Everen woke up to find he wasn't alone in his bed.
"How'd you get in here?" Everen questioned, sitting up.
"Oh, your awake. Good morning." Catalina smiled innocently, sitting up as well so she could nuzzle the stallions neck. "I came in through the front door, you forgot to lock it."
"How long have you been in my bed?" he probed, fearful that Kari might canter in at any moment. "And what are you doing in my bed."
"I've been right by your side most of the night. And I only slept with you, nothing else is fun if you're asleep." the mare explained, giggling as she continued her nuzzling.
Everen let out a sigh of relief, he got up and out of bed, getting dressed in his vest and boots. He put his hat and necklace on and put a towel in his backpack, slinging it over his back.
"Where're you going today?" Catalina asked, getting out of the bed as well.
"Swimming with some friends." Everen started, looking back to the mare. "Including Pine."
"Well, I can still enjoy your company right?" Catalina moved next to the unicorn, leaning into him.
"I suppose you can come along." Everen responded, deciding to give her a chance. "But we're not leaving for the swimming hole until about an hour before noon."
"Good, gives me time to grab my swimsuit." she grinned mischievously. "Where're you meeting up?"
"Main street south." Everen answered, opening his door and looking left and right to make sure nopony was in it. "Come on up to the roof so I can levitate you to the street."
"What for?" The mare inquired, tilting her head before nuzzling Everen's neck again.
"Imagine how it would look if you came downstairs with me." he elucidated, leading the way upstairs. "What would Kari think we were doing last night?"
"I see your point. At least this way I'll feel your magic all over me." Catalina followed Everen, looking forward to it.
They got to the roof and Everen lowered the earth pony to the street below. Catalina waved at Everen and cantered away, going back home. Everen then went downstairs and cantered into the kitchen, Karilyn wasn't in there which meant she was probably still asleep. Everen decided to go knock on her bedroom door, only to discover an unlocked door and an empty room. The window was wide open and Kari's room was a mess. Everen became worried beyond belief, he galloped to the window and searched the sky for any sign of her. Everen didn't see anything that would lead him to Kari, so he hurried to Milo's room and knocked frantically on the door.
"What is so important that you have to wake me up before five?" Milo asked as he opened his door.
"I think someone has taken Kari!" Everen kept his voice level, but it was still full of alarm.
Milo's jaw dropped and his eyes widened. "Are you sure?"
"Take a look at her room, the door was unlocked." the unicorn started to explain. "And she wasn't on the roof or in the kitchen."
Milo glanced into the mare's bedroom, then met Everen eyes. "We have to find her!"
"I'll get Umbra, you go talk to Kane." Everen galloped out of the house and made haste towards Umbra's tent, Milo running to the coffee shop.
Everen arrived at the tent just as Umbra was cantering out of it. He stopped the earth pony with an outstretched forehoof. "Umbra, I need your help, I believe Karilyn has been taken. Can you please use your resources to find her?"
"Sounds serious, I'll see what I can do. In the meantime you should seek the aid of Grey, he should be able to help you in some way." Umbra's voice was calm as could be given the current situation. He went back into his tent for a moment before coming back out with a pouch of bits. "Get going, I'll seek out my informants."
"Got it." Everen galloped at top speed to the barracks, knocking on the door.
A two-tan colored unicorn opened the door, his green mane and tail with a crew cut. "Can I help you?" his dark red eyes gleamed a little as he spoke, giving the impression he was up to something.
"Yeah I'm looking for Grey. Is he here?" Everen inquired trying to peer over the stallions head.
"Not currently, I think he went to see Azure streak in the other barracks." the stallion had a husky voice. "I'm Kinetic by the way, I saw you at the training grounds Tuesday. That was really impressive, not many ponies can land such a solid blow on Grey."
"I'm Everen, and if you think that was impressive, then don't ever get in my way." Everen warned, turning around and starting for the barracks.
Kinetic followed after him then, smelling danger. He loved danger.
"So, what do you need Grey for?" the unicorn asked, curiously.
"You of my friends has been marenapped, and Umbra Shuriken recommended I seek out Grey's assistance." Everen elucidated, not slowing in the slightest.
"Sounds interesting, mind if I tag along?" Kinetic questioned, eager to do something fun for once.
"As long as you plan to help me and not hinder my progress." Everen reached the offensive barracks, knocked loudly on the door.
When the door opened a pegasus pony leaped out at the two unicorns. Everen was quicker though, summoning a gust of wind underneath the pegasus and sending him skyward.
"It's a trap! They must've used Karilyn to get to me." Everen growled, trotting into the barracks.
"And yet you continue. This must be a special friend they took." Kinetic guessed,trotting in as well.
"She is, and I'm going to make Azure regret taking her." Everen guaranteed, a grim look on his face.
"Are you sure you can take him? He's almost better than Grey." Kinetic sound intrigued, concerned, and serious all at once.
"I've beaten him before." Everen said, going into the back room of the barracks, which was like a hangar/warehouse combination.
"Really?" Kinetic asked, doubtfully.
"I'm quite serious. When my friends are in danger, nothing will stop me from saving them." Everen scanned the large room, searching for life signs. He sensed somepony on the other side of a pile of boxes. He moved around them to find Kari blindfolded and tied to a chair, Azure streak holding a knife to her throat.
"Checkmate, I win." Azure said, confidently. A smirk growing on his face as a few pegasi lowered from the ceiling.
"You'd think so, wouldn't you?" Everen lit his horn a the knife suddenly turned into a straw.
"What?" Azur shouted in alarm. "What kind of magic is that?"
"I just activated an enchantment. That's not your knife." Everen leaped forward and gave the pegasus a double kick to the chest. "You picked up the knife I left at the training grounds on tuesday. I had enchanted that knife so that, if someone takes it from me in combat, I can turn it into a useless straw." he explained as he put on his modified horseshoes. "Hey Kinetic, think you can take the others?"
"Most certainly." he lit up his horn. Kinetic blasted the nearest pegasus with an invisible force. "You, just focus on Azure."
"Gladly." Everen didn't bother summoning his shield yet, he didn't need it right now.
Azure regained his composure and leapt as high as he could, landing on a box next to him. He jumped off and threw an aerial kick at Everen. The unicorn planted one hoof firmly on the ground and positioned himself so that the kick sent him spinning in place. He came around and punched Azure solidly in the face. Azure was thrown to the ground and Everen waited for him to get up, not wanting to stoop to Azures level. As soon as he was up Everen leaped forward and uppercutted him. at this point Azure was very dazed, Everen picked up the straw and turned it back into a knife, which he used to cut Karilyn's binding's. She removed her blindfold and stood up looking around.
"Time to run, or kick ass?" she asked seeing Azure sprawled on the floor.
"Run." Everen answered, then looked over to the other combatants. "Kinetic, you coming?"
"Yeah, cover me." he retreated to the exit, Everen and Kari galloping there as well.
Everen created a stone slab to fill up the doorway, cutting off the exit. The three of them ran to town hall. But before they could enter, somepony called out to them.
"Hey, are you Everen Shamrock?" the dark blue stallion asked, his green eyes full of intelligence.
"Yes, did Umbra send you?" Everen looked the unicorn over, his slightly managed blue mane and tail suggesting he works alot. He had streaks of white running through his mane and a silver bracelet on his front left forehoof.
"Yes he did. I'm here to inform you that Grey has been captured, but that you shouldn't worry Umbra is calling in a few favors to rescue him." the pony spoke with a rather weak voice. "Trust me, Grey'll be fine."
"I'll take your word for it." Everen looked to town hall, almost as if he was longing to know what lies inside.
"There's still the matter of payment. I gave you quality intel, and now you must tell me something truly worthwhile." the dark blue unicorn said waiting expectantly.
"Alright, but lets get out of the open first, I don't want everypony to hear." Everen moved to a secluded alleyway, making sure nopony was in it. "And I'd like to know your name before I tell you what I'm about to say."
"Digitize, although my friends call me Digi." the unicorn replied, cantering into the alley as well.
"Is it okay if I listen in?" Kinetic asked, following them.
"You helped me to rescue Kari, that makes you alright in my book." Everen complied letting him in. "Just be sure you don't share this information." Everen recounted the story of how he got his cutie mark for what felt like the hundredth time. When he had finished both Kinetic and Digitize were aghast, stunned by what they had just heard.
"You really saved the life of an alicorn when you were just a foal? That's incredible! How'd it feel, I mean that, if you hadn't acted, there'd be one less alicorn n equestria?" Kinetic asked, enthusiastically.
"It felt amazing, I've seldom felt as elated as I did that day." Everen spoke fondly of the moment, missing the past.
"Wait you SAVED the alicorn? I don't understand, that's crazy!" Digitize commented, seeming pretty frazzled about the whole ordeal.
"I wasn't raised here, raised to believe that alicorns are evil. No pony race is inherently evil." Everen explained, trying to console the struggling unicorn. "As for why I did it, it was a heroic impulse. Those aren't rational, they make you do what has to be done."
"O-okay, I think I can come to terms with this now, thanks for clearing that up." Digi sat down, rubbing his forehead.
"I wouldn't want you to get the wrong idea. That could be bad for my image here in Coldurim." Everen looked up, it was about an hour 'till noon. "Come on Kari, we've got to get going if we want to go swimming. Goodbye Digitize, Kinetic."
"Lets go then, I don't want to keep the others waiting." Kari left the alley, heading down main street south.
"Do you mind if I tag along? You people are more fun than anypony I know." Kinetic asked, trotting up next to them.
"I don't know, I've already got an unexpected 'tag-along' guest. What do you think Kari?" Everen looked to the mare, waiting for her answer.
"First of all, he knows your cutie mark story. He's in the inner circle, and therefore is welcome to join us." Karilyn started before glaring at Everen questioningly. "And second, what guest?"
"Just please give her a chance, she makes it hard to say no." Everen hesitated, not wanting to explain this morning, or tell a blunt lie.
"Who, is it?" the pegasus' voice deepened threateningly.
"Catalina." Everen stated, not meeting her eyes.
"When did this happen?" Kari inquired, raising an eyebrow. She knew it couldn't have been yesterday, which meant it had to be today.
"She stopped me this morning as I was running to Umbra, I was in a rush so I just said she could come. I didn't have the time to tell her no, that takes too long." Everen lied, having no desire to hurt Karilyn.
"Okay, lets keep going then." Kari turned back to the road.
They strolled down the street, searching for the others, and they spotted Tia, Pine, and Note in front of the post office.
"Hey you two, who's the new guy." Tia noticed them first, waving in their direction. "And where's Tsui?"
"This is Kinetic. he helped me and Kari out of a tight spot today." Everen explained, smiling at the unicorn. "I left Tsui with Milo. She can't swim yet."
"You wouldn't believe what we just went through." Karilyn added, laughing a bit as she looked back on it.
"Well if he a friend of yours he's welcome to come too." Tia said, smiling pleasantly. "And I hope Milo knows what he's doing."
Kinetic steps forward. "Who's the cute mare?" he says, causing Tia's eyes to widen.
"Kinetic, this is Tia, Note, and Pine." Everen gestured to each of them in turn.
"It's very nice to meet you all." the green-maned unicorn moved closer to Tia, taking up her forehoof and kissing it. "Especially you, Tia."
At this Tia blushed. "N-nice to meet you t-too." Tia tripped over her own tongue as she spoke. "I, uh, h-hey Note. Any idea when Remix is getting here?"
"No, why?" Note looked at Everen, grinning.
Everen was grinning as well, the two of them finding this very amusing.
"Because I'd like to get going." Tia regained some composure, but her face was still flushed.
"He should be here soon." Note promised, gazing down to town hall. "Ah, speak of the devil."
"Woah, what'd I miss?" Remix inquired, noticing Tia blushing.
"Just our new friend Kinetic flirting with Tia." Karilyn elucidated.
"Nice to meet you Kinetic, I'm Remix." the stallion introduced himself.
"Likewise." Kinetic replied, not taking his eyes off of Tia.
"So, are we going?" Remix asked, glancing around at everypony.
"We're waiting on one more." Everen said, groaning a bit as he did.
"Who is it, I thought we had everyone." Remix questioned, doing a double take on the group.
"Hey there, everypony, sorry if I kept you waiting, I got a little, sidetracked." came a voice from nearby. It was Catalina, a small saddlebag strapped just above her flank.
"What?" Remix's pupils shrank at the site of the mare, his ears dropping.
"Just give her a chance guys, please." Everen lowered his voice so Cat wouldn't hear.
They all shuffled uncomfortably before nodding their consent.
"Thank you." Everen sighed, turning to greet the earth pony. "It wasn't too, long, let's just get a move on." Everen got Tia's attention. "Lead the way."
Without further delay, Tia trotted off to the left of the barracks. They reached a cave at the back wall that led deeper into the mountain. Tia led them inside and through a series of twists and turns that she navigated with expertise. She has clearly been going to this swimming spot frequently. After a while, the ponies began to hear the sound of running water, and soon came upon a pool that had three small rivers flowing in different directions leading out of the cavern. The source of the pool was a waterfall at the left side of the cave.
"The water is spring-fed from right at the top of that waterfall, so it's very clean water." Tia explained, moving to a large boulder to their right. "Any mare who brought a swimsuit can change behind here."
Kari Tia and Catalina all went behind the boulder. They came out a few moments later, Karilyn wearing a one-piece that accentuated her curves. Tia in a plain bikini, but nonetheless attractive to the stallions. And Catalina was wearing a bikini that covered less than the others.
Kinetic leaned over to Everen and whispered into his ear. "Right now, I am SO glad I don't have wings." Everen nodded in agreement, forcing himself to look at their faces.
"Alright, you stallions who have swim trunks can put them on now." Tia said,paying attention to their gazes.
Catalina approached Remix. "See somthing you like?" she asked, getting too close for comfort.
The DJ gulped, paralyzed by the sight of Catalina in her bikini. He threw look at Everen that said 'help me'. Everen got the message and picked up the mare with his magic, levitating her over the water, then dropping her in.
"Hey, what was that for?" Cat yelled when she surfaced.
"You looked like you could use a soak." Everen teased, smirking at the earth pony.
"I'll get you back for that." Cat promised, swimming around the pond.
"Thanks Everen, I owe you one." Remix said, relieved.
"And I'll be sure to collect on that favor." Everen assured him, hanging his towel over a boulder. He then teleported to the top of the waterfall, and he jumped into the pond, manipulating the slash to fly over and hit Kari and Pine.
"Hey! You did that on purpose!" the pegasus shouted.
"Well you were just standing around. Are you gonna get in or what?" Everen called back, laughing at her expense.
"Oh you, bet your boots I'm getting in now. C'mere you!" Karilyn galloped into the water, going towards Everen, who began to swim leisurely away.
"Ooh, I want to play too!" Pine exclaimed, flying up and dive bombing at Everen. She hit the pond right next to him and came back up to give the stallion a death-grip hug.
"Hey Piney, we've been through this before you know." Everen used his magic to submerge the two of them, Pine tried to keep her grip tight but Everen got his hooves loose. He tickled her, she let go with her arms and then pulled him in with her wings. Everen bent his neck forward and kissed Pine full on the lips, wrapping his hooves around her. They pulled each other closer, holding kiss for a couple of seconds before going up for air still kissing. By the time they surfaced Kari had gotten right up next to them, pulling the two in joining in on the kiss, turning it into an odd three-way kiss. The others looked on in awe, utterly stunned by the sight. Tia's wings extended and she looked back at them with mixed shock and horror. Nopony noticed yet though, they were too busy looking at the three kissing in the water. Even Catalina was too surprised to do anything but stare. When they broke the kiss the all gazed into each others' eyes affectionately. Then Everen noticed the onlookers and blushed ever so slightly, only enough for Pine and Kari to see it. When they saw him blush they both turned around to see the others, then they blushed, more noticeably than Everen. The silence that followed was so absolute, that it even seemed as though the waterfall had stopped flowing. Quarter Note was the first to speak.
"Um, well then, that was." Note hesitated, trying to think of an appropriate word. "Extraordinary."
"Aptly put." Everen commented, giving both of the mares next to him a little hug.
"Um, I, uh." Kari stuttered, feeling dumber than she felt should be possible.
"Kari, it's okay, I've got you." Everen comforted her. "They'll understand, and if they don't, I'll make them understand."
"I didn't know you liked mares too Kari. That makes my relationship with Everen feel more complicated." Pine said, using her wings to cover her face.
"How do you feel about that though?" Kari asked, fearfully.
"I honestly don't know yet. I'd be willing to give it a try. Especially if it means I can continue to be with Everen." Pine answered, staring into Karilyn's eyes, which were wide open from surprise, embarrassment and happiness.
"Oh for Celestia's sake, can we just continue having a good time already!" Everen's voice cut through the silence like a warm knife through butter. "This awkward silence isn't going to get us anywhere."
"Y-yeah, you're right. Let's just accept what happened, deal with it, and move on." Tia spoke up, getting into the water herself.
After that the eight friends swam together, bonded, and had a fantastic time. When they'd all had enough of the water, they got out, dried off and went to the bakery to have lunch. Everen realized that two of the friends in his current company hadn't heard his cutie mark story yet. So he decided to retell the tale for Cat and Tia. They took it about as well as the others, accepting it and judging Everen positively for protecting the defenceless. Once lunch was finished they all went their separate ways, heading home after the long day. When Everen woke the next morning, he found a letter on his desk, a note next to it read; 'Everen, I know it's a little late, but here's my birthday present for you, signed Blaxe J.'
The letter was from Mirudloc.