Film, drapes across the couch, belly to the soft cushions, reading a new manuscript for a movie, which is propped up on a pillow, with a red pen in his mouth to occasionally change something. The clock on the wall ticks away the seconds as Film slowly turns the page.
"Guess What!" Acid yells as he opens the door with enthusiasm. Film flinches and drops the pen into the couch cushions. Film looks down into the crack with disappointment as Acid closes the door.
"I hope what you got can substitute for the pain you will cause me when I try and fish the pen out of the couch," Film says, turning his head to look at Acid, who is walking over to him with a big smile.
"I think you would sell anything for what I got," Acid says, pulling out of his saddle bag two blue tickets with a golden out line for a Wonderbolts show in Canterlot. Film's eyes widened at the sight of the golden tickets.
"No, Way! How!" Film says as he sits up in excitement.
"Being the student of Princess Celestia has its benefits," Acid says with a smile.
"You didn't?" Film asks with an edge of worry in his voice.
"No, she gave them to me when I was talking about how much you love the Wonderbolts," Acid replies. "They are also VIP tickets," Acid says, handing them to Film.
"We get to meet a Wonderbolt?!"
"One for each of us," Acid replies.
"No way, we got Soarin and Spitfire!" Film yells in joy, a smile plastered on his face as his feet kick a bit in anticipation. He then thinks for a second as he places the tickets on the coffee table. "What time does it start?"
"6:30 PM," Acid says, walking into the kitchen. Film's smile falters a bit as his ears drop down for a second before going back up.
"I might be able to get there on time," Film says as he stands up. "I have to deliver the new script back to the writers," Film says as he grabs the script on the couch before walking over to the kitchen entrance.
"I'll wait for you at the entrance to the coliseum then," Acid says as he grabs a soda from the fridge.
"All right," Film says before something dawns on him. "Didn't you go to the doctors to see about the surgery for your cancer?" Film asks, causing Acid to freeze mid sip of his pop. His eyes a bit wide as he tries to hind his surprise. "You did go, didn't you?" Film asks worriedly.
"Ya," Acid says as he lowers his soda from his lips.
"Can you get the surgery?" Film asks with a hint of excitement.
"I'm not getting it," Acid says in a monotone voice. Film blinks in confusion as his head processes Acid's response.
"What do you mean you're not getting it?" Film says, his voice rising slightly in anger.
"I'm not getting it," Acid repeats with a hint of stubernes in his tone.
"Why," Film asks. Acid stares blankly at the wall, not turning around nor answering the question he was given. "Turn around and tell me why you don't want to get the surgery?"
"I would outlive you," Acid says, tears in his eyes as he turns his head to look at Film. Film relaxes a bit as a wave of sadness hits Film when he sees his brother's eyes filled with tears. "I don't know how I could live without you," The calm sadness washes away from Film as it is replaced with anger at his brother's decision.
"You selfless Idiot! Why can't you do something for just you and not me or anyone else for once!" Film yells in anger, his voice hissing anger at every word. Acid flincihes in surprise and letting go of his pop. The soda can fall to the floor with a clang and miraculously doesn't fall over. Acid looks at Film with shock and fear as flashbacks of their father flash into his head. His tears are no longer of sadness, but of fear.
"For once in your Celestia forsaken life you should do something just for yourself and not think about others! Just once would I like to see you be independent and not think of others!" Film yells, oblivious to Acid's shaking legs. Tears now rolling down his face. Acid takes a deep breath before wiping away the tears. He releases the breath slowly as his heart slows back down. He looks Film dead in the eyes before uttering one thing.
"All right, DAD," Acid says, emphasizing dad with a massive amount of venom in his voice that could kill Celestia from the throne she sits on. The word shooting into Film's heart, past his emotion, and striking him were it hurt the most, his childhood. Acid picks up the pop can before walking past a shocked and very confused Film. Acid walks out of the kitchen and down the hallway. Leaving Film in shock as he sits down on the floor. Tears fill his eyes as he looks down at his hoof. His heart racing as his hoofs shake.
"What..What have I done.." Film thinks to himself. The incident now sinks into his memory as floods of others from their father flood his head. "No.. What have I become?" Film shakes his head before wiping the tears from his eyes. "There is no time for that now, I have to go,"
Film picks himself up and walks over to the door. He picks up the saddle bag and slings it over his back. He looks back into the quiet house before opening the door and leaving.
(Time Skip)
Two Solar Guards stand in front of a janitor's closet talking. "I thought I heard something coming from over here,"
"Come on, there's nothing here," The other one replies as she walks away. The stallion follows as he looks back down the hallway. The two turn the corner as Film slowly opens the door. He peeks his head out and looks down the hallway before slipping out.
"That was close," Film thinks as he looks around the corner into the next hallway. "There it is!" Standing in between two bat guards in dark purple armor is a door labeled document storage. "All right, hope this works," Film thinks as he pulls a bit out of his saddle bag. He tosses the bit heading away from the door.
The two guards look over to see the bit roll to a stop. The two guards look at eachother. "You go check it out," the mare says. The other mare nods before walking over to investigate the coin.
"Damit," Film thinks as he watches the mare pick up the coin. "Plain Jitsu,"
Film spreads his wings, reading himself on the ground before pushing off in a quick blast so fast you would miss it if you blinked. He lands on the guard's back as his hoofs wrap quickly around her mouth before he pushes his knee in between the exposed part where the body armor meets the helmet. The mare's eyes roll up into her face as a blush forms before passing out. The other guard looks at Film in shock as she back pedals.
Film turns around and pushes off, causing a gust of wind to raddel the walls. He grabs onto her mouth with one hoof as he elbows the same exposed spot. A little moan slips her lips as she hits the ground. Her face is the same red as the other guard.
"Sorry you two, but I need to see for myself if my hunch is right," Film wispears as he opens the door into the document room. Film steps into the dark room as the candles light up right as his hoof steps into the room. He closes the door quietly as he looks at the rows of filing cabinets lined across the walls and in the middle of the room. He walks down one of the rows of cabinets as he scans the tags with his eyes. Looking for one labed Bat guards. He turns down another row before spotting what he was looking for.
"There it is," Film thinks as he opens the cabinet drawer. He looks in as he pushes folders away to read the names on them better. "Blanket, Blanta, Blonka," Film thinks as he reads the names of the folders. "Here it is, Blood Moon," He pulls out a folder labeled Blood Moon before opening it up. He starts flipping through a ton of papers in the file.
"Dang this file is thick," Film thinks as he finally comes to the paper he was looking for. He pulls it out and places the folder on top of the cabinet. He brings the paper over to a nearby candle to read better.
"Guard name, Blood Moon. Sex, Femal.." Film reads over as he skims the page. "Here it is, Birth name is.. No! I was right!" Film thinks as his jaw drops. His eyes go wide as all the puzzle pieces fall into place. But before he can really think it over, his ears twitch as he hears a yell from the solar guard from earlier.
"We have an intruder!" The mare yells as clopping of hoofs to hard ground echoes into the room. Film quickly and smoothly places the page back and puts the file back into the cabinet before shutting the drawer. He ducks down as the door opens to reveal the mare guard from earlier.
"What would she want to do with a bunch of documents?" The stallion guard asks from the hallway as he drags the two limp bat ponies against the wall.
"I don't know, but she couldn't have gone far," The mare says as she walks into the room. Film peaks over before quickly ducking under and going to the other end of the row she was about to turn into. He peaks around the corner to see her tail disappear. He then walks slowly and crouches down into the row just to her left. The mare looks around as Film sneaks past and to the door.
"Please work twice," Film thinks as he takes out a bit from his saddle bag and throws it out the door and down the hallway. It lands with a loud thud that startels the stallion taking care of the bat ponies.
"I think that's her,'' the stallion says as he runs after the sound. Film quickly makes his way out of the door before sliding up against the wall opposite where the guard was running. The mare runs out of the room, causing the lights to turn off as she runs after the other guard. Film sighs as he takes off and makes his way to the nearest open window to fly out of the castle.
(Time skip)
Acid taps his hoof against the ground as he looks up in the sky for Film. Acid stands outside the coliseum in line to get in. The line thinning out as the time goes on. "Maybe he forgot," Acid thinks grumply as he turns to walk towards the door. A mare standing there as she takes tickets from ponies before letting them in.
"Wait!" Film yells out as he dives down. A small smile forms on Acid's face as he hands two tickets to the mare.
"The crazy blue pegasus behind me is with me," Acid says as Film lands next to him.
"Have a good time," She says as she hands over the two ticket stubs, with one having Soarin's name and the other having Spitfire's name on it, back to Acid. Film breathing heavily, takes the ticket stub from Acid.
"You ok?" Acid asks with genuen concern for Film's health.
"I… flew…" Film takes deep breaths between his words as the two walk into the building.
"Let yourself calm down, then talk," Acid says as Film nods in agreement. The two walk along the hallway as Film calms his breathing.
"I flew the fastest I have ever gone," Film finnly says as the two walk up the stairs.
"Really?" Acid asks.
"Ya," Film says as the two make it to the top of the stairs. "I think about 25 hooves per second," Film says right before Acid's eyes go wide.
"Holly Full Uncle Clane Kamel!," Acid says in surprise. "You shouldn't be watching the Wonderbolts, you should BE one of them!" Acid says as the two get to the VIP door. Standing at the door is a mare royal guard.
"I can't due the students they can," Film says as the two show their ticket stubs to the guard. She nods before the two step into the room. Film looks down at his stub before asking. "Acid, can we switch tickets?"
"Ya, why?" Acid asks.
"I would like to meet Soarin more than I would like to meet Spitfire," Film says as the two switch tickets before pocketing them in their saddlebags. Film looks up and around the huge open room.
At the front of the room is an open balcony high above the ground with cloud-like chairs in rows. Lining the sides of the room are tables full of food and drinks. On the ceiling were two really beautiful chandeliers lit up with no candles in sight. The room was filled with nobles and other very rich ponies.
"How?" Film says, fixating on the chandelier as he and Acid subconsely step closer to each other as they look around the room.
"The chandelier?" Acid asks, following his brother's gaze.
"Ya,"
"This coliseum is one of the fist to have magic lighting powered by the magic it absorbs from ponies around it,"
"So it's powered by us?" Film asks for clarification. Acid nods yes as the two walk deeper into the huge room. "I feel out of place with all these nobles around us," Film wispear to Acid.
"I hear ya," Acid responds. "I haven't really gotten used to being around them, but," Acid says, turning to face Film. "I know a rich pony you are going to like," Acid says, grabbing Film's arm and dragging him behind him.
"I doubt it," Film says as Acid drags Film over to the punch bowl where a tall light brown earth pony stands filling up his cup with punch. His hair was dark black and slicked back nicely. The stallion wears a simple tux on the front of his body with a red tie. His cutie mark is of three bags full of money. "No.." Film wispears as the stallion turns to face Acid.
"Acid, it's been a while," the stallion says as he looks down at Acid. Acid is almost a head shorter than the stallion, causing Acid to have to stand back or else he has to crane his neck up at a right angle.
"It has Filthy Rich," Acid replies as the two shake hoofs.
"Please, it's just Filthy," Filthy replies as the two stop shaking hoofs. "And I believe the stallion with you is your brother?"
"Yep," Acid says as Film just stares in shock. "Filthy, meet Film, Film meet Filthy," Acid says as Film snaps out of his shock.
"It's amazing to meet you in pony," Film says as the two shake hoofs.
"It's always great to meet a loyal customer, I am assuming anyways," Filthy says as he lowers his hoof.
"Ya," Film replies as he lowers his hoof. "I love you business practice, it's like no other,"
"Thank you, I learned from my father," Filthy replies.
"Not to be rude, but how did you two meet?" Film asks in genuine confusion.
"I was looking for a seller for some of my potions and tech, but most sellers were barely giving me enough money back to break even," Acid starts to explain.
"That's when he found me," Filthy interjects. "I give back fifty percent of all money made off of the providers product,"
"And with how cheap they were and the fact that my tech was flying off the shelfs gave me confidence to fully partner with him," Acid finishes up.
"That explains why you have so much money you just give away," Film says, nudging Acid in the stomach with his elbow.
"I don't just give it away to anyone, just to our parents and any charities I know will use my money right," Acid explans with a cheeky smile. Film chuckles as Filthy smiles between the two.
But before another word could be said between them, loud horns thunder out from the door. Everyone looks to see a Solar and Bat guard standing at the door with horns. They lower them down as Celestia walks in. Her shimmering mane seems to be even more beautiful than ever. Her crown and caller shimmer a bright yellow, almost with the same intensity as her bright white fur.
Everyone bows down, with Acid lagging behind a bit, before Celestia smiles and says, "Stand my subjects," Everyone stands back up and goes back to chatting. Acid and Celestia make eye contact. The two smile at each other before Celestia makes her way over to the group.
"How are you two enjoying VIP status?" Celestia asks Acid and Film as Filthy leaves them alone.
"It's a lot to take in," Acid replies.
"T-thanks for the tickets Princess," Film stuttered a bit while looking up at her.
"You welcome, and please, call me Celestia," Celestia replies. "I think I saw some oatmeal raisin cookies over in the corner,"
"Oh, my favorit," Acid replies. "I'll be right back," He says as he walks away from the group. Film making a disgusted looking face before returning his face back to normal. The moment Acid is out of earshot Celestia speaks directly to Film.
"A little bat told me you were sneaking through the castle," Celestia wispears to Film. Film blinks before his eyes widen in fear.
"How?"
"That bat guard told me somepony snuck in but didn't steal anything. They were a Blue pegasus stallion, sound formulier?"
"Oh," Film says, looking down as his face burns red.
"Don't worry, you're not in trouble," Celestia says, not helping Film's nervousness any. "I'm just interested as to why you broke into the castle when you could have just asked,"
"Well," Film says, looking up at Celestia, but not looking directly at her. "I was looking for a file on a certain bat pony because I had a suspicion about her real name and her connections with my brother, and I was right,"
"Who was it?" Celesia asks.
"Blood Moon,"
"I see," Celestia says as Acid walks back with a few cookies in his hoofs.
"Did I miss anything?" Acid asks, munching down on his cooky.
"N.." Film starts, but is over shadowed and interrupted by Celestia.
"I was just asking your brother if he would like to join me on the regular check up of the castle's defenses," Celestia says, looking over at Film with a smile and a wink. Film looks up as his eyes widen. "That's if you're free friday,"
"Sign me up," Film replies as Acid looks between the two befor shrugging. Everyone in the room stops as the fanfare from outside sounds. The crowd out in the stands clap and cheer as the Wonderbolts fly out into the coliseum.
"Come on, we need to get good seats," Acid says, grabbing Film's arm and dragging him away.
"We have VIP seats, no matter where we sit we have a good view," Film replies as the two sit down in the back with Celestia sitting down next to Acid.
"Good point," Acid says before the Wonderbolts fly past and into the sky. Leaving behind a mist trail of different colors.
"WOW!" Acid and Film say at the same time as their eyes widen and sparkle. Celestia looks down at the two with a smile before turning her attention to the acrobatic ponies flying in the sky.
(Time Skip)
"That. was. Breathtaking," Acid says as the two walk back into the main room of the VIP lounge. Pones chatting as some start to leave.
"I have no words that can describe what I just saw," Film says with a giant smile on his face. Celestia follows the two as they talk.
"It was amazing!" Acid says, turning to Film.
"Astonishing," Film shoots back.
"Stunning!"
"Stupefying!"
"Confounded!"
"Dumbfound!"
"Discompose!" Acid says before getting a weird look from the Film.
"That's not a word,"
"Ya it is," Acid replies with a little anger. "It means to disturb or agitate, usually used when someone is in such surprise they can't be taken out of it," Acid says it with a know it all attitude. Film rolls his eyes before Celestia bursts into their conversation.
"Don't you two have some ponies to meet?" She asks kindly as the two look up at her.
"Oh!" Film says in realization. "Ya!" His ears tilt a bit in confusion. "Where do we meet them?"
"They have their own rooms," Celestia says as she makes her way to the door. The two brothers follow close behind her. "I'll show you to them,"
"I can't wait!" Acid says as they walk out of the VIP room.
"Me neither!" Film replies.
(Time Skip)
"Thanks for everything princess," Film says as the group walks into a hallway lined with doors. On each of them are custom name tags with the wonderbolt's name who is acuping the room at the time. Standing at each door is a royal guard, checking the ticket stubs before letting the pony in.
"No problem at all," Celestia responds as Acid scans the doors.
"Here they are," Acid says, pointing at two doors next to each other. One with yellow and red fiery name tags with Spitfire in big black bold letters. The door next to it has a group of storm clouds with lightning coming out the bottom. In bright white text is Soarin.
"It was nice talking to you princess, see you later," Film says his goodbye before walking over to Acid. Celestia smiles as she watches the two show their ticket stubs to the guards before being let in. She turns around and makes her way back down the hallway she came from.
Acid walks into the room before the door closes behind him. The room he stepped into was a smallish living room with a couch and a coffee table in front of it. Walking out of the little kitchen is Spitfire. Her bright yellow fur glows in the light of the candles placed around the room. Her spiked back mane messed up still from the performance. She smiles at Acid with tiredness in her eyes.
"I'm assuming you're the pony who bought the meet and greet?" Spitfire asks as she walks over to the couch. "Either that or a very excited fan who broke in,"
"I can assure you, I did not break in," Acid replies as he awkwardly walks over to the couch as Spitfire sits down.
"So, out of curiosity, is the hair thing because you're a fan of me?" Spitfire asks as Acid sits down on the other side of the couch.
"No, that was an accident," Acid replies.
"Ahu.." Spitfire says skeptical.
"No, really. I accidentally blew up ethanol in my face which caused my hair to blow back. I never fixed it and my brother thought it looked cool on me, so it stayed," Acid explains.
"That's quite a story," Spitfire replise, still skeptical. "I didn't get your name,"
"Oh, Acid Flask," Acid says, extending an arm out for a hoof shake.
"THE Acid Flask?" Spitfire asks as her eyes widen.
"Ya?" Acid replies a little hesitant.
"You're a genius!" Spitfire says, grabbing his hoof with both of hers and shaking it violently. A big smile plastered on her face as she let go of his hoof. "You're the one who created the fire proof suits we use,"
"Well, I only created the friction resistant fabric," Acid replies after he recovers from the violent shaking.
"Still, you're amazing when it comes to the field of science," Spitfire says, calming down a bit.
"How do you even know about my contributions to science?" Acid asks, tilting his head a little to the side as his ears flop in that direction.
"I read the weekly TWIS magazine," Spitfire replies.
"You know, saying TWIS and weekly is kind of repetitive?"
"I know," Spitfire replies.
"What have you read about me then?" Acid asks.
"I know you are a student of Princess Celestia like Twilight Sparkle but with science. I know you are one of the best engineers in Canterlot, and that your mother was also a chemist like the few times you've dabbled into potions," Spitfire lists off. Acid sits there in stunned silence.
"You got all that from reading?" Acid asks, now really confused and concerned.
"Not all of it," Spitfire replies back. Acid relaxes a bit at the information. "You're not the only one in cahoots with the Princess," She says before leaning back into the couch cushion.
"Ok, that makes sense," Acid replies, also relaxing into the couch cushion.
"So enough about you," Spitfire says, lazaly looking over at Acid. "How much do you know about me?"
"That's a weird question to ask,"
"So was asking me about how much I know about you,"
"Good point," Acid replies. "All I really know is that you were the youngest pegasus to get into the wonderbolts,"
"Were?" Spitfire questions.
"Soarin beats you by a few months technically," Acid replies.
"Ya, the youngest stallion, not mare," Spitfire replies.
"I didn't know you guys separated genders for that sort of silly thing," Acid waves off.
"Sometimes it's the small things that count,"
(Time Skip)
"Thanks again," Acid says, stepping out of Spitfire's room as he looks back into the room at her.
"No problem," Spitfire replies before shutting the door. Another door creaks open right as Spitfires closes. Out steps Film, still in a conversation with Soarin.
"Thanks for the wonderful night!" Film yells back.
"No problem, just send a letter if you ever have free time!" Soarin yells back inside his room. The door closes as Film looks over at Acid. Acid has a big, knowing smile plastered on his face. Film blushes a bit before walking past Acid. Acid turns and follows him down the hallway.
"You got Soarins number?" Acid asks.
"No…" Film replies, turning away from Acid with a deep red blush. "I got his private P.O. box,"
"Oooo, even better," Acid replies, nuging Film. Film blushes harder as Acid laughs at his brother's embarrassment. "If you get any reder, you're going to look like a tomato," Film rolls his eyes at his brother's joke. "With how you two were talking, I would think you were gay,"
"Ya.." Film replies awkwardly, laughing. Acid stops in his trot as a multitude of memories fly to the forefront of his head.
"Film," Acid says, turning to his brother. Film has stopped and had turned around, watching concerningly at his brother's sudden stop.
"Ya?"
"Are you gay?" Acid asks.
"What?" Film says, his blush disappearing as he is taken aback by the question.
"Answer truthfully, are you gay or even bi?" Acid asks, getting a bit closer to Film. Film now getting a little fidgety as he backs up a bit. "Film," Acid gently places a hoof on his brothers shoulder. Film feels a calmness wash over him with the simple gesture. "I'm you brother, trust me when I say I will not judge you,"
Film takes a deep breath in before replying. "I am Bi,"
"I KNEW IT!" Acid yells before covering his mouth in slight shock. He now has his own bright red blush on his face. "I mean, I knew it," Acid says with giddenes in his voice while uncovering his mouth.
"You won't tell Avi yet, will you?"
"I cross my heart, hope to fly, strike an arrow in my heart," Acid says, going through the motions before gently placing his hoof against his brother's chest where his heart was. The two look into eachothers eyes. Acid smiling up at him causes him to smile back down. Film wraps an arm around Acid as he brings him into a hug.
"Thanks, you the best,"