Chapter 10:Swarm Of The Century
"This is by far one of the worst days I will ever know in the town of Ponyville…"Orion sat on a bench in the midst of complete decoration and preparation.
Right above his head, two Pegasus ponies were hanging up are large banner. Showing off the occasion that would occur tomorrow, all the reason to prepare today. The way he heard it, tomorrow the princess of the sun herself was arriving to town. All was being prepared for her visit, from decor, to delicacies at Sugar Cube Corner, and even music. He groaned and lightly pounded a fist on the bench, thinking of his sister's arrival, simply for fun.
"Didn't know these days, Tia could take a break from getting pampered in Canterlot,"He mumbled to himself as confetti fell on his shoulder,"Only to get pampered again in this town instead like a complete prissy pony. Love where your mind is at Tia…!"
Orion clearly was not too big into the idea of his sister arriving to Ponyville. He already had a plan for when she arrived, in fact he had two just in case Twilight ruins the other. His more preferred one would be to just hide in the library with some punch and snacks. Just wait till all of tomorrow was over, and Tia was going back to Canterlot where she belonged. The other was a bit more complicated, and involved some creativity with his own crystals.
"Spike would hide me if I promised him one of those comics he likes, maybe a bowl of gems to top it off,"He pondered on his options while key paths of the town around him were aligned with flowers,"I could do a trick with my crystal armor, but it's such a pain in the flank to get the form just right…!"
"Hey…! What's down pouring on your day big guy?"He heard a call above his head that came from only one Pegasus, Rainbow Dash.
"You wanna take a big guess. Heck, the answer is being decorated all around you!"A horn sounded to his left before streamers were flying over his head to tie around the light pole.
"That's what your sore about?! Who the hay would be upset about the princess coming to Ponyville,"Rainbow fixed a clouds position and flew down to confront him,"Look we don't know what you and the princess have together. Twilight won't even tell us what's going on, but you should at least give her a chance!"
"Sure… I'll try that shortly after an eternity. Me and that mare have nothing to talk about,"Orion made something real clear to Rainbow Dash as he pointed to his backside,"If she has anything to say to me. She can tell it to my flank!"
"Nice… Well when you're done being sour and salty about princess Celestia, I need your help,"Rainbow Dash quickly went back to fix the clouds that moved from their place,"Glitter and light posts don't seem to be what Twilight feels is perfect for the princess. Maybe if you were to put down some of those sparkly crystals. They'd give perfect lighting and appeal…!"
"How about go find some other chump who will waste his abilities for a prissy!"He looked up and glared at her with his glimmering eyes of red.
"I swear, you are hopeless at times…"Rainbow flew off to help with coloring the street lights.
"Yeah… Says the mare that fawns over the wonderbolts, and blows off work to watch them fly…"Orion went back to sulking on the bench again.
He could see what was going to happen when she arrived, he would get shouldered by the princess constantly. Being asked questions, and what he was and who was, he felt his face going red. Only to then feel the wind whip in his face as Fluttershy passed right by him. He swore she was managing the food supplies to aid in making delicacies and making the animals happy and sweet. So naturally his curiosity got the best of him, and it gave him a reason to get off his flank.
He took a walk and ventured to Sugar Cube Corner, where work on the delicacies themselves were being made. Pinkie herself proclaimed to be the taste tester for all the food being made. As he recalled, she would ensure that the food would be tasty enough to touch the royal tongue. If only Tia knew how well she had it, that was his first thought that came to mind. He entered the middle of town and saw decorations everywhere he looked.
Suddenly he did notice something quite hilarious to his left near the library. Two Pegasus were trying to change a banner that was suppose to say welcome princess Celestia. Instead he chuckled at what the banner actually said.
"Welcome princess Celest? That is PERFECT for a welcoming…! Hey Pegasus ponies, well done!"He responded with a thumbs up.
"Oh…we were about to change it, Twilight said it needed to be remeasured so we can fit the princesses whole name in it."The Pegasus mares froze to explain the banner.
"No no, please do not sweat it too much. That looks wonderful the way it is,"He gave them two thumbs up and moved on away from the confused mares,"Ah… Well that was slightly spirit lifting."
He chuckled to himself and moved aside to let the children run by him. He came upon Sugar Cube Corner, and could hear every pony inside talking with excitement. He shrugged and entered the gingerbread building, and got an eye full of desserts. Pies, cakes, cupcakes, and even more cakes, so many cakes laid out on the counters. Yet the only thing that got his attention more, was the three balls of chaotic adorable terror Twilight, Fluttershy, and Pinkie loomed over.
"They're amazing! What are they?"Twilight asked as he approached the group.
"I don't know, and I don't know where these two came from either…"Fluttershy said as she presented all three.
"Those are parasprites, and we don't want any of those things around town,"Orion snatched one up and held it in his hand like a golf ball,"These things are bad for civilizations, and farms. We can't keep these…!"
"Ok… Mister grouchy, we won't keep a single one of these parasprites,"Twilight insisted gently before getting a nod from him and watching him turn his back, only to learn towards Fluttershy,"Just put one in my mane, I'll take one off your hooves…"
"Ok… Pinkie Pie? Would you like one too?"Fluttershy quietly offered one while Orion was looking at all the food.
"Ugh…! A paraspite, are you kidding me?!"Pinkie cringed at the idea of having a parasprite in her care.
"But… How could you not like-"Pinkie passed fluttershy and cringed.
"Now I gotta go find a trombone…!"Pinkie ranted.
"A trombone?"Twilight questioned.
"Yeah! You know. Doot doot doot dooo!"Pinkie impersonated a trombone and left.
"Smart… That should clear out any parasprites that may have spread around town,"Orion liked pinkie's idea and finally went off about all the desserts in the room,"Is all of this really for her?! Sorry I didn't yell about this sooner!"
"It's just six cakes, four pies, three types of cupcakes, two types of punch. A chocolate fondue, and plenty of hot white jade tea,"Twilight pulled out a small list to show him all the things she had down for Celestia,"It's not all that bad, sure she'll eat well, but it's for every pony else too."
"Are you kidding me?! All this cake and cupcakes are going to go straight to her flank. She'll never fit in her throne,"He ranted as the cakes finished a seventh cake, and made him cringe,"Took me five years of wrestling her out of bed, and getting her to burn off so much weight she gained from eating so much of this crud…!"
"Goodness… Such mean things to say about the princess,"Fluttershy was shocked to hear such bold comments be stated about the princess,"What has the princess ever done to deserve such scorn…!"
"It's a long and complicated story that we may explain when the time has come,"Twilight patted Fluttershy's back to ease her friend,"Until then, did Rainbow Dash ask you about using your crystals for lighting and decor? Those would look AMAZING for the town!"
"Um… No, my crystals are not just some sort of decoration to just use whenever you want it to,"Orion looked over the punch and magically took out half the sugar in it,"Besides, do you WANT her to find out about me?! I sure as hay don't want to!"
"But she WON'T know it's you, besides wouldn't be at least nice to let her know you're somewhere back in her midst?"Twilight questioned before he took up a cup of punch.
"I said no…! She doesn't deserve to have me around, and she doesn't deserve to know I'm around,"He quickly gulped the punch and placed his cup in the sink,"I think I'm going to get going now, and perhaps take a long nap…!"
"Come on…! Don't be like this the whole time O…!"Twilight called as Orion quietly exited the building and into the sunshine.
He slammed the doors behind him and scoffed with a low groan of stress for this day and the next one. He fixed his hood while it shuffled his black hair that was a bit messy. He even smelled a bit from simply walking and sulking in broad day light. A shower was definitely warranted before he even thought about taking a nap. He sighed and simply stuffed his pockets with his hands as he walked all the way home.
Upon arrival to the Library, he say all the welcoming decor and new flowers all around the tree. Twilight and Spike had begun to do some serious decorating when he left earlier. He just didn't think Celestia could get so much praise in one day when Luna rarely got as much in a whole year. He opened the door and saw Spike just finishing his cleaning of the entire library. He paused and took in all the work Spike had done the whole day and nodded.
"Place is spotless. Nice job Spike, feel free to take a break."He called out to the baby dragon just as Spike fell back against a chair.
"Thanks… Hopefully the princess likes it too…"Spike panted from the hard work while Orion rolled his eyes.
"I'm going to go clean up, and shower from today. Tell Twilight I'm busy if she comes home and asks for me."Orion went upstairs slowly and stretched his back out.
"Can do!"Spike replied before Orion made it upstairs.
He passed their beds and entered the bathroom quietly, knowing Spike might be napping again. He stopped at the mirror first, and took a long look into the mirror. He allowed his crystal eyes to shut down to normal brown eyes and began to disrobe. He undid three straps and a rope like belt, before his cloak dropped from his body. Revealing his old white baggy sleeved shirt, and black weighted training shorts, always good for weight training.
His skin was pale to the touch, after all he was under a cloak almost all the time. He undid a small strap on his hood's neck line, and slowly lifted it off his head. His hair almost exploded into a big bushy mess of jet black that hung in his eyes. He liked the messy look, but he knew his hair could at least use a bit of a trim to look tamed. He found a pair of scissors, and got to work on his black mane.
He shortened it by about two inches, but manage to keep it in his preferred messy look. He could easily see again as he looked in the mirror again after cleaning off half a pound of hair. His face seemed unchanged, his face was round like, and his cheeks seemed only sightly puffy with three freckles on each cheek. The right side however still bared that unnoticeable scar on the side. Made by his own father that very dark night, when everything changed for him and his sisters.
He sighed and looked away from the mirror before disrobing his shirt, his bare mildly built chest baring a burned star like scar. His four pack abs appearing smooth, but rock solid like a wall in reality. A stab wound scar could be seen in his right waist. He disrobed his shorts and put a strong crack in the floor upon letting it drop. Showing off a burn like cut scar up the side of his left leg that had all but faded.
His scars were one of his greatest reminders he had from the wars, and the darkest of enemies. He looked away and quietly got his shower, he spent it thinking of his sister. Celestia after all this time now got more attention than she ever did before, he almost wanted to worry for Luna. Even after a thousand years, it seems almost nothing has changed in his sister. He shook his head and scrubbed himself off for thirty minutes, his head being refreshed and relaxed by the warm water.
He got out nice and soaked before he levitated a towel to his side and began drying off. Once more his sister kept coming to mind, it seemed like he would never get to truly relax. He quickly dried off and got out a white robe Twilight had gotten him for wardrobe choices. Along with a fluffy white robe that was soft to the touch on his face. He felt almost feminine to wear these new outfits as he fixed the hood and got his face covered again.
He finally strolled out to a dim bedroom, and a sun that had already set for the day. The night was approaching, and with it, he could see the stars appearing in the sky. His eyes locked onto the window to watch the night begin for Equestria. He sat on his bed and watched the moon begin to rise into the sky, knowing his little sister was now watching over the world. He pressed his hand to the window and gave a sigh with a half smile.
"There you are… You look a bit better than you did earlier, smell better too"Twilight was laying in the bed next to him barely awake, but smiling,"Watching princess Luna begin the night? You seem to be more than willing to show a lot of love to her."
"Of course… She barely gets any love as it is… Meanwhile a whole town wide celebration is being put together for a mare that shamed her own family."He laid back in his bed and remained watching the night.
"Don't you think it's a bit rough to blame her for something she had no choice in?"Twilight stared a bit solemn at the man as he shook his head.
"If you knew the real story about what happened a thousand years ago… You would be questioning your faith to Celestia,"He explain before pulling the sheets half way up his body,"She has her flaws too, and she's made terrible mistakes that could have been avoided. She's not a perfect mare like most of you think she is…"
"Never said she was perfect… But she was all I truly had before my friends. She believed in me, and I love her for making me into the unicorn I am now,"She got a look of silence from Orion before he turned to his side,"I'm sure she misses you… And I'm sure she'd do anything to have you back."
He did his best to ignore her, and slowly went to sleep under the shining moon light of Luna. He closed his eyes and fell asleep nice and easy as always, sleep was always strange for him. He had plenty of things on his mind to dream about, and tonight would be no different. He found himself standing before his old home, shortly after the fall of the king and queen. While the princesses were just rising to power as the new day and night bringer.
Currently he stood just outside the gate of his home that continued to stand tall and proud. Holding a shard of crystal in his hand and studying the blinks the shard gave off. He sighed and looked around for a moment, just in time to hear the trotting of hooves. He looked forward and found his sister, still rocking a pink mane and tail, and not wearing her attire. She had stopped before him drenched in sweat and ready to collapse, though she appeared a bit over weight.
"Are we done now…! It's not even eight in the morning…!"she ranted and fell on her belly.
"One more, and we can go in. We need you to at least have burned off five hundred calories,"He pointed out another lap around the whole castle,"You wanna fit into that gold attire you love so much? You gotta work for it. You think ponies want a cake eating blimp leading them?"
"I'm nowhere NEAR that big, quit being so over dramatic…!"She was rewarded with a muzzle to face stare by her brother that was blank and disapproving.
"No… But eating five full cakes a day sure as hay will make you into one,"He spoke quietly but in a low and intimidating tone,"You may not care for your subjects view for yourself, but at least do this for yourself so you don't look like a bucking pig…!"
"Fine…! But I DO care about my subjects…!"She spat and went on a run again around the castle.
"Good thing I crystallized her wings so she couldn't cheat,"He sighed and watched her disappear around the corners before the dream gave away to the lovely space like realm,"What happened to her… Why is Tia such a complicated mess…!"
He stood there shaking his head while the gentle blue mist surrounded the space like realm. He then felt the breeze of another hitting his back, her shadow was easy to figure out. Upon turning around, he met Luna and sighed before he hugged his little sister. Her flowing mystic mane covering his face as he knelt down to her. He rubbed her back and let out a bit of steam and tightened his hug on Luna.
"Is there a day that you're not worked up about something? I swear your hooves are getting those stress trembles again,"Luna whispered before they slowly parted from their hug,"I know of Tia visiting Ponyville, and I don't blame you from staying out of her sight…"
"Why should she continue to be given so much love when you couldn't even get so much love in a whole year?"He questioned as he put a hand to her shoulder.
"Brother… I have much work to do before I can earn the love of our subjects,"Luna spoke as she put her hoof to his hand,"Tia made mistakes too, but she's been paying the price for it. I see it in Canterlot to this day… My return seems to have brought little relief to her heart, it still appears broken…"
"Oh really…?"He questioned as he put his hand to her cheek.
"She misses you... She doesn't even know if you are dead or alive,"His eyes lifted a bit in a small spark of shock that he hid very well,"Just one last request… Please… At least let her know that you're alive and well. Still doing what you devoted your life to doing since the very beginning."
"Luna… You… You've changed so much…"He sighed before his dream was once again dissipating before he was waking to chaos.
His eyes opened, and met a dozen tiny eyes that chirped in his face and fluttered their wings. He yelled and shot up before he was in a column of Parasprites. He swatted and flailed before he pulled out dagger like crystals from his hands and started slashing. The little bugs quickly disperse while five dozen fell within the first two swings. He rolled from his bed and landed on all fours before standing in the midst of a parasprite infestation.
The parasprites were all over the house, and trashing just about everything in sight. Spike was on his own, trying to capture and control the massive swarm of bugs. He jumped over the stairs and landed before pulling out his sword for this reared his sword over his shoulder and timed his swing just right to make this attack count. He then swung and entered a cycling whirl wind of red slashes that struck every angle of the room, except for Spike.
The baby dragon took cover and covered his ears from the sharp screech his crystals made. He heard wood, books, statues, and metal crack and slice in two. So many chirping parasprites chirping before suddenly going silent. He went to his knee and slowly sheathed his sword upon his final spin, and felt the bodies of about 500 hundred parasprites fall on his shoulders. He slowly stood up and cleared his throat to get Spike's attention, and get him off the ground.
"What's going on here Spike?! How are parasprites running so freely here?"He asked The baby dragon after standing him up.
"I don't know, Twilight gave me one to keep last night and when we woke up,"He looked around to the mass of fallen parasprites around them,"It's like the multiplied in mass over night!"
"Whoa wait a minute…! Twilight kept one of those things?! I told them to get rid of those things!"Orion exclaimed with shock and anger.
"Oh… Guess that means they still have some work to do on the whole listening to you thing huh?"Spike chuckled nervously until Orion started staring down the baby dragon with his glimmering eyes.
"Where did they go Spike…?"He asked very nicely, but with hidden anger in his voice.
"Probably on their way to Fluttershy to see if she has anything on how to get rid of parasprites."Orion nodded and stood up to rush to the door.
Upon exiting the library he felt a golden flash upon the tree trunk. There he found a pair of musical cymbals half way plunged into the tree like ninja stars. He scratched his head in confusion and quickly yanked both cymbals from the tree. Suddenly it hit him as he looked around to the approaching swarm that amassed and crashed upon town. Right as pinkie Pie met him face to face and snatched up her cymbals.
"My cymbals! Oh thank you thank you thank you!"Pinkie Pie was beaming with excitement as she collected her instruments.
"How goes that collection of instruments Pinkie?"He asked quickly.
"I have all of them, at least I did until my flute was taken by those parasprites…!"Pinkie feared as the creatures were swarming the entire town.
"I've got the flute you need, your other instruments will be enough to attract them back to the forest,"He instructed with both hands on Pinkie's shoulders,"Get set up and guide them, and I'll use my flute on them to scare the sprites back into the forest, and stay away from town."
He slowly pulled out a small and thing shard like crystal that sparkled more than normal. He nodded and winked at her in hopes of her trusting him with the rest. She saluted and she was quickly running off towards the end of town to get set up. Leaving him to rush to the town center, and into the midst of the parasprite infestation. Where he found Twilight and her friends trying to bring the situation under control.
"Twilight! For the love of the elements I told you to get rid of those things yesterday!"He yelled as he approached the scene with his crystal flute in hand.
"I know I know…! We didn't think they would multiply like this and just eat everything,"Twilight said as she lit up her horn,"But don't worry O. I'm gonna cast a spell to stop them from eating the food!"
Twilight focused her magic, and shot a blast of magic that spread through the whole town. Every parasprite in the town was coming under her spell, and froze in place. Once the magic disappeared, they watched the first parasprite investigate an apple. It had suddenly then denied the apple, making them all confident that the spell work. Only to see the bug open up it's mouth and devour the bucket and spit out the apple.
"Wow… Congratulations… They are eating the town instead of the food!"He yelled in shock and outrage.
"I know right?! Now we are in serious trouble…!"Rainbow Dash panicked while a thought had struck Rarity.
"Oh no… If they get into my store…! Every pony for themselves!"Rarity shouted as Twilight's friends scattered to protect their own while they were left in the middle.
Twilight then sighed and took one parasprite before taking off towards the forest for another one's expertise. Leaving Orion to try and control the chaos, he growled and pulled his second sword out. He took a defensive and spiraling stance, and began to hack and slash away at the invaders. His blades swung in spirling fashions that mimicked wind, cut groups of parasprites harassing the ponies. He changed the stance in his feet, and was charging at abnormal speeds.
He swords would cut down, groups and lines of parasprites in his path. The more vital materials were saved in a flash, but houses and other materials were half eaten. He slashed the front with wide and fast sashes of his swords, and spun to pick up more from behind. He slid on his back a good twenty feet and hacked the invaders above his head. Hundreds, even thousands appeared to drop, but more spawned faster than he could kill them.
He growled and continued slashing, swinging left and right with the momentum. Cutting down more in his path, he tossed and spun his sword at a group attack at least five children. He side flipped and caught his blade before slamming it downward. Cratering the ground it rammed against, and slicing up at least fifty in it's path. He stood tall and threw a magic slash that slaughtered parasprites all the way to where it touched the clouds.
He threw slash after slash at the parasprites and filled the sky above them with red. At this moment, he did not care whether Celestia found out or not at this point. He wasn't about to let this town be devoured by a swarm of little bugs. His last three slashes connected together and exploded above the city, causing thousands of bugs to fall. They came down like rain that littered the ground around him and the ponies.
"Curse it all…! They just keep COMING!"He shouted as he watched the parasprites chirp and already building numbers again.
He looksed around and saw every pony in terror from the swarm that was consuming their homes. He clenched his fists in anger to see his people being attacked by these cretins. Their small size and adorable eyes meant nothing to him now, they were just a menace. He opened his hands that glowed with red, retracting his swords back into his hands. Only for a mass of sharp crystals to grow and spread in the palms of his hands.
Tiny balls of focused red magic formed in the center of the crystals in his hands. He sighed and watched the tiny balls go nearly white with magic before lifting his hands in the air. Connecting his finger tips together, interlocking them like a bridge. With a deep inhale he then growled, and roared before slamming his hands down upon the ground. The ground shook, and made every pony freeze in place before the ground exploded around them.
Suddenly small pillars and clusters of crystals raised up from the ground, shattering chunks of dirt and rock. The clusters consisted of three to six crystal pieces at least five to eight feet tall. They appeared everywhere, glowing brightly and sparkling with magic. Houses became decorated with at least five clusters of crystal ranging to at least three feet. Crystal pillars at least six feet high burst forth along side the paths through out Ponyville.
The library itself was decorated with at least fifteen clusters of crystals. Illuminating the library before crystals were at home all around Ponyville. Every pony remained frozen to see these bizarre crystals spawning around their town. Only to cover their ears as buzzing like static zapped from the crystals from all around them like lightning. Beams of electricity was suddenly surging from the crystals, incinerating parasprites within the hundreds in a mere second.
Every crystal around the town lit even brighter with magic, and nearly over a hundred crystals were attacking the invaders. Groups of parasprites were reduced to bright red embers with each sudden zap of the crystals energy. The ponies watched as the sky was full of red lightning burning groups upon groups of parasprites to a crisp. Orion stood tall and watched the fire works occurring all around him, just in time to see Twilight arriving back from the forest.
"What's going on?!"Twilight yelled through the lightning buzzing in her ears.
"I just set Ponyville up with a fun new security accessory,"He answered as they watched parasprites perishing faster than she ever thought possible,"Now all we have to do is wait for Pinkie to show up with the big band!"
"YAAAAAA!"Rainbow screamed as she flew over their heads.
"Zecora was right… We're doomed…!"Twilight bowed her head in surrender to the chaos.
"I wouldn't quite say that just yet…!"The sudden blast of polka music sounded in the distance.
"Pinkie…! We're in the middle of a crisis,"Twilight panicked as Pinkie made her way pass Twilight and Orion,"This is no time for your… Nonsense?"
They both watched as the remaining parasprites were moving to Pinkie's music. They then began to follow her, while some others were fried by the crystals around town. They watched them follow the pink earth pony in single file line, everything appeared to be clearing up. It was then that Orion's eyes sparked and focused on an incoming target. Celestia's chariot was coming in for a landing, and he was all but exposed in his current form.
"No… Forget it I'll just do the armored illusion…!"He brought a fist to his left hip, and was suddenly shrouded in a very thin shell of crystal.
It perfectly conformed to his figured, and appeared all but invisible to all. Only the gleam of sun light revealed the crystal armor on his body. A flash than flared off his body before he was then following the swarm and wielding his flute. He was at the pink pony's side, and as they arrived to the forest with the start of the line. It was his time to shine, as he took a giant breath in before putting his lips to the shard and blowing hard with his fingers plugging up the holes only he could see.
The sound that the flute blasted out of the invisible hole in the other end. It could be compared to timberwolf claws grinding against thick glass, mixing with the scream of a siren with a sore throat. The sound was loud and forced Pinkie to stop playing music and cover her ears. The noise blasted through the whole town and rung the now covered ears of every pony. Including Twilight, and princess Celestia herself, and thankfully, it was working fast.
The parasprites chirps, turned to squeals, and were rushing quickly back into the forest to escape the noise. They rushed like a tidal wave, and were drained away from the town. Leaving only the tens of thousands of parasprite bodies in the wake of all ponies. Once the last of the infestation was going back into the forest, he unplugged his lips from the flute. The screeching horrid noise ceased as quickly as it began, and all seemed cleared up.
"What kind of flute was that?!"Pinkie asked louder than she wanted while rubbing her ringing ears.
"This is my crystal flute, don't worry if it comes off as a mere shard of crystal,"He presented it to Pinkie as it glittered in her eyes,"And sorry for the noise. I only know one song with it, so I decided to just use it's screech tone to scare the bugs away."
"Wow…! Can we hear that song?"Pinkie asked before they were returning to their friends.
"Maybe some time later… I play it around Hearthswarming Eve. A sort of gentle tune for all to enjoy…"He spoke and then froze as he was met with the sight of his sister.
"Again, we couldn't have done it without him. He did great helping Pinkie put the parade together."Twilight pointed to Orion, and before he knew it, they were staring face to face.
"Then I owe him credit as well… Thank you for your help stranger,"Orion wanted to look away as his heart boiled and pounded in his chest,"Unfortunately, my visit will have to wait for another time. I'm afraid and emergency has come up in Fillydelphia."
"Let me guess, parasprites invaded the place as well?"He foresaw the whole thing with a quick glance with his eyes before shutting them down.
"Yes, another swarm of those incredibly bothersome creatures has invaded the poor town, I'm sorry to put you and Twilight through all this trouble."Celestia apologized while Orion seemed very mused with all this work being for nothing.
"Trouble? What trouble?!"Twilight questioned nervously, from both the trouble in town, and the intense meeting of brother and sister.
"You mean the trouble that a friend I called in to set that up for you?"He pointed to the town itself, before every pony finally noticed with open jaws of shock.
Celestia had let out a long gasp with her eyes almost fully wide with shock. Memories were flooding her mind as they all gazed at a town covered decoratively with clusters and pillars of red crystals. They all slowly approached the first large cluster of crystals near the town entrance. It sparkled and glowed with reddish white magic from within, beating like a heart. Twilight was smiling with excitement over the beauty of the gems, only to be derailed by her mentor's reaction.
Celestia reached a hoof out, it was trembling like her breath as she touched it. Feeling life within that crystal as it reflected some of her sunlight near the tip of the largest piece. She rubbed it, and failed to find her voice as she fought a strange emotional urge. An urge that every pony was surprised to see, tears of joy rolling down the princesses face. For Orion knew all too well it gave her one of the greatest pieces of news since getting Luna back.
"These crystals… They're the most beautiful thing I have seen since Luna returned to me… Only…one could have made them,"She slowly released the crystal from her hoof and wiped her eyes,"He has returned… He's here… Somewhere in Equestria…!"
"He felt you at least deserved to know he was alive and well, those are his words not mine,"The hidden prince put his arms up as the princess turned to all of them with a smile and stray tears,"He already left the town, but I don't think he'll be leaving the areas around here. Though he certainly knows how to disappear…"
"Thank you…! All of you for all you have done here…! I will finish the emergency in Fillydelphia and be back as soon as possible,"Celestia promised as she made her way towards her royal chariot and then suddenly hugged Orion,"Thank you… For this… For all of it my new friend…"
"Don't mention it… Just…don't think I can just call the guy up for you. It was pure luck that he came at all,"He spoke low and mused even more so,"He was not happy when he heard you were coming…"
"I understand… Hopefully he will forgive me with time,"Celestia went to her chariot while Orion rolled his eyes,"Before I go, would you care to give me your latest report on the magic of friendship Twilight?"
"My report…?"Twilight questioned with confusion.
"Haven't you learned anything about friendship?"She asked before Orion cleared his throat, elbowed Twilight, and gestured to Pinkie.
"Oh! Actually I have.I've learned that sometimes the solution to your problems can come from where you least expect it,"Twilight started as she looked to Pinkie and her instruments,"It's a good idea to stop and listen to your friends opinions and perspectives."
"It does, it really does pay to listen to others doesn't it?"Orion asked out loud while Pinkie nodded, now that she knew what it was like for others to not listen to her.
"Even when they don't always seem to make sense…"Twilight finished for her happy and proud princess.
"I am so proud of you, Twilight Sparkle, and I'm very impressed with your friends as well,"Celestia admitted as she seated herself in her chariot,"I sounds like you're all learning so much from each other."
"Thank you, princess."Twilight bowed before Celestia was off on her chariot and flying off towards Fillydelphia.
"So the two of you knew what those critters were the whole time, huh Pinkie Pie?"Applejack gestured to Pinkie and Orion.
"Well duh! Why do you think I was so frantic to get my hooves on so many instruments? I tried to tell you."Pinkie cleared out her actions from before.
"And like you all do with me. All of you just didn't bother to listen…!"Orion ranted to them all.
"We know… And we're sorry we didn't listen to you or Pinkie."Twilight apologized, as did every pony else.
"Apology accepted…! Now what say we get back to Ponyville and fix up the town?"He gestured to the town that seem to come apart in places, and Pinkie set the sad trombone tone.
"Yeah,"Twilight waited till her friends were done groaning and quickly went to town to get started,"Hey Orion…? Before you go, can I just say something?"
"Of course, What is it Twilight?"He asked while lifting and fixing up the Ponyville entrance.
"Thanks for decorating and showing all this to the princess… I've never seen the princess so happy and full of tears since princess Luna returned,"Twilight gave her gratitude as he paused for a moment,"But… How did she NOT know it was you, just like back in the old castle. I would think she would recognize you since you're the only super tall bipedal creature she knows and has ever existed…"
"Simple… You see me as my normal self right? Well thanks to this armor,"He showed off his reflecting crystal armor that blended with his form,"I can use my magic and the sunlight to do this…!"
Suddenly with a bright flash of his crystal armor, his form changed almost instantly. The light changed his form, and before Twilight knew it, she was looking at something new. It was simply a bright red pony garbed in his current attire of a white hood and cloak. Twilight was immediately fascinated, but she already knew this type of magic. She didn't know any of her own yet, but they were incredibly interesting to read about.
"An illusionary spell, a form of magic far more advanced than changeling magic,"Twilight's eyes sparkled as she study the form quickly,"So we could see you as yourself, but this is what SHE saw in place of your real form? Amazing!"
"Thank you… I guess I have to be ready to do this more often now that I'm gonna be forced to see Celestia more…"He cringed as he went back to work on the town after changing back to his normal self.
"Oh boy… You have no idea buddy…!"Twilight evilly smirked as he just looked back at Twilight with a stare.
"Don't even think about it… It's not funny Twilight…!"He raised his voice while Twilight simply laughed at his fear from her joke.
There we are, once again we have another beautiful chapter to this series. Hope you all are enjoying the story, and I hope you'll want more. Btw, one last chance for an opinion on a remake of The Moon's Child. Let your voices be heard.