GREEN
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1565 8.68 KB 158
1565 8.68 KB 158
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=Helios 15=
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>Thursday
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>The sun was high in the sky as you walked down the street.
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>For a moment you wondered if She could see you from it, if she was watching you still.
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>Those thoughts last about as long as you let the other thoughts you have of Her last.
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>Gone in an instant.
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>You adjust the shovel on your shoulder as you walk.
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>They didn't have traditional weapons in Appleoosa so you had to improvise.
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>There had been reports of a few "undesirables" in town lately, you were gonna root them out.
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>You walked around the town, asking anyp0ny if they had noticed anything suspicious about their neighbors.
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>Based on their information, you went around town and gathered up who you thought fit the bill.
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>Chasing down Blueblood wasn't the only detective work you had ever done.
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>You lead your posse of five to the outskirts of town, wanting to avoid any scene.
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>Once you reached the town limits, you turned back to everyone.
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"Afternoon everyone."
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>Mayor Buckington stepped forward. "Anonymous? What is all this about?"
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"Glad you asked sir."
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>You plant your shovel on the ground.
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"A while ago an army of Changelings tried to crash the Royal Wedding, as I'm sure you all know."
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>They all nod.
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"When they got thrown out, they got sent back to the wastes where they came from."
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"But here's the deal, I've gotten word that some of them may have snuck into town and disguised themselves."
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>You take a few steps toward the group.
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"So I'm gonna be asking ya'll a few questions, how you answer will determine your authenticity."
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>You grab your shovel and spin it around onto your shoulder.
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"Ya dig?"
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>Alright, let's do this.
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"At the Mild West Dance last Sunday, Sandy Shoes drank too much cider and fell into the trough, right?"
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>Your entourage nods.
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>"Fell right in." Buckington said.
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>Tornado Dancer nodded "Like a lummox."
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>"One Tartarus of a date..." His sister Twister said.
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>Rawhide and Saloon Scalper nodded as well. "I remember that." "That was a hoot."
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>Hmm...
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"And when we had to repair the engine of the train before the next one came in, when was that?"
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>"Last Wednesday."
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>"Round Noon Ah think."
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>"Powerful hot that day."
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>"Yeah."
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>"Close call that day."
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>It's like they don't even try...
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>You step towards them.
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"Where were ya'll 4 days ago?"
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>"Goon' over plans for the new water tower."
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>"Ah was workin' the Orchard."
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>"Tch. Drinkin' ta ferget."
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>"Spent all day with Sandy."
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>"Paintin'"
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>Paydirt...
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>You stepped closer to Rawhide.
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"Raw, Sandy was at the Mild West Dance, he passed out in the trough and had to be pulled out."
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>His face plummets.
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"How could he be with you?"
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>The others back away from "Rawhide" as he stammers.
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>"No- I was- Me and Sandy were-..."
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>He glances around. "Aw, horseapples!"
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>A small green pyre ignites around the pony before you and a black chitinous bug leaps out-
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>-Right into your shovel.
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>As it hits the ground twitching, you press your knee to its neck.
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"Alright, we found him. Can I ask you guys to head back to town now?"
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>The assembled ponies watched with a mix of shock and fear.
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>"Y-yes, of course Anonymous. Come on everyp0ny, let's leave the Sheriff to his work..."
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>You had dragged the Changeling to the edge of some rocky hills outside town and dumped him there.
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"Don't let me find you in here again." You said.
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>It had scuttled off into the hills without a word and you took that as the end of it.
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>You were walking back into town now, intent on going about the rest of your day.
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>Braeburn it seemed had other plans.
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>"Hey, Anonymous! Ya got a visitor in your house!"
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>What?
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"Who?
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>Braeburn shook his head.
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>"Didn't say. She just stepped off the train a while ago n' started askin' for ya."
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>She?
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>She...She wouldn't...
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"What did "She" look like?"
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>Braeburn looked over his shoulder back at your house.
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>"Can't rightly say, she had this real fancy hood up 'round her head."
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>...Great.
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>You sigh.
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"I'm gonna be a bit Brae, think you can hold down the town for me?"
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>You catch his concerned glances as you walk down the street. "Uh, sure Anon. Expectin' trouble?"
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>You don't know.
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>Never dumped a Sun Goddess before.
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>You cracked open the door to your house and stepped in.
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>Standing by your desk was a pony in a regal looking cloak.
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>Whoever it was, they were too small to be Celestia.
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>But that cloak was definitely Canterlot...
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>The hood was pulled up, hiding their features.
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>You were about to confront them when they spoke up.
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>"Hello Anonymous."
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>Oh hell...you knew that voice...
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"Hey...Cadence."
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>The Crystal Princess lowered her hood to reveal her dour face.
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>Cadence had more or less ceased her intermittent trips to Canterlot after what had happened with Shining.
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>Last you had heard she was peacefully tending to her own kingdom, trying to heal the hole in her heart her husband had left.
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>And now she was here...
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>"You look well Anonymous." She says with a small smile.
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>How the hell do you handle this? You had hooked up with Celestia only hours after you got her husband killed...
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"Thanks. I feel...well."
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>The smile evaporates.
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>"I came here to speak to you...about "that"."
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>Oh hell!
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"I don't want to talk about "that"."
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>"It's important Anonymous."
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"I left to get away from "that" Cadence, don't try and drag me right back-"
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>"Princess Celestia has been rendered lethargic by your leaving, I'm only hear to give you the full story."
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>You stop with your door handle in your palm.
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>"Celestia was crushed after you left. She locked herself in her room for who knows how long and only recently started leaving."
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>Aha!
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"There, see? She's fine. I'm fine. We're both fine."
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>"She has been leaving without a bodyguard, Anon."
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>Your bodyguard senses start to tingle.
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>You wheel around and face Cadence.[spoiler][/spoiler] "What!? That's idiotic! Why is she doing that?"
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>Cadence shakes her head.
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>"She says that she cannot get another bodyguard. Not after what happened with you."
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>Cadence looks out the window as the sun moves across the sky.
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>"When my aunt goes on her rounds of Canterlot on her own, all anyp0ny says is how sad she looks."
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>"I asked her and do you know what she told me? She said that there is nowhere in the city she cannot go where she isn't reminded of -you- Anon. Even back when you were just friends I don't think you understood how much that meant to her."
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"And I don't think you understand what happened Cadence. I FELT her thoughts in my head. I could FEEL her affection for me and it...I-I don't think I can do that..."
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>It was Cadence's turn to sigh.
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>"Anonymous, did you know my aunt was in love once? EXACTLY once?"
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>"It was back when she was young. He died before she could confess to him."
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>"You can imagine how that would affect a young immortal."
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>You ran your hand through your hair as you thought it through.
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>That's one hell of a way to end a first love story...
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>"For the longest time, Aunt Celestia played the part of the dutiful queen caring about only running her kingdom and the subjects in it."
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>A smile tugged at Cadence's mouth. "But...then you showed up Anon."
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>"Celestia talked with you Anon, not to you but -with- you."
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>Cadence's grin grew.
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>"She saw another oddity in the world and she latched onto it."
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>"Over time, you became the first real friend she had had in eons."
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>Whoa.
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"What about Twilight? And all her other students?"
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>You remember that big wall she had.
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>Cadence shook her head. "They were just that Anon. Students. Dear to Celestia's heart, yes. But the Student/Teacher relationship was still an impenetrable wall on their path to true friendship."
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"Then why me?"
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>Cadence smiled. "You met my aunt as a true person Anon. You didn't see the immortal sun bringer or the head of state, you saw the pony underneath all of that."
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>"At least...before you entered the guard."
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"Whoa, are you saying that my JOB is what caused this?"
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>"A part of it yes. Once you became my aunts guard, you began to only see her as your charge and not as just her."
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>"That did not stop her, however. You were still her friend and now you were just closer. Over time the affection grew, especially after you would protect her from something."
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>You remembered some of the times you stopped an attempt on Celestia's life.
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"Are you trying to talk me into going back?"
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>Cadence sighs as she heads to the door. "All I came here to do is tell you what was happening with Celestia and to hopefully shed some light on her reasons for doing...what she did."
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>She stops at the door.
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>"All I ask that you do Anonymous is think on your own feelings."
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"What, you're trying to make me feel love now?"
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>Cadence lets out a small giggle.
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>"Perhaps I don't need to?"
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>With that she walked out, leaving you alone with your thoughts again.
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