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Cobalt groaned irritated as he tried to maintain his composure.
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"You really want have a real bad time, huh? It wasn't in the intentions of my leaders to use you as a weapon, you know? I was told that were you mistrustful, but not this hard." said Cobalt.
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"Let me ask you something. Why you seems to be the only one guard who know anything about me?" said Azure.
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Cobalt remained silent for bit before giving her the answer.
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"Celestia herself was intrigued by your own unnatural talent and didn't wanted to show that to the rest of the world. So your informations and identity were kept secret from the others except for Celestia and the only trustful guards, including me."
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"Secret? Who the fuck do they think they are? Their freak show?" muttered mistrustfully Azure in her mind.
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"We were interested about your talent. You can do almost everything. You had also a great knowledge. I will put aside that unequine strenght and dexterity of yours. These are not needed. You made a bad use of the after all. But we can always put that in the past if you collaborate with me."
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"If i will not be your hound as you can say, then what do you want from me."
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"No, you don't get it. It's about what you want for youself. However don't even think to go unnoticed. Some of my subordinate will watching over you. Plus, you will not work there with your current identity."
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"What do you mean?"
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"You will instead have another name since almost nopony know about your existence. You will work there with the name of Antiblue."
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"!" Azure felt confused and caught off by his statement. She wasn't expecting it being put on that form.
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"That's right. The same alias that you were about to use in the past after that monster killing. But this time, starting from now, that will assume another meaning."
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Azure was momentary dismayed for that statement.
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"What kind of confidential bullshit is this?"
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"Unfortunately for you, we don't have all the day to decide this. So you had two thing."
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"What!?"
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"Comprimise or dead end. Your choice."
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"Why you insist so much about me!?"
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"You should consider this opportunity. Take your time." said Cobalt as he stood up and walked toward the door. He went out of the room and closed the door slowly.
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Azure was left alone. Pondering about what to do. She never trusted anypony outside herself. She wasn't even willing to collaborate with the authority. But considerate that part of this proposal implicating a tranquil way to go, Azure would actually get what she wanted. The only thing that Azure was unsure of was her future attempts that she has to do to control her anger issues. Despite the fact that she has also the murderer of her parents to take care of, she knows that this wouldn't even be the sane choice right now. Beside, her actual lifestyle under the delinquency, and her luck, couldn't last forever.
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Eventually, Azure had reluctantly accepted Cobalt Will's proposal and was transferred into a volunteering center nearby Canterlot, under the vigilance of some Royal Guards under Cobalt's orders, who were guarding her from the outside without being noticed. During that period Azure took the name of Antiblue according to Cobalt's method to hide her identity, much to her annoyance.
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They couldn't even notice that Antiblue already perceived their presece. To be honest, she didn't care. As long as she didn't cause any mess, the guards wouldn't be obligated to act. Their presence, however, was a pain to bear.
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The room she was working in was a sort of classroom, but with some variations to suit the volunteers to the world of work.
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Antiblue worked without even complain during the following days, enjoying at least that kind of tranquil life that she wanted. But that wasn't the same thing for the other ponies working with her.
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The point is that: Antiblue wasn't the type of mare who is willing to work with the others. Of course, if someone asked for a help or a advice, she will do so since she can came
out with some clever ideas and her own manuality. But for the rest, Antiblue doesn't interact with them at all.
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That was what Cobalt meant for giving the name of Antiblue a new meaning. That symbolized what she was now: wary, antisocial, almost short-tempered, tough, mistrustful, crudely direct when is needed, and, most of all, foul mouthed. But despite these defects, she can be calm, composed and polite when she want to.
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Antiblue kept isolating from the rest of the group and, most of the time, she kept working on her own.
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Only two mares tried to get along with her, no matter the difficulty: Ruby Honey, whimsical, friendly and upbeat, and yet somehow scatterbrained purple maned yellow earth pony who is good at cultivating an exquisite honey and breeding bees, and Marine Sapphire, a motivated, serious and intelligent, and yet awkward blue maned red pegasus who is a expert chemist.
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Both of them didn't seemed to mind abou her name and nature, though that Sapphire has some issues with the violet mare's behavior.
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And honestly, Antiblue didn't even wanted to have anything to do with them at all. She has nothing against them, but she wasn't very fond of their company either..
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"Are you free this afternoon? Could help me with some research with the pollen of some flowers that i possess?" said cheerfully Ruby.
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"Look, i will do it for another time. I have another another job to do." said Antiblue.
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"Don't even try to embrance your lazyness." said Sapphire approaching Antiblue. "I think you should help her. After all, you had a good knowledge about almost everything. You could be more helpful than this."
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"Oh, c'mon. Almost every day is the same story. Can you give me a break?"
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"No excuses. Duty came always first. I hate to put you in so much work, but that cannot be helped. Especially is this is about altruism. You must improve yourself without give up."
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Antiblue groaned in sign of resignation since Sapphire has always a verbal upper hand on her, especially if one afternoon that pegasus had used some extreme measure as a explosive formula to wake her up since she was sleeping. The worst part was that Antiblue, being irritated by this, felt the urge to smash her in that instant with only her bare fists, so she had a hard time to suppress it. Hopefully she hadn't any incident, but doesn't want repeat that deafening experience ever again. In other words she couldn't say no.
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Antiblue couldn't reply that the three mares were interrupted by sardonic voice.
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"Are you seriously thinking to reform her?"
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The tree ponies turned their head toward a beige maned green earth stallion next to the door.
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"She will have some bright ideas and could do something useful, but for the rest... she doesn't go anywhere. She could possibily be a wasted talent since she doesn't want to put any effort at all. Plus, she seemed a little aggressive judging by her face. After all she i just a delinquent. I know her story."
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"Hey! You're the first to talk. But what about the whole magic incident that you caused because of your sheer arrogance and ignorance to emulate a black hole without consequences?! Don't even judge at all if you cannot judge yourself, Sly Tongue. said severly Sapphire.
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"That's right. Think about your being judgmental. Trust me. She wouldn't improve herself if you continued to push her down in this way." said Ruby.
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"Tsk." muttered Sly before leaving the room.
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"Forget that guy. Is just your typical daily jerk who doesn't lose any occasion to say come acid comment out of turn. The worst part? He is convinced to not be one dimensional." said a irritated Sapphire.
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"Yeah, i know. I can recognize a ass-" Antiblue couldn't conclude that she was lightly clubbed by Sapphire through a plastic stick on her head.
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"LANGUAGE!"
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"..."
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"Don't even dare Antiblue."
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Antiblue remained silent as she was trying to contain her irritation and tried to confront her politely.
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"Fine. Returning to our topic... I will help Ruby with her work." said Antiblue.
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"That's the spirit... i think." said Sapphire.
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Antiblue turned toward the door and psychologically prepared herself for another session with Ruby.
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"Seriously, for f-"
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Antiblue get lightly clubbed againg by Sapphire with the plastic stick, this time on her left cheek.
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"LANGUAGE!"
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The violet mare tried to contain her irritation again, which was getting even more intense than the first time.
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As Antiblue was leaving the room, Sapphire started to talk with Ruby.
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"I want ask you a thing." Sapphire showed a bunny plushie covered with grass and flowers.
"Can your bees still perceive their scent with these flowers being in that state?"
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"You know? I don't know if that will work, but if it does, this would be kind of cute."
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Antiblue doesn't know if she is supposed to be curious of disturbed.
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"Seriously, both of you. What the hell is wrong with you?" muttered Antiblue in her mind.
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As days passed by, Antiblue continued to live her new pseudo life with Ruby and Sapphire trying to get along with her. Sapphire in particular tried to reform her."
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Antiblue was still mistruful, but not without judgement. She saw already they are good ponies. However, for some reasons, she prefered to have no connection with them, just like with anypony else. The minimum that she could do was trying to not hurt them emotionally. After all the truth really hurts, and how.
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One year later, Antiblue was tasked to help with the organization of the upcoming Grand Galloping Gala at Canterlot, along with her class. Always as part of contribution according to Cobalt's proposal.
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The violet mare directed the whole preparations impeccably with the main hall of the castle that will host the gala being empty.
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As Antiblue was making the last touch of the preparations, she took the occasion to take a look to the other halls of the castle until she halted to observe something particular.
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Twilight Sparkle, Celestia's faithful student, as she was talking to Shinning Armor, who paid a visit to her.
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Antiblue decided to go away unnoticed. In fact she was starting to feel uncomfortable after a while. More important, she doesn't want to have any further problems with the authorities.
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The moon has risen in the sky after a couple of hours.
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As the gala started, Antiblue was completely absent during the development of the whole party since she was in the underground prison under Cobalt's request.
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A hour after the end of the party, Antiblue started to get bored. She was just waiting to return in her own jail. The only positive note is that both Ruby and Sapphire weren't around.
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Antiblue started to pondering about herself. After what she had gone through that tragic night and the attack of the shaded creatures, she started to ask if she was really ok with her current life. Deep inside, Antiblue knows that there's a obvious reason why she will only trust herself.
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Before Antiblue could get this answer, a earth pony Royal Guard interrupted her reflection.
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"My superior has requested your presence. You better come with me." said the guard.
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"Who is it?" retorted Antiblue
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"Don't waste my time, just move." said impatient the guard as he was leaving.
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Antiblue was looking at him with suspect. Especially since he gave a very suspicious invitation to her.
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"What does his superior want from me?" said Antiblue before following the guard.
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The violet mare followed the guard until they entered the castle halls.
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They continued to walk for a while and Antiblue started to question what was their destination. She didn't bothered to ask that to the guard since she know that he wouldn't give any answer. Secrecy is part of his job after all.
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After a handful of minutes, they reached their destination, much to Antiblue's surprise.
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Their were in the throne room, completely empty. Celestia wasn't there, but Antiblue realized what that means. She started to feel a little nervous.
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"You gotta be kidding me!" said Antiblue in her mind.
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She turned toward the guard, but before she could ask the meaning of this situation, the earth pony royal guard already left the room and closed the door.
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Antiblue doensn't do anything, and doesn't even try to escape from the door where she came from either.
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She heard from the guard that his own superior requested her presence, but she couldn't imagine tha was his ruler. She started to think about the reason she was convoked there.
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Suddenly her focus was broken by a recognizable presence that she was perceiving from behind, like a entity suddenly appeared from behind her.
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"We finally meet at least." said a benevolent voice, startling Antiblue.
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The violet mare quickly turned toward the throne in response to these words, only to find Celestia nearby that royal chair, as she was expecting.
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That was the time were Celestia was sane in her mind and wasn't comprimised. At least that is how Antiblue saw for the first time.
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Antiblue continued to look at the alicorn with a still nervous expression. She doesn't like the situation, even for a bit. Antiblue tried to calm herself down while trying to understand the winged pony's intentions.
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"Look, you don't need to worry. I called you here because i wanted to discuss something about you. You know, like Cobalt Will, i am curious about not just your talents. That would sound strange, but i wanted to meet you at the right moment, Azure Strawberry." said Celestia.
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Antiblue doesn't respond as she started to glare at the Princess, especially she was touching some personal matter of her, including her real name.
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"You're not obbligated to bow, but is still a sign of honorifics, you know?" said Celestia.
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"You were keeping a eye on me for this whole time, isn't it?" asked distrustful Antiblue.
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"Azure. That was really crude of you. I have more important duties, so of course i don't have that time to do this pointless practice. That was Cobalt's task, because he has some hopes for you. We only started to keep an eye of you started to pick up your fights. You had a great potential, and i wanted to lead you a hand to rebuild your life, but your antisocial behavior makes me difficult to do so. Seriously, you don't even trust my word?"
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"What do you want?"
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"I want to help you. Look, i know that i'm touching some personal buttons. That can't be helped. I know what you had gone through, and wanted to do something-"
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"Don't try this approach with me." interrupted Antiblue. "I don't think that's the only reason you convoked me there."
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Celestia paused and groaned a little after that abrupt interruption, then she walked toward the violet mare. The sound of her metal shoes ringed on the marble floor as she was walking.
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"You should be careful about your words." retorted Celestia. "If i convoked you there is because i wanted to talk about your future. Remember, you are in a bad position since your arrest."
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"Why so much interest for me?" asked Antiblue.
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Celestia halted and paused, a little bothered by the violet mare's glare.
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"You know, you are not the first orphan who took a worst path, depending of his or her reasons. Trust me, i lived thousands of years and i saw various cases like these. But you are different, and for a valid reason."
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"What could be this reason?"
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"Your surprising talent. You can do almost everything. You possess a unsual learning ability. And you possess and inequine strenght and dexterity as well. Normally a pony who had realized his own destiny gained his own cutey mark, in other words his own true calling. But you had no true calling. I know that you don't care, but consider this detail: You can decide what path to take without problems. When you moved from your house, you could had tried to find a new place to live and move on, starting by get a job or even using your ability to help the others. But you had chosen a miserable life of delinquency. And for the wrong reasons. You don't trust anypony. You didn't ask for help to anypony else when you lost your parents, your old life crumbled and you were without resources to sustain yourself. You tried everything in your power to not be found. And you continued to live in in complete isolation." Celestia then looked worried at Antiblue "Why?"
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"Say whatever you want, but it's my own choice to not trust anypony. Not even your system as well. I'm not very fond of this Harmony of yours. I don't have nothing against that and i don't even bother to oppose it, but that is your ideal, not mine."
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"And that is another reason why you were arrested. I won't condone violence or use of forbidden magic artifact forging, you know. I observed some of your cases involving you picking up a fight with somepony or some creature. There are enough jerks or dangerous creatures who became victim of your improvised vigilantism. Being angered off by somepony is not a valid excuse. However, despited your antisocial and gruffly behavior, you showed a certain conscience by saving a distressed female pegasus, but you could have at least avoided to kneecap these three rude, now beaten up, unicorns. You should control your temper. The same thing goes for the diamond dogs and for the dragons. You will not go anywhere if you continue in this way."
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"..."
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"I also wanted to keep your identity a secret because there is also a factor that will affect the majority of your life. With this unnatural talent of yours, everypony will treat you differently, will envy you or, in the worst scenario, fearing you. You will treated as a outcast because you were too perfect for them. Additionally, you are also dangerous not because of your fighting abilities, but for you knowledge as well. Not only you know about every creature in Equestria, but you know how to deal with them as well. Except alicorns of course. Don't get me wrong. I'm not afraid of you, but of the use that you are doing with your talent."
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Antiblue briefly looked away from Celestia as she continued to talk.
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"What i wanted to do is proposing something that will allow you to live a normal life. I think this is what you wanted."
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"Your cyan pegasus proposed me to work in that volunteering center as a penitence. What else do you expect me to do?"
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"I was thinking to make you my own pseudo apprentice."
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Antiblue returned her attention to the Princess with a very baffled face.
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"What?" said confused Antiblue.
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"I'm will not putting into a military role, a diplomatic one or something. No, no. I wanted to put you into a role that will put your knowledge and craftequinship into practice. Don't get me wrong. I will not asking you to do some miracle. You see? You lived with your family, but never visited the outside world. I will just asking you to take various journeys across the lands of Equestria, under my aegis of course. However the real reason of my proposal is that you can meet some other ponies and living cratures. Not only that, but you can use your craftequineship and knowledge, along with your other positive qualities, to help those in difficulty. I think..."
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The Sun Princess couldn't continue that she was interrupted by Antiblue gesturing her to stop, as she already understood the implication of her proposal.
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"Sorry, but i just can't do it. I refuse." said Antiblue, much to Celestia's shock.
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The alicorn remained speechless for a bit before she gave her response.
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"You cannot be serious."
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"I Ain't got no reason to take part in some project of yours. Nothing against it, but i'm just fine with Cobalt's proposal."
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"Are you sure about that?"
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"Say whatever you want, but i don't see myself in that role."
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Celestia narrowed her eyes, feeling something behind the mare's reasoning.
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"You are wasting a good opportunity to rebuild your life."
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"I don't see any valid reason to continue this conversation."
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"Azure, is that what you really wanted? Continuing your forced volunteering work and spend the rest of your life in prison? This is not what your parents truly wanted. I'm telling you for your sake."
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"Don't even get me started with your former sister that you had exiled on the moon through your own abuse of the Elements of Harmony because she became a living menace."
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"!" Celestia glared a her, stunned and almost angered..
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"You can be a imposing figure, but you are not a god. You can still feel if there is something that bothered you this hard when somepony is minding your business. Continue to pry in my business and you will already give me some nerves." said bluntly Antiblue.
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Celestia, trying to not give in her anger and her pain caused by Antiblue's words, slowly regained her composure and stared at the violet mare with dead serious expression.
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"I have to remind you who are you talking to! I'm still the Princess of the Sun and ruler of this world you are living in! You would be reminded of that as long as i live, so you should at least give me some respect!"
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"So what? Putting aside your wings and your horn, i don't see any difference."
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Celestia was about to give her magical beatdown, but her own ethics stopped her just in time as she remembered what Cobalt said before.
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Antiblue can be crudely direct when is needed, without caring about the consequences.
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The alicorn's mind was stunned by the hidden content of the violet mare's statement. She couldn't help but acknowledge a subtle fact after returning into reality. As Celestia mentally returned to her senses, she doesn't see any change in mare in front of her.
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Antiblue remained impassive except for her eyes. The violet mare looked at the alicorn with a bizzare conviction.
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Celestia quickly pondered about that realization of hers. The content of that statement, despite being usually arrongant and blunt, pointed out a thing. Antiblue wasn't diminishing her royal figure. For the whole conversation Antiblue has actually done something else.
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Normally her subjects would treat Celestia as a goddess or a mighty and powerful mother because of her immortality, enormous magical powers and majesty.
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But Antiblue treated her like a regular pony. Nothing else. Celestia wasn't even mad at that point. Well, maybe a little. But for her that was a surprising treatment that came from a earth mare who is also a delinquent.
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She doesn't even know how to feel at some extent.
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However Celestia couldn't let this harsh remark about her lost sister Luna unpunished. The least that she could do was to point out the uselessness of that remark.
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"You know why i had lost my sister some centuries ago." said melancholic Celestia. "I had no choice but to banish her to the moon, where she coudn't do any harm anymore. It was a very painful choice that continued bite my heart even now. That harsh remark wasn't necessary at all. Don't do that ever again"
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"I'm sorry if i acted like a jackass, but that is what you get for digging this hard in my life."
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"Hey. Be civilized and try to retain a clean language at least when you are in front of me. After all, god or regular pony, i'm still the Princess of the Sun and Ruler of Equestria. I had my own dignity. That is not relevant for you, but is relevant for me."
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Celestia remained silent, taking her time to regain her mental serenity.
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"You cannot continue this way." continued Celestia "Look, i don't want to obbligate you, but, when the right opportunity will appear, you should try to discover-"
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"Let me guess. Friendship?" interrupted Antiblue once more.
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"Why not? There are also two mares who wanted to interact with you. Deep inside you care about them and tried to not hurt them. Then why you are trying to distance yourself from them?"
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"Spare me that whole friendship thing. I do not intend to be part of one of your design. I'm not your apprendist. You had already one faithful student who is ready to follow your teachings. I'm just a mare that had not reasons to be in your design whatsoever."
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Antiblue paused.
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"So let me ask you something."
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Antiblue paused again.
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"What the hell i had to do with all of this!?" yelled frustrated Antiblue.
Celestia glanced at the violet mare with a dismayed expression in her face.
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"You really disappointed me. I hoped that you had understood the importance of the role that you shall take in the future. You should consider a lot about the consequences of your choices."
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Suddenly one of the doors were brusquely opened by the earth pony guard from before who then entered afterwards.
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"Your Majesty. I heard some screams. Has this criminal scum done something wrong to you!?" said the guard.
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"No. It's okay. Besides, clean your language." said Celestia
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"I-i apologize."
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"Well, i'm done here." said Antiblue as she turned toward the door a walked toward the guard.
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"Azure! We had not finished! Think about it! You had still a choice!" insisted Celestia.
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"If you don't mind, i wish to return in my jail." said Antiblue to the guard.
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"I'm not taking orders from you!" yelled the guard.
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"That's fine. Take her to her place." ordered resigned Celestia to the guard.
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"Yes, your Majesty."
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"Azure. You are dismissed." said Celestia to Antiblue.
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"Whatever you said, miss ruler." said Antiblue before leaving the room along with the slightly angered guard.
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As the door were closed, Celestia couldn't help, but feel defeated. She tried to reach Antiblue and help her without any good results.
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"You will only end up hurting yourself. Why?" said quietly Celestia.
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At that point, Cobalt opened the door and entered the room. He was worried and slighlty irritated at the same time.
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"Princess Celestia. You had to apologize her. I, in particular, have to apologize for this. Deep inside i knew this would happen." said Cobalt.
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"No, Cobalt. Is not your fault. I also forseen that. It seems that the culprit responsible for the death of her parents was the real cause of her deep trauma. After all, that individual must be something important to...*sigh* her family. I didn't had the courage to mention this fact to her. Worst of all, she has become hostile toward the others, including me. I tried to convince her to accept my proposal. But there is no use."
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"That stupid punk. Azure doesn't know what is she doing."
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"Believe or not, she is actually conscious of her choices. I saw this in her eyes. At some point of the conversation, as i tried to remind her my role and identity as the Ruler of Equestria, she pointed out that i'm just a regular pony to her."
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Cobalt's eyes widened as his face started to contort in disbelieve before his incoming outburst.
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"Did she just insulted you?!"
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Celestia gestured him to calm down with her hoof.
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"Cobalt. Calm down. Is true that it will seems like that, but on the other side of it's coin, that showed me that she actually treated me on her equal level, without any distinctions."
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Cobalt Will was struck by a bizzare sense of confusion.
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"...What?"
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"Azure can seem really harsh and crude at first, but she can show some deep awareness when she want. And this is why is so dissapointing see her trowing away her future in that way. Cobalt, do what takes to put her in the right way. I will give you instrunctions tomorrow."
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"I will do it."
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Cobalt leaved the room and closed the door, leaving Celestia alone once more.
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Celestia lowered her head in sign of moral defeat and was about to leave the throne room.
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"Azure. I hope you can understand what i said to you."
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In the depth of the prison, Antiblue was in her cell, where she should be. Before she could close her eyes, Cobalt Will passed toward her cell with a very angry expression.
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Cobalt could feel himself tempted and trembling a little, ready to give Azure a lesson that she won't forget. But he wasn't that type of pony that gives in the sadism. So he calmed down and, trying to suppress his aggressiveness, he looked through the bars of Antiblue's jail door and prepared himself to confront her, with a still angered tone.
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"Seriously, you had screw up this opportunity, isn't it? Big time. A worst kind of big time. This story will not end very well for you, especially if you don't know anything about trust." said Cobalt.
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"Tell me about trust if you know something." retorted Antiblue.
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"You should consider your future more seriously. There is also one reason why Celestia tried to tell you something about friendship. Because she talked to you as a friend. I hope you had realized right now."
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With that, Cobalt leaved Antiblue alone with herself and walked toward the exit. As he left, he stopped and take a final look to her prison from that, he resumed his own way. But before he can do something, some of Antiblue's words can be heard.
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"I know what are you trying to do, but i won't allow to weakening me with this Harmony of yours."
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Antiblue paused.
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"After all, there is one reason why i choose to trust only myself."
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Cobalt doesn't say anything and doesn't emit any sound, waiting for her answer.
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"I rejected the foundations of frienship and trust after that night." concluded coldly Antiblue.
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Cobalt could do nothing, but feel a pain inside both his chest and his head.
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Antiblue should be kidding, but judging by her tone she isn't.
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Cobalt was considering the obvious route: that her bitterness and harsh behavior came from that traumatic past. But that and what transpired during that fight against the monster who had destroyed her house three years later weren't sufficient reasons that justified her descent into delinquency.
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There most be more, and Cobalt is intentioned to find out, even without asking Antiblue for that. Though that he was questioning how.
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To be continued in Chapter 3